A most magical Disneyland vacation starts with your onsite stay at one of the three Disney Resort Hotels to choose from! While you can choose to stay at Disney's Paradise Pier for the onsite benefits, many clients find it really comes down to a stay at the classic Disneyland Hotel or the luxurious Grand Californian Hotel. Having stayed at the Disneyland Hotel before during our last trip (and I LOVED it!), I decided it was an important to have experience both to be able to compare the differences between to the two and to experience Disneyland with the most magical vacation to date!
As another school year comes to a close, we started our summer vacation off with a bang! We spent a week in Anaheim, flying into Orange County, Anaheim arriving at John Wayne Airport (SNA) for the first time (as we usually fly into LAX). I was pleasantly surprised at the overall pleasant airport experience. The smaller airport is much easier to navigate through and the arrival was quick and straightforward. WestJet is the only Canadian airlines that flies into John Wayne Airport (SNA) from Vancouver so it is easy to connect with WestJet from other cities.
As another school year comes to a close, we started our summer vacation off with a bang! We spent a week in Anaheim, flying into Orange County, Anaheim arriving at John Wayne Airport (SNA) for the first time (as we usually fly into LAX). I was pleasantly surprised at the overall pleasant airport experience. The smaller airport is much easier to navigate through and the arrival was quick and straightforward. WestJet is the only Canadian airlines that flies into John Wayne Airport (SNA) from Vancouver so it is easy to connect with WestJet from other cities.
We took an Uber from the airport to our hotel, the Disneyland Hotel and the ride was only about 25 minutes. Because it was Sunday, there was minimal traffic on the roads and it was more affordable than taking a shuttle from the airport. And then when we arrived......the magic begins!
DISNEYLAND HOTEL
DISNEYLAND HOTEL
The rooms at the Disneyland Hotel are whimsical, fantastical and welcomes you with the magical essence that fills the air. First you notice the headboard and squeal with delight when you see the castle and fireworks as they light up and play a little lullaby "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes".
The rooms are delightful with magical touches everywhere, offering a view of the Disneyland Hotel pool area.
Our room in the Frontier Tower, overlooking the pool area.
View of the iconic monorail waterslides in the pool area
The hotel is comprised of three towers - Frontier Tower, Adventureland Tower and the Fantasyland Tower, nods to the original lands of Disneyland when it opened in 1955. The Frontier Tower is the main building that includes the lobby and gift shops.
As you stroll through the hotel, the walls are adorned with history and provide a glimpse into the classic years of Disneyland.
And just outside the hotel is the beautiful Rose Garden area perfect for weddings, private parties and gatherings.
GRAND CALIFORNIAN HOTEL & SPA
After a few nights at the Disneyland Hotel, we headed over to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, an uber luxurious and embodiment of California coziness. As you enter the lobby, the "grandness" of the space invites you in a warm and intimate setting, oozing sophisticated comfort.
After a few nights at the Disneyland Hotel, we headed over to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, an uber luxurious and embodiment of California coziness. As you enter the lobby, the "grandness" of the space invites you in a warm and intimate setting, oozing sophisticated comfort.
The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the flagship hotel of the Disneyland Resort offering premium accommodations and impeccable Disney service boasting grandeur sophistication. It is the closest hotel to the parks with its very own entrance into Disney California Adventure Park and right in the middle of the Downtown Disney District. The hotel has a craftsman-style elegance with an upscale and rich homage to California history and identity. Much of the architecture and design of the hotel pays tribute to California’s rich and varied history incorporated throughout the hotel decor.
View of the pool area, with Disney California Adventure Park in the distance
Being the closest Disney Hotel to the parks, the location cannot be beat! The convenience and proximity to the parks is a perk that is worth its weight in gold!
Head towards the Downtown Disney District and it is less than 10 minutes to walk to the entrance of the parks. Head out the private entrance into California Adventure and you could be in the queue to Grizzly River Run in less than 10 minutes. Got wet afterward the ride?? Head back to your room for a quick change of clothes and be back in the park in 15 minutes. Being this close to the park, having the early morning access where there are virtually no lines in the morning makes the premium price worth the convenience! We could easily take breaks throughout the day and go back and forth as needed.
