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The Disneyland Hotel is a short Monorail ride away from Disneyland Resort, making it one of the most convenient hotels to stay at during a Disneyland vacation — but the Disneyland Hotel is so much more than that. From its rich history as the first-ever Disney hotel to its modern-day offerings, this accommodation is truly one-of-a-kind.
A Brief History
The Disneyland Hotel opened in 1955. At first, it was not run by Disney. Rather, Walt Disney formed an agreement with entrepreneur-turned-television producer, Jack Wrather. It was not until 1988 that The Walt Disney Company acquired ownership of the hotel.
The hotel opened with 100 rooms at the rate of $15 a night. Shopping, dining, and recreational facilities were added in the years following its opening, as well as some amenities that may seem strange from a modern perspective, such as a doctor, dentist, and hair salon.
The Monorail route was expanded to connect to the Disneyland Hotel in 1959. In addition, a bar called “Monorail Red” was built inside the hotel, themed to the Disneyland Monorail.
Once Michael Eisner took over as CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 1984, an offer was sent to Wrather to acquire the hotel. Wrather refused, as he did to Walt years prior. It was not until his passing and the passing of his wife, Bonita Granville, that Disney would acquire not only the hotel but the entire Wrather company, which included the TV rights to “The Lone Ranger,” “Lassie,” and other tourist attractions, such as the RMS Queen Mary.
The Disneyland Hotel Today
The Disneyland Hotel underwent significant changes since it was acquired by Disney. None of the original 1955 hotel buildings remain standing. The only original pieces left are some of the parking areas and service facilities. Today, the hotel has three towers themed to different lands from Disneyland Park:
- Adventure – Adventureland-inspired
- Fantasy – Fantasyland-inspired
- Frontier – Frontierland-inspired
The hotel still has callbacks to its origins across the park for those with eyes to find them.
What Makes it So Special?
Aside from being the first-ever Disney hotel, the Disneyland Hotel has so much to offer beyond nostalgia. The lobby and hallways are decorated with beautiful artwork and design elements that call back to Mickey Mouse and iconic Disney films.
“The Never Land Pool” is expansive and highly themed, with luxurious cabanas and thrilling water slides themed with replica monorails.
For adults looking for an unforgettable night out, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is the place to go! This bar, combining the theming of classic tiki bars with Disney history, offers a wild experience. Drinks themed to iconic Disney rides and films come in unique souvenir mugs and may trigger some surprises!
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
Opened in 2023, the most recent expansion, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, added a new 12-story tower for Disney Vacation Club members. The 344-room complex is themed to Disney films such as “The Jungle Book,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “The Princess and the Frog.”
DVC Rental Store
The unfortunate truth about the Disneyland Hotel is that, as incredible as it is, it is also very expensive. A room, at the time of writing this article, can go for an average of $700 per night for a party of two!
This is where our friends at DVC Rental Store can help! Their company helps Disney Vacation Club Members sell their unused points to non-Members. This helps Members avoid losing out on points when they can’t go on vacation and allows non-Members to get into Disney hotels at a fraction of the usual cost!
As of writing this article, an average stay at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel using rented DVC points will cost $273-$651 depending on the room and time of year.
If you want to stay at the Disney hotel that started it all, or any other DVC resort such as Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa in Walt Disney World, and Aulani – A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai’i, visit our friends at DVCRentalStore.com!
Check out our full tour of The Villas at Disneyland Hotel:
Have you stayed at the Disneyland Hotel before? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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The post What Is So Special About the Disneyland Hotel? appeared first on WDW News Today.