Staying in an on-site or off-site lodge is among the most vital selections you’ll make when reserving your journey to Disneyland. This weighs the professionals & cons, with an unbiased take a look at third social gathering lodging, official resort perks, worth for cash, and different points of deciding the place to remain in your Southern California trip. (Up to date August 9, 2025.)
We stress the “unbiased” side as a result of it looks as if there’s a stigma round off-site resorts for a lot of Disneyland followers. One of many promoting factors of the Disney model is security, and there’s the misperception that resorts outdoors Disneyland Resort are unclean and even unsafe. Whereas there are definitely some sketchy spots in Anaheim, which we’ll cowl on this submit, resorts alongside Harbor Boulevard and elsewhere in Southern California are usually good.
To that time, we’ve stayed in over 60 resorts close to Disneyland (as lined in our very complete Disneyland/Anaheim Lodge Evaluate & Rankings record) and have solely had a handful of very dangerous experiences. That’s to not say there aren’t extra dangerous choices, however they’re simple sufficient to keep away from with out paying an additional few hundred {dollars} per night time for a Disney-branded lodge. (That record also needs to deal with why we’re credible sources for weighing professionals & cons of resorts close to Disneyland. The 2 of us have in all probability stayed at extra resorts in Anaheim than anybody!)
What this submit will do is pretty deal with the advantages and disadvantages to Disneyland on-site and off-site resorts as a result of there are each upsides and disadvantages. Disneyland Resort resorts have some advantages and are a compelling alternative for a lot of visitors, however there are dozens of native resorts providing equally compelling causes as to why visitors ought to keep off-site.
For many individuals contemplating the place to remain in Southern California, worth would be the figuring out issue. It is going to at all times (ALWAYS!) be cheaper to do Disneyland on a tighter funds whereas staying off-site. Not like Walt Disney World, there are not any Worth Resorts at Disneyland, that means that the on-site resorts all begin at over $300 per night time, and might simply eclipse $1,000 per night time. Even on the decrease finish of the spectrum, the most cost effective Disney-owned lodge is not less than double the price of a comparable off-site lodge.
With all of that out of the best way, let’s get right down to brass tacks and examine off-site and on-site resorts at or close to Disneyland…
Advantages of Staying On-Web site
Location & Entrances – The best amenity of Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge is undoubtedly its proximity to Disneyland and entrance immediately into Grizzly Peak at Disney California Journey, throughout from the long-lasting rafting bear, who presently ranks #4 on the Official Disney Parks Bears Energy Rankings. Large Al has additionally been added to this entrance, that means we’re one Duffy away from having a bona fide Bears Avengers scenario happening.
This entrance makes it the closest lodge to any Disney theme park in the US. The Grand Californian is additionally an extremely quick stroll to Disneyland (both via Disney California Journey or Downtown Disney). This can be a large profit, particularly when coupled with Early Entry, which is nice for quick entry to Avengers Campus or Pixar Pier.
It’s an identical story with the recently-revived personal entrance from Pixar Place Lodge into Disney California Journey. This one isn’t fairly as handy, with an extended personal hall main from the lodge into the park. That is likewise nice for profiting from Early Entry for quick entry to the Marvel or Pixar lands. This entrance can be utilized by visitors of Disneyland Lodge, though it’s not fairly as handy from there.
Then there’s Disneyland Lodge, which doesn’t have any theme park entrances however does abutt the again of Downtown Disney. This makes it a few 10 minute stroll to each Disneyland and Disney California Journey, or a few-minute stroll to the monorail station that drops visitors off in Tomorrowland.
The largest upside to all of those entrances is that they provide continuity from the theme parks to the resorts. Whereas not each on-site lodge at Disneyland Resort is nearer to the parks than the closest off-site alternate options, they’re the one 3 resorts that maintain visitors throughout the Disney bubble, to the extent that there’s one in California.
This quick and easy commute can allow events to separate up extra simply or return to the lodge for a noon nap with out killing a big chunk of the day. This comfort could make the day extra environment friendly and allow your social gathering to perform extra. That is primarily a profit if Disneyland Resort is the highest or sole precedence. With a lot to see and do in sunny Southern California, we don’t advocate this, however to every their very own.
Early Theme Park Entry – This replaces morning Further Magic Hours and Magic Mornings, or reasonably, is a religious successor to that visitor profit. The largest distinction is that Early Entry is 30-minute entry that’s solely out there to visitors of the three Accommodations of Disneyland Resort. Not like its predecessors, there isn’t any approach for off-site visitors to acquire entry to Early Entry–not with Good Neighbor Trip Packages booked through Disneyland nor with sure ticket sorts.
