The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (11 page)

Disneyland Hotel

The
Disneyland Hotel
has undergone many transformations over the decades.  Presently, three hotel towers named
Adventure
,
Frontier
, and
Fantasy
with imaginatively designed Guest rooms surround lushly landscaped grounds, pools, waterslides, gardens, the Tiki-themed eatery
Tangaroa Terrace
, and
Trader Sam’s
bar.  You’ll find the Front Desk, Bell Desk, Guest Services, Valet,
Small World
sundries shop, and
Fantasia
gift shop on the ground floor of the
Fantasy
tower (formerly known as the
Magic
tower).  This hotel is a favorite with children and Guests of all ages thanks to
magical
touches like
Mickey
-shaped faucets and interactive
fireworks
that glow at the touch of a button. 
Mickey
’s white-gloved hands hold lamps.  There’s a fairy-tale flavor to the room designs and furnishings. Furniture is delicately carved wood;
Sleeping Beauty Castle
is carved on the beds’ headboards (with the addition of firework LEDs).  The original
Herb Ryman
illustration of
Disneyland
used to be etched in all its detailed glory on the doors of every television and refreshment cabinet.  Although beloved by kids,
Disneyland Hotel
has elegant elements that grown-ups will appreciate, from the patterns of the carpets, bedspreads, and drapes to the elegant wallpaper.  Of course, when you look closely, you’ll find subtle
Disney character
references in carpets, wallpaper, lamps, plants, even shower tiles.
Hidden Mickeys
abound!  Themed
Signature Suites
like the
Mickey Mouse Penthouse
or the
Big Thunder
,
Fairy Tale
, or
Pirates of the Carribean Suites
are available for those that can afford them.  All
Signature Suites
are located on the 11
th
floor of the
Adventure
Tower
(which was known as the
Dreams Tower
until June 2011).  Call (714) 956-6425 for suite pricing details.  Diversions on the hotel grounds include gardens and geysers.  Lovely gazebos serve as backdrops for many a fairytale wedding.  Room service is moderately expensive but fast and attentive, and the food is delicious.  Particularly recommended:  the American breakfast plate, the burger, the margherita pizza, the chicken fettucini, and the flourless chocolate cake.  If a $40 room-service steak isn’t in your budget, pop down to
Tangaroa Terrace
for a much more modestly priced Teryaki steak.  Hotel laundry service is fast and priced reasonably, and there are coin-operated washing machines and dryers on site if you want to do the laundry yourself.  Gift shops, snack shops, and restaurants, including character dining, are available on site, serving all price points.  If you’re at the resort for a business event or a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, consider dining at
Steakhouse 55
.  A mere 10-minute stroll through
Downtown Disney
brings you to the park entrances, or board the
Monorail
at the station adjacent to the hotel for a quick ride to the
Tomorrowland
region of
Disneyland
.  Guests staying at the
Disneyland Hotel
are allowed to use the
Grand Californian Hotel and Spa
’s private entrance into
Disney California Adventure Park
–just present your room keycard when entering the park.  Be sure to book well in advance for stays during spring break, the summer, or the holiday season.  Standard room rates for this classic
Disneyland
hotel vary broadly based on season, vacation packages, special promotions, discounts, and the amenities selected.  Generally speaking, this is the resort’s mid-priced option.  Special suites, better views, and concierge services are available for additional fees. 
Annual Passholders
receive a discount.  Note that Guests in the
Adventure Tower
are guaranteed great views, because rooms either face
Downtown Disney
and the parks, or the pool and waterslides.  Views from the other towers are hit-or-miss.  If your budget is tight, consider staying during weekdays and/or off season, and consult your travel agent or contact a
Disney Vacation Planner
for the best possible rates.  Staying on property adds extra
magic
to your visit, and provides special perks like early entrance to the parks on select days, package delivery and pick-ups, free
Disney Channel
in the rooms, etc.  There are times (although they are increasingly rare) when
