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...

"Retro"fitting...

I love architecture...

If you've followed this site often, you should know that. I've posted several articles(as well as Shrunken Ned's post) that show off the Disney resorts around the world's architectual styles. And each and every resort has has lovely themed buildings. Lovely stylized hotels. And each and every resort has lovely Disneyland Hotels...

Except this one. The original one. The first one. The Disneyland Hotel.

It's something I've harped on since the beginning... something that's been a thorn in my side. Seeing it compared with WDW(the Floridian is essentially the DLH there), Paris, Hong Kong and now Tokyo with their amazing DLH leaves Anaheim's version a little to wanting. Okay, a lot to be wanting. I've always hated the look of those buildings. The inconsistent styles, the very nature of their structure which looks like three giant concrete blocks that got stuck in the ground and unable to be moved, so they decided to build rooms inside them. Now we know that's not how they were built there, but it's almost how I imagine they've remained there.

I know not everyone agrees with me, but I've always championed the Victorian(or Mictorian for the Uber-Disney Geek) style for a new Disneyland Hotel. Not exactly like the others, but in that style. I personally find it a very warm, inviting style that represents the calming influence of Walt's childhood... a place where you can go to bed and forget about the outside world. That said, I've also wanted the hotel built in a different location. Right where the Pick up Bus/Taxi area is. That would be a great visual icon for those driving down Harbor Blvd. as they go past the resort. It would also be a fantastic way to enter the resort. Imagine walking under such a structure and entering the Esplanade with DCA on your left and Disneyland on your right with Downtown Disney directly ahead. In my opinion, quite striking...

But neither of those ideas are being done.

At least not under the current plan which could see the light of day by the end of the year. Remember that is "could" because the plans have changed so often. But the plan that I'm sure some of you have heard about has them gutting the existing three towers with plans for an extensive remodel that reflects the 50's retro look of the original Disneyland Hotel... the one Jack Wrather built back in the fifties, not the skyscrapers we currently see. It may not be my favorite plan, but I can understand the nostalgic feel of recreating a 50's style building. Setting the design around the a look that Walt would/could have seen during the parks opening is a nice touch. If they're able to pull it off. I haven't seen the plans, but I've had them described to me and it could turn out to be a very nice refurbishing, although a time consuming one. From what I've heard, should the details be worked out the construction could begin as soon as the end of this year. Personally, I think that's a little optimistic and don't expect to see any kind of serious work going on till at least this time next year... but we'll see.

The Disneyland Hotel has gone through several proposals over the past twenty years. When Eisner and the Suits got hold of the property, it was considered for a while that it should be demolished and rebuilt anew(yet another mistake by Eisner). Then when the WestCOT project was proposed, the idea was to refurbish all the towers and build a new fourth tower. When that project was abandoned the version we got now was proposed and put into place. A version that modernised somethings and added a new paint job on the outside. Marvelous...

All the time the tower was getting older and looking noticeably uglier. There was a proposal made to redo the towers a couple years ago, to essentially take each tower down one by one and retheme them. But this wasn't a retro retheming... this was a more, shall we say, fantasy type of retheming that would be more in the style of the actual park itself. One of more whimsy you could say. Well, as time goes by the plans for that one changed as well and we are now in an advanced stage where the look will now be retro. Back to the future, as perceived by the past. Of course, it'll have better plumbing and HDTV which those guest back in the 50's could only dream about. Here's hoping that when it's announced that the Imagineers will have been able to pass through the mess that the Suits tend to cause. Which should be easier now that there are less of them. It also helps when they show plans to Lasseter and if he's given it his blessing then I have more hope for the project. So now, instead of me having pictures in my head of a Victorian/Steampunk Disneyland Hotel with dirigibles floating above it, I'll have to imagine a retro-50's Disneyland Hotel with families swooping around in jet packs. I'd like me a jet pack, that'd be sweeeeeet.

Time will tell...

A Walk In The Park...

Although the Makeover won't really start until next year and the exact date of the entrance keeps shifting as Operations and WDI work to find the right mix of attractions and walls, I thought it'd be nice to visit the park we walk into four and a half years from now.

In this part, we'll just start at the entrance...

It's a lovely, warm summer day in Anaheim and we're just passing through Downtown Disney. As we come across the Esplanade we look over and see the new entrance to Disney's Second Gate. The architecture in front of the turnstiles reminds us of the Pan-Pacific Amphitheater. We approach the gates and notice all the lovely foliage and plant life around the entrance... already we sense a difference from the park we remember. I admire their new period costumes as the cast member takes our ticket we push through the turnstiles and see the new Partners statue in front of the pole that is flying the California flag. We walk over and stare at the statue. It's a lovely homage to the original Partners statue across the Esplanade. Walt, looking young and wild-eyes as he stares out at Southern California and the opportunity it holds for him, all the while hanging on to his dear friend, Mickey. After a moment we hear a noise and come out of our dreamstate.