Early Entry additionally has a special slate of points of interest which are eligible. We’ve taken benefit of Early Entry at each parks and located it to be extremely advantageous. See our Early Entry at Disneyland Photograph Report and Early Entry at California Journey Photograph Report: Sarah’s Slingin’ Technique for a step-by-step take a look at what we completed throughout the half-hour and thereafter for rope drop. See our Information to Early Entry at Disneyland for what it is advisable learn about this pre-park opening entry to Disneyland and DCA.
Security – Up high, we indicated that the notion of security is a part of the Disney model. Many Individuals go to the Disney theme parks as a result of they’re insulated from the actual world and provide a veil of fantasy and escapism. The parks are predictable, clear, and secure in ways in which differ from most different trip locations. That is one thing that sociologists and psychologists little doubt examine.
Many Individuals have additionally doubtless seen caricatures of California as a dystopian wasteland of lawlessness and crime. That’s hyperbole at finest and deliberate disingenuousness at worst. Nonetheless, Anaheim is the biggest metropolis in Orange County, and it’s a part of the Los Angeles metropolitan space.
Though a part of the Los Angeles metro space, Anaheim is completely not like LA. Nonetheless, there’s each crime and homelessness in Anaheim, and you’ll completely see the latter if staying in an off-site lodge and strolling to the parks. Relying upon the place you keep, you additionally may need to cross interstate on/off ramps.
None of this bothers us, not less than from a security perspective. (California’s homelessness disaster is heartbreaking and unsettling, so it does “trouble” us in that regard.) Nonetheless, if you happen to’re from a small or suburban city, you could discover the town streets jarring and expertise a little bit of tradition shock. (If that describes you, the most effective factor you are able to do is fly into SNA reasonably than LAX. Not as a result of LAX is unsafe, however as a result of it’s completely chaotic and nothing like your house airport.)
Disneyfied Setting – One other good thing about staying on-site is that your lodge is an extension of the theme park expertise at Disneyland Resort. Every lodge has its personal distinct design and will not at all times scream “Disney” with characters, however the on-site Accommodations of Disneyland Resort really feel similar to the parks.
For essentially the most half, they don’t really feel like atypical resorts any greater than the Disney theme parks really feel like atypical amusement parks. They’ve an extra layer of element and storytelling to “transport” visitors to a special time and place. In easy phrases of luxurious, Disney resorts don’t at all times surpass their actual world counterparts, however they nearly at all times have higher theme.
Alongside those self same traces, every of the Disney-owned resorts can usually be accessed with out stepping foot within the “actual” world. Whereas there’s undoubtedly not a “bubble” like Walt Disney World, there’s nonetheless a way of removing from Anaheim. You gained’t discover theming to a lavishly-designed arts & crafts type lodge or a monorail pool on the off-site resorts, both.
You additionally gained’t see Panera or McDonald’s as you head immediately from the Grand Californian Lodge proper into the Disney California Journey entrance. (Is that this speculated to be a professional or con?! Joking apart, it may be each–cheap quick meals, groceries, and sundries are undoubtedly a promoting level for the Harbor resorts.)
After all, there are some intrusions, however for essentially the most half, it’s an escape from actuality to a fantasyland of types. Lots of people gained’t perceive this or just gained’t look after it, and there’s nothing incorrect with that. In case you fall in that class, an off-site lodge is extra more likely to enchantment to you. You merely can not get this expertise whereas staying at an off-site lodge.
Whereas we are likely to aspect with those that need to be immersed within the Disney Bubble as a lot as doable, that’s not sensible for us. As a result of excessive price of the three official Disneyland resorts, we normally keep off-site at Disneyland within the resorts proper throughout from Disneyland Resort on Harbor Boulevard.
If there was much less of a worth hole or Disney resorts provided extra perks, that may tip the scales for us, however it’s so laborious to justify paying an additional $300+ per night time to remain in a Disney lodge only for the bubble. Your mileage might fluctuate on that, although.
Advantages of Staying Off-Web site
Value – Disneyland doesn’t have Worth Resorts and it exhibits…in worth factors. Rack charges begin at round $400 per night time for each Disneyland Lodge and Pixar Place Lodge and might exceed $700/night time. Then there’s the flagship Grand Californian Lodge and Spa is crazy-expensive, exceeding $1,000/night time throughout many instances of the 12 months.
