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.
16 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….
Oh no, Tiffy’s is gone? @#$&!!
Come for the multitude of dining options, stay for the feral cats. I see there is a sand beach, no doubt specifically for the feral cats.
I do love the wide variety of restaurants, I think the closest we get to this now is some of the Hawaii destination resorts miles from other development, or maybe a cruise ship.
I remember these graphics for the Monorail Bar. I’d place this piece in early to mid 70’s, but that’s just a guess. I’m keeping this because of the handy map to these places that are now gone. Also keeping the Greatest Napkin in History because reasons. I wonder if Herb Ryman realized his Castle Design would become the single most recognized ad graphic for Disney since the Mouse?
Thanks Major!
JG
Nanook, yes, that was about the only clue I could find that helped to sort of date this item, though I suppose it could be from years before 1978. “Luau Grounds” I wonder if that’s what we see in Lou and Sue’s 1984 photo ?
JB, I suggest that you talk to the manager about the feral cat issue, you might get a coupon for a free “extremely small” soda at one of the restaurants. It’s true, poor Sis does look a bit misshapen here. I assume the “no admission” for the dancing waters meant that it was free to everyone, but I don’t really know. I wonder if “luncheons” were a bigger deal at the Hotel than dinners? Maybe lots of people took a midday break from the park and the restaurants were full of club sandwich eaters.
Mike Cozart, I’ve seen similar graphics for the Monorail Bar on another Disneyland Hotel item (which I have scanned but have not yet shared) - it does seem strange that the lettering here is so “modern” when in fact the actual restaurant had an old-time atmosphere. Then again, it’s odd that a restaurant named for the futuristic Monorail had Main Street-ish theme?
TokyoMagic!, it’s OK to swim in Dole Whip because it’s non-dairy! We don’t know what Dole Whip IS, but we know what it ISN’T. “Tiffy’s”, now that’s a name, though I admit that I kind of like it because it feels like an actual family name. Like the restaurant named after Sir Lionel Fuddrucker.
Bu, if you ever find your carefully stored brochures in a random box somewhere, send them to me! As you can see, I love this stuff. I’m careful with my paper items, but apparently not as careful as you - I don’t own a single pair of those white cotton gloves that are worn by archivists. Instead I make sure to eat a big plate of ribs before sorting through my paper ephemera. I suppose Gene was there before your time, and being able to “call him” made it feel like a personal touch. I do love the selection of restaurants, and I agree, the humble (yet wonderful) hotel coffee shop is much-missed. Coffee shops in general seem to be a dying breed, though I don’t understand WHY. I guess fast food establishments fill the need for a quick bite to eat, though of course they lack the niceties of a classic coffee shop. The Crown and Pillow, I get it too, but it’s a little odd. How British was the place? Could you order a nice plate of fish and chips? What about steak and kidney pie? They had Watney’s Lager, on draft, which was presumably a desirable thing. No idea if Watney’s still exists. I need a shirt that reads “Take Me to Tiffy’s”!
Lou and Sue, I don’t recall seeing any photos along the lines of your description, so either they are part of your dad’s collection, or you saw them on some other (inferior) blog!
JG, ha ha, I didn’t think about the sand beach and cats, but it does remind me of a kid at school stepping in… *something* that a cat left behind. I was just glad it was him instead of me. The whole Disneyland Hotel experience from that era seems so relaxed and civilized compared to today, lots of comfortable options for whatever mood you were in. Want to dance? Need a cocktail? Do you just want a good lunch(eon) before your afternoon nap? They have you covered! There are variations of this Hotel flyer, but I only have this one, I’m sort of curious as to how much the Hotel grounds change. Someday I’ll get another one.
The CROWN & THE PILLOW was part of The Ship Yard Inn building at one point ..in the lower ( Marina ) level . It was dark with a library atmosphere - and prop books … and British heraldry on the walls … the bar was small and intimate and mostly pub style tables … the kind you sit at with stools …but seemed to lack stools. The lounge was usually not open except on busy weekends and usually filled with people waiting to be seated at the shipyard inn ( later Hook’s Pointe) upstairs. The Crown & pillow had large windows looking out to the Marina water. The WINE CELLAR was right next to the CROWN & PILLOW and shared a downstairs vestibule and restrooms.
I’ve told this story before here in GDB about the time me and some friends were leaving the Wine Cellar and we walked into the CROWN & PILLOW because our manager ( merchandise manager for New Orleans square & collectibles) didn’t know it was there : while looking around I pulled down a book ( most were glued down ) and it opened to the very middle because there was like plastic page inserts and WHOA !!! It was a very ornate two page description of a scene from Sleeping Beauty !!! We found a few others - we concluded they were used at one point for the Emporium Windows during a Re-release of sleeping beauty. After they probably got sent back to decorating and forgotten - until interiors needed vintage looking books for the Crown & Pillow!!
