If you haven’t been to the Disneyland Resort in the last twelve months, the skyline looks fundamentally different. People keep asking about "the new Disney hotel Anaheim" project, but there is a massive amount of confusion about what is actually open, what is rebranded, and what is still a construction zone behind those green fences.
It’s not just one building.
Disney has been playing a high-stakes game of musical chairs with its real estate. We saw the transformation of the Paradise Pier Hotel into the Pixar Place Hotel, which officially wrapped up its metamorphosis in early 2024. Then you have the The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, a stunning 12-story tower that added a massive injection of Disney Vacation Club (DVC) inventory to the West Coast.
Honestly? It’s about time. For years, the Grand Californian held a monopoly on the high-end, on-property experience, and the Disneyland Hotel was starting to feel a little... vintage. Not the good kind of vintage. The "needs a USB-C port" kind of vintage.
Why Pixar Place Isn't Just a Paint Job
A lot of skeptics thought Pixar Place was just going to be some stickers on the wall and a new rug. They were wrong. This is the first fully Pixar-themed hotel in the United States, and it feels like a gallery. When you walk into the lobby, you’re greeted by the iconic Pixar Lamp balancing on its ball, but the real star is the mobile hanging from the skylight. It features character sketches that represent the "beginning" of the animation process.
The rooms are a massive step up. You've got the Luxo Lamp desks and headboards that feature concept art from Toy Story and Finding Nemo.
It feels intentional.
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One thing people consistently miss is the soundtrack. Disney hired producers to create "Pixar-esque" jazz and acoustic covers of famous movie scores specifically for the lobby and pool deck. It’s subtle. You might be checking in and suddenly realize you’re hearing a bossa nova version of "You've Got a Friend in Me."
The dining situation also saw a complete overhaul. Great Maple is the flagship restaurant here, and it is a weird, wonderful choice for Disney. It’s a Southern California staple known for "modern American comfort food." If you don’t order the maple bacon donuts, you basically failed the trip. They also opened The Sketch Pad Cafe in the lobby for quick espresso drinks and Small Bytes up on the pool deck.
The pool deck itself is where the "new" factor really hits. They added a Finding Nemo themed splash pad and a 186-foot-long waterslide. It’s called Pixel Pool. It’s bright. It’s loud. It’s exactly what a family with a seven-year-old needs after eight hours in the parks.
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel: Luxury for the DVC Crowd
While Pixar Place was getting its facelift, the Discovery Tower was rising next to the existing Disneyland Hotel towers (Fantasy, Adventure, and Frontier). This is the "new Disney hotel Anaheim" addition that most serious Disney fans were tracking for years.
It’s the first dedicated DVC tower at the Disneyland Hotel.
The architecture is meant to look like an artist’s palette. It’s sleek, it’s glass-heavy, and it houses 344 themed rooms. But here is the catch: it’s not all just Mickey Mouse. The rooms are deeply themed to specific eras of Disney animation.
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- Sleeping Beauty themes dominate the Duo Studios.
- The Princess and the Frog takes over the Deluxe Studios.
- Fantasia is the vibe for the massive multi-bedroom villas.
The "Duo Studios" are a bit of a gamble. They are tiny. They are specifically designed for two people, which is a departure from the "fit as many kids as possible" philosophy of older Disney resorts. If you’re a couple looking for a getaway, it’s perfect. If you have a toddler? Don't do it. You'll feel like you're living in a very expensive shoebox.
The crown jewel of this new tower is the Palm Breeze Bar. It’s an open-air spot that overlooks the new Palette Pool. The decor is inspired by Mary Blair—the legend behind the aesthetic of it's a small world. The mosaic work here is stunning. It’s one of the few places on property where you can grab a cocktail and feel like an actual adult, away from the chaos of the main gates.
The Elephant in the Room: Disneyland Forward
You can't talk about a new Disney hotel in Anaheim without mentioning Disneyland Forward. This is the massive, multi-decade expansion plan that the Anaheim City Council approved in early 2024.
This is where things get crazy.
Disney didn't just ask for more rides. They asked for "mixed-use" zoning. This means they can build theme park attractions, hotels, and shopping all tangled together. Think Tokyo DisneySea style, where the hotel is literally the entrance to the park.
The plans show potential for new lodging on the current "Toy Story" parking lot area on Harbor Boulevard. This would be a massive shift in the Anaheim landscape. For decades, the "Good Neighbor" hotels (non-Disney owned) have dominated Harbor. If Disney builds a massive, high-capacity hotel on that lot, it changes the economics of the entire neighborhood.
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We aren't talking about a new tower. We are talking about a whole new district.
Why Location Still Matters More Than Magic
Despite all these new additions, the "best" hotel is still a heated debate.
- The Grand Californian: Still the only one with a private entrance into Disney California Adventure. You pay for that privilege. A lot.
- Disneyland Hotel / The Villas: The classic choice. Now with the newest rooms on property.
- Pixar Place: The "budget-friendly" (by Disney standards) option that actually feels modern now.
Most people don't realize that Pixar Place is actually closer to the parks than some of the towers at the Disneyland Hotel. There is a "secret" walkway. If you stay at Pixar Place, you can cross the street and enter Disney California Adventure through a special gate right next to Corn Dog Castle. It’s a game-changer for rope-dropping.
What to Expect Next
The construction hasn't stopped. While the big tower is done, the surrounding infrastructure is constantly shifting. Downtown Disney is currently a maze of construction walls as they build the new Din Tai Fung and the Parkside Market.
If you're booking right now, you need to be aware of the "Disneyland Hotel" vs. "The Villas" distinction. They share a pool area and amenities, but they are technically separate entities in the booking system. The Villas (Discovery Tower) will almost always be more expensive because they are brand new and have kitchenettes.
Is the new Disney hotel Anaheim experience worth the $500 to $800 a night?
It depends on your tolerance for "The Bubble." Staying on property means you never see a car, you never leave the music, and your room key opens everything. For some, that’s essential. For others, the JW Marriott or the Westin Anaheim—both of which are newer and arguably more luxurious—are better deals. But they don't have the Pixar Lamp. And for a lot of families, the lamp is the whole point.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
- Check the Secret Entrance: If you book Pixar Place, make sure you have your digital room key ready on your phone. You’ll need it to scan into the side entrance of California Adventure. This can save you 20 minutes of walking through Downtown Disney.
- Book Dining Early: Great Maple at Pixar Place and the Palm Breeze Bar at the Villas are popular with locals, not just hotel guests. Set your alarm for the 60-day booking window.
- DVC Rental Strategy: You don’t have to be a DVC member to stay at the new Discovery Tower. You can "rent points" from a third-party site. This often gets you into a $700 room for about $400. It requires planning 7-11 months in advance, though.
- Evaluate the "Duo" Room: If you are traveling as a trio, do not let the lower price point of the Duo Studio tempt you. There is no space for a rollaway bed.
- Monitor the Disneyland Forward Timeline: Expect major announcements regarding the "Third Theme Park" or massive hotel expansions near the Toy Story lot by the end of 2026. The zoning is already in place; now they just have to break ground.
The landscape is changing fast. Anaheim isn't just a suburb with a park anymore; it’s becoming a vertically integrated resort city. Whether you stay in the new Pixar Place or the luxury Villas, you're paying for a piece of that evolution. Just make sure you know which tower you're actually checking into before you show up with your luggage.