Old Memories of the Disneyland Hotel

[AC7179]

My grandmother used to take us to Disneyland every year. We would stay a week at the Disneyland Hotel, until we switched over to the Pan Pacific when I was ten or so. Things I remember about the old Disneyland Hotel:

As a kid, I thought the arcade that was under water was the coolest thing ever.


We loved burgers at Maizie's! We also liked to shop all around that two story complex Maizie's was in. I remember gift shops, the gym maybe, wedding planning and various clothing stores.

We stayed in the Oriental Garden rooms a few times. I think these were the original rooms. Very large, motel style rooms that opened to luscious gardens.

Outside these rooms, there was a big remote control racetrack. Awesome!

Goofy's Kitchen had outside seating and when you walked by you could see the characters walking around.

The main gift shop outside the monorail station was amazing. A big shop that consisted of maybe four "sections" and had tons of goodies.

The Monorail Cafe, so good! Yum!

That's all I have for now, please share your memories of the 80s in this hotel!

 

[TravelMomma281]

I never stayed at the DL Hotel however we used to always head over there on the day we arrived in Anaheim to look around and enjoy the water show. The first year I went must have been 1979 and I thought that water show was spectacular (lame by todays standards I'm sure). I also remember the two story shops you spoke about. It contained lots of different shops that led from one to the next with windows open to the elements. There was also a Polynesian show in the evening where they have dancers on floats and fire dancers/eaters. I also remember the Disney gift shop and bought many items from the store. I preferred to buy my Disney merchandise there b/c rather than the parks so that I didn't have to carry it all day long. I remember eating there a few times but can't recall the name of the restaurant. I found it sad over the years when I visited as it seemed there was less and less. By 1991, it was boring and only contained a few interesting things I have mentioned above.

 

[deetman]

Fountain show; caves and waterfalls.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Remember the paddle boat lagoon and the Neon Cactus? When I was older we would take the monorail over and have a drink at the Neon Cactus, then go back to the park.

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

Oh I feel so Old to be able to remember all of theses things as well. I have not heard anyone mention the large swimming pool that is now gardens and street.

 

[AC7179]

My granny would let me ride the parking lot tram over to Disneyland on our arrival day. We would hang out at the gates and walk to the kennel and just be nosy before hopping a ride back to the hotel.


Once I harrassed her into riding the paddle
Boats with me. I got smack dab in the middle of the lagoon before proclaiming myself too tired to go on. Ha!

 

[dizneekrazee]

The only thing I remember was the remote controlled water boats. I vaguely remember the drinks/snacks in the room refrigerator that were about $5 each, only bc my brother started to get stuff out before he was caught lol

 

[krispin41]

Not of the Disneyland Hotel, but I driving to Disneyland with my best friend in the mid 80's. We stayed at the KOA campground across the street and would walk to the Disneyland Hotel to shop and pick up the monorail.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I remember the swimming pool with the beach, too, and the nearby wading pool. I thought it was so neat to have a pool with a beach, and not be near the ocean. lol

 

[AC7179]

Oh, me too! I loved the beach! And nobody was ever in that pool!

I also loved all the caves by the waterfall!

 

[DizMe]

I loved the little shopping mall!! There was also a great place to grab a pastry. It was down a few steps from ground level. They had an apricot pastry I adored and a lot of good, quick food. There was also a small grocery shop that was nice to have onsite.

We only stayed once in the Oriental Gardens, but it was so lovely! The rooms had white wood beamed ceilings and it was like you were in a cottage.

Had a super fun time once on a conference to DLH...at the end of the day, a few of us whooped it up at the Neon Cactus. That's when I learned a dance called the sprinkler, LOL. It's not as bad as it sounds; you just pretend you're one of those big Rainbird sprinklers that goes ch......ch......ch.......ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch with accompanying arm movements. It makes more sense when you've had a few margaritas.

My older kids long ago in the DLH harbor:

Me in front of the remote controlled boats, 1991.

