Disney Dream Suite Open for Business!

[Chescat]

I went to the Disney Gallery to say goodbye to one of my favorite places in Disneyland. They told me the Gallery got a one week reprieve so its open until next Tuesday now (8/7/07). They are still pushing Disney management to keep it open. So lets keep our fingers crossed. The place was very busy today, I did see a lot of people like me with cameras taking a lot of pictures.

The thing that made me the sadest was the idea that my favorite view from the balcony of Rivers of American will be gone forever for everybody. I took a bunch of pictures of the Mark Twain and Columbia going by and all I could think of. I'll try to get those put up in my picture place so everybody could see. Was a little disappointed they had a purple drap thing over most of the grid that says Mardi Gras on it. I wanted a last picture of the WD and the RD. But I'm sure I got a bunch of those over the years.

What I don't know is whether Fantasmic viewing will be added this week since it wasn't suppose to stay open. If any of you are going this week, might be worth a call or asking.

[tinkwest]

Thanks for the info Traci. Wish I could visit it one more time.

Like many, I suppose, one of the first things I thought when I heard they were closing was that I should have taken more pictures during my many visits. But I usually just strolled through enjoying the atmosphere and exhibits and quiet.

[Disneyluvr2]

I got to make an unexpected trip to the park last Friday. I spent the day by myself and was so glad I got to see the Gallery one last time. I took lots of pictures and there were others there doing the same thing. It was so hard to leave knowing that I may never get to return again. I actually teared up as I looked back one last time before heading down the stairs. I'm sure going to miss the Gallery...especially the patio area.

[NYdaily]

You gotta be kidding me?! It's closed? How did I not hear of this? What a bummer -- that is one my favorite places in the park.

I would have gone down for a farewell tour had I known -- is it closed now for sure? I'm going on Sunday and I hope it still lives and breathes.

I guess they DO need another meet n' greet though. Prime real estate that.

[B_W_Mickey]

Can anyone confirm it has actually closed?

[Chescat]

I'm going by there next week, so if we haven't heard by then. I'll find out.

[NYdaily]

It's closed.

We went by yesterday and there are trash cans in front of the doors, and walls constructed around the stairways. *sigh*

[B_W_Mickey]

Thanks for the information!

[drevlo]

I'm sure that I'm a little late to the table on this topic, but now that the Disneyland Gallery has made its way over to Yesterday....what's the plan for the space that it currently occupies?

Thanks!

[Chescat]

I asked the Cast Members the week before it closed and they had no idea. There has been so many rumors going around.

The main one is that it will turn into a Dream Experience. One rumor was a Cinderella Experience where a family gets to sleep over like WDW and meet Cinderella at some point.

The next one going around was it would be a Pirate Experience. Like the Cast Members say, the sometimes limit what they tell anybody. Maybe plans turn out one way and wind up something else as time goes on.

I'm afraid the reason our gallery disappeared is because it seems like everything in the gallery now is either in World of disney in Downtown or in that shop in the Animation Building in DCA. That shop in DCA has gotten more and more of the gallery's stuff.

I just wish we hadn't lost our wonderful view of the Rivers. I also just realized I haven't uploading my pictures of the gallery the last week I took. Better find those.

[Disney Babe]

Does that mean that models are up for sale? I don't think that should be. There should be a museum for those things, similar to the gallery. I remember back in the 70's when the Emporium used to sell animation cells. Now I think they are almost all gone to private collectors.

I really, really hope the gallery is not turned into some pirate related thing. I have always liked pirates, but enough is enough. It's New Orleans Square, not Tortuga!

[NotaGeek]

It's DONE! And albeit over the top, I think it's great and i would love to be a guest in the Disney Dream Suite! The first guest will be chosen on January 31, 2008 ... let's all go to the Parks and hope that we have the opportunity! There's also a great article in the OC Register you can check out. Here's the official press release:

ANAHEIM, Calif. – January 29, 2008 – For the first time in history, lucky guests will have the chance to spend an unforgettable night inside Disneyland Park during the Year of a Million Dreams, most nights starting January 31, 2008 as part of the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. A guest will be escorted on the same day awarded into the most extraordinary accommodations at Disneyland Resort: the Disneyland Dream Suite, an in-park apartment with special-effects surprises and vintage design elements in each room.

The overnight stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be a highlight among the more than a million “dream come true” experiences awarded through random process to eligible Disneyland Resort guests and mail-in participants in the 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway. Mail-in winners of prizes that require use on day awarded, such as the Disneyland Dream Suite, will receive a prize of comparable value.

Disney Imagineers have devoted months of hard work toward remodeling the suite of rooms above New Orleans Square in the Park, conceived by Walt Disney as a private apartment for his family and closest friends. The rooms, which most recently housed The Disney Gallery, have been restored to Disney’s original vision of deluxe living quarters. Vintage design illustrations, created under Disney’s personal direction, were recovered and used as inspiration for the look, furnishings and other décor elements in the Suite. Special design touches have been incorporated to evoke memories of Disney’s diverse interests and the rich heritage of Disneyland.

The guests chosen through a random process to enjoy a “dream stay” in the Disneyland Dream Suite will be following in the footsteps of Walt Disney. His dedication to the constant growth and development of Disneyland Park resulted in frequent overnight stays in a small private apartment which remains today above the Fire House on Main Street, U.S.A. In the 1960s, as plans were developed for the New Orleans Square area, Disney brought in illustrator and designer Dorothea Redmond (Gone with the Wind) and set decorator Emile Kuri (Mary Poppins, It’s a Wonderful Life) to help him create a larger, more lavish apartment where he could entertain friends, family, VIP guests and dignitaries.

Unfortunately, Disney passed away before the Suite was completed. Over the years, the rooms were used as offices and to entertain visiting business associates until, in 1987, the space became The Disney Gallery, a unique venue displaying artwork originally created during the development of various Disney movies and theme park attractions. Only now, 40 years later, is Disney’s dream being fulfilled. The rooms have been returned to their original intended purpose and, as Disney wished, the Disneyland Dream Suite will be occupied by overnight guests.

“Our plan has been to use the renderings that Walt worked on with Dorothea Redmond and to replicate those as exactly as we can,” said Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Kim Irvine. “Her illustrations were very specific, with a color and style for each room.
“But to make it special for the guests, we want it to be more than just a beautiful suite. We want it to be filled with things that might have inspired Walt as he dreamed of Disneyland.”

[Mufasa]

Every day during February, you can enter the Disney.com Dreams Come True sweepstakes where the grand prize is a trip to the Disneyland resort and an overnight stay in the new Disneyland Dreams Suite overlooking New Orleans Square in Disneyland.

You'll find entry details here:
http://home.disney.go.com/travel/dreams/

[Lacy]

Thanks Mufasa! This is even easier than submitting my mail in entries for the Year of Million Dreams. Hopefully, I'll remember to enter most days in February.

[NotaGeek]

Thanks Mufasa! In true Disney.com fashion their page won't load when you click "Enter Sweepstakes" the page is down. Hmmm ... maybe one day Disney will expect LOTS of people to try and actually use their website!

[2Epcot]

Thanks Mufasa ... I'll have to add that to my daily To-Do list in Februrary.

[MegaDisney]

Thanks Mufasa!

I have entered and will again every day!

[IloveDisney71]

I have never visited Disneyland so I'm going to enter everyday for a once in a lifetime chance! Thanks for the tip!!!

[caryrae]

I just saw a video of the suite on DisneyLink and man does it look awesome.

[NotaGeek]

I found a video on YouTube that gives a really good tour of The Dream Suite ... it looks fabulous and I would stay there in a minute!