Did you know that you do not need to be a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member to stay at the DVC Villas at Disneyland Hotel? Anyone can book Disneyland Villas. Plus, you can save extra money when you book Disneyland Villas with Undercover Tourist! All of the Villas at the Disneyland Hotel are located in the new Discovery Tower. Guests staying in the Disneyland Villas and Studios can also access all the amenities of the Disneyland Hotel. Let's hop to it and discuss the available room types at the Discovery Tower, the magical details and the benefits of staying on-site.
Hop To
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Overview of the Disneyland Villas in the Discovery Tower
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel in the Discovery Tower blends timeless Walt Disney Animation Studios classics with contemporary designs. When walking to the tower, follow the pixie dust in the sidewalk to the tower entrance. There are many magical details in this tower.
You may notice that the Discovery Tower looks different from the other three Disneyland Hotel towers. You'll see some balconies as well as color panels running down the sides. Each vertical column of colors represents the color palette from a different Disney movie. You can see further explanation below each column of colors. But see if you can guess the movie before you peek at the answers!
Enter the building to encounter a curved mural with all the Disney movies represented in the Discovery Tower. Each Villa includes modern amenities with Disney magic sprinkled throughout. Themes include Walt Disney Animation Studios films such as "The Jungle Book," "Sleeping Beauty," "The Princess and the Frog," "Fantasia" and more. Look in the closets to see murals of clothing that tie in the room's theme. Also, note magical movie touches in the bathrooms and art on the walls.
How to Save Money When Booking
Undercover Tourist has special savings on pricing at the Disneyland Hotels, including The Villas at Disneyland Hotel - Discovery Tower. These rooms are quite popular, so you'll want to book as far in advance as you can. Availability is limited. From to time, you may encounter additional savings and promotions!
Types of Studios and Villas at Disneyland Hotel
The Disneyland Villas location opened at the Disneyland Hotel on Sept. 28, 2023. The Disneyland Villas Discovery Tower is a 12-story tower with 344 guest rooms and suites. Accessible rooms are available. Buildings offer elevators and interior corridors.
It includes a restaurant, deck area, Mickey splash pad and pool restrooms. It is located across the pool from the Adventure Tower and is close to the Disneyland Hotel’s swimming pool water slides.
Here are the types of rooms and Villas in the Discovery Tower.
Duo Studios (for up to 2 guests)
The Duo Studio is for 2 guests and has one queen pull-down bed. You can book a Duo Studio by view:
- Standard View — views of gardens, street or parking area
- Preferred View — pool view
- Garden — has a balcony or patio and is separate from the main tower, with easy access to the pool
Deluxe Studios (for up to 4 guests)
Deluxe Studios have one queen bed and one queen pull-down bed. You can book a Deluxe Studio by view:
- Standard View — views of gardens, street or parking area
- Preferred View — pool view
- Garden — has a balcony or patio and is separate from the main tower, with easy access to the pool
All Duo Studios and Deluxe Studios include:
- 55-inch flat-screen TV
- Dishes, glasses and utensils
- Microwave
- Wall safe
- Can and bottle opener, and corkscrew
- Hair dryer
- Mini-refrigerator
- Coffee maker
- High chair and portable crib (upon request)
- Ice bucket
- Toaster
Villas
The one-, two- and three-bedroom villas have all the comforts of home, including a washer and dryer, kitchens and the most luxurious bathrooms. They are a great option for large families.
Here are the options:
- 1-Bedroom Villa - Preferred View — sleeps up to 5 with one king bed, one queen pull-down and twin pull-down. It includes a balcony with views of the pool.
- 2-Bedroom Villa - Preferred View — sleeps up to 9 with one king bed, two queen beds, one queen pull-down and twin pull-down. It includes a balcony with views of the pool.
