Every MAJOR Reason Why You Should & Shouldn't Stay in a Disneyland DVC Studio at Villas at Disneyland Hotel

Planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth, and trying to decide if you should stay in a Disneyland DVC Studio?

If you’ve got your eye on the brand-new Villas at Disneyland Hotel, you’re probably wondering whether a Disneyland Villas Studio is worth the points—or the price.

I stayed in a Studio here in December 2024, and whilst I fell in love with this DVC Disneyland Resort (and the Deluxe Studio), it is *certainly* not for everyone.

Whether you’re a seasoned DVC member, renting points for the first time, or simply deciding between this and a standard Disneyland Hotel room or something else, this guide breaks down the real pros and cons you need to know before you make the commitment to these studios!

This post is all about the 5 reasons you should and 5 reasons you should not book a stay in a Disneyland DVC Studio.

Table of Contents

Disneyland DVC Studio

What is DVC for Disney?

DVC stands for Disney Vacation Club, which is basically Disney’s take on a timeshare.

You buy into DVC by purchasing “points,” and you can use those points at different DVC resorts – including one of Disney’s newest DVC properties – The Villas at Disneyland Hotel.

You pick a Home Resort when you buy a contract, which means you get first dibs at booking there.

After that, booking windows open up for everyone else, so there’s a real art to snagging rooms during busy times.

The contract usually runs for decades, but will vary depending on your contract and home resort.

Just know: there are yearly dues, and DVC isn’t always the cheapest option if you’re a once-in-a-blue-moon Disney fan, but can be worth it for guests visiting Disney frequently.

This is a pretty basic explanation of Disney Vacation Club, so if you want more details, check out some of my other DVC posts which go into more detail:

What is a Duo Studio at Disneyland Hotel?

There are two main types of Studios at Disneyland Hotel, with one of them being the Duo Studio.

A Duo Studio at Disneyland Hotel is basically a small but cleverly designed room that works for up to two people who don’t need a ton of space.

Beware that this room doesn’t have a regular bed; it has a pull-down Murphy bed to save space.

You’ll also have a tiny kitchenette and a bathroom.

@dvcinternational
Would you stay here? We recently got to tour a Duo Studio room at the new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian. These rooms are very popular among DVC members trying to stretch their points, but we have to wonder.. at 3 points lower per night, is it really worth it? #disneyworld #disneyhotel #disneyresort #dvc #dvcmember #disneyvacationclub #disneytrip #disneyvacation #roomtour #polynesian #disneypolynesian
♬ original sound – 🎶🎧

Video Credit: @dvcinternational

Although it’s not great for people who want to spread out with lots of space, Duo Studios will be your cheapest DVC option at the Disneyland Hotel.

There are only 38 Duo Studios at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, so chances are, you’ll struggle to book these rooms last minute.

Wondering how big a Disneyland DVC Duo Studio is? It is approx. 250 square feet. For reference, most standard value rooms at Walt Disney World (the All-Star Resorts and Pop Century) are 260 square feet, so they really are quite small here.

(Side note: I have not stayed in a Duo Studio here myself – just a Deluxe Studio – so cannot provide firsthand experience on whether or not the smallness of the room is that big of a deal).

What is a Deluxe Studio at Disneyland Hotel?

This Disneyland Villas Studio is the bigger of the two, this time sleeping up to 4 guests, with one queen bed and one pull-down Murphy bed.

It also has a bathroom and kitchenette. The main difference here is space. The difference is pretty drastic, as Deluxe Studios are 368 square feet.

Sure, they’re not the biggest Disney Vacation Club studios; but they’re a much more spacious option at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel.

It is also easier to book these studios, as there are 253 Deluxe Studios.

7 Reasons Why You Should Stay in a Studio at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel:

1) You can choose from Duo Studios or Deluxe Studios

As mentioned above, one of the best things about staying at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel is you actually get to pick what kind of studio fits your trip.

If you’re doing a solo trip or visiting with one other person, the Duo Studio might be your match.

These are cozy but not cramped, with just enough room for two of you plus (very important) your stuff.

