Disneyland Hotel Remodel / Restaurant Reminiscent of the original Tahitian Terrace

Big news…Today we’re sharing details and concept art that will give the Disneyland Hotel a fun, fresh makeover. The pool area is getting a whole new look, including a brand-new pool, all-new immersive water play area and a complete redesign of the Never Land Pool. Plans also call for a new restaurant and bar, and re-theming of the hotel’s three guest room towers.

The biggest transformation (and what I’m most looking forward to) are the changes coming to the pool area. With a nod to the iconic original park signage, “Disneyland” will be spelled out in familiar blocks atop a platform supporting two huge water slides (the larger slide will be 26 feet high and will stretch 187 feet before it plunges into a splash pool below). Reminiscent of the original Monorail station at the Disneyland Hotel, at each slide’s entrance will sit a replica Monorail Car that guests will glide through as they twist and turn their way to the pool below. The pool will also feature a third, two-lane mini slide, perfect for little ones, which is just 3 1/2 feet high and is 19 feet long.

Never Land Pool

The Never Land Pool will receive a complete cosmetic makeover but will retain its unique shape. A new, four-foot deep pool will be built between the Never Land Pool and the water play area. A footbridge will stretch over this new pool, connecting both sides of the courtyard area and giving easy access across the property. Six new cabanas will also be added. To help you visualize all these exciting, new changes, here’s a rendering from an aerial view.

Aerial View: Never Land Pool

And that’s not all! Two new dining locations will be introduced in the current location of Hook’s Pointe, Croc’s Bites and Bits, the Wine Cellar and the Lost Bar. A new “smart casual” dining concept will feature Tahitian architecture that is reminiscent of the ’50s and ’60s era of the hotel and the original Tahitian Terrace restaurant in Disneyland park. A new bar will draw on the adventure theme from the Jungle Cruise attraction.

The new water play area, pool and dining locations are scheduled to be completed by summer 2011, and the remodeled Never Land Pool is slated to be completed by summer 2012.

The hotel’s three guest room towers will be renamed to reflect Disneyland park’s distinctive lands. The Dreams Tower, currently under renovation and scheduled to be completed in 2010, will become the Adventure Tower. The Wonder Tower, next to undergo transformation and slated for completion in 2011, will be the Frontier Tower, and the Magic Tower, which will be finished in 2012, will become the Fantasy Tower. A large marquee featuring classic artwork for Adventureland, Frontierland and Fantasyland will identify each tower.

Now that you’ve heard about all these changes, what are you most excited about?
link: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/disneyland-hotel-makeover/
l

[ Edited by: Coco Joe 2010-05-27 11:12 ]

Great news there, Joe.

I haven't been on the Disneyland Hotel grounds in years (I almost got a job there as a audio/visual geek for corporate conferences, weddings etc - but passed it for a better gig.)

I too used to love the pool area, I guess its time to renovate all of that isn't it? That would be my pick for favorite.

Haven't talked to you in a while. Hopefully we'll meet up soon at some event. G

Wow! They even said "reminiscent of the 50s and 60s era" !? But isn't that "outdated, tacky" kind of stuff?
That sounds like some hip designers are in charge again, great!

On 2010-05-27 11:32, bigbrotiki wrote:
Wow! They even said "reminiscent of the 50s and 60s era" !? But isn't that "outdated, tacky" kind of stuff?
That sounds like some hip designers are in charge again, great!

any chance of Kevin Kidney being involved?

Great news :) it needed some face lifting.

Any chance of Bamboo Ben being involved?

They're actually using a design reminiscent of the Tahitian terrace ? Wow, never thought I'd see the day.

I'm guessing that Kevin Kidney is involved...it would only make sense.

I don't think so, Kev and Jody don't get into the architecture aspects that much -and they are being kept way too busy here.

I will have to keep an eye on that as it goes under changes.
My friends and I used to hang out at the Disneyland Hotel area back in the summers of high school years.

Jeff(btd)

Coco Joe, thanks for posting that info and map! I had no idea this was the plan for the pool area. It sounds awesome! I go to Disneyland quite often, so I'm looking forward to it!

Any updates on this yet?

From the Disney Parks blog:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/02/tangaroa-terrace-trader-sams-to-join-disneyland-hotel-this-spring/

Tangaroa Terrace, Trader Sam’s to Join Disneyland Hotel This Spring

"Many of you may remember our announcement last spring about the ongoing Disneyland Hotel renovation. This exciting project gives the hotel a retro theme with a contemporary twist and adds historic and nostalgic elements of Disneyland park, circa the 1950s.

In keeping with that spirit, we are excited to announce that this spring Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam’s will open. The tiki-inspired design and storyline for this restaurant and bar were a perfect fit, as they tie in thematically with the mid-century modern architecture of the Disneyland Hotel and the adjacent Dream Tower, soon to be renamed Adventure Tower.

