Your Guide to the Disneyland Resort Hotels

Planning a trip to Disneyland is full of tough choices, isn’t it? But one of the biggest challenges is finding the right hotel. While many people choose to go with a Good Neighbor Hotel, others choose to stay at one of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels. What do those three resort hotels offer that other hotels in the area don’t? They’re typically more expensive, but the perks may outweigh the higher price, right?

If you’re like me, when you vacation at Disneyland Resort you want to spend every possible hour in the parks. The hotel is merely a place to sleep and shower. Even when I had young kids, the only difference was a nap in the middle of the day. Other than that, we were in the parks. So booking an inexpensive hotel is how we travel – but I have always considered one of these three hotels to experience the Disney Magic.

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Well, I’ve put together a rundown on the three Disneyland Resort Hotels, what they offer, and a few reasons why people choose to stay here over other hotels. So as you’re planning your Disneyland vacation, you can see if the experience you’re looking for is found at these hotels, or if you want to book your stay at one of the nearby Good Neighbor Hotels instead.

Perks of Staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel

When you book your stay at the Disneyland Hotel, take advantage of these added perks (some of which are available at any of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels):

• EARLY ENTRY – Starting August 8, 2022, enter the theme parks 30 minutes before regular park opening. You can enjoy select attractions, dining and shopping. You must be checked in and currently staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels at the time and have a valid theme park admission and a park reservation for the same park on the same date.
• EASY PARK ACCESS – Guests staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa can enter through the hotel’s entry gate for easy access to California Adventure Park. Those staying at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel can use a new walkway across the street from their hotel to access California Adventure Park.
• DITCH THE SHOPPING BAGS – Starting August 8, 2022, when you make purchases in select shops at the parks or at the Downtown Disney District, you can send the items to your Disneyland Resort hotel for pick up the very next day after they are purchased. Not all stores participate in this program, so look for Disney owned-and-operated locations and World of Disney.

Disneyland Hotel

The Disneyland Hotel is the middle tier of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels when it comes to cost. It’s not as expensive as the Grand Californian Hotel, but is a step up from Disney’s Paradise Pier. Despite the cost, I had a few people from the Disneyland Addicts Facebook group share why they stay at the Disneyland Hotel. Here are some responses:

• We always stay at the Disneyland Hotel. It’s a beautiful property with a great pool, close by, and we love Trader Sam’s. We love having the Disney magic and customer service.
• I say it’s worth the experience even though it’s very pricey and you can find a better deal. The rooms are lovely and nice. Made reservations for Goofy’s kitchen in advance, nice pool area, and cute café on the spot. I say definitely book it at least once.
• We always stay at the Disneyland Hotel because we love the bubble. I just like never living Disney property.
• We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel a few years back, and it was amazing. The theming, the pool, the headboards, and walking through Downtown Disney are all highlights.

Hotel Features Available at this Property

Some of the features of this hotel have been mentioned in the quotes above. But here’s a rundown on what features are available at the Disneyland Hotel.

• Two retro-themed pools and 2 Monorail-themed waterslides
• Multiple restaurant and dining options: Goofy’s Kitchen Dinner (Character dining experience), Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill and Coffee house.
• A few souvenir shops to grab pins, towels, shirts or other items

Room Types Available at the Disneyland Hotel

There are a few room types and suites you can choose from at the Disneyland Hotel, depending on the size of your group and which view you prefer.

• STANDARD VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – Options include one king bed, two queen beds or two queen beds and a day bed.
• DELUXE VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – Located on a lower level of the hotel and has a pool view. Options include one king bed or two queen beds.
• PREMIUM VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – Located on a higher level of the hotel and has a pool view, or view of Downtown Disney.
• CLUB LEVEL (Sleeps up to five adults) – Views include Standard or Premium, but also gives you access to a continental breakfast, cookies & desserts, wine and cheese and firework viewing areas.
• FAMILY SUITES (Sleeps 4-14 adults, depending on selected suite) – There are multiple suites available for families, including 1, 2 and 3-bedroom suites.
• SIGNATURE SUITES (Sleeps 2-6 adults, depending on selected suite) – These suites would be the ultimate Disneyland family vacation. These themed suites include Adventureland Suite, Big Thunder Suite, Fairytale Suite, Mickey Mouse Suite, and Pirate Suite. Most are two bedroom suites, except the Fairytale Suite which is one bedroom.

Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

The most prestigious hotel of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels is by far the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. If you’ve ever walked into it’s main lobby, it’s astounding. It comes across as a rustic lodge in the mountains of Montana. Yet it has the Disney magic we all know and love.

One of the biggest perks to staying at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the proximity to the parks. Guests have a private entrance area to Disney’s California Adventure. The hotel is inside the Downtown Disney shopping area and a short five minute walk to the Disneyland Park entrance. You really can’t get any closer to the entrance unless you pitched a tent in the plaza between to the two park entrances (which they won’t let you do).

Here are a few reasons people listed for staying at this Disneyland Resort Hotel during a Disneyland vacation:

• I choose to stay at Grand Californian Hotel because of the proximity. In my opinion, it’s worth every penny when you have littles.
• We stayed at the Grand Californian Hotel and loved every minute of our stay. We felt it was worth every cent!
• We love to stay at the Grand Californian for the proximity to the parks, the ease of taking breaks, the nice pool area, and the early entry into the parks. But because of the cost we don’t stay there every time we go, only when we feel like splurging.
• I still have babes that need naps. We stay at Grand Californian Hotel because it’s that convenient, close and easy.

Hotel Features Available at this Property

Proximity to the parks seems to be one of the biggest reasons people choose to stay at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. But here are some of the additional features of this property that may help you determine which Disneyland Resort Hotel you want to book.

• Three themed pools for fun and relaxation
• Multiple restaurant and dining options: Napa Rose, Storytellers Café, Hearthstone Lounge, GCH Craftsman Grill, GCH Craftsman Bar and of course, room service.
• Tenaya Stone Spa, a full-service spa where modern-day travelers find respite for their mind, body and spirit.
• A few shops so you can grab a souvenir or other items

Room Types Available at the Grand Californian

The Grand Californian offers a few different room types, so you can choose the one that works for your group size and interests (and of course, your budget). The main differences in room type is the view you get out your window. Unless you choose a Club Level room or Suite for your accommodations, the rooms are similar.

• STANDARD VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – There are several bed sizes and configurations, including 2 Queen Beds and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair, 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair, 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed, 2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair. Views of Disneyland Drive, rooftop or parking area.
• PARTIAL VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – Partial Views of theme park or Downtown Disney District. Options for number of beds and configurations are similar to STANDARD VIEW.
• POOL VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – Room view overlooking the pool area. Options for number of beds and configurations are similar to STANDARD VIEW.
• WOODS-COURTYARD VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – Room view overlooking the courtyard. Options for number of beds and configurations are similar to STANDARD VIEW.
• DOWNTOWN DISNEY VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – Room view overlooking Downtown Disney District. Options for number of beds and configurations are similar to STANDARD VIEW.
• CLUB LEVEL (Sleeps up to five adults) – Views include Courtyard, Disneyland Drive or the pool, but also gives you access to a continental breakfast, tea time, cookies & desserts, wine and cheese and firework viewing from the veranda.
• SUITES (Sleeps 2-13 adults, depending on selected suite) – These suites look amazing and there are so many types and sizes of suites available. There are 1, 2 and 3 bedroom suites, ranging from standard suites to signature collection suites, each one offering a different level of class.

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel

Several years ago, our family stayed at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. We were excited to experience our first Disneyland Resort Hotel, but I found there wasn’t anything special to draw me to this hotel in the future. We didn’t see anything special in the experience. There was no special entrance to the parks, and at the time of our visit, the Downtown Disney Monorail Station was under construction – so it was a long walk to the park entrance.

Now this experience was at least 10 years ago. Things have changed since then, most notably the exclusive entrance to California Adventure Park for Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel guests. The monorail station is also open (pending future construction/renovations), so that reduces the walking distance to the parks by several minutes.

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Here are a few comments from self-proclaimed Disneyland Addicts about their experiences with Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel:

• We have stayed at Paradise Pier on our trips. You will get the early entry in to the parks, there is now a private entrance into California Adventure Park from the hotel, the pool is pretty nice midday with activities for kids and the concierge service is nice. We also watch the fireworks from the hotel the night before we start the parks.
• We love all the Disneyland Resort Hotels and rotate each one when we stay. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel is a bit further of a walk but only by a few minutes.
• I stayed at Paradise Pier once. The proximity is awesome.

Hotel Features Available at this Property

Some Disneyland goers like to stay within the Disney bubble during their vacation. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel allows them to do just that. But here are a few of the other features available at this hotel.

• Seaside-inspired rooms help you feel like you’re at the beach.
• Rooftop pool, which includes a children’s pool, waterslides and the Paradise Spa whirlpool.
• Easy access to Downtown Disney and an exclusive entrance across the street to Disney’s California Adventure Park.
• Firework viewing area from the third-floor pool deck.
• A self-serve market with food and beverage options, located near the hotel lobby

Room Types Available at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel has the basic room available, but includes some suite options. Here’s a rundown on the options you can choose from as you book your Disneyland Resort Hotel.

STANDARD VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – 1 king bed and 1 queen-size sleeper sofa or 2 queen beds and 1 daybed. Views of Disneyland Drive or the parking area.
PREMIUM VIEW (Sleeps up to five adults) – 2 queen beds and 1 daybed. Views of the theme parks.
CLUB LEVEL (Sleeps up to five adults) – Views of the theme park or parking area, but also gives you access to the Beachcomber Club on the second floor. That includes a continental breakfast, snacks, desserts, beer, wine and cheese at designated times during the day.
SUITES (Sleeps 6-13 adults, depending on selected suite) – The suites are a great way to host you and your extended family all together. There are 1, 2 and 3 bedroom suites, ranging from standard suites to signature collection suites, each one offering a different style.

How to Book your Disneyland Vacation

In looking at all the times I’ve taken my family to Disneyland over the years, I’ve learned a few things about booking the vacation. I can try to piecemeal my vacation and do a lot of the work – airfare, hotel, park tickets, rental car, food, etc. But the easiest way for me is to book with Get Away Today! They not only put everything together into a single package, as a travel agent they have access to deals and perks you wouldn’t have if you booked it all on your own.

For example, they can often offer a free night stay or an extra day in the park, and it’s often based on how many days you’re planning to stay. If you want to get a quote from them, you can do so online. The Get Away Today website is a great starting point. You can do everything there, or call them to speak with a travel agent.

Regardless of whether you want to book your stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel or a Good Neighbor Hotel, Get Away Today can help get you a great vacation package.

For details, visit www.getawaytoday.com or call a travel agent at 855-GET-AWAY. Let them know I sent you, and use our promo code Carltonaut10 for additional savings when you book your vacation package.

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