Contemporary By Design...

Now let's do something about the last hotel...


If you've been to the Disneyland Resort lately, you've seen all that construction...

Not just in the parks, but around the entire resort. And one of those projects that is about to end is the renovation/makeover of the Disneyland Hotel. After almost three years, the hotel is in the final stages of turning itself into an actual Disney Hotel. I know for some that might sound confusing, but those of us that remember, know that it wasn't even owned by the Mouse till 1989.

That's when Jack Wrather's company was bought by Disney, simply to own the hotel. All of their other properties (Queen Mary, The Lone Ranger, ect.), were sold off to try and justify the cost of getting the hotel finally into the Disney family.

And while many, myself included, had hoped that Disney would bulldoze it and put up a Hotel similar to the Disneyland Hotels in Paris, Tokyo or Hong Kong, the state of the economy didn't justify such a dramatic departure. But what has happened is reflective of what the other American Disney Resort has got.

Walt Disney World has the beautiful Contemporary Hotel. It was presented to the world on its opening day back in 1971, and the Imagineers have reflected back to that day in giving us what is essentially the West Coast version of it. While the Contemporary is a retro-version of early 70's design matched with the timeline of when WDW opened up, the Disneyland Hotel here in California is a retro-version of mid 50's design matched with the timeline of when Disneyland opened up. It is in a sentence, our Contemporary Hotel. And they've done a great job taking the bland towers designed by someone not associated with Disney, and turning into something that you could imagine had been all part of the master plan.

From the theming of the blue sky towers, the naming of each one after a land (A Tomorrowland Tower is still being talked about), the lush foliage and pools, to the newly themed restaurants. It's a great improvement. And while I'd still love to see a V(M)ictorian themed hotel (that parking lot looks awful big, doesn't it?), it's nice to see that two of the three Disney Hotels here are up to the name of the man behind it all.

Now if only plans for the Paradise Pier would just fall into place...

The Invisible Tower...

Retro is better than old no?



Yes?



No?



Yes...



Maybe...


I'm sure most of you have seen the artwork for the new renovation of the Disneyland Hotel...

When the Mouse started working on this project they changed the names of the original hotel towers from the Sierra Tower, which is now Dreams (Adventure Tower in 2010), the Marina Tower, which is now the Wonder (Frontier Tower in 2011), and Bonita, that is now the Magic (Fantasy Tower in 2012). Notice that? Each tower will now be named after three of the original four lands of Disneyland. Four lands. Three towers?

Hmmm...

So what about a fourth tower named after the other land? A Tomorrow Tower. Well, that'll have to wait and see. When the original proposal for expanding the park was designed, there were plans to give the DLH an additional fourth tower during the makeover of the park, were the WestCOT designs to get approval. In addition to the other wonderful new hotels (a future post, btw) that were to grace a lovely curving Disneyland Drive, was a revamped version of the hotel that started it all. But we all know what happened to those plans.

But when WDI set about taking all three towers and giving them a retro-makeover, the initial plans were/are to turn the buildings into something akin to the 50's/60's version of the future just as the Contemporary Resort in WDW does. But with everything and every plan, there is room left for future development. And that is one of the bits of blue sky that could happen if and when the time is right.

Before the economy went into the tank, the Disneyland Resort had occupancy rates of close to 90%, compared to around 70% for the Walt Disney World Resort. Not bad, but as we know, when the recession happened there was a dip in spending and bookings. The rates haven't gotten back to those levels from a few years ago, but they don't appear to be decreasing any further. Should the economy start to take off and bookings begin to rise, then that expansion would move forward and a fourth tower would be become closer to being a reality instead of a fantasy. So there are three towers named after three of the original lands, a fourth tower would need a name that thematically went along with the other towers. I wonder what that name could/would be?

I guess we'll just have to find out tomorrow...

The Reboot...

When summer 2012 rolls around, Disney's California Adventure will enter a phase it should have been experiencing a decade earlier...

A year more than that actually. Eleven years it will have taken. But you know what? Not only will DCA be different, but the entire resort will have grown into something much closer to being legitimately called a "resort." If all those extravagant plans for WestCot or even the original plans for Disney's California Adventure had been done then the realization of a true Disney Resort would have been realized by now. But budget cuts and clueless leadership stunted what could've been a great expansion. The resort we were promised never materialized. The one that we see in 2012 won't be exactly like the one proposed, but it'll be extremely closer to that actual realization. Think about it...

