Disneyland Los Angeles – 8 Hotels for a Family Getaway
The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, not far from downtown Los Angeles, is where the concept of giant theme parks originated and eventually spread throughout the USA and around the world. Walt Disney's personal creation opened in 1955 as a purely tourist destination for kids where they could experience his world of fantasy. Today, the resort includes two adjacent theme parks – Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. The resort features themed hotels by Disney, along with a variety of hotels and motels from all major American chains located nearby.
So before you rush to find a flight to Los Angeles, want to get to know the themed parks of Disneyland a bit?
Click here for the complete guide to visiting the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim…
Click here for all the information about Disneyland Park…
Click here for everything you need to know about visiting Disney California Adventure Park…
Already want to book a place to stay in Anaheim? Click here to check availability and prices in hotels near Disneyland…
Great Hotels Near Disney Park in Anaheim
JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort
The Marriott Resort is one of the highest quality hotels near Disneyland. This five-star hotel from the American hospitality giant is located slightly south of Disneyland, just a five-minute drive or a twenty-minute walk from the park. It is a classic luxury hotel with large, well-equipped rooms, extensive public spaces, excellent cuisine, and everything tailored for families with children. The hotel features a relatively large pool and a wealth of in-house entertainment and dining options.
Click here to book a room at JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort…
The Westin Anaheim Resort
The Westin Anaheim Resort is an excellent four-star hotel right next to the Disneyland Resort, located south on West Katella Avenue. It's a large, spotless, and highly efficient hotel for a family stay, just a 15-minute walk (with a shuttle available, of course) from Downtown Disney and the Disney Esplanade, the entrance to both theme parks. The hotel offers spacious family rooms, a small pool, high-level dining, and large, inviting public areas.
Click here to book a place at The Westin Anaheim Resort…
SunCoast Hotel Anaheim, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
The SunCoast is a great four-star hotel from the huge American chain Hilton, in a very convenient location near the Disney parks. This is a family-friendly hotel a 10-minute walk from the theme parks (or a three-minute drive excluding parking). The hotel offers spacious rooms, high-level dining, a pretty cool and large pool, all aimed at ensuring a pleasant stay for kids and families.
Click here to book a place at SunCoast Hotel Anaheim…
Ayres Hotel Orange
Ayres is a great three-star hotel/motel just a 10-minute drive from the Disneyland resort. It is located off the 5, one interchange south of Disneyland. The hotel is basic but very efficient with relatively large and very clean rooms, a surprising breakfast, and a small outdoor pool + jacuzzi. The hotel is an excellent solution for staying comfortably near Disneyland without paying the Disneyland price.
Click here to book a stay at Ayres Hotel Orange…
Home2 Suites By Hilton Anaheim Resort
Home2 Suites is a quality and comfortable three-star hotel/motel, not far from the entrance gates of Disneyland parks. The hotel is located next to the I-5, just a two-minute drive from the park gates. This is a suite hotel with large rooms, kitchenettes, and inviting public spaces where a good breakfast and a bar restaurant are available in the evening. The hotel has a small but cute pool, and everything is new and nicely decorated.
Click here to book a stay at Home2 Suites By Hilton Anaheim Resort…
California Inn
The Motel California is a 3-star hotel facility on the east side of I-5 within Anaheim itself. It's a large and very convenient motel to stay at near Disneyland, just a five-minute drive from the park gates. The motel has been upgraded to a basic hotel, featuring large, renovated rooms suitable for big families, plenty of parking, and quite decent service overall.
Click here to book a place at the California Inn…
Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn
The Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn, along with its twin the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn, is located in the most strategic spot in Anaheim, right across the street from the Disneyland Esplanade, the promenade that serves as the entrance to the two theme parks. The major advantage of the Best Western is the convenient parking of the hotel right opposite the parks (these parking spots are in demand). It's a basic hotel from the American low-cost chain, but with everything you need at a three-star level, including a small pool.
Click here to book a spot at Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn…
Best Western Plus Park Place Inn – Mini Suites
The Best Western Plus Park Place Inn Mini Suites is the twin of the neighboring Anaheim Inn, and it offers the best location across the entrance to Disney parks. It's almost identical to its neighbor but with slightly larger rooms that are better suited for large families. The hotel also features a mini pool, a few public areas, but mainly large and clean rooms.
