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If you’re planning a vacation to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, then you’re going to need to find an accommodation as enchanting and spangly as the Disneyland Resort itself.
Staying onsite at Disneyland can get expensive, and rooms often sell out well in advance, but that doesn’t mean you have to forego the Disney magic with your accommodation.
As it turns out, there are many vacation rentals near Disneyland Anaheim, some of them Disney-themed, which allow you to take the joyous spirit back home with you after a day of fun in the theme parks.
We love vacation rentals as they allow us to cater for ourselves and treat our accommodation like a home away from home.
If you are traveling in a large group of family and friends, or planning on visiting Disneyland for several days or more and need a kitchen and washing facilities, these vacation rentals are the perfect option for you.
The Best Vacation Rentals near Disneyland Anaheim, California
1. 4 BR Disneyland Themed Vacation Rental
- Outdoor pool with heated whirlpoo
- Three adult sized bedrooms and a kid’s bedroom with bunk beds
- Parking
- 10-15 minute walk to Disney
We actually found our vacation home had more of a Disney theme in its décor than the Disneyland Hotel (they did have the beloved Disney characters roaming around though).
The kids loved their Mickey Mouse themed bedroom and bathroom. There were small touches throughout the apartment like Mickey posters and furniture.
The apartment complex looks a little run down and ugly from the outside, but don’t let that fool you, they are nice on the inside and that’s really all you care about.
We had three adult bedrooms, three bathrooms, and one bedroom for kids which had bunk beds. The bottom bunk bed was a double bed, which makes it the perfect accommodation choice for families with more than two children.
We had a small courtyard next to a fenced pool, which was shaded and nice place to sit with a cup of tea while the kids played in the private pool. And we were so glad to have an apartment with our own kitchen. Disneyland food is not great, especially if you have dietary concerns or want to eat healthy – and it’s also freaking expensive.
Having a fully stocked kitchen with an oven meant we could all have a decent meal for breakfast and go straight into the theme parks without wasting time finding breakfast somewhere.
On some nights we were able to even cook our own dinner rather than eat out. Not only was this cheaper but also easier as most of the restaurants in the Downtown Disney area have long wait times.
You couldn’t beat the location of our Disneyland vacation rental either. It was around the corner from the entry into Downtown Disney from the northern end, which has much smaller lines to get into Disneyland Resort than the southern end located near the parks.
We could be at the gate to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in 10-15 minutes. It was closer than many of the hotels near Disneyland, except for the official Disneyland hotels.
We also had parking which meant we didn’t need to drive into Disney, we could just walk.
I thought the pool area needed landscaping as it was very ugly and boring. There were not enough umbrellas to offer shade. There was a heated whirlpool which was a nice addition though.
The water was also freezing cold, but, the kids loved it and had a lot of fun at the pool. It was way too cold for me, but I generally don’t go in the water unless it’s like a warm bath so ignore my opinion on that one.
2. 5 BR Disneyland Dream Villa
- Games room and theater
- Five bedrooms
- Free parking
- 30 minute walk to Disney
If you’re on the hunt for luxury house rentals for the summer months, this 5-bedroom villa is a good option. It comes with free wifi, parking, a quaint garden and facilities for families with children, such as highchairs and a games room with pool table.
Each room has been decorated with elegant, modern furnishings and there’s a microwave in each room.
3. Club Wyndham Dolphin’s Cove
- Outdoor pool with lounge chairs
- Balcony
- Free parking
- 9 minute walk to Disney
For the benefits of a vacation rental and hotel resort, consider the Club Wyndham Dolphin’s Cove which has family rooms with a balcony and private bathroom and kitchen, as well as resort amenities such as a fitness centre, hot tub, and games room.
There’s also a picnic area, mini golf, and outdoor pool with lounge chairs where you can soak up the sunshine.
It’s also one of the closest off-site resorts to Disneyland, being only a 9-minute walk to the Happiest Place on Earth!
4. The 4BR Neverending Story Home
- Outdoor pool with slide
- Play area for toddlers
- Sleeps 10 guests
- 15 minute walk to Disney
The aptly named Neverending Story Home is luxurious vacation rental across the road from where Gwen Stefani and No Doubt recorded their album The Beacon Street Collection in their garage.
This is not the only impressive accolade this home boasts. It’s also within walking distance of Disneyland, has approx 2,000 sq. feet of space, and the most epic salt-water pool and hot tub with a waterfall! The pool has a shallow area for small kids.
To top it all off, the Disney magic is extended to the four double-sized bedrooms which are all themed (Frozen, Disney Fairy, Cars, Winnie The Pooh).
There’s also a living room and huge fully-stocked kitchen, and an outdoor dining area.
Families with small kids will find a play area in the garden, and they can also provide strollers, pack n play sets and starter toilet paper for toddlers.
Since I moaned earlier about the freezing cold water temperatures in our vacation rental, this property offers to heat the pool at a surcharge each day.
5. Rainforest Villa
- Outdoor pool
- Free parking with electric car charging
- Free wifi
- 14 minute walk to Disney
Located in the downtown Disney district of Los Angeles, this rainforest-inspired villa is within walking distance of Disneyland Anaheim and is also a short drive away from Anaheim Convention Center and Knotts Berry Farm.
It boasts four spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms, a stunning private swimming pool, and a fully equipped kitchen.
There are also resort amenities such as a fitness centre and maintained garden.
6. 4BR Villa w/ Rock Slide
- Amazing outdoor pool with slide, dumping buckets, and hot tub
- CCTV
- Large parking area
- 15 minute walk to Disney
When you want to come back and unwind after a long day of entertainment, the perfect place is this four-bedroom villa in a quiet, leafty neighborhood near Disney.
