Photos of Disneyland's periphery

The Anabella

Large clay pots outside the registration lobby serve as trash cans and Spanish decor.

Spanish tile rooftops, white walls, and red flower vines are reminiscent of old Spanish missions.

The Anabella is an expansive modern hotel whose architecture is intended to be reminiscent of an old Spanish mission. Outside the registration lobby are large clay pots, for example. The Anabella has a fairly large span along Katella Avenue, and takes up several former lots where smaller motels used to be.

The way it used to be... The Anabella replaced multiple old motels such as Magic Lamp Motel. Photo courtesy of Synthetrix [4-18-07]. Magic Lamp Motel [1968-1978] 1030 W. Katella Ave. Anaheim, CA 92802 (714) 772-7242 Golden Forest Inn [1975-1978] 1050 W. Katella Anaheim, CA 92802 (714) 776-7910

Palm-lined sidewalks

The nicest palm-lined sidewalk is probably this one immediately west of Alpine Inn.

Palms along Katella Avenue with DCA in the background.

With the modern renovation of the area around Disneyland, hundreds of full-sized date palms were planted along Katella Avenue and Disneyland Drive, typically on both sides of the sidewalks. I laud this improvement. The palms are xerophytic/low-maintenance, and they provide shade, scenery, and California atmosphere all at once. At night, lights mounted on the sides of the trunks shine upwards at the underside of the palm crowns, providing subdued light. Although I miss the old oleander bushes along what is now Disneyland Drive, objectively these palm trees are a major improvement.

I believe the palms and landscaping are nicest just west of Alpine Inn, on the north side of Katella Ave. However these palms are also planted near Satellite Center, in front of the Anaheim Convention Center, and on Disneyland Drive near the Paradise Pier hotel.

In fact, the entire sidewalk on the south side of Disney's California Adventure, where one of Disneyland's entrances is, is quite pleasantly landscaped. The primary plants seen around here are the shady date palms (Phoenix dactylifera), the purple Lily of the Nile flowers (Agapanthus orientalis), the visually shielding bird-of-paradise trees (Strelitzia nicolai) along DCA's fence, and a few bird-of-paradise flowers (Strelitzia reginae) by the bus stop.

The purple flowers on stalks underneath the palms are Agapanthus orientalis.

The tall plants that look like banana trees are Strelitzia nicolai.

Street lighting, Anaheim style: lights shining up into the undersides of date palms.

(721, 733, 815) Palm-lined sidewalk

What is now just a continuation of a palm-lined sidewalk used to have more mid-century businesses. In 1975 I remember seeing Heidi Motel in this area, which is confirmed by its old address, which would place it on the north side of Katella Avenue slightly west of the Anaheim Convention Center and Alpine Inn.

The way it used to be... Heidi Motel is now completely gone, including the lot where it once stood. Photo courtesy of Synthetrix [4-20-07]. Heidi Motel [1976-1978] 815 W. Katella Ave. Anaheim, CA 92802 (714) 533-1979 Musketeer Motel must have been close to Alpine Inn. Photo courtesy of Synthetrix [4-20-07]. Musketeer Motel [1978] 733 W. Katella Ave. Anaheim, CA (714) 774-8065 According to address data, Chalet (721) must have been west of and very near Alpine Inn (715). Photo courtesy of Synthetrix [4-20-07]. According to address data, Chalet (721) must have been east of Heidi Motel (815). Photo courtesy of Synthetrix [4-20-07]. Chalet Pancake & Steak House Coffee Shop [1978] 721 W. Katella Ave. Anaheim, CA 92802 (714) 533-3387

Created: February 24, 2007
Updated: May 7, 2007