Disneyland Resort Hotels: Are They Worth It?

Staying at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels is something that is truly incredible! It is really hard to explain why staying at a Disney Resort is so much different than staying at any other hotel. It truly is just one of those things that you need to experience for yourself.

The best way I can probably describe it is that it just really adds to the Disney magic!

How do you decide which Disneyland Resort you are going to stay at?

Well, there are a lot of different factors that can be considered when trying to decide. Hopefully, this post will break everything down for you so that you will be able to make the best decision based on the needs of your group.

In this post, I will go over the three different Disneyland Resort Hotels, some of the different perks to staying at each one.

The Disneyland Resort Hotels

At Disneyland, there are 3 Disneyland Resort Hotels. Each hotel is a remarkable hotel that brings a little different Disney perspective to your stay.

There really isn’t one better hotel over the others, as each one brings a little something different to the table. The best Disneyland Resort Hotel is really all based upon personal preference.

Each of the different Disneyland Resort Hotels has rooms and rates around different price points, making it more affordable to plan a trip on a budget.

Paradise Pier Hotel

This is often considered the third option for Disneyland Resort Hotels because it originally wasn’t a Disney hotel. But over the years has been purchased by Disney and reimagined to fit in with the typical Disney motif.

If you’re curious to read about the changes that Paradise Pier Hotel has gone through over the years, Yesterland did a great article on it which you can find here. The article is a really cool read and even goes into the once-secret or private entrance that guests could enjoy directly to California Adventure.

Just because this originally wasn’t a Disneyland hotel, doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great hotel to stay at. In fact, I have stayed here and I will happily stay here again!

Let’s break down some of the information about the hotel.

Average Cost

Obviously, the nightly rate of the hotel is going to vary greatly by the day of the week, and the time of year that you decide to visit. Additionally, the type of room that you stay in will affect the cost.

Sometimes you can’t always control the type of room that you have to get at a hotel. It often largely depends on the number of adults and total people within the party.

But if you can stay here in just their basic room, then I recommend it. As it is can be a great way to save a few bucks a night.

Quickly looking online, the average rates for staying here can vary between about $270 – $350 a night, sometimes more. Rates can get up to $450/night.

But keep in mind that these are not exact rates, as there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. This was just the average nightly rate for the current week that I saw.

Types of Rooms

Overall there are 8 different types of room categories. Within those categories, there are different room types based upon views, bedrooms, etc.

For most of the rooms, you can see the prices online, but for some of the more elaborate rooms, you need to call in order to get prices and book the hotel (unless you use a travel agent because that’s their job).

The categories are basic rooms, club-level service, and signature suites. Let’s break them down further and take a deeper look into what each category offers guests.

Basic rooms

Basic rooms come with two different views. Standard and Premium, the standard view just has views of the street and parking lots. Where the premium views look out over the parks more. Other than that, they share the same style room layout, bed options, and amenities.

These rooms can either come with 1 King bed and 1 Queen-size sleeper sofa or 2 Queen beds and a day bed. Making these rooms able to accommodate 4 to 5 adults.

Additionally, all of the rooms (even the basic standard room) come with a mini-fridge. Which is perfect for keeping a few things cold, like extra water or a few snacks.

Club-Level Service

These rooms have all the basic amenities that the basic rooms offer with additional bonuses. Including, exclusive access to the Beachcomber Club. This exclusive hotel club is located on the second floor and gives guests some incredible perks.

Beachcomber Club:

This club is exclusive for those guests staying at the hotel with club-level access, as stated previously. The club is open from about 6:30 am until 8 pm. Offering guests plenty of time to visit throughout the day.

What makes this area really great for guests is that they get complimentary beer, wine, and appetizers (from 5 pm to 7 pm), continental breakfast (from 6:30 am to 10:30 am), desserts (from 7 pm to 8 pm), as well as snacks (from 10 am to 5 pm).

This really is an area of the hotel that you can’t go wrong with any time that you visit!

Signature Suites

There are five different Signature Suites designs that are available to choose from when it comes to Paradise Pier. Most of the signature suites offer the same type of amenities, just different layouts, and decor.

