DLH - goodnite mr. wrather

[Plumenom]

farewell marina, sierra and bonita.

welcome dreams, magic and wonder.

[BarTopDancer]

Really?! :(

[innerSpaceman]

I think I may join the ranks of zapppop, and barf in the Dancing Waters Pond.







Or will that be the Magical Memories of Family Fun Pond?

[mousepod]

My optimistic side wonders if this portends a permanent west coast cruise plan...

[Isaac]

I think I may join the ranks of zapppop, and barf in the Dancing Waters Pond.
I say we bring along Jim, Ginny & Laurie and see who can project the furthest!

Al mentioned to me that the DL Hotels might be closing soon for either a major refurb or possible demolition & reconstruction. Whether they refurbish or rebuild them, the name changes to the towers wouldn't surprise me after Disney changed the name of Granville's Steakhouse to Steakhouse 55. However, I've heard no news about the names of the hotel towering changing. So for now, until someone can provide some evidence, this is just a rumor.

[CoasterMatt]

I can projectile vomit almost 10 feet- count me in, too! :D

[Alex]

While that bit of history with the tower names is nice, I can't quite work myself up to caring much if they change them.

[Not Afraid]

I don't much care what they call the towers. I can never keep the names straight anyhow. However, I LOVE the hotel. I adore the rooms and I don't want a makeover. I'll be so sad if this happens. But, the joys of Disneyland seems to be dropping one my one and I can't live in the past.

[innerSpaceman]

I'd be very sad to see the current Disneyland Hotel go. Boxlike though those towers are - - they just don't make standard rooms that big anymore.


For suites though .... lately I've become enamoured of the suites at the Grand Cal. They are far more stylish and beautiful than their counterparts at the DLH (though fireworks views are harder to come by at the Grand Cal.)


Of course, the Disneyland Hotel does boast the most Swankified Suite at the Resort ... the incomparable hipster paradise of the Marina Suite - - running almost the full length of the Marina Tower's penthouse level.



If they are going to demolish the DLH, we should pitch in for a going-away LoT Bacchanalia in that Suite.

[Alex]

In my many, many coming from out of town visits, I have only been inside an on property hotel room twice and have never stayed in one myself.

Very, very early in the days of MousPlanet I saw the inside of a Paradise Pier Hotel room with Al to get pictures of DCA construction. And the night of the big AP event the week before DCA opened we all went back to someone's room at GCH to write it up.

So, Disneyland could tear down all three and put in parking lots and I'd be fine since they are so far outside of what I look for in a hotel room (a door that locks, a bed approximately as firm as the floor, and cheap).

I haven't really heard anything about demolition but knocking DLH and PPH down and building a single, more sprawling all inclusive type resort environment strikes me as a good idea (have no idea if that is what would be in the plans if demolition is in the cards).

[Morrigoon]

Well... any question what cruise ship # 3 will be called?

Not that I was ever terribly nuts about the tower names, somehow I'm not on board with changing them either.

[innerSpaceman]

So, Disneyland could tear down all three and put in parking lots and I'd be fine since they are so far outside of what I look for in a hotel room (a door that locks, a bed approximately as firm as the floor, and cheap).
Exactly the opposite of what I look for in a Disneyland-stay hotel room. (Though inexpensive-ish gets major points).

I'm looking for a space lavish and large enough to entertain many guests. The feeling of being on-property is important if the ocassion commands (i.e., majorly-numbered Disneyland Birthdays). A view of the fireworks from the suite is very desireable. Balconies are a big preference.

On those ocassions where we entertain in the suite (i.e., most circa July 17ths) ... I find that, generally speaking, more fun is had in the hotel room than in the Park. Thus, the hotel room is of supreme importance.



But, of course, I'm renting the space primarily for a party. I live within 30 minutes of Disneyland, so there's rarely a need for the more pedestrian hotel use of someplace nearby to sleep.



Nothing beats the top floor of the Bonita Tower for the best combination of the desired attributes. But if they demolish her, I'm willing to settle for the gorgeous (albeit nonsmoking) suites in the Grand Cal ..... if I win the lottery.

[Morrigoon]

And with any luck, no angry British dads in the room next door.

[Disneyphile]

One of the new ships is rumored to be called Dreams.

