Sadly, you cannot sleep inside Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle (that’s Cinderella Castle in Orlando), but guess what? The Disneyland Hotel does have five themed signature suites that have lots of added magic (for a price): The Adventureland Suite, The Big Thunder Suite, The Fairytale Suite, The Pirates of the Caribbean Suite, and The Mickey Mouse Penthouse Suite.
I’m sure you’re wondering why anyone would book one of these suites for a vacation that doesn’t generally include a lot of time in the hotel. I’m glad you asked.
According to the Disney Parks Blog, “The Disneyland Hotel surrounds guests with the storytelling and nostalgia of Disneyland Park, creating an experience that is unique among our Disney resorts. While all guestrooms feature magical Disney touches, the Signature Suites are where guests can be fully immersed in the magic of Disneyland.”
Let’s think about that for just a minute. After a whole fun-filled day at Disneyland, you get to go back to your hotel room and basically sleep in a Disneyland attraction. I personally think that’s pretty darn magical – especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion (but honestly, even if you’re not).
If we’re claiming these are the most magical hotel suites on earth, you should expect a few Disney touches, right? Well, as an example, if you turn the knob marked “Do Not Turn” in Big Thunder Suite (and who wouldn’t?), it triggers sound effects of the attraction’s runaway mine train. But that’s not the only one. When the door closes behind you in the Fairy Tale Suite, Tinker Bell flies in and lights the room with pixie dust.
Disneyland Themed Suites:
Now for the fun stuff… figuring out which of Disneyland’s ultra-themed suites is right for you…
Disneyland Hotel Adventureland Signature Suite
The two-bedroom Adventureland Suite is 100% where Indiana Jones would hang his famous hat. The suite’s master bedroom looks like a safari lodge (with a grotto in the shower that uses lighting and sound effects to simulate a rainforest and a savanna), and anyone lucky enough to call dibs on the second bedroom gets to sleep inside a safari tent.
In the living area, there’s a television hidden behind artwork and a bookcase with a secret entrance to a closet – with quite possibly a cursed artifact or two – plus the suite’s background music features tunes inspired by “adventurous” Disney movies and rides like the Jungle Cruise.
- Sleeps up to 5 adults
- 2 Bedrooms (2 King Beds + 1 Day Bed)
- 5 Bathrooms (Master bathtub is in the bedroom)
- Pool view
@disneyparks Let’s explore the Adventureland Suite at the #DisneylandHotel 🗺🧭 #Disney #DisneyParks #Disneyland #RoomTour #Adventureland
Disneyland Hotel Big Thunder Signature Suite
The rustic, 1,400-square-foot “wildest suite in the wilderness” practically puts you on the tracks of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, including an old-timey phone that lets you eavesdrop on miners talking to each other.
- Sleeps up to 6 adults
- 2 Bedrooms (1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed + 1 Queen-size sleeper sofa)
- 5 Bathrooms
@disneyparks This here’s the wildest suite in Disneyland Hotel 🐐🚂 #Disney #DisneyParks #Disneyland #DisneylandHotel #ThunderMountain #Suite #RoomTour #RoomDecor
Disneyland Hotel Fairytale Signature Suite
Favorite romantic Disney stories come to life in this enchanted corner suite, complete with the aforementioned magical pixie dust effect.
“If my clients don’t want the immersive experience to end after the gates close for the night, I look to themed suites,” said Beci Mahnken, founder of MEI-Travel. “I’ve booked honeymoon couples and couples celebrating anniversaries into the Fairy Tale Suite, and (just as the name implies), you feel like you’ve walked into a fairy tale as Tinker Bell greets you at the door.”
- Sleeps up to 2 adults
- 1 Bedroom (1 King Bed)
- 1 Bathroom with shower and jetted tub embellished with a hand-cut mosaic of a castle
- Panoramic views of Downtown Disney District and Disneyland Park
@disneyparks Have you ever wanted to live like a Disney Princess for the night? 👑✨ #Disney #DisneyParks #Disneyland #DisneylandHotel #Suite #RoomTour #FairyTale #Royal
Disneyland Hotel Pirates of the Caribbean Signature Suite
The 1,750-square-foot Pirates of the Caribbean Suite celebrates the classic attraction and blockbuster movies it inspired with concept art from the original 1967 ride, a painting that’s a full-scale map of the attraction, plus props and other “pirate treasure,” including a replica of Captain Jack Sparrow’s revolver, a lithograph signed by Disney Legend “X” Atencio (lyricist for the attraction’s famous theme song) and a replica of Davy Jones’ “Dead Man’s Chest.”
And the doorbell? It plays (what else?) X Atencio’s “Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life For Me.”
Fun fact: Captain Jack himself (Johnny Depp) has stayed in this swashbuckling suite.
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- 2 Bedrooms (1 King Bed, 1 Queen-size sleeper sofa + 2 Twin Beds)
- 3 baths (one themed after the pirate, Redd)
- Views of the Never Land Pool (and Disneyland’s fireworks)
@disneyparks We don’t think you understand, we Arrrrr obsessed 🏴☠️ #Disney #DisneyParks #Disneyland #RoomTour #Suite #PiratesOfTheCaribbean #Pirate #PirateTok
Disneyland Hotel Mickey Mouse Penthouse Signature Suite
The 1,600-square-foot Mickey Mouse Penthouse – Disneyland’s first themed suite introduced in 2007 – features Mickey’s signature red, black, and yellow color scheme and contains so many hidden Mickeys it would be exhausting to find them all.
