JW Marriott Anaheim or Courtyard Entrance?

[Broavrock1]

Haven’t been to DL in 10 years. We have been mainly WDW family but doing DL in January. Would you recommend JW Marriott Anaheim or Courtyard Entranc? Thanks!

 

[dieumeye]

Both are good. What are you looking for in a hotel?

Pool? Restaurants? A place to hang out during the day or just a place to crash? How much do you care about the distance/walk to the park? What are your room/bed needs? What kind of places do you usually stay when you are on vacation?

 

[DLgal]

If you will be walking, the Courtyard. If not, the JW Marriott. To me, the walk to the JW Marriott is far enough to be a deterrent.

 

[Broavrock1]

We will be walking and are fine walking. We do the Epcot resorts to Hollywood Studios walk. But I can’t get a sense of the JW distance.

 

[djmeredith]

We will be walking and are fine walking. We do the Epcot resorts to Hollywood Studios walk. But I can’t get a sense of the JW distance.

I am booked at the JW Marriott in a couple of weeks. Here is a video on YouTube that shows the walk through the GardenWalk complex. Personally, I thought the rooms look a lot nicer at the JW and that is important to me even if it is a few minutes longer.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Haven’t been to DL in 10 years. We have been mainly WDW family but doing DL in January. Would you recommend JW Marriott Anaheim or Courtyard Entranc? Thanks!

It's about a 15 minute walk from the JW Marriott to the Main Entrance. Here's a helpful video.

Anaheim JW Marriott Real time walk to Disneyland

You can also walk down Katella to Harbor if you don't feel like cutting through Garden Walk. Maybe add 5 minutes.

The Courtyard Theme Park Entrance is much closer, but it's also a Courtyard versus a JW Marriott: Courtyards fall into Marriott's "Select" category and would be considered their budget offering. JW Marriott is one of their "Luxury" brands, along the lines of a St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton, and above "Premium" brands, like Westin, Sheraton and Marriott.

That new JW Marriott is an absolutely beautiful hotel., and it has a rooftop bar/lounge with a large patio facing DL/DCA on I believe the 12th floor. Think TOW lounge for comparison.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I am booked at the JW Marriott in a couple of weeks. Here is a video on YouTube that shows the walk through the GardenWalk complex. Personally, I thought the rooms look a lot nicer at the JW and that is important to me even if it is a few minutes longer.

LOL I think we posted at the same time....

 

[2boysmommy]

I would also look at the new Westin Anaheim - a little closer walk than the JW but with comparable room styles. Plus you use the DL Hotel entrance to Downtown Disney which is supposedly less crowded.

 

[gelatoni fan]

It depends on what you are looking for. JW Marriott is one of the most luxurious properties in the area but the Courtyard is closer and has a more fun pool and water area for kids. Given that you say you're comfortable walking, if you think you'll want some time with water slides and stuff, then Courtyard. Otherwise, JW Marriott will be nicer.

 

[disneyfan95]

I would also look at the new Westin Anaheim - a little closer walk than the JW but with comparable room styles. Plus you use the DL Hotel entrance to Downtown Disney which is supposedly less crowded.

Do you know if you can cut through Ca Grand Hotel in the afternoons and evening to get back to the Westin Anaheim?

 

[2boysmommy]

Do you know if you can cut through Ca Grand Hotel in the afternoons and evening to get back to the Westin Anaheim?

Yes. You can exit CA and go through GCH in the afternoon/evenings. And you can go through the Downtown Disney exit and cut through the hotel when coming from DL as well.
In the mornings they do restrict entry into the hotel and you cannot use the entrances into CA or DD. However, they do not (always) restrict those entrances later in the day. They have the right to, but usually don’t.

 

[Ross Kratter]

As stated by a couple of other posters, those are vastly different options in terms of the type of hotel. Courtyards tend to cater more to the budget-conscious traveler; JW Marriott is a truly deluxe/premium experience. The rooms will be larger, the amenities at the hotel much better, the hotel will have at least one full service restaurant... it's really apples and oranges.

