Disneyland: Where to Stay

Continuing our series about Disneyland, today Rachel shares with us what you ought to know about choosing where to stay!

So, you’ve decided you’re likely to Disneyland. The next step is to decide your visit. Making hotel arrangements at Disneyland is a touch different than at Walt Disney World.

First, lots of people choose to stay on property at Disney because of the Magic Express and free transportation through the Disney World. However, at Disneyland, you won't find these conveniences. The Disneyland Resort Express is operated with a third party (Gray Line) and can cost a family of up to 5 $80-$100 for round-trip service in one of the area airports to some Disneyland -area hotel. The three Disney hotels are within easy reach of the parks. Many of the Good Neighbor hotels offer taxi to the parks (some are complimentary, some at a price) and the Anaheim Resort Transit offers convenient transportation through the resort area. If you have an individual vehicle and drive towards the parks, parking will cost you $15 each day.

There are only three Disney-owned hotels at Disneyland -the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier, and Disney’s Grand Californian. The Disneyland hotel opened in 1955 but was operated with a third party until bought through the Disney Company in 1989. A lot of it was torn down in 1999 to create room for Downtown Disney and parking areas. The Paradise Pier was purchased and transformed into a Disney property in 1995. The Grand Californian was opened in 2001. It comes with an exclusive entrance into Disney’s California Adventure with the Grand Californian.

The Disneyland hotel is really a classic. It has recently been renovated and it is a tribute to the early from the park. The Paradise Pier is similar to the area of California Adventure it overlooks-classic California beachfront boardwalk. The Grand Californian is really a AAA Four-Diamond property and includes villas along with suites and standard rooms. Built-in classic California craftsman style, it's the only DVC property at Disneyland.

Unlike booking your Disney vacation, you CAN book a great Neighbor hotel as part of your package at Disneyland. You will find over forty to choose from. You may also book a Disney dining plan in your package when choosing a non-Disney hotel. I really like that you can book a non- Disney hotel and dining plan together included in a Disney package! It's great for those on a budget! You'll find some good deals and great perks at a few of these off-property resorts. Some offer complimentary transportation towards the parks. Many offer a free breakfast. Plus some even offer Disney view rooms. We stayed in the Embassy Suites with a Disney view room and may see California Adventure in the room as well as the nightly fireworks displays.