If you are looking for a hotel for your trip to The Disneyland Resort I highly recommend staying at The Disneyland Hotel. Each of the three hotels at The Disneyland Resort has something different to offer. The Grand Californian is a tribute to California and overlooks sections of Disney California Adventure. Paradise Pier has a beach theme and rooms that can see pieces of Pixar Pier. But it is The Disneyland Hotel that truly pays tribute to Disney history and brings the magic to life.
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The Disneyland Hotel is only a few months younger than The Disneyland Resort and has been in the same place since 1955. Over the years the hotel has seen several renovations that have only made it even more magical. The hotel currently has three towers: The Frontier Tower, The Fantasy Tower, and The Adventure Tower. While all of the rooms are the same, minus the incredible suites, the lobby of each tower is different.
The Fantasy Tower is where the main lobby with check-in and the gift shop is. This is also where you will find the Instagram worthy teacup chairs. Be sure to eventually walk fully around the lobby level of this tower. You will find an incredible wall filled with memorabilia from over the years. As well as an Autopia car you can get your picture in. This tower is also home to Goofy’s Kitchen, Steakhouse 55, and the Coffee House.
As far as which tower is the best to stay in I believe it is the Adventure Tower. This is really the only tower where you have the chance for a view of the parks. Even if you’re in a room without a view of the parks or Downtown Disney you will most likely have a view of the pool. I suggest visiting the lobby of all three towers to see displays and pictures that they have. Plus, if you can find a public restroom check out the cool wallpaper as pictured below.
Staying at The Disneyland Hotel is expensive but my family and I were able to stay there a couple of times with a discount while I was a cast member. In order to get the best rate, I would encourage you to avoid visiting during peak times like the summer or during December. Be sure to check with AAA for any hotel discounts.
There are several reasons as to why I would recommend staying at The Disneyland Hotel but one of the top reasons is the location. The Disneyland Hotel is located at the end of the Downtown Disney District. You can walk to the monorail which is less than a five-minutes from the hotel. The monorail will take you to Tomorrowland inside Disneyland Park and makes for a convenient entrance to the park.
If you would rather not take the monorail you can walk through Downtown Disney to get to either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure. Want a break? You are close enough to your hotel that going back to the room or the pool won’t take long. This also means that you can go back to the room for snacks you put in the refrigerator or to change since it cools down at night.
Rooms At The Disneyland Hotel
While the location is an important factor to consider when picking a hotel the rooms are important too. The rooms at The Disneyland Hotel do not disappoint. By far the most magical touch inside the rooms is the beautiful wooden headboard above the beds. Sleeping Beauty Castle is on the wood and when you flip the switch fireworks go off above the castle while an instrumental version of A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes plays. This is one of those touches that I would only expect from Disney.
You will find more than a few special touches throughout the room and even in the bathroom. The rooms are decorated perfectly because not only will Disney fans love the decor but it doesn’t feel like a kid’s room. The lights in the bathroom are so cute!
The rooms are spacious which is great for those who travel with a lot of luggage and/or a lot of people. In addition to one or two beds, the rooms come with a pullout couch. Above the couch is a collage of pictures from Disneyland Park which is really nice.
Both times that my family has stayed in the Adventure tower we had great views. Our first time staying at the hotel we were given a room on the sixth floor facing Downtown Disney. From our room, we could see the tops of Splash Mountain, the Matterhorn, and Space Mountain. On our second visit, we had a lovely view of the pool area.
The rooms do have a dvd player if you would like to bring some movies with you.
The pool at The Disneyland Resort is really fun with two monorail slides. Since the weather is mostly nice year-round in California the pools are open every day. On cooler days the hot tub is a great option and even the hot tub has the Disney touch with an outline of Minnie Mouse’s head with her bow. You will need your room key in order to access the pool so make sure that you don’t leave it in the room.
By the pool, you will find the Tangaroa Terrace which is a casual quick-service dining location open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Next, to the Tangaroa Terrace, you will find Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. Trader Sam’s is themed after the Jungle Cruise and is a spirited & popular place to visit. Order certain drinks and things inside the bar will change which keeps things more than interesting.
Other dining options include Goofy’s Kitchen, Steakhouse 55, and the Coffee House. Goofy’s Kitchen is a great option if you are looking for character dining. Goofy will greet you at the entrance dressed in a Chef’s costume. Once inside the restaurant you can eat as much as you want from the buffet while you wait for the characters to visit you at your table. You can eat at Goofy’s Kitchen for either breakfast or dinner.
If you are looking for a formal meal you might want to check out Steakhouse 55 which is one of the most expensive restaurants at The Disneyland Resort. They are well known for their 24 layer cake as well as the steaks. For something quick in the morning, the Coffee House is the place to go. My Mom and I came here for the classic afternoon tea and absolutely loved it! We have also been back for breakfast which was good but not my favorite place for the morning.
Did you know that guests staying in one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels get early access to the parks? On Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays guests can get into Disneyland Park one hour early. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays guests can get into Disney California Adventure one hour early. Not all of the lands and attractions are open for Extra Magic Hour but still, a lot of the good ones are open like Space Mountain in Disneyland Park and Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land.
It is really enjoyable to be in the park with fewer people. Now it won’t feel empty since there are three hotels at the Disneyland Resort whose guests will be eligible to get in but it will be much emptier during Extra Magic Hour than any other time of the day. If you do some shopping in the parks but don’t want to carry your bags you can send them back to the hotel. Just be sure to let the cashier know when they are ringing up your purchases.
You can read about my experience with the Paradise Pier Hotel here.
