Resort hopping is great to experience some extra Disney Magic at no extra cost. Basically, you allowed to visit all resorts on property and dine, shop, and even use some of the facilities. Obvious things like access to rooms and the pool area are not available to anyone except hotel guests. But with beautiful hotel lobbies, bars, some of the best table service dining (including character dining), and beautifully landscaped and often very relaxing open areas, resort hopping can be great fun, and is available for people off site too. At WDW there are resorts that give you amazing views of the Firework spectaculars and the nighttime water pageant. It’s also a good way to get a more restful and quiet lunch or dinner away from the parks.
The appeal of a resort in hopping is often the theming. But luxury resorts visits are very popular too, especially because a stay at one of these will never be on the majority of visitor’s options (they can be in excess of a thousand pounds per person per night). Disney is expensive, even when you choose more economy ways of conducting your trip, so a little bit of luxury is always nice!
Let me now introduce you to the Disneyland Hotel in DLP. DLP have two flagship hotels: Disneyland Hotel and the themed Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel.
The Art of Marvel, built to complement Avengers Campus, has the obvious fan theming that is a huge draw. It also has excellent facilities and close proximity to the parks.
Disneyland Hotel is more associated with Disney Princesses and as a resort now known for it’s ‘Princess Problem’ (a real lack of meet and greet opportunities), this can be a great draw for all the little Disney Princesses dying to meet their fairytale heroines. At the Disneyland Hotel there is princess character dining available to all park guests, and interactions throughout the day in the hotel lobby. If you are lucky enough to stay, there are also meet and greets with the princesses in the hotel. It offers a variety of rooms and suites, including Castle Club where some rooms overlook Main Street, so you can watch the fireworks from your balcony.
But how is it possible to get that view? Well here is the thing that is one of the biggest, if not the biggest draw for visitors: This iconic pink hotel is literally built over the entrance to the main park, Disneyland Park. The queue to enter the park can be shorter and you don’t have to go through security each visit.
This sounds great – and I’m sure it is (if I ever get to stay I’ll let you know!), but here’s the thing: whilst you get the usual resort hoppers, it’s location means it gets used as a pit-stop. This is mostly people needing to use a bathroom as soon as they arrive or deciding last minute it might be a good idea before they leave, even though this is not meant to be permitted. People often leave the park on the left side, rather than the right, where there are no public bathrooms. But it also seems to be a popular spot – for reasons I cannot fathom – for a nap in the bar/lounge area or even on benches in the walkways upstairs! (This would not be tolerated at WDW. Have some class, please!). And when the princesses make their stairs and lobby appearances, it can get very crowded with non-resort guests.
When you are paying huge money for your stay, this is not what you need or, frankly, should have to put up with. Often guests could not get a dining reservation, find a space for a drink at the bar, or purchase resort exclusive and limited edition merchandise. After the hotel opened again following it’s big refurbishment in January 2024, all access was prohibited to non-hotel guests. But after a time, this was lifted. Basically, the bar, restaurants, and shops were talking nowhere near as much money. So non-resort guests were allowed to enter again. Gradually though, the same problems have arisen again.
On 1st November 2025, the news broke that DLP was returning the exclusivity to it’s guests. Anyone entering needs to now show proof of their stay. At the moment you can still make a reservation at Royal Table (a gourmet buffet with characters in Regal dress). From April 1st, you will also be able to make reservations at La Table de Lumiere, table service Prince and Princess character dining. You can also shop.
Shortly after this announcement, DLP followed up and said that non-hotel guests will still be able to visit the hotel at certain times: prior to 11am (before the bar opens), and after 8pm, when the park is getting quieter so many people are taking advantage of shorter queue times, waiting for the fireworks, or taking later dining reservations.
So what do you think? Many people are disappointed that they’re not going to get the opportunity to visit the Disneyland Hotel, and are wondering if this will start to extend to other hotels. Resort hopping is seen as part of the Disney vacation experience. But when paying a huge premium to stay somewhere, don’t guests deserve an exclusive experience? Have Disney made the right decision? Should this be extended to all luxury resorts?
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