Staying at the Closest Hotel to Disneyland: Best Western Plus Park Place Inn & Mini-Suites Review

A Disneyland vacation is always magical, but choosing the right hotel can make your entire trip even better. On my latest visit, I stayed at the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn, with my husband and this hotel has one major advantage over the entire Harbor Boulevard area: it is the CLOSEST hotel to the Disneyland Main Entrance.

A huge thank you to the Park Place Inn team for hosting our stay. This review was made for you to save your time in planning your dream vacation! All opinions about this property were made based on my experience including pros and things to consider when booking. If you want a simple, convenient, and comfortable place to stay right across the street from Disneyland and you have a large travel party, keep reading, this hotel makes your vacation feel incredibly easy.

Location: Steps From the Disneyland Entrance

The Best Western Plus Park Place Inn is located at 1544 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802, directly across from the main entrance of the Disneyland Resort. The walk takes about 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the traffic light and security walk through. You literally exit the lobby, cross Harbor Boulevard, and head straight toward the security lines.

This location is perfect if you:

• have young children (and more so if they’re in strollers)
• need midday breaks
• prefer short walks after a long park day (e.g., after viewing the fireworks)
• want to be first group at rope drop (a.k.a getting to Disney right when the park opens) without sacrificing sleep and breakfast

You’re also minutes from:

• Disney California Adventure Park (DCA)
• Downtown Disney District
• Anaheim Convention Center
• Angel Stadium
• The Honda Center

Nearby amusement parks like Knott’s Berry Farm®, Soak City®, and Medieval Times® are also a short drive away from this hotel. For travelers flying in, John Wayne Airport is about 15 miles from the hotel, and Long Beach Airport is within an easy driving distance. It’s also close to the I5 freeway.

If you’re flying into Southern California, the hotel is also conveniently reachable via Karmel Shuttle, which offers shared or private airport transportation to Anaheim-area hotels.

Another great option is the ART (Anaheim Regional Transportation) shuttle, which stops along Harbor Boulevard and provides affordable transportation to nearby attractions, including the Anaheim Convention Center and local dining spots. It’s a convenient way to explore Anaheim without worrying about parking. We’ve used them on previous trips and love how easy it is to get dropped off right at the front of the hotel without needing a rental car.

A Disney Good Neighbor Hotel

If you’re wondering what a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel is, it means they meet Disney’s quality and service standards which is a major plus. Disney staff inspects the hotel to their standards based on their requirements for areas that include cleanliness, guest service, safety standards, and overall quality. While they are not Disney-owned, Good Neighbor Hotels must maintain a consistent level of hospitality that aligns with what Disney wants guests to experience during their vacation.

The Check-In Process

The check-in process was quick, and the staff was warm and welcoming. I loved the convenience from the very beginning. The staff is multilingual as well. Even if your room isn’t ready yet, the front desk team will happily store your luggage so you can head straight to the parks, such a huge perk for early travelers who want to maximize every hour of their Disney day without waiting around. The front desk is staffed 24 hours a day, and they also offer complimentary safes at the desk since the rooms themselves do not include in-room safes.

Check in is at 3:00 PM and check-out is at 11:00 AM with express checkout available.

Right next to the lobby, you’ll also find the hotel’s small business center, equipped with a computer and printer. It’s simple but functional, and perfect for quick tasks like printing tickets or confirmations.

Parking Information

Onsite parking is available for a nightly fee. From my experience, many of the parking spaces in the front are quiet narrow. Large vehicles may find the front section a bit tight, but the back half of the lot has plenty of parking with more ample space. No RVs or trailers are permitted.

The lot offers:

• 1 car per room
• Parking from 1 PM on arrival day
• Parking until 3 PM on departure day
• In-and-out privileges

The hotel also allows guests to extend parking or request a late checkout for an additional fee, subject to availability. This can be incredibly helpful if you want to squeeze in a few more hours at the parks on your departure day without worrying about moving your car.

Room Types at Best Western Plus Park Place Inn

This property features a total of 198 rooms and all of these are non-smoking. My husband and I stayed in the Mini-Suite with 2 Queens + Sofa Bed because we wanted to review how family friendly this layout was given how close this hotel is to the Disney Parks. The hotel offers several room styles, ideal for different group sizes:

• King Room with Sofa Bed – up to 4 guests
• Two Doubles – up to 4 guests
• Mini-Suite with 2 Queens + Sofa Bed – up to 6 guests
• King Room Mobility Accessible – up to 2 guests
• 2 Queens Mobility Accessible – up to 4 guests

(Room availability may vary depending on the season and room type when booking with available packages*.)