The different signature suites are called;

Dana Point Signature Suites
1 Bedroom – sleeps 4 adults
2 Bedroom – sleeps 8 adults
3 Bedroom – sleeps 13 adults

Huntington Signature Suites
1 Bedroom – sleeps 6 adults
2 Bedroom – sleeps 11 adults

Newport Signature Suites
1 Bedroom – sleeps 6 adults
2 Bedroom – sleeps 11 adults

Laguna Signature Suites
1 Bedroom – sleeps 6 adults
2 Bedroom – sleeps 11 adults

Malibu Signature Suites
1 Bedroom – sleeps 4 adults
2 Bedroom – sleeps 9 adults

Do those names sound familiar? They are the names of some of the more popular piers/beach areas in the Los Angeles area!

This is really cool, as it adds to the details that the hotel is supposed to be based after the old boardwalk era of California from the 1920s.

One of the really awesome things about the signature suites is that their bathrooms come with a shower and tub combo.

Parking

Paradise Pier is a self-parking-only hotel. There is a parking garage that is behind the hotel.

You can get to the parking garage by turning into the parking area for the Disney hotels. Across from the entrance of Disney’s Grand Californian is the parking lot access point for essentially all of the Disneyland Resort hotels.

From there, you can get to the parking lot for Disney’s Grand Californian, the parking garage for Paradise pier, as well as the parking area for the Disneyland Hotel.

It costs $35/per car per night. This is good to note if you are planning a trip on a budget, as the cost of parking isn’t included in the hotel reservations.

Time To Get To Parks

There are a few different ways that guests can get to the parks from Paradise Pier. The two more popular options are either by taking the Monorail or by going through Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.

They are the more popular options because they are the quickest way to get to the parks. So let’s take a look at each one.

By Monorail:
The Disneyland Monorail is truly something else. It has basically 2 stops in the giant loop that it takes. The first stop is in Downtown Disney, and the last stop is in Disneyland in Tomorrowland.

This means that you can walk from Paradise Pier past The Disneyland Hotel, to enter the Downtown Disney District. Entering Downtown Disney near The Disneyland Hotel means that the monorail stop will be directly on the left-hand side.

You can take the monorail and enter Disneyland through Tomorrowland. Or walk through Downtown Disney to get to Disney California Adventure or Disneyland through the main gates.

By Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel:
This is probably my personal favorite way to enter the parks. Paradise Pier is right across the street from Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. Once you cross the street, guests (who are staying at Disneyland Resort Hotels) have access to Disney’s Grand Californian.

You just show your key card to the security guard and you have access through the gates to enter the hotel.

This means direct access to Disney’s Grand Californian special entrances to the Downtown Disney District and Disney’s California Adventure park (which saves a lot of time getting through security).

On-Site Dining

There are a few different options for on-site dining when staying at Paradise Pier. Including two different restaurants with great options to choose from.

For starters, there is a self-service market with a bunch of different food and drink options that you can take with you to the parks, or back up to your room. It is located on the floor just past the lobby if you walk towards the parking garage.

Also on the main floor just past the lobby is Surfside Lounge, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They offer a variety of different items to eat along with Signature Cocktails for each meal. As well as some quick grab n go items in case you’re running short on time.

The Sand Bar is Disney’s Paradise Pier’s rooftop lounge, with some incredible views to enjoy. They offer a variety of different American-style dishes for guests to enjoy. And of course a great selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options.

UPDATE: Due to current renovations taking place at The Paradise Pier Hotel, both Surfside Lounge and The Sand Bar are currently unavailable. I will remove this update when they have reopened for guests.

Paradise Pier Specific Questions:

Here are frequently asked questions that are specifically related to Disney’s Paradise Pier hotel. There are some more common or generic questions at the bottom of the post. If there are any questions that I missed or any additional questions that you have feel free to leave a comment.

Can you see fireworks from Paradise Pier Hotel?

Yes! This is actually something that the cast members tell you at the front desks! (Or at least they should!)

Pro Tip: Even if you have been to the hotel, always tell them that it is your first time staying at the resort. It allows you to get all the new and latest information from cast members.
Additionally, you never know what each cast member knows. This means you can always be getting new information for each of your stays!

During my last stay here during the Holiday season. The cast members told me that if you go to the 3rd floor of the hotel, they have an exclusive fireworks viewing area for hotel guests to enjoy.

To add to the magic, the hotel even plays the music and narration through the hotel speakers in the firework viewing area. Making it an ideal place to enjoy the fireworks if you don’t have park tickets. Or if you have little ones that might not like the loud noise or need to go to be shortly after the show.

Does Paradise Pier Hotel have a shuttle?

No. Paradise Pier doesn’t have a shuttle service. But walking to the parks, regardless of if it is Disneyland or Disney California Adventure, is really easy.