Villa Amenities include:
- 65-inch flat-screen TV
- Hair dryer
- Shower and bathtub combo
- Laundry basket
- Coffee maker
- Pots and pans
- Cooking utensils
- Dishes, glasses and utensils
- Toaster
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Stove and oven
- Casserole dish
- Baking sheet
- Mixing bowls
- Dining table and chairs
- High chair and portable crib (upon request)
- Can and bottle opener, and corkscrew
- Ice bucket
- Washer and dryer
- Balcony
- Iron and ironing board
- Wall safe
Other Villa Options
If you have a large group and want to book the 12-person, 3-Bedroom Grand Villas, you can book those directly through Disney. These popular, dreamlike Villas feature a 2-story window, a double-sided fireplace and bedrooms inspired by "Bambi," "Frozen" and "Moana."
Other Disneyland Hotel Options
You can also book 2- to 3-bedroom, themed, signature suites at the Disneyland Hotel. These are not Villas and are located in the main hotel. But they may make for a special experience, especially if you cannot score the Villa you want.
Amenities, Recreation and Shopping at the Disneyland Villas and Hotel
The Discovery Tower is the newest of the four towers at the Disneyland Hotel. All Disneyland Hotel and Villas guests can take advantage of the pools and resort property. Hop over to our guide to the Disneyland Hotel.
Pools
The Villas have access to the three Disneyland Hotel pools. One of the perks of staying at the hotel is being able to head back to the hotel at midday to cool off in the pool! Our tadpoles love to splash in the pools at Disneyland Hotel. There are three pools, two Monorail waterslides, two toddler slides, a zero-entry shallow water-play pool with cascading water and two whirlpool spas. The Steamboat Willie splash pad is located at the Discovery Tower. Life jackets are included. Guests wear bracelets.
Fitness Center
The fitness center is located in the Discovery Tower. The activity guide lists fitness classes (some have a fee and some take place inside the Disney California Adventure theme park before it opens).
Spa
You can use the Tenaya Stone Spa, which is located inside Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Spa services have a fee.
Movie Nights
Check the activities guide for movie night shows and viewing locations.
Souvenir Shops
The Fantasy Tower has two gift shops: Disney's Fantasia Gift Shop and Small World Gifts & Sundries. Looking for more souvenirs? Downtown Disney has a ton of shops, including a huge World of Disney store and the new Disney Wonderful World of Sweets where you can get caramel apples, churro toffee, Werther's caramel corn and all the yummy goodies you'll want to take home.
ATM
You can find an ATM in the Fantasy Tower, as well as in Downtown Disney (near Wetzel's Pretzels).
Laundry
Traveling with kids? You might want to know where you can do laundry because spit-up happens. The budget-friendly laundry facilities are open 24 hours in the new Discovery Tower. Bring credit or debit cards for payment. Guests may also use the laundry facilities at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel or Pixar Place Hotel. People who stay in the 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom Villas have their own washers and dryers!
Digital Room Key and Key to Magic
You can use your phone as a digital key or choose to receive traditional key cards from the front desk. Your Key to the Magic card is your room key, resort charge card and parking permit. You can receive your card when you check in at the front desk. To charge purchases back to your room, simply present your Key to the Magic card — along with a photo ID — when buying merchandise, tickets and meals at select locations throughout the theme parks, hotels and the Downtown Disney District.
Housekeeping
Light housekeeping comes by every other day of your stay at this time to remove trash and used towels. If you need anything before that, just ask Guest Services.
Surprise Character Greetings
We recently caught up with Chip 'n' Dale near the hotel lobby and valet parking area! We have also run into Goofy, Minnie and pals outside of Goofy's Kitchen. Disneyland Hotel seems to have the most spontaneous character interactions just when you'd least expect it!
Fun Classes
Learn how to hula dance, play the ukulele or draw a Disney character. Learn how to turn your park map into an origami souvenir. Sign up for fitness classes in a theme park or in a pool! There are many magical offerings for hotel guests.
Parking
You'll enter and park at the Disneyland Hotel.
Hotel guests pay $70 per night per vehicle for valet parking and $40 per night for self-parking. Oversized vehicles are $45 per vehicle per night.
For day guests:
- Self-parking is $40 per vehicle for the first hour plus $10 for each additional hour, with a maximum rate of $80.
- Valet parking is $70 per vehicle for the first hour plus $10 for each additional hour, with a maximum rate of $140.
