There was a very exciting announcement on the Disney Parks Blog yesterday and I’m giddy to share it with you! With the ongoing expansion and growth of the Disneyland Resort, they announced that for the first time in almost two decades, they’ll be opening a new Four Diamond hotel! The new hotel is set to open in 2021 and will transform the west end of the Downtown Disney District and anchor a new gateway to the Disneyland Resort. This rendering of what it will look like is amazing! 
The 700-room hotel will feature a sophisticated design and be something never-before-seen for Anaheim. It’ll offer dynamic dining and entertainment options and a hotel experience for both resort visitors and local residents. Extensive landscaping and water elements will create a resort oasis, showcasing nature on every level of the hotel. The hotel’s location embraces the iconic Disneyland Monorail with a dedicated platform inside the hotel for direct transport into Disneyland park. Having the monorail stop inside of the hotel is such a great part about this addition and reminds me of when we stayed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World! (Have you been there before?) 
The guest rooms, public spaces and gardens at the new hotel will provide views of the Downtown Disney District. The addition of an upper-level restaurant and lounge will give guests a view of the spectacular nightly fireworks in Disneyland Park. The ground level of the hotel will include shops and restaurants, opening onto an expansive landscaped plaza, and complete with playful water features, creating a gathering place for guests and visitors. The new hotel will connect all four Hotels of the Disneyland Resort through lush gardens and beautifully landscaped walkways, transforming the gateway on the west side and creating a welcoming entry for our Disneyland Resort guests.
Parking and Transportation Improvements Coming to Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort will also be upgrading and improving parking and transportation as they add new parking and transportation enhancements. The centerpiece of their plans to expand includes an all-new, 6500-space parking structure to be built on the current Pinocchio surface parking lot next to Mickey & Friends. The new structure is designed to dramatically improve parking and traffic flow throughout the resort. It is expected to significantly speed up guest arrival by providing a 60 percent increase in the number of access lanes and adding additional parking capacity on the west side of the resort.
The additional parking capacity and access lanes will streamline vehicle arrivals on the west side of the resort and eliminate backups onto city streets. In addition, the tram boarding area will be reconfigured to enhance the transportation experience for guests parking at both the new structure and Mickey & Friends. Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2018, with the structure set to open the following year.
There’s always something new and exciting coming to Disneyland Resort and as usual, I can’t wait!