D-LAND HOTEL/PARKING LOT

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Disneyland Hotel vintage poster(Oct. 5, 1955–Present) BACKSTORY: First “Disney” hotel although not Disney owned until 1988. Disneyland construction costs kept Disney from building a hotel. Disney approached a number of hotel chains in 1954, but all felt that the Disneyland venture was too risky. Instead, he negotiated a deal with his friend Jack Wrather to build and operate one. Wrather had the rights to use the Disneyland Hotel name on any hotel in California until 2054. Four years after Wrather died, The Walt Disney Co. bought the entire Wrather Corporation, which also gave them the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach and the rights to The Lone Ranger & Lassie TV Series.

Designed by the firm of Pereira & Luckman, the 100 room hotel opened on October 5, 1955, approximately 3 months after Disneyland opened. It eventually featured the Monorail Plaza, a shopping center built in June 1961 and demolished in the late 1990’s for Downtown Disney. The hotel consists of three guest room towers: Marina, Sierra, and Bonita. Other buildings in the complex house restaurants, stores, offices, recreational facilities, and convention/banquet facilities.

The off-center placement of an exterior elevator shaft at the Sierra Tower created space constraints which required the neon sign atop the building to read “Hotel Disneyland.” During a 1966 expansion, the sign was corrected. The sign was later removed and replaced with a mural featuring shooting stars. After acquiring the hotel in January 1988, Disney announced a multi-million dollar upgrade to the hotel (slated for summer 1990), which included the 1174 guest rooms (304 in the Sierra Tower, 367 in the Bonita Tower, and 319 in the Marina Tower), lobbies, elevators, the porte cochere (main entryway), Grand Ballroom (a new crystal chandelier from Milan), and Exhibit Hall. Museum-quality exhibits of historic Disneyland memorabilia were also added. The remaining “Disneyland Hotel” neon signs for the Marina & Bonita Towers were removed in Dec. 2005 (neon signs were eventually outlawed in the Anaheim Resort District; the Marina & Sierra signs were replaced with smaller ones). Signs from several of the stores & restaurants (the original Garden Rooms, Travelport, Hotel Shops, Olympic Pool, and Plaza Building) were kept after the demoltion and are on display in the hotel’s employee cafeteria. Included is a large “End of an Era” posterboard signed by visitors and employees of the Monorail Cafe during its last months of operation. All of the original Disneyland Hotel was removed in mid-1999. Steakhouse 55 was once called Granville’s Steak House (named after Wrather’s wife’s maiden name, Bonita Granville, a famous child actress of the 30’s/40’s).

Most photos available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below.

Disney World Hotels

1950’s

Disneyland Hotel concept art
Concept
Walt Disney and Jack Wrather, 1955
Walt and Jack Wrather
Disneyland Hotel aerial view, 1955
Aerial shot, 1955
Disneyland Parking Lot, July 1955
July 1955
Parking Lot, July 27, 1955
Parking Lot, July 27, 1955
Disneyland Hotel and playground, October 1956
Oct. 1956
Disneyland Hotel and playground, October 1956
Oct. 1956
Disneyland Hotel and playground, October 1956
Oct. 1956
Parking Lot 1956/57
Parking Lot, 1956/57
Parking Lot 1956/57
Parking Lot, 1956/57
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, September 1957
Sept. 1957
Disneyland Hotel, 1957
1957
Disneyland Hotel, 1957
1957
Disneyland Hotel, 1957
1957
Disneyland Hotel, 1957
1957
Parking Lot
Parking Lot, undated
Disneyland Parking Lot
Parking Lot, undated
Disneyland Parking Lot, September 1958
Sept. 1958
Disneyland Parking Lot, September 1958
Sept. 1958
Disneyland Parking Lot, March 1959
March 1959
Disneyland Parking Lot, May 9, 1959
May 9, 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Hotel photo, July 1959
July 1959
Disneyland Parking Lot photo, September 1959
Sept. 1959
Disneyland Hotel, November 1959
Nov. 1959
Disneyland Parking Lot, November 1959
Nov. 1959
Disneyland Hotel, November 1959
Nov. 1959
Disneyland Hotel, November 1959
Nov. 1959
Disneyland Hotel, November 1959
Nov. 1959
Disneyland Hotel, November 1959
Disneyland Hotel, November 1959
Nov. 1959
Disneyland Hotel Gourmet Restaurant ad for Vacation Magazine, 1959
Vacation Magazine Ad, 1959

Don Ballard’s Book Addendum

Disneyland Hotel Book Addendum photoDisneyland Hotel Book Addendum photoMany of you have probably seen Don Ballard’s excellent book on The Disneyland Hotel. Now he is hard at work at an addendum that will include all the material from the original book as well as new information and photos. The first edition will consist of only 500 copies—so don’t delay once it gets released! Don was gracious enough to send a few sample pages for me to check out, and so far, it looks fantastic! The new edition will cover small sections of the original book supplemented with all the new info and photos he has acquired since the book was published in 2005. They will be in magazine type format like the E Ticket magazine. For the first one, I took ten pages of the original book and turned it into 32 pages with the new information. Visit his blog to see the latest information: http://magicalhotel.blogspot.com/
CoxPilot Remembers at Daveland
Disneyland Hotel Coral Club photo, November 1959The Coral Club: An additional amenity at this time was the Coral Club which included a huge 45'x 75' completely tiled and heated swimming pool, wading pools for children of all ages, fountains, sandlots, and a cabana area. The pools were surrounded by lounge furniture for guests’ relaxation and so that they might acquire a Southern California tan. One-day laundry and dry cleaning services were available, and a physician and nurse were on call. An 18-hole putting green and shuffleboard courts were also early inclusions at the Disneyland Hotel Coral Club.

