Guide to Onsite vs Offsite Hotels at Disneyland

When booking a Disney vacation, whether it's at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, the hotel you choose is important. There are so many options, and you'll want to make sure you get the best blend of cost-effectiveness, amenities, and convenience.

After deciding how many days you want to spend at Disneyland, you'll want to choose your hotel. Like any hotel, prices can be higher at times. This is especially true during holidays, school vacations, and long weekends.

There are benefits to both staying on the property and off-site. Read this post to learn more about the pros and cons of staying on-site and off-site.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. We've received complimentary/discounted stays at the HoJo Anaheim and the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? We recommend booking through our affiliate (we earn commission) Get Away Today. I've booked my last four Disneyland vacations through Get Away Today. You can also save $10 on your Southern California vacation of 2 days or more with the code FTM10. You can book both on-site and off-site hotels through Get Away Today.

Guide to Onsite vs Offsite Hotels at Disneyland

If you are familiar with staying at Walt Disney World, you probably know how different the experiences are between off-property and on-property stays. With such a huge property and four theme parks, it's very different staying off property than it is staying on Disney property.

However, Disneyland is different. There are only two theme parks adjacent to each other, and three on-site hotels. In addition, there are many off-site hotels, with plenty of options within easy walking distance. That makes the decision to stay on or off property a little more challenging.

Benefits of Staying On-Site at Disneyland

While early entry was offered to on-site guests in past years, it is no longer offered. While that was a major benefit to staying on the property, there are still others. This includes:

Location

Even though there are many walkable hotels outside of Disneyland, the three closest are still the three Disneyland on-property hotels: The Grand Californian, the Disneyland Hotel, and the Pixar Place Hotel.

The Grand Californian is especially convenient, because there's a special entrance to Disney's California Adventure and Downtown Disney right from the hotel. You'll go through security at this entrance, and can then go right to the parks.

The Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Pixar Place Hotel do not have these exclusive entrances, however. To get to the parks from these two hotels, it's easiest to go through Downtown Disney.

Theming of the On-Property Disneyland Hotels

The theming of these hotels, in my opinion, is one of the best reasons to stay there, especially when traveling with kids.

When you stay at an on-property Disney hotel (both at Disneyland and Walt Disney World), the magic stays with you the entire time. You'll have restaurants, quick serve spots, pools, lobbies, and rooms that have that special Disney touch.

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel: This hotel, the more luxurious of the Disneyland hotels, offers a spa, many restaurants and bars, a grand lobby, and much more. When you stay here, you get to enjoy the most convenient location at Disneyland, as well as the most luxurious.

The Disneyland Hotel: The original Disneyland Hotel, this is the best place to stay for nostalgia. It's adjacent to Downtown Disney and offers restaurants, pools, and DVC suites.

Disney's Pixar Place Hotel: Originally the Paradise Pier Hotel, this hotel is across the street from Disney's Grand Californian and adjacent to the Disneyland Hotel. It's Pixar themed, with bright colors and fun room accents. While you are there, try one of my favorite entrees, the Fried Chicken and Donuts at Great Maple.

Ease of Staying on Property

In addition to the location benefits, there are also other benefits that make your Disneyland vacation easier. If you stay on Disney property, you can charge purchases and food right to your room.

You can also get preferred access to booking reservations at the hotel restaurants. To do that, you need to link your hotel reservation, and this post provides all of the details.

Benefits of Staying Off-Site

There are also some benefits to staying off-site at Disneyland. Many hotels are within walking distance, but always check the exact distance before booking.

Price

Price is often the biggest differentiator when comparing off-property and on-site Disneyland hotels. While Walt Disney World offers value resorts, Disneyland really doesn't. The Pixar Place Hotel, considered the most cost-effective option, can still be very expensive for families.

However, some of the off-property resorts can be quite affordable. It's worth considering the different options to see which will work best for your family vacation.

Reward/Loyalty Programs

Because many of the off-property hotels are part of a larger hotel chain, you can often redeem and earn loyalty points at them. Recently, I stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance using a free stay certificate from my Marriott card. I also enjoyed earning points at the Westin Anaheim when I stayed there with my son a few years ago.

Room size/suites

Some of the walkable hotels near Disneyland offer suites, which can be a great option for families. For families with younger kids, I especially like the bunk bed rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance. Those rooms also include both a bathtub and a shower, and the entire property was recently renovated.

Amenities

Some families may also enjoy specific amenities offered at an off-property resort. For instance, the Courtyard by Marriott offers the Surfside Waterpark, featuring waterslides, splash areas, and pools. It's available exclusively to guests.

The Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim Hotel and Water Playground, right next door, offers Castaway Cove. Castaway Cove includes water cannons, spray fountains, a drench bucket, and more. There's also a separate pool.

Have you stayed on-site or off-site at Disneyland? Which do you prefer?