The suite’s artwork incorporates items from the Disney Archives and Disney Animation Library, including rare images of Walt and Mickey, sketches, and animation maquettes.
- Sleeps up to 4 adults (1 King Bed, 1 Round Double Bed + 1 Queen-size sleeper sofa)
- 2.5 Baths (Roll-in shower in the second bathroom)
@disneyparks The perfect penthouse for a mouse🐭✨ #Disneyland #Disney #Penthouse #RoomTour #MickeyMouse #DisneylandHotel #DisneyResort
Disneyland Hotel E-Ticket Concierge Lounge
A big plus for guests staying in any of the five Disneyland Hotel Signature Suites is access to the concierge level E-Ticket Lounge, which includes complimentary continental breakfast; mid-day snacks; evening hot hors d’oeuvres, charcuterie, beer and wine, and desserts; and fireworks viewing with the soundtrack piped in.
Signature Suite guests can also take advantage of help from E-Ticket Lounge concierge cast members who’ve been known to score spots in preferred-viewing areas for parades and nighttime spectaculars (and occasionally even “un-gettable” dining reservations).
How much is all this Disney magic going to cost?
According to our friendly neighborhood travel advisors at Get Away Today Travel, The Adventureland, Big Thunder, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Mickey suites typically range between $3,500.00 and $4,500.00 per night, while the smaller Fairytale suite is generally $2,000.00 to $3,000.00 per night; however, rates can vary depending on the time of year.
NOTE: We recently requested a price for a family of 2 adults + 2 kids on Nov. 15-17, 2022, and the Mickey Mouse Signature Suite was quoted as $10,221.12 for the two-night stay (including taxes and fees).
“The suites are absolutely a splurge,” said Get Away Today VP of Marketing Kim Fidler. “They obviously feel very special, so it’s one of those things that would be for a huge celebration or a once-in-a-lifetime VIP thing.”
Kim also notes availability can be tricky because Disney often blocks out the Signature Suites for groups or special events, so you may need to be flexible with dates.
But wait, there’s more themed magic in Anaheim…
House of the Retro Future Suite
The newly-renovated Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground (directly across the street from Disneyland’s Matterhorn) has debuted its own Disneyland-inspired House of the Retro Future Suite, which was heavily influenced by the mid-century modern Monsanto House of the Future featured in Tomorrowland from 1957 to 1967.
The 700-square-foot themed suite is “the perfect time machine” to transport guests to the “retro-future” that was imagined in Disneyland’s iconic walk-through attraction; the hotel itself designed by William L. Pereira (a master of the mid-century modern architectural movement) is an authentic example of the style, with unique vaulted ceilings, a barrel-arch roofline, and “futuristic” lobby building.
“I wanted to do something iconic for the hotel that showed off our mid-century heritage,” explains General Manager Jonathan Whitehead. “I had seen images of the Monsanto House of the Future and thought it could be a great theme for a suite.”
According to Whitehead, once the hotel owner approved the concept, he began working with interior design partner Caroline McLean to collect key design elements for the suite.
“The lighting proved to be the most difficult, since it was nearly impossible to track down the light fixture models used in the original House of the Future,” Whitehead said. “I was able to purchase vintage light fixtures and the same model lazy Susan table on auction sites along with reproduction items from other sources.”
If it all has the Disney look to you, that’s because a lot of Disney artists were involved in the project. In addition to custom artwork created for the room by artists Josh Agle (“Shag”) and Sam Carter is a limited-edition House of the Future model created by Disney designers Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily. Disney artist Dave Avanzino helped design and fabricate the iconic white frame around the TV (just like the one featured in the original living room).
The House of the Retro Future Suite requires a two-night stay – Tuesday and Wednesday or Friday and Saturday – and the total price for both nights (including all room, tax, and parking charges) will be $1,957.00, an homage to the year the original Monsanto House of the Future opened at Disneyland (1957). Guests will also receive a complimentary matted deluxe print of the Suite of the Future illustration by Shag. The suite sleeps 4 persons (no rollaway).
But even if the luxe new suite is out of your range, both of HoJo’s towers have now been completely renovated with retro-inspired decor with modern extras. There are also family suites with bunk beds for the kiddos and many rooms with Disneyland theme park views.
Kids can cool off in a pirate-themed water playground with lots of splashy elements, and adults will find a recently renovated pool area for them as well.
Step into the Retro-Future (and Possibly Win a Stay!)
You can see the House of the Retro Future Suite for yourself at our exclusive MiceChat open house on Aug. 13, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We’re also giving away a two-night stay in the House of the Retro Future. Enter during the open house or at the MiceChat booth during the upcoming D23 Expo.
The Howard Johnson Anaheim Resort is located at:
1380 S Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92802
If you’d like to join us for the open house, please leave your email in the box below so we can send you additional information:
Discount Disney Theme Park Tickets & Hotels!!!
MiceChat brings you the BEST theme park ticket, hotel & package deals! (You’ll find extra nights free, big discounts, and special offers as well).
Check out the latest offers for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm:
(MiceChat works with Get Away Today to provide you with the best theme park travel deals and we may make a small commission on any sales made through our links)
Let’s Hear From You!
Which of these sweet suites is your favorite? Would you pay top dollar to wake up in one of Disneyland Hotel’s Signature Suites, and how about the Howard Johnson House of the Retro Future suite? And definitely let us know if you’ll be stopping by our open house on Aug. 13. We’d love to meet you and show you around!
You must be logged in to post a comment.