Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel Club Resort

Located on a palm-tree studded road overlooking Tokyo Bay, the Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel Club Resort occupies a large, rectangular brown building covered in even rows of windows and balconies. The highlight of the hotel is the atrium-style lobby, which has a glass ceiling that lets in lots of natural light. The atrium has the ambience of a quaint -- if slightly theatrical -- city, with lampposts, a charming central structure that looks like a pink house, freestanding columns, a fountain, lush green plants, and a shopping promenade with terra-cotta-roofed stores. The atrium also has an on-site chapel -- a cordoned-off area with rows of white chairs studded in pink flowers that creates an aisle for a bride and groom to walk down. Because of its proximity to Tokyo Disney, the Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel draws lots of families with children, though the central wedding set-up draws wedding guests, too.

Located in the midst of a string of Disney resort hotels, the Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel Club Resort faces Tokyo Bay to the west and Disney (or at least its parking lot) to the east. While officially located in Chiba prefecture’s Urayasu district just outside Tokyo, the main draw here is Tokyo Disney, which is about 15 minutes away via a free shuttle, which drops guests at the monorail’s Bayside stop. (Guests can also walk there in about six minutes.)

Travel time to most central Tokyo sights, such as Tsukiji Fish Market, Shibuya Crossing, and the Imperial Palace, takes 45 minutes to an hour via public transportation, or about 30 minutes by car.

• 14 minutes to Maihama Station (JR train on Keiyo Line) via monorail 
• 15 minutes to Tokyo Disney entrance via free shuttle/monorail
• 45 minutes to Tokyo Station via public transportation
• One hour to Tokyo Haneda Airport via public transportation (30 minutes by car)
• One hour and 20 minutes to Narita International Airport via public transportation (50 minutes by car)

The 700 guest rooms at the Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel Club Resort show their age. Though spacious and functional with sitting areas and small balconies, the rooms have dated decor that shows some wear and tear. Standard Rooms resemble those found in an average American motel, with patterned carpeting in teal that only somewhat pairs with the pink floral bedspreads. Beige walls are blank, save for an oddly placed pastel-colored floral picture. Bathrooms are similarly unadorned, but they include Japanese-style toilets, bath/shower combos, and large mirrored vanities. An in-shower dispenser offers shampoo, conditioner, and body soap, while extra toiletries, such as toothbrushes and shower sponges, sit on the sink. Kids get their own bathroom products. Rooms include flat-screen TVs, desks and chairs, mini-fridges, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Pajamas and slippers are also supplied. While many rooms have great views of Tokyo Bay, others face the Disney parking lot, with Disney looming in the background.

Compared with some of the other Official Disney Resort Hotels, the Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel Club Resort has fewer on-site features. The hotel’s central atrium is host to a perpetually decorated wedding venue, while banquet and meeting rooms are also available. A string of chic shops line the atrium and are filled with souvenirs, traveler essentials, and grab-and-go snacks (including bottles of wine). A chic Smoking Lounge has an unusual tunnel design crafted from wooden arches, with wooden bench seating and a vending machine. The hotel offers a wide variety of Japanese and Western cuisines at different venues, including a Japanese-style restaurant and a French restaurant -- with dated decor -- that overlooks Tokyo Bay. There is also a coffee and pastry shop, and the hotel serves buffet breakfasts and buffet dinners, though these cost extra, and guests complain that the food is overpriced. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Travelers should note that the hotel does not have a pool, spa, or fitness center.