Disneyland Hotel Ephemera
Here's a selection of vintage paper items from the Disneyland Hotel. Where I never stayed. I also never got a pony for Christmas. This unassuming item is only about 4" X 5" when in its fully-folded state. "Why, this small item is hardly worth my time!", one might say while polishing one's monocle.
Flip open one fold, and you get some general info - lots of impressive numbers. 1,000 deluxe rooms! 30,000 square foot exhibition room! 25 conference, meeting, and banquet rooms! 80 feral cats!
Further unfolding reveals artwork that is so great that the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel looks like poop by comparison! Just look at those sweet spot illustrations. And for some classic Hotel amenities, such as Dancing Waters, Water World Shows, Pedal Boat Rides, Miniature Golf, real golf, and yes, even a Game Room. There is also an assortment of restaurants to suit your mood, from a cantina with dancing and cocktails to the "Top of the Park" (cocktails, but no dancing). And there's the Monorail Bar (not cafe)!
Flip the thing over, and there's a handy map so that you won't get lost and cry. While this brochure (or is it a pamphlet?) is undated, the Bonita Tower is not on the Hotel site yet, and that opened sometime in 1978.
Hotel doily, well hotel doily, it's so nice to see you back where you belong! I'm sorry, Melissa, I could not resist.
I couldn't think of a song to accompany this cocktail napkin, but you have to admit that it's the greatest napkin in history.
6 comments:
Major-
On July 1, 1978, 119 of the guest rooms of the Bonita Tower opened; and by August, the remaining guest rooms were fully open.
What I'm curious about is the area north of the heliport labelled as "Luau Grounds - special area for Hawaiian parties". Just what was that??
Thanks, Major.
Hey! I didn't see nuthin' 'bout no feral cats in that brochure! Bait 'n switch I tell ya!
The nuclear family on the cover looks just a bit too happy, if you ask me. And Sis needs a chin reduction procedure.
The "Dancing Waters" blurb says "No admission". Does that mean "no entry fee" or just "no entry" or maybe "we deny everything"?
There's a whole lot of "Luncheon" going on here.
I think I can see The Dent and The Stain on the cocktail napkin. Also, Fudgie, a Bobsled, and at least two AEDs... I may have accidentally doubled my meds tonight.
I poked fun at your brochure, but it's actually quite thorough, detailed, and informative. Thanks, Major.
It’s interesting that the interior of the brochure seems to use the correct graphics and logos for the lounges , restaurants etc. ( except I’m not certain about TOP OF THE PARK) I signage used at the MONORAIL BAR was not modern like the brochure uses…. In fact the Interior of the bar was mostly “mid century old time” with the actual bar inside was done to look like a San Francisco cable car and the rest of the decor was streetcar and cable car related …. And the graphics were very “main Street” like. I have a hours of operation door sign to the hotel monorail bar and it even looks old fashioned.
Nanook, the "Luau Grounds" was just a medium-sized swimming pool, filled entirely with Dole Whip.
I wonder if the "Tiffy's Family Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor" in the Plaza Building, was the same Tiffy's Family Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor" that was located just down the street, on the corner of Katella Ave. and West St.? Did that business relocate at some point? By the way, that establishment was torn down in 2020.
Thanks for sharing your DL Hotel ephemera with us, Major.
As a kid things like this brochure would go into an envelope, to go into another envelope to go into a shoebox that would go into a dark closet only to be taken out with very very clean hands. I remember the graphics of the nuclear family: but I think that they made some return appearances in later years or perhaps a decade. I don't know who that Gene guy is, but certainly they were very invested in him to print his name on the thousands of brochures that were printed and distributed. Soooooo many restaurant choices! All part of keeping people on property: the choices are not as robust these days, and I miss the "hotel coffee shop" experience in general when I travel. It seems that there usually was the "nice" restaurant...with a coffee shop next door sharing the same kitchen....I can't think of one hotel I've been to in the past 20 years that has had this experience. There certainly are hotels that have a regular restaurant, and then another "name" restaurant to boot....maybe it's all the same thing....I digress...Sometimes you don't want a steak in a red leatherette booth....and sometimes you do: looks like the Disneyland Hotel provided a wealth of options: including the "Crown and Pillow"....I do understand the reference...but I had to look at it twice to see if "pillow" was the intended word. "Crown and Anchor", "Crown and Capstan" "Crown and Crow" "Crown and Horse".....crown and pillow? Sounds kind of mamby-pamby....more like a tea room than pub...perhaps it was? The Disneyland Hotel font is just a wee bit different than the WDP "Disneyland" font...but it looks kind of 1955 old school font...with some added elements. It was very distinctive, and I remember as a kid waxing poetic about the differences. I do miss this old style resort hotel experience: with the myriad of activities, where you don't have to go through a police scanner to get something to eat, or a reservation months and months in advance. Ahhhh....my grumpy old man appears.....thanks Major for the major posting. I want a bumper sticker that says "Take me to Tiffy's".
Somewhere recently I saw past pictures of an area on DL’s property where outside parties were held….like for business conventions. People were setting up and the decor looked tropical, IIRC. Now I don’t remember whose blog post I was looking at….or maybe they were pictures in my dad’s collection that I haven’t scanned yet?? Does anyone recall seeing those? Am wondering if those were from that mystery area….
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