Pros and Cons of Disneyland Resort Hotels
When you travel to The Happiest Place on Earth, you’ll want to extend the magic to your hotel stay.
You’ll find four official Disney properties at Disneyland Resort, each of which will delight you as a fan.
All four resorts come with their own set of positives and negatives, and you’ll make the best decision by understanding them all.
Here are the pros and cons of the Disneyland Resort hotels.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Believe it or not, until 2023, the Grand Californian was the only hotel Disney built.
As part of the Disney California Adventure project, Imagineers constructed an adjoining hotel. And that brings us to the pro…
Pro: Location, Location, Location
Whenever I discuss the Grand Californian, I cannot help but fixate on its greatest benefit.
You can step outside this hotel and be at the private security entrance to Disney California Adventure in one minute. No joke.
Similarly, you’ll enter Downtown Disney the moment you exit the property.
You’re also only a few minutes away from the joint Disneyland Park/Disney California Adventure entrance.
This hotel offers the best logistics of any American Disney theme park.
Con: Price
And you pay for the privilege. Seriously, I always say you get what you pay for at Disney resorts.
That statement resonates at the Grand Californian, which sometimes costs twice as much as other Disney hotels in the area.
So, you’ll love the convenience here, but the price may force you to think twice.
Disneyland Hotel
In the early 1950s, the high cost of building Disneyland left Walt Disney in a challenging position.
The entrepreneur recognized that a neighboring hotel would perform well. Sadly, he couldn’t afford to build it.
So, Uncle Walt made a sales pitch to all his wealthiest friends, who declined.
Eventually, he wrangled an oil baron into building the resort, which he allowed to be called the Disneyland Hotel.
That property opened in 1955, but Disney wouldn’t own it until 1988.
Pro: A Piece of Disney History
You’ll find some controversy about whether Disneyland was truly the first theme park in the world.
A location in Indiana holds a strong claim as well, but Disneyland generally gets the nod due to the difference in scale.
However, there is no dispute about the first theme park hotel on the planet. That’s the Disneyland Hotel.
Whenever you stay here, you’re adding your name to a piece of Disney history, becoming one of only a few million people to stay here in 70 years.
Con: Somewhat Convoluted
Alas, the former owner and Disney didn’t do the place any favors via the odd design.
By the late 1990s, Disney willingly demolished part of the property, including the original hotel rooms, to expand Disneyland Resort.
What remains is a hodgepodge of buildings whose alignment is quite odd.
You’ll love every hotel room at this facility, but you’ll sometimes walk up to 15 minutes to reach your destination.
The reality is that some hotel towers possess better locations than others.
So, I’d strongly recommend contacting a MickeyTravels agent to learn the best places to stay.
These Disney experts know all the ins and outs of Disneyland Resort’s hotels. Even better, their services are free to you!
Pixar Pier Hotel
Technically, this is Disney’s newest hotel, having officially opened in 2024.
However, that would be like calling Journey into Imagination with Figment the newest Figment ride.
While true, both statements come with a huge asterisk, as each one existed long before the “new” version.
Disney didn’t even build Pixar Pier Hotel, instead purchasing the former Pan Pacific Hotel in 1995.
Disney spent the past year or so adding Pixar touches, and they are pretty great.
Pro: All Pixar, All the Time
Have you ever wanted to watch Joe Gardner play piano? No, I’m talking about a fictional moment in Pixar’s Soul.
A Cast Member dressed as Joe Gardner holds court at this hotel frequently.
That’s just one of MANY Pixar touches available, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll love every one of them.
Con: Still a Cookie Cutter Hotel Design
Look, as great as the Pixar elements are, the reality is that Disney has added a theming retrofit onto an existing property.
The bones of this place are a hotel that’s 30+ years old and fairly cookie-cutter in design.
Those of you who want a Disney experience to feel unique may prefer one of the other properties.
Then again, I doubt Pixar fans will care about anything other than Joe Gardner.
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
Last year, Disney added an expansion tower on the Disneyland Hotel’s campus.
You can even see that hotel’s famous Monorail Pool from certain spots at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel.
However, you’re staying at a place that’s still brand new, with everything feeling fresh.
Pro: The New Hotness
While Pixar Place is technically a few months newer, that’s a disingenuous statement.
Disney simply gave an existing property a facelift there. With The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, everything is new.
Disney added an expansion tower near Disneyland Hotel, which makes this place the new hotness.
You’ll love the first truly new Disneyland property in over 20 years.
Con: Not Many New Amenities
Alas, other than a new pool and pool bar, Disney officials didn’t do much to enhance the guest experience here.
Due to the hotel’s proximity to Disneyland Hotel and even the Grand Californian, management chose to let things stand.
So, you’ll hang out at other hotels, the parks, and Downtown Disney rather than spending your downtime at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel.
How big a deal is that? The answer depends on your travel habits, but it’s the only real con for Disneyland Resort’s newest property.
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Feature Photo: Disney