Deciding which hotel to stay at while enjoying your Disneyland vacation can be a daunting task. There are lots of hotels near Disneyland for families to choose from, but which are ones are the best?
Should you stay on property or off? How important is being within walking distance to the parks? What about shuttle services, early morning perks, or free breakfast? Don’t worry, we have the answers you are looking for.
We poured through Trekaroo reviews, all written by real parents, and combined it with our own experiences to create the ultimate guide to the best hotels near Disneyland for families. From Harbor Boulevard to Downtown Disney, this is where you want to stay
Here are our picks for the best rides at Disneyland for 2024.
The Best Hotels Near Disneyland for Families
Disneyland Resort Properties and Their Perks
If you can afford to, staying on Disneyland Resort property during your Disneyland family vacation is the way to go. Disneyland Resort hotels come with some great perks.
All Disneyland Resort guests receive special benefits, ranking them at the top of our best Disneyland hotels list! Those staying at one of these hotels will receive early entry to the theme parks! This perk will allow you to ride the most popular attractions before the crowds show up.
Here are our picks for the best rides at Disneyland Resort.
And, starting January 20, 2024, those staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels may take advantage of a 30-minute early entry into a designated theme park for every day of their hotel stay. Each day, either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park will be open early. You can find out which park opens early on the theme park calendar.
The prime location of these hotels makes for easy access to both parks, with a separate entrance for resort guests to California Adventure through Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.
Character breakfasts are a highlight of Disneyland hotel properties and kids can request a character wake-up phone call to start the morning right. You also get preferred access to hotel dining reservations.
Be sure to take advantage of Package Express and send souvenir purchases back to your hotel room from inside the park. Purchase anything in the park and it will be delivered to you by the next morning!
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
Best for the comforts of home on Disney property
If you are looking suites that are designed to sleep up to nine people and several of the comforts of home with plenty of Disney Magic mixed in, look no further than the Villas at Disneyland Hotel. These brand new villas are the 16th Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort, and are inspired by the iconic storytelling of Walt Disney Studios.
And here is the best part- you don’t have to be a member of DVC to book a stay here!
The decor in villa rooms is inspired by Disney animation classics and every room has a gorgeous, story-themed mural from films like The Jungle Book, The Princess and the Frog, and Fantasia.
Families will especially adore the one- and two-bedroom villas which include include a full-size kitchen, dining area, living area, and in-room laundry. One bedroom villas sleep five and two bedroom villas sleep nine. One bedrooms can also adjoin with a Deluxe Studio room, a great option for multi-generational groups. Deluxe studios sleep four and duo studios sleep two.
One- and two-bedroom villas also have master bedrooms with a swanky en-suite bathroom featuring gorgeous mosaic murals, soaking tubs, and spa-like showers. And we absolutely love Disney’s space-saving solution to sleeping- queen-size Murphy beds in the main room can be pulled down over the sofa! So much better than those uncomfortable sofa beds!
If you really want to go big, book the absolutely breathtaking, two-story Grand Villa. As a writer who has covered Disney for 15 years and had the opportunity to tour several amazing lodging spaces, I think this one tops them all! The wall of windows with its double-sided fireplace connecting the living area to a private outdoor balcony with a wow-inducing view took my breath away.
The three-bedroom villa sleeps up to 12 and has a full-size kitchen, large dining area, and Bambi-inspired master suite. Up the impressive spiral staircase you will find two more bedrooms- one with a Frozen theme and one with a Moana theme- which have their own en-suite bathrooms.
Check out our Reel touring the gorgeous Grand Villa.
Those staying the villa have access to all the ammenities of the Disneyland Hotel as well as the new Palette Pool, Steamboat Willie splash pad, and the new, state-of-the-art fitness center.
Disneyland Hotel
Best for the ultimate magical experience
This magical hotel delights families with lots of special touches such as headboards that play ” A dream is a wish your heart makes”, character greetings in the lobby, and many interactive experiences like learning how to draw Disney characters from Imagineers.
The Disneyland Hotel is the original Disney-owned hotel, with a prime location and easy access to the Monorail Station in Downtown Disney which takes families directly to Disneyland’s Tomorrowland.
You will want to reserve at least one afternoon of your vacation for swimming in the hotel’s E-Ticket Pool. The kids will especially love splashing down the Monorail Slide. Mom and dad will want to stop by Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar to pick up a boozy treat.
