Post detail
3274.6 #11 (DL Qual #5)
October 5, 2012 10:42 AM
Good morning, TGIF! This day in Disney history, Oct 5th, 1955 . The Disneyland Hotel opens opposite the main exit of Disneyland. Nearly three months after the opening day of Disneyland park, 104 rooms were available. It was considered the 1st major hotel in Orange County. Owned by the Wrather Corporation, the hotel won't be purchased by Disney until 1988. The 1st photo below was taken in 1961, it shows the Monorail track that was expanded that year to transport guests between DL & the hotel, making it the only monorail in the country to cross a public street @ that time. The 2nd photo was taken after 1966 when a new sign was added that read, “Hotel Disneyland.”
Hope you all have a magical day! Thanks for reading! :)
I'm a bit late on this but have to comment! The DLH was where we stayed on almost every family visit to the parks. I have such wonderful memories of staying there with my parents, and in later years with my daughter and my parents. We always stayed in the Garden Villas...they were 2 stories and looked out over a large grassy area. There were 2 rooms (similar to an Embassy Suites), a bedroom and living room witha foldout couch. We always asked for a ground floor since they had enclosed patios that opened out into the garden area. Evenings included watching the Fantasy Waters, and breakfast was at the Monorail Cafe. Before we would leave we would go to the store underneath the monorail station to pick up last minute souvenirs. I remember my dad and my daughter playing with the remote-controlled boats....I think he had more fun than she did! I was very disappointed to see the Villas go, but when they did, my daughter and I stayed in the tower to the south because of the view of the redwoods and waterfalls. I still enjoy the hotel but miss that section, and the fact they no longer have open balconies. Thanks for another trip down Memory Lane, Duchess!
- Gia
785.4 #120 10:46AM
thank you!! do you happen to know why the monorail no longer stops there? - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint
1798.4 #42 10:46AM
and they used to have dancing there, too - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint 1798.4 #42 10:47AM
The dancing fountains right? I loved those. I wonder what happened as well. The moved the hotel didn't they? And that's why it stops in dtd. Could be wrong though - fairyshley 467.5 #261 10:50AM
monorail does not stop there becasue Downtown Disney was built and the building that housed the monorail station along with the shops, monorail cafe, the neon cactus and the original goofys kitchen was torn down in 1998 - Dave 8638.5 #2 11:02AM
the fountain show was called Fantasy waters and you can actually still see where it was at the hotel - Dave 8638.5 #2 11:02AM
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but from what I've read, I believe FairyShley is right. When construction of DCA began in 1999, Disneyland Hotel Station and all of its nearby hotel structures were completely demolished and a new station built in the same location. - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 11:02AM
no, the original stop for where the monorail station is now at DTD is not in the same location as before, it was actually pushed up - Dave 8638.5 #2 11:06AM
but yes all the buildings were demolished - Dave 8638.5 #2 11:07AM
Thanks for clearing that up Dave 😃 - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 11:10AM
Really seems like they should reroute the monorail to stop at the Grand and DLH. - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint 1798.4 #42 11:46AM
I've been butthurt for years but the monorail was actually supposed to go to John Wayne Airport, Anaheim Stadium, the convention center and a couple of other stops along the way...That would have been epic - Dave 8638.5 #2 11:52AM
That would have been awesome Dave - Villescas8(V8) 589.1 #185 11:53AM
Epic for sure ::sigh:: - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 12:28PM
This answered SO many questions for me. I thought it had moved up. I remember taking the Monorail to Disneyland Hotel because my Dad always wanted to eat dinner there. The new location just didn't make sense in my brain but I couldn't figure it out. So it DID move. I think I just won a bet. - AKMouse 376.5 #364 4:19PM
@AKAMouse according to Dave, yes it did. Awesome, what did you win??? Lol - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 4:24PM
