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 find them here or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Melissa from 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, Paradise Pier, 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 Paradise Pier Hotel

This fun property has a beachy vibe and is full of color and fun! The rooms are seaside themed and they have a rooftop pool! Your kids will love the California Streamin’ slide, inspired by beachside roller coasters. Disney considers this property a “value property” and offers the cheapest hotel room options out of the on-property choices.

Location

Disney’s Paradise Pier hotel is located a little farther out than the other two properties. It’s still within walking distance of the parks. It will probably take you about 10-15 minutes to walk through Downtown Disney to reach the main gate of Disneyland.

If you’re going to California Adventure, you can use a path near the Grand Californian Hotel to access a special entrance just for hotel guests. It’s a 5-7 minute walk to the California Adventure entrance.

Dining

There is no onsite dining at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. However, there is a small self-service market with snacks and beverages. This property is close to Downtown Disney, the Disneyland hotel, the Grand Californian, and all of their dining options.

Wrap up

Lower Price, Fun Atmosphere, Great Pool, Early Entry

Click here for discounted rates at the Paradise Pier 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/ Early Entry

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, early entry

Click here for discounted rates at Disney’s Grand Californian

Perks To Staying On Property

There are lots of perks to staying on property at Disneyland! Probably the number one perk is early entry into the parks. If you’re staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel you can enter Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park 30 minutes before it opens to regular guests! This is a great way to hit a few of the best rides with little to no wait. I’ve got a full guide to early entry at Disneyland that includes a full explanation and lots of tips. Make sure you check it out.

Each of the Disneyland Resort Hotels has a great pool, a large gift shop, and lots of parking.

I think you get a little extra dose of Disney magic when you’re staying on property. Many guests prefer to stay on the property because they enjoy being in the “Disney bubble”. This just means they are surrounded by Disney the entire time they are on vacation.

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 downloadable touring plans if you’d like a step-by-step guide to the parks! 

I have a planning phone call that’s super popular! In this phone call, I can answer all of your Disneyland vacation questions and give you lots of tips and info tailored just to you and your group!

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 podcast for lots of Disney planning information! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Just search for “Mix In Some Magic” Follow me on Instagram for more Disney tips and lots of Disney tips and fun!