Side note: you’ll want to make sure your comfortable with the other person in your room (if you’re not staying solo), as you’ll be sharing a Murphy bed, and there’s not lots of space.

On the other hand, if you’re travelling with more people or you like extra space, the Deluxe Studio is ideal.

You get two beds (one actual, one Murphy), and a bit more breathing room.

Most DVC Resorts don’t have Duo Studios, so it’s great that you have this option here.

(The only other Resorts with Duo/Tower Studios for 2 guests is Disney’s Riviera Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World).

2) They are New DVC Studios

Let’s talk about the biggest perk right off the bat: these are fresh, brand new DVC studios.

We’re not just talking about a new paint job or updated carpet—the whole space is sparkling clean and still has that “new resort” feel.

After all, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel only opened on September 28th, 2023.

3) Bad Room Views at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel (especially if you choose standard view)

Let’s be honest: the “standard view” at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel is pretty much what you’d expect from a Disney value resort, not a shiny new DVC tower with a premium price tag.

How many DVC points for Disneyland Hotel — The sky is gorgeous. The view … not so much!

I stayed in a Standard View Deluxe Studio during my stay at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, and it whilst the Studio was lovely, the view was awful.

4) These Studios Have an Amazing Location (Near Disneyland Park & Disney California Adventure)

These studios could not be closer to the heart of the action. You can walk to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure in just minutes, which means no long bus rides.

It’s also just a couple minutes away from the Monorail station at Downtown Disney. So you can easily catch the Monorail into Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park.

5) Often the Cheapest DVC studios at Disneyland

There are two DVC properties at Disneyland:

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel (as you’ve definitely noticed, as this whole post is about the studios there!!).
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa (which is usually the more expensive option if you’re using or renting DVC points).

How many DVC points for Disneyland Hotel?’

Here is a rough guide on the points and prices (if you’re renting DVC points for Duo and Deluxe Studios at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel – assuming you are paying $25 per point):

Duo Studio – Standard View: 10 – 25 points (or $250 – $625) per night
Duo Studio – Preferred View: 11 – 27 points ($275 – $675) per night
Duo Studio – Garden Room: 12 – 30 points ($300 – $750) per night

Deluxe Studio – Standard View: 13 – 31 points (or $325 – $775) per night
Disneyland Villas Deluxe Studio Preferred View: 15 – 34 points (or $375 – $850) per night
Deluxe Studio – Garden Room: 19 – 41 points (or $475 – $1,025) per night

(Points based on 2026 points chart and DO NOT INCLUDE TRANSIENT TAX (more on that in the reasons you shouldn’t stay in a studio at Disneyland Hotel section of this post)

6) Often Cheaper Than Staying on the Hotel Side at the Disneyland Hotel

If you’re renting DVC points to stay here, it will usually be cheaper than booking direct with Disney to stay in the hotel side (often $100 + per night less).

That said, it’s always worth checking Disneyland’s site (and third-party authorized sites, such as Undercover Tourist, or with your travel agent), in case there are any discounts or promotions during the dates you’re visiting.

7) Easier to book Deluxe Studios here VS The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

There are far more Deluxe Studios at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, compared to the Grand Californian.

For example, there are only 23 Deluxe Studios at the Grand Californian (and no Duo Studios), compared to the 291 studios at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel.

The only “easy” way to book a Deluxe Studio at The Villas at Grand Californian is to own a contract with that home resort, and book 11 months out. If you’re a DVC member trying to book 7 months out, it can be almost impossible to book at Grand Californian.

But if you have unrestricted points and can book at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, you’ll probably have better luck at the 7 month mark.

5 Reasons Why You Should Not Stay in a Studio at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel:

1) You have to Pay Transient Tax When Staying at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

Let’s talk taxes because nobody loves those surprise fees at checkout.

When you stay at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, you have to pay a transient tax on top of your nightly rate.

At The Villas at Disney’s Californian Resort & Spa, this tax is included in Annual Dues, but this is not the case at these Villas.

So, even if you’re renting points, you will have to pay transient tax here.