Walking to the parks takes less than 10 minutes! It would probably take longer if there was a shuttle service.

My best advice is to utilize the access to the parks through Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel! This saves a lot of time. Not only getting there but also getting through security!

Pro-Tip: If you are staying at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, leave for the parks about 45 minutes before the park officially opens! Security lines should be short, and guests are allowed in through the turnstiles around 30 mins prior to the official park opening. This is how you do rope drop!

Does Paradise Pier Hotel have a gym?

Yes! Paradise Pier Hotel does have a gym as well as pools. The gym or fitness center is located on the second floor, and the pools are located on the third floor.

The pools are usually open from about 9 am to 5 pm. Double-check with the front desk when you arrive, or prior to going to the pools.

The fitness center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This makes it so you can go to the fitness center before or after a day in the parks.

Additionally, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel offers fitness classes for those guests who wish to take classes during their stay. There are classes offered in a variety of different activities such as; yoga, strength training, water fitness, aerobics, and more.

Is it worth it to stay at Paradise Pier?

Maybe my opinion is a little biased, but I absolutely believe that it is worth it to stay at Paradise Pier. It is a much more affordable option compared to the other Disneyland Resort Hotels, and yet you get all of the perks of staying on-resort.

Which for me personally, means it is a win-win situation to stay at Paradies Pier Hotel. Stay tuned for a full review of staying at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel [Coming Soon].

I have booked quite a few trips to Disney in my adult life, and honestly, the cost to stay at Paradise Pier isn’t that much more than staying at a ‘Good Neighbor’ hotel. And that is me talking as a travel agent, not just a Disney fan and expert.

The Disneyland Hotel

The first hotel to be added to Disneyland, the classic Disneyland Hotel. This hotel was designed by Walt Disney and was intended to be an enjoyable place in case you were taking a break from the parks.

There are 3 towers, each one is themed after a different land from Disneyland. You have Fantasy Tower (themed after Fantasyland), Adventure Tower (themed after Adventureland), and Frontier Tower (themed after Frontierland).

Now it really doesn’t matter which tower you stay in at the Disneyland hotel, because they are all great. With that Disney magic-themed throughout each tower.

The Disneyland Hotel is also known for its Monorail water slides located in their pool area. With two pools, two whirlpools, and private cabanas, this can be a great location to relax.

Average Cost

The cost, like for most other hotels does vary greatly by the time of year and says of the week that you stay. This is just an average ballpark for prices, just to give an idea of a budget that you might need for staying here.

The average cost typically varies between $400 – $650 a night. With most nights being around $500/ night. Keep in mind this cost is for their standard or basic room.

Where this might be a lot, remember that there are always deals going on which can often include savings up to 25% off select stays.

This is always one of my top tips to saving for a Disney trip, going when they have the promotions going! Especially if you don’t have hard-set dates.

Types of Rooms

There are a few different types of rooms options at The Disneyland Hotel.

Their standard rooms sleep up to 5 adults and typically have 2 queen beds and a day bed (but can vary by room). The main difference with their standard rooms is the room view.

The different views that they offer with the standard rooms are; premium view (views of pools), deluxe view (views of pools), standard view (views of trees or parking), premium downtown views (views of Downtown Disney).

Club-Level Service

Just like at The Paradise Pier Hotel, The Disneyland Hotel has a Club-level Service, also known as an E-ticket lounge.

For the Club-Level Services, there are two different rooms. Standard View, which gives guests views of the pool, and a Premium View, which gives guests views of Downtown Disney District.

E-Ticket Club:
Located on the 11th floor of the Adventure Tower at The Disneyland Hotel. This area is only open from 6:30 am to 10 pm, but offers a variety of different amenities to guests.

Guests can expect some of the following amenities; DVD players with complimentary movie library, viewing of the Disneyland fireworks, and most importantly a variety of food options throughout the day.

The E-Ticket Lounge offers a variety of food options throughout the day. Here is the rough schedule for food that you can expect when you are in the E-Ticket Lounge.

Continental Breakfast: 7 am to 10:30 am.
Snacks: 10 am to 5 pm.
Evening Appetizers: 5 pm to 7 pm.
Dessert: 7 pm to 10 pm

Regardless of what time of the day you go to the E-ticket Lounge, you can enjoy a variety of food options.

Suites

If you need a little bit more room than the basic standard rooms, then looking at staying in one of their suites is a way to go.

