Looking for an honest Hotel Lulu Anaheim review? I recently spent two nights at Hotel Lulu, and I came away with quite a few thoughts about this colorful, family-friendly hotel near Disneyland.
Located on Harbor Boulevard, Hotel Lulu, BW Premier Collection is about a 10-minute walk from the Disneyland Resort, making it a convenient option for families who want to stay within walking distance to the parks.
But the location isn’t the only thing to love about Hotel Lulu. The hotel has a fun Southern California personality, comfortable rooms, an outdoor pool, and relaxed atmosphere.
Here’s my complete Hotel Lulu Anaheim review, including what I loved, what I would consider before booking, and whether I think it’s a good choice for a Disneyland vacation.
Hotel Lulu at a Glance
- Location: 1850 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim
- Best for: Families looking for a comfortable, budget-friendly, fun hotel within walking distance to Disneyland
- Breakfast Included: No
- Parking: On-site parking for an additional fee
- Standard king and two-queen rooms, including accessible options
- Mini fridge and microwave in every room
- Small, heated outdoor pool with resort-style seating, fire pits, games, and poolside bar
- Fitness center
- Helpful, friendly staff
First Impressions: A Fun, Colorful Disneyland Hotel
My son and I recently stayed at Hotel Lulu in Anaheim for two nights and had the opportunity to experience the hotel, pool area, and the walk to Disneyland firsthand.
My first impression of Hotel Lulu was that it is clean, colorful, and even a bit whimsical.
The lobby has a distinctly Southern California feel, with colorful design elements and a more playful personality than you might expect from a traditional Best Western property. There is a big Hotel Lulu mural on the wall popular for photos, and the seating areas and decor were comfortable and welcoming. 
I also loved the elevators and elevator bank waiting areas on each floor have colorful, fun artwork.
The overall atmosphere is more relaxed and vacation-oriented than I expected, which makes sense given that Hotel Lulu is designed specifically around its location near Disneyland.
When I checked in, the staff was extremely friendly and offered some great advice when I asked questions about the property.
Location: How Far Is Hotel Lulu From Disneyland?
Location is one of Hotel Lulu’s biggest selling points.
The hotel’s location just a few blocks away puts it within easy walking distance to the Disneyland Resort. I stayed with my son at the start of Halloween Time at Disneyland, which was during a late-August heat wave. Even with the uncomfortable weather, the walk took us less than 15 minutes, and that is including time standing on the corner waiting for the light to change so we could cross Harbor Boulevard.
I also timed the return walk back to the hotel at night and it was even quicker! Perhaps because it was cooler or there was less traffic on the streets?
Also worth mentioning while we are talking about location. Hotel Lulu is one of the hotels near the free Disneyland Toy Story shuttle. Since it is located adjacent to the Toy Story parking area, you can easily walk from the hotel to the shuttle stop and catch a ride to the parks.
In my experience, this method really doesn’t save time since the walk to Disneyland is so short, but it’s good to know you’ve got other transportation options!
And speaking of the Toy Story Parking Area – the lot has been approved for a future multi-use entertainment, shopping, and theme park expansion under the DisneylandForward plan. Although it is years away from being developed, once completed, Hotel Lulu will be sitting in a prime location adjacent to the new Disney destination.
Rooms: Comfortable and Family-Friendly
The thing to know right off the bat is that Hotel Lulu is not a luxury hotel. And it doesn’t try to be.
Instead, you get a casual, clean, and comfortable stay without an ounce of stuffiness.
Guest rooms at Hotel Lulu are fairly standard, with either one king or two queen beds. I found our room to be very clean but fairly basic. We stayed in a room with two beds; it had a refrigerator, microwave, 55-inch TV, coffee maker, safe, and decent-sized bathroom.
You can tell it is an older hotel by some bits of wear and tear on the furniture, but overall it was perfectly comfortable. I liked that we had big windows to let in the light, and a nice view of Disney California Adventure Park in the distance.
There are also lots of USB ports and electrical outlets on the shared nightstand between the two beds, and at the desk area. I always appreciate this touch, especially in older hotels where you know they had to do some room renovations to bring things up to modern standards!
Pool: A Relaxing Place to Take a Break From Disneyland
Hotel Lulu has an outdoor pool. It isn’t huge, but will definitely do the trick if you just need to cool off or like sitting out by the pool while taking an afternoon break from the parks.
The pool area features plenty of seating, fire pits, outdoor games, cabanas, and a poolside bar. As you can see from the photo above, it gets shaded late in the day when the sun dips below the building. I took this photo mid-afternoon.
Since we were staying at Hotel Lulu during a late summer heat wave, I really appreciated having a nice pool so we could take a dip and cool off.
The pool area also has outdoor games such as cornhole and a ping pong table. This gives the whole outdoor space a more social, resort-like atmosphere.
You should be aware that the pool area does not have a hot tub.
Other amenities at Hotel Lulu include a fitness center, meeting rooms, restaurant, and small market off the lobby where you can pick up snacks and any toiletries you might need.
Pros & Cons of the Hotel
Here are some pros and cons to consider for staying at Hotel Lulu.
Pros:
- Great rates compared to many other hotels in the area
- Walking distance to Disneyland
- Fun and friendly atmosphere
- Comfortable rooms
- Pool, fire pits, and outdoor games
Cons:
- Ice machines only on every other floor
- Hotel rooms are fairly basic
- No hot tub at the pool
- No free breakfast like other Best Western hotels
- Parking costs extra
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Hotel Lulu from Disneyland?
Hotel Lulu is approximately a 10-minute walk from Disneyland, although your actual time will vary based on your pace.
Is Hotel Lulu a Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel?
Yes. Hotel Lulu is an official Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel.
Does Hotel Lulu have a pool?
Yes. Hotel Lulu has an outdoor pool with seating, fire pits, outdoor games, and poolside dining.
Does Hotel Lulu offer free breakfast?
No. Breakfast is available for purchase at Lulu’s Kitchen. You can also pick up something to eat on your way to Disneyland, inside the parks, or have breakfast in Downtown Disney.
Does Hotel Lulu have parking?
Yes. Self-parking is available for an additional fee.
Hotel Information & Reservations
- 1600 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim
- Reserve a hotel and ticket package and save! View discount rates for Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel from Get Away Today and use code CFT10 for an additional $10 savings!
- Book direct on BestWestern.com
Final Thoughts: Is Hotel Lulu a Good Disneyland Hotel?
After spending two nights at Hotel Lulu, I think it’s a particularly appealing choice for families who want a reliably clean, comfortable, fun hotel within walking distance of Disneyland.
Why should you choose Hotel Lulu instead of one of the many other hotels along Harbor Boulevard?
What I like most about this hotel is that it offers a nice middle ground. While the room rates fall on the budget-friendly side, this is way more than a basic place to sleep.
We really enjoyed our time at Hotel Lulu. From the exceptionally friendly front desk staff to the clean and quiet rooms, I would definitely recommend Hotel Lulu for anyone who wants a family-friendly place to stay near Disneyland that won’t eat up your whole Disney vacation budget.
It’s not going to be the right hotel for everyone, but if your priorities are convenience, comfort, and affordability, I think Hotel Lulu deserves a spot on your Disneyland hotel shortlist.
For more help planning your Disneyland vacation, check out these other articles:
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