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| Photo from Google Maps. |
Although Disneyland’s Anaheim location was one of the first plots of land Walt Disney looked at after deciding he did not have enough room to build his dream park near the Disney Studios in Burbank, California, he did pick a winning location because of its easy access to the 5 freeway. That being said, the convenient access to the Disneyland Resort can come at a cost to many unknowing travelers.
When booking a Disneyland Resort vacation, be very careful of the location of the hotel or motel in which you choose to stay. Many hotels and motels near Disneyland also boast convenient access to the freeway…a little too convenient. Many hotels and motels are literally RIGHT ON the freeway and have rooms facing the busy interstate.
Speaking directly with these hotels and motels isn’t enough. Years ago I booked a room at an economy motel and asked if the hotel was near the freeway. I was told it wasn’t “too close.” That statement was the grandest understatement of all time. The windows in the room constantly shook as trucks and cars whizzed by. We didn’t sleep a wink. It was horrible. (It is important for me to add that this was a Good Neighbor Hotel/Motel!) In spite of having the distinction from Disney that it is a high-quality establishment, a room so close to the freeway was totally unacceptable.
If you are booking a vacation–whether you are booking it yourself online, working with the hotel directly or working with a Disney-authorized travel agent, do yourself a favor and map the hotel/motel using Google Maps and then check out the aerial view of where the hotel is actually located. Some hotels don’t look that close to the freeway on a map but an aerial view will give you a much better idea of the establishment’s proximity to the freeway. Also consider calling neighboring hotels and ask them where the hotel/motel in question is located. They are going to be brutally honest with you since they would probably like to gain your business.
Which hotels and motels keep Disneyland guests off the freeway?
A hotel or motel on the freeway may be a better deal because of it’s location and you may be able to pay a premium or request a room away from the freeway, but in my opinion, that’s just too risky. Accidents happen and if they give your not-so-close-to-the-freeway room to someone else, you could have an unfortunate night sleep ahead of you…and no one wants that after a long day in the parks.
To ensure you stay clear of the freeways, I recommend considering hotels located along Katella west of Haster Street, along Harbor Blvd. south of Katella or the Disney-owned resorts. While there may be hotels and motels in the resort area that are not directly on the freeway, these are the safest. You can download a map of Good Neighbor hotels and motels on the Disneyland website. Click here and then click on the “Good Neighbor Hotels” pdf icon.
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We stated at the HoJo in a kids suite facing the freeway. I was worried about the noise but it didn’t bother us at all! If you went out on the patio it was loud, but in the room I could barely hear it! I think it also depends on what you are used to. If you live in the country where it’s always quiet I don’t think you could handle it.
I found that looking on the hotels facebook page was a huge help, because they you are hearing other customer’s opinions and not just the hotels!
One of the biggest reasons for HoJo not being so noticeable is the recent soundproofing they underwent. We stayed there recently, and the sound without those new windows would have been horrendous. With them, it was wonderful!
Great tips!