The Disneyland Hotel offers 5 different suites for guests to choose from.

1 Bedroom Junior Suite (sleeps up to 4 adults)
2 Bedroom Junior Connecting Suite (sleeps up to 8 adults)
1 Bedroom Family Suite (sleeps up to 6 adults)
2 Bedroom Family Connecting Suite (sleeps up to 10 adults)
3 Bedroom Family Connecting Suite (sleeps up to 14 adults)

As you can tell, these suite options are designed for larger groups and can be a great option for a family trip to Disneyland.

Signature Suites

The Disneyland Hotel is known for its incredible Signature Suites. These suites are really something else!

And The Disneyland Hotel offers 5 different signature suites.

Pirates of the Caribbean Signature Suite – 2 Bedrooms (sleeps 4 adults)
Fairytale Signature Suite – 1 Bedroom (sleeps 2 adults)
Adventureland Signature Suite – 2 Bedroom (sleeps 5 adults)
Big Thunder Signature Suite – 2 Bedroom (sleeps 6 adults)
Mickey Mouse Penthouse Signature Suite – 2 Bedroom (sleeps 4 adults)

Now, these signature suites are decked out, above and beyond in that theme. They really are incredible when you look at photos.

Which is to be expected with an average of $5000/night for most nights.

Parking

However, you can get free parking if you have reservations at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotel dining options. Since you don’t need to be staying at the resort in order to eat at any of the restaurants, Disney offers complimentary parking for a few hours when you get your parking validated.

Time To Get To Parks

The Disneyland Hotel is located at the end of the Downtown Disney District, off of Disneyland Drive. This makes it within easy walking distance to the parks!

Guests can easily access Disneyland through the Monorail, and Disney California Adventure through Downtown.

Additionally, Disneyland Hotel guests can access the parks through Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. Through their direct access to Disney California Adventure Park.

On-Site Dining

The Disneyland Hotel has a variety of on-site dining options. Including 3 restaurants, and a coffee shop.

On-site, The Disneyland Hotel has Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Goofy’s Kitchen, and The Coffee House.

Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill offers a quick service option for guests at the hotel. They offer Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, with plant-based options, a kids’ menu, as well as different allergy-friendly menus.

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar offers lunch and dinner for guests seeking a bar/lounge vibe. Trader Sam’s is mainly known for their specialty drinks that are available to guests that are 21 and older. They do also offer some non-booze options for those who don’t wish to have alcohol.

Goofy’s Kitchen offers a buffet character dining option at The Disneyland Hotel. Offering breakfast and dinner options for guests, and is often stated to be one of the best character dining options at Disneyland.

The Coffee House offers a variety of moring fuel through coffee. As well as a few different snack options for those who wish to have a quick little something on the go. The Coffee House is only open from 6 am to 11 am, so be sure to stop by here on the way to the parks.

Disneyland Hotel Specific Questions:

Here are some of the frequent questions that get asked about The Disneyland Hotel. If these don’t answer your questions then you can always ask in the comments below.

Did the monorail go to the Disneyland Hotel?

Yes. Here is a little bit of Disneyland history and trivia for you.

Originally the monorail was a solid loop that started and ended at the Tomorrowland station. But in the early 1960s, the second station was added, which was originally a part of The Disneyland Hotel.

However, in the late 1990s that station at The Disneyland Hotel was taken down, and rebuilt. It now is the Downtown Disney District station, which no longer connects to The Disneyland Hotel.

Is parking free at The Disneyland Hotel?

No parking is not free at The Disneyland Hotel. Self-parking is available for guests and costs $35/per night, per vehicle.

Can you see Disneyland fireworks from Disneyland Hotel?

Yes. If you are a guest that has Club-level E-Ticket lounge access, then the firework show music will be played through the speakers during the show. Making it a great spot to view the firework show.

Other than that, depending on where your room is located, you might be able to view the fireworks from your hotel room. However, the show music will not be playing in your room.

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Often considered to be the fanciest of all the Disneyland Resort Hotels, and for good reason. Inspired from the Californian Redwoods mixed with Craftsman-style, with the Disney detail. This hotel is really incredible.

My full review of staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa can be read here.

Recently, Disney’s Grand Californian opened their newly renovated Spa. Called Tenaya Stone Spa, this spa offers remarkable services and a variety of different body treatments and massage options for guests. Making Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa a perfect spot to enjoy the parks and relax.

