Not true. I was able to book a stay at the Radisson (a good neighbor hotel) for just myself to get the stitch package. It does NOT have to be at a
Disneyland hotel specifically... a "Good Neighbor" hotel will work as well. The difference is that you *DO* have to book either online or thru a Disneyland reservationist. You can not book thru the other hotel.
For an hour a way drive, you could probably do an over night stay with a 1 day ticket. As long as you don't activate the ticket, it should be good forever then you *could* use it during the AP blackout days if you ahve one of those.