Disneyland Resort today announced substantial upgrades to the pool and courtyard areas of the Disneyland Hotel, continuing the landmark property’s current renovation project. Changes will include building a new pool and water play area, renovating an existing pool, opening a new restaurant and bar, and re-theming of the hotel’s three guest room towers.
“These exciting enhancements, along with our current Disneyland Hotel renovation and the expansion of Disney’s California Adventure, underscore our ongoing investment in the Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Resort District,” said George A. Kalogridis, president of Disneyland Resort. “We are proud to collaborate with city and businesses leaders as we continue to evolve the area into a world-class, multiday tourist destination.”
Changes will restore and highlight the original midcentury style of the classic hotel. The hotel’s original two-story bungalows were built in 1955, just months after Walt Disney’s first theme park opened its gates; the first tower was erected in 1962. The work will considerably open up the courtyard and pool area, allowing guests a clear line of vision and easy access across the property.
“Disney is all about storytelling, and these changes will weave a cohesive thread throughout the property and infuse the historic hotel with Disneyland nostalgia,” said Tom Fitzgerald, executive vice president and senior creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering.
New Immersive Pool Experience
The most noticeable changes will be to the pool area, where guests of all ages will enjoy a new, immersive water play area. With a nod to the iconic original park signage, “Disneyland” will be spelled out in familiar blocks atop a platform supporting two thrilling water slides. Reminiscent of the original Monorail station at the Disneyland Hotel, at each slide’s entrance will sit a replica Monorail Car that guests will glide through as they twist and turn their way to the water below. The larger of the two main slides sits 26 feet high and stretches 187 feet until it plunges into a splash pool. The second slide is 13 feet high and 112 feet long. For younger guests, the area will include a third two-lane mini slide that sits just 3 1/2 feet high and is 19 feet long, as well as a series of small bubble jets in which to play.
The existing 4,800-sq.-ft. Never Land pool will receive a complete cosmetic makeover but retain its unique footprint. A new 4-foot-deep pool will be built between the existing Never Land pool and the new water play area. A footbridge will stretch over the new pool, connecting both sides of the courtyard area and allowing guests easy access across the property without having to enter the sprawling gated pool area. The space also will include two spas at opposite ends of the pool area. The site of the current Cove pool will become a beautifully manicured lawn area, perfect for outdoor events. In addition, six new cabanas will be added; each features a flat screen TV, refrigerator, safe, phone, and ceiling fan.
New Iconic Dining Locations
New dining and lounge experiences will be introduced in the current location of Hook’s Pointe, Croc’s Bits ‘n’ Bites, the Wine Cellar and Lost Bar. A new “smart casual” dining area will take its architectural cue from the original Tahitian Terrace restaurant in Disneyland Park and the Polynesian architecture that was popularized during the early era of the hotel. A new, fully enclosed bar will feature specialty drinks and surprises for guests.
Construction for the new water play area, pool, and food and beverage locations is scheduled to begin in August 2010 and be completed by summer 2011. The remodeled existing pool is slated for completion by summer 2012.
Re-theming of Guest Towers
Changes also include renaming of the hotel’s three guest room towers for Disneyland’s distinctive lands. The Dreams Tower, currently under renovation and scheduled to be completed in June 2010, will become the Adventure Tower. The Wonder Tower, next to undergo transformation and slated for completion in 2011, will be the Frontier Tower. Finally, the Magic Tower, which will be finished in 2012, will transform to the Fantasy Tower. Large marquees featuring classic artwork for Adventureland, Frontierland and Fantasyland will identify each tower.
Guest Tower Renovation Completed in 2012
The Disneyland Hotel renovation began in August 2009. The beautifully remodeled guest rooms feature exquisite Disney touches woven into the decor. A stunning new headboard with an artistically carved representation of Disneyland Park’s famous Sleeping Beauty Castle serves 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.
The work at the Disneyland Hotel 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 nighttime spectaculars, culminating in 2012 with the opening of Cars Land. The four-diamond Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa also underwent an expansion last year that added 203 hotel rooms and 50 two-bedroom villas that are part of the Disney Vacation Club, marking the club’s West Coast debut.
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The picture above is of Disneyland Paris' Disneyland Hotel, not the California Disneyland Hotel.