The Disneyland Hotel is one of my favorite places to stay when we visit the parks, and my family has stayed there many times. I want to give you an honest, detailed look at what to expect, including a few insider tips that can make a real difference in your stay.
The three towers, and which one to request
The Disneyland Hotel has three towers, and they are not all the same. This is one of the most important things I tell my clients before they book.
The Frontier Tower has not been remodeled in a while. It is not a bad place to stay, but if you are hoping for that fresh, updated Disney feel, this tower will not be it.
The Adventure Tower is great, but location within the tower matters. You want to request the west side. Rooms on the east side sit closer to Downtown Disney, and the music from down there plays loudly enough that you can clearly hear it in your room, even at night. It is not the relaxing end of the day you are hoping for after a full day in the parks.
The Fantasy Tower is my favorite, and the one I recommend most often. It offers the best overall experience of the three.
Here is the part most guests do not know
When you book a room at the Disneyland Hotel, you do not get to choose which tower you are placed in. It is assigned to you. This is exactly the kind of detail a travel agent can help with. I call the hotel directly and request a specific tower for my clients. It is not a guarantee, but it significantly improves your odds of landing in the tower you actually want.
The rooms themselves
The rooms are genuinely great. One of my favorite details is the small firework display that plays on the wall in some rooms. My kids were absolutely delighted by it every single time. The hotel is also full of little hidden Mickeys tucked into the room details, which is a fun thing to point out to kids and adults alike.
Room sizes are generous too. All five of us were able to comfortably stay together in one room during our last visit, which made the trip both easier and more affordable.
The pools
The pool areas are a lot of fun and a great way to spend an afternoon, especially if your family needs a break from the parks. Between the theming and the slides, it feels like part of the vacation rather than just a place to cool off.
The location
You really cannot beat the location. Being within walking distance of both parks and Downtown Disney makes the whole trip feel effortless. No shuttles to wait for, no long walks from a parking structure, just a short walk and you are at the gates.
A moment that stuck with me
On one of our stays, we hit a particularly rainy day in the middle of our trip. Instead of pushing through soaked and miserable, we walked back to the hotel, dried off, changed into clean clothes, and took a little time to reset. We headed back out to the parks feeling refreshed and full of energy instead of cutting the day short. That is one of the biggest advantages of staying so close. A rough weather moment does not have to ruin your day.
My honest take
The Disneyland Hotel is a wonderful choice, especially if you land in the Fantasy Tower or the west side of the Adventure Tower. The Frontier Tower is still a fine option if it fits your budget, but just go in with the right expectations. And remember, this is exactly the kind of detail I can help with when I book your stay. A quick call on my end can make a real difference in which tower you end up in.
Written by Christine
Christine is the owner of Cascade Travel Co., a boutique travel agency specializing in Disney Cruise Line, luxury cruises, and Disney theme park vacations. She has sailed these ships and walked these parks herself, and loves helping families plan their next trip.
