How to decide where to stay near Disneyland

Over many decades of Disneyland visits, I’ve tried a lot of different approaches as to where to stay. Even if you’re a Disneyland regular, each new trip comes with its own set of circumstances that might influence where you stay. Here’s a set of questions to help you drill down to your ideal Disneyland lodging. 

Do you want to stay within walking distance?

If you want to be within walking distance of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park (DCA), there’s two ways you can go. The first is to choose one of the hotels on Disneyland property. In ascending order of average per-night cost (and from farthest to closest to the park entrances), they are: Pixar Place Hotel, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian.  

There’s another option, which is to stay off-property but nearby. There are quite a few hotels and motels within walking distance of the parks, and most also run shuttles to and from the parks on a regular basis throughout the day. 

Staying at a hotel within walking distance of Disneyland is also useful if you want to head back to your hotel for some midday downtime before going back into the parks for the evening. If you’re within a 15-minute walk, it feels easy to pop out and pop back, but if you’re much farther than that, it can throw off the pacing of the day. 

Some favorite motels within easy walking distance include the Best Western Plus Park Place, which sits at the pedestrian-entrance crosswalk to the parks; the castle-inspired motel Camelot Inn & Suites; and the Candy Cane Inn on the south end of Disney California Adventure. If you’re comfortable with a slightly longer walk (15 to 20 minutes), your options expand to hotels like Hyatt House, JW Marriott Anaheim, and The Westin Anaheim.

A number of local hotels are Good Neighbor Hotels, Disney-approved properties close to the parks that allow you to bundle hotel stays with park tickets.  

Do you want the cheapest option? 

There are a lot of just-fine motels and a modest number of vacation rentals in Anaheim. Generally, if you stay a little farther away from Disneyland, you’ll find better prices, though then you’ll need to factor in transportation to and from the park. In 2025, daily parking at the theme park ranged from $35 to $55. Many local hotels and motels run shuttles throughout the day and evening, and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are always an option, too. 

Motels, many of which have been around as long as the park and have primo locations close to Disneyland’s entrance, offer the lowest-price options near the parks. Well-reviewed and affordable spots close to the parks include Best Western Plus Park Place, Camelot Inn & Suites, and the Candy Cane Inn.

Do you want to be where the people are?

For the most part, staying closer to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park is going to put you in the heart of the action, but there are a few other interesting areas in Anaheim worth considering. The Anaheim Packing District, a former citrus packing plant that’s been transformed into a shopping and dining destination, is a local favorite. Angel Stadium is a magnet for baseball fans, and the Anaheim GardenWalk mixes shopping and dining with entertainment options like flight simulators, mazes, and escape rooms. 

Near Angel Stadium, Ayres Hotel Anaheim offers a walking-distance home base for games and also has a great free breakfast. Anaheim Hotel is close (but not really walking distance) to the stadium, but has the benefit of a big beautiful pool and nine acres of gardens. 

Near Anaheim GardenWalk (and a 20-minute walk from the Disney parks), the JW Marriott Anaheim delivers a luxury experience along with a great view of Disney’s nighttime fireworks from the hotel rooftop bar. Hotel Indigo, also near GardenWalk, is a design-forward, pet-friendly hotel with both standard rooms and suites. 

Do you want to combine theme parks? 

If Disneyland and DCA aren’t your only theme-park stops while you’re in Southern California, you might consider an option like the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel, a newly updated hotel a short walk from Knott’s Berry Farm that also offers regular shuttle service to and from Disneyland. 

Are you traveling with a group?

If you’re traveling with a big family or group, consider hotels and motels with suites and larger spaces like the perfectly positioned Best Western Plus Park Place, which has mini-suites that sleep up to six; or the nearby Clementine Hotel & Suites, with its one- and two-bedroom suites and free daily breakfast. 

Do you want fun perks? 

The in-park hotels offer benefits like early park access on select days, character meet-and-greets, and pools (fun pools with Disney-themed waterslides and play areas). Area hotels like The Westin Anaheim, JW Marriott Anaheim, and SunCoast Park Hotel have pools plus rooftop decks that offer a great view of Disneyland fireworks. 

Do you want to do Disneyland as a daytrip?

If you’re making a day at Disneyland part of a bigger trip, your lodging options expand significantly. I love staying somewhere in Orange County that’s beachy but still relatively close to Disneyland. I’ve had good luck combining a Newport Beach stay with a Disneyland day trip. It’s a long day (to beat the traffic and make the most of the pricey park ticket, I start early and end late) but is absolutely doable. Just plan mellower activities (beach time!) the following day. 

More from CaliDreamer:

• The best airports if you’re going to Disneyland
• The best months to visit California
• What to think about before you start planning a California road trip