However, according to one of the Magic's officers, when the new ships are built, the Magic will be making the West Coast its permanent home, with the new ships being based in Florida. :)

[original dh]

I heard directly from Disney, they will not be closing down the entire Disneyland Hotel and build a new one. They would lose so much revenue during the teardown and rebuild. A major refurbishment is what they will be doing and I am not at liberty to discuss the specifics. I will say this, I will be involved in the process and I really like what they are planning. Now if they would only bring back the Monorail cafe!

Don Ballard
www.magicalhotel.com

[Not Afraid]

I heard directly from Disney, they will not be closing down the entire Disneyland Hotel and build a new one. They would lose so much revenue during the teardown and rebuild. A major refurbishment is what they will be doing and I am not at liberty to discuss the specifics. I will say this, I will be involved in the process and I really like what they are planning. Now if they would only bring back the Monorail cafe!

Don Ballard
www.magicalhotel.com (http://www.magicalhotel.com)

Thanks for your comments and insight (even if there is some vaguness)....... and Welcome to LoT! :cheers:


I STILL need to get a copy of your book.

[innerSpaceman]

Are you perhaps at liberty to reveal whether this "major refurbishment" will involve sub-dividing the abnormally large guest rooms?

[original dh]

Unfortunately, I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement on the details which by the way, are still subject to review and change. My involvement would be on the aesthetics and overall outward appearance of the Hotel. There is a whole other team analyzing the actual layout and structures. My involvement is also on cast member visuals and appearances.

www.magicalhotel.com

[original dh]

I don't see the majority of the rooms as being abnormally large.

Another project I am working on is, getting some recognition for Jack Wrather at the Disneyland Hotel. He came to the aid of his friend Walt Disney in his time of need and built the Disneyland Hotel forever changing the landscape of Orange County. He took a huge risk by investing in Walt's Disneyland Project and there needs to be mention of this at the Hotel.


www.magicalhotel.com

[Isaac]

I don't see the majority of the rooms as being abnormally large.
Oh we agree that the rooms are not abnormally large. Some of us just fear that if the DL Hotels receive a major refurbishment the rooms might be resized into smaller ones like the small rooms at the Grand Californian.
That's all.

[Morrigoon]

Now if they would only bring back the Monorail cafe!

Here, here! And make it a 24-hour place, the DLH needs that!

Oh, and welcome to the boards.

[original dh]

Oh we agree that the rooms are not abnormally large. Some of us just fear that if the DL Hotels receive a major refurbishment the rooms might be resized into smaller ones like the small rooms at the Grand Californian.
That's all.

I do not see the room sizes being affected. What will be affected is the overall look of the Disneyland Hotel.

I hated to see the large Disneyland Hotel signs at the tops of the Sierra and Marina Towers come down. I sure do miss the original Disneyland Hotel.

www.magicalhotel.com

[Not Afraid]

I hated to see the large Disneyland Hotel signs at the tops of the Sierra and Marina Towers come down. I sure do miss the original Disneyland Hotel.

www.magicalhotel.com (http://www.magicalhotel.com)


Me too! And it is decisions like this that make me suspicious for the future.

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, I miss those signs. It's not as if the buildings aren't eyesores in and of themselves. The signs detracted from that, rather than drew your eye to the fact of their 60's boxness. IMO, that is. As I understand it, though, it was some sort of Anaheim requirement and not a Disney choice. Not sure if that's correct, 'cause I don't find it credible.


The hotel could sure use some beautifying. The lobbies of the towers are as plain wrap as possible. The Bonita lobby was recently refurbished ... to pleasant blandness.



With Granville's recently changing its name to Steakhouse 55 ... I wouldn't hold my breath for any recognition of Wrather, beyond a hidden plaque somewhere.



Whatever happens, for god's sake, save the Waterfalls!

[DreadPirateRoberts]

With Granville's recently changing its name to Steakhouse 55 ... I wouldn't hold my breath for any recognition of Wrather, beyond a hidden plaque somewhere.


We are losing our history, bit by bit.

