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AVP
06-16-2009, 08:57 AM
Source: Disneyland Resort 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.

olegc
06-16-2009, 09:14 AM
i guess you could say it's good timing - with occupancy being down why not start the renovation. I am curious about the balconies. It seems that they will be completely removed and the large panes of glass in place - or will they "extend" the room out to the balcony portion with the glass there. I think the former but you never know.

i like the pitch about the "carved" castle - on hundres of beds that's gotta be one tired machine. :p

Hannahbelle
06-16-2009, 09:19 AM
Still wish is it was more affordable to stay at one of their hotels.....glad to hear about the new renovations though!

AVP
06-16-2009, 09:36 AM
i guess you could say it's good timing - with occupancy being down why not start the renovation.I'd question you info on occupancy - I know the Resort was actually over capacity last week. The 5/3 promo is working, and there are some periods this summer where all three hotels are booked solid.

AVP

MammaSilva
06-16-2009, 09:52 AM
I have to wonder if the rooms were 'blocked' from being booked before the renovation was announced...if they're going to close half a tower that is seriously going to impact the guests if they didn't, especially on those times when the entire resort is sold out.

olegc
06-16-2009, 11:07 AM
I'd question you info on occupancy - I know the Resort was actually over capacity last week. The 5/3 promo is working, and there are some periods this summer where all three hotels are booked solid.

AVP

ahh - that was different from what i heard back in March. I guess three months does make a difference. Interesting that they had the 5/3 in Florida but pulled it. I also based my comment on what looked to be more locals than tourists in the parks - but maybe that just means MORE locals than normal.

If I were an economist I'd be scratching my head about the theme park spending. THe guidance was given as lower - and yet the parks (and as you note, hotels) seem more packed than ever. I guess it's setting lower expectations so things look good- although I bet Florida is still off.

DisneyFunFamily4
06-16-2009, 11:11 AM
I am super excited about this and cant wait to stay at the DLH after the renovations are complete....

Tinkermommy
06-16-2009, 11:31 AM
This is great news!

We used to stay at the DLH every year for the Tinkerteen's birthday, but this year, we ended up moving to the GCH. I'm delighted that they're giving the DLH some much-needed attention!

Wonder if they'll sell the old headboards...wouldn't that be a cool thing to put in a child's room?

DisneyFunFamily4
06-16-2009, 11:44 AM
Wonder if they'll sell the old headboards...wouldn't that be a cool thing to put in a child's room?

Funny.. I was wonder the same thing. Great minds think alike...LOL

tod
06-16-2009, 11:46 AM
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.

When the Disneyland Hotel opened, the little bungalow rooms had sliding glass doors, a private patio, and an orange tree on every patio to enhance the indoor-outdoor nature of Southern California living.

The new improved sooper-dooper Disneyland Hotel will put the kibosh on that and seal the guests inside without any of that nasty outside air getting in.

Just like Florida. Corporate consistency, don'cha know.

And it will even compliment the Resort. Not "complement," mind you.

How nice. :(

--t

Andrew
06-16-2009, 11:49 AM
I feel very fortunate to have been able to stay in one of the bungalow rooms before they were demolished. The DLH tower rooms have always had inadequate, substandard air-conditioning, and opening the balcony door was the only way to cool the room. I hope that with the doors converted to sealed windows, the A/C gets a serious upgrade.

Boo's Mommy
06-16-2009, 11:57 AM
I have to agree, I don't like not being able to open the sliding doors. Though I suppose it's a safety and liability issue.


We'll probably see the old furniture on auction - I know I saw Grand Floridian furniture on Ebay in the past - but it was always "pick-up" only.

Boo's Mommy
06-16-2009, 11:59 AM
I have to agree, I don't like not being able to open the sliding doors. Though I suppose it's a safety and liability issue.


We'll probably see the old furniture on auction - I know I saw Grand Floridian furniture on Ebay in the past - but it was always "pick-up" only.

ETA - after seeing Andrew's comments....

The breeze from the balcony was sooo important. Often we'd smell cigarette smoke from the air vents - which of course got worse when you turned the ac on. Only way to get fresh air was to open the balcony!

MammaSilva
06-16-2009, 12:25 PM
The UP side is the entire hotel is smoke free now...that helps a lot when you have a medically fragile person in your party and a former smoker who now gags when they smell second hand smoke. The release says upgrades to the air conditioning, I agree with Andrew, it will have to be seriously upgraded to compensate for the lack of the fresh air from the sliders.

mswong40
06-16-2009, 12:30 PM
Funny.. I was wonder the same thing. Great minds think alike...LOL

I am also wondering the same, it would be so awesome to have one of those for the home, especially if you already theme out your house in Disney. :)

AVP
06-16-2009, 12:40 PM
Here are some promotional photos sent to us by Disney:

http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87080-2/DLH1-061609-Disney.jpg

http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87084-2/DLH2-061609-Disney.jpg

http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87088-2/DLH3-061609-Disney.jpg

http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/87092-2/DLH4-061609-Disney.jpg

AVP

DisneyFunFamily4
06-16-2009, 12:44 PM
very nice...

Tinkermommy
06-16-2009, 12:49 PM
I'll miss the Tinker Bell wall border, but love the new headboard -- wow! Do the pillows say "A dream is a wish your heart makes?"

Very nice -- thank you for posting these!

mswong40
06-16-2009, 12:59 PM
WOW!! it looks so amazing and pretty!!!

sierranevada
06-16-2009, 01:16 PM
Wow - looking forward to seeing the new rooms. Thanks for the photos.

Boo's Mommy
06-16-2009, 01:19 PM
Very nice - I LOVE that headboard! The bedding must be an example for a concierge room or something, because those comforters look mighty plush!

T1nkerbe11Fan
06-16-2009, 01:23 PM
We are staying in the DL hotel in Dec. Im a little nervous how the renovation is going to effect our stay. I remember the last renovation and how much construction there was. Any suggestions or know how invasive the construction might be and maybe switching to Grand Californian is a better idea?

Malcon10t
06-16-2009, 01:26 PM
Looks nice, much like the Residence Inn!

I too loved the bungalows. They were fantastic. Never have liked the regular rooms, but will be willing to try if the price is right.

Fantasmic Guy
06-16-2009, 01:34 PM
Wow, that's a fancy hotel

disney_leonard
06-16-2009, 01:41 PM
I'm glad they are going to remodel. For a time there was discussion of "tear down and rebuild" but you can't tear down an icon and rebuild it.

As for occupancy my DD and hubby want to stay over July 16 to be at the park on the 17th but all Disney properties are full and started at around $250 a night with AP discount. Instead she is staying at the Hilton for $99. No problem with occupancy at Disney properties during the summer.