The Disneyland Hotel was already a great place to stay, but some new upgrades have made it a must for any visitor to Disneyland!
The biggest difference between Disneyland and Walt Disney World is the number of official Disney resorts. In Orlando, you can enjoy a selection of over two dozen excellent resorts, each boasting its own unique themes and ranging from value to deluxe.
In contrast, Disneyland only has three. That’s because Walt couldn’t purchase enough land that he wanted around the area, so as soon as Disneyland became a hit, scores of smaller hotels and restaurants sprang up around it.
Today, the main Disneyland resorts are the Disneyland Hotel, the Grand California Lodge (notable for technically being inside California Adventure), and Pixar Place (formerly Paradise Pier), which had a big remodel in 2024.
My family stayed at the Disneyland Hotel in 2023 and I wrote about how great it is. However, it was affected by big construction going on around the Hotel for the new Discovery Tower villas. This past May, we had another trip staying at those very villas, which only make an already wonderful resort even more of a must-stay!
The Discovery Villas are terrific
The Discovery Villas 12-story tower is a wonderful addition to the Hotel grounds. The ground floor area is nicely done with a gorgeous wall mural of Disney characters near displays of Disney memorabilia, an open “workplace” area, plush seating and even a small fireplace.
You feel the magic waking up with “pixie dust” on the pavement leading to a starburst right before you enter. The ground floor is also home to a laundry room, which is quite helpful for families with kids who go through two or three outfits a day. There’s also a large gym with multiple bikes, treadmills, weight machines and more (just in case you’re not getting enough exercise walking around the parks all day).
The ground area also has a smaller pool, a bit quieter than the larger pools of the Hotel and a lot easier to get around than the main pool. That includes the fun Steamboat Willie’s Splash Pad for the kids with a recreation of Mickey on a boat.
As for the rooms themselves, they’re larger than the typical Hotel suites. Most have one main bed with a sofa that contains a pullout bed, larger spaces, and a dresser. There is a chance to upgrade to the larger ones with multiple bedrooms.
The theming is good as the walls will boast concept sketches and artwork based on Disney animated classics (we got Sleeping Beauty). The Deluxe studios boast fancier bits like a light-up mural of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
Besides the larger spaces, another benefit of the Villas over the rest of the Disneyland Hotel is the mini-kitchen. With a fridge, sink and even plates and silverware, it’s a great chance to just make a meal in your room rather than dine out, which saves some bucks.
Obviously, the Villas are a bit more expensive than a standard hotel room. The standard suites can be over $800, while the multi-bedroom ones are over a grand easily. However, they are worth it for larger families wanting a better experience.
The Palm Breeze Bar is a great new eatery
Alongside the rest of Discovery Tower, we got a much-needed new dining spot at the Hotel in the Palm Breeze Bar. This open-air area next to the pool is quite relaxing, shaded to be cool, and has some fire lamps for when it gets chillier in the California night. It doesn’t push a big theme, just a nice vibe with TVs around for sports lovers and plenty of seating from table to bar.
The food is your standard typical bar fare with plenty of salads, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and one of the best Beignets in all of Disneyland. While it can be a bit pricey ($26 for the burger), it’s delicious and just the thing for those wanting a poolside bite.
The Broken Spell lounge is a great new addition
Taking the place of the former Steakhouse 55, the Broken Spell Lounge is based on Sleeping Beauty. Open from 4 pm to midnight, it’s catered to adults with a very expansive wine/beer/champagne menu. For food, it’s not much different than the Palm Beach menu, although a few additions like a nice New York strip steak.
The bar can be dimly lit with much of the decor dark to fit Maleficent. A fun touch are multicolored lights for the three fairies from Sleeping Beauty. The plush velvet sofas and chairs are quite comfortable and the forest mural adds a lovely ambiance.
The draw of the lounge is the live entertainment, a mix of musicians who perform anything from Disney classics to modern works. There can be special acts on some nights, so check the schedule before arriving.
From the theme to the entertainment to the drinks and eats, this lounge does cast a nice spell to give adults something to do at the Hotel at night.
The good (and bad) of the rest of the Disneyland Hotel now
There is one change made for hotel guests that they may not be happy with. It’s no longer being able to shop anywhere in the parks or Downtown Disney and then have the souvenirs shipped to your hotel room. You have to ask which shops are able to do it, which can mean carrying bags of stuff around the parks for a while.
That said, the Disneyland Hotel remains the best place to stay by the parks. The fact that it’s less than a five-minute walk to Downtown Disney is a huge benefit for guests, especially large families. The facilities are superb with a top-notch gift and sundries shop, a Coffee Shop for morning meals, and the Tangaroa Terrace, some good eating/drinks by the pool.
The new Villas and restaurants only improve the Disneyland Hotel and the magic is wonderful. Thus, the Disneyland Hotel remains the jewel of the Disneyland resorts and a must-visit for any Disney fan.