Average Cost

This is the most expensive hotel option for Disneyland Resort Hotels. But again like with the other hotels, if you time it right during some of their promotions with discounts, you can really save, making staying at this hotel a bit more affordable.

However, if there aren’t any promotions going on, then the average cost to stay here will be around $650 – $800 a night.

Types of Rooms

Just like the other two Disneyland Resort Hotels, there are a few different options for guests to choose from when staying. One of the main differentiating factors to the different rooms is the view.

Their basic room offers a standard view (which is what I had when I stayed there), Woods-Courtyard View, Partial View, Downtown Disney View, and Premium View.

Regardless of the view, each room sleeps up to 5 adults. And yes this is comfortably sleeping that many adults. And their sleeper sofas are actually really comfortable.

Club-Level Service

These are essentially the same as their standard room, but give guests access to their Club-Level Service and lounge called Craftsman Club.

The cost of these rooms is usually about double the cost of the standard rooms but do come with that special Craftsman Club Lounge.

Craftsman Club: The Club is open daily from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm and offers guests with this access a variety of additional amenities.

Most notable is the food that is offered throughout the day.

Continental Breakfast: 6:30 am – 10:30 am
Afternoon Tea: 11:30 am – 3:30 pm
Wine and Cheese Reception: 4:30 pm – 7 pm
Dessert and Cookies: 8 pm – 10 pm

Additionally, Club-Level guests have access to their own special concierge desk, for guests to go-to for all questions.

Suites

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel also offers a few different suites before going into their signature suite collection.

These suites are great for larger groups of family or friends. This can be a great way to also save some money by splitting the cost of a suite over spending the money on a few different rooms.

Dinsey’s Grand Californian Hotel offers the following suites
1 Bedroom Suite – Sleeps 6 adults
2 Bedroom Suite – Sleeps 11 adults
3 Bedroom Suite – Sleeps 12 adults

Signature Suites

Now Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel offers Signature Suites as well, which are usually a bit larger, and a bit fancier for guests. With that comes a bit of a heavier price tag, but again splitting the cost among a group makes the price more manageable.

There are 4 different styles of signature suites, each having a few different bedroom options to choose from.

Arcadia Signature Suites:
1 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 4 adults)
2 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 9 adults)
3 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 11 adults)

Arroyo Signature Suites:
1 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 4 adults)
2 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 8 adults)
3 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 13 adults)

El Capitan Signature Suites:
1 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 4 adults)
2 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 9 adults)

Mount Whitney Signature Suites:
2 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 6 adults)
3 Bedroom Suite (sleeps 10 adults)

These signature suites can hold a variety of different party sizes, making them pretty customizable to your needs.

Disney Vacation Club Rooms

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is a Disney Vacation Club resort. Meaning that if you are a part of the Disney Vacation Club, there are special rooms just dedicated to you.

Being a part of the Disney Vacation Club can be a great way to save money on continued Disneyland trips.

Parking

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the only Disneyland Resort Hotel that offers valet parking for guests. They also offer self-parking for guests who don’t want to pay more for valet parking.

The self-parking lot is across the street between Disney’s Paradise Pier and The Disneyland Hotel. Which might sound far, but it really isn’t.

They also have a spot for you to get bell service to help you will your luggage, or quick 15-minute parking if you can unload your luggage yourself. This is located in the front of the hotel, making it easy for you to unload and enter into the lobby for check-in.

Time To Get To Parks

One of the best things about staying at Dinsey’s Grand Californian Hotel is that it is as close to the parks as you can get.

Disney’s Grand Californian has a direct access entrance to Disney’s California Adventure, as well as a direct entrance to Downtown Disney District.

These entrances are a huge bonus because the entrances are exclusive to Disneyland Resort Hotel guests. Meaning that the lines are often shorter to get into the parks and through security.

On-Site Dining

Another bonus to staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the on-site dining options that they offer.

Offering 4 different restaurants as well as a lounge.

Napa Rose is open for breakfast and dinner only. Napa Rose offers a high-end setting for some signature dishes to be enjoyed. With a menu that supports seasonal eating. This restaurant has won multiple cuisine awards.

Additionally, Napa Rose offers an option to have a Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure. In other words, enjoy a 3-course breakfast while mingling with some of the favorite Disney Princesses.

The Character Breakfast starts at $125/person and includes all food. For more information check out Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures.

