Theme parks will always be high on holiday bucket lists and where you stay can make or break a trip. Maybe you want to save on accommodation because you know you’ll be spending most of the time on the rides, meeting characters or hanging out by the pool. Or perhaps you really want to splash out on a top, on-site hotel that will give your holiday that extra bit of magic dust. We’ve selected some of the best options, park by park, to help you decide.

You can walk or take a quick shuttle to Disneyland from the sprawling Hilton Anaheim, yet it’s usually a fraction of the price compared to some of the official resorts, making it a good choice for families on a budget. It has everything you’d expect from a family-focused hotel, including bigger rooms that can sleep the whole clan, an outdoor pool and a play area, plus a Disney Desk where you can book tickets and experiences. Guests also benefit from special Disneyland discounts.

If you’re going to splash out on an on-site hotel then it may as well be the granddaddy of them all: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Few properties achieve a combination of grown-up luxury and whimsical details, but this one does it with aplomb. Expect plush beds in wood-accented rooms and playful touches such as murals featuring Chip 'n Dale. The pools have chic cabanas and water slides, and guests benefit from perks like early park entry.

Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim is as close Disneyland as possible without actually being in the park itself. In fact, it's so close, the entrance is less than a 10-minute walk away and you can watch the nightly fireworks from the outdoor terrace with fire pits. Rooms are fresh, modern and designed with family convenience in mind – some have bunk beds and bathrooms with two showers. There’s also a fun on-site water park just for guests.

Recently remodelled, this charming hotel is just a short seven-minute walk from the main gates of the Disneyland Resort. Budget-friendly and perfect for families, the hotel offers an on-site bar, coffee shop and pool, while subtle Disney touches, like Mickey Mouse soft toys and Buzz Lightyear artwork, will make you feel like you're staying in the park itself. An official Disneyland partner, the hotel offers holiday packages too.

Just steps from one of Orange County's top attractions, Knott's Berry Farm Hotel offers the full theme park experience with rides right on its doorstep. Particularly good for larger families and groups, up to three rooms can be combined for a maximum of 12 guests and family-friendly features include a children's splash zone by the pool. Note that the hotel is undergoing full renovation throughout 2023, however, it will remain open during its remodel.

Combine theme park thrills with a city break – Tampa’s downtown is only a 15-minute drive from Busch Gardens so it’s easy to experience the best of both. This trendy Aloft hotel is right on the Riverwalk, a raised walkway that links up the city’s museums and neighbourhoods. Comfy beds, muted decor and a cool lobby bar will help you recover from the rides.

The beachfront Don CeSar is one of Busch Gardens' selected hotel partners which means park admission, parking, shuttles and discounts are included if you book a package. It’s a lovely way to combine some chill-out time on the sand with thrills on the rides. The hotel is steps from sparkling white beaches and its palatial exterior offers a more luxurious retreat away from the rides.

Dollywood is as fabulously fun, friendly and fanciful as Dolly Parton herself, and the on-site hotel is equally imbued with the singer’s warmth and charm. The DreamMore Resort is a lovely place to stay in its own right, with an outdoor pool surrounded by the views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Guests with Dollywood tickets get free fast-track ride passes, shuttle transportation and early entry to attractions on Saturdays. Keep an eye out for the new HeartSong Lodge & Resort, opening this autumn, too.

While many people combine a trip to Dollywood with a few days exploring the honky tonks of Nashville, you’ll want to spend a night close to the theme park to make the most of your time there. Twin Mountain Inn & Suites, just a mile (1.6km) from Dollywood and walkable to restaurants in Pigeon Forge, is relatively affordable but doesn’t feel like a budget option. Some of the rooms have huge bathtubs with jets and balconies perched over the Pigeon River.

This charmingly retro hotel is inspired by 1950s-style resorts with pastel parasols, a palm-lined pool and bold blue, orange and yellow decor. Yet it’s anything but stuck in the past. Rooms at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort are clean, bright and fresh, and family suites have partitioned sleeping areas and bathrooms where several people can get ready (in privacy). It’s right opposite Universal's Volcano Bay water park and a short shuttle ride to other Universal Studios parks.

It’s rare to find a hotel that’s chic enough to please the fussiest of adults and fun enough for the choosiest of children. This Loews property might have nailed it, though. Rooms are stylish and understated without being dull, and all the delightful, kid-pleasing details – like the island-themed pool complex – will make adults smile too.

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This sprawling resort, around five miles (8km) from Universal, is ideal if you prefer a bit of elegance with your theme park fun. At Rosen Shingle Creek, there’s a spa, golf course and upscale restaurants, while the plush rooms are all about classic luxury. The sheer number of options when it comes to dining, activities and just relaxing means you can just stay put between jaunts to Universal – without anyone moaning that they’re bored.

Direct access to Cedar Point’s rides and water park makes Hotel Breakers the ultimate choice for thrill-seekers. The building is all about classical elegance but everything inside reflects an unadulterated sense of fun befitting the location. Bedrooms are decorated in bold primary colours, the lobby has carousel horses mounted on plinths and, outdoors, there’s a pool, water park and access to the sandy beach.

The fresh, stylish rooms at Hotel Kilbourne have exposed brick details, industrial-chic decor and cloud-like duvets. It’s a cosy, hip place to stay in its own right but its location – on the shores of Lake Eerie, in the heart of lively Sandusky and just four miles (6.4km) away from Cedar Point’s much-lauded roller coasters – is perfect. Soak up the surroundings from the cool rooftop bar.

