Disneyland Hotel Review

The original and most classic place to stay on Disney property with an easy walk to the parks is the Disneyland Hotel.

This hotel is designed to compliment the original theme park with three matching towers called Fantasy, Adventure and Frontier Tower with a new Discovery Tower added for DVC members in 2023.

Forty foot tall Mickey's Sorcerer Hat in between towers at the Disneyland Hotel.

The Original Hotel At Disneyland

This is a very nice hotel with perks of a great location, early entry to the parks and the excellent Disney standard of service. Our family enjoyed a stay at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim in December 2023.

Take a 15 minute walk through Downtown Disney and arrive in between the entry area to both the Disneyland Park and the California Adventure Park.

Comfortable accommodations in an efficient space feature hints of Mickey Mouse in a classy yet casual atmosphere.

Beautiful blue mural of Sleeping Beauty's castle with fireworks above inside the Disneyland hotel entrance.

Our favorite features at this hotel are the headboards in the rooms and monorail pool. There are shows with singers and other entertainment options offered on a seasonal basis.

Similar in the amount of space and comfort to the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World and a few steps above the Caribbean Beach or Port Orleans Riverside this Disney hotel is fun to stay at.

Disney 100 years of wonder anniversary celebration coin in between bushes shaped like Mickey and Minnie Mouse with a Pluto bush next to them and the monorail pool in the background.

Is It Worth It To Stay In The Disneyland Hotel

The benefits of staying in this hotel on Disney property is getting 30 minutes early entry to each park, access to the monorail that takes you to Tomorrowland in Disneyland, high quality Disney service and high security with guards at each entrance.

Bronze Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse statues in front of a fountain.

Pricing changes seasonally and with supply and demand. Here is the official Disney website to make reservations.

Light Up Headboards

With lights built in to form the outline of Sleeping Beauty’s castle and fireworks as well as a button to push to play “When You Wish Upon A Star” the head boards add that magical Disney feel to the room!

We actually kept the lights in the headboard on all night because it’s just so fun to wake up and see them!

Aurora's castle on a light up head board with fireworks over the top of two queen beds in the disneyland anaheim hotel.

This really added a magical touch to our stay in the Fantasy Tower.

Sign for Fantasy tower with dumbo next to a topiary tree and purple flowers.

Rooms at the Disneyland Hotel

The beds are incredibly comfortable (and we’re picky) and the fifth sleeper pull out couch is very convenient. We appreciate having the extra bed to give the kids their own space.

Hotel room with two queen beds and a couch that pulls out into a bed along with a desk and dresser with fireworks, stars and Mickey Mouse ears on the floor.

The rest of the room is set up to be smart, efficient and comfortable.

Classic Disney elements like Mickey Mouse ears are gently weaved into a semi-modern yet classic decor. The entire hotel is always kept neat and clean.

Door in between toilet and sink with mirror.

Mirror above coffee station and ice bucket in disnleyland hotel room.

A door between the toilet, sink and shower area is helpful for a family. There is another mirror right outside by the coffee station that makes getting ready easier.

This hotel was perfect for our family and extra magical for our first visit in December 2023.

Pillows that say "A dream is a wish your heart makes" on two queen beds under a leather headboard with an engraving of Sleeping Beauty's castle.

The Monorail Pool

With a red and yellow monorail covering two large slides this is a focal point at the original pool.

In 2023 a new pool, bar and quick service restaurant were added to expand options for guests. While the new pool is not specifically themed it allows more space in a calmer atmosphere since there are no slides. Especially during hotter months more options for cooling off and swimming enhance your comfort.

Big slides into the pool covered by a red monorail and yellow monorail that end in the pool at the Disneyland hotel with people in the pool.

Dining Options

Just outside the pool is Trader’s Sams, a fun and intimate space for adults only after 8p.m.. The bar has unique food and appetizers as well as fancy themed drinks that call for rain showers and other shows by the staff when ordered.

On another corner of the pool area is Goofy’s Kitchen, a character dining experience that anyone with reservations can access.

Entrance to Goofy's Kitchen character dining at Disneyland.

Disneyland Hotel Map

With a smart efficient layout and a grand entry that build excitement for the stay the Disneyland Hotel is easily accessible.

The only compliant we have is that it takes quite a bit of effort to get to the back side of the new Discovery Tower to do laundry. There are also a limited number of washers and dryers relative to the number of guest rooms.

The Lobby

The entrance is located in the Fantasy Tower. There are two additional towers that look the same. In 2023 a fourth tower was added with a different feel to host DVC members.

White tiles and floor with a blue check-in desk and white snow covered trees in the Disneyland Hotel Lobby decorated for Christmas.

With a mid December visit the holiday decorations are stunning. We always received prompt, helpful service.

Know that room cards are needed in California where magic bands can be used in Florida at Walt Disney World.

In between the flag poles in front of the Disneyland Hotel with cars parked to unload and beautiful flowers in the foreground.

I appreciate the high level of security on the grounds of Disneyland and a parking garage adjacent to the main entrance.

Holiday Decorations

The southern California culture is so much more chill than we’ve experienced in Florida at WDW.

We love the build up and excitement that comes with walking across the holiday carpet and into the magic.

Blue holiday rug surrounded by lite white Christmas trees lining sliding doors in the entry way to the DIsneyland Hotel with a mural of the castle and fireworks.

In Room Refrigerator

Convenient for chilling drinks, but not cold enough to store meats and perishables there is a mini fridge in each room.

Mini refrigerator at a Disneyland Hotel room.

Summary

Our Disneyland Hotel Review is positive and we would recommend looking at the price for the length of your stay and saving up for the trip. There are several other nearby neighbor hotels that are more reasonably priced and also great options if this one is out of budget.

We enjoyed getting a fully immersive Disney experience at what may be our only trip to Disneyland due to the lengthy travel distance.