Visiting Disneyland in Anaheim, California requires proper planning, and those traveling to the theme parks will need to find hotels to stay in. Fortunately, Disneyland offers accommodations that are close to the parks and come with perks that make them worthwhile. It’s important to take such offerings into consideration when purchasing Disneyland tickets and booking hotels for one’s stay. After all, lodgings can make or break a getaway, and those going to Disneyland should try to get the biggest bang for their buck.
Booking a hotel should be the first step in planning a trip to Disneyland, with tickets, reservations, and deciding which of Disney’s rides to go on following that piece of the puzzle. There aren’t an overwhelming number of Disney hotels at Disneyland California, but there are enough to warrant careful consideration before choosing one. The Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, and Grand Californian Hotel and Spa all have their positives, but each will have amenities better suited to some guests than others. Researching what each accommodation offers is crucial to finding the best place to stay.
The Disneyland Hotel is one of three Disney-owned accommodations near the California theme parks, and it’s the oldest of the options. Built and opened in 1955, the Disneyland Hotel is right in the middle of the action. It’s located within walking distance of Downtown Disney District, Disneyland Park, and Disney California Adventure Park. Guests can stay in the Adventure, Fantasy, or Frontier towers or in the Discover tower located in the newly built Villas at the Disneyland Hotel. Staying at the Disneyland Hotel also comes with an array of perks, dining options, and amenities.
Among the benefits of staying at the Disneyland Hotel is access to Distinctly Disney Benefits, which enable guests staying at any Disney hotel access to certain perks. These include early entrance into the theme parks (30 minutes before opening), access to special events and celebrations, and preferred reservations at certain Disney restaurants (via Disneyland.com). Those staying at the Disneyland Hotel (and any other Disney resort) can also charge purchases in the parks to their rooms and access direct-to-room service through the Disney app.
There are numerous dining options at the Disneyland Hotel, allowing guests to grab food on the go or sit down for a family meal. The variety ensures that guests can try new offerings throughout their stay, and it makes meals far more convenient. The eateries located within the Disneyland Hotel are as follows:
The Disneyland Hotel offers quite a few amenities for guests to enjoy, from recreational experiences to conveniences to improve their stay. Its pool area is the perfect place to relax, and the hotel even offers poolside cabanas and monorail water slides. There are also plenty of other amenities, like access to a fitness center and laundry room. Find the amenities listed at Disneyland.com below.
The Disneyland Hotel offers a variety of room options, starting with standard rooms that offer different views and Club Level rooms that offer standard and premium views. Suites, studios, and villas are also available, with pricing depending on how many beds or rooms they contain. According to Touring Plans, the cheapest rooms at the Disneyland Hotel will run guests about $300 to $410 per night, but prices will go up depending on demand and the type of room a person chooses. Suites and villas can even reach $1,000 or more per night. Check rates for the Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland.com.
Pixar Place Hotel replaced the Paradise Pier, and it reopened in January 2024 (via Travel Weekly). The hotel pays homage to Pixar’s beloved movies, with decor that nods to everything from Finding Nemo to Luca. Needless to say, this is a fun place for anyone with kids to stay while visiting Disneyland. And it’s not far from the theme parks; Pixar Place Hotel is within walking distance of the Downtown Disney District, Disneyland Park, and Disney California Adventure Park. Guests can even see the rides from their lodging.
Since the Pixar Place Hotel is a Disney-owned property, guests can enjoy Distinctly Disney Benefits when they stay there. This means they can enter the parks 30 minutes before their official opening, have access to special and seasonal events, and land preferred reservations at select Disney restaurants. They can also charge purchases to their rooms and utilize direct-to-room service.
The Pixar Place Hotel currently has two dining options available on the premises. One of these is convenient for grabbing food on the go, while the other functions as a casual sit-down restaurant. A third offering is also on the way, as the Small Bytes quick-serve restaurant is listed as “coming soon” on Disneyland.com. Find the already-open eateries below:
The Pixar Place Hotel offers many of the same amenities as the Disneyland Hotel, though it doesn’t have monorail water slides or multiple pools. It does boast a pool, poolside cabanas, and even premium viewing for fireworks. In addition to the recreational offerings at this hotel, there are also conveniences like a laundry room and fitness center. It also has the Pixar Shorts Court, where kids can play in a Pixar-themed area. Find the major amenities at the Pixar Place Hotel below.
Of the three Disney hotels near the Anaheim theme parks, the Pixar Place Hotel is probably the cheapest option — though that isn’t saying much. According to Touring Plans, rooms at this location range from $350 to $600 per night. And that depends on when guests are visiting and what type of accommodations they’re booking. Those booking a Club Level room or suite will be looking at a higher bill. Visitors also choose their rooms depending on the view.
The Pixar Place Hotel might be the cheapest Disney-owned offering near the California parks, but Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the priciest of the bunch. This hotel opened back in 2001, and its name was inspired by the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort. Like its Florida-based counterpart, this hotel offers a rich experience for guests. Pair that with its convenient location — it’s also in walking distance to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure — and it might be worth the splurge for those who can afford it.
Like the other two Disney hotels located near the California parks, the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa grants visitors Distinctly Disney Benefits. The perks of these benefits include gaining entrance to the Disney parks 30 minutes before opening, snagging preferred reservations at select restaurants, and getting to attend special events and seasonal celebrations. Additionally, guests can charge purchases to their rooms and take advantage of direct-to-room service.
With the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa offering a more upscale experience for guests, it’s no surprise that this hotel has a range of dining options, including more formal ones. Its Napa Rose restaurant allows guests to enjoy fine dining, and its Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures give kids the chance to meet their favorite Disney characters. Find the list of dining options at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa below:
As one might expect, the amenities at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa are similar to those at Disney’s other Anaheim-based hotels. The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa has three themed pools, offering a larger recreational experience than the others. Other than that, the only major difference is its Concierge desk, which offers assistance with trip planning and execution. Find the major amenities at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa below.
The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is on the pricier end of Disney’s hotels, and according to Touring Plans, its cheapest rooms can range anywhere from $475 to $980 a night. Visitors will pay more for better views and suites, especially if the latter has multiple rooms. This isn’t the best choice for those planning a trip to Disneyland on a budget, but it does surpass the other hotels in terms of extravagance. When it comes down to it, all of Disney’s accommodations offer fun, luxurious stays though — and more importantly, proximity to the theme parks.
Source: Disneyland.com, Touring Plans, Travel Weekly