Should you stay on site or off site at Disneyland Resort?
By Jenna Caron
So, you wanna travel to the happiest place on earth? I can't wait to help you plan your magical vacay! One of the biggest decisions you'll need to make, is choosing a resort. While there are a plethora of off site options at Disneyland, there are only 3 on site options to choose from. This may come as a surprise to my Walt Disney World resort veterans - where there are 20+ on site Walt Disney World resorts to choose from!
Choosing to stay on vs off site is an important decision to make that will determine how we plan your vacation. Let's talk about the perks of staying on site first!
When you stay on site at Disneyland, you're not going to have to leave the Disney bubble! This may seem strange to you if you've never been to Disneyland - but the city of Anaheim has grown around the Disneyland resort and that is evident as soon as you exit the park gates. You're back in "the real world". Disney is famous for its immersive theming, and that doesn't end with the theme parks. When you stay on site at a Disneyland resort hotel, your immersive Disney experience is going to follow you home. This truly creates the most magical and immersive experience for guests. Your entire vacation will be filled with pixie dust, and you'll experience the Disney difference when you come home to your hotel at the end of the night.
Another reason to stay on site at the Disneyland resort is the proximity to the theme parks. The great thing about Disneyland is that it's highly "walkable". I encourage all of my guests to walk everywhere that they can. While there are some good neighbour hotels nearby, nothing is as close as staying on Disney property. The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and newly refurbished Pixar Place hotel even have their own PRIVATE entrance into Disney's California Adventure Park! Being so close = more time in the morning for you!
Arguably the most popular reason to stay on site - is having access to early theme park entry. When you're an on site guest at the Disneyland Resort, you will be able to start riding attractions 30 minutes prior to guests staying off site. 30 minutes may not seem like a lot, but trust me, you can get a lot done in that time when wait times are low. I will be writing another post about early entry strategy at each theme park - so keep your eyes peeled for that post.
An important update to early entry at Disneyland happened in 2024. It used to be that early entry was available at both parks on all days. Now, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, Disney's California Adventure Park is open for early entry. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Disneyland Park is open for early entry.
Now let's talk about the benefits of staying off Disney property on your trip to Disneyland. The number one, most popular reason for staying off site is pretty simple: price. There are SO many good neighbour hotels to choose from, and they offer a price point for nearly everyone. I always recommend staying at a good neighbour hotel as close to Disney property as possible for convenience. A 15 minute walk doesn't seem too bad on paper, but when you've spent 12 hours in the parks and now you need to walk home....you might think otherwise!
Disneyland good neighbour hotels offer a lot of variety for guests. If someone is interested in continental breakfast, hotels with bunk beds, or maybe even a pet friendly hotel - there is likely something nearby that will fit the bill. Some guests prefer to book a hotel using points, and although I cannot apply those points to reservations, it may be helpful for you to know that this is possible.
While there are pros and cons to staying on vs off site at the Disneyland resort - I am confident that we will be able to find a suitable option for you and your family. There are SO many options to choose from, and I can't wait to help you plan your next magical vacation! If you're interested in a quote for Disneyland (or Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani or Adventures by Disney), please hit the button below and fill out my form:
If you're looking for more Disney content delivered right to your inbox, please consider subscribing to my blog! I would LOVE to have you along for the ride!
