Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
their teeth, coping with indigestion, and arguing over what to wear. Fortunately, these
sounds don't carry into the sleeping area.
Theoriginalpoolhasbeengreatlyexpandedintoan“immersivewaterplayarea.”
The new complex's centerpiece is a pair of waterslides (187 feet and 112 feet long, re-
spectively) themed to resemble vintage monorail trains, topped by the classic Disney-
land block-letter logo. There's also a 19-foot kiddie slide and bubble jets for the little
ones. While the footprint of the 4,800-square-foot E-Ticket Pool (formerly known as
the Never Land Pool) remains unchanged, a new 4-foot-deep pool has been added
between it and the new waterslides, with a footbridge allowing easy passage from one
side of the water to the other. Unfortunately, the adult-friendly quieter Cove pools
were lost in the construction, reclaimed as a grassy space for special events. Though
the rebuilt amenities are attractive, they still appear inadequate in light of the hotel's
volume of visitors. On sunny days expect long inefficient lines for the slides, as well
as a severe shortage of lounge chairs and elbow room.
Also destroyed were the fan-favorite tropical gardens with walking paths, water-
falls, and koi ponds. In their place is Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's, a casual
restaurant and bar that banks on fond memories of Adventureland's 1960s-era Tahi-
tian Terrace dinner show. Disneyland Hotel's other restaurants include Steakhouse 55
and Goofy's Kitchen, the hotel's character-meal headquarters. (All Disneyland Hotel
restaurants are profiled in full in
Part Four
.)
As concerns practical matters, parking is a royal pain at the Disneyland Hotel.
The self-parking garage is convenient only to the Fantasy Tower, and even there
you'll probably have a long walk. To reach the other two towers, you must pass
through the Fantasy Tower and navigate across the hotel's inner plaza and pool area.
The Frontier Tower on the southern end of the property has a small parking lot to
the rear accessible via Downtown Drive and Paradise Way. Unfortunately, many of
the already limited spaces are reserved for the adjacent Disney Vacation Club time-
share sales office. Even so, if you're staying at the Frontier Tower, it's your best bet.
If there's no room in the Frontier lot, you're better off parking in the Paradise Pier
Hotel's lot than in the Disneyland Hotel parking garage. The only valet parking is at
the Fantasy Tower, so even if you valet park, you'll still have to hoof it to the other
towers.
A California family who didn't have a car to park thought the Disneyland Hotel
especially convenient:
IinitiallythoughtthatstayingattheDisneylandHotelwasanicetreatthatwemight
do just this once. I now see it as an absolute necessity as it allows early entry and an
easy midday retreat. That plus the great service there seals the deal.
Paradise Pier Hotel
