A Guide to Disneyland Resorts
July 24, 2024 by Laura Pitcher

When someone asks me what I picture when I think of my happy place, the first thing that comes to mind is sitting under one of the iconic yellow and white striped umbrellas on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland, enjoying the perpetually perfect weather, and a hand-dipped corn dog from The Little Red Wagon cart. I can hear the Dapper Dans singing in the background, and in front of me is Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, shining pink and blue in the sun. While I would consider Walt Disney World to be my ‘home’ park, since I visit it the most often, there’s something special about Walt’s original playground - knowing that he put such care and thought into every detail, and walked the very streets that we today enjoy. Even if you go to Walt Disney World often, I always encourage Disney fans to branch out and plan a trip to Disneyland Resort as well. It’s a right of passage for any Disney fan.
If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland Resort, you’re in luck - Be Our Guest Vacations doesn’t just specialize in the Florida counterpart, but can help you plan your dream trip to the California parks as well. Today, we’re sharing a guide to Disneyland’s three resorts - any of which Be Our Guest Vacations can help you book!

Disneyland Hotel
Located conveniently in Downtown Disney, the Disneyland Hotel, opened in 1955, is the oldest Disneyland Resort hotel and showcases classic Disney decor and historical memorabilia. A short walk to the entrance of either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure, the resort is themed after the resort itself, with different areas that theme to lands in Disneyland Park - you can stay in either Adventure, Fantasy, or Frontier Tower. My favorite thing about this hotel is that the headboards in the rooms feature LED fireworks - the perfect magical touch to end each day. The Disneyland Hotel has recently had a new addition, as a The Villas at the Disneyland Hotel has been built. Be Our Guest Vacations can assist with reservations for the general public.
When looking at the rooms that are available at The Disneyland Hotel, you’ll have standard options, as well as the option of having a room with a view of Downtown Disneyland. These guest rooms are both whimsical and luxurious - perfect for any Disney fan.
Beyond standard rooms, there are incredibly special suites at The Disneyland Hotel that are perfect for a special occasion, or larger families. You’ll find one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites, including options for a lock-off suite, which is perfect for more privacy with larger traveling parties! We recently stayed in a three bedroom suite - which offered privacy for all of the adults in our travel party (separate rooms and bathrooms) but a common living room area where we could easily be together, a table to work as well as a wet bar area. It was extremely convenient! There are new also new villa options at the Villas at Disneyland Hotel which are beautifully themed and offer a full kitchen in unit! We loved the whole area in and around the Villas at Disneyland Hotel - in particular the outdoor dining and bar area and Steamboat Willie Splash Pad!

Feeling hungry? You’re in luck - The Disneyland Hotel is home to the iconic Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, where you can enjoy an immersive experience like only Disney can do - along with some great tropical small bites and tiki drinks. Order the Uh-Oa! - you’ll get a great drink big enough to share with the table, and a show! If it’s a character meal that you’re after, head to Goofy’s Kitchen. Chef Goofy and his pals have been cooking up an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet that the whole family will love. My favorite dining option at The Disneyland Hotel is the new Palm Breeze Bar, which is open for both lunch and dinner. The Cheese Fry Poutine located here might not be considered fine dining to anyone but me, but that won’t stop me from singing its praises to anyone who will listen to me.
You can spend your afternoon by the Monorail-themed pool, which boasts two waterslides, and some of the most Instagrammable spots at the hotel.

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Some of my favorite Disney memories take place in the lobby of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. With soaring ceilings, a charming wood-burning fireplace that seems to always be on, and classic nods to the California Craftsman style - this resort oozes charm. I especially love to grab a seat by the fireplace during the Christmas holiday, when the lobby has Christmas cookies for sale, carolers singing, and a beautiful life-size gingerbread house on display. No matter what time of year you find yourself staying at this resort, you can be assured that you’ll have a wonderful vacation. As another bonus to this resort, it offers DIRECT access to Disney California Adventure, which makes it the only Disney resort in the States to have an entrance directly into a park. When booking a room at this resort, consider booking a theme park view room. You’ll have picturesque views in Disney California Adventure, which is particularly stunning at night when the park comes alive with lights. For larger parties, you’ll also find one-, two, and three-bedroom suites as well as villa options.

You’re in for some truly spectacular dining experiences at The Grand Californian. The Napa Rose is widely debated to be the best fine dining restaurant that Disney has to offer, and I’m one of its die-hard fans. For a truly spectacular experience, try to get a reservation for the coveted Chef’s Table. For the princess in your family, you can book a three-course high tea at The Napa Rose, where you will dine with some of Disney’s most iconic on-screen royalty. For something more casual, head to the GCH Craftsman Grill. Don’t miss the baked nachos - they’re big enough to easily feed several people and delicious.
The pool at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is perfect for time that you're not in the parks. In fact - there's THREE pools and a 90 foot waterslide that curves around the stump of a Redwood tree, so you can have the perfect pool day on vacation.
For a relaxing day, you can head to The Tenaya Stone Spa. As someone who considers it the height of happiness to find myself on a massage table, I highly recommend carving some time out for some top-notch pampering here. For another option for relaxation, enjoy one of the three pools at the Resort - or take it up a notch by booking a private poolside cabana.

Pixar Place Hotel
The Pixar Place Hotel still has the tags on, metaphorically speaking, as it just finished an extensive reimagining! If you have any Pixar fans in your family, this is the perfect resort for you, as it now pays homage to classic movie characters from the studio. Pixar characters and magic are sprinkled throughout this resort - from the charming rooms, to the rooftop pool and games area. You can even meet Bing Bong (Inside Out) and Joe Gardner (Soul) in the lobby!

As an added bonus, this is typically the most affordable option of all the resorts at Disneyland - plus you still get those on site perks! At Pixar Place Hotel, choose from standard hotel rooms, pool view terrace rooms, Club Level rooms as well as one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites. Something extra special about this hotel? Head to the Pixar Shorts Courtyard on the third floor pool deck, where you can enjoy views of the fireworks on select nights! This courtyard also has fun games that the whole family can enjoy and live music!
Enjoy a Finding Nemo-themed pool, complete with a Crush waterslide and a splash pad for any littles that are in your party. The rethemed resort is home to three new eateries - The Great Maple Modern American Eatery, The Sketch Pad Cafe, and Small Bytes at the pool deck. I highly recommend trying the fried chicken and donuts for breakfast at The Great Maple Modern American Eatery - because the only thing better than chicken and waffles is chicken and DONUTS.

All three hotels also have a Club Level option, which Be Our Guest Vacations can help you book. No matter where you stay for your Disneyland vacation, Be Our Guest Vacations is here to make it magical and stress-free. There are major differences for park touring, Lightning Lanes, dining and more at Disneyland Resort vs Walt Disney World, but your Be Our Guest Vacations Travel Professional will ensure they have all of the information you need for the happiest vacation on earth!