By that time DCA will be larger in size (20% bigger, actually), re themed in appearance to reflect the detail one expects from a Disney theme park. Most of the under themed or not really themed at all areas will be look totally different. A Victorian seaside pier, an idealized representation of Walt's California; the one he first saw stepping off the train, a more authentic 30's Hollywood section, an entirely new land that immerses you in the wild west and transforms you inside a young boys racing dream. If you think about it, the areas that were the best themed will now be some of the least desirable. The Golden State which was affected by the budget cuts the least has always been the most lavish area of the park. This was because it sits next to the expensive and lavishly themed Grand Californian and Eisner, Pressler and the Suits were so stupid as to put an eyesore near it. Their stupidity lied in not realizing that once they left that area they would notice the decline in quality.

Of course the area originally had AA's of wild animals that got cut. The Extreme Makeover originally was going to remedy this and also take away the modern elements in favor of a turn of the century Yosemite themed national park. But it will have to wait... should those crowds materialize the words "Phase Two" comes to mind. Once this almost billion dollars is spent the park will look drastically different, but will still have work to be done. But it'll be at a point it should have been on opening day. Thankfully that opening day will finally be here and we can enjoy the Second Gate like a true Disney park. We can also plan on seeing some amazing additions over the next decade as guest pour through those turnstiles and buy all that merchandise with new logos and designs on it.

But also in 2012 there will be other things not seen in February 2001. Like a vastly expanded Grand Californian with DVC units for the first time. A Disneyland Hotel that is much more worthy of the name. Much more extravagant and plussed with the bells and whistles Disney Fans/Geeks have come to expect. And right next to those three towers could be a fourth structure rising if all goes well.

At least one of the two new hotels that Disney planned on operating in the Garden Walk could be close to opening. So there will be added value there as well. And hopefully we'll hear next year about an expansion of the Downtown Disney retail area. Of course, this all depends on how spending goes and if the economy takes another nosedive or starts to head into recovery.

And remember, DCA is the Second Gate. The Original Gate will have a Tomorrowland that has a few new shiny things; more if the guest keep coming in. And if they do, that big piece of wasted space taken up by Innoventions could be sporting a swanky new E-Ticket that is going to make those three hour lines for Space Mountain's Ghost Galaxy seem short. Trust me, it'll be worth it. If things work out the entire area will be remarkably better than the worn out feel much of the TL 98 theme conveys to guest.

Like everything in life, there will be challenges, but finally the Disneyland Resort will be in a place where it can truly be called an actual resort. Not a mini-resort like it's been the past decade. The Oriental Land Company realized this when they built their new park into a resort back in 1999-2001. We got to see as each piece the OLC opened up, just how wonderfully elaborate and detailed their plan and the construction of it was. Back in America on the west coast, we got to see Eisner's stopgap measure that we were told was a resort. Now, come the early part of the next decade and we'll actually have those words turned into a reality. A new Disney resort and a new Disney theme park right here in Anaheim known as the Disneyland Resort.

Not just a nice hotel, new signage and a carnival in the parking lot...

The Intimate Prison...

With all the talk about the Extreme Expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland, a few things that are glaringly obvious have been missing from the discussion...

We know that over the next four years there will the addition of three attractions in HKDL, but is that going to be all of the expansion?

No, it's most likely not, but the Mouse has been relatively quite about anything beyond this. Because there are some things that are missing from the puzzle. By the time Mystic Manor opens up in 2013 there should be something else open as well. Something not mentioned in any press release.

A third Hong Kong Disney Hotel.

Unless the economy continues to sputter along, or the global marketplace suffers a worse downturn you can expect that piece of property in between the two current hotels to be open for business. Imagineers for a while now have been quietly toiling away designing another lavishly themed hotel to expand the offerings for guest who enter Disney's Fifth Magic Kingdom Gate. I've talked to a couple Bothans lately that are very pleased with the designs and although they would give away much for fear of joining Dick Cook, did tell me that the thematic layout of this luxurious hotel will definitely please Disney Fans/Geeks.

