The first thing I noticed about the one-bedroom villas at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel is the size. If you’re used to standard hotel rooms, these suites designed with Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members in mind feel like an instant upgrade. They strike a smart balance between pixie dust and plush—character artwork, playful colors, and a few Mickey-shaped surprises go along with an enormous living room with a sofa that doubles as a pull-down bed, a dining area with room to spread out, a kitchen stocked with a refrigerator and an oven, and not one but two full bathrooms.
It’s the kind of setup, it occurred to me on my family’s recent stay, that makes this DVC property feel more like a home than a hotel. The bedroom is so spacious that at first I didn’t realize the bed itself king-sized. Sliding doors separate the bedroom space from the living area, offering privacy for parents. And the suite’s two bathrooms are another highlight: One has a large soaking tub, a walk-in shower, and dual vanities; the other has its own standalone shower.
I paired my stay at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel with my first-ever visit to Disneyland itself, and it was a smart choice for a number of reasons. Here’s my lowdown on DVC’s only resort property at Disneyland.
A home away from home at Disneyland
Staying at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel felt a bit like unlocking a more elevated way to “do Disney.” You’re a short walk from the parks and all the nostalgia of the original Disneyland Hotel, but with a space designed to accommodate the needs of today’s families. The Downtown Disney shopping and dining area is just a few steps away, and you’re within strolling distance of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, both of which offer seamless access and early entry for hotel guests.
Anyone can book a room at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel—which range in size from small studios to three-bedroom grand villas—but for DVC members, the perks don’t stop at the sizable room. You get access to all of the usual Disneyland Hotel amenities, including its monorail-inspired water slides, cabanas, and the Steamboat Willie splash pad, plus whirlpool spas and a fitness center. And during our stay, the extra DVC benefits included member-only events like movie nights and sunrise yoga in front of Cinderella’s castle. (I did not partake in the yoga, but we all appreciated the 30-minute early park entry to beat the crowds at the most popular rides.)
As a Disney Vacation Club member, you also get exclusive access to the new Star View Station members-only lounge at Disneyland. Tucked inside Tomorrowland above the Star Wars Launch Bay attraction, it’s a quiet, air-conditioned retreat with comfortable seating, charging stations, and complimentary chips and soft drinks just steps away from some of the park’s busiest attractions. It’s a great spot to relax and recharge, literally and figuratively, especially if you’re on a Park Hopper ticket and want to experience both parks in one day without heading back to the hotel in-between.
And if you’re a fan of the various park parades and fireworks shows, DVC members can enjoy prime viewing opportunities in reserved spaces throughout the parks. I’m not usually one for the Disney parades, but it was a nice benefit to have a shady spot to sit and rehydrate during the Celebrate Happy cavalcade.
Dining at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
As part of the greater Disneyland Hotel, you have easy access to the property’s full roster of eateries. Coupled with room service, in-room self-cooking options, and the restaurants of Downtown Disney being just steps away, food is never an afterthought at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel.
For families with younger kids, the star is Goofy’s Kitchen, an all-you-can-eat buffet. My two teens weren’t overly impressed with the Disney characters who stopped for photo ops, but they definitely enjoyed the impressive breakfast buffet—especially the chocolate-and-marshmallow s’mores pizza. My own favorite restaurant was Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, another on-property spot with tiki cocktails and an over-the-top menu that had me laughing out loud. I even bought a souvenir tiki mug.
Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill offers fast-casual plates with an island twist, perfect for a quick bite before heading into the parks. The Coffee House was my morning spot to get my caffeine fix and sit quietly outdoors with a book before the rest of my family got going. The Palm Breeze Bar, a newer addition near the villas, serves California fare and craft drinks in a breezy outdoor setting.
Of course, the villas’ kitchens are their own perk. You can stock your fridge, whip up breakfast, or even host a family dinner right in your suite. We ordered pizza from room service one night and relaxed in our suite until the evening fireworks show.
Pools at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
The centerpiece of the resort’s pool area is the Palette Pool, a vibrant swimming spot featuring a wide staircase across the pool’s width, allowing you to dip in from multiple points or simply wade in a foot or two. Adjacent to this is the Steamboat Willie Splash Pad, a water play area with spray features and misty effects for little kids.
Guests staying in the villas also have access to the broader Disneyland Hotel pool complex, which includes the E-Ticket Pool, ideal for a spacious, relaxing swim; the D-Ticket Pool, perfect for lap swimming or leisurely dips; and (my favorite) the two monorail-themed water slides, adding retro-themed fun for kids and adults alike. For unwinding after a full day at the parks, there are two heated whirlpool spas.
Proximity to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel are about as centrally located as you can get anywhere in or around the two parks. The property is directly adjacent to Downtown Disney, the resort’s dining and shopping district. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure. You can also catch the monorail from Downtown Disney, which will deliver you to either park. My family used the monorail exactly once, which was a fun way to see the parks from a different vantage point, but for the rest of our stay we found it most convenient to walk everywhere.
All told, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel are a great blend of spacious suites, thoughtful amenities, exclusive DVC perks, and proximity to the attractions that make it easy to relax between your theme park outings. For my family, the villas offered a seamless stay with more than enough extra Disney magic to elevate the experience beyond a standard hotel.
More from FamilyVacationist:
- 15 Disneyland secrets you didn’t know about until now
- How to plan your first Disney World or Disneyland vacation
- What to pack for a Disney World or Disneyland vacation
- When is the best time to go to Disney World and Disneyland?
Josh Roberts is the editorial director at FamilyVacationist.com and the author of two novels for middle grade readers: The Witches of Willow Cove (a Massachusetts Book Awards nominee) and The Curse of Willow Cove (an Operation Literacy Teen Readers’ Choice award winner).
