Where Should You Stay When Visiting Disneyland Resort

Today signifies the end of the five-part series on where you should stay when you’re vacationing at various Disney theme parks. We’ve previously discussed all four gates at Walt Disney World, but there’s still one theme park to evaluate. 

While you may believe that Disneyland Resort comes with a simple A/B pair of options, that’s only partially correct. I’ll add a couple of different ideas that will expand your Disney vacation possibilities. 

So, where should you stay when visiting Disneyland Resort? Here are the obvious answers and a pair of good ideas you may not have considered. 

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Obviously, Disneyland Resort hosts two impeccable DVC resorts, and you cannot go wrong with either option. Currently, the other property is the new hotness. 

Still, let’s be clear on the point. The Grand Californian represents DVC royalty. For many years, this resort held a claim as the crown jewel of the DVC program. To this day, demand vastly outweighs supply.

What do fans treasure about the Grand Californian? It rivals The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in terms of grandeur and opulence. 

Notably, the hotel lobbies also mirror the designs of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge—Jambo House. You’ll appreciate the splendor the instant you enter the building, while the amenities qualify as next level,’ even by DVC standards.

In fact, Disney built a private entrance for Disney California Adventure right beside the hotel’s front door. Depending on the lines at the security gate, you can possibly exit the lobby and walk inside the park in seconds. 

Realistically, when you plan a Disneyland vacation, the Grand Californian is likely your first choice. Alas, the lack of inventory here increases the odds that you’ll stay at the other DVC resort instead.

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel 

Less than a year ago, this choice wasn’t even possible. When The Villas at Disneyland Hotel opened, your Disneyland vacation options greatly expanded, though. Suddenly, The Happiest Place on Earth offered exponentially more inventory for DVC members. 

So, guests are staying here for two reasons. The first is that this property is substantially easier to book than its counterpart, the Grand Californian. The other is that it’s the hot new place in the DVC lineup. 

Plus, for Disneyland fanatics, the thought of staying at the Disneyland Hotel carries a certain level of cachet. This hotel opened in 1955, a time when Walt Disney couldn’t even afford to build it. Instead, he allowed an oil baron to build on the property. Disney wouldn’t purchase the Disneyland Hotel until three decades later.

Then, in 2023, park officials opened this majestic expansion tower. Everything here is shiny and new. Even better, it’s overflowing with colors, a lovely touch for a Disney facility. 

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will make your DVC vacation feel that much more authentic. You’re staying at the theme park hotel that started it all, yet the rooms themselves are less than one year old. 

Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas

Since the introduction of Aulani to the DVC program, DVC members have gradually fallen in love with the stopover vacation concept. That’s because it’s a unique way to marry your love of Disney theme park attractions with a more tranquil island vacation.

The idea centers on how most Americans travel west to reach Disneyland Resort. So, there’s nothing stopping you from adding a flight to Hawaii for the second half of your trip.

What do you gain by splitting your vacation? You can spend a few days at The Happiest Place on Earth. Once you’ve finished that trip, you can relax throughout the rest of your trip.

The laid-back nature of Aulani makes it the ideal complement for a few days at Disneyland. You relax on a beach and sip boat drinks while gazing at the splendor of the Pacific Ocean. In between poolside lounging, you’ll eat some of the most exquisite Polynesian cuisine. 

DVC members often exchange knowing looks at the idea of a Disneyland/Aulani vacation. After you do it the first time, it may become your preferred style of tourism. 

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa 

You didn’t see this one coming, did you? Well, don’t laugh. A joint Disneyland/Walt Disney World vacation is something every DVC member should try at some point. 

Since each theme park hosts exclusive attractions like Matterhorn Bobsleds, Indiana Jones Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Tron Lightcycle / Run, you should want to do both. Most of the time, fans arbitrarily pick one or the other, but not everyone does that.

I say this because “Disney to Disney” flights are a thing, and they remain extraordinarily cheap to book. Breeze Airways has offered this travel option multiples times, with customers embracing the concept.

For $89 per person, travelers may fly one-way nonstop from John Wayne Airport to Orlando International Airport. Currently, Breeze Airways offers this flight on Mondays and Fridays throughout the summer. It was considered a temporary itinerary when it debuted, yet the “Disney to Disney” flight keeps returning. 

As a DVC member, you should split a vacation between Disney’s East and West Coast parks. Given the low price of airfare, it’s a surprisingly affordable strategy. I will say that it’s a decidedly different vibe than combining Disneyland with Aulani, though.