Disneyland Hotel is an iconic part of the Disneyland Resort: these charming accommodations even merited a whole episode of Behind the Attraction on Disney+. We have some great resources for deciding whether Disneyland Hotel is right for you: like this Disneyland Resort hotel comparison chart or this article. Still, we could not do our love for Disneyland Hotel justice with just a chart. We also wanted to share a list of five fantastic features of this special hotel. Here we go:
Lovely and Lush Landscaping
The grounds of Disneyland Hotel manage to be both dynamically fun and gloriously calming. That may seem like an impossible combination, but we think it has a lot to do with the hotel’s lush landscaping. Elegant trees stretch their branches over meandering paths. Verdant soft lawns are surrounded by colorful blooms. The pools are frequently filled with excited (i.e. LOUD guests), but the surrounding tropical foliage still transports us to a luxurious beachside getaway. We love all of the luscious plant life of the Disneyland Hotel and appreciate this green retreat amidst excitement and bustle of Disneyland Resort.
Disney Pools, Slides and Splash Pads
From the perspective of pure childlike fun, we think Disneyland Hotel has the best pool area in all of Disneyland Resort. There are two monorail-shaped waterslides winding their way down a tower topped with a classic Disneyland sign. The same tower also features a smaller pair of slides and water play features like pop jets for young ones.
A short distance away at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel portion of the pool deck, there is the ‘Steamboat Willie” themed splash pad. Our littlest sailor could spend hours here with Mickey. The occasional “steam” from the boat’s funnels and the dynamic light effects make this our favorite splash pad. And of course, there are also three pools, two whirlpool spas and the retro Palm Breeze Bar.
All areas of the pool deck are available to guests from both the villas and the standard Disneyland Hotel. There are no gates or fences separating the two areas, and you can move freely between all of the features. It is really one big recreation area.
The Nostalgia
Disneyland Hotel is paradise for those who love Disney history or mid-century styling. We happen to fall (headfirst) into both of those categories. The children in our crew might be a bit young to express an appreciation for either, but they are still enchanted by Walt Disney Company artifacts like the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad scale model. (We had to positively drag one little adventurer away from this on our last visit.) We like that the calmer pace of the hotel means that we can explore these artifacts at our leisure.
The Disneyland Hotel towers themselves are called Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland and Discovery (this is the Disney Vacation Club tower). Each one has historic photos and displays; you can actually take a free tour featuring these historic elements! Even if you are not well-versed on Disney history or mid-century design, we think you will still appreciate the artistry.
Outstanding Cast Members
Cast members truly make Disneyland Resort a magical place. The cast members at Disneyland Hotel are no different. We are particularly impressed by the lifeguard staff. The Disney lifeguards are the best we have encountered at any pool. We are impressed by their constant vigilance and professionalism paired with their kind manner towards guests.
If you too encounter outstanding cast members, remember to use the “Cast Compliments” feature on the Disneyland app.
Fireworks Over the Beds
The headboards for the guest room beds put on a tiny fireworks show of lights and music with just the push of a button: pure magic.
This list could be much longer, but we hope you get a chance to discover your own reasons to love Disneyland Hotel. For overall help planning your visit to Disneyland Resort, we offer our Step-by-Step guide. If you want more concrete information about Disneyland Hotel and how its many amenities stack-up to the other Disnenyland Resort Hotels, check-out our chart. If you need help deciding between these three fantastic hotels, you can also read this article.