The highlight of this property is the patio, which has lounge chairs and an incredible pool with slide for kids to enjoy. It’s also close enough to Disney that you can enjoy the fireworks from the garden.
It also has free wifi, baby gear such as high chairs and strollers, and parking for three vehicles.
7. 5BR “It’s A Small World Themed” Villa w/ Waterslide Pool
- Outdoor pool with waterslide
- CCTV
- Parking for four cars
- 10 minute walk to Disney
Another one of the top Anaheim vacation rentals with an incredible pool is this five-bedroom home with a rock waterslide.
It’s themed around the ride, It’s A Small World, and features dolls on the walls. While this may not be to everyone’s taste, it’s located across the road from the park in a quiet, safe residential neighborhood, so you won’t find a closer vacation rental to Disney!
It has free wifi, baby gear, and enough space for 8 adults and five children.
8. 6BR Disney Paradise w/ Hot Tub & Pool
- Outdoor pool with hot tub
- BBQ
- Free parking
- 10-15 minute walk to Disney
If you’re looking for Disneyland area vacation rentals with enough space for 15 adults, then this six bedroom villa is the perfect place for large groups.
It has a beautiful pool with a spa, a spacious living room and fully equipped kitchen. There is also free wifi, A/C, a hot tub, and BBQ.
It’s just 3 km away to Disneyland California Adventure Park and other top attractions such as Knotts Berry Farm and Angel Stadium are within a short drive away.
9. 4BR Accessible Villa w/ Games Room
- Outdoor pool with pool toys
- Games room
- Parking
- 10 minute walk to Disney
Last on this list of rental properties near Disneyland Anaheim is this 4-bedroom home, with a large outdoor pool, and private deck area with BBQ and outdoor furniture.
It’s also single story and right across the street from Disneyland’s Micky and Friends, making it easier for those with mobility issues. It’s also wheelchair accessible with a walk-in shower.
It also boasts strong Wi-Fi, washing facilities, and a fully stocked kitchen.
Disneyland Vacation Rental Vs. A Hotel Near Disneyland
If you’re on the fence about choosing a vacation rental over a hotel, here’s a quick comparison for you. We’ve stayed at both a hotel and vacation rental, and so have a few pros and cons from our experience to share with you. You can read our review of the Disneyland Hotel here.
The first thing to consider is cost. It can sometimes be like, how long is a piece of string? Some types of vacation rentals can work out cheaper if you’re staying in a group and can split the cost, but if you’re a family of four, a hotel room might be cheaper. However, you can’t usually cook in a hotel room, so you may end up spending more on food.
Our vacation rental cost around $180-$200 a night, and I’ve seen higher and lower than that! Disneyland Hotel is around $500 per night, but a three star hotel near Disneyland can cost on average around $120 – $180 per night.
Another thing to consider is parking. Hotels tend to have parking, but it’s paid for. With a vacation rental, free parking comes with the cost.
Location is also a big factor. I’ve seen some vacation rentals within walking distance, some are about a 40-minute walk away, which after a long day at Disneyland may just be too much.
Hotels usually come with a shuttle to Disney, but hotels come with all sorts of fees, tipping expectations, and expensive food choices. They also come with limited sized rooms.
In a vacation rental, you can forgo resort fees and don’t need to tip anyone.
If you are staying just a few nights, a hotel may work out cheaper, but if you are planning for a week or more or have a large group, a vacation rental may be better. It depends on how much the vacation rental charges for cleaning. Sometimes this can turn a good accommodation deal into an expensive one.
What are the disadvantages of a Disneyland Vacation Rental?
Image by VRBO
One disadvantage of renting an apartment near Disneyland is that you are still responsible for cooking and cleaning each day, but really if it saves you a lot of money, so for me this is an okay pill to swallow.
Plus, as someone who has a lot of dietary requirements and cannot stand theme park food (and cost) then you’ll be elated to at least cook your own breakfast each morning and dinner, depending on how late you stay in the Disneyland theme parks.
I also didn’t like that there wasn’t a gym I could use to keep on top of my fitness.
Although, I did find a park about a 10-minute run away, which had an outdoor gym with pull up bars and workout routines listed on a board to follow.
There was also a lovely, grassed area in the apartment complex where I could do some Tabata workouts.
But to be honest, you’ll be walking a lot in the Disneyland Resort. Those miles do add up to be a good workout. We were doing on average 11 miles/ 17 kms a day.
Our children found the apartment quite Disneyland magical, but if you want more of the authentic Disney magic – that is characters roaming around etc, then the official Disney Resort hotels will be the choice for you. (Psst, you will see plenty of the characters inside the theme parks)
If I was to do Disneyland again, and odds are we will, I would definitely rent a Disneyland vacation home again instead of staying in a hotel.
It really made our Disneyland vacation more comfortable and relaxed.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of vacation rental homes and apartments near Disneyland in Anaheim California. It will save you money, be more convenient, and can often be closer to the park.
You may want to experience the entire glitz and glamour of the Disneyland brand by staying at the Disneyland hotel (review post coming soon), or the convenience of a hotel – Check out these 15 hotels near Disneyland.
However if you want to feel more of a local homestay feel, then look no further than renting an apartment near Disneyland, Anaheim.
We rented a three bedroom townhouse only a short walk to Downtown Disney and the gates of Disneyland and California Adventure Park.
Renting an apartment is the most cost effective and comfortable accommodation for your Disneyland vacation.
Disneyland Video: Watch us explore Disneyland California
Check out our videos from our time at Disneyland California here:
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Are you considering staying in a vacation rental for your Disney trip? Did you find what you were looking for on this list? Let us know in the comments.