Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "I'm excited about the prospect of a DLP-style "Entrance Hotel" replacing the bus/tram stops along Harbor. I do wonder how tall it can get though. For some reason I wouldn't mind seeing it poke up from behind Monsters Inc, but it sure as heck better not be seen behind Space Mountain. But what to name it? Disneyland Hotel would have been the perfect name, but that's taken. Hey bean, is renaming the current Disneyland Hotel a possibility?" Yeah, I think it could look really attractive and make that area "pop". Right now, it's kind of mundane (despite how "artistic" that drop-off area was supposed to be). The only thing is how the hotel would be themed and named. Since it would straddle two parks, which theme would they pick? I'd love to see a Victorian theme like DLP, HKDL, and now TDL have going on, but then, it would look odd from DCA's point of view. Maybe do something more in line with what DCA's entrance plaza is going to turn into? Also, it would turn into the "gateway to Disneyland", so it would also have to evoke that sense of magic that's waiting for you on the other side...so, I have no idea what they would do with the theme...or name, for that matter. It's not like they could call it "Disney's Hollywood Hotel", since it would be close to TOT...
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Oh, and the San Fran theme leaving the bathroom area is no big deal since it was so weak anyway. I love the idea of retheming Pacific Wharf to SF though. It could easily be turned into a combination of Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. I've always thought it would be fun if Disney added a Sea Lion pool in that area, but I realize that's probably pretty impractical. Still, it sure would add some life over there, and something fun to watch.
Originally Posted By bartholomewneff Well, since we all know that the DLH is getting a "fantasy" retheming soon, perhaps they could change the name of the hotel to the "Magic Kingdom Hotel". That would allow them to recristen the new hotel as the "Disneyland Hotel" and it could have a Victorian them and be at the entrance the way all the other DL hotels are. Whatcha thing bean?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros There's really a surprising ammount of variations that they could do with this space, and I've just been randomly coming up with ideas that might work for it. If they wanted to, they could extend the hotel north of the tram area, sort of making a bridge across the entrance area. They could then have one opening (in an artistically ideal world one, but in a traffic world, they would probably want several smaller openings) on the first floor, to allow people to pass under the hotel (similar to the Mira Costa entrance to TDS) to the entrance area. I would theme it to something either Midevil or Victorian, and call it something like Disney's Gateway Hotel. They could hide the bag checks in a permanent structure under the building, which would look a lot better than the tents, IMO. There would be plenty of space between the current bag check area and the first dropoff (I doubt they would use the whole area), so the size of the rooms really wouldn't be that big of an issue (and some would have amazing views). They could even reconfigure the ticket booths, and incorporate them into the first floor of the hotel. I know that probably wouldn't match the other side of the Esplanade (unless they added anoter wing over there, which would make the Esplanade look pretty cool, IMO, but make it even more difficult to add a third park), but it would make the east side pretty awsome, if I can say so myself.
Originally Posted By jmuboy I think ALL the hotel shuttles / taxi area drop off and short term parking (for guest drop off) should all be moved behind ToT. You could access this area via the current entrance to the Timon lot off Harbor. This would free up all of the current transportation area for a new hotel and guest areas. Like bean said, this area is so poorly designed and not to mention UGLY. So out of design with the rest of the resort. Bean, is Blue Sky accurate in that the DL Hotel's renovation should get underway soon (by this summer).
Originally Posted By bean yes they are. It should had been sooner than that but there has been so many changes several things were pushed back a bit to adjust other projects. By that time the GCH would also have much more work done
Originally Posted By topdisneymom The first time I went to DCA I was expecting the San Francisco area to be like main st. It was a big disappointment
Originally Posted By StitchDude Sorry folks, i am behind here. What renovations are going on at the DL Hotel?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros There are persistant rumors (I don't think anything official has come out yet, but I could be wrong) saying that they will completely renovate the DLH, closing it one tower at a time. The first closure is supposed to happen near the beginning of summer, and the tower should reopen in time for Christmas crowds. They will basically completely gut the interiors and re do them, and put new skins on the outside to make them look a little more "Disney" and a little less generic 60's hotel. I don't think many details have gotten out about it, but it sounds like it's a lot bigger than anything they could do by just closing off a floor or two at a time. Hopefully it will turn out nicely.