Click here to book a spot at Best Western Plus Park Place Inn – Mini Suites…
4 Tips from Guy for a Perfect Stay at Disneyland
- Book a Disney hotel well in advance – Official Disney resort hotels are much pricier than the hotels and motels near the Disney parks on South Harbor Boulevard or in Anaheim in general. These hotels are in high demand and can be fully booked on certain days. If you're set on experiencing Disney 24/7, it's worth booking these hotels far in advance. It can be more cost-effective and is crucial if you're visiting Los Angeles in the summer.
- Find the perfect Disney hotel for the family – There are three official Disney hotels at the resort (compared to 25 in Orlando), and they are located next to the parks and Downtown Disney to the west. These hotels are significantly more expensive than others in the area, but they offer a unique experience. If you're already traveling to the ends of the Earth and spending quite a bit on park entrance fees, it's worth spending a bit more to enjoy the experience around the clock.
- When is the best time to visit Disney World? — Disneyland, like the rest of California, enjoys almost perfect weather year-round. Winters are cool and pleasant, and summers are warm and nice, with occasional rain but mostly a friendly sun shining overhead. August is the busiest month at the park, mainly due to children's vacations and the family travel season. Winter at the park is fantastic mostly because it's relatively empty and really fun to walk around (especially if it's a sunny day).
- Ensure your accommodation is cozier than home – Generally speaking, the standard of hotels around the Disneyland resort is from good to excellent, and it's hard to end up at a terrible place. Disney hotels are pricey and top-notch, but there are plenty of great options nearby (without Mickey and the memorabilia), from luxury hotels to very decent motels. The lower you go in star rating, the less you pay. It's wise to do some preliminary research on the accommodation, both on Booking and TripAdvisor, to ensure previous guests had a good experience and it's not a bad choice.
What should you know about hotels and accommodations at Disneyland?
- Staying at Disney hotels is fulfilling a childhood fantasy, including sleeping in princess castles, having breakfast with Mickey Mouse and Goofy, and an infusion of Disney magic 24/7
- There's a wide range of accommodation levels and prices near Disneyland in Anaheim, both within the resort itself at Disney-owned hotels, and a wide array of hotels around, from simple motels to luxury hotels
- A large portion of those visiting Disneyland choose to stay in the greater Los Angeles area (Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, etc.), about a 30 to 40-minute drive away, depending on traffic on the I-5
- The big advantage of staying near the Disneyland Resort is the option to thoroughly enjoy both theme parks (it's hard to cover both in one day). It’s worth spending a night or two near the park, allowing you to arrive early in the morning (without traffic) and head straight to the rides before the parks get crowded with people
There's plenty of lodging options within Disneyland Resort, nearby, and even throughout Los Angeles. It's advisable to dedicate at least two full days to Disneyland, one day for each theme park, including some time to wander around Downtown Disney in the complex. Therefore, it's worth spending at least one night close to the resort.
Click here to check availability and prices for Disneyland hotels…
Disney Hotels within the Resort Complex
- Disneyland Hotel
- Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
- Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel
Disney hotels offer the Disneyland deal 24/7, including Disney-themed rooms and breakfast with Mickey Mouse. This lodging experience is uniquely fun and the price reflects that. The advantage of these hotels is the direct access into the parks bright and early, without needing to drive, deal with traffic, and parking.
Map of Recommended Lodging Areas in Disneyland
Hotels and Motels on South Harbor Boulevard Strip
While Disney's hotels are nestled right within the resort complex, there is an abundance of hotels of all levels and fantastic motels right next to Disneyland, just across the street.
- On the South Harbor Boulevard strip running along the eastern side of the park, you'll find a sequence of dozens of accommodations from all international chains and at all levels
- These range from two-star motels to four-star hotels by Marriott, Westin, Sheraton, and more, offering a great stay experience at a much more reasonable price than the resort hotels
Accommodation in Los Angeles
If you're planning a trip to Los Angeles and don't intend to visit Disneyland separately from your city tour, you can definitely stay in Los Angeles and drive to the Disney resort. The drive from downtown Los Angeles takes a little over half an hour and from Hollywood and Beverly Hills, it's only about three-quarters of an hour. Be sure to pay attention to the time of travel because traffic jams can be significant during busy hours.
