Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "But I just think the resort would benefit by having the DLH and PPH imploded, and more thoroughly themed hotels erected in their place." Yep. I can't imagine that anyone wouldn't appreciate a more lavishly themed hotel experience than what currently occupies the real estate held by the DL and PP hotels.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss ^^ I should clarify that by benefit, I mean strickly from an aesthetics viewpoint (as you seem to understand.) Obviously, if Disney doesn't have any trouble running these hotels at high occupancy levels year-round, there is little to no reason to tear them down.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder "Yep. I can't imagine that anyone wouldn't appreciate a more lavishly themed hotel experience than what currently occupies the real estate held by the DL and PP hotels." Do you ever stay at any of the on site hotels now? if not, why? How much would be be willing to pay for one night at these lavishly themed hotels?
Originally Posted By gadzuux The DLH has surprisingly large rooms - almost certainly due to it's construction in an earlier era. Anything disney would replace this with would almost certainly have rooms with much smaller square footage. I'd rather have a ho-hum exterior and a more spacious room than a splashy facade and tighter smaller individual rooms. DLH is part of the history of the park. I'm for leaving the existing three towers as they are and expanding the resort by building different hotel properties. This way, disney still gets the additional rooms, and the resort gets a fourth all-new hotel.
Originally Posted By tonyanton They could probably also better theme the DL Hotel towers if they really wanted to...just look at some of the high rise structures in Vegas that are themed. No, it's not to the extent of WDW's resorts, but it's better than the current look of the DL Hotel. That said, I agree with post 24...the expansivenss of the rooms at the DL Hotel would not be replicated in a replacement.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Do you ever stay at any of the on site hotels now? if not, why? How much would be be willing to pay for one night at these lavishly themed hotels?" The same I'd pay at any other well-themed Disney property. For the record I've stayed at The GC, various Disney properties at WDW and DLP. I've also stayed at both the PP and DL hotels.
Originally Posted By GREENTHUMBMOM I agree on the square foot issue new construction less square feet for our $'s.The standard rooms at GCH are small. I still dont get the "disney" themeing of the GCH , dont get me wrong I LOVE staying there during the winter months and holiday season, its warm and cozy and holiday themed and the calif flavor in the architecht is right on the money, mission style, Ahwanee in Yosemite. Goes wonderfully with the big Bear and the Napa Rose. I will say in the hot summer months it feels out of place. Yup re theming adding theme etc... to the DL Hotel would be wonderful, bring back Fantasywaters, Characters around the grounds, add some Tinkerbell pixie dust ...but realistcally why would Disney do it, they sell out most of the time they are not lacking for guest. Also land is a problem what we see in that area of Paridise and DLH is what they have , no where to go but up.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I still dont get the "disney" themeing of the GCH>> Only one of the hotels that Disney has built at their resorts around the world has out-and-out Disney theming: the All-Star Movies, with it's giant icons from Toy Story, Dalmatians, and the like. All the others use Disney only in the details, with differing degrees of subtlety (or overtness.)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Funny GREENTHUMBMOM, I totally disagree. DLH says tacky to me. The Grand Californian totally says Disney becuase it is like staying in an attraction in the parks. Highly themed and immersive in architecture. The only thing going for the DL IMHO is nostalgia, the pool area, and Goofy's Kitchen. The Gardens are nice. But compared to the theme experience at all the other resorts around the globe, it is the most unDisney.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss ^^ Don't forget, as a few have mentioned: the larger rooms. But I agree, it is the most unDisney. It wasn't built with any theme to begin with, and has only been adapted and renovated to give it more "magic."
Originally Posted By Captain Jack Sparrow <<Funny GREENTHUMBMOM, I totally disagree. DLH says tacky to me. The Grand Californian totally says Disney becuase it is like staying in an attraction in the parks. Highly themed and immersive in architecture.>> Dave...I must disagree. If you take the GCH out of the area it is in,it is unDisney.The DLH as soon as you arrive says Disney with the giant Mickey to the highly themed grounds.The only hotel with DL characters walking thru it as well. The rooms are spacious,yes it is the oldest of the Disney hotels and cannot compare architecturally to the GCH...the GCH is new...I mean not a fair comparison. I like the GCH it is conveniently situated and you feel immersed in the area with the GRR entrance,DTD entrance etc.Great job Disney for creating this hotel. <<DLH is part of the history of the park. I'm for leaving the existing three towers as they are and expanding the resort by building different hotel properties. This way, disney still gets the additional rooms, and the resort gets a fourth all-new hotel.>> I'm with you gadzuux!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<If you take the GCH out of the area it is in,it is unDisney>> By that measure, couldn't that be said of the majority of the hotels Disney has build for its resorts?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I understand Captain, especially for people whom have perhaps never been to other Disney resorts. However, by that rationale, what is Disney about Main Street, or a Jungle Cruise, or a Pirate Fortress, and Antebellum Mansion, a few mountains etc. Take the Emporium out, it's just another store. Take the Blue Bayou out, it's just another themed restaurants. The characters in the park are ok, but it is the immersive experiences a Disney park offers that makes it special to me. refurbing 1950's/60's boxes with murrals and rubberheads are fine, but it is not immersive, and therefore not as Disney to me as say the Grand Californian - where it is themed immaculately throughout and the Mickey touches are subtle.
Originally Posted By Captain Jack Sparrow <<By that measure, couldn't that be said of the majority of the hotels Disney has build for its resorts?>> I guess.The GCH's location is by far the most convenient for Disney guests anywhere and was needed desparately to boost prolonged attendance for both parks, and I think compliments the older DL Hotel. Dave, I see your rationale, it makes sense as well! To the ship!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed, different strokes. However a nice Art Deco hotel like the Ambassador or Hollywood with all the character touches for the die hards could be good and match the Paradise Pier thing.
Originally Posted By Captain Jack Sparrow I would agree and I hope Disney changes the PP,that location could really turn into something spectacular, themed in true Disney fashion.
Originally Posted By jmuboy If we had to implode and remove a DLR hotel, I would start with the PP hotel. Then use it's location and the parking lot behind it to create another hotel the size of the GCH (or slightly larger) with expansive grounds and great themeing throughout.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I think a moderate (like those at WDW), but with a CA mission style theme would be great. Maybe not for that particular spot, but for the DLR in general.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "The DLH as soon as you arrive says Disney with the giant Mickey to the highly themed grounds." So do you think that character overlays the only way that something can convey "Disney"? Seems like kind of a narrow point of view to me.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Hmmm, interesting discussion. On one hand, the Disneyland Hotel has a lot of nostalgia, however, in the last few years much of that has already given way to modern touches, or other things. Downtown Disney removed the Monorail Cafe and all the hotel shops. The pool area got totally revamped, and the Fantasy Waters show is gone. Now it's just the basic towers left mostly. Here's what I think they should do. Don't actually tear down the towers, but convert the exterior to a Victorian facade much like the Grand Floridian, the Disneyland Hotel in Paris, and the new one in Hong Kong. That would mean that all of the Magic Kingdom style parks have a Victorian themed hotel (Tokyo is getting one in 2008 as well). I don't know they have to completely tear down the original Disneyland Hotel to achieve this. I just think it would a lot more charm and class to the area. It would complement the Grand Californian as well. Now, what to do with that bland Paradise Pier hotel...unless THAT hotel becomes the victorian themed one since the Paradise Pier are may become more like a turn of the century boardwalk theme. THEN the PP hotel could actually become Disney's Boardwalk hotel just like the one in Florida. That may require a tear down, but who knows. Anyway, those are just my thoughts on the whole thing.