Disneyland Hotel
stays are as inexpensive as rates at neighboring, off-property hotels.  However, if a stay at a park hotel simply is not in your budget at the time you’re traveling, there are plenty of inexpensive, clean, family-friendly hotels surrounding the park. 
Did You Know?
  The
Disneyland Hotel
is
Disneyland
’s original resort hotel, designed as a quality alternative to some of the tacky lodgings that sprang up around the resort in the 1950’s.  For many years the
Disneyland Hotel
was owned and operated by
Walt
’s friend
Jack Wrather
.  Because all of
Disney
’s funds had been poured into the park, the company didn’t have enough money in 1955 to open or run a hotel, so
Wrather
’s willingness to run a
Disneyland Hotel
was a boon in those early days.  But later, when
Disney
had the money to purchase and run the
Disneyland Hotel
,
Wrather
always refused to sell!  In 1989, after
Wrather
’s death,
Disney
finally purchased the entire
Wrather
organization, including the famous
Queen Mary
–and the
Disneyland Hotel
! 
Did You Also Know?
  In September of 2009, the
Disneyland Hotel
began a massive refurbishment that included new décor, furniture, electrical and plumbing fixtures, and technology throughout the entire hotel.  The
Adventure Tower
(formerly the
Dream Tower
) was renovated first, the
Frontier Tower
(formerly the
Wonder Tower
) next, and, finally, the anchor
Magic Tower
was re-imagined and then renamed the
Fantasy Tower
in June 2011.  In 2010
Adventure Tower
bid
adieu
to its exterior
Looking Glass Elevator
which once carried Guests 11 stories up the side of the tower to the
Top of the Park
rooftop lounge.  The rooftop lounge had closed in 1989 but the elevator remained in use, zipping concierge Guests up to their special top-level lounge until 2009.  In early 2010,
the entire elevator was removed
, although the concierge lounge (called the
E-Ticket
) remains, accessible via internal elevators.  The refurbished hotel towers are sheathed in gleaming, energy-efficient blue windows that are pretty as well as “green”.  Due to the scope of the hotel’s improvements, including expanding the pool complex and adding Tiki-themed restaurants and
Monorail
-themed water slides, the refurbishment wasn’t completed until 2012.  Fun,
magical
details were added to the lobbies–like a charming of model of
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
in
Frontier Tower
–
and
to the rooms, and the resort installed energy-efficient lights as well as windows.  Look for
Hidden Mickey
s galore–in lamps, ottomans, shower tiles–everywhere!  If you haven’t visited the
Disneyland Hotel
in several years, now is the time to visit again.  This isn’t your parents’ or grandparents’
Disneyland Hotel
; it’s a whole new world.  For decades the hotel was frequently criticized as being outdated and not up to
Disney
standards.  No one could say that now.  Furniture and fixtures are high-quality and beautifully designed.  Some might find the new
Fantasy Tower
lobby rather cold, and miss some of its former
Disney
touches.  The huge castle mural that greeted Guests is gone—but it was replaced by an animated vintage park map on which vehicles and water features seem to move (it’s cool; you have to see it to believe it).  The
Mickey
and
Minnie
statues that flanked the original mural were moved outside, in front of the hotel.  The undulating, sculpted wall behind the reception desk, lit by blue lights, is quite different.  That, and the Cast Members’ crisply tailored navy uniforms, seem more reminiscent of a hip foreign hotel than reception at the
Disneyland Hotel
.  However, if you look carefully, the
Disney
magic is still present.  Notice, for example, the
Mary Blair
-inspired, “
small world”
-esque design of the lobby carpet.  In the hotel rooms, some Guests will miss the signature
Disneyland Hotel
shampoos and body washes with their light scent and
Mickey
-inspired caps, but other Guests will appreciate the luxe new spa-quality amenities, a collaboration between
Disneyland
and H2O+.  (To order the H2O+
Disney Resort
shampoos, lotions, etc., call (800) 242-2284 or visit
www.H2Oplus.com
.
) 
Disneyland Hotel
– is it
too
classy now? 
Too
grown up?  You be the judge
!
 
