Disneyland Resort Announces the Return of More Dining

Disneyland Resort made an announcement yesterday that will please many guests. They have announced that they will be opening more restaurants at the resort.

The following restaurants will be opening –

Paradise Garden Grill – Opening May 13th

Alfresco Tasting Terrace – Opening for Legacy Passholders on May 18th

Blue Bayou – Opening May 27th.  Online reservations available on May 18th

Napa Rose – Opening May 28th.  Online reservations available May 18th

Storytellers Café – Opening May 28th for Breakfast and Dinner.  No Character Dining Yet.  Online reservations available May 18th

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Unveils Magical, Hotel-Wide Renovation

An exciting, hotel-wide refurbishment brings new magic to the deluxe Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the Disneyland Resort, with completely redesigned guest rooms plus a refreshed lobby, pool area and concierge-level lounge. The most extensive refurbishment since the hotel’s 2001 opening elevates the premium guest experience and brings a contemporary approach to the Arts & Crafts design style.

Named a AAA Four Diamond hotel by the Automobile Club of Southern California for the sixteenth year in a row, the 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the first Disney resort hotel in the world to be located inside a theme park.

“Our renovation brings an even more upscale experience to this iconic Southern California hotel, while staying committed to its signature Arts & Crafts design,” said Dan Coleman, General Manager of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. “We want our guests to enjoy the unique experience of staying in a Disney hotel that’s distinctly situated in beautiful California. The revitalized design helps convey this feeling and allows us to continue exceeding guest expectations.”

Guest Rooms

Every single element in the redesigned guest rooms is new—from flooring and walls, to furnishings and bathrooms. Upon entry, guests will notice beautiful hardwood-inspired flooring transitioning into soft, bright-toned carpeting. Linens and pillows are restyled in a bright, white palette and upgraded bathrooms include new fixtures. The room decor features all-new furniture made of quarter-sawn oak, specially designed for each room, as well as California-inspired artwork.

The headboards are made of quarter-sawn oak, a hallmark of Craftsman design, which frame a blossoming orange tree mural overhead—with mischievous Chip n’ Dale playing in the branches. When guests open the sleeper bed (available in select rooms), artwork of Bambi, along with other woodland creatures, bid them goodnight.

Countertops of the room’s desk, dresser and coffee station incorporate pieces of green glass from wine bottles, creating a beautiful, unique surface. Above the coffee bar, textured copper detailing adds depth to the aesthetic of the room while enforcing the Craftsman story.

Lastly, all rooms are powered with the latest technological features and premium amenities, including 55-inch smart TVs, Keurig coffee makers and built-in USB chargers. In addition, many rooms offer breathtaking views of Disney California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney District, the lively avenue with unique restaurants, interesting shops and dynamic entertainment venues.

 

Great Hall Lobby

The already stunning six-story Great Hall lobby has been upgraded with new, stylish furnishings and design elements. To complement the existing Arts and Crafts motif, new contemporary designs can be found throughout the furniture pieces, upholstery, woodwork and carpeting.

Custom tete-a-tete chairs provide interesting design and function, while boldly upholstered sofa and chair pairings offer a comfortable, welcoming setting. Coffee tables and lamp fixtures nicely complement the space, and leather-topped stools showcase hidden Mickey details. The redesigned space is perfect for lounging with family, relaxing with a glass of wine from the Hearthstone Lounge, or simply admiring the lobby’s focal point—the cavernous fireplace and its roaring fire.

The Veranda

The concierge-level lounge has a new name—The Veranda—and a new design that draws inspiration from the architectural and furniture designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a visionary of the Arts & Crafts movement in Glasgow, United Kingdom. New hardwood flooring, custom-designed rugs, finely-crafted artisanal furniture and specially-commissioned art adds to the sophisticated tone of the lounge. Club-level guests may enjoy complimentary refreshments, as well as views of park fireworks in this exclusive setting.

Pool Deck

Each of the three pools have been redesigned with a variety of natural stones and brick to not only create a warm and welcoming environment, but also define the distinct pool settings. In keeping with the Arts and Crafts style of the hotel, the stone work was hand-laid by master stone masons.

