Disney Youtuber Says This is Best Hotel Near Disneyland, Ranking It Higher Than Disney’s Grand Californian

There are several hotels to choose from during your Disneyland vacation, whether you decide to stay on-site at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels or the many hotels within walking distance in the surrounding Anaheim area. While many see a stay at the Disneyland Hotel or the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa as the ultimate splurge, one of the overall best Disneyland hotels is actually not located on property or owned by Disney.

Though the Westin Anaheim is a pricier option than some of the other more affordable hotels near Disneyland, many fans will choose to stay at this luxury hotel due to its upscale accommodations and amenities. The Westin has spacious rooms (some overlooking Disney California Adventure), multiple dining options including the RISE Rooftop Lounge where you can watch the fireworks, a resort-style pool, and more.

Keep reading for more details on why Disneyland visitors pick this hotel over Disney's Grand Californian and photos from our various stays at The Westin Anaheim. Then we'll dive into a direct amenities and pricing comparison of Disney's Grand Californian vs The Westin Anaheim Hotel.

Why Visitors Choose the Westin Anaheim Hotel

The Westin Anaheim is one of the newer Anaheim hotels that just opened in 2021 and is an AAA Four-Diamond resort. It's located right across from Disney California Adventure, and guests who stay in a Park View room will have a great view of the park.

During our stay in this room type, it was amazing to be so close that you could sit outside on the balcony and faintly hear people screaming on the Incredicoaster! The rooms at the Westin have comfortable beds, bathrooms with rainfall showerheads, robes and slippers, mini-fridges, a beverage center with a coffee maker/tea service, and more luxurious amenities.

It's an easy walk to the resort through the Downtown Disney security entrance, and in our experience, the sidewalk traffic is usually much lower going in this way than through the main entrance on Harbour Boulevard.

What Disney YouTuber Says About the Westin Anaheim

Amanda Provost of Provost Park Pass on Youtube says, “The Westin is a true deluxe hotel. From the moment you walk into the lobby, you are wrapped in luxury! The Westin is immaculate, modern, and smells amazing. I especially love the rooftop restaurant to unwind after a long day and view the fireworks. This is my go-to birthday/anniversary/special occasion resort!”

She even went so far as to say that she preferred it over Disney's Grand Californian making this her top choice for the best Disneyland hotel.

Perks of the Westin Anaheim

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One significant perk of staying at the Westin is the selection of dining options within easy access, including the hotel's signature restaurant Tangerine Room, Blossom Café and Market (which is a convenient place to grab a coffee or quick to-go foods and pastries before heading to the parks in the morning), Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar just a few steps away, the RISE Rooftop Lounge, and more.

Westin Anaheim's Rise Rooftop Lounge

The RISE Rooftop Lounge has a beautiful view of Disney California Adventure and is one of the best places outside of Disneyland to watch the fireworks. The rooftop lounge offers live music and a great atmosphere in which to enjoy a cocktail or small bite. Reservations for RISE Rooftop Lounge are required and can be booked through OpenTable.

Westin Anaheim Amenities

The Westin Anaheim has other appealing amenities onsite like an outdoor pool area with a whirlpool and five private cabanas, a 24-hour 2,860-square-foot fitness studio, and more.

Westin Anaheim Vs. Disney's Grand Californian

Even though the Westin Anaheim is pricier than many hotels in the area, comparing prices for the Westin Anaheim vs. Disney's Grand Californian, the Grand Californian is still going to be the more expensive option between the two.

To give you an idea of pricing, if you book through Get Away Today for a mid-week stay in a less busy season, pricing for a 3-night stay is $1,034.54 for the Westin and $2,302.58 for the Grand Californian. For a 5-night stay during this season, the Westin includes a 5th night free, so pricing would look like $1,372.72 (includes 5th night free) for the Westin and $3,434.30 for the Grand Californian.

During a peak season for a weekend stay, pricing is $1,034.54 for the Westin and $3,303.53 for the Grand Californian. A 5-night stay during that season would be $1,372.72 for the Westin and $5,487.52 for the Grand Californian.

As you can see, while Grand Californian prices can easily soar under certain circumstances, the Westin prices remain more stable whether your stay is during a slower season mid-week stay or a peak season weekend stay.

Which Hotel Is Better?

We've stayed at the Westin and might agree that it rivals Disney's Grand Californian in many ways because of how nice it is, but it just lacks the Disney amenities. There's something about the “wow” factor of the Grand Californian with its incredible theming and majestic lobby that is beyond compare.

It's also difficult to compete with the Grand Californian with its amenities like the Tenaya Stone Spa, private entrance to Disney California Adventure, the ability to charge purchases to your room, and expansive pool area with three beautifully themed pools (one with a 90-foot long waterslide curving around the stump of a Redwood tree) with whirlpools. Guests can also keep entertained at the Grand Californian with various activities like a wide selection of fitness and yoga classes, movie nights, and more.

All of that being said, the Westin by no means lacks luxurious amenities and is an especially great option if you're traveling with a party of adults. If you're looking for an upscale place to stay near Disneyland and don't mind being outside of the theming and magic of the Disney bubble, this is hands-down our top recommendation. We've also always found the staff here to be incredibly kind and helpful in making your stay as great as possible!

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