A subject of solicitude for me, as lower-middle class as I am, is the waterfalls beneath the Wonder tower at Disneyland Hotel.
As a child, my mother and I would frequent anything free to do in Orange County. The Disneyland Hotel was a favorite of course. When my parents were still together in the late 70s, we even stayed in the 'Oriental Gardens', which was a kitchen-suite. This had to have been right before the Fantasyland re-dux, since most of the area in the Park was just a series of painted drywall at the time. (Another area gone was the fish fry on Captain Hook's restaurant - now Dumbo.)
The Hotel up through the late 80s had a bustling center, including an international themed bazzar (many of those shops would make their way to Adventureland, or vice versa). The west facade of the arcade is still visible - which used to house the crystal blowers and a series of small shops with items from the 'Orient'. All of which was surrounded by a faux series of docks. Older kids would take their dates, find a secluded area to make out.
The docks of course sat on the southern end of the central lagoon, now the Neverland pool. The lagoon allowed for paddle boats, the RC boats, and, sunken on the north end of the lagoon, a recessed arcade. Imagine how cool it was in the 80s to go to one of the best arcades in Anaheim, under water. Yes, that's what I said.
The hotel lounges were 60s up-scale, so very basic lines and very light colors. A piano was played. Lapping pools of clear-toppped water outlined the main lounge. In its center was an asian themed bar. It was very posh, I'm sure just a decade before.
At one time, across from the Spaceport entrance, you had the Monorail Cafe, the Hotel store, a bar, a pool, and a series of small shops. Including the coolest toy store, since it wasn't the 'box', but really a toy boutique.
The Shipyard Inn, a great seafood restaurant, sat further down from the stores, a top the water. I still can't find a creamy, chunky lobster bisque like the one they used to serve. The service and atmosphere was terrific in a time when most up-scale restaurants were closing.
The problem of the Hotel, is something that has happened in Orange County in thirty years. The late 70s were an economic nightmare, the 80s were a period of struggle for the most part, then the 90s and now are 'reinventions' of everything. Especially where money can be made.
The simplistic idea of the Hotel was never to make it a destination. It just was a destination. Now, it's fallen from disinterest from the very thing it wasn't trying to be. Ironic, no?
Like Vegas, sometimes you have to create something that isn't trying to be special. It was special because it was there and it was free. How revolutionary is that?
I'll miss the dreamer who wandered the docks, the waterfall caves, enjoying a drink while pretending to be a world traveler in the lobby.