Warm rooms, group discounts and a relatively low price tag make this comfy but no-frills hotel and 24-hour shop an attractive option for families visiting Six Flags on a budget. There’s no shuttle but the Hilton Garden Inn Valencia Six Flags has free self-parking and the roller coasters are just two miles (3.2km) away. There’s also a walking route that takes half an hour, if you feel the need to stroll off the inevitable hot dogs, tacos and pizza.

This upscale hotel, less than three miles (4.8km) from Six Flags, also benefits from a great location within walking distance to Valencia’s downtown attractions. You'll find cute cinemas, shops, cafés and restaurants with menus beyond burgers (don’t panic, though, most of them do have burgers). Catch dinner and a show at The Canyon, a live music theatre, or soak up rays by the hotel’s chic pool, while you're not out on the rides.

In the heart of LA’s Studio City neighbourhood, BLVD Hotel & Spa is perfect for strolling to Universal Studios – and stellar for celeb-spotting. The area is known for sushi restaurants, cool cafés and wooded trails in Wilacre Park. The hotel itself oozes cool, with a sleek cocktail lounge for the parents and crisp rooms with bold splashes of California orange.

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Locations don’t come much starrier than this. The Hollywood Roosevelt, three miles (4.8km) from Universal Studios, stands elegantly opposite the TCL Chinese Theatre, which hosted the Oscars in the 1940s, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Its pool, with chic cocktail bar and regular parties, is a great place for spotting famous faces and you can even stay in Marilyn Monroe’s suite. It's a great choice for those travelling with older kids or without, who want a more upscale experience.

Burbank, a separate city on the edge of LA, is right next to Warner Bros. Studio Tour and just two miles (3.2km) from Universal Studios. Hotel Amarano is a distillation of Hollywood chic – rooms are elevated with touches of silk and satin, and there's a palm-fringed pool straight from the movies. Guests who book Universal Studios tickets through the hotel get early access and shuttle rides too.

The Hotel Hershey is one of Hersheypark's official hotels, which means savings on tickets and early access to the park’s rides in summer. Guests also get free entry to other attractions, like Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience, where you can learn about how America’s most famous chocolate spawned an entire town. The hotel itself is chocolate-box pretty, with manicured grounds and accommodation options such as cottages tucked in woodland.

The address alone – Chocolate Avenue – is enough to make us want to check in to this sweet hotel. This Courtyard by Marriott property is nestled in the heart of Spring Creek Golf Course and, although it isn’t an official Hersheypark hotel, it’s just two miles (3.2km) away and has free parking. After dark, roast marshmallows by the outdoor fire pits to make s’mores (with chunks of Hershey’s chocolate, of course).

You couldn’t get much closer to the LEGO-inspired action, unless you snuck in and slept inside one of the park’s intricate, plastic-brick structures. The whole of the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel feels like something a child might build, filled with interactive figures and colourful decor. Themed rooms have fun touches like pirate motifs and character images printed on shower curtains and bedspreads.

This chilled-out hotel is a cheaper option but still only 1.5 miles (2.4km) from LEGOLAND and even closer (less than a mile/1.6km) to the beach. You won’t be welcomed by a LEGO concierge or sleep under pirate-themed bedsheets, but Carlsbad By The Sea Hotel has a certain charm with breezy decor, inviting pool area and rooms with balconies or patios.

Imagine where you’d like to stay in Williamsburg, Virginia and this hotel is probably pretty much what comes to mind: homely rooms in an elegant mansion. Williamsburg Lodge is around six miles (9.6km) from Busch Gardens and also attached to living history museum Colonial Williamsburg. The elegant red-brick building has a spa, Southern-style restaurants and rooms that combine classic character with modern, chic decor.

The name isn’t deceptive – the Bluegreen Parkside Williamsburg Resort is just across the road from Busch Gardens, though it doesn’t feel like a typical theme park hotel. Rooms are chic and cosy with luxurious fabrics, while villas with kitchens, outdoor seating and room for up to six people are great for families or groups.

Staying in one of these lofty treehouse villas equals the magic of wandering wide-eyed around the parks. The hexagonal structures are tucked in the forest attached to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and their size – with three bedrooms – makes them a good choice for bigger family groups. Waking up to birdsong and greenery helps balance out the busyness of the theme parks too.

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Two miles (3.2km) from Epcot and within around six miles (9.6km) of the other Walt Disney World parks, this Hilton property is a relatively affordable choice for families and is an official Walt Disney World hotel. There’s an 18-hole golf course and an enormous pool with a network of lazy rivers. A regular shuttle runs to all the parks and guests get Disney’s Extra Magic Hours for early entry. Rooms are decorated in calming neutral shades and some rooms boast panoramic views across several of the Walt Disney World parks.

Sometimes it’s worth paying a little extra to stay at one of the on-site properties, and this is a case in point. Mimicking the most luxurious African safari lodges, the resort curves around Animal Kingdom’s open plains for views of giraffes, zebras and flamingos. Even the pool is designed to look like a watering hole, albeit one with a slide, and guests can book a safari for up-close wildlife encounters followed by dinner.

One of a trio of hotels – Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve – this is Walt Disney World's latest offering for visiting families eager to experience the magic. The hotels are located only a short hop away from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, which can be reached via a complimentary water taxi, and there's a free bus service to other Walt Disney World parks too. Interconnecting rooms are ideal for families and some rooms look over the nightly fireworks show. All hotels feature a Disney Planning Center, and all guests get early park access daily and extended evening hours in select theme parks on certain nights.

Just a short drive away from Kings Island, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham is perfect for families. The all-suite hotel has accommodation for up to six adults and four children and kids under 17 stay free. To help the pennies stretch even further, there's complimentary breakfast and each suite comes with a full kitchen too. An official Kings Island hotel, the property also offers packages.

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