Summer Travel Issue Hotel of the Week, Hotels
Hotel of the Week: Hyatt Regency Orange County
There’s no shortage of hotels around Disneyland in Anaheim, but with a recent $25 million renovation, two new restaurants, and a slew of unique features and amenities, the Hyatt Regency Orange County offers plenty to set it apart from its competitors.
Rooms For All Ages
The hotel contains 654 guest rooms and suites in two towers, all of which were part of the $25 million renovation, as were the public meeting spaces, the 17-story atrium lobby and reception, restaurants, lounges, recreation decks and fitness center. The room upgrades include new carpeting, wall coverings, beds, and 42-inch flat-screen televisions, while the suites now all have microwaves and refrigerators.
Standard guest rooms come with either one king or two queen beds with pillow-top mattresses, as well as oversize work desks, iHome Stereos with iPod docks, and high-speed internet for a fee. They have been redecorated in simple, muted tones that seem to be the palette of the moment everywhere, though throw pillows and draperies provide splashes of gem-toned color. Best of all, those with a city view have perfect vantages over the nightly fireworks at Disneyland, and those that are set off on game nights at Angels Stadium.
The hotel’s real ace in the hole, though, is the Two-Bedroom Kids Suite. Unlike most suites, which separate the bedroom from the living room with just a doorway, the kids suites here come with a totally separate bedroom just for the children, with bunk beds, an activity table and second television, and French doors that close so that adults and children each have their privacy.
Finally, for the misanthropes who don’t like to deal with anyone before they’ve had their morning coffee (which you can grab at the Starbucks in the lobby), there’s the convenience of video checkout, which you can complete in the privacy of your room.
Two New Restaurants
Along with the massive renovation, the hotel has launched two new restaurant concepts in the lobby. The signature restaurant is TusCA, with a Tuscan-inspired menu that draws its seasonal items from the local California farmer’s markets, as well as the produce and herbs grown in the chef’s new rooftop garden. The menu includes specialties like cheese and charcuterie plates, six different gourmet pizzas, pasta dishes like spinach-ricotta gnocchi with brown butter, sage and cheese vellutata, and entrees like the lemon-rosemary roasted chicken with polenta and sautéed funghi.
Solo travelers need not fear–there’s a communal table where anyone can draw up a chair. However, if you’re traveling with your children, you’ll be pleased to learn that kids under 12 can eat lunch and dinner for free. The only condition is one child ordering off the children’s menu per paying adult entrée purchase.
The hotel’s other main restaurant is also located in the lobby. OC Brewhouse is a “laid-back, beer-forward” gastropub that specializes in Southern California microbrew drafts, which are stored and served using a Blizzard draft system that keeps them at an optimal 29 degrees. Try a few at a discount during the daily 2:00 PM-6:00 PM happy hour. Just be sure to save room for their rack of baby back ribs, or one of their design-your-own burgers.
Child’s Play
The hotel has plenty of facilities to keep guests busy, including a 24-hour StayFit fitness center with all-new state-of-the-art equipment, including cardio machines that all have integrated LCD TVs so you can catch up on your favorite programs while burning calories.
There are two swimming pools at the hotel, one at each tower. The south pool is on the third floor Roof Garden, which also contains a spa Jacuzzi, and tennis and basketball courts. The north pool is on the ground floor at the front of the hotel. Guests at the hotel also receive preferred tee times at nearby Orange County Golf Courses.
The real draw, of course, is Disneyland, which is less than a mile from the hotel. Guests can purchase tickets to all the parks at a kiosk located right in the hotel lobby, and there is a free shuttle that runs to the park every half-hour.
Besides Disneyland, there are several other points of interest near the hotel including Knott’s Berry Farm, the Crystal Cathedral, and for the adults, South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island for shopping, and the Orange County Performing Arts Center, which attracts some of the world’s most sought after performers.
Its proximity to Disneyland and several other Southern California attractions, its child-friendly rooms and amenities, and sophisticated restaurants and service mean the Orange County Hyatt is a great option for families and adult travelers alike.
Hyatt Regency Orange County
11999 Harbor Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
(714) 750-1234
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All Photos via Hyatt Regency Orangey County