[original dh]

Yeah, I miss those signs. It's not as if the buildings aren't eyesores in and of themselves. The signs detracted from that, rather than drew your eye to the fact of their 60's boxness. IMO, that is. As I understand it, though, it was some sort of Anaheim requirement and not a Disney choice. Not sure if that's correct, 'cause I don't find it credible.

Yes, you are correct. The city of Anaheim had some law on the size of signs atop buildings. I guess they over-looked the law for years until other establishments complained it was unfair.


With Granville's recently changing its name to Steakhouse 55 ... I wouldn't hold my breath for any recognition of Wrather, beyond a hidden plaque somewhere.



Yes, I believe I have a huge uphill battle for any recognition to Mr. Wrather. I just know after talking with his kids how important the Hotel was to him and how much he loved the place and not to mention Walt Disney, if he were alive today would agree, they need to acknowledge Mr. Wrather for what he did for his friend. You know, I would even pay for the cost of creating some sort of acknowledgement. I will not give up!

www.magicalhotel.com

[mousepod]

Thanks for sharing your info with us original_dh (or at least what you're allowed to share). And may I second the "welcome to LoT". Grab a cocktail, pull up a comfy chair - and read the entire Soooo... thread.

[Kevy Baby]

Welcome aboard. Always good to have a new voice!


...and read the entire Soooo... thread.Isn't that part of the agreement when new people sign up?

[innerSpaceman]

Well, good luck in your Wrather recognition efforts. Let us know if there's any petitions to be signed, picket lines to be formed, or manager's offices to be occupied.

[original dh]

- and read the entire Soooo... thread.

Soooo....thread? What is this? Where is this?

[Kevy Baby]

Soooo....thread? What is this? Where is this?The Soooo thread (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?t=136) can be found in Lounge Lizard (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/forumdisplay.php?f=11). It is our "catch all" socialization thread where just about any topic goes - usually stuff that is random but not really worthy of its own thread. I always equivocate it to our own online cocktail party.

We joke about reading the entire thread because it is currently 8,988 posts long. Actually reading the entire thing from start to finish, while an interesting archaeological read, would be mind numbingly boring and would take forever.

[Capt Jack]

not to mention make us all look a little

hmm...whats the word I want


flakey? yeah, lets go with flakey

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Actually reading the entire thing from start to finish, while an interesting archaeological read, would be mind numbingly boring...

With the exception of my posts.

Welcome original dh!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Now Kevy, that's a cruel joke to play on a new member, trying to convince him not to read the entire thread. Remember, he doesn't know you well enough to pick up on your sarcasm. Be nice.











:evil:

[Kevy Baby]

Now Kevy, that's a cruel joke to play on a new member, trying to convince him not to read the entire thread. Remember, he doesn't know you well enough to pick up on your sarcasm. Be nice.Damn... my plot has been foiled.

[Moonliner]

Are you perhaps at liberty to reveal whether this "major refurbishment" will involve sub-dividing the abnormally large guest rooms?

Ahh and now we see why they are using the ship names. If you convert each tower to a cruise ship theme and install cruise ship style "cabins" you could pack one hell of a lot of rooms in each tower.

[CoasterMatt]

I just want a zip line from the Hotel to the Matterhorn!

[€uroMeinke]

My hope is the return of a swanky top floor lounge/bar - I recall how excited my parents were to go there in the mid-sixties to ride the glass elevator to the bar to attend a private Christmas party. That was one of those moments of childhood where I looked forward to being able to do such "grown-up" things

[Mary Blairiffic]

I am wearing my Disneyland Hotel 50th anniversary t-shirt right now as I'm writing this. PLEASE keep the waterfalls and the koi pond!!! When my husband and I go to DL we always stay at the DLH and we always visit our koi and kiss by the waterfall. I'm sure I'm not the only one who considers the DLH as classic a part of the Disneyland experience as the park itself!

[innerSpaceman]

Especially when the koi are seething.

[original dh]

I am wearing my Disneyland Hotel 50th anniversary t-shirt right now as I'm writing this. PLEASE keep the waterfalls and the koi pond!!! When my husband and I go to DL we always stay at the DLH and we always visit our koi and kiss by the waterfall. I'm sure I'm not the only one who considers the DLH as classic a part of the Disneyland experience as the park itself!