In the course of the busiest instances of the 12 months at Disneyland, rooms in these resorts can price lots. Simply try the charges for a summer time weekend or for any main vacation (Easter/Thanksgiving/Christmas/New 12 months’s Eve). These are beginning charges for the standard room. In order for you a collection or one thing particular, you’re paying much more! With solely 3 official resorts, Disneyland has a critical scarcity of on-site lodge rooms throughout peak vacationer seasons, so costs are sometimes in exorbitant territory.
Against this, off-site lodge rooms close to Disneyland, usually are not almost as costly–largely as a result of there’s a surplus of lodge stock when there usually are not occasions on the Anaheim Conference Heart. (Town went from having a scarcity of lodge rooms to arguably overbuilding within the span of ~5 years.) Accommodations within the Anaheim Resort District could be priced at or round $150/night time, making them ‘worth’ choices, of types.
Observe that off-site lodge pricing is extremely variable. Whether or not there’s a lodge room scarcity or surplus is really date-dependent. If it’s vacationer seasons (assume any time college is out of session) or there’s a serious occasion on the Anaheim Conference Heart, there nonetheless aren’t sufficient rooms to fulfill demand. Against this, if college is in session or there are not any occasions on the town, costs plummet.
Because of this, we advocate reserving a lodge close to Disneyland far prematurely more often than not. (Exceptions to this are the low season, reminiscent of late August via early October and January via early March–final minute bargains could be discovered then.)
Loyalty Rewards – On account of work or different journey, you may need loyalty to a particular chain of resorts. When you have standing or factors at a type of chains and need to benefit from it, you could have an apparent benefit in staying at these resorts.
Now we have Marriott Platinum Elite and Hilton Diamond standing, entitling us to quite a lot of perks there, so at any time when we journey to non-Disney areas, we attempt to keep at these resorts. For lots of people, the familiarity and identified high quality of a serious chain like that is very interesting, even when they don’t have any factors to make use of.
Free Nights – Clearly, one of many functions of incomes rewards is to redeem them without cost nights or upgrades. These with co-branded bank cards likewise obtain certificates that can be utilized without cost stays or upgrades to suites. That is one wrinkle of free nights.
One other is that when redeeming rewards within the Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott or different chain reward applications, you’ll normally be capable to obtain a third, 4th, or fifth night time free. How this works is fairly easy–you’ll merely get a free night time when redeeming factors for 4 or 5 consecutive nights at one lodge. The bottom fee night time (assuming there’s a distinction) shall be zeroed out throughout the reserving circulate.
In case you’re not swimming in rewards factors, you’ll be able to nonetheless benefit from the ‘Further Night time Free Lodge’ promo that’s presently out there at choose resorts close to Disneyland through Get Away As we speak.
Right here’s a partial record of the resorts close to Disneyland we like that supply further nights free:
- Westin Anaheim
- Anaheim Portofino Inn
- Clarion Lodge
- Lodge Lulu Anaheim
- The Viv Lodge
- SunCoast Park Lodge
- Fairfield Inn Anaheim Resort
- 4 Factors by Sheraton Anaheim
That is an unique provide out there via that portal and solely at sure resorts, which could be mixed with common discounted lodge + ticket trip bundle through Get Away As we speak to save cash. My suggestion is utilizing the ‘Accommodations with Free Nights’ filter on the left sidebar to slender your search to incorporate solely the choices with bonus nights. Save an additional $10 through the use of code TOURIST at checkout (legitimate on 2-night and longer stays).
Distance to the Parks – Probably the most compelling motive is that you may usually discover an off-site lodge that’s nearer to Disneyland Resort than an on-site lodge. Kind of makes the phrases off-site and on-site misnomers, proper? Though Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge and Spa is the closest lodge to Disneyland Resort, there are a number of resorts immediately throughout the road from Disneyland Resort’s Esplanade (the open space between the 2 parks) which are a 5 minute stroll to the turnstiles.
Even if you happen to’re lodge does occur to be farther from the Esplanade than Disneyland Lodge or Pixar Place Lodge (that are each round 10-Quarter-hour away), there’s nonetheless a very good probability your lodge shall be inside strolling distance. You may–and will–simply be capable to guide a lodge inside strolling distance from Disneyland. Even when for some motive you guide a lodge that isn’t inside strolling distance, chances are high you’ll be able to cheaply get to it through a lodge shuttle that it affords, or the Anaheim Resort Transit.
