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favorite disneyland resort hotel

My Favorite Disneyland Resort Hotel

At Disneyland, there are only three on-site hotel options, compared to Walt Disney World’s 20+. All three hotels are fairly close in quality and location, so you don’t have the Value, Moderate or Deluxe options like you do in Florida. I would say all three would be considered Deluxe resorts, though Paradise Pier is definitely on the low end of deluxe.

Disneyland Resort Hotel Options:

  • Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel – This hotel was built in 1984 and opened as the Emerald Hotel of Anaheim. In 1989, it was renamed the Pan Pacific Hotel, Anaheim. At the time it was owned by Tokyu Group, a Japanese hotel company. Disneyland finally purchased the hotel and surrounding land in 1995, and renamed it the Disneyland Pacific Hotel, and then renamed it in 2000 Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel to match the soon to be opening Disney California Adventure theme park. The area closest to the hotel inside the park is called Paradise Pier. The hotel once even had it’s own entrance into Disney California Adventure near the Corn Dog Castle, but it was closed in 2004.
  • Disneyland Hotel – Most people assume that Walt Disney built the Disneyland Hotel, but he didn’t, he couldn’t afford to. Walt knew that he needed a hotel, since Disneyland was in the middle of nowhere, but he had spent all of his money on getting the park completed. Walt sold the rights to Jack Wrather, his friend, who operated the Disneyland Hotel until 1988. At the time of the Disney purchase, the hotel took up a much larger area, much of the land was subsequently used to build parts of Downtown Disney.
  • Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa – Disneyland built this hotel in 2001 at the same time as Disney California Adventure, and is considered the only Disney hotel INSIDE a theme park. Technically, it is next to the theme park, but it does have it’s own entrance right into the heart of Disney California Adventure. The Grand Californian is Disneyland’s flagship hotel, and definitely has an incredible lobby and a fantastic location, close to both theme parks.

If you paid attention, you will notice that Disney did not own a hotel at Disneyland until 1988, which is a huge surprise to many, and didn’t own one that they designed and built until 2001!

So, which is my favorite Disneyland Resort hotel?

Without a doubt, the Disneyland Hotel. I am not really a fan of the Paradise Pier. While Disney had done a nice job with it, they are severely limited by the original 1984 design. The Grand Californian is awesome, just a beautiful and fantastic hotel, but the rooms feel very small to me, and a bit plain inside. I do love that you get a balcony, many of which overlook the theme parks, Downtown Disney or even the monorail. However, the Disneyland Hotel is nearly perfect in my book.

  1. It is just a short walk to either the Downtown Disney monorail station or just a bit further to the entrance of either theme park, it is close enough to be super convenient, but far enough away to feel like a resort.
  2. The hotel features three towers that form the sides of the resort, with a courtyard formed between the three that is a perfect mixture of pool, landscaping and small buildings. How can you not love the monorail themed water slides?
  3. The rooms, especially in the Adventure Tower, feel huge compared to other hotels. Disneyland has done a great job with the recent renovations too, the rooms now features a personal fireworks display on each headboard that you can turn on and off, kids absolutely love them.
  4. I just love the atmosphere of the entire hotel. It is extremely pretty, and I love all the nostalgia from the early Disneyland days around the resort. While the towers were built long after Disneyland actually opened, you get the feeling they were there from the beginning.

Until Disneyland builds another hotel, which will surely come, I don’t see myself staying anywhere else other than the Disneyland Hotel.

Dinseyland Hotel Slide

 

Enchanted Tiki Room

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opened in Disneyland on June 23, 1963, and is still to this day, one of my all time favorite Disney attractions. When my family loses track of me in Disneyland, they know exactly where to look, on the back row of the Tiki Room. I will be sitting there happy as a clam with a dole whip or Dole float in my hand, singing like the birdies sing. The Enchanted Tiki Room as one of the last attractions that Walt worked on full time, and it shows. The attraction is over 50 years old now, and is still a fan favorite.

michael tiki room

Some interesting facts about Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room:

  • The Tiki Room is one of only two attractions with Walt’s name on it, the other being Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. Of course, there is the Walt Disney Railroad, but it isn’t Walt Disney’s Railroad now is it?
  • When first conceived the Enchanted Tiki Room was to be a restaurant, complete with the animatronic birds singing above you as you dined. Unfortunately, that never worked out.
  • For nearly 30 years, as you exited the Enchanted Tiki Room, you arrived right at the entrance to the Tahitian Terrace Restaurant, home of the original Disneyland Monte Cristo sandwich. After all, nothing says “Polynesia” like a deep fried ham, turkey and cheese sandwich. BTW, did you know there is now a Tahitian Terrace in the Hong Kong Disneyland?
  • The Dole Food Company has been the sponsor of the attraction since 1976, 40 years!
  • The line for a Dole Whip at Disneyland is always shorter on the Tiki Room queue side rather than on the Adventureland side. Hop in line, grab a Dole Whip and enjoy the pre-show. Dole Whips and Floats are allowed inside the attraction too!
  • Did you know there used to be a fifth Macaw? Jose’s brother Juan used to sit outside the attraction and talk to people, a barker if you will. Juan was so popular he had to be removed pretty quickly as he always caused quite a commotion.  He was super cute, even had a little straw cap and bamboo cane.
  • The original show was nearly 5 minutes longer than the current version, running nearly 17 1/2 minutes. It was shortened sometime in the 90’s and again in 2005 to it’s current form.
  • In preparation for the 50th anniversary in 2013, Disneyland closed the Enchanted Tiki Room for nearly 7 months in 2005 to do a complete makeover. Everything in the ride was replaced, from features to the thatch roof. If you were lucky enough to go right around the re-opening, it was fabulous, must have looked even better than when Walt opened it.
  • The show features 54 singing orchids, 4 totem poles, 12 tiki drummers, 24 singing masks 7 birds of paradise, 8 macaws, 12 toucans, 9 forktails, 6 cockatoos and 20 assorted tropical birds. That is quite a cast!
  • The Enchanted Tiki Room is performed roughly 60 times per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That equals about 22,000 shows a year!
  • A Walt Disney World version opened in the Magic Kingdom in 1971 when the park opened. It has gone through some changes, including a very dark time when it was taken over by Iago and Zazu, but it is now back to a near replica of the original Disneyland version.
  • There is also a version in Tokyo Disneyland, but it has morphed into something called “The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha e Komo Mai!” which features Lilo and Stitch. Near blasphemy. Hopefully it will be returned to the original show soon.
  • If you want to read more about Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, D23 did a fantastic article for the 50th anniversary of the attraction: THE TIKI ROOM CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

