The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (241 page)
Authors: Leslie Le Mon
8039 Beach Boulevard
Buena Park, CA 90620
(714) 220-5200
RMS Queen Mary
.
Disney Connection?
Yes. The glamorous ocean liner that became a museum and hotel was once owned by
Jack Wrather
, who was one of
Walt
’s friends, and the original owner of the
Disneyland Hotel
(1955 – 1984). In 1988, after
Wrather
had passed away,
Disney
bought his corporation for $152 million, including the
Disneyland Hotel
and the
Queen Mary
. Although
Disney
continues to own and operate the famous
Disneyland Resort
hotel, they terminated their
Queen Mary
interests in late 1992. The beautiful old ship has had numerous owners and operators over the years, but remains an uncannily lovely–and beloved–historical venue; stepping aboard is like stepping into a time machine. Visitors can experience onboard dining; the 365-room hotel; numerous tours (including ghost tours!); museum exhibits; and special limited engagement shows (like “Titanic: the Exhibition” in 1997). There’s plenty to do and see aboard the
Queen Mary
, depending upon how much time you want to spend and what your budget is–and even a self-guided tour or simple stroll around the decks is fascinating.
1126 Queens Highway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(877) 342-0738 – General Information
(877) 342-0742 – Hotel Reservations
Travel Town Museum
.
Disney Connection?
Sort of.
Walt
famously loved all forms of transportation, especially trains, and would have adored this little gem of a transportation museum, which is located in
Griffith Park
, very close the the
Disney
studios in
Burbank
. And in 2009, the Travel Town Museum hosted an exhibit of
Disney
train-related photographs, artwork, and memorabilia. Founded in 1952, Travel Town offers tours, a musem, a gift shop, miniature train rides, and a chance to see and even climb aboard historic modes of transportation like shays, locomotives, and early planes. Open every day except Christmas, Travel Town’s general operating hours are 10 am – 4 pm Mon – Fri and 10 am – 6 pm Sat – Sun.
5200 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 662-5874
http://traveltown.org/visitor.shtml
Universal Studios Hollywood
.
Disney Connection?
Sort of. One of
Walt
’s original reasons for designing a theme park was to give fans a place to tour
Disney
studios and back lots, which Carl Laemmle had been doing at Universal Studios for years.
Walt
originally envisioned a small theme park near his
Burbank
studios; when the much-larger
Anaheim
site was chosen, original plans called for multiple working studios inside the park. But aside from short-lived in-park studios like the
Radio Disney
booth in
Tomorrowland
, functioning
Disney
studios and studio tours at the park were one
Disneyland
plan that never came to fruition. Universal Studios Hollywood is just north of Hollywood and south of tony Toluca Lake. It doesn’t compare in scale–or
magic
–to
Disneyland
, but it is a very entertaining place to spend the day if you’re in the Los Angeles area, and the studio tour is a must-see. Even back in the days of silent films, Universal impresario Carl Laemmle was offering visitors studio tours, but the tours were axed when “talkies” became the rage. Universal Studio tours were reintroduced in the early 1960’s, and a theme park eventually accreted around the studios and the tours. Full disclosure: My brother works at NBC Universal, and I’ve spent a lot of time at the park (even investing in an annual pass), since he began working there. It has become another key destination–like
Disneyland
–for our family celebrations. We’ve eaten the foods and snacks, taken the marvelous studio tour many times, and experienced many of the attractions and shows. So if you have the time in your itinerary to visit Universal Studios Hollywood, I can recommend it without reservation. A few tips: Be prepared to do a lot of walking, and to ride up and down tiers of escalators, as the park is split between the bottom and top of a steep hillside. Expect to pay extra for “Front of the Line Passes”–Universal’s rough equivalent of
Disneyland Fast Passes
(which are always free). Don’t be surprised if Frankenstein’s monster lumbers toward you, or Dracula tries to take a bite out of your neck; Universal is famously the home of America’s classic movie monsters, and especially around Halloween, they are all over the park, and not shy about approaching visitors! Take the studio tour; the tram ride is about a half hour and you’ll see classic studios and sets, experience amazing special effects first-hand, learn a wealth of movie history and have a 3D encounter with King Kong. Re: Doc Brown’s chicken–yes, it really
is
among the best chicken in LA; juicy, tender, and impossibly flavorful, it’s worth the often glacially paced, interminable lines you’ll have to brave to buy it. If you’re tired after touring the park and adjacent Universal CityWalk (with its AMC Cineplex, Hard Rock Cafe, and glittering little shops and eateries) just book a room at the Sheraton Hotel or Hilton Hotel next door. Visitors can reach Universal Studios via the Metro Red Line; detrain at the Universal City station and walk (or take a tram) up the hill to the park.
