our full Villas at Disneyland Hotel Review & Room Tour<\/a> for every thing you could know in regards to the resort and a glance inside all the opposite room classes. That covers the professionals & cons of the brand new DVC tower as an entire, whereas this dispenses with fundamentals and background and focuses particularly on the Duo Studio Garden.<\/p>\nAt solely 250 sq. toes in dimension, the Duo Studio Garden is the smallest model of this room in existence; it \u201cbeats\u201d the Tower Studios at Disney\u2019s Riviera Resort by 5 sq. toes, and that distinction positively issues in a room this dimension. The Duo Studios are meant for {couples} or solo vacationers\u2026or in our case, a pair with a child.<\/p>\n
The Duo Studio rooms function one queen-size pull-down convertible couch mattress, two ottoman, a flat-screen tv, 2-person bench, chair, and a kitchenette with mini-fridge, microwave, and occasional maker. They even have shelving, drawers, and a closet\u2013there\u2019s ample storage for a celebration of two.<\/p>\n
The Duo Studios all function decor and themed design impressed by The Jungle Book. <\/em>As with all the latest Disney Vacation Club rooms, the important thing function of the Duo Studio\u2013which is what what makes it viable within the first place\u2013is that the queen sized mattress folds down from the wall and transforms into the couch when not in use. It\u2019s basically a mixed-use or convertible room consequently.<\/p>\nWhen it got here to the Villas at Disneyland Hotel, this new room kind was the one about which I used to be most excited. We had been very combined on the Tower Studios at Disney\u2019s Riviera Resort, considering that the room class was a good suggestion, however it simply didn\u2019t fairly \u201cwork,\u201d with a number of perplexing makes use of of area that weren\u2019t precisely environment friendly.<\/p>\n
We had been desirous to see whether or not Disney discovered something and iterated upon the thought, or if the Duo Studio in VDH can be extra of the identical. So, did it stay as much as expectations? Let\u2019s have a look\u2026<\/p>\n
The apparent draw back is that the primary residing space within the Duo Studio is small. That a lot needs to be obvious primarily based on the sq. footage, however in case not, these rooms are about 130 sq. toes smaller than the common rooms.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve stayed in each the Deluxe Studio and Duo Studio within the Villas at Disneyland Hotel, and that distinction is totally noticeable. Don\u2019t let anybody attempt to let you know in any other case with claims that this \u201cfeels a lot bigger\u201d than it truly is.<\/p>\n
To contextualize this, the area you\u2019re dropping within the Duo Studio is basically the place the common mattress can be within the Deluxe Studio. The format is pretty comparable, however as if the common mattress had been surgically eliminated and the kitchenette condensed and grafted over to beneath the tv.<\/p>\n
That might be why some followers contend the Duo Studio feels bigger than anticipated. If you\u2019re not utilizing the common mattress throughout the day, it\u2019s not likely including something to the room\u2019s spaciousness. So there\u2019s some validity to the purpose that the Duo Studio doesn\u2019t really feel as small as it’s on paper.<\/p>\n
Regardless, if it had been simply the room itself, the Duo Studio would grow to be claustrophobic with two folks after a bit. We\u2019re smaller folks used to smaller lodging, however that\u2019s been our expertise with the Tower Studio at Riviera Resort. This is exactly why we made the additional effort to guide the Duo Studio Garden, guaranteeing ourselves a balcony or patio.<\/p>\n
In phrases of how the area contained in the Duo Studio Garden at VDH is utilized, it\u2019s very environment friendly. We had been involved about this, on condition that Riviera\u2019s Tower Studio has an enormous rest room and clumsy closet, which meant that room felt smaller than it truly is\u2013a minimum of to us. Giving Disney the good thing about the doubt (to a point), their hand was in all probability compelled with a few of these format designs, because the Tower Studio is actually in a tower, so it\u2019s essentially wedge-shaped.<\/p>\n
We had been additionally anxious since we\u2019ve added a child to the combination since our final keep within the Tower Studio. Granted, she may be very small by human requirements\u2013like one-tenth the scale of both of us, tops\u2013however she and her assorted belongings take up a shocking quantity of area. She burns by numerous diapers, whereas Sarah and I are totally potty-trained. Just one instance.<\/p>\n
In any case, the Duo Studios at Disneyland Hotel have the boxy goodness of regular lodge rooms. In addition to that, each inch of the room is thoughtfully designed, proper right down to the dual ottomans that match neatly beneath the nightstands when not in use. It can be unattainable to listing all the intelligent makes use of of the area right here, however they\u2019re apparent when you\u2019re inside.<\/p>\n
