The Dream Suite Tour!

This month’s college program event was to take an exclusive tour of the Dream Suite. What is this Dream Suite you ask? Well it’s a suite (OMG no way?!) that is in the Disneyland park above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It was originally built for Walt himself. It’s 2200 sq ft and was designed as a place for the Disney’s to entertain friends at the park. It was completed in January of 2008. We started the tour going down the hallway that had some watercolor based paintings by Dorothea Redmond of the first concepts for Walt's Apartment (which is what this area was originally planned to be.)and some offices where there was a cast member always if the guests needed any assistance during their stay. After we got down the halls, we got to see the first bedroom.

 It’s design was inspired by Adventureland with the Victorian style as well. Every room (except the bathroom) has a "Good Night Kiss”. It is a special feature that transforms the room into something Disney Magical. The master suite's transforms the room into an Adventureland paradise, with just a touch of Peter Pan thrown in. Shadows of ferns and leaves appear onto the corners of the walls, making it seem as though your bed is in the middle of a jungle clearing. Then of course we saw the bathroom which has swans, and a double sink! There was also a walk-in closet too. But the best part about the bathroom was the bathtub! It was definitely made to relax in with a replica of a stained glass window created by Louis Comfort Tifany, titled "Aurora - Young Woman at a Fountain", and the light show that goes along with it (and of course they put a hidden Mickey into the show).

Then we headed into the living room which turned out to be really close to what Dorothea designed. They had a “fireplace” with a castle iron design in the front and the “fire” sparks fireworks ever so randomly. There is neat dishes and vases around and yes the vases are glued to the table to prevent the children from grabbing and dropping. There is also paintings of the 2 castles that inspired Walt for the Sleeping Beauty Castle: Neuschwanstein which is in Balvaria, Germany (I toured it in 2007) and Château de Chenonceau which is in Paris, France. The good night kisses here happen As the clock strikes a designated hour the room is filled with the music from such well-known Disney tunes as "When You Wish Upon A Star" from Pinocchio or "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" from Cinderella. When the clock plays "Let's All Sing Like The Birdies Sing" (a popular tune from the Enchanted Tiki Room) The glass chandelier in the middle of the room was made in Turkey, and designed to match fabric used in the suite.

In the “Kids” suite, it is clearly Frontierland inspired. There is a gas fired lamp from Disneyland Paris, and an original Cinderella Franklin stove with original Cinderella motif (using the same flame 'technology' of the burning town in the Pirates ride downstairs). There is also a picture of the Disneyland park, and it has lights put in behind it to show what it would look like at night every now and then. There are two chairs at the foot of each bed that are from Walt's last movie "The Happiest Millionare".

This "Good Night Kiss", begins with the model train, which is named the "John Gritz" after the imagineer who is responsible for much of the Disney Magic in the suite, “breaks out” of its case and rides around the shelf that surrounds the room. As it passes different “toys” (model boats, miniature horses, adventure books, figurines, etc.) that are all Frontierland based, they become animated. The German band begins to play, a horse nods its head, the model ship sounds its horn, and the train returns to its case. I think it’s the best “Good Night Kiss” in the entire Suite.

Check this video out for the Good Night Kiss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ggAzWqwDaA

Finally, we headed out on the balcony that the winners who stay can enjoy Fantasmic. The balcony is furnished with chairs and tables, and the "W" and "R" initials wrought into the railing to honor Walt and Roy Disney have been enhanced with gold leaf. Overall, this was so memorable and would be a fantastic place to stay!