The original Disneyland Hotel was like having your dessert after a fine meal (Disneyland). There was so much to do there and the atmosphere was electric. I still like it but I sure miss many of the things that were torn down.

One of my greatest memories was, sitting outside the shops on a bench (facing West Street) on a warm summer evening, just relaxing and watching all the people walk by. All of a sudden, a band walks up (not the Disneyland Band) and asks for any Disney song requests. This was a drummer, some horns and other instruments. It was totally spontaneous. I spent the next half-hour belting out Whale of a Tale, Mickey Mouse Club March, Beauty and the Beast and so many other classics. It was a wonderful experience.

From what I know, the waterfalls are safe although I am not sure they let you walk down really close to them any more. Did you know, Bonita Granville Wrather helped design those falls? I have copies of her personal pictures of when they were being constructed.

www.magicalhotel.com

[Gemini Cricket]

My suggested new names for the towers:

Lohan Tower
Raven Tower
Hannah Montana Tower

[Isaac]

From what I know, the waterfalls are safe although I am not sure they let you walk down really close to them any more.
Guests can still walk along the paths behind the waterfalls but if it's a rainy day or a bit foggy they close them. Also I think Disney closes those paths after a certain time at night.

I'm glad they're safe and it's cool to know that Bonita helped design them!


My suggested new names for the towers:

Lohan Tower
Raven Tower
Hannah Montana Tower
No, no, no. They need more 'magical' names like:

Firecrotch Tower (featuring the Fugs N Jugs suite)

[Mary Blairiffic]

Did you know, Bonita Granville Wrather helped design those falls? I have copies of her personal pictures of when they were being constructed.

www.magicalhotel.com

I did not know that. Cool history abounds at the DLH. Thanks for the info!:snap:

[original dh]

Lot's of history at the Disneyland Hotel.

DLH:

First major Hotel west of the Mississippi after the war (WWII).
First highrise building in Anaheim.
First Hotel to use solar power to generate energy (Bonita Tower 1978).
First fully computerized Hotel.
First designed, family oriented Hotel.
First Hotel with an operating/working Monorail system.
First Hotel with a glass elevator.
First Hotel to accept credit cards as forms of payment.
First western Hotel with an operating Heliport.
First Hotel to have seasonal rates (off-season and on-season).
First Hotel with a television in every room (some even had color TV's).
First Hotel that was fully air-conditioned.
First west coast Hotel with its own radio station KEZY.

www.magicalhotel.com

[€uroMeinke]

Sigh - I'm missing the swank already. As I mentioned already, I still remember how cool the place was growing up in the 60's - it set a standard for the time, which sadly seems to have become commonplace. Still, the nostalgia runs deep for me - thanks original dh.

[Alex]

Hey original_dh, if you have any input can you encourage them not to follow the modern trend of super soft beds with 19-inch thick mattress pads? If I do ever stay there I'd like to not end up sleeping on the floor.

Just one reserved room with granite-like mattresses and I'd be happy. Or put select-comfort beds in each room.

[Kevy Baby]

Lot's of history at the Disneyland Hotel.

DLH:

First west coast Hotel with its own radio station KEZY.I don't know if I would say that it was it's "own" radio station. Yes, the studio's were on the hotel property, but KEZY was not owned by Disney or officially affiliated with the hotel (to the best of my knowledge and limited research).

[original dh]

I don't know if I would say that it was it's "own" radio station. Yes, the studio's were on the hotel property, but KEZY was not owned by Disney or officially affiliated with the hotel (to the best of my knowledge and limited research).

I never said it was owned by Disney or affiliated with the Disneyland Hotel. For that matter, most of the stores and restaurants were independantly owned and operated through leases with Wrather. The Hotel wasn't even owned by Disney or even affiliated with Disney until 1988. The Wrather Corporation owned the Disneyland Hotel and had no affiliaton with Disney.

[innerSpaceman]

Really, Kevy, that was quite the quibble. You might as well have pointed out the much more obvious that it wasn't the Hotel's monorail.


I bet that's not even their water in the waterfalls.

[original dh]

Let me rephrase this:

from

First west coast Hotel with its own radio station KEZY.

to
First West Coast Hotel with a radio station (KEZY) broadcasting on its grounds.