- Oversized vehicle parking is $45 per vehicle for the first hour plus $10 for each additional hour, with a maximum rate of $85.
- Hotel restaurant validation rates include 3 hours of complimentary parking — your choice of valet or self-parking — with restaurant validation at Disneyland Hotel. You can only validate for one restaurant per visit, no matter how many places you eat at.
The Fantasy self-parking lot of the Disneyland Hotel has ChargePoint charging ports. To use a port, you’ll need to scan a ChargePoint card or the app on your phone.
Dining at the Disneyland Villas and Disneyland Hotel
Disneyland Resort hotel guests get preferred access to a limited number of dining reservations for hotel table-service restaurants during the dates of their stay. To be eligible for preferred access to dining reservations, guests must link their valid Disneyland Resort hotel confirmation number to their Disneyland account. Guests can book reservations online for select table-service restaurants, and reservations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Overall, here's where to eat and drink at the Disneyland Hotel.
Palm Breeze Bar (at The Villas)
Right at the base of the Discover Tower and near the pools, you'll find this breezy outdoor dining location. It features modern décor inspired by the art of Mary Blair and has a Palm Springs vibe. While you sip on delightful mocktails and themed cocktails, enjoy some tasty bites. Choose from salads, sandwiches, personal pizzas or shareable dishes such as Coctel de Mariscos, Ahi Tuna Tataki, Avocado & Lime Hummus Dip, Cheese Fry Poutine or Cocktail Chicken Wings.
There's a kids menu with all the tadpole favorites. You can order gluten-free buns and pizza (even if they are not listed on the menu). Plus, you can try fun desserts such as beignets with dips, a Mickey chocolate chip cookie sandwich with ice cream and a molten chocolate cake.
The bar has large televisions, making it a great place to catch a sports game at Disneyland.
Here is where to eat a buffet and have the characters come to meet you. As soon as you arrive to check in, you'll get your photo taken with Goofy. Then you'll be shown to your table, where characters parade past every 20 minutes. You can enjoy an all-you-can-eat breakfast or dinner buffet here. The food is kid-friendly, and adults will find items to please them, too. You can get all of the Mickey waffles and pancakes you can eat!
You might see Chip, Dale, Pluto and Minnie at Goofy's Kitchen. The characters dance by your table. Keep an eye out for seasonal themes, which bring new outfits and even characters — Clarabelle Cow joined in the spring! — to the mix. But those may also bring higher prices in spring, fall and the winter holidays.
Hug and pose for photos with characters! Find out about the other Disneyland character dining locations as well.
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
This bar and restaurant is so much fun. Get a reservation to eat inside. Kids (under 21) are welcome until 8 p.m. at the tables. Order special drinks that cause the weather to change in the bar and volcanoes to erupt. Watch out for sinking bar stools and other hidden gems all around the bar.
Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill
This quick-service dining location located over the pool area offers the ability to mobile order. You can also order your food at the register and a server will bring it to you. Seating is both indoors and outdoors amongst the palms and tiki torches. At Tangaroa Terrace, you can find many of the same items you'd get from Trader Sam's, such as ramen, a Pu Pu Platter, wings, gyoza and more. All day long, you can find quick grab 'n' go items such as fruit and baked items, kids meals and Dole Whip. In fact, you can get Dole Whip floats, including adult versions with rum!
For breakfast, choose from a wide selection, including an American Breakfast, short rib steak and eggs, Acai Chia Breakfast Bowl, avocado toast, thick & fluffy pancakes, Tangaroa Toast, burritos and more.
The Coffee House
The Coffee House is located just outside of Goofy's Kitchen. This newly refurbished location offers an expanded menu. It's the place to get coffee, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, midday snacks (bagel pizzas and sandwiches), pastries, yogurt, cereal, fruit and more. It's usually open until 4 p.m.
Broken Spell Lounge
Located near Goofy's Kitchen, the Lobby Lounge has a brand-new Sleeping Beauty theme! From 4 p.m. to park closing, you can enjoy beer, wine, cocktails and food at the Broken Spell Lounge. Bites and entrees include chicken wings, truffle fries, salads, pizzas and sandwiches or burgers. At times, enjoy musical entertainment while you sip and dine.
