Disneyland Hotel is one of the most famous Disney hotels and the oldest to bear the Disney name. Most Disneyland guests are put off by the high price, but could it be worth a splurge? Read on to learn more about Disneyland Hotel!
The Basics & Booking Disneyland Hotel
Disneyland Hotel is one of three Disney-operated hotels at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. The other two are Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel.
For our most recent stay, we booked our Premium View - Club Level room through our choice travel agent, Lauren Quirk of Travel With Character LLC. We paid $976.95 per night, which was the full rack rate.
For 2024, Disneyland Hotel rooms start around $550 after tax. Discounts from third-party sites (Expedia, Booking, etc.) are rare. Discounts are occasionally available for other groups, including DVC members and Disneyland annual passholders.
The Disney hotels are never going to be the best option for keeping the price of your Disneyland trip down. All three shine in their own ways, but they are leagues more expensive than the competition in the area.
Perks of Staying at Disneyland Hotel
There’s one big perk of staying at Disneyland Hotel—access to Early Entry at both parks. Early Entry grants guests of the Disney hotels an extra 30 minutes to enjoy select attractions at one of the two parks every morning. Realistically this isn’t necessary for most visitors, and it certainly doesn’t by itself justify the high prices.
We don’t take full advantage every morning of our visits, but we do like to make sure we visit Early Entry at each park at least once if we have access. We have a Complete Guide to Early Entry at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
The other notable perk (“perk”) of Disneyland Hotel is its location. To get to the parks, it’s just a short 10-minute walk through Downtown Disney. This is a convenience, but it’s worth noting that there are hotels off Disney property that are actually closer to the parks than Disneyland Hotel. We’re talking 6 minutes vs. 10 minutes, so not a huge difference, but you shouldn’t think the price of Disneyland Hotel is wholly justified by proximity to the parks.
There are other, ancillary perks, like preferred access to dining reservations, but we won’t be addressing those here. Disney discusses these a bit. Suffice to say that even with Early Entry, the perks do not justify the price here. That’s not to say the price is definitely unjustifiable, just that the value isn’t in the perks.
Arrival and Check-In at Disneyland Hotel
From LAX or SNA the best option is probably Uber. We’re not experts when it comes to transportation between the airports and Disneyland, but shuttle options are more limited than at Walt Disney World, and the cost and schedules mean that for most families the best option will be Uber or Lyft.
The front desk is in Fantasy Tower. If you’re a Club Level guest, they may offer to have a Cast Member from the E-Ticket Lounge come down and greet you. This isn’t necessary, but if staying Club Level you should stop by the desk in the lounge to let them know who you are to the get a copy of the lounge schedule.
Disneyland Hotel Grounds and Theming
The Disneyland Hotel consists of four towers (Adventure Tower, Fantasy Tower, Frontier Tower, and Discovery Tower) and a convention center, which surround the pools, the lawns, and a few smaller buildings. Discovery Tower is the newest tower and home to the DVC Villas. This review does not discuss the Disneyland Villas, but we have separately reviewed a Deluxe Studio here.
The Fantasy Tower contains the lobby and stores, and is connected to the Convention Center, which contains two of the restaurants. The lobby (and much of the hotel design, really) reminds us of the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World, but with a bit of whimsy, including fun teacup chairs (background of below photo).
The hotel is home to the E- and D-Ticket Pools, along with the famed monorail waterslides. With the addition of the new DVC tower, the hotel also got a new pool and splash pad (use the arrows to navigate the galleries in this post):
Buried in the name “Disneyland Hotel” is the real theme of the hotel—history. Disneyland is the birthplace of all Disney parks, and the hotel embraces the history of Disneyland throughout.
Each tower—Frontier, Adventure, and Fantasy—contains concept art and models about the respective theme park lands.
The Convention Center contains displays on Disneyland Hotel through the years.
I absolutely love what Disney has done with this hotel. Keep in mind, this is in many ways the least “Disney” of any Disney hotel. It’s not themed at all in the same way as other Disney hotels, with transporting design or in-your-face animation.