The queen beds were soft and supportive, with lightweight sheets that felt comfortable without trapping heat, and it’s great for winding down after long park days. The pillows were a nice mix of both soft and firm, so it was easy to build the perfect setup for my preferred sleeping style. One thing to keep in mind is the spacing: depending on the room layout, one side of the bed may be a bit closer to the wall, which could feel slightly tight if you prefer more room to move around that side.

The sofa bed, while not as plush as the main beds, could work well enough for young children or preteens. It offers plenty of space for them to stretch out, and it’s a practical sleeping option for families needing extra sleeping space.

In-Room Amenities

Our room was clean and comfortable, and the mini-suite provided plenty of space, making it easy to store our luggage without feeling cluttered. There was a generous amount of drawer space, perfect for organizing clothes, accessories, and smaller items, and the closet offered enough room for hanging outfits, jackets, and even storing extra bags. Being able to unpack and put things away made the room feel more like a home base rather than a temporary hotel stop, which we really appreciated during a multi-day Disney trip. Having this layout made it incredibly easy to come back and relax after long park days, and it kept the room feeling tidy, organized, and comfortable throughout our stay.

Each room includes:

• 55″ HDTV with streaming
• Cable TV with Disney Channel®
• Mini-refrigerator
• Microwave
• Coffee maker
• Hairdryer
• Iron and ironing board
• Alarm clock/radio

There are a few power outlets in the room as well as a power hub on the desk with USB charging outlets as well. It’s perfect for charging your devices while keeping other power outlets free for other needs.

Consider this

Because the hotel is so close to Disneyland and Harbor Boulevard, some outside noise is expected from cars, traffic, and general noise made from people and children on their way to and from the parks. So we would recommend if you or anyone in your travel party are light sleepers, to either bring some travel essentials to address this concern or to book a room further towards the back of the property.

Light sleepers should consider bringing:

• A portable sound machine
• Ear plugs
• Noise cancelling headphones
• or pair your phone to the TV for soothing sounds (e.g., rain sounds, white noise, soft music etc)
• Sleeping eye mask

Given our room location, we did hear some outside noise from the street like sirens and some people passing by in the hallway but it wasn’t a problem for us. We weren’t bothered by this much because we slept on the furthest bed away from the door and had sleep eye masks. Additionally we used rain sounds from our phones that we paired up with the TV, which drowned out the sound and we slept comfortably each night.

Our room had a mix of natural light and softer interior lighting. If you prefer bright, crisp lighting for getting ready or doing makeup, I recommend you bring your own travel ring light. Personally, I prefer brighter lighting, but this comes down to preference rather than a flaw and mainly because I create content.

Complimentary Breakfast Every Morning

One of the biggest perks of staying at the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn is the free hot breakfast. For families heading to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure, this is a major way to save money and time.

Breakfast access is simple. You check in with your room number at the entrance. The dining room is located upstairs above Calaca Mamas Cantina, and while it is not ADA accessible via elevator, guests who need accommodations can request a breakfast-to-room form from the front desk the day prior, allowing meals to be delivered directly to your room. Keep in mind, there is no traditional room service available at this hotel apart from the breakfast-to-room feature.

Breakfast is served from 6:30–9:30 AM and the meals menu changes daily. Expect items like:

• scrambled eggs
• sausage or bacon
• waffles
• toast
• bagels
• donuts
• cereal
• yogurt
• coffee, milk, tea, and juices

It’s a breakfast buffet but they serve the hot meals for you. Each day they rotate between items like pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, and waffles, as well as eggs and cheesy eggs. This made my mornings fast and easy. Instead of spending $40+ inside the parks for breakfast, guests can fuel up before the day begins. You can comfortably eat breakfast with your family at 7:00am and still make rope drop by 8:00am with some time to spare!

Check out their quick “breakfast grab and go” items if you’re in a hurry that include fruit, granola bars, pastries, and cinnamon rolls perfect for eating on the way to rope drop. If you happened to miss out on breakfast because you slept in consider checking out their Grab, Scan & Go Market.

Grab, Scan & Go Market + Free Coffee Station

They have a convenience shop area located in their hotel lobby where you can purchase items easily through their Grab, Scan & Go feature. It’s open 24 hours a day and includes:

• snacks
• bottled water and soft drinks
• toiletries
• small travel items
• Disney souvenirs (e.g., Mickey Mouse plushes, Disney mugs etc)

The Grab, Scan & Go feature charges via a debit card or credit card only. Purchases cannot be charged to the room and you cannot use cash.

