Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel
The most affordable of the on-site options is the Paradise Pier Hotel. It boasts a rooftop pool and water slide with views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the third floor pool on select nights. In terms of location, it has the longest walking commute to the parks but rooms start at about $300/night.
Disneyland Hotel
Starting at around $400/night, you can book your stay at Disneyland Hotel. The theme is a bit more mature with a lot of throwbacks to the original Disneyland charm. One of the coolest options at this hotel is the Monorail Pool, which features two water slides and a themed children's play area. Disneyland Hotel is located near Downtown Disney and is a straight-shot walking to the park entrances.
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa
The most expensive, and most immersive, of the Disneyland resort hotels is the Grand Californian. The name is fitting because this hotel has it all! Rooms start at an astonishing $500/night but it is located between Downtown Disney and Disney's California Adventure - with entrances from the hotel to both locations. The theme of this hotel is quite extensive with rustic features throughout. It is also the only Disneyland resort hotel to offer spa services. If you want a convenient location with all of the bells and whistles, the Grand Californian is your best bet.
Off-Site Hotels
There are dozens of accommodations within 2-3 blocks walking distance from the pedestrian entrance of Disneyland. There are also a handful of hotels located right across the street that won't break the bank. I will caution, however, that you should check the reviews of any hotel you choose because some are questionable - especially the further down Katella Avenue you go. Here's what you need to know about the area:
Any hotel you choose on Katella Avenue is going to be at least a 15-20 minute walk to the park entrances. If you choose a hotel near the intersection of Katella Ave. and Harbor Blvd, then you'll want to utilize the main pedestrian entrance. If you are staying closer to the intersection of Katella Ave. and Disneyland Drive, then your best bet is to use the Grand Californian entrance because the pedestrian entrance on Disneyland Drive is further north (closer to Ball Rd.). As you can see, the parking structures are pretty far from the parks; there is a free tram to Downtown Disney but the wait time for the tram can be anywhere from 10-20 minutes if the parks are busy that day. Combined with the $17/day parking fee, I find that staying in a hotel across from the pedestrian entrance on Harbor Blvd. works best.
Walking Time: 15-20 minutes
From most expensive to least, you've got Desert Palms Hotel and Suites ($200/night), Ramada Plaza Anaheim ($150/night), and Super 8 Anaheim (<$100/night). These are the hotels with which I have personal experience or know people that have stayed at these locations. There are plenty of other options in this area but if you venture too far south on Harbor Blvd. then you'll run into the Anaheim Convention Center and could potentially be stuck with a perpetual crowd of people. Also, some of the options further down (east or west) on Katella Ave. have a nasty reputation of bed bugs so make sure to check the recent reviews to see what travelers are saying.
Walking Time: 10 minutes
East of the pedestrian entrance hotels, you'll find a little nook of properties that are on a very slow street with an easy commute to the parks. These options include the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground ($200/night), the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Anaheim ($150/night), and the Quality Inn & Suites Anaheim Resort ($100/night). Of these options, I've only stayed at the Quality Inn & Suites and I can say that it is was very lovely. It's definitely a no-frills accommodation but there is an affordable gift shop on-site (affordable for souvenirs, not sundries! $7 Suave shampoo...no thanks). Also, its location is closer to the Magic Kingdom side of the Disneyland resort so you can leave the park early and still have a decent view of the fireworks on your walk back to the hotel. Have a look for yourself:
In fact, the view was pleasant enough that we sat down on the sidewalk and ate the remaining snacks from our bags.
Walking Time: 5 minutes
I have to list 5 minutes because the pedestrian entrance itself is a bit of a trek but the hotels located across the street are the most convenient - and typically the nicest - options you'll find in the area. This list includes properties like Carousel Inn and Suites ($200/night), Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn ($150/night), and Tropicana Inn and Suites ($150/night). Some of these locations even have balconies so that you can get a good view of the fireworks from your room. I highly recommend a close, off-site hotel if you have children that require naps or if you plan to schedule a break in the middle of your day. Additionally, there is a McDonald's, IHOP, Denny's, and Mimi's Cafe located near these hotels and may prove to be a more affordable dining option than the resort food.
In addition to checking major travel booking sites, be sure to check the individual hotel websites for pricing and availability. For my upcoming trip to Disneyland in December, I wanted to book the Tropicana Inn and Suites but could only find an option on the travel sites to put down a $50 deposit and a final price of $149/night. I went to the Tropicana Inn and Suites website and was offered a free booking (no deposit) and a final price of $129/night. I saved $60 and my deposit by booking directly with the hotel!
Please fill me in on your trip if you've stayed at a property on-or-near Disneyland! I would love to get more feedback about the options in the area.
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