The Official VILLAS at DISNEYLAND HOTEL (Discovery Tower) Owners and Fans Info Thread

[AstroBlasters]

Nice upgrade! If don’t care for that palette pool/city view, try for the resort side under the grand villas (even numbered rooms).

It’s the HA room…. so my guess is that I don’t have a choice….

 

[Wedgeout]

It’s the HA room…. so my guess is that I don’t have a choice….

True. At this point just know the dedicated 1 bedroom on second floor matches for a HA villa. It’s a good location.

 

[Wedgeout]

Good tour of that HA room #0237.

 

[MartyParty]

You can also enter DCA via the "Pixar Pier" entrance (to the right of the Grand Cal gate after crossing the street). Although it says Pixar Pier guests only, your physical room key will open the gate. The security folks used to be there all DCA park hours, but on my visit last week I was told by security that the entrance is now only staffed until noon (not sure when they made this change). Since it was 6pm, we had to turn around and do the walk of shame through the Grand Cal lobby to get in. On a happier note, you can exit that way until park closing.

Yes, this was our experience. Spoke with the security guard at the Pixar Corn Dog entrance. It’s open for entry till noon but you can still use it as an exit after noon time.

Another oddity. For early entry, we could use our Magic Bands at the Pixar entrance. At Disneyland, used Magic Bands to enter the park but had to use the room key for early entry to Tomorrow or Fantasyland. I think like Kenito stated, better safe than sorry and always have your room key when entering the parks early.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Good tour of that HA room #0237.

There is a difference between the wheelchair room and the just heard accessible room, right? Because they each have their own room category.

 

[Wedgeout]

There is a difference between the wheelchair room and the just heard accessible room, right? Because they each have their own room category.

Correct. The rooms listed as only the hearing are nearly identical to regular layout. Most probably wouldn’t know they are in one of those. We had a standard duo studio hearing accessible. Only noticed the extension to the wall unit and a separate light unit, ceiling of bathroom.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Hey all. Can you have people visit you while staying at resort and use the pool?

Afaik, you can if you don't exceed the room occupancy and they are listed on the reservation. That said, if they are with you, who's going to know the difference or even care (within reason).

 

[VGCgroupie]

Back with another question. Since VDH has so many accessible rooms, do they ever give you an accessible room when you have not booked one?

 

[Canchaser143]

Back with another question. Since VDH has so many accessible rooms, do they ever give you an accessible room when you have not booked one?

I know happens frequently at WDW, so I bet they do the same at VDH. Probably just depends on occupancy.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Back with another question. Since VDH has so many accessible rooms, do they ever give you an accessible room when you have not booked one?

I was at a hotel (non-Disney) in Sept of last year and had a reservation for a single King bed room. I got to the room and it was an ADA with two queens…. Man did I turn around and head back to the lobby quickly….. you are not giving me a smaller bed and a wet bathroom floor, I don’t care if I am only here for one night…..

 

[VGCgroupie]

I was at a hotel (non-Disney) in Sept of last year and had a reservation for a single King bed room. I got to the room and it was an ADA with two queens…. Man did I turn around and head back to the lobby quickly….. you are not giving me a smaller bed and a wet bathroom floor, I don’t care if I am only here for one night…..

King beds really make a vacation.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Back with another question. Since VDH has so many accessible rooms, do they ever give you an accessible room when you have not booked one?

I wanted to add a day to the beginning of my stay in a 2 bed and they have an accessible available but my other nights are a normal 2 bed and I really don’t want to change rooms, so probably not worth the risk.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I wanted to add a day to the beginning of my stay in a 2 bed and they have an accessible available but my other nights are a normal 2 bed and I really don’t want to change rooms, so probably not worth the risk.

I wouldn’t worry about them making you switch rooms, I just hate being homeless from 11am to 4pm….

 

[VGCgroupie]

I wouldn’t worry about them making you switch rooms, I just hate being homeless from 11am to 4pm….

Yeah that wont work for us this time since we are bringing the baby with us who comes with so much stuff, we want to check in and just be settled.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I wouldn’t worry about them making you switch rooms, I just hate being homeless from 11am to 4pm….