Since Disneyland can’t meet the entire wants of visitors with its three resorts, Disneyland has a greater working relationship with many “Good Neighbor Accommodations” within the space. As a result of distinction in pricing, Disneyland Resort doesn’t even contemplate the off-site resorts competitors–most individuals usually are not selecting between a $800/night time room on the Grand Californian and a $125/night time room at Sweet Cane Inn!
That is not like the Worth Resorts at Walt Disney World, that are direct competitors to the off-site resorts in Florida. Due to this, Disneyland tries to work with off-site resorts as a substitute of competing with them.
Breakfast & Different Facilities – Many off-site resorts provide free continental breakfast. Some are pet pleasant with minimal charges for that. Others have swimming pools which are like mini water parks (though that is far much less frequent in Anaheim, the place most swimming pools are minimalist).
The specifics clearly fluctuate by lodge, with the most important being breakfast. The newer ‘large field’ household suites and prolonged keep resorts which have turn into ubiquitous in Anaheim do that exceedingly effectively, with high quality meals that may energy you thru the morning and permit for a late lunch, probably saving some huge cash on sky-high meals prices within the parks. (On the very least, you’ll be able to seize a free espresso in your approach out the door and keep away from ready in line at Starbucks on Predominant or Buena Vista Streets.)
Off-Web site vs. On-Web site Non-Points
Lightning Lane (Paid FastPass) Reserving Home windows – There was loads of outrage concerning the paid line-skipping service, which is Disneyland’s alternative without cost FastPass and paid digital MaxPass. (See our Information to Lightning Lanes at Disneyland for every part it is advisable know.)
Not like the Florida parks, there isn’t any on-site benefit for reserving Lightning Lanes. There, on-site visitors have a head begin on the a la carte model of these. In California, everybody can guide upon getting into the park. (In idea, this offers visitors staying on-site a jumpstart throughout Early Entry, however that doesn’t make any sensible distinction.)
Parking Charges – A technique Disney used to distinguish its resorts from actual world alternate options was by not charging parking or resort charges. Fortunately, Disney hasn’t embraced the consumer-unfriendly and deceiving observe of charging resort charges, however it does now cost for parking at its resorts.
With that stated, Disneyland Resort’s on-site resorts usually cost greater than off-site resorts for parking. Self-parking is $35 and valet is $65 per night time, whereas loads of their off-site counterparts cost round $20 per night time. (Just a few nonetheless even provide free parking, which does make this a distinction.)
In case you’re a Walt Disney World common who stays on website there for the perks provided there to on-site visitors, don’t anticipate something comparable at Disneyland. There’s additionally no precedence reserving window for eating places (but) and the Disney Eating Plan will not be a factor in California (it’s quickly suspended at Walt Disney World, however will return sooner or later).
The upside to the dearth of perks for on-site resorts at Disneyland Resort is that they aren’t actually wanted within the first place. Your complete Anaheim Resort District (which incorporates Disneyland Resort and the off-site resorts) is way extra compact than Walt Disney World, and is pretty simple to navigate totally by foot. Furthermore, Disneyland has that laid again “Californian” environment, and requires far much less planning, typically.
In the end, there’s lots to contemplate when figuring out whether or not you need to keep off-site or on-site when visiting Disneyland Resort. There’s actually nobody dimension matches all reply as to which is “higher” because it actually varies primarily based on what issues most to your loved ones. There’s actually no proper or incorrect method, it’s extra what you need out of your trip and the way you weigh the professionals and cons.
The subjective elements are nearly at all times going to be the overriding ones, and financial savings that appear to make staying off-site a no brainer slam dunk for some visitors could also be inadequate to lure others off-site. Ultimately, whether or not the on-site premium is “price it” to you is basically a matter of private choice.
Hopefully this submit offered goal issues and a few wildcards so that you can weigh and make the choice for your self. Personally, I’d at all times keep at Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge if cash have been no concern…however I’m fairly rapidly disabused of that notion (more often than not) as soon as I worth out lodge choices. Your mileage might fluctuate, although!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Lodge Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and tons of different locations!
Your Ideas
Do you usually keep on-site or off-site? Why? What are your key issues when figuring out the place you keep? Ideas on the most effective & worst lodge choices in Southern California? Any particular off-site or third social gathering lodge in or round Anaheim that you just advocate? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
