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Disneyland Resort update: New bakery, new award and new money

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Published: August 17, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Lots of news from the west coast Mouse House today, as the Disneyland Resort also gets ready to welcome the D23 Expo to Anaheim (which I'll be attending this weekend).

First up, Disneyland has announced that it will finally be restoring the old Plaza Pavilion as a food location. In January, the Pavilion will return as the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, a Mary Poppins-themed counter-service bakery that will replace the Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street USA.

With the Blue Ribbon bakery closing, its space will be divided by the adjacent Carnation Cafe and the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor. This means that the Carnation Cafe will be getting back some indoor seating, which it hasn't had for many years. And that the wait for a table at the ice cream parlor might just be a few minutes less on a busy spring evening.

Disneyland Hotel

Also, Disneyland announced today that the Disneyland Hotel has won a four-diamond rating from AAA, joining the Grand Californian as a four-diamond winner. The Disneyland Hotel's been undergoing a massive renovation over the past few years, upgrading rooms throughout the property, including adding several attention-grabbing themed suites.

Trivia question: What is the highest AAA-diamond rating ever give to a hotel at the Disneyland Resort? (I'll post the answer in the comments if no one gets it first.)

Finally, Disney is today selling a reported $500 million in bonds, to raise money for "general corporate purposes." Disney's sitting on a significant chunk of cash these days, but borrowing costs are dirt-cheap in the markets these days, so Disney's taking advantage. (By the way, don't fall for media hype about a "debt crisis." Borrowing costs next to nothing these days. The only problem is that so many households are drowning in real estates debt that they don't have any ability to take on more debt. Which is why the bond markets are slashing borrowing costs - cause there's relatively little demand.)

Readers' Opinions

From 70.184.72.202 on August 17, 2011 at 11:05 AM
5 diamond/star for the Grand Floridian in Orlando.
From Tom Rigg on August 17, 2011 at 11:24 AM
I know at WDW the highest Diamond Rating if the 13 Diamond Rating given to the Hollywood Tower Hotel (AKA Tower of Terror) However I don't know if the one in DCA has that award as well.
From Robert Niles on August 17, 2011 at 12:31 PM
And Tom gets it. The Hollywood Tower Hotel got a 13-diamond plaque from AAA when it opened at DCA.

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