Disneyland Hotel Historical Tour

Who is interested in a free, Disneyland Hotel historical tour? The tour is open to all and will take place on Friday, August 29th at 6:00. Meet under the Sorcerer's Hat at the Disneyland Hotel. I will be bringing some goodies from my own personal Disneyland Hotel collection and some photos to help illustrate the tour. I am hoping for a good turnout. Again, open to anyone who can attend and absolutely no charge. Please let me know if you are interested so we can plan accordingly. This should be fun!

Disneyland Hotel Mysteries

I still have not been able to find answers for several dates on additions to the Disneyland Hotel. Here are the questions I would love to resolve:

1. When did the Disneyland Hotel sign on West Street get added? I have very early shots Oct. Nov. 1955 and no sign is present.

2. What date did the fourth North Garden structure open for business and further, when did they start building it? I have shots with and without the structure. I know it opened by July 4th, 1959.

3. What date did the fifth and sixth North Garden Structures open? When did construction start on these? I have conflicting information and photographs between 1960 and 1961.

4. When was the Little Gourmet Restaurant removed from the premises? I have an aerial photograph from March 24th, 1959 and the ground where the facility was is freshly dug up. I also have a 1958 shot showing the building in place. Also, I have not been able to locate a picture of the Littel Gourmet Restaurant either exterior or interior. I am sure someone has one somewhere.

5. Some time in 1980-81, a North Garden structure was removed to make way for the Rose Garden and Gazebo. What was the closing date of this structure? I know by autumn 1981, the building was removed.

I'll add more mysteries shortly.

Please check out http://www.magicalhotel.com

Thank Goodness for Ebay!

Thanks to Ebay, I was able to acquire some old Southern California brochures this past week. Some times, you can find golden nuggets of information contained within these brochures. This happened to be the case with these. I was finally able to get an exact count of rooms in the 1959 configuration of the Disneyland Hotel....234. I had never seen reference to this number in any other paper item in my collection, at the Disney Archives or at the Wrather Archives. The material all state "now over 200 guest rooms and suites." Another mystery solved but another still unsolved. I would like to get the exact date this fourth structure started construction and was opened. I know that it was open on July 4th 1959 and I would have to assume that this was planned to coincide with the busy summer season. I tried finding building permits with no luck and I tried looking up the contractor, again, no luck. The next iteration would have two final North Garden Structures in 1960 making for a total of six structures, the largest pre-tower configuration. More mysteries, I don't have exact dates for these openings either. One more mystery....some time between 1980 and 1981, one of these North garden Structures was removed to make way for the Rose Garden & Gazebo on the grounds. I do not have the exact dates. I do know that it was removed by autumn 1981.

Please look at my website when you can http://www.magicalhotel.com and tell your friends about this blog and my website. The more posts I get and people viewing my site makes me want to add more content to this blog.

Kicking Myself

Want to hear something strange? I remember checking into the Disneyland Hotel (probably 1994-95) and getting a Garden Room in one of the original five structures. Of course, this was several years before I had the idea to write the book on the Disneyland Hotel. I was in the room for all of ten minutes when my wife called the front desk to request a new room because our room smelled badly like cigarette smoke. If I could only go back and cancel that request and savor the original room for a few nights (smell and all). If I had only known. At least I got to spend some time in one of the original structures at the Disneyland Hotel, dating back to October of 1955! I remember thinking how cool the room looked. Very 50's. Even better, when I turned the TV on during the brief stay, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was playing.

Rare Pictures of Rare Amenities Featured at the Disneyland Hotel

I want to now present some rarely seen and short-lived areas at the Disneyland Hotel. The next series will feature these items. Hope you like them.

If you like this blog, be sure and vote for it at http://www.thedisneyportal.com/tdp/portal.asp

If you enjoy the history of the Disneyland Hotel, please check out my website and book: http://www.magicalhotel.com/

Early Convention Facilities

Some information on the initial convention and group meeting facilities at the Disneyland Hotel.

If you like this blog, be sure and vote for it at http://www.thedisneyportal.com/tdp/portal.asp

If you enjoy the history of the Disneyland Hotel, please check out my book: http://www.magicalhotel.com I have a limited amount available and will not be doing a second printing.

I am now working on a second book which will cover just the 50's in (mostly) pictures. This book will feature the many brochures, ads and pictures I received after the release of my book. I have accumulated some awesome materials on the Hotel's history. I plan to follow-up with one on the 60's, then 70's, then 80's and depending on interest, will continue. I have some help on this project so I can hopefully get it out soon. Mike-I hope you know what you are getting yourself into! :)

I did a walking tour last year on the Hotel grounds and discussed the history of the Disneyland Hotel. Would anybody be interested in attending another such event if it could be put together?

Second Book

Would anyone be interested in a second book on the history of the Disneyland Hotel? Since putting out the first book, I have received many more vintage photographs as well as stories on the Hotel's history. This second book would be softbound, would primarily be pictures, and would be priced lower. Another book would be a significant time and money investment. If there was interest in this, I would consider it. Let me know.

http://www.magicalhotel.com