DL Hotel Pool

Originally Posted By TP2000

Compared to the other big, upscale hotels in Anaheim, the Disneyland Hotel pool area is actually the lushest and most extravagant.

The big 1,500 room Anaheim Hilton over at the convention center just debuted their new pool area with a kiddy play area. Here it is in all its cement wonder... <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/psav_hilton_anaheim/5538315542/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/p...8315542/</a>

Next door is the 1,000 room Anaheim Marriott, with a tiny pool area that looks like the community pool from a Swinging Singles apartment complex circa 1979. Hey gang, after the pool party we're all going down to the Regal Beagle! <a href="http://photos.igougo.com/photos/journal/pref/0027" target="_blank">http://photos.igougo.com/photo...ref/0027</a>(5)_prefRes.jpg

And it goes downhill from there at the other big chain hotels in Anaheim like the Sheraton, Red Lion, Holiday Inn, etc. The HoJo's on Harbor is the lone exception of course, although the actual size of their water play area is actually quite tidy.

Let's face it, the state of fancy hotel pool technology in Anaheim in 2011 is such that the modest (by Disney standards) pools of the GCH and DLH seem like, well, Disneyland in comparison.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

>>Mickeymouseclub
The outdoor fireplace is big. A wonderful food court and Trader Sams. Loved the changes!
<<

Don't get too excited over that fireplace, if you are a non smoker!

The 2 times I ventured to Trader Sam's, right upon it's completion .... that fireplace was the hangout for smokers, and just may be the "smoking" designated spot, for Tangaroa Terrace/Trader Sams.

I'll admit ... if one walks the grounds .. there are small details to appreciate. The terracing leading up to the bridge between both pools, the lighting for the slides, Trader Sams itself - inside a outside. So if you are a local .... and want to experience a good drink at Trader Sams ... the DLH can be entertaining for about an hour.

BUT ....
once you've toured everything ... take it all in ... in one huge perspective - as that saying goes ... It leaves much to the imagination. (ie - a lack of "imagination" was put into all this!)

I see the vision they went on. It's a type of minimalism that was strong around 1970.

It's retro for sure. With a few less features (water show, horseshoe falls, among other features) ... with plenty of lawn space to charge up for events.

Yawn.

If they were shooting for a lesser experience .. they achieved it.

I don't expect net losses in a business that supposed to be all about SHOWMANSHIP.

So every single Disney executive who approved this ......... Your "creative vision" for the DLH is - OVER ALL ... bland.

Orange County hotels seem to be stuck in Genericsville .... including Disney!

The only Disney hotel that can have any serious accolades is the Grand Californian. And even their pool/courtyard is not all that spectacular.

 

Originally Posted By TP2000

The hotel pools of OC really do pale in comparison to Orlando, or resorts like that Atlantis place in the Bahamas.

I can't think of a single OC hotel pool that meets or surpasses the amenities of the DLH pools/slides. One of the swankiest hotels in OC is the St. Regis down in Dana Point, and it has a very basic pool whose main attraction is a view of the Pacific over the highway and a big fountain feature at the deep end. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oneillo/5049879310/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/o...9879310/</a>

The Hotel Montage, another very swanky one and my personal favorite, a bit up the highway in Laguna from the St. Regis has a big pool. But it's just a big square pool, with a clifftop view of the ocean beyond. But nothing special other than the sun-shaped tiles in the bottom.
<a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/18481/Montage_Main_Pool.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.hotelchatter.com/fi...Pool.jpg</a>

There's a big new Hilton up in Huntington Beach, right on Coast Highway, and it's pool seems to break the rectangle mold by being sort of free form. But there's no slides or other stuff happening there; just a pool with some chaise lounges around it right next to the 6 lanes of Coast Highway. <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jBtiIXcYQv0/TWcNYgMKqmI/AAAAAAAAATs/PzoGNpbWQTE/s1600/IMG_0022.jpg" target="_blank">http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jBti...0022.jpg</a>

I'm trying to think what's up in LA at the big hotels there. Can anyone think of a hotel with a really over-the-top themed pool or something with at least a couple of water slides? I can't.

The pool at the Universal Studios Hilton is just a pool with some greenery and chaises around it. Although it does have sort of a octagon shape for both the pool and the hot tub, instead of just a rectangle or square shaped pool. <a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4460584082_696a181dc3.jpg" target="_blank">http://farm5.static.flickr.com...1dc3.jpg</a>

The fabulous Hotel Del Coronado down in San Diego is a rectangle. <a href="http://cdn3.gbot.me/photos/9A/Ha/1299712791/Main_Pool_at_the_Hotel_de-Hotel_del_Coronado-20000000001564621-500x375.jpg" target="_blank">http://cdn3.gbot.me/photos/9A/...x375.jpg</a>

Honestly, the new pools and waterslides at the DLH, along with the existing stuff at the GCH next door, are really sort of out in front of the pack at all the other big tourist hotels in SoCal.

It's a California thing.

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

Not to go on too much of a rant, but in general that's one of my biggest pet peeves about California. There are certain things that are generaly "okay, but not great", so whenever anything is slightly above the local average, it's supposed to be the greatest thing ever, even though it doesn't compare to the same typ of element in another part of the country. The excitement over all these below-national-average things (hotel pools, service at fast food restuarants *cough*In-N-Out*cough*, 'convenient' parking, etc) just makes me sad that all these people expect, and look forward, to all these things that really aren't that great.

Rant/tangent over. I'll step off my soapbox now.

 

Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub

My memory of seeing this in October and staying at the newly renovated DL hotel was positive.. I admit looking at the photos posted in this section are concretey and not an improvement. I am sorry to hear smokers have taken over this area. Actually the entire area still looks relaxing and larger because it has been opened up and re-positioned to appear more inviting for families. if you remember I was one of the few outspoken posters when the initial plans to remove the Bonita waterfall were announced. So I plan to return for New Years and take another look at my memories/opinions.

 

Originally Posted By crapshoot

<<Let's face it, the state of fancy hotel pool technology in Anaheim in 2011 is such that the modest (by Disney standards) pools of the GCH and DLH seem like, well, Disneyland in comparison.>>

I really think that there is a bigger picture that everyone seems to be missing here. When guests are at the pool, they really aren't spending money beyond snacks and beverages.

The place Disney really wants their guests is in the parks and DTD where every ten feet is another Point of Purchase location.

In other words, if the hotel pools were too nice, Disney would want to charge seperate admission and call them waterparks.

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

>The excitement over all these below-national-average things (hotel pools, service at fast food restuarants *cough*In-N-Out*cough*....<

Hey, diss stuff all you want, but lay off my beloved In-N-Out. They just started opening them here in Texas, and they all have lines out the door. They must be doing something right!

 

Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub

HiDan! I stood in the line at the new Fort Worth location with my vegetarian daughter! I agree lines were crazy and parking was insane with employees instructing all drivers not to park in the Wendy lot attached to InNout! I hope that Wendy's can survive their next door competition.

 

Originally Posted By berol

I thought of the money angle, but knew what the replies would be and pocketed it.

The Texas lines are largely California transplants, 1 reason why INO went there instead of Seattle or Chicago.

 

Originally Posted By crapshoot

<<The Texas lines are largely California transplants, 1 reason why INO went there instead of Seattle or Chicago.>>

Hmmmm, In-N-Out opens in 10 minutes.

 

Originally Posted By ImTempest

That just means their thoughts got away from their brain ;-) I'm just really glad people are typing - wouldn't it be really boring if no one ever replied?

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

>The Texas lines are largely California transplants...<

And your evidence for this? They are so wildly popular here that I can't imagine that there's that many Californians that have ended up in Texas.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

>>I really think that there is a bigger picture that everyone seems to be missing here. When guests are at the pool, they really aren't spending money beyond snacks and beverages.

The place Disney really wants their guests is in the parks and DTD where every ten feet is another Point of Purchase location.
<<

I guess you could say the same for Las Vegas hotels too ... Why build a courtyard/pool area that's too nice .. when you want your guests in the casinos spending their cash away on slot machines, and other games (?).

Except the fact Vegas hotels sport some of the nicest pools one could ever enjoy.

So, who's the greedier to make their customers not spend time around a nicely done pool area??

I can't remember which hotel it was I stayed at years ago (Mandalay Bay, Mirage .. one of those hotels in that corner of Vegas) - the pool area was really nice. Took the lazy river right under some waterfalls, and other really nice rocky landscaping ... really impressed!

And this is the best Disney can do for the DLH?

Just take the Mirage for instance - This google page of images -

<a href="http://tiny.cc/ymm1h" target="_blank">http://tiny.cc/ymm1h</a>

Or this one, which covers several shots of other amazing Pool/Courtyard areas for Vegas hotels:

<a href="http://tiny.cc/mb23v" target="_blank">http://tiny.cc/mb23v</a>

So .. since no SO CAL hotel is willing to create a fantastic hotel Pool/Courtyard complex .. I'll just keep an eye on what's shaping up in Garden Grove with the Great Wolf Lodge.

 

Originally Posted By crapshoot

<<I guess you could say the same for Las Vegas hotels too ... Why build a courtyard/pool area that's too nice .. when you want your guests in the casinos spending their cash away on slot machines, and other games (?).>>

Your right, except that Vegas hotels close their main pools usually by 5:00 or 6:00 pm.

 

Originally Posted By TP2000

You can rest your eyes dean. Even take a long winter's nap if you like.

The Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove is not going anywhere; it's a project that has stalled and been put on hold, if not outright cancelled.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

^^^
Really?! Well .. thanks for the heads-up. I went to the Great Wolf topic .. but I lost patience on reading through .. as everyone was talking about everything else in life .. except the Great Wolf itself ... so .. Thank You for letting me know.

With the economy constantly stalling ... I can see why this has been shelved.

How many Garden Grove projects have we been reading about here at LP for years? That consistently drop off, never to be heard about again?

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

>>Your right, except that Vegas hotels close their main pools usually by 5:00 or 6:00 pm. <<

I was curious, what's the curfew for Disney hotel pools? (DLH, Paradise Pier, Grand Californian)

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Last time we were at the GCH, I think the pool hours were 6:30 am until midnight. As someone up early with jetlag, watching the sun rise from the jacuzzi and reflecting off the sun wheel was fab!

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

>>>>Your right, except that Vegas hotels close their main pools usually by 5:00 or 6:00 pm. <<

Another point on this - I'm wondering if it may have anything to do with people setting into the evening .. with their usual booz .. and the worry about people slipping/falling over wet areas in the dark -??

People heading off to Theme Park hotels surely aren't going to be looking to get as drunk - vs - Trips to Las Vegas.

So ... I'm wondering if that may have anything to do with it.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

And what about summer hours ... when it's not dark until 8:45/sh?