 

[DLgal]

As stated by a couple of other posters, those are vastly different options in terms of the type of hotel. Courtyards tend to cater more to the budget-conscious traveler; JW Marriott is a truly deluxe/premium experience. The rooms will be larger, the amenities at the hotel much better, the hotel will have at least one full service restaurant... it's really apples and oranges.

To be fair, that particular Courtyard is much nicer and has much larger rooms that sleep 6 with a separate bunk bed area, plus a full waterpark. It's not really comparable to most run of the mill Courtyards. It runs, on average, $350/night.

 

[DonMacGregor]

To be fair, that particular Courtyard is much nicer and has much larger rooms that sleep 6 with a separate bunk bed area, plus a full waterpark. It's not really comparable to most run of the mill Courtyards. It runs, on average, $350/night.

It still ain’t a JW Marriott.

 

[DLgal]

It still ain’t a JW Marriott.

Well, no, it's not. But obviously there are enough amenities of interest at the Courtyard for the OP to be considering it. Heck, even the JW Marriott isn't the nicest hotel in the area. But to get to a nicer one, you have to drive a bit, thus making it less desirable due to distance. I mean, if we are gonna go there, we can say "the JW Marriott ain't the Ritz Carlton or St.Regis." There will always be a nicer hotel but you have to look at all the factors.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Well, no, it's not. But obviously there are enough amenities of interest at the Courtyard for the OP to be considering it. Heck, even the JW Marriott isn't the nicest hotel in the area. But to get to a nicer one, you have to drive a bit, thus making it less desirable due to distance. I mean, if we are gonna go there, we can say "the JW Marriott ain't the Ritz Carlton or St.Regis." There will always be a nicer hotel but you have to look at all the factors.

Also true, but those two hotels are the ones OP asked about and both are within 1/2 mile of DL and each other. And they are definitely disparate, service and amenity-wise. The nearest Ritz is in Laguna Niguel and the closest St. Regis is in Dana Point, both over 30 miles away. That’s a bit of a hoof. The JW is without question the nicest hotel "in the area".

The Courtyard definitely has a nice water slide by the looks of it. No argument there.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

We recently stayed at the Courtyard. The rooms were pretty spacious and the bunk beds and 2 showers were nice. The water slides were a big hit with my son. Even though it is fairly close, the walk back at the end of a long day or in the hot sun still wasn't that fun. I wouldn't want to stay any farther (and previously have).

 

[lcp9]

Also true, but those two hotels are the ones OP asked about and both are within 1/2 mile of DL and each other. And they are definitely disparate, service and amenity-wise. The nearest Ritz is in Laguna Niguel and the closest St. Regis is in Dana Point, both over 30 miles away. That’s a bit of a hoof. The JW is without question the nicest hotel "in the area".

The Courtyard definitely has a nice water slide by the looks of it. No argument there.

It really totally depends on what he's looking for. We are a family of 6, kids all 10 and under, and would choose the Courtyard every time. We are Marriott associates and have stayed in some of the nicest properties all over, but for purely logistical reasons the Courtyard fits us the best (and every room has the bunk beds, so you're not upcharged.) Even the 2 bedroom villas in Palm Springs don't fit us as well. So, it just depends.

to OP - it just depends. haha. All CY rooms have bunk beds, and do the best job utilizing the space for families. Super close walk, and there's a Panera and McD in the parking lot for quick breakfast. JW will be resort-y and better for adults/older kids if you don't mind the walk.

 

[Pluto468]

How far is the walk? I see it listed as 10 minutes. Is that accurate?

 

[DonMacGregor]

It really totally depends on what he's looking for.

That was kinda my whole point. I have nothing against the Courtyard. You won’t find a single derogatory comment from me. The Courtyard is a Select property by Marriott’s own categorization and is geared more towards families. The JW is a high-end business-class hotel more appropriate for couples or families with older children.