This shouldn\u2019t be a shock\u2013Disney has gotten actually good at space-maximizing designs with latest room overhauls and new designs, however we had been nonetheless anxious given the Tower Studio. If you\u2019re approaching this from an identical perspective, we will put these fears to relaxation. Every inch of this room and each function serve a goal; nothing is wasted.<\/p>\n
The three of us didn’t really feel too cramped in Disneyland Hotel\u2019s Duo Studio, whereas the 2 of us did really feel that approach in Riviera\u2019s Tower Studio.<\/p>\n
One different criticism we had of the Tower Studio at Disney\u2019s Riviera Resort was that the lighting is poor and that the design basically is a bit dreary and uninteresting, with scant art work and darker woods. It\u2019s fairly the departure from different latest room designs at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, and particularly to Riviera Resort, which function considerably higher design within the Deluxe Studios.<\/p>\n
Again, not the case with the Duo Studios at Disneyland Hotel. We each liked The Jungle Book<\/em> aesthetic, which is bit on the darker facet as in comparison with the opposite rooms (virtually all of that are princess-themed) however it\u2019s nonetheless very vibrant and enjoyable. The art work is good, and there are many pops of colour.<\/p>\nI additionally just like the number of lighting, which ranges from moody and atmospheric for those who simply use the sunshine behind the tv or lamps above the bedside desk to downright vibrant for those who use all the room\u2019s lights. There\u2019s additionally extra window protection right here than within the Tower Studio, so you possibly can have ample pure lighting, for those who\u2019d want.<\/p>\n
My private favourite element of the Duo Studio is the appearances by Mowgli and Baloo. I had numerous enjoyable capturing pictures of Megatron and Sarah showing as analogs to that duo. I additionally actually favored the world rug beneath the the pull-down mattress, which each provides thematically and is only a good approach of giving the room extra depth and texture. This is a good compromise between the extra sanitary laminate flooring and totally carpeted rooms.<\/p>\n
Beyond this, the design of the Duo Studio is upscale, so it doesn\u2019t really feel <\/em>such as you\u2019re staying in a finances lodge room or \u2018value\u2019 tier room. The finishings and decor are good and high-caliber, and there\u2019s each bit as a lot consideration to element as within the Deluxe Studios. These are like these rooms\u2013however with the common mattress eliminated\u2013in just about each sense.<\/p>\nFor those that are curious, we discovered the pull-down mattress to be comfy. I might say \u201csurprisingly\u201d comfy, however we\u2019ve had fairly good success with all of those new-ish pull-down beds at Walt Disney World, too.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve used a kind of, no matter your opinion of it’s will virtually actually maintain true right here. We\u2019re large followers of those kind of mattress versus one which folds out from contained in the sofa. Having a correct mattress is a large win.<\/p>\n
The rest room can also be fairly good and just like the Deluxe Studios. Plenty of counter area, vibrant in-mirror lighting, and extra. There\u2019s additionally extra Jungle Book artwork above the bathroom.<\/p>\n
The mixture of rainfall bathe head coupled with a wand is good, as is the tile detailing and bench seating. There\u2019s greater than sufficient area within the bathe, which is one other function that may set this room other than decrease tier rooms.<\/p>\n
Saving the most effective for final, the balcony actually blew our minds. This is\u00a0the\u00a0<\/em>defining function of the Duo Studio Garden, and why a few of you {couples} ought to strongly think about the Duo Studio Garden over an everyday (balcony-less) Deluxe Studio. This is the large benefit this room has over virtually another choice at Disneyland Hotel.<\/p>\nThe balcony on the Duo Studio Garden looks like a development \u201cgoof-up\u201d in one of the simplest ways doable. It is perhaps troublesome to inform from the pictures, however this balcony is actually bigger than the primary residing space within the Duo Studio, which instantly led me to wonder if it was a mistake.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s like they made the choice to do Duo Studios and Deluxe Studios on this similar construction, however didn\u2019t account for the distinction in dimension between the 2 forms of rooms. As if somebody midway by design realized that and mentioned, \u201cscrew it, just give the Duo Studio Garden an enormous balcony.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019m severe. This construction and its balconies or patios are in plain view from the pool, and from what I may discern, the one distinction between the room varieties is that the Deluxe Studios have rooms that reach out additional into their balconies. It\u2019s doable that I\u2019m incorrect, however from I may collect, the footprint is similar\u2013the Duo Studios simply have greater balconies and the Deluxe Studios have bigger rooms.<\/p>\n
Technically, balcony dimension isn’t counted into sq. footage\u2026so this being the smallest Disney lodge room is correct. But from a sensible perspective, that\u2019s extremely doubtful. If you gave me the selection between this room and its huge balcony and the Tower Studios at Disney\u2019s Riviera Resort or Value Resorts at Walt Disney World, I\u2019m taking this each single time\u2013with out hesitation.<\/p>\n