You’ll also find a completely FREE coffee station, stocked with:

• lattes
• coffees
• hot chocolate
• tea

If you need a quick cup of coffee before walking into the parks, this is such a convenient bonus – especially if this is your go to fuel to prepare for the Disney Parks during those non-breakfast times.

Pool and Hot Tub

While the pool area is smaller than some other Good Neighbor Hotels, it’s perfect for cooling off after long park days or relaxing in the evening. Guests can enjoy:

• a heated outdoor pool
• a hot tub

The pool hours are from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Minors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult in the pool and hot tub area. Although we didn’t get in during our stay, we observed several guests enjoying the pool, and it never felt overly crowded. This may vary depending on the season, but during our visit it felt peaceful. The pool reaches a depth of 5 feet, and there are pool towels and a rinse-off shower available. One thing to note is that the pool faces the parking lot, so the view is more functional than scenic.

Laundry Facilities

The hotel offers self-service laundry as well as next-day dry cleaning. The laundry room is on the smaller side, so you may need to wait if someone else is using the machines. If you’re staying for a longer vacation it is a helpful option for families or guests needing to refresh clothes after long park outings. Prices are per wash cycle and per dry cycle at $4 each at the time of this posting. So for a full load of laundry, it would be $8 total. It’s more expensive than a traditional laundromat but these prices are generally standard for hotels in my experience.

Our Experience at the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn and Mini Suites

We absolutely loved having the closest walk to Disneyland—nothing truly beats that level of convenience. After long park days, it felt amazing to be back in our room within minutes. The rooms themselves were clean and comfortable, with spacious mini-suite layouts and plenty of power outlets and USB ports for all our devices. The free expanded breakfast was another major highlight, saving time and money—especially if the goal is to make the most of your day with rides, shows, and character meet and greets. We also appreciated the 24-hour Grab & Go market and free lobby coffee, as well as having Disney Channel® and streaming services available on the TV. Altogether, the property delivers consistent Disney Good Neighbor quality, making it a strong moderate choice for families and Disney guests.

⭐ What We Loved About This Room Type

• Proximity to the lobby and breakfast area – extremely convenient for early mornings
• Just steps from the crosswalk to the Disneyland Resort
• Plenty of storage room for luggage and other travel essentials you have packed
• The option to have a pull out sofa bed in the mini suite for larger travel parties to spread out

⚠️ Things to Consider

• Being closer to the front can mean more foot traffic noise in the hallways
• Sofa bed is comfortable enough for kids/teens but may not be ideal for adult sleepers who may need a firmer bed type (i.e., a mattress)
• Limited natural light depending on room orientation. Lighting inside rooms is a bit dim (personal preference).
• No fitness center on-site.
• The shower pressure (at least in the suite we stayed in) wasn’t as strong as we’d like but it got the job done.

✅ Other Notable Things

• Breakfast is provided in a dedicated dining space above Calaca Mamas Cantina, which is part of the building. We tried Calaca Mamas for dinner one evening because of the convenience, but unfortunately our meal came out cold and lacked flavor. The server was kind and ended up refunding the meal since I had only taken a few bites. We’re not sure if this experience was typical, but it’s worth mentioning for transparency.
• Nearby options like IHOP, McDonald’s, and Panera Bread are also within walking distance. We’ve eaten at each of these on separate trips with no issues—just be aware that prices vary from fast food to sit-down dining.

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Final Thoughts

After staying at the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn, I completely understand why it’s a top pick for Disneyland vacations for large families traveling. The convenience is unmatched, the rooms are comfortable, and the added perks like free breakfast and 24-hour Grab & Go make your trip easier from start to finish.

Whether you’re planning your first Disney weekend or returning for your tenth visit, staying literally across the street from the entrance changes everything! You save steps, save time, energy and are closer to the magic than anywhere else in the anaheim area. My husband and I can’t wait to be back there again.

A big thank you again to the Park Place Inn team for hosting our stay. If being close to Disneyland is your top priority, this hotel should be at the top of your list. Your feet will thank me later! Have fun and can’t wait to hear from you how your stay went.

If you’re interested in another family-friendly Best Western Plus Hotel near Disneyland, check out Best Western Plus Stovall’s Inn.