Will add being homeless at Aulani from 11am-4pm was so easy. Sat in our casabella and barely noticed I didnt have a room

 

[AstroBlasters]

Will add being homeless at Aulani from 11am-4pm was so easy. Sat in our casabella and barely noticed I didnt have a room

We tend to avoid the heat of the day and that 1-4 slot can get pretty miserable without shade. My wife refers to the casabellas as “heat domes” unless they are also under some tree shade or against a wall.

 

[kes601]

Another oddity. For early entry, we could use our Magic Bands at the Pixar entrance. At Disneyland, used Magic Bands to enter the park but had to use the room key for early entry to Tomorrow or Fantasyland. I think like Kenito stated, better safe than sorry and always have your room key when entering the parks early.

Entering from Pixar, did you have to prove once in the park you were resort guests or was it because you were able to access that entrance that was proof you were resort guests? Technically you need a room key to get in that gate. Just thinking that could be the difference. Obviously at DL when you come in the main entrance everybody is allowed and then you need the room key to prove you are a resort guest.

We didn't try entering through Pixar last summer because the DLR front desk told us that they were not allowing non-Pixar guests through during early entry (so we just went to VGC instead).

 

[MartyParty]

Entering from Pixar, did you have to prove once in the park you were resort guests or was it because you were able to access that entrance that was proof you were resort guests? Technically you need a room key to get in that gate. Just thinking that could be the difference. Obviously at DL when you come in the main entrance everybody is allowed and then you need the room key to prove you are a resort guest.

We didn't try entering through Pixar last summer because the DLR front desk told us that they were not allowing non-Pixar guests through during early entry (so we just went to VGC inste

Entering from Pixar, did you have to prove once in the park you were resort guests or was it because you were able to access that entrance that was proof you were resort guests? Technically you need a room key to get in that gate. Just thinking that could be the difference. Obviously at DL when you come in the main entrance everybody is allowed and then you need the room key to prove you are a resort guest.

We didn't try entering through Pixar last summer because the DLR front desk told us that they were not allowing non-Pixar guests through during early entry (so we just went to VGC instead).

Pixar is available to all Disney staying hotel guests. We stayed at VDH.

Now that I think about it, we used our room key at the Pixar pedestrian sidewalk gate. That must be the early entry work around for DCA requiring use of your room key. Once through the Pixar pedestrian sidewalk gate, we used our magic bands for DCA entry.

Another little gem was using the new gate at downtown Disney. We used it when heading to the Disneyland Park. For VDH it might save one minute of walk time, but it certainly was less crowded for screening.

And we ate at Din Tai Fung for the first time. Wow it was good. Our youngest is a fan of noodles and such with the rest of us being more meat and potatoes. But Din Tai Fund was awesome. Fresh, delicious, well presented, etc. Its right between the old entrance after the Sorcerer's Hat and the Downtown Disney new entrance (purple line).

 

[kes601]

Pixar is available to all Disney staying hotel guests. We stayed at VDH.

Ya, that is what we had thought, but since the VDH desk staff told us they were turning people away we didn't want to actually try during early entry.

For entering through VGC we actually went into the Downtown Disney entrance and then through the main gate at DCA (this put us in a better location for Guardians and Web Slingers). You were required to scan the hotel key after entering and going to where you wanted to line up (similar to DL).

Din Tai Fun opened when we were there in the summer and we were lucky enough to snag a reservation. We were sitting in the DVC lounge at DL and grabbed one for 15 minutes later so booked it out of there and made it. I agree....so, so good.

They only had the 1 entrance to Downtown Disney when we were there and, wow, were the lines long in the mid to late afternoon. Glad to hear the new gate for resort guests helps.

We'll be back this summer. 2 nights at VDH and 6 nights at VGC.

 

[PCDisFan]

And we ate at Din Tai Fung for the first time. Wow it was good. Our youngest is a fan of noodles and such with the rest of us being more meat and potatoes. But Din Tai Fund was awesome. Fresh, delicious, well presented, etc. Its right between the old entrance after the Sorcerer's Hat and the Downtown Disney new entrance (purple line).

We are always DT DTF in DTD (down to Din Tai Fung in Downtown Disney ). On our last trip our youngest (2.5) experienced dim sum for the first time and was housing some noodles and won ton soup. It is a great addition to the Downtown Disney restaurant line up and it's conveniently located close to Discovery Tower.

I'm also looking forward to trying some of the dishes at Parkside Market during our next stay later in January.