Here’s How Far In Advance You Need Disneyland Hotel Reservations – SF Gate

Booking hotels at the Disneyland Resort

There are three Disney-owned hotels at the Disneyland Resort. While each of the hotels offers a different theme, booking a room at the Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel is slightly easier than booking a room at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa due to its proximity to the theme parks and its additional Disney Vacation Club villas that take up part of the hotel’s inventory of rooms. 

Travelers who are planning a Disneyland getaway with just a month or two notice should be able to book at the Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with ease, especially during the slower months of late August and September. These two hotels offer basic amenities plus the ability to partake in Extra Magic Hours and Magic Morning Early Admission to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, should they return after being paused during Disneyland’s phased reopening in 2021. 

Travelers looking to book a room at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa during popular holiday months like Halloween and Christmas will want to do so at least six months in advance to be on the safe side. The resort often books up quickly due to its direct access to both the Downtown Disney District and Disney California Adventure theme park. The resort is also the only Disney-owned hotel at the Disneyland Resort with Disney Vacation Club rooms — a timeshare program of 48 units that can further be divided into smaller units through lock-off rooms. 

Booking good neighbor hotels in Anaheim 

Good neighbor hotels are hotels near Disneyland that have high standards, clean rooms and nice amenities. When guests see that a hotel is a good neighbor partner, they know it has Disney’s stamp of approval and has gone through a rigorous process to be part of the program. Currently, there are more than 50 good neighbor hotels in Anaheim, at all different price points and at different distances from the theme parks. 

One nice thing about good neighbor hotels is that travelers can book rooms with less notice and still get good deals. The hotels that are closest to the entrance to the Disneyland Resort on Harbor Boulevard typically fill up faster than the hotels that are farther away from the parks.

If you want to stay at a hotel that’s across the street or just a block or two away from Disneyland, consider booking at least three months in advance. Guests who don’t mind a walk at the start and end of their day can often book a hotel farther away from the entrance to Disneyland with just a few weeks’ notice. 

What to know before booking a Disneyland trip

Prior to booking a trip to Disneyland, whether you’re staying at one of the three Disney-owned hotels or a good neighbor hotel, there are a few things you should know.

The first is to look at the theme park reservation availability calendar to ensure your travel dates are open for theme park reservations. A hotel reservation does not guarantee entry into either of the Disneyland theme parks. 

Second, upon arrival, it’s wise to check in at your hotel online. This will help you avoid long lines at the front desk and will allow you access to designated hotel areas that require a key like your room and fitness and pool area. Those staying at a Disney-owned hotel can do this through the Disneyland app. If you plan to stay at a good neighbor hotel, consider researching your hotel’s policy on mobile check-in and mobile-friendly room keys before your arrival.