Room Service
Room Service is available at this hotel for breakfast and in the evening. You can also use a QR code to order food from select Downtown Disney restaurants and have it delivered to the lobby.
Downtown Disney
Just outside the hotel, you’ll find a bunch of quick-service and table-service dining choices. Hop over to our Downtown Disney restaurant post to find the best choice for you. So many new locations opened up in 2024, and more are yet to come! There is a new entrance to Downtown Disney. From the Discovery Tower, just head straight out of the tower and walk between the Adventure and Frontier Tower to access the entrance to Downtown Disney.
We recommend making a reservation if you want to dine at Goofy's Kitchen or Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar (or even some Downtown Disney locations, such as the newly opened Din Tai Fung, which has its own reservations page). Reservations can open up to 60 days in advance at 6 a.m. Some locations do open up reservation times later, so if you do not see what you want, keep checking back. If you don't get a reservation, you may be able to join the walk-up availability list through the Disneyland app.
What to Consider Before Staying at the Villas at Disneyland Hotel
If you are deciding between staying at the Disneyland Villas versus the Disneyland Hotel, another Disneyland hotel or off-site, here are a few things to consider.
Location
It's a great location inside the "Disney bubble" near Downtown Disney and within a short walking distance to both theme parks and the other two hotels. It's also a reasonable walk to the parking structures. It does not have a dedicated theme park entrance like the other two hotels, but you can take the Monorail from Downtown Disney into the theme park. Also, your hotel key should open the Pixar Place Hotel theme park entrance to Disney California Adventure (sometimes open only before noon). It puts you in the park right near Pixar Pier. It's also a shortcut to exit through there when heading back to your hotel. (Exit is open all day.)
Check-in Time
Check-in time is 4 p.m. for the Villas. (It's 3 p.m. for the rest of the hotel.)
Budget
This hotel is the mid-priced hotel of the three on-site Disneyland hotels. The Studios cost more than a normal hotel room at the Disneyland Hotel. The Villas cost more than the family suites at the hotel, but you get so many more amenities such as a kitchen and washer/dryer. You can save money on a room, Studio or Villa when you book your Disneyland Hotel stay through Undercover Tourist (psst ... we sell discount theme park tickets too!). Use your savings to get a Dole Whip float with a splash of rum at Tangaroa Terrace or Trader Sam's and a nice meal.
View
This can vary per room. You may be able to see fireworks from some rooms. The Villas have balconies that face the pools. The Standard View Studios face gardens, streets or parking areas. Preferred View Studios face the pool.
Early Entry to Theme Parks
Disneyland Resort hotel guests can enter a theme park 30 minutes before the parks open to access select attractions, dining and shopping! Our Early Entry post has all the details. One park per day hosts Early Entry. So on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, you'll want to reserve Disneyland Park if you want to take advantage of Early Entry. On Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you'll want to reserve Disney California Adventure for Early Entry.
How much time are you planning to spend at the hotel?
If you want to come and go between the hotel and the theme park to take breaks or use the pools to cool off and relax, then this is your place. If you are an open-to-close theme park warrior, you might not be spending a lot of time at the hotel. In that case, a Studio may suffice. A short walking distance is nice, but if you want to save money on your lodging, you can find other affordable hotels near Disneyland. If you have a large party and different sleeping times, a larger Villa is going to be a lot more comfortable for your group.
What kind of vibe are you looking for?
You'll step into the hotel and see an old map of Disneyland (before Downtown Disney, the other hotels and Matterhorn Bobsleds even existed). This is a family-friendly hotel that has a vintage Disney feel and all the palm trees to remind you that you are in SoCal (with hints of a tropical getaway without the humidity). It has a multi-level pool area with Monorail water slides and a shallow water play area for toddlers. Adults will love the tropical bar at Trader Sam's. If you are a diehard, vintage Disney fan who is interested in tropical vacation vibes, this is the hotel to take you there.
