The Villas at Disneyland Hotel offers families several room theme options for their stays while visiting The Happiest Place on Earth.
The mockup of the Monorail-turned-waterslide is a splashy symbol that this place celebrates Disney’s 100-year history in its own way. Spaces big and small are filled with familiar characters and stories, in a lively, but cohesive design. But is it all for members only? Not necessarily.
Inspired by the famous work of Walt Disney Animation Studios, the 344 rooms in the new tower at Disneyland Hotel — called The Villas — are intended to immerse visitors in Disney stories while they relax in modern rooms full of amenities a few hundred yards from the gates of the parks.
And following that idea, a Disney artist created the mural in the lobby.
“It is a little different from what we do there,” says Lorelay Bove, associate production designer for Disney Animation Studios, who incorporated a wide swath of famous characters in the mural. “The worlds are already built. The characters are already designed. But it’s still a concept piece. I’m trying to fit all these characters into one world. I put them in little vignettes and have the sky and water tie them all together.”
And hidden in the giant piece are little Mickeys. Three in the teapot. One in the starry magic above Mickey. Two near Bambi and one for the newest film, “Wish.”
But for visitors to see this, they’ll likely have to be members of the Disney Vacation Club, the flexible, vacation points-based system that includes hotels at Walt Disney World, in Hawaii, Disney Cruise Lines and National Geographic Expeditions. Guests don’t have to be members to get a room at The Villas, but you’ll have to check ahead. And keep checking.
Deluxe Studios
Most of the rooms at The Villas are deluxe studios. In these “Sleeping Beauty”– or “Princess and the Frog”–themed rooms, a family of four can comfortably hang out before, after or between visits to the parks. With a kitchenette, split bathroom — almost essential for families — and one of the two queen-size beds folding into the wall, leaving a couch area below, the deluxe studios are the most family-friendly.
Duo Studios
The smallest rooms are “Jungle Book”-themed and for parents who just want a nice little nearby spot to take a break from the park. With the single Murphy bed up, it’s spacious.
One- and Two-Bedroom Villas
One- and two-bedroom Villas offer more room for bigger families of up to nine people. “The Princess and the Frog”- or “Fantasia”-themed rooms include a full-size kitchen and a bathroom with double vanities, and a soaking tub.
“We were taking inspiration from the creative process of animation,” says Anne Miller, principal interior designer.“So you’ll see lots of different art forms here. We have a beautiful portrait of Tiana, multi-plane landscape — foreground, middle ground and background — of Tiana looking into her palace, and little secondary moments in subtle places as you look around.”
Three-Bedroom Grand Villas
This one is for you and your kids, your siblings and their kids, and your parents to relax in one of the two gigantic multi-themed suites.
“Really, it’s for families that want to bring the whole family together,” says Cesar Avila, senior manager of marketing and sales strategy for Disney Vacation Club. “You have all the comforts of home and can catch a glimpse of fireworks from Disneyland.”
That includes a full-size kitchen, dining area, fireplace, laundry, multiple bathrooms and large balcony in a two-story suite featuring “Bambi,” “Moana” and “Frozen” themes with room for up to 12 people.
Go to DisneyVacationClub.com or TheVillasatDisneylandHotel.com for more information.
By Shawn Price
Author: Marketing and Event Coordinator
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