The Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground is a great pick for families, with its own mini water park, large game room, and convenient location a short walk away from Disneyland. The hotel is modern and rooms are immaculately clean with soundproofed walls that keep freeway noise and late-night pitter patters at bay. Though a little pricier than other nearby hotels, the water park, peaceful garden pool, and free parking are nice perks. All in all, this is one of Anaheim’s top options for families with young children.

The mid-range Courtyard Anaheim Resort/Convention Center is popular with families and business travelers alike, as it’s close to Disneyland and within walking distance of the Anaheim Convention Center. The 153 rooms feature mini-fridges, Keurig coffeemakers, comfortable beds, and granite and marble bathrooms. Standard rooms are spacious at 420 square feet and have either two queen beds or a king plus a sleeper sofa. There are 18 Family and Kids Suites (620 to 650 square feet), each with two bedrooms; Kids Suites include bunk beds. The contemporary hotel features an outdoor pool and whirlpool, a fitness center, meeting space, and a 24/7 market. Its bistro/bar serves Starbucks coffee, but breakfast is not included in room rates. Guest laundry facilities are on site, and secure parking is offered at reasonable rates.

Opened in late 2014, this bright and contemporary hotel is within walking distance of the Anaheim Convention Center and the shuttle to Disneyland. Amenities include a free hot breakfast buffet with lots of options, a 24-hour market and dining service, and an outdoor pool and whirlpool. The 178 rooms are clean and spacious with queen-size sleeper sofas, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, and mini-fridges. King Family rooms offer more space and include twin bunk beds that are separated from the king bedroom by French doors. Rates tend to be higher here than at other mid-range properties in the area.

With modern touches and contemporary furnishings, the mid-range Hotel Menage strives to offer an upscale experience at a budget price, and does a fairly good job at it. Its location near the Disney Parks and the Anaheim Garden Walk makes it convenient for families and leisure travelers, and extra touches such as free Wi-Fi, a free hot buffet breakfast, an on-site restaurant and bar, and a 24-hour outdoor pool/whirlpool with views of Disney fireworks add value. All rooms are spacious, especially the extra-large family suites. Some of the rooms and public areas feel a bit worn, and some past guests have complained that the Wi-Fi signal in rooms is weak.

Designed with families in mind, the independently owned Stanford Inn & Suites is a solid budget option. With free Wi-Fi, free parking, and a free daily hot breakfast, the property offers great value for guests looking to visit the Disney Parks and other nearby attractions. This hotel is a bit farther from the most popular sites, but there's a shuttle straight to Disneyland for guests without cars (or who don't want to pay for Disneyland parking). Rooms are basic but clean (though the kid-friendly suites feature Disney-themed decor), and there's an outdoor heated pool and on-site laundry facilities.

The colorful and contemporary Desert Palms Hotel & Suites is popular with families and business travelers alike. Featuring 196 rooms, including 42 suites with separate rooms for children, this property is located a short walk from Disneyland, the Disney Adventure Park, and the Anaheim Convention Center. Conveniences include free Wi-Fi, parking, and breakfast. The hotel also has a gift shop filled with Disney memorabilia, arcade games, and a Mickey and Minnie scavenger hunt.

Children 17 and under stay for free at this Best Western, located less than a block from Disneyland's front gates. The 88 rooms are dated, and there are occasional reports of bugs in the bathrooms. But the lobby and breakfast room are clean, and a substantial hot breakfast buffet is included (note there's a mandatory resort fee), and it can be taken on the outdoor terrace. There's an outdoor pool with loungers, along with an adjacent hot tub. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and Disneyland tickets can be purchased on-site.

The Best Western Plus Park Place Inn - Mini Suites is directly across the street from Disneyland entrance, and is ideal for guests who prefer not to drive to and from the park. The family-friendly budget hotel (children 17 and under stay free) has 199 "Mini Suites" that can sleep up to six people and include sofa beds, mini-fridges, microwaves, coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. The heated outdoor pool has a hot tub, and a free breakfast buffet is served at the neighboring Captain Kidd's restaurant.