Most people know that the Hong Kong park hasn't met expectations with attendance, but not many realize that the two current hotels have had very high occupancy rates. And with the expected increase in attendance for the new two E-Tickets and C-Ticket, there is going to be an added desire to keep the guest on the resort. You don't want them coming for the day and then going home or heaven forbid, going over to Ocean Park. You'll need a new hotel to entice them to stay and spend more money. In essence, you have to create a way to keep them on that plot of land spending only on Disney. Kind of the way Walt Disney World creates all those hotels and shopping experiences that make you have little desire to venture outside it's very beautiful incarceration area. Hong Kong's plan is to do so, but obviously with less land. It'll be smaller but with the detail that Disney is widely known for. An intimate prison, so to speak... but one you'll willingly stay at.

So with an expanded area (with a whole lot of room for expansion) with three new attractions (and a possible surprise or two by 2013) and three hotels this area will still be missing something, won't it?

A Downtown Disney type retail area.

And yes, there is one in the plans, but it hasn't officially been greenlit yet, or at least it hadn't moved into that area when the Bothans last got word of it. It's still planned within the next five or so years, but it may not be open before the rest of this expansion. That doesn't mean things couldn't change, but it hasn't been the primary focus. But make no mistake about it, by the middle of the next decade there will be a shopping district lined along the walkway from the pier to the main entrance. After all, you have to give those guest a reason to not leave the resort/park/hotel. That was always the plan you know. It's just taken a while to get going, but as the next year or so rolls out you'll see more and more of it.

Over the next year or so you're going to hear more about this from the Mouse and myself and others, but remember that there is another park about to be born in the area. That may take the shine off of this park for a while, but remember that that Hong Kong will be a very important market over the next decade and the Mouse has every intention of turning this resort into a world class destination. That other park won't take away from that no matter how different and unique it will be.

But that's a story for another and later day...

Making The Past Contemporary...

Tomorrow The Disneyland Hotel finally gets started on the renovation that it's needed for over a decade...

It's not the Mictorian/Victorian hotel concept that I love or even the fantasy theme that was proposed a few years ago, but it's going to much better, well themed experience once it's done in 2012. I think looking at it as a comparison to the Disneyland Hotels in Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong or even Grand Floridian would be misdirected. The hotel theming it'll have, will be more in relation to The Contemporary at Walt Disney World. It's that kind of styling and thinking you need to approach it with if you want to objectively examine it.

The Dream Tower will be the first one to get this beautification and it should be done by summer, 2010, just in time for another tower to go under the knife, so to speak. It'll be a little under a year for each one to go through this process. Once the Extreme Makeover is done, so will be the makeover of the Disneyland Hotel. That would only leave the badly out of place and badly themed (in relation to the new Victorian themed pier) Paradise Pier Hotel. But for anything to be done to that hotel, the economy is going to have to pick up a bit. Now as for those other Disney hotels in the planning?

As always, time will tell...

The Two Towers...

The Bay Lake Tower DVC expansion doesn't open until August, but the website for it is open now...

This is a really nice, well thought out website. Perhaps the Mouse should put these guys in charge of the websites for the parks? I didn't originally like this design, but I've slowly warmed up to it. I do love the interiors of this place, though. It looks spectacular and seems to follow the Contemporary's "Futuristic-Retro" look.

If only the new look of the Disneyland Hotel here at the California Resort winds up looking as grand and spectacular...

Renovation Revelations...

Well, they've finally announced what we've been talking about...

The designs for the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim have gone through several revisions and to now finally have it come to fruition is great. I only hope that the detail of each tower is going to reflect what one expects from the Disney name.

Each tower will take about a year to do. The Dream Tower first in Summer 2010, another tower done by Summer 2011 and the final one in Summer 2012. Just in time for Cars Land, imagine that? As expected, the renovation starts just as the new rooms in the Grand Californian become available. I look forward to seeing the artwork and watching the transformation.

Here's the press release:

Landmark Disneyland Hotel to Undergo Significant Renovation

Historic hotel to feature considerable changes to guest rooms, exterior

ANAHEIM, CALIF. June 16, 2009 – Beginning in August 2009, Southern California’s landmark Disneyland Hotel will start a significant renovation project that will include major improvements to its guest rooms and considerable changes to the exterior of the hotel. The hotel will remain open during the renovation, which will be conducted in phases, and is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

“We are excited to embark on the largest and most extensive renovation of one of Disney’s classic hotels,” said Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier. “This renovation provides us with the opportunity to bring new magic to this historic hotel, which enables us to enhance the Disney experience that our guests have come to expect. “It also reinforces our ongoing commitment and investment in the Anaheim Resort District – working with the city and area businesses to continue to evolve the District into a world-class, multiday tourist destination,” added Grier.

