Unveiling the Magic: Review of Disneyland Hotel’s New Deluxe Studio

Disneyland Hotel, the iconic hotel in Anaheim, California, has recently undergone a major renovation and now boasts a new category of accommodations: the Disney Vacation Club Villas! Being the first DVC property to open in California in almost 15 years, we naturally had to see it for ourselves. Plus, I’ll never turn down a trip to Disneyland! 

We visited in October of 2023, shortly after the grand opening of the Discovery Tower, so everything was brand new!

Upon entering the new tower, we were immediately struck by the attention to detail and luxurious feel. The Villas at Disneyland Hotel celebrate “the iconic legacy of Disney storytelling” and this is evident throughout the building design, artwork and furnishings. From classic character murals to a Steamboat-Willie themed splash pad, no surface is left untouched.

For this trip, we booked a Standard View Deluxe Studio. These rooms are primarily situated on the backside of the tower with views of parking lots or behind-the-scenes areas of the hotel. In other words… it’s not much to look at, but it’s fewer DVC points than the “preferred view” and its all that was available during this time.

The Deluxe Studios can accommodate up to 4 guests and are themed around Sleeping Beauty or Princess and the Frog. Our studio was Princess and the Frog Themed from head to toe – from wall coverings and artwork to themed carpets and more!

The Deluxe Studios at the Disneyland Hotel have two bedding options: a normal queen-sized bed and a murphy bed that folds into the wall to make a couch. This bed is also queen-sized and leaps and bounds more comfortable than the traditional sofa bed. I had no problems sleeping here on our trip and i’m very picky about mattresses! It was also conveniently placed so we didn’t need to put it away during the day, leaving ample space to move around the room.

These rooms also feature a split bathroom with a private toilet room. Our room had a tub/shower combo but most have a walk-in shower. 

There was plenty of under-bed storage for luggage, as well as a closet to hang clothes. We particularly enjoyed the large vanity area that doubled as a workspace. 

We enjoyed the convenience of a kitchenette, complete with an under-the-counter refrigerator, microwave, toaster and coffee maker. Although we did have to request more K-cups as the few supplied were not enough for our much-needed caffeine-fueled park days!

In addition to the Deluxe Studios, there are Duo Studios that sleep two guests and one, two and three-bedroom villas. The Duo studios are Jungle Book themed and the villas are either Princess and the Frog or Fantasia themed.  This makes each visit a magical surprise: which room will you get?

How To Book The Villas at Disneyland Hotel:

• Book directly through Disney – cash rates start at $800/night.
• Book through DVC – must own points at Disneyland Hotel Villas or have direct, unrestricted points.
• Rent from a DVC Owner – this is the option we picked. As a resale owner, I was not able to book DLH with my points so we rented points from another owner who did not have booking restrictions. Our quick 3-night stay was only 60 Vacation Points!

Check out the Full Room Tour: