Ever since it first opened in October 1955, as the first hotel at Disneyland, the aptly named Disneyland Hotel has served as an on-property base for millions of visitors to the theme park.

Late last month (May 2010), the Disney company released plans for some major renovations to the popular hotel that I think are very cool.

Artist Rendering of New Water Play Area at Disneyland Hotel

First off, the hotel’s three guest room towers will be renamed and re-themed to reflect the “lands” inside Disneyland’s main park. The Dreams Tower, currently under renovation and scheduled to be completed later this year, will become the Adventure Tower. The Wonder Tower will be the next to undergo transformation to become the Frontier Tower and is slated for completion in 2011. The Magic Tower, will be the last to undergo its makeover and when finished in 2012, will become the Fantasy Tower. A large marquee featuring classic artwork for Adventureland, Frontierland and Fantasyland will identify each tower.

The second area that will be getting a makeover is the Never Land Pool. Not only will it be getting spruced up, but a new four-foot deep pool will be built that will connect the existing pool area to a new water play area. The play area’s focal point will be two water slides that will be designed to resemble the original monorail stations. Guests will glide through tunnels shaped like monorail cars into the pool below. At the top of the slides will be signage with the word “Disneyland” spelled out in blocks like the iconic sign from when the park first opened.

The new water play area and pool are scheduled to be completed by summer 2011, and the remodeled Never Land Pool is slated to be completed by summer 2012.

Finally, two new dining locations will be built in the current location of Hook’s Pointe, Croc’s Bites and Bits, the Wine Cellar and the Lost Bar. A new “smart casual” dining concept will feature Tahitian architecture that is reminiscent of the ’50s and ’60s era of the hotel and the original Tahitian Terrace restaurant in Disneyland park. A new bar will draw on the adventure theme from the Jungle Cruise attraction. These are due to open in 2011.

I love how Disney is going with the whole retro theme in sprucing up the Disneyland Hotel. I think a lot of families will enjoy it, too, as they bring their kids and grandkids to experience the same fun they had as a child.

[Renovation Artwork Courtesy of Disneyland]