Turning we see a Pacific Electric Red Cars pull to a stop on our right. As it's passengers get off we stare ahead at the rest of the entrance. It's almost as if we've walked back into the late 20's or early 30's Los Angeles. We stare at the Spanish architecture that was so prevalent at that time and move on down the entryway with the rest of the crowd. As we walk towards the new Carthay Circle Theater, we notice the new stores along the way.

Not all of them are new, but their facades are much different and they've been re-branded with new names. We smile as we admire the vintage Oswald’s Gas & Oil station on our left. A clear homage to Walt's forgotten creation and a bygone era. Mortimer Market is on your right. Nice... the theming is top notch. Over to our right is Carolwood Trains, Craft & Hobby, the new train station that sells Disney merchandise... this store has far more theming and atmosphere than the pop culture concoction that was here before.

I look directly across from where I stand and see Seward’s Five & Dime, a charming representation of an early Southern Californian shopping store. Right then I notice Horace’s Pawn Shop and walk in to take in all the trinkets and baubles that are available in the re-branded park. Nice merchandise, I say... cool new logo. Maybe I'll pick up a new shirt before I head out of the park. Coming up to Walt Disney Plaza, I can't help but wonder if I've passed into the past looking at that classic theater staring across from me as I peer over the fountain, past all the foliage and trees. Could "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" be showing? An old car putters by. A bell rings, startled, I watch the Red Car head back down the tracks, rounding the circle in the plaza, it heads into the Hollywood area. As it passes I notice the Elias & Co. Department Store with its big glass windows. I smile at this nod to Walt's father.

Maybe I'll takes some pictures? Unfortunately, in my hurry down here I left my digital camera at home on the coffee table. I look around and see Kingswell Camera and decide to go and purchase a disposable camera so I can take some pictures. As I exit I look around at what I want to shoot first. The theater? No, that's too obvious... maybe the Duesenberg limo that is passing by? Nah, I'll wait till I ride in it later today and shoot photos from it. Whoa! How about that nice looking place over there, Doc Sherwood Apothecary. I start snapping shots off trying to take it all in, I look at the camera and realize I'd better take it easy... I've used up half my roll of film and I'm not even out of the entry plaza yet. Wow. I'm gonna have to buy more film... this could get expensive!

I'm getting kind of hungry so I head over to Clarabelle’s Corner Café for a little bite. Along the way I pass Julius & Sons Tailors and notice a snazzy new jacket. Maybe I should stop and... no. I must eat first. We've got way too much to see before I start spending money. There's so much to see and I haven't even gotten down to the Pier yet. Wait a minute, my stomach is growling.

Now, about that sandwich...

But Names Will Never Hurt Me...

This is companion piece to the "Sticks & Stones" post from a few days ago.

There's been a great deal of talk lately, and a good amount of e-mails asking me about DCA. In particular, the name. Like, will it stay? What will it be if they change it? And a few others.

Four and a half years from now is a long way off, friends...

A lot can happen, a lot can change.

But as far as the name...

Will DCA be DCA in 2012?

The answer is no, both in name and appearance. You've already seen some of the artwork. Some of it quite good, others that are just preliminary and concept type stuff, but the gates you walk through and the experience you have four and half years from now will be like visiting two different parks with different souls. Presuming that DCA ever really had a soul, which is what many complain about. The lack of that magic that's embalmed in Disneyland and the total lack of it in most of California Adventure is one of the most commonly heard complaints of the Disney faithful.

And as to the name. No, it won't be called "Disney's California Adventure" when the park celebrates it's 10th anniversary in about three and a half years. It's more than likely that that will be when the changeover occurs.

What will it be called? That I can't say, because I really don't know. They haven't decided yet as to what to call it. There are almost a dozen names that they are flirting with and none has been decided on for the new name yet. About half, actually a little under half still have the California name as part of it. Several others focus on the "Disney" aspect of the park... "adventure" is working its way in a couple, but they won't make a decision for a while. It's really going to be a while before the decision is made. Look how long they took to decide on "Disney's Hollywood Studios" and you can see it's not an imminent action. After-all, there's a park that needs to be rebuilt right now.

Now I personally have felt it would be better to move away from the California name, but WDI and others still want to work with that theming and as I mentioned several have the state in the title. I won't list them all, actually I've only heard of a few of them, not all, but there is one that sticks out. One that a good percentage of the Imagineers like. Remember the rumors about "Disney's California Adventure" becoming "Walt Disney's California Adventure" a while ago? Well, that's not it... from what I've been told. But it's close. The one several in Glendale want to fight for is "Walt Disney's California". This is the clear favorite of all the names that still contain the Golden State in its title. How can it be Walt's Cali, you say? Well, from what I hear... it's reflective of how the Old Maestro perceived the state and how his vision created all that Disney is today and how much of the park's creations are California based(yes, even Pixar which is now part of Disney). That's used as an explanation of characters not having to do with the state, but Disney in general.

Will this one win out?

Who knows. Like I said in the beginning of this post... four and a half years is a long, long time. Anything could happen. But one things for sure. Disney's second park is about to get a second wind. And this time it's going to have a much better chance of winning the hearts and minds of the guests who enter its gates.