I’m not 100% sure just when The Monorail Bar closes exactly- I suspect once the Sargent Preston’s Yukon Saloon opened …. I am.know exactly where the Monorail Bar was but at the time I wasn’t aware that what has once been there … the doors were always locked and covered with black paper or something to prevent arriving and departing Monorail guests from peering inside …it’s entry was at the top landing just before you would turn right to the DL HOTEL Monorail ticket window.
The Disneyland sign shop documentation featured the Monorail Bar signs in the 1968 , 1973 binders …. But not in the 1978 year . ( they produced them every 5 years) that’s not to say it was gone then, but it’s odd it wasn’t included if it was there. (???)
When the glass exterior elevator was still there … the glass panel on the ground level still had the “Top of the Park “ logo etched on the glass long after the location was closed off to guests. Today the level can only be reached by the interior elevators as the exterior glass elevator is long gone. The Top of the Park lounge area is now a hotel concierge lounge for higher end guests … many years ago there was a call out to Disney employees to loan vintage Disneyland collectibles for a anniversary display in the concierge lounge for approx one year. I loaned one of my Schuco Disneyland Monorails (the blue 4 car ) for the display. The displays featured an info card in the item and the name of the employee whose collection it belonged to. In return employees were given access to the lounge for a limited time.
Major, you may not have stayed in the Disneyland Hotel or gotten a pony for Christmas, but you did get to eat at Captain Hook’s and march in a Disneyland parade. Oh, wait…that was me. And TM!
The daughter’s profile reminds me of one of those cartoon crescent moon faces.
I understand why they removed Water World - it was way over budget, got mixed reviews, and Kevin Costner needed to be taken down a peg anyway.
Mike, “I loaned one of my Schuco Disneyland Monorails (the blue 4 car ) for the display.”
”…one of my Shuco Disneyland Monorails…”
[sigh]
^ Chuck, regarding Mike's Monorail story, I initially read it and my mind didn't see the word "Schuco." I instantly thought to myself: WHERE-in-the-world does he store THAT?!?!
That Monorail Bar 'name' looks like a candy cane.
I've seen feral cats inside Disneyland and quite a few on the hotel grounds at night. I never stopped to think if the same cats are having fun all day inside the Park -- and then heading back to the hotel area for a midnight snack and sleep. :o).
I do recall TokyoMagic's story about rescuing that one mom cat from KBF, if I have the story right. We need more kind people like our TM!
Thank you for sharing, Major.
@ MIKE-
According to "Disneyland Hotel - the Early Years", the Monorail Bar opened in the Fall of 1962 and closed in late 1981.
Major-
That Lou & Sue image is near the Pavilion area - west side of the hotel property, not the north side.
Mike Cozart, WOW, finding those books on the shelves is amazing - you’d think that somebody would have wanted to keep them, and yet it might have been from just before people valued something like that. Unlike today. It also seems amazing that you had a manager who did not know that the Crown and Pillow was there - it’s not like it was hidden. Unless this person did not walk around the Hotel grounds much?
Mike Cozart, if I had access to my Disneyland Hotel book by Don Ballard I could find when the Monorail Bar closed, but it is not handy, sadly. I know they would never do this, but it’s kind of too bad that they couldn’t have done a sort of temporary “peek-in” for people to see when they looked into the closed restaurant. Again, I know it’s a silly thought. But a cool one! I wonder why the glass elevator was removed? There were probably logical reasons, but the view would have been spectacular as you went up! Maybe the elevator was also too small for typical bigger families? Wow, I’ve always wanted a Schuco Monorail, but what I’d really like is to have one running. I guess that would ruin the collector value, though.
Chuck, HEY! Rub it in, why don’t you? In Water World you have to drink your own pee. Turns out guests weren’t keen on that. Ha, my friend Mr. X has several Schuco Monorails, unless he has sold them off when I wasn’t looking.
Lou and Sue, imagine having an entire section of a Monorail! Maybe one of the mega-collectors like Richard Kraft could have done it. Of course I’d want the front section. It could be a guest “house” for company!
Nanook, ah OK, now I know!
Chuck, the girl's real father is that Mac Tonight moon character from McDonald's back in the 80s.
.....but you did get to eat at Captain Hook’s and march in a Disneyland parade. Oh, wait…that was me. And TM!
Chuck, :-)
I do recall TokyoMagic's story about rescuing that one mom cat from KBF, if I have the story right. We need more kind people like our TM!
Awww, thanks Sue! Yes, I brought a cat home from Knott's. She was super thin/bony, and it was supposed to drop below freezing, the night that I took her home with me. I'm not sure if she had actually grown up on the property as a feral cat, or if she had just been dumped there by someone. She was awfully friendly, and she didn't bite or scratch me when I put her inside my jacket to "smuggle" her out of the park!
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