If you want to be able to cook meals and wash clothes, the Villas are going to give you the comforts and conveniences of home. Plus, you can save some money on meals when you have a kitchen.
How big is your party?
Most standard rooms at Disneyland Hotel (and nearby Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel) have larger rooms and a day bed for a fifth person (or if you have party members who do not want to share a bed). That makes this a good on-site property for larger families. There are family suites that may appeal to larger parties. The 2-bedroom Villa can sleep up to nine people. So it might make more sense financially to get a Villa for a larger party compared to a suite or multiple hotel rooms. The 3-bedroom Villa sleeps up to 12 and is incredibly nice. But this popular room sells out early.
How old is your party?
If you have kids from toddlers to teens, this is a good hotel choice. The pool has slides the whole family can enjoy. Even our toddler, Lily, went down the smaller Monorail water slide. She loved splashing in the shallow water play pool. Her tween brother, Tad, was hoppy with the taller red Monorail slide. Adult Disney fans will love the throwback feel of the hotel, as well as the adult drinks and experiences at Trader Sam's. Having a Villa with a kitchen and washer/dryer makes traveling with kids so much easier!
Security
You will need to prepare to go through a security bag check and metal detector every time you enter Downtown Disney to head to the theme parks. The early bird gets the worm, so line up extra early to get into the parks before they open. The new hotel security moved. It's now across from the area between the Adventure and Frontier towers.
MagicBand+
MagicBands have come to Disneyland! You can use the band to quickly tap in for park admission, redeem Lightning Lanes and get PhotoPass photos. They also light up and vibrate during nighttime entertainment, some Avengers Campus shows and even rides. Get all the details in our MagicBand post.
Which Disneyland ticket and reservations do you want?
You have a lot to think about in terms of theme park tickets and theme park reservations. Do you want to start your day in Disneyland Park so you can ride the Monorail into the park? Or walk to enter either theme park and use the Monorail to return to the hotel for a midday splash in the pool or rest? Check the Monorail hours in the app. This park is equidistant to either theme park.
Keep in mind that all theme park guests must have a valid theme park ticket and a park reservation to visit a park. That goes for hotel guests, too. However, a major perk to staying on-site at a Disneyland Resort hotel is that hotel guests can link a hotel stay and open up a different pool of reservations. The hotel guests generally have a better selection of theme park availability. The earlier you reserve, the better the selection.
Is a park hopper ticket worth it?
We think so, especially for a longer, multi-day ticket. Did you know it costs less per day to add park hopping to a multi-day ticket than to purchase a 1-day ticket with park hopping? You get your money's worth with a park hopper multi-day ticket. It allows you to start in one park and hop after 11 a.m., that way you can either start or end your day (or even both) at Disney California Adventure. We suggest starting off in each park at least once during your visit to take advantage of the shortest lines of the day. But pay attention to the Early Entry schedule so you choose the correct park to begin your day at. That being said, park hopping prices went up in 2024, so we no longer recommend park hopping for shorter trips if you are looking to save money.
Do you have disabilities?
The Disneyland Hotel offers accessibility services for Guests with disabilities. Features include accessible travel paths in the parking lot, lobby, restaurants, convention spaces and shopping locations — in addition to wheelchair-accessible and hearing-accessible rooms. TTY equipment is available upon request at check-in. There are lifts for the pools. In fact, we saw many different families with wheelchairs enjoying the pool area.
If you'd like to rent a wheelchair or stroller for your visit, you can have it delivered to the hotel. ScooterBug, a private mobility rental company, is Disneyland's official provider. ScooterBug is the only company that can drop off strollers, ECVs and wheelchair rentals — including length-of-stay rentals — for guests staying at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort without the guest being present.
If you are looking to book the DVC Villas at Disneyland Hotel, save money by reserving through Undercover Tourist. You can also save money on Disneyland theme park tickets through your froggy friends Undercover Tourist. Ribbit ribbit!
Related: All of the Magical Reasons to Stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel
Related: Where to Eat and Drink at the Disneyland Resort Hotels
Hoppy planning!