Napa Rose Lounge – currently unavailable

A relaxing place to enjoy unique appetizers, salads, soups, desserts, and more. This is also a great place to enjoy some signature cocktails. For a full look at the menu, you can find it here; Napa Rose Lounge Menu.

Storytellers Cafe is a unique buffet-style restaurant that is themed after California Folklore mixed with Disney magic.

This is also a great place to have character breakfast dining too. But they do also offer lunch and dinner (just no character experiences).

Breakfast is served from 7 am – 10:55 am
Brunch/Lunch is served from 11 am – 1:30 pm
Dinner is served from 5 pm – 9:30 pm

The reservations tend to go pretty fast, especially since you don’t need to be staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in order to get a reservation here. There are options for walk-in but I would recommend going with a reservation.

UPDATE: Due to the state of the world, the Character Dining experiences have been modified at the restaurants in order to stay compliant with state and local guidelines and mandates. When this goes back to normal, I will remove this notice.

Hearthstone Lounge is located just off the lobby and is a great place to grab a drink and relax by the fireplaces in the bar and lobby. Not only that, but the lounge offers a menu filled with some delicious snacks.

Hearthstone Lounge also has some kid-friendly snack options, as well as some mocktails for those who can’t or don’t drink. Either way, it is a unique place to relax after a day at Disneyland. Hearthstone Loung Menu can be found here.

GCH Craftsman Bar & Grill is actually 2 different restaurants or eateries within Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. The GCH Craftsman Bar is located by the pool. There are a few tables and chairs to eat at, and there is a menu with some great meals.

The GCH Craftsman Grill is just past the pool. The cool thing about the GCH Craftsman Grill is that it has all of the same menu items as the bar, and then some! Additionally, the Grill also has quite a bit of grab-and-go items, and it opens up at 6:30 am so there are plenty of breakfast items you can grab just before you go into the parks.

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel Specific Questions:

Here are all of the Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel Specific Questions. Again, at the bottom of this post, there are generic questions for Disneyland Resort Hotels.

If you would like to read my review of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel from when I stayed there, you can read that here; Hotel Review: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.

Does Disney Grand Californian have free breakfast?

Unfortunately, Disney doesn’t have any complimentary breakfast for guests. The only option for a complimentary breakfast is for guests who book a Club-Level. As Club-Level gives guests a special lounge where breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are offered.

Do all Grand Californian rooms have balconies?

Surprisingly yes! All of their rooms have balconies to enjoy! This is a nice little treat, as most other hotels don’t usually offer something like that.

Additionally, there is a little table and two chairs that are usually sitting out there for guests to enjoy. And regardless of which view your room gets, it is nice to sit out on the balcony.

Does Grand Californian have connecting rooms?

Yes, they do! If you are looking to have connecting rooms between everyone in your party, then you just simply have to request it. Simply let your travel agent know, or call the hotel and let them know.

It is important to put the request in as quickly as possible when you book the hotel. Not all of the rooms are connected, and typically when you book, the hotel has an idea of where they want to place you.

Especially if you utilize mobile check-in 5 days before your trip. You don’t want to make the request when you show up, as they might not be able to accommodate you.

Like most other hotels, they can’t guarantee anything. But being Disney they will absolutely try their best to ensure that you have a magical stay.

How many DVC rooms does Grand Californian have?

There are a total of 48 units dedicated to the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). Including Studios, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom, and even 3-Bedroom Villas.

Having the capacity to hold between 4 and 12 guests, depending on the type of room booked.

The Studio room starts at about 17 vacation points for most nights, and the 3-Bedroom starts at about 94 vacation points for most nights.

Here is the 2022 Point Chart, and the 2023 Point Chart for DVC members for the Grand Californian Hotel.

Which popular attractions are close to Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa?

If you utilize the hotel’s private entrance to Disney California Adventure park, then you enter the park in the Grizzly Peak area. The entrance to Grizzly River Run is just to the right, and Soarin’ Around the World is just down the way to the left.

If you use the hotel’s private entrance to Downtown Disney District, then the gate will put you right between The Dress Shop and Sephora. Which makes the entrance to Disneyland to the right, and about 250 yards down.

Even though the hotel doesn’t directly connect you to Disneyland, it does put you on the far left side of the entrance gates, which are usually the shortest lines. Which means getting into the park quicker!

Can you see Disneyland fireworks from Grand Californian?

Guests can only really view the fireworks at Disney’s Grand Californian if they are at the Craftsman’s Lounge. Here the music get’s pumped through the speakers as well as a great viewing area.

