JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort Tour + Review
The JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort is a brand-new “urban resort” located walking distance to Disneyland, and connected to the GardenWalk Entertainment District. It’s a long-overdue addition to the hotel landscape in Anaheim, which hasn’t had too many true luxury options for guests. Let’s check out a full tour and review of the JW Marriott, Anaheim.
Booking
Normally, I wouldn’t book such an expensive hotel for a one-night stay. But, in September 2022, changes were made to my American Express Bonvoy Brilliant credit card. I had about 20 days to use a $300 annual credit at any Marriott (or buy a gift card), so I opted to cash it all in on this stay, effectively paying $50 out of pocket after resort fee was added in.
I’m a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium member, so I earn 17.5 points per dollar on every dollar spent at Marriott, plus the 6 points per dollar from my Brilliant card spend at Marriott. I value these points at about 0.7 cents per point, so all-in, I’m getting 16.45% back as a points rebate.
Check In
I was moving from the Hilton Anaheim, so I messaged the hotel about early check in using the Marriott Bonvoy App. They responded promptly, saying they did have an upgraded suite available for me that day, but it might not be ready until later. But, at about 11 AM, I received a notification that my room was in fact ready! I stopped by the front desk, and was clearly explained all the benefits on property.
The JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort does charge a $25 resort fee, but you get a few perks, like a $25 on property credit, a $15 Roy’s restaurant coupon, and a free coffee at the downstairs coffee bar, as well as yoga in the morning. These were actually useful to me, so the resort fee didn’t bother me at this property. It would be annoying if I was spending all day in the parks, where it would be more difficult to use the $25 credit (and the credits don’t accumulate day-to-day).
As an elite, I also received access to the Concierge lounge, which was located one floor above me. The lounge was incredible, with breakfast, snacks during the day, and a dessert service and happy hour at night, all with views of Disneyland. I also opted to use my breakfast benefit for the breakfast downstairs, since I wanted to try it out for the review.
The Room
For a full room tour, check out my video above. Suffice it to say, it was one of the better upgrades I’ve received at a Marriott stateside (full honors goes to the Marriott Gold Coast in Australia, who upgraded my wife and me to the Presidential Suite). For those interested to see what a King Room looks like at the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort, the sleeping quarters were just that, with a lockoff door separating the larger corner living room and separate bathroom. I actually had two keys during my visit for each room, which has happened to me before at other properties.
I loved the look of the room and all the furnishings- it’s great staying at a new hotel (especially after the Hilton Anaheim). The bed was extremely comfortable, and I love the JW Marriott’s standard bath amenities from Aromatherapy.
Amenities (Pool, Gym, Restaurants, Lounge)
The JW Marriott has a lot going for it for being on a footprint of under 3 acres. For one, their pool is nice, if a bit small, with cabanas for rent during the day. The lobby bar doubles as the pool bar. I do wish the pool had a better view, but they did what they could do with their location. I also loved the Peloton bike poolside for exercise nuts.
Speaking of exercise, their gym is fantastic, featuring more Pelotons, a rowing system, ropes, TRX bands, and even a zen room. This is one of the better outfitted hotel gyms I’ve seen. Too bad most will be in the parks and not utilize it!
There are several restaurants at the hotel and nearby. There’s the JW Market on the ground floor, which is essentially the coffee shop. Great for guests walking out the door to the parks in the morning. Then, on the lobby level, there’s Citriculture, which is the lobby bar and pool bar. I had a chance to dine here, and while a bit expensive, the food is amazing. Finally, there’s Parkestry, which is on the rooftop of the resort. This has perfect views of Disneyland and its fireworks (the Concierge lounge is one level below, so you get that “for free” if you’re an elite).
One unique amenity was a “Augmented Reality” experience that you could download to your smartphone. You would interact with several statues in the garden and it was all designed to be a yoga-like experience. I tried it out, and it was a fun way to burn a few minutes in the evening while on property.
Overall
The JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort is my new favorite place to stay in Anaheim. While it may be pricey for much of the year, anyone loyal to Marriott Bonvoy will be clamoring to stay here during their visit to Disneyland.
