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When I was little, visiting the Disneyland Hotel in the mid-1970s was a whole experience unto itself. My dad would park out front, and we’d walk through the underpass of the Monorail station. To the left was the Oak Room steakhouse, to the right a rectangular convenience store where I bought my Mad magazines. Tucked just next to that convenience store was a plain door leading to something extraordinary in my memory: an unmarked, wood-paneled office. It had a small elevator, but my dad and I always took the stairs. Upstairs, the walls were dark-stained wood, and behind a desk sat a woman who would pull out a trifold packet with our hotel details and Disneyland tickets inside. My dad had to show his Magic Kingdom Club membership card — a laminated card with Mickey on it, colorful and cheerful, proof we belonged to something special. That little packet was our golden key to the whole stay: room information, ticket vouchers, and the sense that Walt himself had thought of families like ours when he started the Magic Kingdom Club in 1957. The office wasn’t advertised with neon or fanfare; it may have simply doubled as the hotel’s business offices — payroll, leases, guest services, and travel desk all in one. But to a five-year-old, it felt official, important, and magical.  After collecting our things, we would step back into the sunlight, walking past the Plaza Building (where the Magicland toy store beckoned like a treasure cave). Our path would carry us down toward the North Tower to check in, and eventually to the pool beside the East Tower. These memories, confirmed with my dad decades later, remain vivid: the smell of polished wood, the feeling of climbing the stairs, the thrill of holding that packet in my hands. They are part of a Disneyland Hotel that no longer exists, but that lives on in memory — one of those “lost spaces” that made the resort feel like a world of its own.   Most people who stayed at the Disneyland Hotel in the 1970s and ’80s had traveled from faraway places. But for our family, Disneyland was just 14 miles away—only 19 minutes down the 5 Freeway. And still, my dad wanted us to have the full Disneyland experience. So one summer weekend in 1975, we checked into the Disneyland Hotel like true out-of-towners. It became one of the most magical, meaningful memories of my life.  Checking In for the First Time (1975) We stayed in the North Tower, and I remember walking with Dad to Guest Services, located upstairs from the hotel’s shopping center. It felt grown-up and official. A woman greeted us, took down all my dad’s information, and handed him a long, slim envelope—much like the old airline ticket sleeves. From there, we went to the reservation desk in the lobby, checked in, and headed up the elevator to our room. Our stay had been gifted by one of my dad’s work vendors—his name was Zee—and it included not only our hotel stay, but also park admission through the Disney Vacation Club. A Weekend of Magic Each morning, we’d catch the Monorail from the hotel directly into the park. And each night, we’d ride it back across the lagoon to our room. That’s when Dad would begin his countdown: “Well, Stinks… only two more days left at Disneyland.” “Well, Stinks… only one more day left.” He called me “Stinks” because he’d nicknamed me “Stinker” as a baby. To this day, I remember those words as both funny and heartbreaking, because he never wanted the magic to end. The Hotel Grounds Our room looked out across the paddle boat marina tucked away in the back corner of the property were the underground waterfalls. We didn’t ride the paddle boats—I was always too excited to get into Disneyland! But I remember watching them from the window with fascination. At night, we’d wander the hotel grounds. The pier was lined with shops, and next to that was a cascading multi-level waterfall area, lush with tropical plants and soft lighting. It felt like we were in a tropical oasis—so close to home, and yet completely transported. The Convenience Stores: Sundries and More Our hotel had its own Sundries Shop, and I’m happy to say that it still exists today! But the place I visited the most wasn’t inside the tower—it was the convenience store beneath the Monorail station, where I bought a Mad Magazine every time we visited. Right above that shop was the Magic Kingdom Club office. That little corner of the property—Monorail dock, café, and convenience store—became a regular spot for me as I grew older.   High School Years at the Hotel By 1986, I was driving, and the Disneyland Hotel became a local hangout spot for me and my best friends. We’d park out front, head into the café near the Monorail loading dock for baked potatoes and slices of pie, and then wander the property. We'd walk the pier, watch the paddle boats, explore the hotel shops, and visit the waterfalls. Sometimes we brought a camera, balanced it on trash cans, and took photos of ourselves laughing in the grassy courtyard. Even when we weren’t entering the park, we were surrounded by Disney magic. Then & Now Today, the entire hotel area has changed. The pier, the paddle boats, and the waterfalls are gone—replaced by Downtown Disney, a bustling retail area with very little of the original charm. What once felt like a resort campus now feels like a cash grab. But I’m so grateful to have lived it as it was.    Even without photos of every corner, I remember it clearly—the scent of the waterfalls, the glow of the pathway lights, the taste of that first café slice of pie. And always, the echo of Dad’s voice on the Monorail: “Well, Stinks…”
If you enjoy stories like this, and nostalgic trips down memory lane, I invite to follow me over on Patreon for special behind the scenes features and back stories from 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s of the Happiest Place on Earth. Relive my Disneyland memories one story at a time. Join the Memory Keeper tier here!  Inspired by the artistry and innovative storytelling of Pixar Animation Studios, the 479-room hotel is filled with nods to beloved films from “Toy Story” to “Ratatouille” and “Elemental.” In fact, there is a nod to every Pixar feature film to date! At Pixar Place Hotel, you’ll see so many familiar Pixar friends brought to life in a whole new way, through various styles of playful artwork, contemporary decor and even surprise visits! -Disney Parks  Bing Bong from “Inside Out,” making his worldwide debut, as this is the first time he is being seen at any Disney property! This part-cat, part-elephant, part-dolphin imaginary friend is greeting guests and making more core memories at Pixar Place Hotel.
  Throw back to me and dad standing in front of the original hotel 1976. The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will open to guests on September 28, 2023! The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will have 344 whimsically themed rooms, including duo studios, deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and grand villas. Each includes modern just-like-home amenities with touches of Disney magic sprinkled throughout, themed to Walt Disney Animation Studios films like “The Jungle Book,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Fantasia” and more.   |
Welcome to a place where Disney nostalgia meets storytelling magic. I create uplifting, history-rich content celebrating Walt Disney’s original vision and the golden age of Disneyland. From forgotten dining spots to untold stories of Walt’s creative team, this blog is a tribute to imagination, innocence, and timeless joy.
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