Inspired by Adventurelands from Disney Parks worldwide and the nostalgic Tahitian Terrace restaurant, located in Adventureland from 1962-1993, Tangaroa Terrace will immerse guests in a tropical setting with tiki torches and themed music. The name of the restaurant was borrowed from one of the tiki gods at the Enchanted Tiki Room. The fast-casual dining experience will include island-inspired food and beverages. The new bar, named after Trader Sam, the infamous Jungle Cruise “head” salesman, will open adjacent to Tangaroa Terrace. Trader Sam’s unique lounge experience will include interactive experiences with a bit of Disney magic you won’t want to miss.

These new locations are in addition to the new in-room décor and exterior of the hotel, as well as the new pool, immersive water play area and redesign of the Never Land Pool that will be completed later this year. Check back soon for more details on the Disneyland Hotel renovation project!"

[ Edited by: MauiRose 2011-02-24 10:19 ]

Some photos of the construction were posted on another thread:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=38828&forum=1

THIS is exciting! You know, I never even enter the parks anymore (due to massive overcrowding...ugghhhh!!!) but I do stop at downtown disney and the hotel often for happy hours, either at the lost bar or at UVA....then go to the mist caves. Every year, Tiki Bong and I go down there for an afternoon of extremely drunk escapades......so I think this is going to work out real well!

PS, as a major fan of tropical ornamental foliage, the area around the hotel rocks!

I wish they would build one at Disneyworld also.

would be cool if they would hire some of the local tiki/hawaiian, and or Surf bands to play there.

Jeff(btd)

I'm very much looking forward to this! I have been going to Disney World for the last 25 years and just recently had my first trip to Disneyland and I LOVED it. This gives another reason to fly across the country for it.

I was just there the other day, sneaking around...and they are sure doing a LOT of work. Of course it is hard to get close, except for one wall that has "portholes" built in where you can see what they are doing back there. It looks like a lot of construction going on at the mist caves, which was an awesome place at night (the few times it was not chained off and you could actually walk through and dig the lights on the water!)...the big tiki A frame is already up, and it is very big! Whatever restaurant they are going to do will be quite large. I am getting very excited! They say it will be open in spring?

This looks very cool.I will have to make sure I am there for that grand opening .

On 2011-03-20 13:35, 1961surf wrote:
This looks very cool.I will have to make sure I am there for that grand opening .

Bill,

Great idea, we should get a TC event organized for the grand opening!

DC

Lucas,
get the Menehunes in there man.

Jeff(btd)

It will never happen. They will probably get a band of guys playing contemporary hawaiian music...with ELECTRIC BASS! :( ):

(like they have at Don's!)

that's the spirit!!!!
give up and don't even try.

way to go, grumpy.

I know somebody that works at Disney,
if I can get you a gig there,
will you give me half of yer share of the pay?

Jeff(btd)

[ Edited by: bigtikidude 2011-03-21 12:26 ]

You get me into Disneyland and I'll let you and 7 mongolian barbers gang-lather my sister! No joke!

let me guess,
you don't have a sister?

Jeff(btd)

Well I hate to break it to you kids, but the management might not be as hip as the architects. Here's a Facebook message I got a week ago from a certain Disney Tiki specialist. It seems they are looking for a one man act, (cheaper than a band!):

"I just got an email from DL Hotel asking for my suggestions for a one person lounge act for the new bar at DL. In the email they actually specify a "Jimmy Buffett-style musician". I about screamed."

We hooed and hawed, and of course King Kuku came up...but a single "lounge" performer for a nouveaux Poly pop restaurant? Difficult...

Buffet? Figures.

Wouldn't matter anyway. A Hawaiian Hapa Haole band with an 80 plus song list of the golden classic songs like the Smokin' Menehunes would never be appropriate for a polynesian style restaurant. Maybe 40 years ago, but not in this day and age!

Yes they WOULD...c'mon Lucas, just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it ain't gonna. Don't talk YOURSELF out of it, now! See my previous "right time, right place" post.

Put it this way: Disney is like a family member to me. I may not like them, but I will always love them no matter how bad they screw up. Oh, they'll get my business at the new joint, but I am surely not going there expecting to hear a band like mine playing there. Before you even posted, I already guessed there would be some buffet action in there! Maybe I'll be proved wrong. I will say that the whole thing sounds promising....we'll see...

I send the casting guy at Disneyland a package for the Tikiyaki Orchestra...not even a return email.

They don't get it, and probably never will. Oh well.

I have had the same experience, Jim. I sent numerous emails to the people who book the "buskers" at downtown Disney, and never got any response. I am starting to think you have to know someone, or otherwise have an "in".

