A Magical Review of the Disneyland Resorts
Disneyland, located in Anaheim, California, was the very first Disney theme park to be opened in 1955. As the park developed and grew, resort hotels were added on property. Three hotel options are available to Disneyland guests: Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. Each hotel is full of Disney magic, from poolside Disney movie nights to interactive character and game experiences. When guests stay at any of the Disneyland resorts, they are offered specialty perks such as extra time in the parks known as Extra Magic Hours and merchandise delivery directly to your resort hotel room. In addition, each hotel is in walking distance to the Downtown Disney District, allowing guests to be truly immersed in Disneyland Magic!
Disneyland Hotel
Opened in 1955, this resort is the original Disney hotel. It reflects classic Walt Disney ideas with an updated touch. Disneyland Hotel consists of three towers: The Frontier Tower, the Adventure Tower, and the Fantasy Tower. Your family may choose from rooms ranging from standard view, to club level service rooms, to one, two, and three bedroom suites. Each room is decorated to incorporate a classic Disney feel, as well as modern detailing and furnishings.
The resort hotel is equipped with a business center with computer and Internet access, complimentary Wi-Fi, fifty-two meeting halls, two ballrooms, dry cleaning, and a laundry room. In addition, the hotel offers a full fitness center and two recreational pools. The E-Ticket Pool and the D-Ticket pool are available to guests at their leisure. Guests will also find two waterslides resembling monorail trains. Adult guests may indulge in a poolside cabana, a relaxing poolside hot tub, or grab a beverage from the Enchanted Tiki Bar.
Home of six original restaurants and snack spots, Steakhouse 55, The Lounge at Steakhouse 55, The Coffee House, Tangaroa Terrace, Goofy’s Kitchen, and Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, the Disneyland Hotel is the perfect place to dine with your family. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in a full service, signature-dining experience at Steakhouse 55. Here, you can find an assortment of dishes, including prime rib, filet mignon, broiled lobster tail, lamb chops, bone-in rib eye, lamb chops, and short ribs. If guests are looking for a more relaxing hangout, the Coffee House offers a laid-back lounge café with sandwiches, salads, fresh fruits and bagels, croissants, cinnamon rolls, and a Disney favorite: the Dole Whip.
Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel
The second Disneyland resort hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, was opened in late 2000. The resort overlooks the California Adventure theme park. It is themed as a modern beachfront Californian paradise with an old-school feel. The beach themed rooms are available to guests with a standard or premium view, club level services, one and two bedroom suites, or a signature suite.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa offers a wide range of amenities. Guests will be offered complimentary Wi-Fi, an outdoor event space, a Pacific Ballroom, fifteen meeting rooms, a laundry room, dry cleaning services, and a business center with printing, Internet, and computer access, just to name a few. For those looking for recreational activities at their Disney resort hotel, the Grand Californian includes an arcade, fitness center, children’s theater, and pools. The Paradise Pool is located on the third floor of the hotel, giving guests a chance to soak up the Californian sun in style. Here, you can find a water slide known as California Streamin’, a kiddie pool for little ones, and the Paradise Spa hot tub. Guests ages twenty-one and up can enjoy adult beverages at the Sand Bar.
In addition to room service dining, guests staying at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel can choose from three different dining experiences. Disney’s PCH Grill is a buffet style character-dining encounter. Breakfast is served until eleven a.m. and offers typical American breakfast options such as waffles, bacon, sausage, eggs, and assorted muffins, pastries, and bagels. Dinner provides a wide selection of dishes including seafood, baby back ribs, cheeseburgers, fried chicken, tacos, potato salad, and a full dessert station. The Sand Bar and The Surfside Lounge each offer a more relaxed dining experience. They offer cocktails and other specialty drinks, sandwiches, flatbreads, and assorted snacks.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
The most recent resort hotel to be built on Disneyland property is Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Opened in January 2001, it offers one of the most luxurious and grand resort experiences found in Disneyland. It is designed to reflect the elegant early twentieth century culture of northern California. Rooms are available with a standard, woods-courtyard, premium, downtown Disney, or deluxe partial view, club level service, a full suite ranging from one to three rooms, or a signature suite.
Much like the other two resort hotels, Disney’s Grand Californian offers banquet and meeting halls, free Wi-Fi, a laundry room, dry cleaning services, and an ATM. This Disneyland resort however, is the only to offer a lobby piano, a private entrance to the California Adventure theme park, and a full service Mandara Spa including massages, therapeutic treatments, and facials. Extra perks of the Grand Californian include a fitness center, an interactive scavenger hunt for children, and an Art of Craft tour. Three recreational and relaxation pools are available to guests: Fountain Pool, Pariposa Pool, and Redwood Pool. Complete with poolside cabanas, and a ninety-foot waterslide, these pool areas allow guests to relax and enjoy their resort. In addition, adults can treat themselves to adult beverages or take a dip in the hot tub.
The Grand Californian features five different places to dine and grab a quick bite: White Water Snacks, Napa Rose Lounge, Storytellers Café, Hearthstone Lounge, Napa Rose. White Water Snacks is a quick service spot that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The other four dining options are table service only. At Napa Rose, guests will have a fine dining experience where they may find pot roast, pork chops, lamb rack, and more. Available at an extra charge, guests may take part in an hour- long food and wine-pairing event. This consists of an assortment of meats and cheese paired with five different wines. Advanced reservations are strongly recommended.
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* Special thanks to Lexsie Ditter for writing this article!
