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

Travel + Leisure

06-05-2025

Spacious signature suites are perfect for families and come with access to Veranda, a lounge with all-day food and drink service, included in the price.
Tenaya Stone Spa is ideal for relaxation before or after a day running around the parks, and you can't beat the river stone massage, set to classical Disney song covers upon request.
Napa Rose offers an upscale dining option with California cuisine and wine pairings, and it will reopen in the fall with a totally remodeled interior and patio.
The Yosemite theme extends to the pool area, and between floating exercise classes, a water slide, and Jacuzzis, there are areas to entertain both kids and adults.
It all happened so fast. The rope fell and the crowd took off, each person seemingly faster, taller, or more prepared than me. My husband, Alex, with his long legs and razor-sharp determination to get to Cars Land first, was among them. Meanwhile, there I was, in the Mickey gear he picked out for me, falling behind while trying not to stumble over any children and almost losing sight of him if not for his Goofy-themed Hawaiian shirt.
I was still bleary-eyed and chilly, the Southern California sun not yet high enough in the sky to warm the streets of Disneyland's California Adventure park—but knowing I'd better not be the reason we'd have to wait in line for Radiator Springs Racers , one of our favorite rides, I did my best to speed up. T+L senior editorial director Nina Ruggiero and her husband Alex pose at Disneyland with Goofy and Pluto.
We live under an hour from Anaheim, but typically only make it to Disneyland about twice a year. When we're there, however, Alex treats a day at the parks like some sort of extreme, open-to-close challenge. Don't get me wrong, I'm always excited to be along for the adventure, but I grew up slowly herding my three younger sisters around Disneyland, and the words 'rope drop' meant nothing to me until I met Alex. He, on the other hand, grew up flying to Orlando from the UK for two full weeks of non-stop theme park action at a time.
All of this is to say, once in a while, we like to treat ourselves to a sleepover 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 spin 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 means we have early access and can make the absolute most of our Disney time.
Our Disneyland hotel of choice is the Yosemite National Park—themed Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where there are plenty of perks we both love equally. A hot stone massage with classical Disney covers playing softly in the background? Yes, please. A premium wine pairing with a rack of lamb or filet mignon? Sign us up. Pools with a waterslide and floating exercise classes? We'll stick around for some time in the sun for sure. But best of all is Veranda, the Ritz Carlton-like club-level lounge that comes with all-day food and drink service and indoor-outdoor seating. The setup is so enticing, we even left the park early one night to sit with a glass of wine and a VIP view of the fireworks. (It was Alex's idea, I swear.) Interior of one of the hotel's guest rooms.
Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort
The hotel has more than 900 rooms, including 44 suites, all designed with families in mind. The largest suites have three bedrooms and sleep between 10 and 13 adults. The smallest standard rooms can still sleep up to five. There are options with views of the park, the pool, the courtyard, and Downtown Disney. Beyond the trees, the balcony of our one-bedroom suite looked out at Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! (formerly the Tower of Terror ) . Wood and stone accents carry the national park vibe throughout, and additional on-theme details such as stained glass windows and fireplaces can be found in some suites. (El Capitan is a favorite.) Club level rooms come with access to the Veranda lounge; more on that below. Have a drink by the fire or at the bar in the Hearthstone Lounge.
Napa Rose is the hotel's fine dining restaurant, ideal for special occasions or Disney date nights. Here, you can taste 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 price-fixed menu and multiple wine pairing options 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 hit the buffet there for every meal if you want to. 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 eating prime rib, fried chicken, s'mores bread pudding, and more.
Hearthstone Lounge feels like being in a cozy, upscale national park lodge, 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—and usually with sports on TV. If a pre-park drink is your style, this is your spot for morning cocktails, be it a bloody Mary, mimosa, or the popular Grand Candied Orange Coffee with brandy and Kahlua. GCH Craftsman Grill is the place for grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and more.
The resort's three pools are full of action, from the waterslide (which twists around a replica redwood tree stump) to the fitness classes taught on floating boards, to the cabanas. There's also Eureka Fitness Center with gym equipment and yoga classes (in Disney Ears Yoga, character accessories are key), and bootcamp classes are led through Disney California Adventure park before it opens. Monthly events are held at the Great Hall, like Star Wars music night in May, and Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures, complete with royal activities and Mickey waffles, are held in the Trillium Room. Pictures with the princesses are encouraged, of course. The Relaxation Lounge at the Tenaya Stone Spa.
The serene, full-service Tenaya Stone Spa feels worlds away from the parks, though your masseuse 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, with a diamond collagen mask, and leave time to sit in the relaxation room with a cup of tea and marvel at the fact that you're actually at Disneyland Resort and not on a spa getaway in the mountains.
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa has both wheelchair-accessible and hearing-accessible rooms, bookable on request. There are accessible travel paths into the lobby, parking lot, restaurants, shops, and meeting rooms. Guests with hearing or speech disabilities can also ask for Teletypewriter (TTY) devices at check-in. Disney recommends using ScooterBug to rent wheelchairs and mobility scooters, which can be preordered and delivered to the hotel.
The hotel is located on Disneyland Resort grounds and offers easy access to both parks and Downtown Disney's dining, shopping, and entertainment. It also has its own entrance to Disney California Adventure Park, which is under construction through mid-May. (During this time, guests can use an alternate gate next to the hotel.) The Grand Californian also has its own parking lot, which costs $40 per night for self-parking and $70 per night for valet. Those coming just to visit the restaurants or spa can get three to five hours of free parking. Interior of The Veranda.
Although it will cost you extra up front, the best way to get the most out of your stay is to book a Club Level room, which comes with access to the Veranda lounge. Disney clearly marks which rooms are considered Club Level on the hotel's website. When I tried on the website for multiple spring dates, I found that selecting club level added about $500 to the nightly price, but it can run higher.
Every guest on the reservation gets club access up to the maximum occupancy, which is high, ranging from five to 13 depending on the room. Veranda, located on the sixth floor, hosts food and drinks from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, from breakfast, to afternoon tea, to appetizers, to desserts. Alcoholic drinks are also included. (Just think about what a meal for the family and a few beers for the adults would cost you inside the parks, especially over the span of a few days. Then add snacks, late-night dessert cravings, and a glass of wine or two...). Some rooms are eligible to add club access at check-in, pending availability.
In terms of park access, guests of the hotel with park passes get 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.
Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.