Do you remember that enchanted tiki room event a few years ago? They had a grateful dead style hippy band playing that event, because one of the people in the band is an imagineer. Talk about a no-bid contract! They had it locked up, and not by any stretch of imagination was it a "tiki" band!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE23mJ89c4I&feature=related

[ Edited by: Lucas Vigor 2011-03-22 08:20 ]

Mahaloz for the inspiration! Looks like its gonna be a pretty swank place:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGd4aFEhxNU

Vegas-sized hotel towers, around a nice looking A-Frame central hall.
The ocean-front property will have pools, and lots of meandering paths.
Fun, if not necessarily isolated.

On 2011-04-26 07:44, christiki295 wrote:
Vegas-sized hotel towers, around a nice looking A-Frame central hall.
The ocean-front property will have pools, and lots of meandering paths.
Fun, if not necessarily isolated.

That model above is for the amazing soon to be open Aulani Resort in Oahu, not the Disneyland Hotel.

Aulani Resort Tiki Central thread here.

Wowzers! I was gonna say, that looks like nothing I saw at the hotel, but looks like a most amazing place!

thanks for pointing that out Hak,
my heart about stopped.

any updates on the progress of the Hawaiian joint at the Disneyland Hotel?

I guess I should go over there,
good reason to get off my butt this week, while off on vacation.

Jeff(btd)

BTD, yah, check it out:

Lost In Paradise: Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGd4aFEhxNU

Every Monday, Miceage.com has updates on construction at the Disney Hotel. You need to scroll past a zillion photos of updates on the Little Mermaid and Carland rides though. It's down there somewhere

Disneyland Update

On 2011-04-26 11:31, King Bushwich the 33rd wrote:
Every Monday, Miceage.com has updates on construction at the Disney Hotel. You need to scroll past a zillion photos of updates on the Little Mermaid and Carland rides though. It's down there somewhere

Disneyland Update

Dateline Disneyland

Soundsational sneak peek, Mermaid lights and signs, Bye-bye Brother Bear, +MORE!

Ruh-roh! :o

Bear

Well, some good news is that Kevin & Jody are contributing some designs to Trader Sam's now. They were at the Bahooka event with the art director, and he bought the Bahooka and BOT mugs for the mug display case. :)

Great Lost in Paradise report....

And yes the micage weekly construction updates are a great place to keep informed on the project.

Rumor also has it from another Disney source that some of the items and decorative elements of the old Adventurers Club that used to be in Pleasure Island may make there way into this Restaurant bar as well...

OK...so I have a friend on the "inside" that gave me some information that may clear some things up. This person is also a TC lurker (but not a member), so I'm sure they will see this..they were also at the last Tiki Oasis, have tickets for the next one, and are regulars at Don the Beachcomber, so they have a pretty good idea of what "real" Tiki is.

1. The Jimmy Buffett rumor is dead wrong. They plan to keep things as authentic as possible, right down to the music.

2. Unbelievably, the restaurant will be on a tight budget when it first opens, which unfortunately means no Tikiyaki or Hula Girls...for a while. But that could change when (and if) the restaurant starts to run in the black. It seems pretty unbelievable when you think that this is Disney we are talking about, but for those of us who have had business dealing with the Mouse...this is Disney we're talking about. Jim...my inside source says they would LOVE to have you, but they can't afford you...yet.

3. They are planning on serving authentic Tiki drink recipes at the bar (Trad'r Sams).

Hopefully this alleviates some fears that some of you may have...I for one can't wait to see it. Cheers!

Lucas Vigor. In.

On 2011-04-26 17:05, Jason Wickedly wrote:
OK...so I have a friend on the "inside" that gave me some information that may clear some things up. This person is also a TC lurker (but not a member), so I'm sure they will see this..they were also at the last Tiki Oasis, have tickets for the next one, and are regulars at Don the Beachcomber, so they have a pretty good idea of what "real" Tiki is.

1. The Jimmy Buffett rumor is dead wrong. They plan to keep things as authentic as possible, right down to the music.

2. Unbelievably, the restaurant will be on a tight budget when it first opens, which unfortunately means no Tikiyaki or Hula Girls...for a while. But that could change when (and if) the restaurant starts to run in the black. It seems pretty unbelievable when you think that this is Disney we are talking about, but for those of us who have had business dealing with the Mouse...this is Disney we're talking about. Jim...my inside source says they would LOVE to have you, but they can't afford you...yet.

3. They are planning on serving authentic Tiki drink recipes at the bar (Trad'r Sams).

Hopefully this alleviates some fears that some of you may have...I for one can't wait to see it. Cheers!