Rooms with Views:
  Stay on upper-level floors of the
Adventure Tower
for breathtaking views of the entire resort or the pool complex. 
Holiday Vision:
  During the winter season, the hotel glows with beautiful holiday touches.
Teen’s Eye View:
  Very, very nice.  Very fun and enjoyable.  All families will love it.
Disneyland Hotel
website:
www.disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland-hotel/
.
 
Hotel Reservations:
  (714) 956-MICKEY. 
Address:
  1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA  92802.

Grand Californian Hotel and Spa

This beautiful and luxurious hotel
–voted “world’s best theme park hotel” by Theme Park Insider in July 2011–has the flavor of a grand park lodge, a combination of elegantly rustic Yosemite charm and some of the scale of Hearst’s Castle.  It is the largest Arts and Crafts structure ever built.  This masterpiece turns thirteen years old on February 8, 2014.  Stunning features include a Xanadu-sized fireplace in the breathtaking six-story lobby, and multiple pools, one with a redwood tree water-slide.  There’s a woodland flavor to the room designs and furnishings, including prints of
Snow White
’s cottage, and images of
Bambi
,
Thumper
, and
Chip
‘n
Dale
worked into curtains and bedding.  Prepare to be pampered at every turn.  Pianists play lyrical music on the lobby pianos.  Turn-down service is included, and laundry service is offered for a fee.  There is a fitness area, a babysitting service, and even standard rooms have large flat-screen televisions with cable, including not only the
Disney Channel
but also a bedtime-story channel for toddlers.  Take advantage of Guest yoga, Pilates, fitness walks, scavenger hunts, architectural tours, and evening story-time by the hearth.  Or just relax for a spell in one of the comfortable rockers in front of the always-burning lobby hearth.  Housekeeping and room service are on call 24 hours a day—and housekeeping presents weekly classes on towel origami for Guests who want to learn how to fold towels in the image of birthday cakes, birds, and Christmas trees.  A spa onsite offers massage therapy, facials, body wraps and rubs, manicures, pedicures, and a Zen tea pavilion.  Room service is moderately expensive but fast and attentive, and the food is delicious.  Particularly recommended:  the American breakfast plate, the steaks, burgers, and the pots of hot chocolate (get the large pot; it’s
that
good).  Be prepared to pay handsomely.  There are coin-operated washing machines and dryers on site if you prefer them to the hotel’s laundry service.  The hotel’s gift shop, snack shops, and restaurants, including character dining, serve all price points, but lean toward the expensive.  According to the
Zagat Disneyland Resort Insider’s Guide
(2010), the award-winning
Napa Rose
restaurant is the second most popular restaurant at the resort.  It certainly serves the best cuisine, prepared in an open kitchen under the watchful and innovative eye of Executive Chef
Andrew Sutton
.  Known for its wisteria, grape arbor, herb garden, and warm atmosphere, the
Napa Rose
has a wine cellar of 16,000 bottles; all in all, this is the perfect venue for that honeymoon, anniversary, business, or holiday meal.  A mere 5-minute stroll from the hotel through
Downtown Disney
brings you to the park entrances, or board the
Monorail
at the nearby station for a quick ride to the
Tomorrowland
region of
Disneyland
.  All
Grand Californian
Guests enjoy a private entrance directly into
Disney California Adventure Park
.  Be sure to book well in advance for stays during spring break, the summer, or the holiday season.  Standard room rates for this luxurious hotel and spa vary seasonally and based on vacation packages, special promotions, discounts, and amenities selected.  For example, you can request
Downtown Disney
, pool, courtyard, or
DCA Park
views for additional fees, as well as concierge rooms and services.  Relatively new Artisan, Club-Level, and Signature Suites offer unparalleled comfort at various price points.  Signature Suites were inspired by the architecture of
Charles and Henry Greene
and Frank Lloyd Wright.  Call (714) 956-6425 for details.  This is the resort’s most expensive hotel. 
Annual Passholders
receive a discount.  If your budget is tight, consider visiting during weekdays and/or off season, and consult your travel agent or contact a
Disney Vacation Planner
for the best possible rates.  Staying on property at the
Grand Californian
adds extra
magic
to your visit, and provides perks like a private entrance directly into the
DCA
Park
, early entrance to
Disneyland Park
on selected days, package delivery and pick-ups, free
Disney Channel
in the rooms, etc.  However, if a stay at a resort hotel is simply not in your budget at this time, there are plenty of inexpensive, clean, family-friendly hotels surrounding the park. 
Did You Know?
  Known for its tranquility, the
Grand Californian
has a serene courtyard through which the
Monorail
quietly glides every ten minutes or so. Called the
Brisa Courtyard
, it can be reserved for fairy-tale wedding receptions and other events, including corporate celebrations and meals.  The main courtyard can seat 200 Guests, the adjacent courtyards 140 and 160, respectively.  Visit
www.disneylandmeetings.disney.go.com
t
o plan a gathering at the
Brisa Courtyard
or other
Disneyland
venues, or call (714) 520-7025 to talk to a
Disney Meeting Specialist
.
Did You Also Know?
  Like all
Disneyland Resort
hotels, the
Grand Californian
is a non-smoking environment, but there are designated smoking areas on property, including a lovely, somewhat hidden outdoor hearth with rustic rocking chairs.
Did You Also Know?
  On September 23, 2009,
Disney
unveiled the
Grand Californian
’s newest wing, which contains 50
Disney Vacation Club Villas
.  Most are two-bedroom villas, but two boast three bedrooms. 
Magical
amenities include televisions housed within the mirrors of the master baths, as well as patios and billiard tables.  In addition to the
Vacation Club
villas, over 200 standard hotel rooms were added, as well as an additional pool (the
Mariposa Pool
), a new terrace and the
Grizzly Games Arcade
. Guests interested in the
Disney Vacation Club
, which offers vacation properties around the world, can call (800) 500-3990 or visit the website at
http://DisneyVacationClub.disney.go.com
.
I would also recommend reading the funny-but-informative
Vacation Club
chapter in Bill Burke’s
WDW
book
Mousejunkies
.
Teen’s Eye View:
  Luxury.  Very big, very nice.  Amazing rooms.
Grand Californian Hotel and Spa
website:
www.disneyland.disney.go.com/grand-californian-hotel/
.
 
Hotel Reservations:
(714) 956-MICKEY. 
Address:
  1600 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA  92802.