1960’s

Parking Lot
June 1960
Parking Lot
June 1960
Disneyland Hotel photo, January 1962
January 1962
Disneyland Parking Lot August 1962
August 1962
Disneyland Hotel New Tower Rendering, 1962
New Tower Rendering, 1962
Disneyland Hotel Gourmet Restaurant Interior, August 1962
Restaurant Interior, August 1962
Disneyland Parking Lot July 1963
July 1963
Disneyland Parking Lot July 1963
July 1963
Parking Lot September 1963
Sept. 1963
Disneyland Hotel and Parking Lot September 1963
Disneyland Hotel and Parking Lot, September 1963
Disneyland Hotel and Parking Lot, March 1964
Hotel and Parking Lot, March 1964
Tram Station, March 1964
Tram Station, March 1964
Disneyland Hotel, June 1964
June 1964
Disneyland Hotel, June 1964
June 1964
Disneyland Hotel, April 19, 1965
April 19, 1965
Disneyland Hotel, April 19, 1965
April 19, 1965
Disneyland Hotel, July 1965
July 1965
Disneyland Parking Lot, August 1965
Aug. 1965
Parking Lot, April 1966
Parking Lot, April 1966
April 1966
April 1966
Disneyland Hotel, October 1966
Oct. 1966
Disneyland Hotel, October 1966
Oct. 1966
Disneyland Hotel, October 1966
Oct. 1966
Disneyland Hotel, November 1966
Nov. 1966
Disneyland Hotel, 1966
1966
Disneyland Hotel photo of Shirley Temple Black, 1967
Shirley Temple Black, 1967
Parking Lot, Sept. 1969
Parking Lot, Christmas, 1960’s
Disneyland Parking Lot, January 1968
January 1968
Disneyland Hotel, March 1969
March 1969
Parking Lot, Sept. 1969
Parking Lot, Sept. 1969
Disneyland Parking Lot, October 1969
Parking Lot, Oct. 1969

1970’s

Disneyland Hotel, October 1970
Oct. 1970
Disneyland Hotel, October 1970
Oct. 1970
Disneyland Hotel, October 1970
Oct. 1970
Disneyland Hotel, October 1970
Oct. 1970
Disneyland Hotel, October 1970
Oct. 1970
Disneyland Hotel, September 1976
Sept. 1976
Disneyland Hotel, September 1976
Sept. 1976
Disneyland Hotel, September 1976
Shipyard Inn, Sept. 1976
Disneyland Hotel, September 1976
Shipyard Inn, Sept. 1976
Parking lot, August 1977
Sept. 1976
Disneyland Hotel, September 1976
Sept. 1976
Parking lot, August 1977
Sept. 1976
Disneyland Hotel, April 1977
April 1977
Parking lot, August 1977
August 1977
Disneyland Hotel, July 1978
Disneyland Hotel, July 1978
Disneyland parking lot, November 1978
November 1978

1980’s–1990’s

Disneyland parking lot, August 1986
Aug.1986
Disneyland parking lot, August 1986
Aug.1986
Disneyland parking lot, August 1986
Aug.1986
Disneyland parking lot, August 1986
Aug.1986
Disneyland Hotel, 1988
1988
Disneyland Hotel, 1988
1988
Disneyland Hotel, 1988
1988
Disneyland Hotel, 1988
1988
Disneyland Hotel, 1988
Dancing Waters Fountain Show, 1988
Disneyland Hotel, 1988
Granville's Restaurant, 1988
Disneyland Hotel, 1988
Yukon Follies cast, 1988
Disneyland Hotel, 1989
1989
Disneyland Hotel, 1989
Lobby Lounge concept, 1989
Disneyland Hotel, 1989
Guest Room concept, 1989
Goofy in the Parking Lot, October 1995
Goofy in the parking lot, Oct. 1995
Maleficent Blow up in the parking lot for Mickeys Halloween Treat October 1995
Maleficent blow-up for Mickey’s Halloween Treat, Oct. 1995
Disneyland Hotel photo, 1998
Tomorrowland 1998 Presskit photo

2000+

Disneyland Hotel, June 2005
June 2005
Parking Lot, July 2007
July 2007
Parking Lot, July 2007
July 2007
Parking Lot, July 2007
July 2007
Disneyland Hotel, August 2007
Aug. 2007
Disneyland Hotel, August 2007
Aug. 2007
Disneyland Hotel, August 2007
Aug. 2007
Disneyland Parking Lot, April 2008
April 2008
Disneyland Parking Lot, April 2008
April 2008
Disneyland Timon Parking Lot photo, June 2008
June 2008
Disneyland Hotel, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
1964 World’s Fair Fountain at Disneyland Hotel, July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Wonder Building Waterfall, July 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, August 2008
Aug. 2008
Disneyland Hotel photo, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Hotel photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Hotel photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
Disneyland Hotel photo, September 2009
Sept. 2009
 

Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure

Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008
Disneyland Hotel Safari Adventure, July 2008
July 2008

Steakhouse 55

Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, October 2007
Oct. 2007
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, October 2007
Oct. 2007
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, October 2007
Oct. 2007
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, October 2007
Oct. 2007
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, October 2007
Oct. 2007
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, October 2007
Oct. 2007
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
Disneyland Hotel Steakhouse 55 restaurant, June 2009
June 2009
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