The 190-room Castle Inn and Suites has a facade that resembles a castle and a Renaissance-themed lobby. The hotel's location is its biggest draw, just steps from Disneyland and near many affordable chain restaurants. Rooms are spacious and clean, but dated, and come with coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and microwaves. There is an outdoor pool, whirlpool, and children's pool on-site. The fourth-floor balcony is an excellent viewing point for the Disneyland fireworks, but there's no on-site gym or restaurant.

Rooms fill up fast at the 59-room Anaheim Del Sol Inn, which is not surprising considering it's a clean, budget-and-family friendly hotel across the street from the entrance to Disneyland. With its proximity to the park and budget friendly restaurants, rooms designed specifically with kids in mind, heated outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi, free continental breakfast, and cookies in the lobby, it's a very popular choice for families. This hotel is a Disney Good Neighbor, so tickets to Disneyland can be purchased in the lobby for the same price as at the gates, minus the line. However, there's no full restaurant or gym, and room decor is a bit drab.

Deceivingly large, with a wide variety of amenities, the Anaheim Plaza Hotel & Suites is located directly across from the entrance to Disneyland and is convenient to a number of restaurants, shops, and attractions in Anaheim. This sprawling budget property is geared towards Disney-bound families and couples, and includes conveniences such as an on-site restaurant with free breakfast, a huge outdoor pool, and on-site car rentals. Overall, the hotel is a good value, but it is older than others in the area and can feel a bit worn-out. There's also a daily charge for both Wi-Fi and parking, although the parking fees are low compared to other nearby hotels and to Disneyland itself.

The mid-range Residence Inn Anaheim Maingate offers a good value for families visiting Disney. It’s within walking distance of Disney’s main entrance, and the ART bus stops at the hotel for those who prefer to ride. A hot breakfast buffet is included in rates -- but there's no evening receptions serving snacks and drinks, which is typical of other Residence Inns. The heated outdoor pool and two hot tubs are open 24/7, but the pool is rather small for the size of the complex. The same can be said for the sparsely equipped fitness center, but perks include a laundry room, a playground, a 24/7 marketplace, free parking, and a free grocery shopping service that delivers food directly to rooms. The 200 spacious, apartment-like suites feature fully equipped kitchens and free Wi-Fi.

The Fairfield Inn Anaheim Resort is a large, mid-range property a brief walk from Disneyland Resort’s main entrance. Many of the 467 rooms feature Disney-themed decor ("Cars," "Frozen," "Toy Story), and all come with 37-inch flat screen TVs, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges. Connecting rooms are available -- in fact, most of the rooms are configured to connect to adjacent rooms. Some have views of the Disney fireworks. Hotel features include a heated pool and a whirlpool -- both open year round -- plus a large game room and a cafe/Pizza Hut Express serving breakfast (for a fee) and dinner. The adjacent Panera Bread restaurant also delivers to the hotel, and the hotel’s marketplace sells food and beverages.

The Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites has a convenient location near the entrance to Disneyland. A rooftop terrace has a viewing deck for Disney's nightly fireworks display and there is an indoor pool and hot tub. Nice freebies include parking, continental breakfast, and Wi-Fi. Rooms are clean and spacious, but walls and ceilings are a bit thin. This hotel is a solid pick for an affordable Disneyland vacation, but there's no on-site gym or full restaurant.

Popular with families due to its good rates and location -- a five-minute walk from Disneyland's main entrance -- the lower-middle-range Grand Legacy at the Park is a budget-friendly property in a former Ramada. Its 199 contemporary rooms were refurbished in 2016 and include attractive amenities such as microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers. The hotel also offers a free continental breakfast, a spacious outdoor pool/whirlpool, guest laundry facilities, and free Wi-Fi.

As the name suggests, Anaheim's Peacock Suites is an all-suite property. All of the brightly decorated rooms are one-bedroom suites that sleep four to six with either a king bed or two queens and pullout sofas. Rooms include mini-fridges, microwaves, safes, and iPod docks. There's plenty on-site for children, including a pool, a play fountain, and a game area, complete with arcade games and foosball. Peacock Suites is about a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk from Disneyland.