Disneyland Resort Hotel Tips: Your Helpful Guide To Staying On Property

Are you planning a visit to the Disneyland resort and considering staying on the Disneyland property? I’ve got some Disneyland Resort Hotel tips to help you decide which hotel is right for you! In this post, I’ll cover everything you need to know about each of the three Disneyland Resort Hotel properties and the perks associated with staying on property at the Disneyland Resort theme parks.

Disneyland resort hotel guests get early entry into the parks. This means they can enter Disneyland or Disney California adventure park 30 minutes before regular guests. I’ll share information about how to take advantage of this great perk later in the post.

Discount Park Tickets and Hotels

Please be aware, that Disney theme parks all require park tickets and reservations. Make sure you have both! Please don’t pay full price for your Disney tickets or hotel. My partners at Get Away Today have the very best deals on tickets and hotels. Their customer service is top-notch and they even have layaway plans. You can use the link or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Mix In Some Magic sent you for the best deal! If you book a package with park tickets and a hotel room you can use my code MIX10 to save an extra $10. That’s more churro money, friends!

I have a bunch of hotel reviews that might be helpful for you if you’re still trying to decide where you’d like to stay. 

Disneyland Resort Hotels

There are three Disneyland Resort hotels to choose from. The Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place and the Grand Californian. Each of these properties has a different vibe, location, atmosphere, and price point. I’ll cover each of them so you can decide which(if any) is best for your family when you visit Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure Park.

Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel

This fun property has been reimagined into Pixar Place Hotel, and it’s now fully themed around your favorite Pixar films! The entire hotel feels bright, playful, and modern, with incredible details and artwork featuring characters from movies like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and more.

The rooms have been updated with a clean, contemporary design and subtle Pixar touches throughout. One of the highlights is still the rooftop pool area, which now features Pixar theming and fun interactive elements. Kids will especially love the Finding Nemo–inspired splash area and the Crush’s Surfin’ Slide.

Disney now considers Pixar Place Hotel a moderate-tier property (no longer a value resort), but it is still typically the most affordable of the three Disneyland Resort hotels.

Location

Pixar Place Hotel is located a little farther out than the other two on-property hotels, but it’s still within walking distance. It will usually take about 10–15 minutes to walk through Downtown Disney to reach the main entrance of Disneyland Park.

One major perk is the dedicated entrance to Disney California Adventure. Guests of Pixar Place Hotel can use a private walkway that leads directly to a hotel guest entrance near Pixar Pier. This makes it incredibly convenient—just about a 5-minute walk to enter California Adventure.

Dining

Pixar Place Hotel now offers onsite dining options, which is a big upgrade from its previous version.

• Great Maple Modern American Eatery – a full-service restaurant offering brunch favorites, comfort food, and a fun, upscale atmosphere
• Sketch Pad Café – a quick-service spot with coffee, pastries, and light bites
• Small convenience market – for grab-and-go snacks and drinks

You’re also still just steps away from all the dining options in Downtown Disney, Disneyland Hotel, and the Grand Californian.

Wrap up

Lower Price, Fun Atmosphere, Great Pool

Click here for discounted rates at the Pixar Place Hotel

Disneyland Hotel

The Disneyland hotel has a sophisticated but whimsical design that pays tribute to the classic origins of the Disneyland park. You’ll stay in one of three towers Adventure Tower, Frontier Tower, or Fantasy Tower. There are two pools to choose from and 2 monorail waterslides—themed after the classic park attraction. Your kids will love the fun water play area. Disney considers this hotel a “moderate” property. Out of the three, this is my favorite Disneyland Resort Hotel to stay at.

Location

Disneyland hotel is located right near the entrance to Downtown Disney. It will probably take you about 10 minutes to walk from the property, through Downtown Disney to reach the Main Gates of Disneyland. There is also the option to ride the monorail from Downtown Disney District into the parks. The monorail drops guests off in Tomorrowland.

Dining

The Disneyland hotel has a variety of dining options located nearby. Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill(great place to grab a dole whip!), Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, The Coffee House, and Goofy’s Kitchen. They also have room service and are close to Downtown Disney, which has many dining options.

