Element

The Element might be the quintessential family hotel. With kitchens, bunk beds, and free breakfast, it’s the perfect set up for families of all shapes and sizes.

Starting in the lobby, you’ll find lots of places to lounge and spread out or even get some work done. Outlets abound so you can work or surf without fear of your device dying. There’s water and coffee and tea always available. There’s also a small market if your tastes run in a different direction.

Next, you move into the breakfast area, which can be used for work, meals, or table games outside of breakfast hours. The breakfast here is large and varied. Those with allergies are more welcome here with vegetarian and gluten free options clearly marked.

On select days, there’s also a “happy hour” in the lobby where adult beverages and light snacks are provided. Don’t worry! Kid beverages are available too.

If you’re looking to soak up some Southern California weather, there’s a great patio area. Fire up the grill for dinner or just bring your coffee out to the plentiful seating. Let the kids splash in the nearby pool. No hot tub here.

If you need a gym (but why would you? You’re walking, what, close to 20k steps a day at Disneyland, right??) LOL. But anyway, there is a fully-equipped gym here. Go get that workout!

Let’s get into the room now. For us, the only negative was the kitchen lining the entire side of one wall, thus making it impossible to close off one sleeping area from the other. For families, a negative MIGHT be that there was only a shower, no bathtub for the younger kiddos.

Otherwise, it was a great room! I took a nap on the lower bunk bed and found it be quite comfortable and equipped with its own reading light and USB outlet. The sofa pulls out into a queen bed if you need to accommodate that many bodies – or if you have the “he’s-touching-me!” problem when your kids share beds.

If you are filling, or almost filling, all of the beds, meals in the room wouldn’t be feasible. That’s why all those tables and chairs downstairs are so useful. But if you’ve got just a handful, then the bar seating and sofa should be able to seat everyone nicely to enjoy a meal, a movie, or a game. You can also get this room with two queens instead of a king.

We stayed here while visiting Disneyland for an After Dark: Star Wars Nite event. We walked to Disneyland on our way to the park. I timed it and it took us 16 minutes, walking at a semi-leisurely pace and stopping for two traffic lights. We took an Uber back after the event (cuz, you know, tired feet) and it cost $6.71 including fees and tip. The ART bus also stops here. Find out more about ART in this article.

We stayed for 2 nights midweek in April, and parked a rental car ($35/day), and our total bill was $612 for the room and parking.

Overall, we think this is a great hotel for families and groups of friends! If you are a couple or party of 3, however, unless you plan to take full advantage of the kitchen, you will probably be able to find a better deal elsewhere.