Mom and Kids laughing in the Pool; mom holding daughter; family; splashing; laughing
  • On Jan 26, 2025
    Nicole Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    I want to book a stay at a Disney resort hotel but I don’t want to visit the park. Is this possible or are park tickets required to book a stay?

    Hi Nicole, welcome to planDisney! I'm thrilled that you're considering a stay at one of the Disneyland Resort's amazing hotels. I’m here to help!

    Here's the good news, Nicole: You don’t need theme park tickets to stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel – you can book a room independently. I can confirm this from personal experience! Last July, my family stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. We live locally and visit the theme parks often, so we stayed at the hotel this time to explore the recreation options and amenities. We had such a great time that we're planning another hotel-only visit to the Grand Californian this spring.

    Each Disneyland Resort Hotel has so much to offer that you'll have no problem filling your day. Here are some things that stood out to me:
     
    • There are activities exclusively for hotel guests, such as complimentary movie nights and hotel tours. There are also fitness classes that can be booked for an additional fee. Doesn't a morning "Yoga in the Redwood Creek" class sound fun?
    • Each hotel has a pool area with a unique theme and mix of features. The Disneyland Hotel pools are my favorite for water fun. There are mini water slides for small children, two larger Monorail-themed water slides, a Steamboat Willie splash pad, three separate pools, and a few jacuzzis.
    • You can interact with Disney friends at the hotels thanks to Character Dining. As a side note, you don't need to stay at the hotel to make dining reservations.
    • There are retail shops inside the hotels where you can buy pins, apparel, collectibles, and other souvenirs.
    • The Downtown Disney District has a lot of dining, shopping, and entertainment options that can also keep you busy. There's even a stage with live performances from talented musicians!
    That said, I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the theme park perks that you may want to consider when planning your Disneyland Resort Hotel stay. You just might decide that you want to expand your visit to include time inside the parks.

    • One of the benefits of staying at a Resort hotel is Early Entry. If you have a valid theme park ticket and reservation, you can enter a designated park 30 minutes early each morning of your stay.
    • A few hotels also have special theme park entrances that make it convenient to access the parks.
    • If you decide that you would like to spend time at Disneyland or California Adventure, I recommend looking into a Disneyland Resort Hotel Vacation Package, which bundles everything together and includes added extras.

    You can check availability for the three Resort hotels and view current offers on the Disneyland website. Just follow the prompts and your room will be booked in no time. I’m confident you’ll have an unforgettable time. Please reach out with any other questions. We're happy to help!

    Wishing you pixie dust and lots of fun,
    Kriss
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Meet the Panelist: Kriss, California

Hi, there! I’m Kriss, a wife, mom of two mini Mouseketeers, and lifelong Orange County local. As a Magic Key holder who visits the Disneyland Resort often, you have a friend in me when it comes to tips and tricks for making the most of your magical visit. Plant-based dining, navigating the parks with kids, transportation, pin trading, itineraries for various preferences – I’ve got you covered! Learn More About Kriss

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