Next time you are in the neighborhood, grab yourself a Dole Whip and head to the back row of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, you may see me there.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

 

Disney Things

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – March 18, 2016

Each Friday, I provide 5 Disney things all Disney fans should know about from this past week, just in case you missed them. Here are the super important items for this week:

Awaken Summer Discount at Walt Disney World

Disney Summer Discount

Walt Disney World has released a brand new discount for Summer travel dates, save up to 30% on your Walt Disney World Resort room! The Awaken Summer discount is available now, for travel dates between June 12 and August 25, 2016.

Find out more: Awaken Summer Walt Disney World discount

Disney March Magic limited t-shirts now available

disney march magic

For the last few years, Disney has done their own kind of March Madness, starting with 32 “teams” based on Disney attractions, including such teams as the Dole Whips, the Space Mountain Blast and the 2015 champions, the Gracey Manor Ghouls. Disney makes limited edition (by time) t-shirts and posters available for each team, but as the teams are eliminated from the tournament, their shirts become no longer available. If you have a fondness for one of the teams, you may want to grab a t-shirt or two before they are gone. 16 of the 32 teams will be out of the tournament by March 24, and then half the remaining teams will be out every few days.

Disney Store Link: 2016 Disney March Magic T-shirts and Posters

Star Wars Day at Sea

star wars cruise

Disney Cruise Line tested out a “Star Wars Day at Sea” on select 2016 Disney Cruises, basically only the Western Caribbean cruises on the Disney Fantasy. It was so successful, it is returning for 2017, but this time, it will be featured on 17 different cruises on the Fantasy during January, February and March, 2017.

During this day-long celebration, Star Wars Day at Sea combines the power of the Force and the magic of Disney for an out-of-this-galaxy cruise experience unlike any other.

Each sailing features a full day of dark side and light side fun, including official appearances of Star Wars characters, a deck party and fireworks, Star Wars-themed family and youth activities, at-sea screenings of Star Wars films, unique food and beverage offerings, and special merchandise.

Throughout the day, Star Wars Younglings, Padawans and Jedi Masters alike can enjoy the immersive and intergalactic entertainment, including a deck party and fireworks display, exclusive event merchandise, and specialtyStar Wars-themed food and beverage items.

Characters from across the Star Wars galaxy will also be onboard for interactions, photos and also may be seen patrolling the decks. And, in “Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple,” Force-sensitive children learn the ways of the Jedi and use their new-found skill in a final face off with Darth Vader.

More information here on 2017 Star Wars Day at Sea.

Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters now open

It’s not every week a brand new ride opens up in a Disney theme parks. This week, a new ride has opened in Cars Land in Disney California Adventure, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters. This ride has replaced the oft broken and poorly received Luigi’s Flying Tires. Each ride is different, as the cars “dance” around the area, finishing with a mighty twirl. While it won’t entertain the average teenager for too long, the ride is very cute, well done, and should be a crowd favorite for years to come.

Disney Magic Kingdoms App Launches

Today, Disney Games has launched Disney Magic Kingdom, a new app available on both iOS and Android. This app allows you to build your own Magic Kingdom, and is getting rave reviews from all who have downloaded and played it. The game is free to download and play, but with most free apps these days, there are in app purchased you can make if you have the money to spend.

WELCOME TO THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON MOBILE!

  • When Maleficent casts an evil spell on the Kingdom, ridding it of all of its powerful magic, can you help bring it all back? Relive the thrill of Disney Parks and create the most fantastical Park of your dreams in Disney Magic Kingdoms!

EXTRAORDINARY & TIMELESS DISNEY PARK ATTRACTIONS

  • Charming attractions such as “”it’s a small world,”” Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor and Space Mountain from Disney Parks around the world, including Disneyland, California Adventure, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris!
  • Dazzling new attractions found only in the game such as WALL-E’s House and Cyclops Sushi — all uniquely inspired by their movies!
  • Relive magical moments from the Parks with lively Parades featuring beautiful floats and fireworks!

CHARACTERS SPANNING MORE THAN 90 YEARS OF DISNEY

  • Share spectacular moments with beloved characters such as the ever-optimistic Mickey Mouse, the spirited princess Rapunzel, brave space ranger Buzz Lightyear, the sweet and sassy Tinker Bell and more!
  • Hundreds of whimsical and animated quests that bring every pixel of your Kingdom to life!
  • Collect memorable Disney-themed items to bring each character back from Maleficent’s evil spell!

A RIVETING TALE OF HEROES AND VILLAINS

  • Unravel a magical story and an exciting adventure with every tap!
  • Stand off against menacing villains such as Pete, Mother Gothel, and Zurg to save the Kingdom!

Did I miss any Disney news this week that should have been included?