The Hotel Fullerton Anaheim

This hotel is a comfortable home base situated in a commercial area next to a busy freeway. Once inside, guests are enveloped in a contemporary and tastefully designed environment. Rich wood paneling on walls, columns, and the front desk blend well with the beige-tile floors and boxy yellow armchairs in front of the desk. Comfortable seating is located throughout the spacious lobby, including an area with several white leather sofas sitting on a carpet popping with a retro, '70s-style design of bright reds, golds, and whites. A bank of floor-to-ceiling windows features views of a nicely landscaped courtyard with a white gazebo and several tables. It’s an inviting spot for people to relax after sightseeing or conducting business. This casual and friendly place is popular with a diverse mix of guests, including tour groups who enjoy its proximity to Disney without the high rates many hotels closer to the park command.

The Hotel Fullerton is located next to the Riverside Freeway in a mostly commercial/industrial district, approximately a six-minute drive to downtown Fullerton and 12 minutes to Disneyland Park. It’s an isolated location, with no restaurants or attractions within walking distance -- but the hotel does offer a free shuttle service within a five-mile radius that includes Disney. California State University Fullerton and a grocery store can be reached in about six minutes by car, while the Honda Center is eight minutes away. The Anaheim Convention Center, Knott’s Berry Farm, and the Outlets at Orange are 12 to 15 minutes away by car, while Angel Stadium of Anaheim can be reached in 10 minutes. Sunset Beach and Newport Beach are 25 to 30 minutes away, depending on traffic. Approximate driving times to the John Wayne Airport and LAX are 20 and 40 minutes, respectively. 

Like the lobby, guest rooms at the Fullerton have a cheery, retro look with a generous use of chocolate-brown, orange, and graphic patterns giving the rooms a punchy look. Curtains have a swirling design with spades, while the bed runners and bolster pillows have an alternating print of squares and circles. Carpets have a crosshatched orange design. Wood furniture in a dark finish includes headboards and roomy desks, which are paired with office chairs on casters. Some rooms also include loungers with ottomans.

The rooms are clean and offer ample space for comfort. Standard Rooms come in King, Queen, and Double-Double options, as do the larger Tower and Executive Rooms. Standard amenities include mini-fridges, coffeemakers, safes, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and small balconies with no furniture. The Executive Rooms also offer an enhanced amenities package that includes free bottled water, robes, slippers, nightly turndown service, and private elevator access. Suites have the same added perks, as well as separate living and dining rooms and a wet bar. The bathrooms are average in size, but they include spacious wood vanities with rose quartz tops that give them a more upscale feel, and shower/tub combos framed by beige marble tiling. The bathrooms are generally clean, but some of their grout could use a good scrubbing. Some freeway noise can be heard in rooms closest to the road, and several past guests have reported that ambient noise is readily heard from nearby rooms. 

This full-service hotel has amenities catering to both leisure and business travelers. Its Red restaurant offers a hot buffet and a la carte menu for breakfast, which is not included in standard room rates -- but some packages include the buffet. The Citizen Kitchen restaurant and bar serves American classics for lunch and dinner, and it has daily happy hour specials and shows sports on several TVs. The marketplace sells various foods and beverages from vending machines, and offers a microwave for guest use. Room service is available as well.

The hotel has a large outdoor pool and a hot tub surrounded by lounge chairs. An adjacent courtyard has a gazebo and several tables with umbrellas. It’s used for various events, including weddings. The property also offers 15,000 square feet of event space that can accommodate groups of up to 450. Two computer stations with internet access and a printer are available in the lobby 24/7. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property as well. Concierge services include Disney tickets and valet dry cleaning and laundry. A self-serve laundry room is also on-site. Free parking is available at the hotel’s surface lot, and the hotel offers a free shuttle service within a five-mile radius that includes Disney. The 24/7 fitness center is a bit small, but it does offer a few cardio and weight-training machines and free weights. An ATM is located in the lobby, where free cold water and free "USA Today" newspapers are offered on weekdays.