I've Been Going to Disneyland for Over 30 Years and This Is Its Best Hotel—Here's Why

• Spacious signature suites are perfect for families and come with access to Veranda, a lounge offering all-day food and drink service, included in the price.
• Tenaya Stone Spa is perfect for relaxation before or after a day at the parks, featuring a river stone massage set to classical Disney song covers upon request.
• Napa Rose provides an upscale dining experience with California cuisine and wine pairings, set to reopen in the fall with a completely remodeled interior and patio.
• The Yosemite theme extends to the pool area, featuring floating exercise classes, a water slide, and Jacuzzis—ensuring fun for both kids and adults.

It all happened so fast. The rope dropped, and the crowd surged forward, each person seemingly faster, taller, or more prepared than I was. My husband, Alex, with his long legs and determined spirit to reach Cars Land first, was among them. Meanwhile, there I was, decked out in the Mickey gear he picked for me, struggling to keep up while dodging children and barely managing to keep sight of him thanks to his Goofy-themed Hawaiian shirt.

I was still bleary-eyed and chilly, with the Southern California sun not yet high enough to warm the streets of Disneyland's California Adventure park. But knowing I couldn't be the reason we had to wait in line for Radiator Springs Racers—one of our favorite rides—I did my best to speed up.

We live less than an hour from Anaheim, but we typically only make it to Disneyland about twice a year. When we do go, however, Alex treats a day at the parks like an extreme challenge, from open to close. Don’t get me wrong; I’m always thrilled to join the adventure, but I grew up slowly herding my three younger sisters around Disneyland, and the term "rope drop" meant nothing to me until I met Alex. He, on the other hand, grew up flying from the UK to Orlando for two full weeks of non-stop theme park fun.

Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebrations, featuring ticket deals, new Main Street experiences, food and merchandise, and historical tours, kick off on May 16 and will continue through summer 2026.

All this is to say, we occasionally like to treat ourselves to a stay at the Happiest Place on Earth. For me, it’s comforting to know I can hit the pillow as soon as the park closes (because by now you know we’re squeezing in one more ride on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance before the gates shut for the night), or pop back to my room to change my shoes and grab a sweater. For Alex, it’s an immersive experience that offers early access and maximizes our Disney time.

Our go-to Disneyland hotel is the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, themed around Yosemite National Park, where there are plenty of perks we both adore. A hot stone massage with classical Disney tunes playing softly in the background? Yes, please. A premium wine pairing with a rack of lamb or filet mignon? Count us in. Pools with a waterslide and floating exercise classes? We’ll definitely soak up some sun. But best of all is Veranda, the Ritz Carlton-like club-level lounge that offers all-day food and drink service and indoor-outdoor seating. The setup is so inviting that we even left the park early one night to enjoy two glasses of rosé with a VIP view of the fireworks. (It was Alex's idea, I swear.)

The Rooms

The hotel boasts over 900 rooms, including 44 family-friendly suites. The largest suites have three bedrooms and can accommodate between 10 and 13 guests. Even the smallest standard rooms can sleep up to five. Options include views of the park, pool, courtyard, and Downtown Disney. From the balcony of our one-bedroom suite, we had a view of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! (formerly the Tower of Terror). Wood and stone accents throughout the hotel enhance the national park theme, with on-theme details like stained glass windows and fireplaces in some suites (El Capitan is a favorite). Club-level rooms grant access to the Veranda lounge; more on that below.

Food and Drink

Napa Rose is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, perfect for special occasions or Disney date nights. Here, you can savor seasonal California flavors in dishes like charred Pacific ahi tuna crudo, wild boar ragout, agnolotti filled with braised greens, and maple leaf duck breast. A prix-fixe menu and various wine pairings are available. Editor's Note: Napa Rose is undergoing renovations and will reopen in fall 2025.

Storytellers Cafe is famous for its character breakfasts, but you can enjoy a buffet for every meal if you wish. Starting May 16, they’ll even join you for dinner at Donald's Tales of Adventure Dinner Buffet, where you can meet Donald, Daisy, Clarabelle, Goofy, or Pluto while enjoying prime rib, fried chicken, s'mores bread pudding, and more.

Hearthstone Lounge exudes a cozy, upscale national park lodge vibe, complete with a crackling fireplace and hearty dishes like short rib lasagna and truffle mac and cheese.

GCH Craftsman Bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks poolside—often with sports on TV. If you’re in the mood for a pre-park drink, this is your spot for morning cocktails, whether it’s a bloody Mary, mimosa, or the popular Grand Candied Orange Coffee with brandy and Kahlua. GCH Craftsman Grill offers grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and more.

Activities and Experiences

The resort features three pools that are full of action, from the waterslide (twisting around a replica redwood tree stump) to fitness classes on floating boards and private cabanas. The Eureka Fitness Center is equipped with gym equipment and offers yoga classes (in Disney Ears Yoga, character accessories are key), and boot camp classes are led through Disney California Adventure park before it opens. Monthly events are held at the Great Hall, including a Star Wars music night in May and Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures in the Trillium Room, complete with royal activities and Mickey waffles. Photos with the princesses are encouraged, of course.

The Spa

The serene, full-service Tenaya Stone Spa feels worlds away from the parks, though your massage therapist may ask if you’d like to listen to Disney tunes while they work their magic. Try the Tenaya river stone massage or the gemstone sparkle facial, featuring a diamond collagen mask, and take time to relax in the tranquility room with a cup of tea, marveling at the fact that you’re actually at Disneyland Resort and not on a spa retreat in the mountains.

Accessibility

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa offers both wheelchair-accessible and hearing-accessible rooms, which can be booked on request. Accessible travel paths lead into the lobby, parking lot, restaurants, shops, and meeting rooms. Guests with hearing or speech disabilities can request Teletypewriter (TTY) devices at check-in. Disney recommends using ScooterBug for renting wheelchairs and mobility scooters, which can be preordered and delivered to the hotel.

Location

The hotel is situated on Disneyland Resort grounds, providing easy access to both parks and Downtown Disney's dining, shopping, and entertainment options. It also features its own entrance to Disney California Adventure Park, which is currently under construction until mid-May. During this time, guests can use an alternate gate next to the hotel. The Grand Californian also has its own parking lot, with self-parking costing $40 per night and valet parking at $70 per night. Guests visiting just for the restaurants or spa can enjoy three to five hours of free parking.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

While it may cost a bit more upfront, booking a Club Level room is the best way to maximize your stay, as it includes access to the Veranda lounge. Disney clearly marks which rooms are considered Club Level on the hotel’s website. When I checked for multiple spring dates, I found that selecting a Club Level room added about $500 to the nightly price, but it can be higher.

Every guest on the reservation gets club access up to the maximum occupancy, which ranges from five to 13 depending on the room type. The Veranda, located on the sixth floor, offers food and drinks from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, including breakfast, afternoon tea, appetizers, and desserts. Alcoholic beverages are also included. (Just think about how much a meal for the family and a few drinks for the adults would cost inside the parks, especially over several days. Then add in snacks, late-night dessert cravings, and a glass of wine or two...) Some rooms may be eligible to add club access at check-in, depending on availability.

In terms of park access, hotel guests with park passes enjoy 30 minutes of early entry into either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park, depending on the day of the week.

Nightly rates at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa start from $597.