Disneyland Hotel

Hotel sign inspired by the classic Disneyland marquee.

Earlier this year we stayed at California’s Disneyland Hotel.  It was  a wonderful experience and we hope to return again some day. The current theme of the hotel is classic Disneyland. The three towers are themed to Fantasyland, Frontierland, & Adventureland, while the pool area is themed to Tomorrowland.

Giant park map in lobby

Everywhere you look you will find Disneyland art and park memorabilia. We stayed in the Fantasy Tower, which is above the main lobby. The main lobby is anchored by a spectacular floor to ceiling guide map of Disneyland, the carpet has an It’s A Small World motif and there were teacup shaped seats in the lobby. It was all so magical.

Fantastic lobby art

Its A Small World carpet

More amazing lobby art

Our room was very comfortable, with room for 5 in 2 queen beds and a convertible sofa bed with a very generous bathroom. The centerpiece of the room is a full room length illuminated headboard with an image of Sleeping Beauty’s castle. The headboard had fireworks lighting and it played “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes”. There were wonderful touches throughout the room. Our view was of the pool courtyard and we could see the Monorail themed slides.

Trader Sam's in the distance and pool at center of courtyard

Spectacular headboard Castle mural

Agent P models the monogrammed bath robes next to a classic photo of Walt Disney behind Sleeping Beauty Castle

While at the hotel we dined at Trader Sam’s, the famous tiki bar inspired by the Jungle Cruise character. The ambiance was wonderful and the food was great. It looked like a miniature Polynesian Resort in the middle of the Disneyland Hotel courtyard. We also enjoyed shopping at the gift store and popping into the Small World themed sundries shop in the lobby.

Vintage Disneyland art everywhere

The location is within walking distance of the Downtown Disney Shopping District and a short walk from the Downtown Disney Monorail Station that will take you directly to Disneyland's Tomorrowland.  Parking is charged by the night but you are welcome to leave your car on your checkout day should you be spending the whole day at the parks.

Downtown Disney steps away from the hotel

We had stayed at the Disneyland Hotel quite a few years before the current remodel. It was still a magnificent hotel, with lots of Disney charm and theming but in a traditional style with lots of wood paneling, molding & chandeliers. The current style is more of a retro-contemporary-modern style. When we last stayed the rooms had a small balcony but they have since been enclosed making the rooms a little bit larger. One previous standout of those past rooms was a Tinkerbell wallpaper frieze that glowed in the dark when you turned out the lights at night...we were so delighted by that.

Souvenir ephemera from our room, nice to see so much Walt Disney

The Disneyland Hotel is nearly as old as Disneyland itself and has changed quite a bit over the years. What you see today dates from the mid 60’s but has been heavily remodeled and enlarged over the years. The original hotel was located between today’s towers and the Monorail station, but that was all removed to build the west end of Downtown Disney. Still there is a lot of history to experience at today’s Disneyland Hotel and we really want to stay there again.