Staying 14 Miles from Home: My Magical Years at the Disneyland Hotel

Most people who stayed at the Disneyland Hotel in the 1970s and ’80s had traveled from faraway places. But for our family, Disneyland was just 14 miles away—only 19 minutes down the 5 Freeway. And still, my dad wanted us to have the full Disneyland experience. So one summer weekend in 1975, we checked into the Disneyland Hotel like true out-of-towners. It became one of the most magical, meaningful memories of my life.

Checking In for the First Time (1975)
We stayed in the North Tower, and I remember walking with Dad to Guest Services, located upstairs from the hotel’s shopping center. It felt grown-up and official. A woman greeted us, took down all my dad’s information, and handed him a long, slim envelope—much like the old airline ticket sleeves. From there, we went to the reservation desk in the lobby, checked in, and headed up the elevator to our room.

Our stay had been gifted by one of my dad’s work vendors—his name was Zee—and it included not only our hotel stay, but also park admission through the Disney Vacation Club.

A Weekend of Magic
Each morning, we’d catch the Monorail from the hotel directly into the park. And each night, we’d ride it back across the lagoon to our room. That’s when Dad would begin his countdown:

“Well, Stinks… only two more days left at Disneyland.”
“Well, Stinks… only one more day left.”

He called me “Stinks” because he’d nicknamed me “Stinker” as a baby. To this day, I remember those words as both funny and heartbreaking, because he never wanted the magic to end.

The Hotel Grounds
Our room looked out across the paddle boat marina tucked away in the back corner of the property were the underground waterfalls. We didn’t ride the paddle boats—I was always too excited to get into Disneyland! But I remember watching them from the window with fascination.

At night, we’d wander the hotel grounds. The pier was lined with shops, and next to that was a cascading multi-level waterfall area, lush with tropical plants and soft lighting. It felt like we were in a tropical oasis—so close to home, and yet completely transported.

The Convenience Stores: Sundries and More
Our hotel had its own Sundries Shop, and I’m happy to say that it still exists today! But the place I visited the most wasn’t inside the tower—it was the convenience store beneath the Monorail station, where I bought a Mad Magazine every time we visited.

Right above that shop was the Magic Kingdom Club office. That little corner of the property—Monorail dock, café, and convenience store—became a regular spot for me as I grew older.

High School Years at the Hotel
By 1986, I was driving, and the Disneyland Hotel became a local hangout spot for me and my best friends. We’d park out front, head into the café near the Monorail loading dock for baked potatoes and slices of pie, and then wander the property.

We'd walk the pier, watch the paddle boats, explore the hotel shops, and visit the waterfalls. Sometimes we brought a camera, balanced it on trash cans, and took photos of ourselves laughing in the grassy courtyard. Even when we weren’t entering the park, we were surrounded by Disney magic.

Then & Now
Today, the entire hotel area has changed. The pier, the paddle boats, and the waterfalls are gone—replaced by Downtown Disney, a bustling retail area with very little of the original charm. What once felt like a resort campus now feels like a cash grab. But I’m so grateful to have lived it as it was.

Even without photos of every corner, I remember it clearly—the scent of the waterfalls, the glow of the pathway lights, the taste of that first café slice of pie. And always, the echo of Dad’s voice on the Monorail: “Well, Stinks…”

If you enjoy stories like this, and nostalgic trips down memory lane, I invite to follow me over on Patreon for special behind the scenes features and back stories from 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s of the Happiest Place on Earth. Relive my Disneyland memories one story at a time.

Join the Memory Keeper tier here!