Book your stay at the Disneyland Hotel.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Best for a luxury splurge
A stay at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is a must if you can afford the splurge. Ths Craftsman-style architecture instantly whisk you away from Orange County and drops you into a luxurious national park lodge with its high ceilings, wood beams, and a roaring warm fire filling the lobby.
Standard rooms are well equipped and comfortable, although not overly large. If you can manage to snag a Disney Vacation Club room though, you will have lots of space and even kitchen space.
The Grand Californian Hotel basically has Disney California Adventure (DCA) right in its backyard, and many rooms even have views of the park! There is even a private entrance to DCA that is exclusive to hotel guests and makes quick escapes for afternoon naps or pool time a breeze.
You won’t want to miss the hotel’s character meals, including the memorable Disney Princess Breakfast Adventure at the famed Napa Rose Restaurant. Speaking of Napa Rose, you definitely will want to put your children in the Kids Club and enjoy a special adult meal at this sophisticated restaurant with a fabulous wine list.
Book your stay at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel
Best for enjoying on-property perks on a budget
Note: This property is currently being refurbished to transform into the Pixar Place Hotel. This may result in closures of some spaces as they updates. Check the Disney website for the latest info.
Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel is a block away from the theme parks and at a lower price point than Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which allows guests to save money while experiencing the magic and convenience of staying on Disneyland Resort property.
Character dining, a rooftop pool with a water slide, and early entry to theme parks are just a few reasons why your family will love Paradise Pier. This relaxed and contemporary property is a great place to make your Disney memories.
It is only a 15-minute walk through Downtown Disney to the gates of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. So add location, location, location to the list of pluses for staying at this property.
More Great Hotels Near Disneyland for Families
You don’t have to stay on Disneyland Resort property to stay at a great hotel. As a matter of fact several of our most favorite hotels near Disneyland are off-property but still have quick and easy access to the parks.
Long gone are the subpar motels that used to line Harbor Blvd and Katella Avenue. Anaheim is a family-friendly destination that is newly revitalized. Great accommodations can be found all over the city and most area hotels offer pools, dining experiences, and transportation options to the resort.
Walt Disney Travel uses the term “Good Neighbor” to indicate a property that provides quality accommodatios and is located close to the Disneyland Resort. Thankfully, with so many properties close to Disneyland, there are lots of great options.
Hyatt House Anaheim Resort/Convention Center
Best for apartment-style accommodations
The Hyatt House at Anaheim Resort, located on the corner of Harbor & Katella, is a fabulous option for families seeking modern, apartment-style accommodations during their Disney trip with the added perks & benefits of a hotel included.
The full kitchen allows families to dine in-room on a budget (or easily pack lunches, stash leftovers, etc…) while the complimentary buffet-style breakfast gets your family ready for a day’s worth of adventure with full stomachs.
Families will also feel at home with a variety of game rentals to play in room, sprawling pool deck with BBQs available for use, onsite dining and bar, fireworks views, and laundry machines that allow you to pack light. Kid’s Suites include bunk beds and separate TV area.
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Best for non-compromising budget options
This Disneyland-area Hyatt Regency comes highly recommended from our Trekaroo community members because it offers an incredible value and comfortable accommodations for families of all sizes. This is one of the of communities favorite hotels near Disneyland!
Their 700 sq. ft. VIP Family Suite includes a master bedroom, bunk beds, two full-sized bathrooms, three 42 inch LCD TVs, and a parlor room with a pull out sleeper sofa. There are also two pools on property, a great selection of outdoor games, and shuttle service to and from the parks.
Explore details of the family-friendly Hyatt Regency Orange County
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground
Best value for family fun
The Anaheim HoJo is situated close enough to Disneyland for guests to easily walk there with children of all ages– even on tired legs after a full day at the park!
The property includes a pirate ship-themed water playground, a great alternative to mid-day madness inside the Disney parks. The kids will have so much fun that you might want to pad a pool day into your vacation.
Families will love the retro-themed rooms complete with a comfy dining area. HoJo’s is also well know for their delicious morning cup of Jo!
Read kid-friendly reviews of the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground
Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel
Best for the royal treatment
One of the newer names in Anaheim is the renovated Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, formerly the Sheraton Anaheim Hotel. Those of us who grew up in Southern California know it fondly as “that castle hotel by Disneyland”.
