Where to Stay and Play: Disneyland Resort Hotels Vacation Guide

Visitors planning their next trip to Disneyland can enjoy a storybook vacation at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort! Whether they're budget-conscious or seeking the height of luxury (or a combination of both), they can select from a variety of options, experiences, and price points to enhance their stay.

Guests can experience the elegance of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, enjoy the Disney nostalgia and mid-century modern design of the Disneyland Hotel, or immerse themselves in the animated art of Pixar Place Hotel. These three unique settings offer endless possibilities, each distinctly Disney.

This guide will explore the distinct personalities of each of these on-property hotels, the differences and amenities that make them unique, and how staying in the magic ensures a memorable trip guests won’t soon forget.

Throughout the year, make sure to visit the Disneyland offers page for the latest discounts, vacation packages, and value-added extras on overnight stays.

Looking for even more options for guests staying near the Disneyland Resort? Keep reading to learn more about our Good Neighbor Hotels too!

Guests staying overnight at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort can enjoy a Disney experience around the clock, just a short walk away from Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and the Downtown Disney District. They have access to special amenities, activities, and unmatched convenience.

Ideal for a family vacation, a weekend escape with friends, a bridal party, or a business trip, each hotel provides a range of accommodations to suit any occasion.

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is a luxurious getaway located in the heart of Anaheim, featuring an architectural design inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement of early 20^th century California. The hotel captures the artistic essence of California’s coastlines, with its Monterey pines and redwood forests, and is enriched with the heritage of arroyo craftsmen, mission pioneers, and plein air painters.

In addition to spa treatments, sparkling pools, and culinary delights, the hotel’s prime location offers direct access to Disney California Adventure park* and the Downtown Disney District.

Disneyland Hotel

The Disneyland Hotel, established in 1955, honors Disneyland's early days through its three uniquely themed towers. The Fantasy Tower's main lobby features Mary Blair artwork linked to “it’s a small world,” the Frontier Tower includes a scale model of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the Adventure Tower integrates Jungle Cruise characters into its design.

This hotel is the nearest to the Disneyland Monorail station, offering a picturesque ride to Tomorrowland.

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel represent the latest addition to the Disney Vacation Club at Disneyland Resort, serving as the hotel's fourth tower, known as the Discovery Tower. This tower combines modern design elements with enduring artwork inspired by characters and narratives from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ classic films, such as The Jungle Book, The Princess and the Frog, and Sleeping Beauty.

Pixar Place Hotel

At Pixar Place Hotel, a 15-story hotel with views of California Adventure, the iconic Pixar Lamp and ball introduce a world of storytelling, creativity, and beloved characters. Being the first fully themed Pixar hotel in the United States, its artistic designs showcase how filmmakers bring cherished Pixar films and shorts to life, displaying curated artwork from favorite stories.

What’s Your Room Type?

Standard Rooms and Suites

When choosing accommodations, consider factors such as the size of your group, type of bed, view preferences, special requests, flexibility with dates, and budget.

Among the three hotels, standard, deluxe, and premium rooms usually accommodate up to five adults and are distinguished by the view, whereas one-, two-, or three-bedroom suites are chosen based on size and may be suitable for larger families traveling together.

Signature and Themed Suites

For the ultimate accommodations, each hotel offers signature or themed suites. At the Disneyland Hotel, the themed signature suites include the Mickey Mouse Penthouse, the Pirates of the Caribbean Suite, the Adventureland Suite, and the Big Thunder Suite, all designed by Walt Disney Imagineering with incredible details to delight Disney fans.

At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, suites feature an elegant Craftsman-era aesthetic and range in size, including the Arcadia Suite, the Arroyo Suite, the El Capitan Suite, and the Mount Whitney Suite.

At Pixar Place Hotel, signature suites such as the Pixel, Sketch, and Story Suites vary in size and connecting bedrooms, with some offering easy access to the rooftop pool.

Disney Imagineers are also planning two brand-new themed signature suites at Pixar Place Hotel, inspired by Coco and The Incredibles.

The Benefits of a Concierge Lounge

Booking a club-level room at any of the three hotels provides access to the hotel’s concierge lounge, which is especially convenient and advantageous for families. The concierge lounge offers added value, including complimentary continental breakfast, appetizers and desserts at specific times, an evening wine and cheese reception, personal assistance from concierge staff, and fireworks viewing from select locations.

Access to the concierge lounge can also be added to any one-, two-, or three-bedroom suite at any of the three hotels. Guests can request to upgrade their suite to club level when making the reservation or upon arrival at the hotel, for an additional fee.

The concierge lounges at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort include the all-new High Key Club at Disneyland Hotel, the Creators Club at Pixar Place Hotel, and The Veranda at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where plans are also in progress for a second, all-new concierge lounge.

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel Room Types

The Villas at the Disneyland Hotel provide a range of roomy accommodations, from duo studios for two people to the impressive three-bedroom Grand Villas that accommodate up to 12 guests, featuring home-like amenities such as full-size kitchens in certain villas. Additional options include deluxe studios, as well as one- and two-bedroom villas.

All guests can book these accommodations.

Hotel Perks at Disneyland

Guests staying at the Disneyland Resort will find themselves within easy walking distance of all the excitement, eliminating the need for transportation around the resort. 

Additional magical hotel benefits provided exclusively by Disney include seasonal hotel activities, priority access to a limited number of dining reservations at select table-service restaurants, the option to charge Disneyland Resort shopping and dining purchases to the hotel room, and features like online check-in and digital room keys through the Disneyland app.

