Disneyland Hotel is the flagship hotel just steps from downtown Disney and California’s two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
I’ve visited the hotel dozens of times for its restaurants, but I’ve never stayed there.
As a Magic Key holder (annual pass holder), I splurged and used my discount to book a one-night stay for $500. The popular rate is between $600 and $700 per night.
I have stayed at all of the Disney World hotels in Florida, but this was the first time I stayed here because there are less expensive features within walking distance of the parks.
Here’s what my short stay was like.
There are 3 towers at the Disneyland Hotel, paying homage to the theme park’s original lands: Fantasy, Adventure and Frontier.
Our room was in the main Fantasy Tower, which was convenient because it also housed the lobby and several gift shops.
It was quite spacious for a standard, two-queen bedroom. I’ve stayed in similar rooms at Disney World, and this felt a little bigger.
From the fireworks design on the carpet to Mickey Mouse-hand light fixtures, I was surprised by just how many Disney details there were.
The room felt upscale, but it still had plenty of whimsical Disneyland touches.
I got used to the rooms at Disney World and found that the ones at Disneyland had more details.
Everything from the coffee condiments to the telephone advisor to the coasters decorated with vintage photos of the theme parks, the hotel, and Walt Disney.
I’d heard about the light-up Sleeping Beauty Castle headboard before, so I was really excited that it lived up to the hype.
The beautiful wooden headboard actually lit up to depict fireworks over the castle and played “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes.”
As a guest of Disneyland Hotel, there were some perks that came along with my stay.
The most important thing is to enter the theme parks 30 minutes in advance. But I chose to use my night as a “stay” instead of spending time in the parks.
Although the theme parks and Downtown Disney were within walking distance, the Disneyland Hotel had a lot going on, so it was completely imaginable not to leave the hotel at all.
During our stay, I discovered a coffee shop, several restaurants, a Disney merchandise shop, a store with basics like water and soda, and a sprawling pool complex.
Just steps from our tower was one of my favorite Disney restaurants of all time: Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar.
The Jungle Cruise-themed tiki bar is almost cult-like, so we stopped by at lunchtime to avoid the late-night rush. After a short wait, we were seated in the highly immersive living room.
All the workers were involved in the interactive theatrical antics, and the cocktails were expertly crafted and balanced.
I enjoyed the signature zombie cocktail ($14.75) and a delicious chicken-teriyaki bowl ($10).
We also returned later in the evening because it was so close to our room. It was a real treat not having to drive home after visiting.
Disneyland Hotel has two groups: the E-Ticket group and the D-Ticket group.
I loved the retro theming of the main E-Ticket pool and especially enjoyed the towering monorail-themed slides.
It also featured cocktail service and we could order drinks from Trader Sam’s right from our chairs.
I’m a fan of Disney products, so I was pleased to see some exclusive Disneyland Hotel souvenirs in the store.
To commemorate my first stay I bought a cup of Corkcicle and a small tray of sweets.
My favorite hotel domain to explore is located in the central conference domain.
I found the Disneyland Hotel Through the Decades display with sprawling murals depicting vintage photos. As a Disney-history buff, I really appreciated this detail.
I’m not usually a fan of character dining, but the breakfast at Goofy’s Kitchen inside Disneyland Hotel ended up being one of my favorite Disney-dining experiences.
The food at the all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet was basic (albeit good). But the real highlights were the interactions with characters like Goofy and Minnie Mouse. They came directly to our table and each spent a generous amount of time interacting and taking photos.
It was fun to explore Goofy’s multicolored kitchen, and I also enjoyed the signature peanut-butter-and-jelly pizza.
I’m glad I stopped by one of the lobby bathrooms, as it featured unique vintage wallpaper depicting theme park attractions like Peter Pan’s Flight.
Although $500 was a bit steep, I’d pay it again, especially for a staycation when we’re not hitting the parks. I think it’s more than worth it to take advantage of all the amenities and on-site restaurants.
The room was modern but had a distinctly Disney feel, and we enjoyed our time at Trader Sam’s pool and the Enchanted Tiki Bar.
You may find off-property accommodations for much less, but the Disney touches and convenience were worth it.
Gonna