The property, designed to look like a grand European castle, features a beautiful story of a princess who saved her kingdom that is featured on the walls of the halls, allowing children can navigate the hotel to follow the tale.
The kids will love the Castle Package; select rooms feature castle bunk beds, dining with the resident princess, and free Wi Fi. The cherry on top of this sundae is the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel is unlike other hotels near Disneyland, as they have the rare free onsite Disneyland Main Gate drop off.
Read parent-approved reviews of the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel
Hilton Anaheim
Best for large groups and family reunions
Anyone who has spent time at the Anaheim Convention Center is surely familiar with the Hilton Anaheim, a large, full service hotel that is popular with convention goers as well as park goers.
An 18-minute walk from Disneyland or a three-minute ride on a their shuttle (for an additional fee), the Hilton Anaheim is not only close enough to get back and forth quickly, it’s also convenient enough for a mid-day pool break from the Southern California heat.
Trekaroo tip: Walk across Harbor Blvd. to the Toy Story parking lot and you can catch the free Disney shuttle which runs continuously and drops you off right outside the parks!
Kids love the play area at this pool which features a collection of climbing choices, a slide, and a row of noise-making activities with water rushing out of every angle and occasionally being poured over the top.
Parents love the poolside service as well as the opportunity to rest tired, aching feet before returning for more fun at the Happiest Place on Earth! To top it all, unlike other hotels near Disneyland their expansive views showcase the entire Disneyland park!
Hotel Lulu Anaheim
Best option for off-property activities
Hotel Lulu offers great deals and a premium location to delight the entire family. This newly remodeled property (formerly Red Lion) is part of the premier collection by Best Western.
At this property you can enjoy a hot breakfast, free WiFi, and onsite parking with the Disneyland Package. The hotel is a 15-minute walk to the main gate (or walk around the corner to the Toy Story lot and catch the free shuttle) and located just across the street from the Gardenwalk, which hosts great shopping, musical events, and family-friendly food options.
Your family will be delighted by the firework views; grab a drink and head to the north side of the building for a great show!
Read a comprehensive review of Hotel Lulu Anaheim
Anaheim Marriott Hotel
Best for luxe-level service & amenities
If you are looking for a great escape and a Good Neighbor location for your trip to Disneyland, the Anaheim Marriott is a great option. This property is also located at the Anaheim Convention Center.
The property offers premium amenities: onsite gourmet dining, premier pool lounge, and concierge service. The heated pool has a large hot tub and poolside dining is available.
The location is great- the Anaheim Marriott is located directly across from the Toy Story Disneyland parking lot. Guests can walk the two blocks to the lot and hop on the bus!
Upgrading to the concierge level will get your family WiFi, breakfast, and an assortment of treats throughout your stay.
Explore reviews of the Anaheim Marriott Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance
Best for Big Families and Mid-day Fun
Want a break from the parks? Then the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is the place you want to be! This property is close and comparable to staying on the Disneyland Resort without the Disney price tag!
The pool deck and water park is the highlight of this property. Not only is there a giant water play structure but there are two waterslides, a full pool, Jacuzzi and a one foot splash pool for the kids!
Not to mention that every room can sleep up to six people while still offering enough room to enjoy the space. There are bunk beds for the kids and even rooms with two showers!
The location is perfect for early mornings and late nights – just a short 6 minute to the gates!
Check out Pit Stops for Kids’ review of the Courtyard by Marriott.
Great Wolf Lodge Southern California
Best for year-round water park fun
Located just down the street from the Disneyland Resort, Great Wolf Lodge Southern California is truly a destination unto itself. This resort features the first indoor water park in California as well as several other attractions such as minigolf, an arcade, a kids spa, and MagiQuest, an addictive live-action role playing game.
Many rooms include “Wolf Dens” or “KidCabins” which feature special little rooms for children complete with bunk beds and their own private flat-screen TVs.
Great Wolf Lodge Southern California has partnered with Disneyland to put together discount packages which include the same Magic Morning access that folks who stay at Disneyland Resort properties receive.
Great Wolf Lodge is truly a destination unto itself. You don’t want to visit the property without first reading Trekaroo’s article filled with Great Wolf Lodge tips.
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Featured photo by: Disneyland Resort