Hyatt Regency Orange County: What to Expect
I’ve stayed here a couple of times for a low-key Disney experience. You’re not quite as inundated with dozens of families who are all on the same schedule as you and heading out to the parks super early as you are at the Hyatt House in Anaheim. In fact, at 630am when breakfast opens there’s usually me and one or two other individuals sitting for the early seating.
If you arrive in the middle of the day, the lobby feels like a bustling little city with all of the dining areas, and high ceilings. The design has held up well over the years even though it is clearly not from this era it’s still a somewhat modern experience. However, aside from the newly renovated King Suites (more on that below) the rest of the hotel and its rooms feel firmly rooted in the ‘80s. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
This is the type of hotel you stay at when you have somewhere else to be- a place to rest your head at night and it does a good job of that. What you don’t get in modernity, you definitely do get in reliable service and amenities that you would expect from a busy Hyatt Regency.
What’s great about the Hyatt Regency Orange County
The Breakfast
Both the food selection is not the biggest it seems to hit the spot. Also, every single time I’ve stayed here the person tending to the tables has been exceptionally friendly in a genuine way.
The Disneyland Shuttle
There’s a shuttle that runs from 630am to the parks. The last shuttle of the night depends on the specific time that the parks close on certain dates. Early in the day it appears that shuttle runs every 30 minutes but as the day goes on and people are coming home more I noticed that it tended to run every 15 minutes.
You can purchase a full day use ticket for $6 per person. I don’t think it is generally policy, but as a Globalist I was given 2 passes for the duration of my 2-night stay.
Shuttle area at Disneyland parks puts you close to the main entrance to the security check area.
The Concierge
Again, this is a Disney slant, but the concierge desk has great information for people who are going to Disneyland. Even if you’ve been before, since it’s their business to know about what’s going on in the parks, they may have some insider tips for you and specific activities you don’t want to miss depending on what age children you have with you.
A few helpful tips before you stay at the Hyatt Regency Orange County
· You’ll notice that in the app the photos of the renovated king suites look very different than the older rooms. If you can lock one of the newer rooms in it’s worth it. The older ones do the job I just find the suite to be more comfortable and a place where I enjoy staying in. Plus you get so much more room.
· Walking to things in the area is not as easy as it seems. The length of a single block is so long, and the buildings are deceptively close to the naked eye. Aside from the things in your immediate vicinity (the Target, Outback Steakhouse, etc.) you might be better off Ubering.
Is there room service at the Hyatt Regency Orange County?
Yes, there is in-room dining at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, but technically the room service is delivery through the Citrus Grove Deli downstairs. There is a QR code to use to place your order. You can choose to either pick up or have it delivered to your room. It isn’t available as a breakfast option and is open from 1130am to 12am.
Is there a Globalist breakfast at the hotel?
Yes, breakfast is held at TusCA and you can order a la carte or choose to do the buffet. I choose the buffet every time. It opens at 630am. The main staples like eggs, oatmeal, bacon and sausage tend to stay the same at the buffet but there seems to be a rotating speciality every 5-6 days. I’ve had chilaquiles on one day and an unexpectedly delicious tofu quinoa scramble on another. It also comes with an orange juice and a coffee. There’s also fruit, yogurt, bread and pastries, and one morning I even had mini churros.
Orange juice and drip coffee that came with my buffet breakfast, all free for Globalist members when staying at the Hyatt Regency Orange County.
What is the Globalist gift at the hotel?
I didn’t experience a globalist gift at this property although perhaps it was the glass of champagne that was offered by the person checking me in. This would make sense at such a huge property to save the staff time from delivering items. I think most guests at this property are either here for a conference or Disneyland, so most people aren’t staying in their rooms.
What is the gym like at the Hyatt Regency Orange County?
The fitness center at the Hyatt Regency Orange County has a good selection of cardio machines, weight training machines and weights. When I stay at this hotel I’m usually walking 20,000+ steps a day so I’m not usually interested in extra physical activity. But it’s a nice place to stretch in front of a mirror and also fill up your water bottle.
Points or pay?
It’s a relatively inexpensive hotel to use cash so that’s usually what I’d do, or I use a free night category 1-4 voucher.
Should I stay at the Hyatt Regency Orange County vs. Hyatt House Anaheim?
If you are going to Disneyland, this is the big question.
They can both be very busy hotels. The Hyatt House Anaheim I noticed to almost exclusively have Disney guests and families, while the Hyatt Regency Orange County tends to have Disney guests AND people going to the conventions.
Prices
The Hyatt House Anaheim seems to reliably be more expensive than the Hyatt Regency Orange County. You’re right in the thick of things in this area so I think that makes sense.
Considerations for Getting to Disneyland
The main difference is that the Hyatt House is ‘walkable’ to Disneyland whereas the Hyatt Regency Orange County requires the use of a shuttle or other transport to get there. Having done both, I prefer the Hyatt Regency because the shuttle is so convenient and gets you almost right to the entrance of the parks. Particularly if you want to have a nap in the middle of your long Disney day, walking back to the Hyatt House is a huge trek to do more than once a day. You’ll probably log over 28,000+ steps if you do that.
From my perspective, you do so much walking at Disneyland already, that walking the extra length to your hotel is a lot. The blocks in Orange County are huge. If you’re a big family though, the $6 per day can add up so then it might be worth it to walk instead of shuttle.
Breakfast
If you are a Globalist, the breakfast at the Hyatt Regency is better value because it’s included when you have that status and it’s more premium. Your Globalist status will get you breakfast for two adults and two children. Whereas, at the Hyatt House whether you have status or not, you get breakfast included with your stay. Albeit, it’s a simpler version, it still gets the job done. I’ve had both and can tell you that the one at the Hyatt Regency is much better but I don’t have complaints about the Hyatt House one either.
The Rooms
They’re both older hotels so it’s not as though one of them is much more luxurious than the others. However, they Hyatt House does have rooms that include a kitchenette. You’ll have to request this type of room as not all of them do. This is a great option for families that might have to heat up water for bottles or enjoy putting together their own meals on vacation.
The Location
Aside from the Disney considerations, I prefer the location and proximity to Walgreens, CVS and a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf of the Hyatt House. Both stores were well stocked with great souvenirs and items you might need like towels, sunscreen, anything you can think of. The Hyatt Regency is close to a very large Target with a large grocery section where you can get food to bring back.
Having stayed at both places, I think either option is a good choice but your selection might depend on how much you’re willing to spend, the size of your group, if you have status, or how you feel about walking.