Thanx for the info jason. This makes me happy to hear,and, well, what can I say? ....pass the salt, I need to put it on my shoes so they taste better (foot firmly in mouth)

That being said, the plans look amazing, and I'm glad that the people in charge are tiki nerds too. For now, if they need it, I will send them the CD's so they can play them over the sound system, and hopefully, at some point, we'll all be enjoying some live Tikiyaki action in there.
I'll be there for the grand opening for sure.

Jason, great info bud! I can't wait as well! Tres COOL!

Jason said:

OK...so I have a friend on the "inside" that gave me some information that may clear some things up. This person is also a TC lurker (but not a member), so I'm sure they will see this..they were also at the last Tiki Oasis, have tickets for the next one, and are regulars at Don the Beachcomber, so they have a pretty good idea of what "real" Tiki is.

1. The Jimmy Buffett rumor is dead wrong. They plan to keep things as authentic as possible, right down to the music.

2. Unbelievably, the restaurant will be on a tight budget when it first opens, which unfortunately means no Tikiyaki or Hula Girls...for a while. But that could change when (and if) the restaurant starts to run in the black. It seems pretty unbelievable when you think that this is Disney we are talking about, but for those of us who have had business dealing with the Mouse...this is Disney we're talking about. Jim...my inside source says they would LOVE to have you, but they can't afford you...yet.

3. They are planning on serving authentic Tiki drink recipes at the bar (Trad'r Sams).

Hopefully this alleviates some fears that some of you may have...I for one can't wait to see it. Cheers!

Oh Wow!!!
Great News,

If the Music, and Drinks are goona be great.
I think I found my new Tiki Bar,
I wouldn't say it's within stumbling distance from home.
But definitely a short 20 min. bike ride.

Jeff(btd)

[ Edited by: bigtikidude 2011-04-28 11:24 ]

Update from the Disney Parks blog:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/05/whats-on-the-menu-at-new-disneyland-hotel-restaurants-opening-may-25/

What’s on the Menu at New Disneyland Hotel Restaurants, Opening May 25

We’ve been sharing details here on the Disney Parks Blog about the new Disneyland Hotel restaurants, Tangaroa Terrace – Casual Island Dining and Trader Sam’s – Enchanted Tiki Bar, and today we’ve got even more to share with you. The biggest news is that both restaurants will open on May 25!

Tangaroa Terrace – Casual Island Dining will feature a tropical setting complete with tiki torches and island music setting the stage for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests can start the day with signature breakfast items such as French toast with bacon and warm banana-caramel sauce and grilled cinnamon-spice oatmeal with island fruit.

For lunch and dinner, Tangaroa Terrace – Casual Island Dining will offer a 1/3-pound Angus Hawaiian cheeseburger with teriyaki sauce, bacon, grilled pineapple, Havarti, tomato and lettuce burger on a multi-grain bun. (Can you imagine taking the first messy bite?) For the health conscious, the Asian chicken salad has lots of greens (lettuce, cabbage, carrots, sweet peppers and cucumbers) with chicken breast, cashews and rice noodles in a sesame vinaigrette. The Kalua pork flatbread is topped with pulled pork, barbecue sauce, red onion and fresh cilantro.

Every evening, a different “Island Plate Dinner” will be on the menu. Look for miso-crusted salmon, tamarind-glazed pork shanks or panko-crusted chicken, each served with jasmine rice, panko-crusted long beans and green papaya slaw.

If you’re in a hurry, a “Grab ‘n Go” selection includes yogurt parfait with tropical fruits and house-made granola, a tropical fruit plate, house-made pastries, sandwiches, veggie with dips, a sweet potato cake with guava cream cheese icing, pineapple-lilikoi pie, and “Trader Sam’s Dessert Flight” with pineapple upside-down cake, layered passion fruit with pineapple-coconut crème and chocolate coffee cake.

Trader Sam’s—Enchanted Tiki Bar is adjacent to Tangaroa Terrace – Casual Island Dining, with substantial “bar food” – sweet ‘n spicy Asian wings, chicken lettuce wraps, panko-crusted Chinese long beans with Sriracha mayo, tamarind-glazed pork shanks with green papaya slaw and ahi poke (sushi-grade tuna) with avocado, green onion and crispy wontons.

But it’s the vintage island cocktails in kitschy glassware that we can’t wait to try. How about Krakatoa Punch with reserve aged rum, light rum, tropical juices, almond syrup and hibiscus grenadine? Or Uh Oa!, with light rum, spiced rum, guava, orange, passion fruit, grapefruit, fresh lime juice and cinnamon? Serious rum lovers will want to try the HippopotoMai Tai with two shots of light and dark rums, orange curacao, almond syrup, organic agave nectar and fresh lime juice.

The non-alcoholic Schweitzer Falls is a refreshing blend of pineapple, guava, orange and passion fruit juices with all-spice syrup and a splash of Sprite.

Now we’re dreaming of vacation time!

bring it on,
can't wait.

Jeff(btd)