But like everything in Disneyland, Disneyland Hotel works wonders with what it has. It takes this standard three-tower concept and makes it a special place, filling it with history and making it unlike any other place in a Disney resort.
Our Disneyland Hotel Room
We’ve stayed in a few rooms at Disneyland Hotel. The first we’ll cover was a Premium View with Club Level access. Like everything else about the hotel, the rooms have a simple Disney elegance with historical touches.
The room was quite small. We had booked for two adults and one two-year-old child, which (per our conversations with the staff) lets them place you in a room with only one bed. You can use the arrows on the below galleries to see more photos.
The beds feature a cute throw pillow and the famous firework headboards. I think the biggest design issue with the room is that the layout forces the TV to be mounted on the wall perpendicular with the orientation of the bed. So you’ll have to watch TV at an angle if you’re on the bed (there is no couch). It’s not a fatal flaw for a room, but it is a bit awkward.
There were two framed pieces in the room—the famous photo of Walt at Sleeping Beauty Castle and a collage of photos of Disneyland.
There were various Disney touches throughout the room. These are the sorts of things I wish they’d make more space for in the designs of some of Walt Disney World’s hotels.
The outlet situation was sufficient but less than ideal. First, the desk has ample outlets, including USB-A and USB-C ports. But the bedside situation is worse. On one side we had to struggle to get to an outlet behind the end table. The other side had a clock with a USB outlet.
The coffee machine was a Keurig, an upgrade from a few years ago when we lamented being stuck with the older Cuisinart machine.
The bathrooms were designed for a small party (again, not a complaint, we were booked for two adults). There was only one sink at the vanity area, and only enough space for one person to really get ready. That said, space was never an issue for us.
The details ooze Disney (specifically Mickey Mouse):
The view looked out onto Downtown Disney and the parks. As of 2023, there’s substantial construction going on in Downtown Disney. This didn’t bother us (no notable noice), but it is an eyesore. On nights with fireworks, you’d be able to see those. Some rooms can even make out World of Color in the distance.
Honestly, while the Premium View of Downtown Disney was cool, it also had a bothersome aspect—the noise from the Downtown Disney stage. The music only went until 9:30 or 10PM, and with a white noise machine (for Zoe), it wasn’t so bad. But if you’re in search of peace and quiet, you might have to think twice about this view.
The second room was a Standard View booking, but we wound up in what seems to be a Deluxe View room. The room was identical to the Premium View besides the view, which looked onto the pool.
There are a few Disney views I’d pay for, even if it was just one night in a longer trip. I wouldn’t pay for a view at Disneyland hotel. Nothing is awe-inspiring. Almost no rooms have balconies (the only exception I’m aware of are suites).
There were two small issues with the second room. First, it didn’t have a shower curtain when we arrived. This was quickly remedied with a call down to housekeeping. It also had coffee pods left in the coffee machine. This has happened to me in several hotels, so I always try and throw out my pods after use.
Location & Transportation at Disneyland Hotel
Unlike the hotels at Walt Disney World, there’s really little to say about location and transportation at any of Disneyland’s hotels. All three hotels are located within walking distance of both parks and Downtown Disney.
Map Copyright Google
Disneyland Hotel specifically is located on the far west end of Disneyland property. You’ll be roughly a half mile, or a ten-minute walk through Downtown Disney, from the parks. It’s definitely less than ideal for such a high-priced hotel given the number of lower priced options with roughly as good (or better) locations.
Unlike Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Pixar Place Hotel, there is no dedicated park entrance for guests staying at the Disneyland Hotel—they will use the same entrance as all other guests.
Food and Dining at Disneyland Hotel
Keep in mind that because everything is so close, you can access the restaurants of the other two Disney hotels, Downtown Disney, and the parks quite easily. Disneyland is also surrounded by a variety of non-Disney restaurants, including two nearby Starbucks stores in Downtown Disney. This post focuses solely on the dining options at Disneyland Hotel.
Downtown Disney Starbucks
Disneyland Hotel Restaurants
Disneyland Hotel has one character dining buffet / family style restaurant and one quick service restaurant. There is also a small coffee shop and two bars (discussed below) that serve limited food menus.
