October 5, 2020, marked the Disneyland Hotel’s 65th anniversary . . . and times sure have changed since those early days. 

Walt Disney was convinced that for the complete success of his theme park, an upscale hotel would need to be built right next to his Disneyland Park. That was especially true if he hoped to lure guests who would have to travel long distances and needed overnight accommodations.

In 1954, The Disney Company was introduced to Texas oil wildcatter and television pioneer Jack Wrather with the possibility of building accommodations for the many guests that Disney believed would flock to their innovative theme park (still being constructed) in Anaheim, California. Since the Imagineering and building of Disneyland took nearly every penny that The Disney Company had, talks were initiated with Wrather hoping he would be willing to take such a huge risk. Wrather was the producer of popular early 1950s television programs and was flush with cash due to their success, as well as his other business projects. The general consensus was that such a hotel venture was too much of a gamble. No one was certain of the success of what was quickly becoming known as “Disney’s folly.”

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History
Roy Disney on the left with Jack Wrather

“I stayed with Walt and Roy (Roy O. Disney, Walt’s brother) for several days and they convinced me of what they were going to do down there in Anaheim”, stated Jack Wrather. “We did a thorough study of Anaheim until we convinced ourselves statistically, psychologically and every other way that, although it was mostly orange groves, the area was one of the growingest in California and the United States.” Wrather decided to shoot the moon on Walt’s dream and build the Disneyland Hotel in the middle of those orange groves when no one would have bet that he could fill even half of his rooms on the best day Disneyland would have. 

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

Yes, in 1954, row upon row of orange trees dotted the land where the Disneyland Hotel and the Magic Kingdom now stand. In 1955, the Hotel and the Park opened, starting a building boom that would transform Orange County from a sleepy, distant Los Angeles suburb, into a major business and pleasure destination.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

The original design by architects Pereira and Luckman called for 650 hotel and motor-hotel rooms, suites and garden apartments; three swimming pools; tennis court; golf course and four restaurants and cocktail lounges all situated among California’s famous orange groves. The hotel was heralded as the first and largest major resort hotel to be built in the Southland since the war. It was the epitome of leisure resort design— Southern California style. 

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

The Disneyland Hotel’s first 100 rooms opened October 5, 1955, just three months after the Magic Kingdom’s successful launch on July 17, 1955. Actually, on opening day, only six guest rooms were ready for occupancy with a seventh being used as the Hotel’s first guest lobby/registration desk. The first registered guests were Mr. & Mrs. Robert Arnone of Inglewood, California.

Here’s a snip of opening day video, including a ribbon-cutting and even a glimpse of a proud Walt Disney: 

 

The Hotel opened its first restaurant, “the Little Gourmet,” in a ranch house that was located on the property formerly owned by Frende W. Combs and family who was an executive with Termo, an oil well company founded by Frende’s father. The Combs family also maintained 20 acres of orange groves located on the property.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History , Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

Within months, the Disneyland Hotel added another 100 rooms to accommodate visitors and on August 25th, 1956, the hotel had its “official” grand opening celebration coinciding with the opening of the administration building and hotel shops. The hotel now featured 204 rooms and suites, and each garden room patio had its own orange tree— part of the original orange grove carefully sidestepped when the hotel was built. 

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

As Disneyland would grow and expand, the Disneyland Hotel would also see growth and change. As Walt Disney stated, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” The same would apply to the Disneyland Hotel.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

Over the years, returning guests would be witness to an ever-changing and expanding complex of buildings. Some of the major milestones in the Hotel’s history include: The hotel is connected to Disneyland Park by Monorail when the original 8/10th of a mile track was extended all the way to the hotel in June of 1961.

 

The new Tower building opened in September 1962 adding an additional 150 rooms to the Disneyland Hotel. In 1966 the Tower Annex was completed adding 150 additional rooms to the Hotel, now advertising over 650 rooms available. In 1970, the 319 room Marina Tower was opened, and guest room totals had reached close to 1,000 rooms. Water World, Dancing Waters, marina sandy beach and cove pools opened along with Restaurant Row and the Hotel’s Travelport. In 1972, the grand opening of the 107,700 square-foot Convention Center with Exhibit Hall and Grand Ballroom opened. Vacationland (on-site RV park) in 1970 and Tennisland (tennis courts) in 1976. In early 1979, the 367 room Bonita Tower, 165 horseshoe waterfalls and Koi fishponds open with the Hotel now boasting almost 1,400 available rooms. In 1980, Seaports of the Pacific, wining, dining, shopping and entertainment attraction opens. And in 1983, the 96,000 square foot Entertainment and Convention Center expansion opens on the marina.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History
A giant marina once filled the area between the three towers.

In its time, the Disneyland Hotel became the place to “see and be seen” by distinguished guests as well as millions of families from all over the globe. With its family-friendly atmosphere, the Wrathers wanted guests to enjoy an affordable yet elegant first-class hotel stay.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

Jack Wrather would pass away in 1984, followed by his wife, Bonita Granville-Wrather, in 1988 as she was negotiating the sale of the hotel to The Walt Disney Company. In January of 1988, thirty-three years after the original groundbreaking, the Disneyland Hotel officially became a part of the company whose name was on the building.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

When the Disneyland Hotel opened its doors on October 5, 1955, it set the foundation for the resort destination that it has become today. More than just a place for guests to stay, the Hotel has become an American icon for family entertainment at its best. The Disneyland Hotel has grown from 104 guest rooms and a smattering of amenities into a major tourist facility with well over a thousand guest rooms, varied dining and shopping experiences, and a full range of convention and meeting facilities. The Hotel also helped to introduce a futuristic mode of rapid transit in the form of the monorail. 

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

Thanks to Walt and Jack’s belief in following their dreams, the Disneyland Resort and the city of Anaheim have grown to become a major international recreation, convention and travel destination. Jack Wrather’s master plan guided the Disneyland Hotel through three decades of innovative development while contributing to the growth of Anaheim and Orange County and supporting his friend’s dream of Disneyland.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History
How about a cafe with a Monorail view!

What had appeared to be a questionable area for development in the early 1950s had been turned into one of the most dynamic economic areas in the United States. A very large portion of that change and growth had been stimulated by a man with a mouse and a Texas wildcatter.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History


Editor’s Note: We’d like to thank Don Ballard for his article today. As a noted Disney historian, he’s an expert on the story of the Disneyland Hotel. In fact, he’s written TWO BOOKS on the subject!! For more about Don, and to acquire his books filled with info and photos about the Disneyland Hotel, visit magicalhotel.com.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History , Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History


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More From the Disneyland Hotel’s 65th Anniversary:

Next up, we have a collection of rare photos and information from Werner Weiss of Yesterland on the Disneyland Hotel’s early days on the history of the hotel “Then and Now.” Let’s look at how the hotel has changed over the years: 

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History

Let’s Hear From You

Once again, thank you Don Ballard for this in-depth look at the Disneyland Hotel’s history. Were you aware of the extensive story behind the Disneyland Hotel? It has seen numerous changes throughout its 65 years of existence, what was your favorite feature/or era of the Hotel? Are you looking forward to the planned DVC expansion in the coming years? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

, Disneyland Hotel 65th Anniversary – A Magical History
Beautiful horseshoe falls at the Disneyland Hotel.