Other than that, there really isn’t any great area to view the fireworks show from the rooms. However, if guests wish, they can go over to The Paradise Pier Hotel and go to the hotel’s viewing area for fireworks.

Perks of Staying at Disneyland Resort Hotels

One of the best things about staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel is the additional perks that come with staying at their properties.

The perks do change as things around the parks change, as well as, the perks do vary slightly from hotel to hotel.

While keeping that in mind, here are some of the generic perks of staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel.

Exclusive Access to Parks GCH Entrances

I’ve mentioned it before, and I will say it again, guests that stay at any Disneyland Resort Hotel are able to use Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel exclusive entrances to the parks! This is even if you aren’t staying specifically at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel!

This is a HUGE benefit to staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel (in my book) because it saves so much time when trying to get to the parks in the morning. Plus it is also great at the end of the day because the walk back to your hotel is shorter!

Themed Rooms

Let’s be honest, if you are going to be doing a Disney trip, ya gotta go all out! All of the Disneyland Resort Hotels are themed! Some are more Disney-themed than other rooms, but there are always some nice subtle touches.

It is actually quite fun to try and find ‘hidden mickeys’ in the room, or other fun little subtle Disney touches throughout. It really does just add to the Disney Magic of going to Disneyland.

Disney Magic

Now, you might be thinking that the Disney Magic is just something you experience at the parks. But when you stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel, the magic continues even when you are at the hotel!

With amazing cast members to help add magic to your vacation, to lounge areas with movies for kids, to pin trading in the hotel shops. There is always something magical happening at a Disneyland Resort Hotel.

Plus let’s not forget you have a higher chance of running into Mickey Mouse or your favorite Disney princess when staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel!

Disney Knowledge Cast Members

Everyone that works at the hotel is a cast member, which means that regardless of what you have a question about, nearly anyone working at the hotel can help.

Specifically, they almost always have cast members in the lobby waiting around for you to ask questions and to help make your Disney vacation memorable. These cast members can help with dining reservations, give recommendations on rides or restaurants, and much more.

The knowledge that the cast members bring to the table when staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel is unmatched. They are the friendliest cast members I have ever met. And they just help add to the whole experience.

Generic Disneyland Resort Hotel Questions:

Finally, here are some of the other frequent questions that get asked about Disneyland Resort Hotels. I tried to cover all of the questions that I could find, so if I missed any questions, or if you have a more specific question, please don’t hesitate to drop a comment or reach out.

Does Disneyland have all-inclusive resorts?

Technically speaking, in the traditional sense of the term ‘all-inclusive’ the answer would be no. However, all three Disneyland Resort Hotels offer a Club-level service which is as close to an all-inclusive experience that you can get.

The Club-Level Service gives guests access to a special lounge just for Club-Level guests. Here guests can enjoy complimentary movies, as well as breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, dessert, and alcoholic drinks. This is all included in the cost when gets either select Club-Level Service when booking or decide to upgrade their room.

The cost of the Club-Level Service varies from hotel to hotel, but you can average out that it will be around an additional $150 more per night to upgrade to this level.

Which Disneyland Hotel is connected to the park?

There are no hotels that are connected to Disneyland, however, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel is connected directly to Disney California Adventure parks. Additionally, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel has a direct access gate to Downtown Disney District.

However, don’t let that stop you from deciding to stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel. Even though Disney’s Paradise Pier and The Disneyland Hotel are more or less across the street, they are still extremely close to the parks with walk time being only minutes.

Which Disney hotel is the cheapest?

The cheapest Disneyland Resort Hotel is probably Disney’s Paradise Pier. Usually, on most nights they have the cheapest rates.

After that, The Disneyland Hotel would be the next cheaper option, with Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel being the most expensive per night.

There are almost always different deals going on when it comes to staying at Disneyland Resort Hotels. I’ve seen up to 25% off the hotel stay if you stay X number of nights, I’ve seen $20/night off, and other deals which always help when trying to stay on a budget.

What is the cheapest month to go to Disneyland?

Usually, the cheapest and in turn least busy times to visit Disneyland is from the start of the New Year until President’s Day weekend. It’s the start of a New Year, kids start back in school, and the parks aren’t really themed for any particular event (Well Disney California Adventure is decorated for Lunar New Year during that time. Usually Jan 21 – Feb 13).