Significant Guest Room Upgrades, New Room Amenities and Exterior Enhancements
Disneyland Hotel’s renovated guest rooms will feature an all-new contemporary look with exquisite Disney touches woven into the décor. A stunning new headboard that features an artistically carved representation of Disneyland Park’s famous Sleeping Beauty Castle will serve as the focal point in each guest room. The background on the headboard uses fiber optics to create a magical skyline with fireworks – bringing the immersive park experience into the room. Rooms also will feature black and white art that will take guests back in time, reinforcing the nostalgia and history of Walt’s first theme park.

When completed, guest rooms will boast new flat screen TVs, mini-refrigerators, coffeemakers, safes capable of holding laptop computers and new state-of-the-art telephone, cable and wireless Internet connections. Upgrades to plumbing, electrical and heating and air conditioning systems also are included in the project.

Disneyland Resort’s original hotel, built in 1955, also will experience a noteworthy change to its exterior. All of the three towers will feature an updated look, with large windows that will give the outside a sleek, radiant blue tint. The windows will replace the current sliding doors and faux balcony railings and are specially designed to be energy efficient and to extensively filter outside noise.

“The new design for the hotel’s exterior will enhance the existing towers and compliment the Resort as a whole. The windows will feature a sky blue reflective glass that channels the feel of our bright California sky,” said Mike Montague, director of resort development for Walt Disney Imagineering.

The Disneyland Hotel is composed of three main structures – the Magic, Wonder and Dreams towers. Construction will take place in one vertical half of a tower at a time – leaving the rest of the tower open for guests. The Dreams tower will be the first to be renovated and is scheduled to be completed in June 2010.

Popular Choice for Convention Visitors
In addition to being a top choice for vacationing families, the Disneyland Hotel has long been a favorite for meeting and convention planners because of its prime location and size – and direct access to more than 136,000 square feet of convention space. Anaheim hosts hundreds of groups each year and the renovation will help maintain the city’s premiere position as a meeting destination.

“We are thrilled with Disney’s plans to renovate the Disneyland Hotel,” said Charles W. Ahlers, president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau. “With the renovation of the hotel and the expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian, coupled with other new hotel developments that are coming to Anaheim over the next few years, our city will continue to be a premier destination for convention and meeting planners.”

Energy Efficient Enhancements
As with other construction and enhancements that are underway throughout the Disneyland Resort, the renovation will include energy efficient upgrades. The most notable feature will be the hotel’s new windows. With their reflective capabilities and double-pane glass, the windows will change the look of the exterior of the hotel dramatically, while reducing energy consumption by keeping guest rooms at the desired temperature.

The use of occupancy sensors in guest rooms, low-flow toilets, energy efficient light bulbs and paint low in volatile organic compounds are just a few more of the ways that the hotel will offer guests a “green” lodging experience.

Renovation is Part of Larger Resort Expansion
The Disneyland Hotel renovation is a part of a larger expansion project underway throughout the Resort. Disney’s California Adventure Park is undergoing a multiyear expansion project that includes new experiences, attractions and night-time spectaculars, culminating in 2012 with the opening a brand new land – Cars Land. The four-star Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is also undergoing an expansion, adding 200 hotel rooms and 50 two-bedroom villas that are part of the Disney Vacation Club, which will make its first West Coast debut when it opens in the fall of 2009.

Aloha, Mickey...

The groundbreaking of Disney's first Hawaiian Resort(sans park) happens today at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development on the island of O'ahu. It's scheduled to open in 2011.

That year again...

Room For Improvement...

Like the look of this place? It's about to change.

It's kinda empty now...




It won't look the same in a few years more than likely. The Mouse should have something to say about this in the near future. As well as news of that new parking structure with direct access to the AGW. Oh, and for anyone out there that thinks the Garden Walk will be purchased by Disney? Not anytime soon. There are no plans, as of now to purchase the Anaheim Garden Walk... Nada.



On the other hand, the Garden Walk and the Walt Disney Company becoming friends, perhaps even business associates? That's far more likely. Almost a certainty.