How's that?



www.magicalhotel.com

[Alex]

Yeah, its a quibble, but most of the Disneyland discussions that occur end up boiling down to quibbles. And I'd say that the "first" part of this trivia only gains interest for it actually being the hotel's radio station.

Lacking that, it really isn't all that more interesting a bit of trivia than knowing where the first church with a radio station on the premises was. Or the first downtown high rise. Or the first whatever building type. And it isn't like it sparked a trend of hotels housing radio stations (so far as I know).

But it is interesting to learn that there used to be a radio station on the premises, which I did not know.

[Kevy Baby]

Sorry. I wasn't trying to make a big deal about it. Just the way I read it and was trying to make a clarification.

[innerSpaceman]

I don't so much care about the firsts. It's old, and there's bound to be a lot of firsts.

The book was great ... I enjoyed thumbing through it and checking out all the cool photos. I dig the story of the Disneyland Hotel .... alas, I've had to stop purchasing books I look through once and have no shelf room for.


In other words ...Sorry I put no money in your pocket, but I enjoyed your work. At least I didn't steal it over the internet.

[Mary Blairiffic]

Hello original dh! I just need to put this out there: if you have any say in this, could you encourage the powers that be to think about the "new" DLH design to look, well, vintagey? I know, it's rather contradictory to make what IS a vintage hotel even more vintage, but they could take some cues from classic Mid-Century modern design and swankify it up! But please, they just CAN'T make it "generic lux", like a Radisson or some such. I pray for the soul of the DLH!!!

[original dh]

My friend Werner Weiss and I were discussing this very same idea one day. Here are his thoughts which by the way, mirror my feelings almost exactly:

"Instead of imploding the existing buildings and starting over, I'd like to see The Walt Disney Company make the Disneyland Hotel's mid-century modern architecture into a virtue rather than a liability.

Today, it seems that Disney is saying, "Don't looking up at the ugly buildings. Keep your eyes low and enjoy the 'Magical' Disney-ish things we've done at ground level. Try to forget that the buildings scream 1960's (even though some are newer than that)."

Instead, I'd like to see the Disneyland Hotel adopt a strong late-1950's/early-1960's theme, with signs, colors, restaurants, furniture, uniforms, decor, artwork, and landscaping that immerse guests in the era when the Disneyland Monorail first began serving the Disneyland Hotel. By the way, the buildings aren't ugly; they're actually very nicely designed examples of the era. The Hotel should take guests back in time, just as most of Disney's deluxe hotels in Florida do. Only it would be a different time period.

Take a look at the website of the Renaissance Hollywood at http://www.renaissancehollywood.com/ -- you'll find pictures of the rooms, with their wild mid-century modern colors and furniture. With its more spacious grounds and its multiple buildings, the Disneyland Hotel could way outdo the Renaissance Hollywood.

Think about the possibilities for restaurants. Think about tiki revival. Think about the "space age." Think about the Googie style. "Retro" is fun. In fact, look to Tomorrowland in the 1950's for inspiration.

The 900-or-so rooms, the restaurants, and the convention facilities are valuable assets. It would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to replace them. There's no reason to tear them down.

As they say, when you have a lemon, make lemonade. The Disneyland Hotel isn't a lemon. But Disney guests expect immersive, themed hotels—and the Disneyland Hotel fails to meet that expectation in its current form.

Let the Imagineers have fun immersing guests in another era!

(Hmmmm... Maybe I should expand on what I've written here as the subject of a future article for Yesterland.)"

He basically took the words right out of my mouth but they were his words entirely.

www.magicalhotel.com

[katiesue]

Welcome original_dh! I love all the ideas you've posted above.

[innerSpaceman]

Alas, I don't think the Disney company is hip enough to go retro to a fairly recent earlier age, especially one (the 50's and 60's) so
reminiscent of Disneyland's youth (and more beloved era).


And, while it's always a matter of personal taste, the box buildings of the Hotel are ugly, as is most box architecture of the 60's. Some things were cool and some things were duds. Box architecture was a dud.

But unless they adopt the retro swank period as a theme, there is nothing to make the Disneyland Hotel into what's guest-expected as an integrated themed environment.