 

[wdwrich]

OP- I remember all those things too! We stayed in both the tower buildings and the Oriental Garden rooms. Once had a garden room with the monorail track right outside our window and my kids thought it was the coolest thing on earth! Also loved the "underwater" arcade. Kind of miss some of those things.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

We never stayed at the hotel, but i remember my parents taking me to goofy's kitchen. Back then the tables had white linnens on them and they were sprinkled with edible mickey confetti. At age 10 i thought this was the coolest thing ever. After we ate we looked in gift shop. It felt like the store was huge back then and I clearly remember wanting a large black mickey bean bag chair. Funny what memories stick out for you when you are a kid.

 

[Briarrose1306]

I totally forgot that GK used to have outdoor seating!!! Now that you say that I remember my baby brother's first trip when he was less than a year and there's a pick of our family at GK outside with the main goof himself! Great memories!

 

[Thundergod]

Me in front of the remote controlled boats, 1991.

The side ponytail was cute on you. lol

 

[wiigirl]

I loved the remote control boats!

 

[Heymy]

Disneyland was our yearly family vacation and it was the best. We always stayed in the Garden rooms because my father refused to stay in the towers with his fear of heights and because they were cheaper. Then at some point (late 80s, early 90s) they converted the rooms to semi-suites and were called the Villas. So many memories!! I think we spent more time at the hotel then the actual park. We loved the underwater arcade while my folks enjoyed the Neon Cactus or the warf bar. Of course, who can forget the Monorail Cafe. It was the best breakfast, lunch and dinner!! We'd wolf down breakfast and make sure that someone was in line for the Monorail at the crack of dawn. We prided ourselves for being the first at the gate. We also really liked Stromboli's but I think it was short lived. I always felt like I had to have an adult with me to go in the clothing shop upstairs because we'd get dirty looks if it was just me and my brother. And then there was the Disney store (can't remember an actual name) and every time I would say when I grew up, I was going to get the Mickey lounge chair and ottoman that was in the display window. Good stuff!

 

[Jaina]

I've never stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, but I remember shortly after it opened we had a trip planned to Disneyland. Our first morning there, really early (a few hours before the park opened) my dad and I walked over to check it out. (I was the oldest - 8 or 9?) He thought it was the coolest thing, and we talked about maybe staying there sometime. (Just too expensive, though!) Fun memory, though.

 

[Sherry E]

I moved this thread over to the Disneyland Community forum, as it's not directly related to trip planning.

I have not read anyone else's replies, so I am likely repeating what everyone else has said, but I am rattling off things as they spring to mind...

I loved the pre-Downtown Disney version of the Disneyland Hotel! It seemed like no matter which room we had we somehow ended up with a great view.

I loved the old Goofy's Kitchen location -- back then the characters dressed up in Christmas/Winter wear for the holidays. Remember Santa Goofy, going from table to table?

I loved the lush waterfalls and the telltale green color of the water -- even just the sound of them filling the air was wonderful.

I loved the koi fish pond.

I loved that Fantasy Waters show, or Dancing Waters, or whatever it was called (basically, the early, early, early version of World of Color!).

I loved the pedal boats in the marina.

I loved Candy Cane Lane and the little treat/merchandise tents set up during the holidays (and later, the ice rink). I also loved the various photo spots and Santa meet & greet areas.

I loved the older Christmas trees at the DLH, small and large, some of which had golden character ornaments at one time.

I loved that there were so many extra shops and places to eat. I loved the little shop that sold crystal knick-knacks, and the toy store.

I loved the old Sergeant Preston's Yukon Saloon, which later became the Neon Cactus. It was fun watching people sing karaoke. At least one of the bear statuettes outside that place moved over to the GCH in later years.

I loved the old club/lounge -- wasn't it called the Pavilion Lounge or something? It had a dance floor and served adult beverages. My friends and I had a blast at that place.

I even liked the old arcade, even though I'm not a big gamer. And the mini-beach! So cute.

Almost as much as the waterfalls and koi, what I really, reallllllly miss is the Monorail Cafe. I wish there had been a way to save that place or bring it back in a different location. That was a good table service place to eat, with a casual, diner/coffee shop vibe and good food. Great burgers, sandwiches, beer-battered onion rings, shakes, sundaes and pies! Yum! Plus, they'd give us those little maps, or whatever they were, with the tiny little people wearing ears, scattered around the park.


I always wished there had been a way to keep the DLH intact, in its larger version, and still build DTD, the GCH, etc. Alas, it was not possible.