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

[VGCgroupie]

In case you missed this morning's announcement.

Thread 'Disneyland Eliminates Early Entry for Resort Hotel Guests Beginning January 5, 2026'

Aug 20, 2025

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/early-admission-options/

Early Entry at the Disneyland Resort​

LocatedinDisneyland Resort
Prior to January 5, 2026: Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can take advantage of 30-minute early entry to a designated theme park every day of their hotel stay to enjoy select attractions, dining and shopping locations.

Each day, either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park will open early:

• Disneyland Park: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
• Disney California...

• joseph821
• Replies: 372
• Forum: Disneyland (California)

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I did miss it. Thanks for posting here.

I am torn. Typically I am sleep in person but when we go with the whole family we do early entry. I am happy that they gave us something for taking it away. While I wish it was 1 LL per day rather than length of stay Im still grateful they threw us some sort of bone.

 

[VGCgroupie]

It is like they want you to go across the street.

Never

 

[atthebeachclub]

I did miss it. Thanks for posting here.

I am torn. Typically I am sleep in person but when we go with the whole family we do early entry. I am happy that they gave us something for taking it away. While I wish it was 1 LL per day rather than length of stay Im still grateful they threw us some sort of bone.

Wait…it’s PER STAY?? Wow, that is a downgrade.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Wait…it’s PER STAY?? Wow, that is a downgrade.

Yep per stay.

Early Entry at the Disneyland Resort​

LocatedinDisneyland Resort
Prior to January 5, 2026: Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can take advantage of 30-minute early entry to a designated theme park every day of their hotel stay to enjoy select attractions, dining and shopping locations.

Each day, either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park will open early:

• Disneyland Park: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
• Disney California Adventure Park: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

Please check the theme park calendar for park opening times.

Starting January 5, 2026: Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can instead take advantage of one Lightning Lane entry to a Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction during their Resort stay.

Valid theme park admission and a park reservation for the same park on the same date are also required for Guests (ages 3+). Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Lightning Lane Multi Pass entry benefit for hotel guests is subject to attraction availability and restrictions, including the Lightning Lane Multi Pass terms and conditions.

 

[RickNJane]

Start the countdown until this happens at WDW.

Hate to agree with you but I do.

 

[KPeterso]

Yep per stay.

Early Entry at the Disneyland Resort​

LocatedinDisneyland Resort
Prior to January 5, 2026: Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can take advantage of 30-minute early entry to a designated theme park every day of their hotel stay to enjoy select attractions, dining and shopping locations.

Each day, either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park will open early:

• Disneyland Park: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
• Disney California Adventure Park: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

Please check the theme park calendar for park opening times.

Starting January 5, 2026: Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can instead take advantage of one Lightning Lane entry to a Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction during their Resort stay.

Valid theme park admission and a park reservation for the same park on the same date are also required for Guests (ages 3+). Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Lightning Lane Multi Pass entry benefit for hotel guests is subject to attraction availability and restrictions, including the Lightning Lane Multi Pass terms and conditions.

So if I want it for each day, I would have to book each night separately. Ugh - should be each day of the stay.

 

[Canchaser143]

I did miss it. Thanks for posting here.

I am torn. Typically I am sleep in person but when we go with the whole family we do early entry. I am happy that they gave us something for taking it away. While I wish it was 1 LL per day rather than length of stay Im still grateful they threw us some sort of bone.

EE is clutch when going with littles. Being able to do Fantasyland without it being like a circus is the best! Not to mention none of those rides are on LL. There is nothing I loathe more than trying to rope drop with a stroller......

 

[AstroBlasters]

EE is clutch when going with littles. Being able to do Fantasyland without it being like a circus is the best! Not to mention none of those rides are on LL. There is nothing I loathe more than trying to rope drop with a stroller......

I think this could impact that cash side of the hotel. Makes it a LOT harder to justify the premium over good neighbor.

One lighting lane for an entire trip… That’s almost worthless for people who already buy it everyday… give me an untimed multi-experience LL every day per person on the reservation and then we are in a better place….

 

[Canchaser143]

I think this could impact that cash side of the hotel. Makes it a LOT harder to justify the premium over good neighbor.

One lighting lane for an entire trip… That’s almost worthless for people who already buy it everyday… give me an untimed multi-experience LL every day per person on the reservation and then we are in a better place….

For real, one single LL.... it is laughable!
I really am just so sad EE was so great. And to top if off, removing the Paradise Pier entrance too.... how rude! I am going to have to look at Disney Forward articles to bring up my spirits lol

 

[PCDisFan]

They are already discounting cash stays. I can’t see this move doing anything other than decreasing demand for bookings.
Cutting pennies out of the staffing/security budget so you can lose dollars in hotel bookings isn’t going to be good for revenue.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Yep per stay.

Makes the few nights at a VDH garden and a few at VGC split stay even more "smart" I guess....

They are already discounting cash stays. I can’t see this move doing anything other than decreasing demand for bookings.
Cutting pennies out of the staffing/security budget so you can lose dollars in hotel bookings isn’t going to be good for revenue.

I guess I don't see it but perhaps they need to lower prices on the hotels to fight against all of the deals on Harbor and near the convention center. Perhaps the math works out that if they can get their core occupancy up they know you'll spend more dollars on food and other stuff if you are a hotel guest and perhaps it's true that a majority of guests were not using the perk. It was not run all that well and you had to get up very very early to have any hope to do it right. With that said, we did it many days during our last visit in July and it was key to giving our visiting family their dream of crushing all the rides with less stress and time in lines.....