Honestly, I\u2019m additionally taking this over the Deluxe Studios inside the primary tower of the Villas at Disneyland Hotel. We are large indoor-outdoor residing folks, and the big balcony completely makes the totality of the Duo Studio Garden really feel <\/em>bigger than these balcony-less rooms. Aside from sleeping, we simply spent 75% of our time right here out on the balcony. (The solely cause that quantity wasn\u2019t even larger is as a result of our keep was throughout one of many coldest nights of the 12 months in Anaheim\u2013it bought right down to 40 levels!)<\/p>\nThis additionally labored out properly for us as we had been in a position to make use of the Duo Studio Garden to \u201centertainment.\u201d We\u2019ve been avoiding indoor actions, so it\u2019s been a number of months since we\u2019ve seen some mates. Being in a position to hang around on the balcony was good. There would\u2019ve simply been area for six folks in chairs on the market, assuming we had that many chairs and mates.<\/p>\n
We know there\u2019s been numerous curiosity about these new room varieties since Disney Vacation Club members are frugal. No shade or disgrace there, as we\u2019re additionally frugal. Hence or testing of the Tower and Duo Studios on the two latest resorts.<\/p>\n
As DVC members, we attempt to use our factors as sparingly as doable\u2013at all times reserving studios, and usually doing so with the value-friendly rooms on the BoardWalk Villas, Animal Kingdom Lodge, or Old Key West. For the \u201cfancier\u201d resorts, we attempt to guide low season weekday stays at any time when doable. That was a part of the motivation for doing this within the winter\u2026however we additionally wished to attend till Megatron was a number of months outdated for her first lodge keep. There\u2019s additionally the truth that this was once I may discover availability.<\/p>\n
Anyway, the Duo Studio Garden is a slight premium over the usual Duo Studio. During our keep, it was an additional 2 factors, however it may be as a lot as a 5 level distinction throughout peak dates. In our view, it’s completely and unquestionably definitely worth the premium. For us, that was very true since this was a hotel-centric getaway and we spent most of our time within the room or at close by Palm Breeze.<\/p>\n
Unless you\u2019re park commandos who plan on doing Disneyland and Disney California Adventure from Early Entry till closing and solely want the room as a spot to crash, we predict the premium might be value it. Even utilizing that balcony for an hour or two a day\u2013in your morning espresso or a drink to decompress on the finish of the day\u2013makes it value it.<\/p>\n
For {couples} who would in any other case guide a Deluxe Studio, the Duo Studio Garden is much more of a no brainer. This room is at all times <\/em>cheaper (in factors) than the balcony-less Deluxe Studio, and the general footprint for this room seems to be bigger when you account for the balcony.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re primarily a Walt Disney World customer and are questioning the practicality of a balcony, needless to say Florida and Southern California have very totally different climates. Whereas the Orlando space celebrates summer season 43 weeks of the 12 months with sizzling and humid climate, it\u2019s extra more likely to be too chilly than it’s too sizzling in Anaheim.<\/p>\n
Aside from a number of weeks in late summer season and winter, the climate is often good in Southern California. Balconies are far more helpful\u2013which is a part of why it\u2019s disappointing that there are so few of them connected to the rooms within the Villas at Disneyland Hotel.<\/p>\n
The above worth proposition dialogue pertains to factors and never money charges. There has been numerous criticism in regards to the money charges for these duo rooms on each coasts being absurd, with costs beginning at round $500 per evening and going as much as over $700. No query, these costs are <\/em>absurd. So too are virtually all Deluxe Villa Resort costs, particularly pre-discount.<\/p>\nThe drawback with all Deluxe Villas is that you simply won’t be capable of discover them by way of reductions (because the stock is basically restricted on the lodge facet), so that you would possibly truly be paying these money charges. If the selection is between an everyday room on the Grand Californian (my favourite lodge at Disneyland Resort, and a powerful contender for #1 within the U.S.) and the Duo Studio\u2013even the Garden one\u2013for the very same value, I\u2019m taking the Grand Californian each single time.<\/p>\n
As a lot as we favored this room and its large ole balcony, we\u2019d pay a premium to remain in a typical room on the Grand Californian (GCH) with a typical balcony. The Duo Studio Garden is nice and compares favorably to the Deluxe Studios at VDH, however the full package deal nonetheless isn\u2019t pretty much as good because the GCH.<\/p>\n
