| PassPorter.com Feature Article Original article at: http://www.passporter.com/articles/disneyland-hotel-ten-reasons-to-stay.html Top 10 Reasons to Stay at the Disneyland Hotel: A Disneyland Resort Reviewby Amy Wear, PassPorter Guest ContributorLast modified 06-02-2016 Our family recently returned from a ten-day trip to Southern California, centered mostly around Disneyland. We spent our first two nights at a Good Neighbor hotel within easy walking distance of the Disney parks, but we felt like our vacation really began two days later, when we checked into the Disneyland Hotel. Here are just ten reasons that I would recommend the Disneyland Hotel as the ultimate place to stay at Disneyland: 10. Lush Landscaping: While city life is just outside the Disneyland Hotel, the beautiful grounds and landscaping make you feel like you’ve escaped the city and entered that Disney bubble many of us enjoy about the boundaries of Walt Disney World. We truly felt like we were in our own oasis, something we’ve always enjoyed about Disney resorts. 9. Monorail Slides and pool area: The pool area theming at the Disneyland Hotel is the ultimate cooling off spot in Anaheim. While our girls were psyched up for their first day at Disney California Adventure, they were just as excited to take an afternoon break to enjoy the pools and water slides! Ride the red or yellow slide and there are even two side-by-side small slides and water play area for the little ones. Parents especially enjoy the two large hot tubs, one shaped like Mickey and the other Minnie. The D and E-ticket pools are also generously sized for hours of fun. 8. Room with a view: While we paid for a standard view room, we were fortunate to be given a pool view room on the 10th floor of the Frontier Tower. We would stare out the window in awe of our surroundings, also being able to see much of Anaheim. We also discovered that while our room wasn’t categorized as fireworks view, the fireworks were high enough in the sky that we could watch them from our room. shooting over the Adventure Tower. 7. Generously-sized standard rooms: I’m told that some of the standard rooms are smaller than others at the Disneyland Hotel. Our room was the largest we’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying at a Disney resort. We had plenty of space to spread out and didn’t have to trip over our belongings all week. 6. Light-up headboards: If you love the Royal rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside in Orlando, you’ll also love these rooms. The light-up fireworks headboards are a treat, lighting up the room and playing the music from Sleeping Beauty every time you flip the switch. It just never gets old. 5. Monorail access: Walk just five minutes to the Downtown Disney monorail stop. Take the monorail into Disneyland and get dropped off in Tomorrowland. Do your feet need a break in the afternoon? Just take the monorail and head back to Disneyland Hotel. Note that monorail lines can get very long at both stops and it is sometimes faster to walk 4. Tangaroa Terrace: We hit the jackpot with this Polynesian-themed counter service restaurant, just a 5-minute walk from our room and sharing the same kitchen as the famous Trader Sam’s bar area. Eat inside or out on the patio, enjoying the real fire torches that light up the surrounding area. The food here is table service quality for counter service prices. I enjoyed some of the best salads on Disneyland property here, but also couldn’t resist the banana-caramel French toast for breakfast one morning. 3. Earl of Sandwich next door: We became fast fans of Earl of Sandwich a few years ago after trying their tuna melt and Hawaiian BBQ sandwiches at Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs). They aren’t kidding when they claim to make the best sandwiches in the world! Our family even endured walking in 40-degree heat one summer in downtown Boston to seek out the seasonal Earl of Sandwich location. Having the Anaheim location right beside our resort felt like a luxury. 2. Location, Location, Location: Downtown Disney is just around the corner. There’s so much to entertain you and give Disney addicts a “fix” that it’s even possible to enjoy a stay at Disneyland Hotel without ever going to the parks! Right next to Earl of Sandwich is AMC Theatres, where we took the opportunity to watch Zootopia (note that they don’t have the super comfy reclining seats like they have in Orlando). A little further walk away, you’ll be at home with Anna & Elsa’s Boutique, Build-a-Bear, World of Disney, and countless great places to eat... 1. Disney resort Magic Factor with kid appeal: At the Fantasy tower entrance, you immediately notice the Mickey and Minnie statues and are entranced with the wall murals and enchanting décor inside the lobby. While parents check in, kids can enjoy a Disney movie in miniature-sized fancy chairs. Or sit in one of Alice’s full sized teacups while you wait. Since we were still adjusting to a four-hour time zone difference on our third day in Anaheim, it was no problem for us to get checked into the Disneyland Hotel by 5:45am. It was still pitch dark on that early April morning, but we felt the magic as soon as we stepped out of the taxi. While we always try a new Disney resort with every trip, we would be torn to stay anywhere else next time we make the trek from Atlantic Canada to Southern California. About the Author: Amy Wear is a work at home mom, travel agent, writer, and registered occupational therapist. She lives in New Brunswick, Canada, and specializes in planning magical vacations for people of all abilities at Click The Mouse. You can find her online at http://www.clickthemouse.ca/amy-w.html This article originally appeared in the PassPorter newsletter -- subscribe to our popular newsletter today for free at http://www.passporter.com/news.htm Updated 06-02-2016 Check for a more updated version at http://www.passporter.com/articles/disneyland-hotel-ten-reasons-to-stay.html |