I guess my silver lining is that this may depress demand even more at VDH and perhaps line up a direct fire sale on it for 150 a point direct in a few years when I may be able to grab a few more points

 

[VGCgroupie]

Makes the few nights at a VDH garden and a few at VGC split stay even more "smart" I guess....


I guess I don't see it but perhaps they need to lower prices on the hotels to fight against all of the deals on Harbor and near the convention center. Perhaps the math works out that if they can get their core occupancy up they know you'll spend more dollars on food and other stuff if you are a hotel guest and perhaps it's true that a majority of guests were not using the perk. It was not run all that well and you had to get up very very early to have any hope to do it right. With that said, we did it many days during our last visit in July and it was key to giving our visiting family their dream of crushing all the rides with less stress and time in lines.....

I guess my silver lining is that this may depress demand even more at VDH and perhaps line up a direct fire sale on it for 150 a point direct in a few years when I may be able to grab a few more points

My silver lining is maybe it makes DVC rentals a bit less desirable too.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Makes the few nights at a VDH garden and a few at VGC split stay even more "smart" I guess....


I guess I don't see it but perhaps they need to lower prices on the hotels to fight against all of the deals on Harbor and near the convention center. Perhaps the math works out that if they can get their core occupancy up they know you'll spend more dollars on food and other stuff if you are a hotel guest and perhaps it's true that a majority of guests were not using the perk. It was not run all that well and you had to get up very very early to have any hope to do it right. With that said, we did it many days during our last visit in July and it was key to giving our visiting family their dream of crushing all the rides with less stress and time in lines.....

I guess my silver lining is that this may depress demand even more at VDH and perhaps line up a direct fire sale on it for 150 a point direct in a few years when I may be able to grab a few more points

I'd be fine with that since that's around the time we'd be looking into more points too.

 

[upritbass]

We got pixie-dusted last week at check-in. They upgraded us from a Duo to a Deluxe Studio. Yay? DW announced, "I'm never staying in a Duo again!"

Thanks. That pixie dust just cost me more money...

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

We got pixie-dusted last week at check-in. They upgraded us from a Duo to a Deluxe Studio. Yay? DW announced, "I'm never staying in a Duo again!"

Thanks. That pixie dust just cost me more money...

That’s not too bad. It’s the 1 bedroom that is the points panty dropper.

 

[scoobdoo]

Some notes on a stay this week:

- Never had any trouble getting beds in the shade (unlike Aulani), which I was slightly concerned about given the heat wave
- Splash pad is fully operational again
- Loved the little surprise and delight moments, like a selection of snap bands at the pool host
- Service was attentive and free treats were coming around like breakfast bars at 10am
- The pool complex remains second to none; not sure why anyone with kids would stay next door at the Grand Cal
- I'll never take the availability of room service here for granted again after Aulani removed it

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Some notes on a stay this week:

- Never had any trouble getting beds in the shade (unlike Aulani), which I was slightly concerned about given the heat wave
- Splash pad is fully operational again
- Loved the little surprise and delight moments, like a selection of snap bands at the pool host
- Service was attentive and free treats were coming around like breakfast bars at 10am
- The pool complex remains second to none; not sure why anyone with kids would stay next door at the Grand Cal
- I'll never take the availability of room service here for granted again after Aulani removed it

I just want to second how helpful it was to have room service at VDH - when we stayed in June my kiddo got sick unexpectedly - since it was just the two of us, having room service as an option was a true blessing. Definitely one of those amenities you don’t realize how much you miss having it until it’s needed.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Some notes on a stay this week:

- Never had any trouble getting beds in the shade (unlike Aulani), which I was slightly concerned about given the heat wave
- Splash pad is fully operational again
- Loved the little surprise and delight moments, like a selection of snap bands at the pool host
- Service was attentive and free treats were coming around like breakfast bars at 10am
- The pool complex remains second to none; not sure why anyone with kids would stay next door at the Grand Cal
- I'll never take the availability of room service here for granted again after Aulani removed it

“not sure why anyone with kids would stay next door at the Grand Cal”

I’m not sure why the two ownership groups feel the need to take digs at the other property….

There are tons of reasons why someone with small kids would want to stay at Grand Cal and Vice Versa. They are both great properties.

 

[MartyParty]

DW and I were just talking this weekend about how we like both VDH and VGC for different reasons.

VDH
Rooms are bright and alive with lots of Disney
The pool and Palm Breeze Bar never seem to be over crowded
The general outside area including Trader Sam's has a wonderful Southern California / South Pacific vibe
Tons of studios and those Duo points charts work wonders for us for a quick low points couples trip

VGC
The inside of the resort has that grand national park vibe that always makes us want to look around and take pictures
Craftsman style rooms are a wonderful relaxing atmosphere after a long day at the parks
Some good restaurant choices based at the VGC hotel
Ideally close to the parks

I could go on for a while, but both resorts have a ton of pluses. And now that I've stayed at both quite a few times, I like the fact that Disney created something totally different between VDH and VGC. With VGC being so successful, it would have been tempting to do something similar. Glad DVD contrasted with some variety.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

100% agree. They both have so many pros. I had to do a split stay this month because plans changed after booking and do you think my WTL confirmed at VGC to stay in the same room for all the nights? Absolutely not.

We walked our own luggage over to VDH and it was a breeze. Then got to take the monorail into the park and back which is another pro you don't get to do much when staying at VGC.