By Nellie Day
Approximately 37 hotels within close proximity to the Disneyland
resort are considered to be "Good Neighbor Hotels" by the Walt Disney Company. These hotels, which include familiar hotel names like Marriott, La Quinta, Residence Inn, Embassy Suites, Doubletree, are designated by Disney to sell tickets from their establishments, allowing guests to skip the crowded ticket booths at the parks and go directly to the action.
Wows and Woes
Though Disney's Good Neighbor Hotels are broken into four levels, which include suite, superior, moderate and economy, most of these hotels are very nice. Your experience should be relatively pleasant whether you stayed at the Ramada Inn or the Marriott. Even the Motel 6 is nice.
The Good Neighbor Hotel program seems to confuse guests a bit. It simply allows certain establishments to sell tickets to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure directly to guests. Aside from this, there's little affiliation with Disney. Guests hoping to see some of the Disney magic at these hotels will likely be disappointed.
Insider Tips
If you're planning to stay at a hotel that Disney's Good Neighbor program would consider a superior- or suite-level property, you might as well stay inside the Disneyland Resort. For relatively the same price you can remain on the Disney grounds and extend the fun and magic that you got from the theme parks into your room. If you're a family on a budget, however, the economy- and moderate-level hotels are great options.
Author's Most Memorable Moment
I stayed at the Doubletree Guest Suites, a suite-level Good Neighbor Hotel, during a conference. I remember thinking that a family who was staying here and planning to visit the Disneyland Resort would probably not enjoy this hotel because it was stale and a bit quiet. I thought a much better choice would have been the Disneyland Hotel, as the Doubletree, while very nice, wasn't all that family-friendly.
Bottom Line
If want a smaller Anaheim hotel, pick one labeled a Good Neighbor Hotel. If you want to stay at a resort or luxury hotel, opt for a Disney hotel instead.
About the Author:
Nellie Day is a freelance writer based out of Hermosa Beach, CA. She has her Master's degree in broadcast journalism from USC, and Bachelors' degrees in English and sociology from UC Irvine. Ms. Day's work can regularly be seen on newsstands, where her specialties include weddings, pets, real estate, electronics, product reviews, business, architecture and design, Southern California, food and wine, and travel and tourism.
