Disneyland Hotel Review: Is the Original Icon Still Worth the Splurge?

The Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California, is a historic property wrapped in nostalgia, with enough modern touches to still feel magical. For some fans, it’s the ultimate way to stay inside the “Disney bubble,” but it doesn't come cheap.

Even in the off-season (which tends to run mid-September to mid-November, and again from January through March), nightly room rates hover around $500. On peak nights (like Christmas), nightly rates can top $800.

Still, the Disneyland Hotel is worth it for:

• Disney diehards and nostalgia chasers: This is the original hotel near Disneyland, and these days it’s kind of like a living museum with modern comforts. Cute touches like retro Autopia cars make for excellent photo ops.

• Theme park goers who want convenience: If you want to be walking distance to the parks and get exclusive Disneyland perks (like a complimentary Lightning Lane pass starting Jan. 5, 2026), this is one of the convenient on-property hotels.

• People looking for a more affordable alternative to Disney’s Grand Californian: The Disneyland Hotel is generally cheaper while still feeling special.

But skip it if:

• You’re looking for more affordable rates, more space or free breakfast.

• You want an on-property Disney hotel with a lower price. In that case, check the rates at the nearby Pixar Place Hotel.

• You want maximum luxury: Go big with the Grand Californian Hotel. Its location is slightly better. Plus, its lobby is far more impressive — as are the views from the rooms.

Disney invited me to experience the hotel as part of a two-night stay in May 2025 during its 70th Anniversary kickoff event. Even though Disney footed the bill, these opinions are mine.

To get to the parks from the Disneyland Hotel, you can either stroll for about 15 minutes through Downtown Disney, Disney’s curated promenade of shops and restaurants, or catch a ride on the Monorail, which plops you in the heart of Tomorrowland and cuts down on your walking distance.

If you want a midday break at the pool or a quick outfit change, the convenience is unmatched. Only Disney’s Grand Californian beats it in proximity, but that one comes at an even steeper cost.

Disneyland Hotel’s best perk is Early Entry, which allows hotel guests with valid theme park admission tickets to enter the parks 30 minutes before the general public. But that perk is going away soon.

For a long time, this perk was one of the best ways to experience Disneyland in its relative ghost-town form (and that’s a good thing). I used it both mornings of my trip to visit the most popular rides. One morning, I rode six Fantasyland attractions before most people even scanned their tickets. If time is money, this perk delivers a high return.

But this benefit ends on Jan. 5, 2026. Disney is replacing it with a perk that’s significantly less valuable. Come 2026, guests will receive just one complimentary Lightning Lane entry per on-site hotel guest per stay (not even per day!). That line-skipping privilege can be used on a Multi Pass attraction with valid admission and reservations.

The new benefit is better than a poke in the eye (and it could be good for people who’d rather not wake up early). But I’d rather clock six rides in 30 blissful minutes than cut the line for one ride.

Even if you skip the parks, this hotel has plenty to keep you entertained.

Monorail Pool

The main pool has two slides that are made to look like monorail trains surrounding a replica of a retro Disneyland sign.

Younger kids might rather hang out at the splash pad, also designed with a nostalgic “Steamboat Willie” theme.

There are also a few other pools and whirlpools, which tend to be much quieter than the main slide pool.

Fitness classes

There’s a gym at the Disneyland Hotel, but where the hotel stands out is its fitness classes — some of which actually take place inside the theme park.

Though they cost an additional fee, they feel like a surprisingly good deal. For just $40, you can partake in a boot-camp-style fitness class incorporating basic equipment like resistance bands and medicine balls on Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure. I’ve paid about that much for a similar Barry’s Bootcamp class. But I’d take the scenery of Pixar Pier over the Red Room any day.

Sadly, my schedule conflicted with the class times, so I didn’t get to check any of these out firsthand, but I’ll be back.

It’s tough to have a bad meal anywhere at the Disneyland Hotel. Here are some highlights:

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar

Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar is honestly more about the entertainment than the refreshments (though those are good, too). Ordering drinks is an interactive experience. For example, when you order a Krakatoa Punch, the “weather” inside the restaurant changes. There’s also outdoor seating that keeps the tropical vibes flowing with a live ukulele performance on most nights.

Goofy’s Kitchen

Goofy's Kitchen is a character buffet serves zany options like PB&J pizza, though there’s also more traditional (and high-quality) buffet fare like spare ribs, shrimp cocktails and crab cakes.

It’s not cheap (about $70 to $80 per adult), but it can be worth it if meeting characters is a priority. In the parks, it’s easy to spend 30 minutes or more in line inside the parks to meet one character, only to be subjected to what’s referred to as the “love and shove” treatment. That's where you get a quick hug and photo from Minnie Mouse before she moves down the long line to the next kid.

At Goofy’s Kitchen, you’ll typically meet four characters, most of whom come up to your table and linger as long as you desire. And especially on slow days, characters might circle back to your table multiple times.

Caveat: I used to work here in high school, but I think it’s well worth the price if you want to save time from standing in character lines. Dine at Goofy’s Kitchen on a non-park day, and then use the day you’ve purchased Disney park tickets for to maximize rides rather than waiting in line at Minnie’s house.

Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill

Adjacent to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill is a quick-service restaurant has an impressive Hawaiian-inspired menu, including poke bowls and teriyaki chicken.

Broken Spell Lounge

Lightly inspired by the film “Sleeping Beauty” (mostly evidenced through the forest motif on the walls), the Broken Spell Lounge is a more traditional, quiet hotel bar. Drinks are clever, with nods to the film, such as “Make it Blue, Make it Pink.”

The Disneyland Hotel opened in 1955 (the same year as Disneyland), and its age shows in its older towers.

Today, the hotel is made up of four towers. I stayed in a Standard room at one of the hotel’s older towers. Many times over the past seven decades, these rooms have been updated and feel clean and bright, with classy Disney touches. A large interactive wall-hanging above both beds displays an image of fireworks, which lights up and plays a lullaby.

But the layout still whispers “vintage.” My bathroom was narrow to the point that two people trading showers and toothbrushes would play hallway Tetris. If your plan is to spend the entire day in the parks, the room works fine. If you want a midday retreat for a family, space can feel tight.

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

By contrast, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel (the newest tower) feels worlds apart. Each of the 344 rooms are far more modern, with layouts that better maximize space and thoughtful touches like USB ports everywhere to layer on convenience.

Rooms range from tiny studios for two adults to a three-bedroom villa that sleeps 12. Even in the smallest of these “Villas” rooms, you’ll get a kitchenette and a split bathroom, which makes getting ready in a shared space more efficient.

This tower was built as part of the Disney Vacation Club, which is Disney’s version of a timeshare program. But even if you’re not a DVC member, you can still pay cash to book a room here, pending availability.

This hotel is expensive. For many travelers, the premium is hard to justify when excellent, walkable non-Disney options exist — including nearby Hyatts that often cost much less, include breakfast and have family-friendly room layouts.

The Disneyland Hotel’s restaurants and bars are top-notch, but you don’t need to be a guest to use them, which further erodes the “must-stay” math. The most money-can’t-buy perk, Early Entry, goes away in 2026, which further diminishes the value.

After 2026, just two things — nostalgia and one of the closest walks to the parks you can get — become the main reason to pay the premium.

Featured photo by Sally French.