Why This Expensive Disney Hotel Keeps Getting 10/10 Stars

Sometimes, paying premium rates on a Disney vacation but getting a memorable experience is more than worth it.

Unlike Disney World, Disneyland’s Disney-owned hotels are way more limited. With only three hotels on-site, these options get kind of pricey, and many families opt to stay at a Good Neighbor hotel — a partnering hotel in the nearby neighborhoods. Still, for an authentic — and nostalgic stay — it’s hard to top the famous Disneyland Hotel. Disneyland’s first hotel is all about the rich history of Disneyland, and despite its age, there are plenty of people who couldn’t fathom staying anywhere else.

In a recent review via our AllEars Reviews Pages, Reader Dustin wrote a review of the Disneyland Hotel that perfectly sums up why the hotel is so loved.

In the review, Dustin wrote:

“Stayed here on a solo 3 night stay last October, having previously stayed at the Grand Californian with extended family, and I gotta say, I absolutely loved it.

The Room: Had a room in Fantasy tower that overlooked the pool, which was a lovely vista. The theming of the room itself was delightful, including the Mickey hands holding the lighting sconces in the bathroom, and the headboard with built in fiberoptic lighting effects. I’ve stayed in a lot of Disney properties, and the look & feel of this room is one of my favorites.”

The theming here never lets up. Each tower is named after a land at Disneyland Park, and the room never lets you forget that you’re staying in Mickey’s playground. For a totally immersive Disney experience, the Disneyland Hotel delivers.

Like all Disney hotels, the Disneyland Hotel also undergoes periodic refurbishments to stay up-to-date and justify its premium costs.

Dustin continued:

“The Amenities: I often find myself skipping amenities like the pool or in-hotel dining because I want to be in the park, but the nice part about the Disneyland Hotel being a bit separated from the parks is that it feels more like a retreat where you can take the afternoon off, swim some laps in the pool, grab a DOLE Whip from the Trader Sams patio bar and nap outside in the sun after a hard morning of rope-dropping to get that first ride on the Mark Twain (that’s what everyone is rushing for, right?). This what I did, and it was such a nice change of pace to actually take advantage of the pricey property I was staying in.”

Styled like a tropical getaway away from the madness of the theme parks, the Disneyland Hotel is perfect for guests staying there and visitors who are looking to relax, grab some tasty eats, and just take a moment to enjoy the California sunshine without the rush of a park day.

Speaking of food and drinks, Dustin wrote:

“Trade Sam’s: This might be *the best* bar on a Disney property, and if you are like me and like to unwind after a long day with an adult beverage, there’s no better place. Trader Sam’s is open late, officially till midnight, but unofficially often later until the bar tenders, who are all amazing, decide they feel like kicking you out. The tiki drinks are the best and the bar is fun and full of surprises. Plus, it’s all right there next to your room, so you don’t have to stumble too far home after imbibing a Shipwreck or two or three.”

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is one of the tougher reservations to get at Disneyland — and for good reason. This Jungle Cruise-themed bar requires 21+ guests ONLY after 8 PM and serves up stiffer drinks than you’ll get in the parks — alongside a lively staff, plenty of funny antics, and beverages that (when ordered) can cause certain special effects to happen inside the bar. It’s a MUST-DO at least once!

Wrapping it up, Dustin wrote:

“Location: I think this is probably where some folks will say “why would I shell out premium money and then have to use my legs to walk across Downtown Disney to the parks?” Well friend… you aren’t totally wrong, but let me try to sell it to you. It’s true the Grand Californian can drop you right into DCA, but that also means every moment you try to spend decompressing at the hotel will have the siren call of parks and rides wafting through the window. Maybe you are the kind of person who can enjoy a dip in the pool with sounds of Grizzly River Run beckoning from just over the fence, but I cannot. But what if you *really* don’t like walking? Good news, right past the entrance of Downtown Disney is Disneyland Monorail, which you can snag and have it drop you off in Tomorrowland, and skip all those long lines and crowds to get into Disneyland. I was consistently shocked by how few people took advantage of this, and getting to ride the Monorail into Disneyland was the perfect way to start the day. How can you beat that? Like I said earlier, the Disneyland Hotel really felt like a retreat from the bustle of the parks, and I didn’t realize how much I would appreciate that until I gave it a try.”

That’s the thing, right? Ultimately, when you stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel, you’re so close to the action that you don’t have to worry about rideshares or buses. You can hop on the monorail a few steps outside into Tomorrowland or get dropped off right in front of the Disneyland Hotel at the end of the night. And you almost never have to worry about crowds or wait times either way.

You can walk a few minutes through Downtown Disney, shopping and dining to your heart’s content — and then wind up in the park of your choice. It’s all so convenient.

Unsurprisingly, Dustin gave the Disneyland Hotel 10 out of 10 stars. AND WE GET IT!  If you can stomach the cost of around $600 per night, it can be a wonderful stay. While Good Neighbor hotels will be cheaper, it’s tough to top the perks and ease a stay at the Disneyland Hotel provides.

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

Have you stayed at this hotel? Share your review, along with other Disneyland Resort reviews, via our reviews pages! And be sure to keep it posted right here at AllEars for the latest Disneyland reviews, tips, and updates!

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How do you feel about the Disneyland Hotel? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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