Whether the Duo Studio Garden is definitely worth the premium relative to the common Duo Studio or financial savings relative to Deluxe Studios is as much as the person or couple. Personally, I believe the worth proposition of this explicit room\u2013on factors\u2013is totally super. That balcony provides a lot and virtually looks like a mistake. There are only a few DVC rooms inside strolling distance of parks which are this massive, good, and low cost.<\/p>\n
If paying money, it\u2019s a very totally different story. I\u2019d nonetheless favor this room over any of the common lodge rooms at Disneyland Hotel\u2013and positively Pixar Place Hotel\u2013however when in comparison with Grand Californian, it\u2019s extra of an \u201cit depends\u201d scenario. If this room weren\u2019t considerably cheaper and I didn\u2019t have a use or want for the large balcony, I\u2019m in all probability selecting GCH.<\/p>\n
Once totally declared, I think there are sufficient frugal DVC members who will wish to benefit from the worth proposition the Duo Studio Gardens supply, making it troublesome to guide these by way of money charges, regardless. The upside coupled with low provide (solely 4 models, by my rely) goes to make these a sizzling ticket.<\/p>\n
Honestly, that\u2019s for the most effective. We talked about unfavourable opinions of the Tower Studios on the prime of the submit, and that\u2019s utterly comprehensible. These rooms remind me a little bit of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (oddly sufficient), as there\u2019s seemingly a data hole between fervent followers and informal friends.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not troublesome to think about a traditional, non-fan logging on to Disneyland.com to cost out rooms, seeing \u2018Duo Studio Garden\u2019 priced at $600 or no matter, and making the very affordable assumption primarily based on the money charge that it is a fancy lodge room. Only to reach and discover that there\u2019s \u201cno bed\u201d and the room is sized like one thing within the coronary heart of New York City or Tokyo. I\u2019m curious how usually Walt Disney World or Disneyland obtain complaints from common friends about this sort of room.<\/p>\n
By distinction, DVC members are higher-knowledge, repeat friends who’re reserving aggressive classes as a result of that\u2019s what they really need. I\u2019d hope\/hazard a guess that they don’t seem to be complaining in regards to the duo rooms, and likewise that they\u2019re giving a lot larger satisfaction scores to this fashion of lodging. (A little bit of an apart, however I at all times suppose discrepancies between causal friends and diehard followers are fascinating.)<\/p>\n
Ultimately, we went into Megatron\u2019s first resort reservation questioning whether or not we\u2019d made a horrible mistake and the tiny room can be worse than the Tower Studio and too tiny for 2 adults and a child. We ended up being pleasantly shocked by the format and use of area contained in the room, and blown away by the balcony. Her first keep was a enjoyable one, and we\u2019re already in search of an excuse to guide the Duo Garden Studio once more.<\/p>\n
Beyond {couples} with infants, the Duo Studio Garden on the Villas at Disneyland Hotel is a incredible room for some demographics and the balcony or patio is an absolute gamechanger and substantial enhancement for the slight point-premium. Even in terms of simply the inside, Disney has improved upon the Tower Studio in a number of methods, and glued virtually all the shortcomings present in that room at Riviera Resort. It is clearly nonetheless small, however that\u2019s a function relatively than a bug\u2013so it\u2019s arduous to criticize that. If you guide a small room, don\u2019t be shocked while you obtain\u2026a small room!<\/em><\/p>\nAs a common matter, the 2-person studio is a distinct segment class that\u2019s solely going to work for sure vacationers. It\u2019s robust to convey how these rooms really feel till you spend a good period of time in them. If, after studying this prolonged assessment and seeing the pictures & video, you\u2019re nonetheless not sure of whether or not it\u2019s best for you\u2026it in all probability isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re interested by becoming a member of DVC, you’ll want to learn our Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club<\/a><\/strong>. This covers the professionals & cons, resale v. direct, how a lot cash you\u2019ll save, and different necessary issues to know earlier than taking the plunge.\u00a0<\/strong>If you continue to can\u2019t determine whether or not membership is best for you, \u201ctry before you buy\u201d with the suggestions in How to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Accommodations Renting DVC Points<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\nYOUR THOUGHTS<\/h3>\n What do you consider the Duo Studio Garden on the Villas at Disneyland Hotel? Will you be benefiting from the financial savings these supply and reserving, or would you relatively have a full-sized Deluxe Studio? Thoughts on the big balcony? What do you view as the best use-case for the Duo Studio? Any questions in regards to the Villas at Disneyland Hotel? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Hearing from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your ideas within the feedback beneath!<\/p>\n