[Kevy Baby]

Alas, I don't think the Disney company is hip enough to go retro to a fairly recent earlier age, especially one (the 50's and 60's) so reminiscent of Disneyland's youth (and more beloved era).Wouldn't a "Retro" look become dated in a few years? The cool aspect of a previous time-frame would become quickly less cool in a relatively short period of time.

[Not Afraid]

Wouldn't a "Retro" look become dated in a few years? The cool aspect of a previous time-frame would become quickly less cool in a relatively short period of time.

I'm not willing to bet money on it, but I believe the MCM designs will be appreciated even more in the future than they even currently are. I think the rise in popularity and interest in the "Arts and Crafts" style has set a good precedent for what ahead for Mid-Century Modernism. I see interest in all things MCM growing by leaps and bounds.

[€uroMeinke]

Wouldn't a "Retro" look become dated in a few years? The cool aspect of a previous time-frame would become quickly less cool in a relatively short period of time.


I don't know about that - it's a great homage to the time when the park was built, just as Main Street is a tribute to Walt's Childhood experience. During the 50th the hotel got some really cool retro merchandise, so I could totally see them pulling it off.

[Not Afraid]

(We're posting at the same time, in the same room, and obviously NOT communicating.)

[€uroMeinke]

(We're posting at the same time, in the same room, and obviously NOT communicating.)

I dunno - we seem to be sharing some thought waves...

[Kevy Baby]

(We're posting at the same time, in the same room, and obviously NOT communicating.)Sure you are. You're communicating the same way LoT couples always communicate: via IM and or the LoT.

[Mary Blairiffic]

Instead, I'd like to see the Disneyland Hotel adopt a strong late-1950's/early-1960's theme, with signs, colors, restaurants, furniture, uniforms, decor, artwork, and landscaping that immerse guests in the era when the Disneyland Monorail first began serving the Disneyland Hotel. By the way, the buildings aren't ugly; they're actually very nicely designed examples of the era. The Hotel should take guests back in time, just as most of Disney's deluxe hotels in Florida do. Only it would be a different time period.


www.magicalhotel.com

Yes! That's exactly what I had in mind! It would be awesome!:snap:

[Mary Blairiffic]

I don't know about that - it's a great homage to the time when the park was built, just as Main Street is a tribute to Walt's Childhood experience. During the 50th the hotel got some really cool retro merchandise, so I could totally see them pulling it off.

I totally agree! I went hog wild with the 50th anniversary merchandise. It flew off the shelves from what I could see! And you know what? They could unearth what's left of the one remaining Mary Blair mural in Tommorowland and incorporate it into the new design somehow!!! Too swank!!:snap:

[original dh]

The biggest problem Disney has is, they want to get people into the parks and shopping areas and away from the Hotel's. It was different when the Disneyland Hotel was the only "official Hotel" on the grounds and it was not owned by Disney. Jack Wrather had incentive to keep people at the Hotel but also recognized Disneyland was the main event. If you notice, the expansions to Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel were almost in parallel. When Disneyland would add something, so too would the Hotel. They worked together like a team and it was wonderful. It was a competition but a very cordial, mutual and friendly competition. The only time I heard of a major disagreement was when Jack Wrather installed the large, red "Hotel Disneyland" atop the first tower building. Neither Walt nor Disney appreciated that, feeling it would detract from the exeperience inside Disneyland. Turns out, you couldn't see the sign from within Disneyland (except maybe on the Skyway or at the top of the Matterhorn) but Walt never liked that sign. Walt Disney had no problem helping Jack with Hotel announcements (even opening day for Disneyland had an interview with Jack and Bonita) as well as mentions of the Disneyland Hotel in magazines, on TV shows and various other mediums. Walt never forgot what his friend Jack did for him by building the Hotel to begin with. Remember, he had approached many others to help build a Hotel and all others turned him down. Today, Disney wants to get people to spend money and by making the Disneyland Hotel into something interesting and exciting, would defeat their main purpose of this. On the other hand, they need to make the Hotel nice enough so people will want to stay there. The interesting thing is, even though the place is outdated and some would say lacking (not to me) it still has over a 95% occupancy rating year-round. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think they could strike a happy balance and rejuvenate the Disneyland Hotel while generating cash as well. Stay tuned.


www.magicalhotel.com