Here are the approximate price ranges for transient taxes (based on 2026 chart):

Duo Studio – Standard View: $29.61 – $74.02 per night

Duo Studio – Preferred View: $32.57 – $79.94 per night

Duo Studio – Garden Room: $35.53 – $88.82 per night

Deluxe Studio – Standard View: $38.49 – $91.78 per night

Deluxe Studio – Preferred View: $44.41 – $100.67 per night

Deluxe Studio – – Garden Room: $56.25 – $121.39 per night

2) There is No 5th Sleeper in the Deluxe Studio

The Deluxe Studios are no good for slightly larger families, as they only sleep up to 4 guests.

If you want to stay here, but have 5 guests in your party, you would need to book a One-Bedroom Villa or two studios, which is not cost effective (see point chart for more details on pricing).

3) It isn’t Cheap – Even If Renting DVC Points

As you can see by the prices earlier in this post, you can certainly save money by renting DVC points to stay here. But no way of booking this resort will be “cheap”.

For example, I stayed here for 4 nights in mid-December (mainly on weeknights), and paid $2,200 to rent points (not including transient tax). Sure, this is a Deluxe Resort at Disneyland, but considering I was renting points, it doesn’t sound like such an incredible deal.

4) You Can’t Book a Room on DVC Points If You Have Restricted DVC Points

If you own restricted DVC points (which are owned by many DVC resale members who have purchased in more recent years), you can’t use your points to stay here.

(Side note: it’s the same at Disney’s Riviera Resort and The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness as well).

As a resale member with only restricted points, that was super frustrating!

For more details on restricted DVC points, see this post:

5) There is No Full Kitchen or Washer Dryer

Like other Deluxe Studios at Disneyland, Disney World and beyond, you don’t get a full kitchen (just a kitchenette). You would have to book a One, Two or Three Bedroom Villa if you wanted a kitchen.

You also don’t get a washer dryer in the studios, though there is a laundry room in the tower.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Disneyland DVC Studio

Can anyone stay at the Disneyland Villa?

You don’t have to be a Disney Vacation Club member to book a stay here.

Non-DVC members can book this resort through:

Disney directly (though this will often be the most expensive option)
Third-party authorised websites (like Undercover Tourist)
DVC rental sites (such as DVC Rental Store, David’s Vacation Rentals, DVC Shop and DVC-Rental)
Disney travel agents.

Is there a 3 bedroom Grand Villa Disneyland Hotel?

Yes, you can book a 3 Bedroom Grand Villa here – but it comes at a cost (from 120 points per night!).

Do DVC members get free parking at Disneyland?

If you are staying on DVC points, you can get free parking at the Disneyland Hotel for up to two vehicles.

If you are not staying on DVC points, you will have to pay for parking.

Do DVC members get discounts on Disneyland tickets?

DVC members with Membership Extras can get discounts on Magic Key passes (AKA Annual Passes at Disneyland).

However, DVC members don’t get discounts on Disneyland tickets.

Why buy DVC through Disney?

This is a complex question, but essentially, direct DVC contracts are almost always drastically more expensive, but come with less restrictions and more perks.

As a resale member with restricted points, I am certainly not an expert on all things direct DVC contracts.

If you’re interested in less expensive, resale DVC contracts, feel free to check out some of my posts:

Where is the DVC lounge at Disneyland?

The Star View Station member lounge (for DVC members with Membership Extras) can be found on the second floor of Star Wars Launch Bay at Disneyland Park.

Which Disneyland Hotel has a rooftop pool deck?

The Pixel Pool at Pixar Place Hotel is a rooftop pool (you can find it on the third floor).

Can you use DVC points at Disneyland Paris?

Yes, if you have Membership Extras, but it is almost never good value for points.

Ta Ta For Now

In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in a Deluxe Studio at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel – and I think MANY Disneyland guests would too.

I suggest that you review these pros and cons, and decide whether or not they’re a big deal for you before booking.

Have you stayed in a Studio at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel? And if not, would you ever splurge on a stay here?

Thanks for reading and please share your thoughts in the comments 🙂

This post was all about the 5 reasons you should and 5 reasons you should not book a stay in a Disneyland DVC Studio.

Every MAJOR Reason Why You Should & Shouldn’t Stay in a Disneyland DVC Studio at Villas at Disneyland Hotel