Changes Planned For Disneyland Hotel

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
May 29th 2010 at 1:01AM

The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California has announced more upgrades to its ongoing renovations of the Disneyland Hotel. The 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.

The changes will restore 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 and the first tower was erected in 1962. The biggest changes will be around the pool area which will have a new water play area. "Disneyland" will be spelled out in blocks atop a platform supporting two water slides. At each slide's entrance will sit a replica Monorail Car that guests will glide through on 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 children the area will include a third two-lane mini slide that sits just 3 1/2 feet high and is 19 feet long.

The existing 4,800-sq.-ft. Never Land pool will receive a complete cosmetic makeover and 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. The space also will include two spas at opposite ends of the pool area. The site of the current Cove pool will become a 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 dining and lounge experiences will be introduced including a new "smart casual" dining area with a Polynesian theme. Construction for the new water play area, pool, and food and beverage locations is scheduled to begin in August and be completed by summer 2011.

Changes also include renaming of the hotel's three guest room towers for Disneyland's distinctive lands. The Dreams Tower will become the Adventure Tower, the Wonder Tower,will be the Frontier Tower and the Magic Tower, which will be finished in 2012, will transform to the Fantasy Tower. Marquees featuring classic artwork for Adventureland, Frontierland and Fantasyland will identify each tower.

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 will wrap up 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.

Tags: anaheim, Disney, disney resorts, disneyland