Disney Transforms City Of Anaheim Into A Resort

<B>Disney Transforms City Of Anaheim Into A Resort</B>

Anaheim, the city made famous by the Mouse, has been transformed. Through a total makeover that even Walt Disney himself might find amazing, Anaheim has taken on a new identity. It now prefers to be known as the Anaheim Resort.

It took more than five years and cost upwards of $4 billion, but the series of developments that have revitalized Anaheim also have caused meeting planners--and, for the first time, incentive organizers--to take a closer look. Foremost among these are an additional theme park, a new entertainment and F&B district, an expanded convention center and several new hotels.

The new Disney's California Adventure theme park and Grand Californian Hotel, which both debuted in early February, have opened the market to high-end corporate meetings and incentives, groups which may not have even considered Anaheim in the past. While Disneyland appeals to children of all ages, DCA, which celebrates the dreams and diversity of California, is geared more toward teens and adults.

It has three "lands," each distinct. The Golden State chronicles the history, landscape and peoples of California. Attractions include the Grizzly River Run water ride, the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail obstacle course and Soarin' Over California, an innovative journey through a giant projection dome theater with travelers surrounded by the sights and sounds of Yosemite, the Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe and other favorite places. The Golden State's Golden Vine Winery and gourmet restaurant, sponsored by Robert Mondavi Wines, offers meetings and incentives groups an upscale dining experience and a chance to taste California wines.

The Hollywood Pictures Backlot takes visitors on a trip through the industry that continues to make the state famous around the world. This "land" includes two simulated city blocks of Hollywood Boulevard, with celebrity lookalikes, the ABC Soap Opera Bistro, Jim Henson's MuppetVision 3D, a Superstar limo ride and Disney Animation highlighting the work of Disney artists.

Paradise Pier is Disney California Adventure's version of a California boardwalk. It includes the California Screamin' roller coaster, the Sun Wheel Ferris wheel and, of course, games.

Within Disney's California Adventure is the first hotel to be located inside a Disney theme park. The 751-room Grand Californian has been designed to capture the spirit of the arts and crafts movement, which had a tremendous impact on California at the turn of the century and inspired some of its greatest architects. The luxury hotel was designed with the meetings and incentives market in mind and has more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, a 1,300-sq.-ft. boardroom, health club and spa and Napa Rose, the hotel's signature restaurant.

Rounding out the Disney developments is Downtown Disney, a retail, dining and entertainment district that connects Disney's two theme parks with the Disneyland Resort hotels and offers the night life that planners previously complained was missing from the area.

"The development has put us on the map as a meeting and incentive destination," said Donna Sue Davis, Disneyland Resort sales and services director. "We now have a wonderful upscale hotel to meet corporate and incentive group requirements. Planners have three different styles of hotels to choose from, as well as two different theme parks and Downtown Disney. The whole resort is within walking distance. There's no bussing necessary. Groups don't need transportation. Planners always said there was no nightlife in Anaheim, that it didn't have any restaurants. This has raised it to a new level."

In addition to the infrastructure improvements, Disney has fine-tuned its services for meetings and incentives groups. Group members who stay at one of the Disneyland hotels can obtain the Ultimate Park Hopper Ticket, which allows guests to visit both theme parks each day they are there and gives them early admission to Disneyland before the park opens to regular guests.

The Disneyland Resort also has begun an experiential activities and recreation program. Inspired by Disney University in Orlando, the program allows meeting and incentive group members to participate in a series of team building exercises in the theme parks and the Disneyland hotels.

Meanwhile, Disney isn't the only company creating new hotels in Anaheim. Embassy Suites is opening a 375-suite Embassy Suites in neighboring Garden Grove in June. The hotel will have 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

Another all-suite property, the Anaheim Marriott Suites, with 371 suites, will be ready for the meetings and incentives market in August. "Initially, we plan to rely heavily on meetings and incentives and expect 50 percent to 60 percent of our business to be from that market," said Kent Galante, the hotel's director of sales and marketing. Galante intends to get some of the business from nearby Irvine, Southern California's high-tech center. The hotel will include 9,667 square feet of meeting space and all rooms will have work desks and high-speed Internet access.

In addition to the new Marriott and Embassy Suites, new hotel rooms will be ready this June at the Hyatt Regency Alicante, which is in the midst of a $45 million renovation and expansion project. The hotel has taken over an adjacent office building and will turn it into 266 new guest rooms, including 87 family suites and a 17,000-sq.-ft. ballroom that will be completed in October. After the expansion, the hotel will total 662 guest rooms.

While Disney, the convention center and hotel companies are expanding the infrastructure, the Anaheim Resort is making improvements that make Anaheim a more pleasant place to be. Nearly 1,000 palm trees and 15,000 plants and bushes have been planted, new signage installed and road access improved. In May, the Anaheim Transportation Network, an organization formed to create transportation within the resort area, will launch a network of red trolleys that will connect most of the area's hotels with the convention center and the Disney theme parks, making it easier for groups and individuals to get around.