Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1150 W. Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802.
&
714/956-MICKEY
(714/956-6425). Reservations fax 714/956-
6582. www.disneyland.com. 990 units . $255-$345 double; fr om $750 suit e. 2-night minimum sta y. AE,
MC, V. Parking $10.
Amenities:
4 r estaurants; 3 lounges; bab ysitting; children's programs; concierge;
health club; Jacuzzi; 3 out door pools (including adults-only pool); room service; Wi-Fi (free, in lobby).
In
room:
A/C, TV, hair dryer, Internet (free), minibar.
Disney's Grand C alifornian Hotel
Kids
Disney didn 't miss the details
when constructing this enormous version of an Arts and Crafts-era lodge (think Yosem-
ite's Ahwahnee and Pasadena's Gamble House), hiring craftspeople throughout the state
to contribute one-of-a-kind tiles, furnitur e, sculptures, and ar twork. Taking inspiration
from California's redwood forests, mission pioneers, and plein-air painters, designers cre-
ated a nostalgic yet state-of-the-art high-rise hotel that has its o wn private entrance into
Disney's California Adventure park and Downtown Disney District.
Enter thr ough subtle (wher e's the door?) stained-glass sliding panels to the hotel 's
centerpiece, a six-stor y “living r oom” with a William Morris-designed marble “carpet,”
an angled skylight seen thr ough exposed suppor t beams, display cases of C raftsman
treasures, and a three-story walk-in “hearth” whose fire warms Stickley-style rockers and
plush leather armchairs.
Guest rooms are spacious and smartly designed, carrying through the Arts and Crafts
theme surprisingly w ell considering the hotel 's grand scale. The best ones o verlook the
park, but you'll pay for that view. Despite the sophisticated air of the Grand Californian,
this is a hotel that tr uly caters to families, with a bevy of r oom configurations including
one with a double bed plus bunk beds with a tr undle. Since the hotel provides sleeping
bags (rather than rollaways) for kids, this standard-size room will sleep a family of five—
but you have to share the bathroom.
Tip:
Ask for a fr ee upgrade to a r oom with a vie w
of the park when you check in—they're pretty generous about this.
The hotel's two main restaurants are the upscale
Napa Rose
and the
Storytellers Cafe,
a “character dining” restaurant that's always bustling with ex cited kids who pay mor e
attention to Chip and D ale than their eggs and bacon (be sur e to make a br eakfast res-
ervation). Also on the property is
Mandara Spa,
offering a complete array of spa services
for men and women.
1600 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, CA 92802.
&
714/956-MICKEY
[714/956-6425] (central reservations),
or 714/635-2300. F ax 714/956-6099. w ww.disneyland.com. 745 units . $215-$345 double; fr om $355
suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $6; free self-parking.
Amenities:
3 restaurants; lounge; children's
center; c oncierge; c oncierge-level r ooms; Jacuzzi; 2 out door pools; r oom ser vice; spa; Wi-Fi (fr ee, in
lobby).
In room:
A/C, TV, hair dryer, Internet (free), minibar.
223
8
Expensive
Paradise P ier Hotel
Kids
The whimsical beach boar dwalk theme of this
15-story hotel ties in with the Paradise Pier section of Disney's California Adventure park
across the str eet. The surfer theme salutes the hey day of seaside amusement par ks with
nautical and beach decor in the guest r ooms, nostalgic California ar twork, and a water
slide modeled after the wooden roller coasters of yesteryear. Book a room at this smallest
Disney property only if the other two ar e full—it's not as “magical” as the original D is-
neyland Hotel and is soundly trounced by the superlative Grand Californian. It's also not
as centrally located as the other two hotels, which could be a pr oblem if you're not fond
of walking. It does, however, offer “family suites” that comfortably accommodate families
of six or more, as well as Lilo & Stitch's Aloha Breakfast featuring island songs and table-
side visits at the hotel 's
PCH Grill.
Kids ev en get to make their o wn pizzas (pseudo-
breakfast pizzas with peanut butter and gummy bears and such, or
, for lunch/dinner ,