But you can't stay at the Grand Californian and not take the time to enjoy the resort as well!
The pool loungers have got to be one of the most comfortable and most luxurious pool loungers I've ever enjoyed! This is the kind of comfort in the sun I can live with!
Head towards the Downtown Disney District and it is less than 10 minutes to walk to the entrance of the parks. Head out the private entrance into California Adventure and you could be in the queue to Grizzly River Run in less than 10 minutes. Got wet afterward the ride?? Head back to your room for a quick change of clothes and be back in the park in 15 minutes. Being this close to the park, having the early morning access where there are virtually no lines in the morning makes the premium price worth the convenience! We could easily take breaks throughout the day and go back and forth as needed.
But you can't stay at the Grand Californian and not take the time to enjoy the resort as well!
The pool loungers have got to be one of the most comfortable and most luxurious pool loungers I've ever enjoyed! This is the kind of comfort in the sun I can live with!
Much of the hotel has undergone a renovation in 2017, redesigning all guest rooms, refreshed the lobby, pool area and concierge-level lounge.
The new pool lounge, Craftsman Bar, just happened to be having its soft opening during our stay so we took the opportunity to check it out for dinner. This is not your average poolside lounge! The ambiance was cozy providing an intimate setting with great views of the pool. Food and drinks were artisanal and the menu includes a large selection of poolside favourites (nachos, sliders, pizza) to new favourites such as ahi tuna wraps and delectable desserts (we had to try them all)!
Poolside lounge
Artisanal pepperoni pizza, Cali sliders with Wagyu beef, ahi tuna lettuce wraps and soy glazed chicken wings
Rootbeer float, waffle-churro sundae and chocolate chip cookie fingers & strawberry marmalade dip.
Overall, we enjoyed the food and the atmosphere although it felt much more upscale for a poolside lounge!
Staying onsite at the Disney Resort Hotels was an absolute treat and made our overall Disney vacation so much more magical! We were completely immersed in the experience and could take advantage of all the benefits that came with a Disney hotel stay, including mobile ordering and the early magic morning access as just a couple of my favourites!
All three of the Disney Hotels are priced as deluxe hotels because of the limited availability of the Disney hotels. And choosing which one to stay at has always been the toughest choice! I love the classic and nostalgic charm of the Disneyland Hotel, but the cozy and sophistication of the Grand Californian and its proximity to the parks is a benefit that is unmatched!!
You may have noticed I have only discussed the Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian Hotel but there is also a third Disney hotel option - Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. It is the the entry level Disney hotel option to consider for an onsite Disney stay at Disneyland to take advantage of all the benefits of staying onsite. It's a smaller property that books up quickly because of the affordability (when compared to the other two Disney hotels) and not as many rooms available to choose from.
For the difference in cost though, I generally recommend spending the extra money to stay at either the Disneyland Hotel or the Grand Californian.
Why?
- Paradise Pier is located the furthest away from the parks. You do have to walk up towards the Disneyland Hotel, and then through Downtown Disney to get to the park entrance. It can be about a 15 - 20 minute walk (not including the time it will take to get through security to get into Downtown Disney) so it you have young kids, it can be quite the trek, especially after long park days when you've already walked a lot!
- Also, while they do have a sit down restaurant, PCH Grill, and it has a character dining experience, there is no quick service restaurant option at the hotel. Sometimes you just need a quick bite or something to eat quickly and not having a quick service restaurant at the hotel or even close by can be a huge inconvenience!
However, I'm sure it is can be a great option for some people! I will just have to wait until our next visit for the chance to stay here so I can provide a bit more personal experience at this hotel. We did enjoy the 4th of July Fireworks show from the third floor pool patio area (which is open to and accessible by all Disney hotel guests), which looks to be a great place to hang out and relax!
There is always something for everyone at Disneyland and choosing your hotel stay is the same. Let me know if you have any questions or would like any assistance in planning your trip to Disney! I would love the opportunity to help you make it as magical as it can be!
There is always something for everyone at Disneyland and choosing your hotel stay is the same. Let me know if you have any questions or would like any assistance in planning your trip to Disney! I would love the opportunity to help you make it as magical as it can be!
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