Actually it is being contested because of Yesterland.com content which states that the station remained in the same location. "Guests have wondered why the station was moved to a less convenient location. In reality, the station didn’t move. The hotel “shrunk” when the original sections were demolished, leaving the station a surprising distance from the nearest Disneyland Hotel building. The old lobby and Monorail Lounge are gone; a Rainforest Cafe is now in that location. " - AKMouse 376.5 #364 4:29PM
That didn't make sense. I meant that I won the contention because of Dave and now Yesterland. I think I should get at least churro out of it. :) - AKMouse 376.5 #364 4:33PM
Agh! Pregnancy brain is not letting me communicate well! - AKMouse 376.5 #364 4:33PM
That makes sense now that Goofy's Kitchen isn't in it's original spot bc when I used to take the monorail during the CPG sets to go see Dave and our friends working there as characters in the 90s, I remember it being in a diff spot!! I wish it still went to the hotels and also stopped at DCA!! Thanks for the info Dave :) - caramiapoohAKAface 1448.2 #54 12:11PM
I only got off the monorail at the hotel once, but I remember wanting to see the last remaining original orange tree. I've never seen it, even after staying there numerous times. Is it still there? - bluefairy 627.1 #174 12:25PM
Thank you for posting. - thegoofster
201.3 #1604 10:47AM
Thanks for reading! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 11:14AM
Does anyone remember the Monorail cafe? It was one of our favorites for dinner on our way back to the Disneyland Hotel. - DisneyGrandma
338.5 #438 10:56AM
Unfortunately no, what did they serve there? I'm intrigued! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 11:15AM
I do,I ate there all the time as a kid and have very fond memories of going there after school with my grandmother and aunt and getting a burger and s shake - Dave 8638.5 #2 12:32PM
Always enjoy the history. Thanks! - Tealtownfan
692.8 #144 10:57AM
I always enjoy you telling me so! Thank you! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 11:54AM
I really love your posts. They trigger great memories. Disney makes such great efforts to keep things new and exciting, I tend to forget the "old stuff". So thank you very much for the memories!!! - DisneyGrandma
338.5 #438 10:59AM
Thank YOU for adding info! It's so fun to learn together! I really appreciate you telling me you enjoy these. Keeps me motivated! ;) - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 11:25AM
Sad to say the only difference between me and the Disneyland Hotel is that the hotel has been renovated! - PrinceCorey
4242.2 #6 11:04AM
Hehe you share a birthday! Happy birthday! 😂😂😂 - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 12:28PM
Thanks so much. I love reading these posts! - Alicewhoareyou
536.0 #209 11:19AM
Thank YOU! I'm glad! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 12:29PM
Thank you! A great read as always!🚄 - RadiatorSprings4Ever
136.0 #2503 11:20AM
😃 ::high fives you:: - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 12:29PM
Awesome post! I remember the dancing fountains :) - SarahJoshDisney
69.5 #3410 11:24AM
I never got to see those! Thanks! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 12:30PM
I hardly remember going on the monorail when I was like five or something, and stopping in the hotel. It was around Christmastime, because they had those little cutout sign things of characters in the snow :] I think I have pictures somewhere.. Thanks Duchess! - MEHlanie_Mouse
690.9 #146 11:27AM
Me too. We always stopped there - E-Ticket 772.1 #128 11:36AM
I want to see these pictures! Instagram please!!! 😘😘 - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 12:31PM
Thanks for the Memories - E-Ticket
772.1 #128 11:37AM
😘 - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 12:34PM
as always thank you for the disneyland history awesomeness:) would love if that marquee was still there. - OhanaPhoto
1414.3 #56 11:46AM
I wish they would have kept it up somewhere!! 😢 - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 12:35PM
The original DL Hotel of the 90s is one of my memories of DL. My parents would stop there on our trips from SD to LA to walk around and shop a little. I still remember the old stores, the Fantasy Waters show and the big lake. And for Christmas, we used to take pictures around the hotel and the numerous character cut-outs they had. And if they wanted to surprise us, they bought us tickets to ride on the Monorail so we can go inside the park for a few minutes. - BaseballMickey_CM