Developing...

Name Change, Location Change?

One year ago today the names on the Disneyland Hotel towers all changed...

Gone were the Marina, Sierra and Bonita. In their place were the Magic, Dreams and Wonder.

Gone were the last traces of Jack Wrather, the original owner of the hotel. Of course, the actual hotel is still there... and despite the memories people have of the structure, it is one of the ugliest hotels around. Both that hotel and the Paradise Pier Hotel clearly look like they weren't designed by Disney, but Wrather's hotel is especially bland.

The three concrete blocks that hold the name of the park Walt built were supposed to get a renovation that was to start almost a year ago. But the aged hotel has posed a challenge to the renovation as it might actually cost more than building a brand new hotel.

Will they or won't they? Unfortunately, the last time I talked to my Bothans there was no decision as to what to do about this abomination to architecture. Now Blue Sky would simply like to offer a couple words of advise...

Move it.

The best place to build a Disneyland Hotel is right in front of Disneyland. Or at least as close as possible. Like the Esplanade... where the transportation hub where buses, trams and taxis pull up? Imagine a lovely, themed hotel that can be seen from Harbor boulevard outside the resort. Just imagine what walking beneath this structure and coming out into the Esplanade to see Disneyland on your right and the park formerly known as Disney's California Adventure on your left?

Imagine...

Know Reservation Required...

It's open...

Hope you haven't tried to get a room at the new Tokyo Disneyland Hotel for the next few weeks, months even.

Nine stories tall, 705 rooms, mostly suites designed around families, elegant dining all in the largest "Disney-branded" hotel in the Tokyo Disney Resort.

It's going to be booked pretty solid. When Imagineers design something of this caliber people are going to flock to it. Hear that TeamDisney Burank? Perhaps you should let the folks at WDI create something amazing? Like a few of those lovely concepts they've got ready to use if you would only let them...

Hmmm? Sounds like a great idea to me. What do you say, Mr. Rasulo? Sir? Sir, could you please quit humming that annoying tune and take your finger out of your butt?

Sigh... never mind.

Everything Has A Beginning...

Eight years ago today, the Oriental Land Company opens up "The Disney Ambassador Hotel" on what is becoming The Tokyo Disney Resort. Up until now it has mainly been a park with several licensed hotels. This will be the first "Disney" hotel on the property.

Distinguishing Between Illusion And Magic

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."

- The Wizard of Oz

They can't hide what lies right in front of you...

Being as Japan lies on the other side of the world, it's already July 8, 2008... So be there before it opens to see it open.

Behold the Magic.*

Who would have thought the Internet would be a time machine?

* There are several videos there so check them all out.

Disney Better Than Disney...

If you want to see some more of what a fabulous hotel the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel is, then follow the link. There are tons of photos by a guy/girl that actually was able to be there over the last few days...

Click here to be jealous.

One Week From Wonder...

A week from today the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel opens...

Every Disney theme park will have a Disneyland Hotel then. I know, WDW doesn't have one by name, but the Grand Floridian is essentially the moniker hotel of the resort. As well as every resort having a DL Hotel, they're all beautiful Victorian representations of architecture to be proud of...

Except the original here in Anaheim. It's three big, soulless concrete blocks with sparkly trinkets on them. They need to approve the plans to remedy this soon...

Something Grand...

Twenty years ago today Disney's Grand Floridian Resort opened in Walt Disney World. It would mark the beginning of a huge hotel expansion over the next decade and a half... The luxury hotel is themed after a turn-of-the-century coastal Victorian resort. Although WDW has no moniker hotel(read:Disneyland Hotel) like all the other Disneylands, the Floridian is essentially the "Walt Disney World Hotel" without having that name.

Disney Deco (Part One)...

Many of the resorts, hotels and building structures the Mouse has done over the years have had a decidely Art Deco influence. Mainly because it is a style that was a popular design movement when Walt Disney was running his studio at the height of its pre-live-action days. Anyone that has seen pictures of Walt's office or the Burbank studios in the late 30's/early 40's will recognize the style. If you like they stylings of the Maestro's headquarters you actually can decorate your home to reflect that. The Mouse recently authorized a line of furniture called the Walt Disney Signature Collection based on a latter part of the Art Deco movement known as Art Moderne.

Here are some lovely examples of what Imagineers do best when trying to capture the past...