The Tropicana Inn & Suites Anaheim – A DLR Good Neighbor Gem!
Written by Haleigh Beckman
When I signed up to run the 2026 runDisney Disneyland Half Marathon, I knew I wanted to bring my family with me to stay near the action, both for the race and some fun in the Disneyland Resort theme parks. Since runDisney gets their athletes up EARLY to run, I wanted to be close to the start line, in a safe area, at a property with great family amenities, and of course, close to the parks. As a travel agent, I’ve toured, stayed in, and heard about so many great Disneyland Good Neighbor hotels, but had yet to enjoy the Tropicana Inn & Suites for myself. And boy, do I wish I had stayed there sooner!
The BEST Location Adjacent to the Disneyland Resort?!
The Disneyland Resort offers three on-property hotels, but partners with other, vetted third-party properties they call Good Neighbor Hotels. These are located right around the Disneyland Resort and boast different accommodation types, price points, amenities, themes, and locations. The Tropicana Inn & Suites sits on Harbor Boulevard literally right across the street from the Disneyland main entrance plaza – You quite literally cannot get any closer to the parks other than staying on property. I was delighted to see just how short our walk would be from our room to theme park security when we checked in, as well as the half-marathon staging area.
Family-Friendly Rooms & Amenities
Our assigned room was perfect for our family of four, including our 7-month-old and 3-year-old. We had a split-style bathroom with the sink and large mirror separated from the toilet and shower/tub combo, and it was tucked behind a large wall so I could get ready to run without lighting up the whole room or making a lot of noise at 3 AM. In the main living/sleeping area, there was a microwave and small refrigerator, which was great for the snacks and drinks we brought. We had plenty of room for everyone to move around and to set up our daughter’s pack and play without feeling cramped.
The Tropica Inn & Suites offers a couple different room types, including those for guests with mobility issues or disabilities. They even offer rooms with larger kitchenettes if you’re planning a longer stay, as well as amenities available by request like cribs. There’s a laundry facility onsite and a nice-sized pool and hot tub central to all their rooms. While we didn’t enjoy the pool this time around, I could definitely see us all hopping in there during a warm vacation during a break from the parks!
Walking Distance to Convenient Shopping & Dining
Harbor Boulevard offers lots of shopping and dining options right outside of Disneyland proper, so we were able to take a quick walk from our hotel to dinner the night before my
race without issue. There’s a little bit of everything you could want available, and it’s also extremely easy to get to both Downtown Disney and the Anaheim GardenWalk from the Tropicana if anything there is on your must-do list. We particularly enjoyed the small market attached to the hotel and picked up some treats before bed! It would have been extremely easy to pick up any toiletries we might have forgotten or other items we needed too, without having to go into any of the Disney stores and pay their premiums for everything.
A Safe Property for Traveling Families
Some parts of Anaheim outside of the Disneyland Resort can be a little rough, but I felt extremely safe at the Tropicana Inn & Suites and walking around the immediate area. There are some rooms that open directly to the outside like a traditional motel, but ours opened into an interior hallway and was great when our toddler inevitably wanted to run ahead of us going in and out of the room… There’s 24/7 security monitoring on the property, and the sidewalks along Harbor Boulevard were always lit. Even when I had to walk out to the half-marathon starting line by myself at 4 AM, I felt safe!
Great Price Without Compromising Quality
When all was said and done after staying for a quick getaway to Disneyland (plus running 13.1 miles!), I would highly recommend checking out the Tropicana Inn & Suites. The price was very affordable compared to other hotels in the surrounding area, but nothing felt cheap. Our room was clean, we felt safe, we had plenty of room for a family of four, and we absolutely loved how close we were to everything we wanted and needed. Is it a 5-star luxury property? No, but I think it’s great for families and a wonderful option for your next Disneyland vacation. And if runDisney ever makes a comeback on the west coast, I know I’ll be booking a room for future races!
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Haleigh has enjoyed traveling since she was a young child, and now loves doing so with her growing family! She's visited many islands in the Caribbean, parts of Europe, and Australia all by land, air, and sea. She also has an affinity for Disney destinations as an alumnus of the Disney College Program in Walt Disney World, Disneyland Magic Keyholder, runDisney athlete, and Platinum Castaway Club member with Disney Cruise Line.
Living in Southern California with her husband, son, daughter, and spunky Australian Cattle Dog named Brody, she looks forward to helping her clients plan the Disney Cruise Line and Disney Parks vacations of their dreams and sharing helpful tips and recommendations along the way! Bon voyage!