Disneyland Resort Hotel Restaurants and Lounges

The hotels offer a wide variety of dining options! Whether guests are in the mood for a quick snack or a multi-course culinary adventure, there are numerous choices to satisfy every taste.

These dining venues are conveniently located within walking distance of each other and welcome all visitors, whether they are staying on the premises or just looking to enjoy a distinctive dining experience at Disneyland Resort hotels.

Disney Character Dining

Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa offers hearty, homestyle dishes with character dining experiences and buffets for breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Visit Disneyland.com to see the latest offerings and characters in their seasonal costumes.

Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures, also located at Disney’s Grand Californian, provides a unique experience with several Disney Princesses, magical activities, a lavish three-course breakfast, a private portrait setting, and memorable keepsakes.

Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel offers a lively breakfast, brunch, or dinner buffet with Chef Goofy and his friends. Seasonal events at Goofy’s Kitchen are available at specific times throughout the year.

Signature Restaurants

Napa Rose is a prestigious, award-winning restaurant celebrated for its elegantly presented California cuisine, exhibition kitchen, and exceptional selection of regional wines. Currently undergoing an exciting renovation, Napa Rose will reopen with a stunning new design, expanded counters for guests to watch the chefs in action, enhanced patio seating, and two new fireplaces.

Great Maple Modern American Eatery at Pixar Place Hotel serves creative versions of upscale comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with buttermilk fried chicken and maple bacon donuts being a popular highlight. The sophisticated atmosphere features beautiful green leather seating, a stunning bar area offering craft cocktails, and a seamless open-air patio.

Poolside Fare

Palm Breeze Bar offers refreshing food and drinks near the Palette Pool at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel.

GCH Craftsman Bar at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is a poolside dining spot offering shareable plates, desserts, kids’ meals, craft cocktails, California wines, and craft beer.

Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill at Disneyland Hotel provides quick Polynesian-inspired meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Small Bytes is available seasonally on the rooftop pool deck of Pixar Place Hotel, offering salads, wraps, assorted cheese plates, and more with signature drinks.

Grab-and-Go Goodies

The Sketch Pad Café at Pixar Place Hotel offers a range of coffee, pastries, and teas. The walls feature a timeline of Pixar films illustrated through character designs.

GCH Craftsman Grill at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is a hidden gem offering a variety of dishes, from waffles and breakfast sandwiches to salads and burgers.

The Coffee House at Disneyland Hotel is a convenient spot to stop by and recharge with freshly brewed coffee specialties, along with pastries, salads, and snacks.

Leisurely Lounges and a Tiki Bar

Hearthstone Lounge at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa provides a cozy atmosphere perfect for savoring cocktails, appetizers, main courses, and desserts beside a warm fireplace.

Broken Spell Lounge at Disneyland Hotel offers an enchanting spot for a nightcap, with décor inspired by the Enchanted Forest from the classic Disney Animation film Sleeping Beauty.

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland Hotel is a captivating retreat inspired by the world-famous Jungle Cruise, featuring breakfast, pu pu platters, lunch and dinner options, and adventurous cocktails in a tropical oasis.

Rest, Relaxation, Recreation, Repeat!

Each of the three hotels offers plenty to ensure every family member enjoys their stay. The Hotel Guest Activities schedule might feature Learn to Draw classes, movie nights, live entertainment, hotel tours, and seasonal celebrations for overnight guests. While many activities are free, some may incur an additional charge.

Make a Splash at the Pools

Relaxing by the pool is always a highlight of any vacation. The Disneyland Hotel offers a retro-themed retreat with the E-Ticket Pool and the smaller D-Ticket Pool, featuring two waterslides designed to resemble the original Mark 1 Disneyland Monorail, along with Mickey Mouse- and Minnie Mouse-shaped whirlpools. The Palette Pool area at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel includes a Steamboat Willie splash pad.

At Pixar Place Hotel, guests can enjoy a Finding Nemo-themed splash pad at Nemo’s Cove, ride Crush’s Surfin’ Slide, and have fun in Pixel Pool.

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa features three pools to choose from: Fountain, Redwood, and Mariposa, as well as two whirlpools and the Redwood Tree waterslide.

Each hotel also provides options for renting a poolside cabana, pod, or daybed to relax in comfort and style throughout the day.

Tenaya Stone Spa

Created by Walt Disney Imagineering and drawing inspiration from the essence of nature and Californian craftsman architecture, this full-service spa provides a variety of body treatments, facials, massages, and salon services designed to leave guests feeling in a “Golden State” of mind.

Overnight guests at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort can also take advantage of the opportunity to register for exclusive Tenaya Stone Spa fitness classes, some of which occur in the parks before they open. These classes include Sunrise Yoga in Disneyland, a Power Walking Workout or an Adventure Boot Camp in California Adventure, or Paddleboard Yoga at the pool.

Additional Offerings

Pixar Shorts Court at Pixar Place Hotel offers guests the chance to play games inspired by Pixar short films. In the evening, this rooftop deck on the third floor provides an excellent view of Disneyland fireworks on select nights.

It's also a perfect spot to enjoy a drink and snack from Small Bytes, and relax by fire pits shaped like Ember from Elemental and Anger from Inside Out.

Guests might also encounter familiar faces! At Pixar Place Hotel, they could create lasting memories with characters like Bing Bong from Inside Out or enjoy Joe Gardner from Soul playing tunes near the hotel lobby.

Nearby Good Neighbor Hotels

For a wider selection of choices, there are over 50 designated Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor Hotels in the vicinity. 

With the plethora of exciting activities available across two theme parks, the hotels, and the Downtown Disney District, guests might need several days to take it all in. The Disneyland Resort serves as an excellent base for exploring other Southern California attractions, including the beaches and Hollywood.