The Coffee House is an easy place to grab a quick breakfast. Goofy’s Kitchen is a great way to meet your favorite Disney Characters! This is a very popular character dining experience. Dining reservations are recommended.

Wrap up

Lots of dining options/Near Downtown Disney/ Great pools/ Immersive theming

Click Here For Discounted Rates at the Disneyland Hotel

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel is decorated in a California craftsman style that is absolutely beautiful. It has a spa, 3 pools, and many dining options, including room service. They also have a private entrance into Disney’s California Adventure Park. Disney considers this hotel to be a “Luxury” property. It is the most expensive option out of the three Disneyland Resort hotels.

Find my full review of this property here.

Location

Disney’s Grand Californian is located right in the heart of Downtown Disney and is the closest Disney property to the parks. It will take you about 5 minutes to walk through Downtown Disney to enter Disneyland. Or, you can have easy access to Disney’s California Adventure Park right from the hotel.

Dining

Disney’s Grand Californian offers lots of different dining options. Napa Rose is a great place for a romantic dinner(reservations recommended), and Storytellers Cafe is the perfect place for breakfast or brunch with Mickey Mouse! Reservations are recommended for all character dining. Hearthstone Lounge is nice for a cocktail, snack or continental breakfast. GCH Craftsman Grill is my favorite choice for a quick-service breakfast, lunch, or dinner. GCH Craftsman bar is a nice place to relax with drinks and appetizers poolside. You can also order food via room service or enjoy any of the dining locations at Downtown Disney.

Wrap Up

Luxury property, lots of dining options, separate entrance into DCA, great pools

Click here for discounted rates at Disney’s Grand Californian

Perks To Staying On Property

There are still some great perks to staying on property at Disneyland! While early entry is no longer offered, there are other benefits that can make your trip smoother and more magical.

One of the biggest advantages is location. All three Disneyland Resort hotels are within walking distance of the parks, which makes it easy to head back to your room for a midday break or stay late without worrying about transportation.

Guests staying on property also get convenient access points into the parks. For example, the Grand Californian has its own private entrance into Disney California Adventure, and Pixar Place Hotel offers a dedicated entrance nearby as well. These can save you time and make your park days feel a little easier.

Each of the Disneyland Resort hotels also has a great pool area, a large gift shop, and convenient dining options right onsite.

And honestly, one of the biggest perks is the atmosphere. You get that extra dose of Disney magic when you’re staying on property. Many guests love being fully immersed in the “Disney bubble,” meaning you’re surrounded by Disney theming, music, and storytelling from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed.

Good Neighbor Hotels

There are a bunch of really great properties all around Disneyland that aren’t on the property. Many of these hotels are actually closer than the Disneyland Resort hotels and you can book them for a fraction of the price. While I enjoy staying on property, I don’t do it often because of the extra cost involved.

I often choose to stay at a property directly across the street on Harbor Blvd. These hotels are much cheaper and just a short walk away. Most of them are only about a 5-10 minute walk from the parks. I have a whole post with information about my favorite hotels on Harbor Blvd that you should check out.

Disneyland Planning Help

I’ve got bunches of information on planning a Disneyland trip that will be so helpful for you! Start with my complete guide to visiting Disneyland. It’s a step-by-step guide for planning your vacation that will be helpful. Check out my top 10 Disneyland tips and my guide to when to visit Disneyland to help you pick the best time for your vacation! I’ve also got a post on rope dropping at Disneyland that’s very helpful.

Make sure you check out my Disneyland planning guides for touring plans and everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland!

I hope this Disneyland Resort Hotel tip information was helpful to you. Staying on property at a Disneyland Resort Hotel is a real treat and always a great option if you’re able to fit it into your budget. Whichever property you decide to book, I’m sure you’ll have a great time!

Make sure to check out my YouTube videos for helpful info and fun Disney videos! Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for lots of Disney tips and fun and make sure you join my Disney planning Facebook group! It’s a great place to ask all your Disneyland planning questions and get expert help.