Universal Studios – Hollywood
Universal City, CA 91608
(800) UNIVERSAL
http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/
Walt Disney Concert Hall
.
Disney Connection?
Yes. Credit
Walt
’s eldest daughter
Diane Disney Miller
with rescuing this endeavor from a morass of financial challenges, ensuring that the lovely concert hall was finally completed and opened its doors in 2003. Like many Angelenos, I remember years of walking past the concert hall’s foreboding skeleton, wondering when–and if–it would ever be completed. Now the
Frank Gehry
-designed gem hosts the LA Philharmonic and Master Chorale and is lauded for its impeccable acoustics. Look for a Delft-porcelain rose statue in one of the roof gardens; it’s a tribute to
Walt
’s wife
Lilian
, whose initial donation of $50 million dollars launched the project in the early 1990’s. The music hall’s gleaming, undulating silhouette is now an iconic part of the modern LA landscape. (
Frank Gehry
also designed the whimsical administration building just north of
Disneyland Park
. In an interview in the August 2013 issue of “Los Angeles Magazine”
Gehry
remarked that he wished Los Angeles, a city of motion, featured more fluidly designed architecture like the concert hall, rather than its many fortress-like monoliths.) The concert hall is just up the hill from the Metro Red Line, Civic Center subway station.
111 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 850-2000 (Ticketing/General Information)
http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/wdch-overview.cfm
Walt Disney Family Museum
.
Disney Connection?
Yes.
Walt
’s eldest daughter,
Diane Disney Miller
, was a driving force–
the
driving force–behind the 2009 opening of this very special museum devoted to
Walt
and his family.
Diane
and husband
Ron
have a winery in nearby
Napa Valley
; she has been tireless in her efforts to preserve and advance her father’s astonishing legacy. At the
Walt Disney Family Museum
, you won’t find dry-and-dusty museum fare. Instead, imaginative, intimate, unique displays in thoughtfully organized galleries carry visitors through
Walt
’s life, from his childhood, to a World War I-era stint with the American Red Cross in France, to his early artistic and entrepreneurial efforts and, of course, his amazing decades of creative success. A wealth of photos and ordinary objects, stunning displays, and replicas like the reproduction of the Red Cross ambulance young
Walt
would have driven all bring his story, his genius, and his love of family vividly to life. Admission fees range from $12 to $20. Discount tickets are offered for students, children, and senior citizens; children younger than six are admitted for free. Not to be missed if you can make the pilgrimage to San Francisco.
104 Montgomery Street
The Presidio of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 345-6800
Harbor Boulevard Hotels
If you’re visiting
Anaheim
because you’re going to
Disneyland
, you want to stay as close to the resort as possible, and by as close as possible, I mean close to the
park entrances
. This is particularly important if you have small children who cannot walk long distances and who will need naps during the day, of if you have elderly or mobility-impaired group members.
Walking around
Disneyland
and
DCA
and
Downtown Disney
during your visit can be tiring enough. Don’t add a single unnecessary step to your day, especially if you have kids. And, above all, find the
best value
for your hotel budget.
Is it
really
possible to stay close to the parks for a reasonable price? Yes. It’s surprisingly easy as long as you do some research, make some calls, and don’t fall for phony hype.
I’ve been staying at
Anaheim
hotels since 2007, and during the summer of 2012, when
Buena Vista Street
and
Cars Land
opened, when the
Matterhorn
re-opened and when
Ghirardelli
’s was unveiled –well, you get the picture–I was down at
Anaheim
almost every weekend.
I used the opportunity to re-visit hotels/motels I’d stayed at before, and to explore new accommodations, taking notes and comparing the properties. I was staggered anew by how cheaply you can stay across the street from the parks–and, conversely, how easily people are bamboozled into staying far away from the park entrances
and
paying more money.
The
Disneyland Resort Hotels
(
Disneyland Hotel
,
Grand Californian Hotel
, and
Paradise Pier Hotel
) are always my top recommendations in terms of proximity to the parks, comfort, and
magical
amenities. But not everyone can afford those hotels, and the resort hotel rates have increased significantly in the wake of recent renovations.
The good news? You don’t
have
to stay at one of the resort hotels to feel like you’re right in the middle of the fun and
magic
.
Below are some elementary hotel hunting tips for first-time and even returning
Disneyland
Guests. These are guidelines for Guests who are in
Anaheim
to visit
Disneyland
and want to be as close as possible to the resort without over-spending. If you’re in
Anaheim
for a convention or business meeting, rather than to visit
Disneyland
you might be better off booking on
Katella Avenue
(try the Holiday Inn Express – Anaheim Maingate or super-value Eden Roc Inn & Suites).
-
First, some tips for finding the best hotels for you and your party.