Our loyal reader knows that we’re vegetarian hardcore non-foodies—pretty much the worst people to talk to about where to eat. So while we provide an overview of the dining options here and our very limited thoughts where we have them, you should check out another trusted source like Disney Tourist Bog if you’re looking for real reviews of these restaurants.
The signature dining restaurant at Disneyland Hotel, Steakhouse 55, is now closed. It will presumably be replaced at some point, but as of this update nothing has been announced.
The casual, character restaurant is Goofy’s Kitchen. This is your standard Disney hotel character buffet, with characters present at both Breakfast and Dinner. Goofy’s Kitchen is located in the Convention Center building, adjacent to the main Fantasy Tower. We had breakfast there one morning and very much enjoyed it.
The quick service option at Disneyland hotel is Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill, located in a poolside building between the main four buildings.
Years ago I complained about the “limited” menu at Tangaroa. Maybe the menu changed, or maybe I was just wrong, but looking at it now I’m pretty impressed with what it offers.
Additionally, there is a coffee shop that we haven’t yet had the pleasure of trying. Since a Starbucks with mobile order is en route to the parks, that’s always been our preferred option.
Bars at Disneyland Hotel
The most famous of Disney bars resides at the Disneyland Hotel—Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. While we’re partial to the Grog Grotto down in Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort, we have love for the Enchanted Tiki Bar as well. This is one of the most fun, themed, exciting spots you can find at a Disney hotel.
Disneyland Hotel’s second bar is now Broken Spell Lounge. This bar occupies the old space of the Steakhouse 55 lounge and serves as a typical hotel lobby bar.
Disneyland Hotel’s newest bar / restaurant is Palm Breeze Bar. This is an outdoor, covered restaurant that sits between the pools, under the Discvoery (DVC) Tower.
Shopping at Disneyland Hotel
The main store at Disneyland Hotel is Disney’s Fantasia Shop. While they have lots of Disneyland and Disneyland Resort merchandise, there wasn’t a ton of Disneyland Hotel merchandise. Otherwise, it’s a standard Disney hotel store, featuring the main product lines also available in the parks or at World of Disney.
A second smaller store, Small World Gifts and Sundries, has snack items, pool gear, and a limited selection of merchandise.
Disney’s Disneyland Hotel Review — Conclusions
Disneyland Hotel is a good hotel, and I’d definitely say one night there is a worthy Disney bucket list item. The history that permeates the hotel and the magical touches in the rooms are enough to make it worth at least a night or two in your life. As Disney fans, we loved it. (For what it’s worth, we found the Deluxe Studio in the DVC tower to be a very good, modern room.)
If you’re looking for a longer stay or a “base” for a longer visit to Disneyland and Southern California, you’ll first have to get over the price. The Disney hotels at Disneyland Resort are one of Disney’s most egregious money grabs, in our opinion. You’re really paying a premium just to be in a Disney hotel. Overall, if you’re used to visiting the other coast, the perks offered to Walt Disney World’s hotel guests are more numerous and more valuable.
If you can get past price, there’s a lot to like. The rooms are great and filled with Disney touches, the location is one of the best you can find, and the hotel is a surprisingly nice place to explore.
All Your Other Disneyland Planning Questions Answered
Don’t be overwhelmed by Disneyland planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you’ll not only be an expert, but you’ll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Disneyland Planning Guide. When it comes to hotels, we’ve got reviews of all three Disney hotels: Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel. As for tickets, check out where to find discount Disneyland tickets.
Know what to ride with our: Disneyland Rides Guide and Disney California Adventure Rides Guide. And just as important, know how to get on the best rides without the wait with our Disneyland Lightning Lane Strategy! For the complete guides to a day at the park, we have a One Day Disneyland Itinerary and a One Day Disney California Adventure Itinerary.
We always recommend arriving at the parks early. If you can get access to Early Entry at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, you’ll have the most time in the parks. Even without those bonus hours, you’ll need to know Rope Drop Strategy at Disneyland and Rope Drop Strategy at Disney California Adventure.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you’re interested in saving, there’s no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.