Disney’s Grand California Hotel & Spa is located inside Disney California Adventure Park, providing guests with a special entrance to the theme park. Food and beverage options at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel include the award-winning Napa Rose, as well as character dining at Storytellers Cafe and the cozy Hearthstone Lounge. Guests staying at Disneyland Resort hotels also enjoy Extra Magic Hour*, which provides early entry to select Disneyland or Disney California Adventure attractions (valid theme park ticket and active hotel room key required).

*Extra Magic Hour valid for registered Disneyland® Resort Hotel Guests for admission to select attractions at either Disneyland® Park or Disney California Adventure® Park before the applicable Park opens to the general public. Check Disneyland.com for schedule of when each Park offers Extra Magic Hour. Applicable Theme Park, days and times of operation and attraction and service availability may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to capacity, cancellation and other restrictions.

Napa Rose Executive Chef Andrew Sutton Wins ‘Chef of the Year’ in Golden Foodie Awards

Napa Rose Andrew Sutton

Disneyland Resort is celebrating a big win at last night’s Golden Foodie Awards: Executive Chef of Disneyland Signature Restaurants Andrew Sutton won Chef of the Year!

The red carpet culinary awards show presented by the Orange County, California, Restaurant Association celebrates and honors chefs, bartenders and dishes in chef-driven and independent restaurants in Orange County.

Chef of the Year is one of three categories (out of 24) that are “Peer’s Choice”: Best New Restaurant, Chef of the Year and Pastry Chef of the Year.

“I am so honored to receive this award from my fellow culinarians,” said Sutton, “and give a big thank you to my supporting cast, and to Disney for their commitment to the highest culinary standards.”

Food Network personality Simon Majumdar hosted the event, and each winner was presented with the Golden Foodie Award statuette covered in 14-carat gold. For a list of all the winners, go to goldenfoodieawards.com.

Napa Rose at Disneyland Resort Closing for Rehab

Napa Rose

The critically acclaimed Napa Rose the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will be closing August 2nd for a “planned refurbishment,” Disney confirms. The restaurant, known for its seasonally driven dishes, will be closed for at least eight weeks.

Napa Rose is undergoing a kitchen overhaul so it can be reborn with a new layout and new equipment. According to Disney spokesperson Michele Himmelberg, no “significant changes” will be made to the main dining room.

This is the first major upgrade to the restaurant since it opened in 2001. Napa has long been known for its outstanding wine selection, farm-to-table dishes (before those became trendy) and its action-packed culinary counter where diners have a ringside seat of the exhibition kitchen.

The hotel’s other dining venues will remain open during Napa’s construction, including Hearthstone Lounge, Himmelberg said.

The changes come as Napa Rose executive chef Andrew Sutton oversees a major overhaul of the Club 33 menu. The exclusive Disneyland restaurant, where top-tier memberships can cost up to $11,000, reopened last week after an extensive top-to-bottom refreshening. Sutton also oversees the menu at Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure.

 

Disneyland Resort Restaurants Win Big at Southern California Writers Awards

Carthay Circle

Sometimes we all want a little advice when we’re making a dinner reservation, and often it’s food writers and critics that send us to the best restaurants. That’s why we enjoy seeing the annual awards from the Southern California Restaurant Writers Inc., a group formed nearly 40 years ago to keep a finger on the pulse of the region’s dining. This year the group awarded Disneyland Resort a dozen awards to eight restaurants – two in Disneyland park, two in Disney California Adventure park and three in Disneyland Resort hotels.

Here are the awards:

Golden Bacchus Wine Award (the highest wine award):
Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge (Disney California Adventure park)
Napa Rose (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa)
Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel)

5 Stars (the highest award):
Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge
Napa Rose
Steakhouse 55

4 Stars:
Ariel’s Grotto (Disney California Adventure park)
Blue Bayou Restaurant (Disneyland park)
Café Orleans (Disneyland park)
Storytellers Cafe (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa)

3 Stars:
Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel)

Manager of the Year:
Jose Barragan – Barragan has been with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for 17 years and manages Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge at Disney California Adventure park.

To make reservations at any of the Disneyland Resort restaurants, visit www.disneyland.com/dine or call 714-781-DINE (3463).

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