Originally Posted By StitchDude Thanks for the info! I think this sounds like a dame shame. I was ok with the suite's, but this is going to be bad. I just feel it in my gut. I can see it now, white fluffy clouds everywhere. Why cant they just leave a good thing alone!! I really hope this is all rumor and no substance!
Originally Posted By gadzuux DLH charges premium rates for an aging property. This can't help but be a good thing - at least for people staying at the hotel. New carpets, drapes, fixtures - and a new facade. Although I'm not sure just how much they can do with the outside - it's mostly glass. It seems like installing balconies on a building that didn't have them before would be tricky, so I wouldn't expect that.
Originally Posted By bartholomewneff It's not supposed to be rethemed to the temporary marketing YOAMD campaign StitchDude. It's supposed to have a fantasy theming and it could use it. Good enough alone? You like going to a dilapidated, out of date, old 60's set of blocks? Good enough for you is not good enough for most Disney fans. I detest how the original DLH is the ugliest of all the signature hotels in the Disney theme parks.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I don't know if they would want to do it, but they could replace the windows with smaller ones, that don't stretch from floor to ceiling, in order to give them more facade space to beautify the hotel. This would make for a less grand view out the window, but a much more picturesque hotel. I also wouldn't be surprised if they removed the balconies, but I always liked them, even if they weren't really big enough to do much on (other than stand there and wave at Bill and Mary across the way).
Originally Posted By Dabob2 They're basically big enough so that you can open your window and not drop straight down to the ground! Seriously, I don't think ours was as wide as a foot-length. But you COULD at least open the window, lean on the railing and get a beautiful unobstructed view (and ours was fantastic).
Originally Posted By bean thats true but you could also get a clear unobstructed view from the ground of people walking around in the birthday suits. Its quite a site when you are sitting in the kids pool area and look up only to see a big hairy guy dangling his privates. LOL
Originally Posted By StitchDude >It's not supposed to be rethemed to the temporary marketing YOAMD campaign StitchDude. It's supposed to have a fantasy theming and it could use it. Good enough alone? You like going to a dilapidated, out of date, old 60's set of blocks? Good enough for you is not good enough for most Disney fans. I detest how the original DLH is the ugliest of all the signature hotels in the Disney theme parks.< My comment about the clouds was really more of a comment on the way to long and over emphasized two and a half years of a million dreams more that it was about the hotel. While I admittedly have not stayed at the Grand, I will always enjoy the original and never the PPH. Just because something was build in the 60's does not mean it is bad. Pirates was built in the sixties and that is not bad. All of NOS was built in the sixties and that is not bad. Disneyland was built in the fifties!! According to your thinking it must be the worst place ever because it is so old!! I do enjoy the hotel because it has some great Disney touches but I can also feel like an I am not having cartoons shoved down my throat. If it was that bad people would not be staying there. I just don't like change for the sake of change and I am getting tired if SYNERGY. P.S. I will get off my soapbox now.
Originally Posted By bean the hotel change has nothing to do with synergy. The hotel despreately needs change. Its an aging infrustructure that does not blend in well with its surroundings. I know the PPH is not liked by many due to the fact that it looks like a flashy jukebox but the inside is actually much nicer than the old Disneyland hotel. Its also a nice change from having to deal with the high traffic and noise that the Disneyland hotel has. Eventually once we see if the other hotel is approved in the land behind the Paradise pier, we will know whether they decide to tear it down or go ahead and retheme that tower. If it was me i would tear it down and replace it with something that fits better within the land and the resort. Right now it is just an afterthought with its ugly parking structure behind