Additionally, usually in the first few weeks of May rates are usually cheaper. As it isn’t very busy because kids are finishing up school before the summer break. This is also why November usually is cheaper to visit the parks (with the exception of Thanksgiving Week).

If you are looking to cut costs, another huge factor in price is whether you visit during the week or on weekends. Weekends, even during the ‘slow’ season are always cheaper than going during the week.

Pro-Tip: Peak season and slow season at Disneyland really does vary from year to year. No one has a crystal ball to be able to really predict how busy or cheap the trip will be. The recommendations above are based upon typical park attendance over the years.

For more budget-friendly suggestions for a trip to Disneyland, keep an eye out for a post on different ways to save money for your Disney trip, that is in the works. Along with a budget-friendly guide that is also in the works.

What is included in a Disneyland vacation package?

If you are booking directly on Disneyland’s website, then a vacation package is considered hotel and park tickets. And this is the standard, even if you are booking with a travel agent.

If you would like a flight or a rental car included in the cost of your Disneyland vacation package, then it is important that you state that prior to the agent doing research.

When booking directly on the Disneyland website, there isn’t a way to add any flights to a package. Which means that it needs to be done separately. There is a section that does allow guests to add either a rental car or ground transportation from the local airports.

How much does it cost to go to Disneyland for 2 adults?

Obviously, the cost of a trip will depend upon the time of year that you go, which hotel for how many nights, how many days at the park, if you get park hopper tickets; and now if you add on Genie+ to your tickets.

So full disclaimer, this is just an estimate of the cost it would be to go for 2 adults while staying at Disneyland Resort Hotels. I checked the prices for a 2-night stay, 2-day tickets; with and without park hopper, and Genie+.

This pricing list is just supposed to be a guide to give a ballpark for how much to save for a trip. For all of these rooms I did look at the same dates, so that variable is the same for the cost.

Disney’s Paradise Pier – Standard Room
2-day ticket (no park hopper, no Genie+) = ~ $1570
2-day ticket w/park hopper (no Genie+) = ~ $1690
2-day ticket w/Genie+ (no park hopper) = ~ $1650
2-day ticket w/park hopper and Genie+ = ~ $1770

The Disneyland Hotel – Standard Room
2-day ticket (no park hopper, no Genie+) = ~ $1955
2-day ticket w/park hopper (no Genie+) = ~ $2075
2-day ticket w/Genie+ (no park hopper) = ~ $2035
2-day tickets w/park hopper and Genie+ = ~ $2155

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel – Standard Room
2-day ticket (no park hopper, no Genie+) = ~ $2395
2-day ticket w/park hopper (no Genie+) = ~ $2515
2-day ticket w/Genie+ (no park hopper) = ~ $2475
2-day tickets w/park hopper and Genie+ = ~ $2595

These costs may seem like a lot, but if you cut the costs in half (because there are 2 adults. That is around $800 per person, for Disney’s Paradise Pier. Which for hotel and tickets isn’t a bad price for 2 days of Disney fun and magic.

Alternate Hotel Options for Anaheim

If after looking through all the information here on this post, you still don’t think that staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel is worth it. Then I have a few posts that break down the ‘Good Neighbor’ hotels in Anaheim that are all good options.

If you aren’t going to stay on-resort for a Disney trip then I would recommend staying at a ‘Good Neighbor’ hotel over any other Anaheim hotel. As those hotels will give you different perks and deals since they are partnered with Disney.

To read more about the ‘Good Neighbor’ hotels, check out this blog post here; Thinking Outside The Park: Anaheim Hotels

The Wrap-Up: Disneyland Resort Hotels

Wow! That was a lot of information above about the Disneyland Resort Hotels! But I really wanted this to be an ultimate guide to help really give as much information as possible. Because I want park-goers to have the most magical vacation they possibly can.

So with that in mind, it is my best recommendation, if you can afford it, or even push the budget a bit to be able to stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel at least once, then you totally should. There is definitely something different about staying on-resort that is kinda something that you get once you’ve experienced it.

There is no bad Disneyland Resort Hotel. They are all incredible, and each brings its own unique perks to staying at that resort. I personally have stayed at 2 of the 3 hotels and loved each trip.

Again for my Hotel Review: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. My hotel review for Disney’s Paradise Pier is in the works.

For money-saving tips try to book your hotel during the low seasons, and when they have special promotions on rooms. Also, visit during the week as the costs will be a lot cheaper too.

[Stay tuned for a money-saving Disneyland post coming soon]