2848.5 #15 11:50AM
for a couple years before they tore everything down in 98 they had an ice skating rink at the Hotel during Christmas....I got a chance to skate it with my friend Tigger - Dave 8638.5 #2 12:54PM
I remember that too - BaseballMickey_CM 2848.5 #15 1:06PM
@Dave, you really are one of the luckiest guys I know. So many amazing memories! @BBM thank you for sharing that story. I love hearing stuff like that! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 1:53PM
@Duchess... when we would go to the Monorail Cafe we always had our 3 kids with us so we only ordered burgers, fries, and shakes lol. I think it was pretty much typical diner food. It was pretty good if my memory serves me right. - DisneyGrandma
338.5 #438 11:51AM
Burgers, fries and shakes are the perfect meal for the park, my daughters favorite! Thank you for answering that for me! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 1:46PM
If I remember correctly, you could buy a ticket and the DL hotel station to take a round trip to the park and back. You sat in the back and they didn't open the door at Tomorrowland. - sr citizen space ranger
48.6 #3781 11:56AM
Oh really?!!! How did they monitor who had admission tickets or just monorail tickets? - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 1:47PM
We would go to the DL hotel at night and play miniature golf and hit golf balls on the driving range. - sr citizen space ranger
48.6 #3781 12:00PM
Thank you SMK!! As a kid, I remember going to Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel sign was always a welcome and a happy memory. - MyPark
944.1 #91 12:31PM
Too bad that sign isn't still around! So iconic! Thanks MyPark! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 1:43PM
I remember staying there once with my family and watching the water show. I also remember my mother insisting we take the monorail from Tomorrowland to go eat at the Monorail Cafe when we went to DL. I sure wish they had left the mid century fifties charm intact when it was remodeled. - ScooterMike
1959.8 #35 12:44PM
Me too! It seems me have similar style preferences ScooterMike! As always, thanks for adding your story/info! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 1:42PM
Thanks for sharing! - mrscttlemstr
236.9 #1144 1:02PM
:) - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 1:43PM
I totally remember the dancing fountains show when I was a kid! I thought I was crazy cause I didn't go back to the parks for a few years, during the DTD change, and when I did go back it was completely gone. Seriously, I thought maybe the fountains were somewhere else. LOL thank you for validating that my mind has not completely gone. =) - iloveprinceEric
219.5 #1362 1:29PM
Hehe, I'm so thankful for all the MWers who add so much quality info here. I learn something about DL everyday! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 2:20PM
Did they also have a water fall type surrounded walkway in the middle also? I remember you could walk on boulder type walkways with waterfalls all around you. It was in the middle of the hotel buildings, right? - iloveprinceEric
219.5 #1362 1:33PM
no, it was actually wear the entrance to the Frontier tower is. They only took that out a couple of years ago when they were doing the new pool and Trader sams - Dave 8638.5 #2 1:45PM
That's awesome. Thanks for posting. - RickChavez
2186.5 #30 1:42PM
😃 Thanks for showing up to class today! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 4:10PM
Thank you for another daily dose of fabulous info! Amen to TGIF!!😘 - RCmom
2589.9 #20 1:54PM
🍷😘🍷 - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 4:11PM
What great info. I love staying there. - LilSterner
2656.0 #17 3:45PM
Thanks LilSterner! Me too! Only have 2x but it was very magical! - Duchess_SMK 3274.6 #11 4:12PM
Thank you for sharing. - DisLUVney
333.6 #455 3:50PM
Wow I loved the history thank u!! - Goofy24
115.9 #2798 3:54PM
Back when we had no money TheHubs and I spent many a Saturday date night at the Disneyland Hotel. We enjoyed a cocktail, drove RC cars and played video games. Great memories! - fvbmermaid
214.0 #1431 4:45PM
And back in the day, radio station 1190 KEZY had their studios there at the Disneyland Hotel. - RadioMaverick
526.9 #218 12:29PM
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