New DVC at Disneyland's Grand Californian

[DVC Mike]

Responding to a growing demand for guest accommodations in Anaheim, the Disneyland Resort today celebrated an expansion of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa that will increase accommodations by more than 30 percent and will include the first Disney Vacation Club villas in Anaheim.

This expansion, scheduled for completion in late 2009, will involve 300 union construction jobs and result in 100 new hotel jobs. It underscores Disney's long-term commitment to growing and investing in Anaheim. The expansion also marks the latest in a series of major additions to the Resort that include the newly launched Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's California Adventure.


"This expansion underscores our commitment to growing and investing in both the Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Resort Area," said Ed Grier, president of the Disneyland Resort. "These new hotel rooms and villas will give more people the opportunity to enjoy the immersive vacation experience Disney is known for. We know that our guests value being able to stay in the middle of the magic with our world-class theme parks, shopping and dining just steps away."


The 2.5-acre expansion on the hotel's south side will add more than 200 new hotel rooms and 50 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas. Those vacation villas, to include kitchens, living and dining areas and other home-like amenities, will mark the West Coast debut of Disney Vacation Club, Disney's innovative vacation-ownership program.


"For more than 50 years, the Disneyland Resort has been investing in our community and they have helped us build a world class resort destination in which all of Anaheim can be proud," Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle said. "Thanks to Disneyland and the Anaheim Resort Area, Anaheim boasts one of the fastest growing markets in the country for hotel occupancy."


Other elements planned for the project include a rooftop deck for viewing fireworks, a new swimming pool and about 300 underground parking spaces. Peter Dominick of 4240, architect for Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa as well as Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is designing the ambitious expansion. It will reflect the same California Arts & Crafts architecture of the existing hotel, which immerses guests in a turn-of-the-20th-century California experience.


Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa currently features 745 guest rooms, including 44 suites. Upon completion of the expansion project, the hotel will feature 945 guest rooms, including 44 guest suites, and 50 Disney Vacation Club two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas.

[disneydame2004]

Interesting.... only 50 out of 250 new accommodations are DVC, and all 2 bedroom.

Wording on the announcement really tries to drive home their relationship with Anaheim - perhaps hoping to gain some favor in their recent and ongoing battles with the community.

[DVC Mike]

Interesting.... only 50 out of 250 new accommodations are DVC, and all 2 bedroom.

Wording on the announcement really tries to drive home their relationship with Anaheim - perhaps hoping to gain some favor in their recent and ongoing battles with the community.

I think the "two-bedroom equivalent" language probably means two-bedroom "lockoffs" that can either be a 2-BR or by locking a door can be changed into a 1-BR and a studio. These are common within DVC.

[disneydame2004]

Ah. That makes more sense. Thanks for clearing that up (obviously, I'm not a DVC member... maybe someday)

[Timbo]

From Hotel Interactive:
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Disney Vacation Club Announces Westward Expansion

9/19/2007 2:38:00 PM

Addressing a growing demand for guest accommodations and vacation ownership, The Disneyland Resort today celebrated an expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa that will increase accommodations by more than 30 percent and will include the first Disney Vacation Club villas in Anaheim.
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Full story here: Hotel Interactive- Hotel news, hospitality, lodging industry managment and development resource

[DVC Mike]

Here is the artist rendering: