Originally Posted By jmuboy According to Al Lutz report today, TDA has signed off on a plan to remove the pools, retail and dining areas on the grounds of the DL Hotel. In their place will be a 4th tower with newer hotel rooms and more DVC unit. pread across the remaining grounds inside the 4 towers will be a pool with SB castle themed slide as well as all new retail and dining outlets. Supposedly this will all be done by 2012 when the current renovation is complete. I sure hope this news is correct because many of those retail and amenity type facilities at the DL Hotel are just as decrepit as the current hotel rooms they are renovating. New rooms for 2012 should have new amenities for 2012, not something out of 1975!
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I read that too. I find it hard to believe that a new DVC tower is being planned since it wasn't mentioned in the press release for the DLH remodel earlier this year. Not saying it isn't happening, just that it makes no sense to me why they wouldn't have announced it by now.
Originally Posted By tonyanton Also strange that there has been no concept art, etc except for the interior room photos...
Originally Posted By jmuboy This info Al is leaking matches what I have heard from CM friends. TDA originally only gave the OK to room renovations. it seems they have no decided to sign on what is effectively a phase 2. Like te new Grand CA expansion, the 4th DL Hotel tower would only be part DVC, not all. The rest would be regular rooms. This is also a way to add rooms quickly and take use of the wasted space at the DL Hotel. Plus we have not heard about the 4th DL Resort Hotel - because the parking space it would be built on is so urgently needed for parking currently. This plan allows Disney to add rooms on current hotel grounds.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes I'm sorry to hear about the change of theme to the pool, and I hope I don't lose the Lost Bar, but all the other changes mentioned seem very good.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Not sure I understand why they would need to remove the current pool, unless of course they intend on making to bigger to accommodate more guests that a new tower would bring.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt I think the entire center "court" area between the three towers is being redone. I always got the impression that the current pool was a temporary solution after they removed the hotel's main pool for DtD.
Originally Posted By dmtbgt It seems there is wasted space over by the old water show and the 2nd pool. Where exactly is the 4th Tower planned to go.
Originally Posted By TP2000 Lutz didn't mention the exact location of the 4th tower, but he did say it would be purpose built with some DVC units in addtion to regular rooms. Makes sense, since they can't really retrofit the current room floorplan into DVC units. When you think about the press release on the DL Hotel refurb a few months ago it was rather vague and ONLY dealt with the rooms themselves. TDA probably wasn't ready to commit to the grounds and any additional capacity, but the construction on the room rehab was ready to begin so they got a press release out on it. Lutz must know that they are finalizing plans for rehabbing/rebuilding the rest of the hotel property as well, instead of just the rooms.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt When you think about the press release on the DL Hotel refurb a few months ago it was rather vague and ONLY dealt with the rooms themselves. Maybe that's why there was no concept art of the lobbies, and other areas of the hotel - there was information to come. If Al's story is true I wonder when Disney will make the announcement. So far the exterior renovations of the DLH are rather hideous. There is nothing architecturally redeeming about those buildings and I'm imagining that the new tower be yet another variation on what is already there and be blue too. Ick.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt should I rethink my plans for staying @ DLH next July? my DD's really loved the pool!
Originally Posted By dmtbgt Does anyone know when they will start to open the actual rooms for reservations?? Are they opening them floor by floor or tower by tower? Are they open now for the Dream Tower?
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt Judging by these photos taken about a week ago, the progress has been very slow. <a href="http://www.disneygeek.com/progress/disneyland_hotel/index.php?page_id=1&image_count=0" target="_blank">http://www.disneygeek.com/prog..._count=0</a>
Originally Posted By gadzuux My idea would be to build a new pool complex that's more ambitious than the current setup, with lazy rivers and perhaps a wave pool. But situate it so that it can be shared with PPH, and even guests from GCH. Pool and waterplay areas are verrry important to families with kids. Having a large and elaborate pool area would give 'on property' hotels another distinct competitive advantage. And another idea - perhaps they could use the DCA entrance murals to mark the entrance to this new expanded pool area. Those murals cannot remain where they are, and it'd be a real shame if they were destroyed - they're an important part of DLR history. This way, they could be salvaged and repurposed, and even add a bit of backstory in the years to come, with people telling their kids "I remember back in the old days when these were at the entrance to DCA". Plus, a shared pool area would help to unite the two hotels, which currently are not well integrated with each other. They seem to sit apart and aloof - why? Take this as an opportunity to create more of a hotel "village" with ameneties. Perhaps one day an expanded resort transportation system could have a station in this central "hotel hub" with DLH, PPH, the pool area and some retail and dining all centrally located. As Judy Tenuda used to say - it could happen.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Pool and waterplay areas are verrry important to families with kids. Having a large and elaborate pool area would give 'on property' hotels another distinct competitive advantage." Yep. When the water activities at DLR are compared to places like WDW or resorts like Mandalay Bay in Vegas and the Atlantis in The Bahamas, Anaheim falls way behind. On another note, wouldn't it be a mistake to build a tower in the corner where Dancing Waters is now because of the shadows it would cast over the "court" between the three existing towers? I'm having a hard time picturing where this third tower is going to go.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Disney might also hear some griping from the neighbors on Walnut street if they build too close or too big to this small residential street. It's kind of odd having this modest single family homes directly across the street from a world famous resort.
Originally Posted By jmuboy From what I have heard from a friend who works at DL, the 4th tower would be built where the "Pavilion" (Steakhouse 55, Goofy's Kitchen building) currently stands and would be connected to the main hotel lobby via the first floor. The first floor of the new tower would also have new dining and shopping. This would put the DVC guests closest to dining/shopping options at the hotel and would also allow DVC members (and other guests in the newer 4th Tower) access to their tower without having to go outside to access their rooms from the main lobby. New pools and water areas would be built where the current pool and fantasy waters area are. A new workout facility would also be added.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt >>From what I have heard from a friend who works at DL, the 4th tower would be built where the "Pavilion" << Which would cast a rather large shadow on the pool if it stays in the same location. If what your friend says is true I'm guessing the pool will move, which helps explain why Disney is going to do away with the existing one. Here's a recent photo of the Dreams tower for those who are interested: <a href="http://www.disneygeek.com/updates/disneyland_image.php?update_dir=2009_10_16&page_id=42&num_image=1" target="_blank">http://www.disneygeek.com/upda..._image=1</a>
Originally Posted By Ohana i think the best place for a 4th tower is the land between the original DL tower and PPH. move the wedding gazebo and some parking and voila you havea 4th tower with excellent views of DCA. thats essential especially if youre selling timeshares. they sure cant be looking at dumpy neighborhoods behind the convention center.
