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New Release 2026

Disneyland Hotel History

The Magical Hotel Series

By: Donald W. Ballard

Meticulously researched volumes documenting the rich history of the Disneyland Hotel, featuring rare photographs and untold stories.

288 Pages
1,200+ Photos
Hardcover Format
$70.00 Order Now →
Disneyland Hotel 1960-1964: The Little Motel Grows Up

Complete the Collection

Explore the full series documenting decades of Disneyland Hotel history.

Disneyland Hotel: The Early Years 1954-1988

The Early Years 1954-1988

2013 Reprint

The complete story of how the hotel became one of Southern California's premier family vacation destinations.

$49.95
Updated 2nd Ed.
Disneyland Hotel: The Early Years 1954-1988 – Second Edition

The Early Years 1954-1988

Updated Second Edition

A total restoration featuring rare full-color photography that brings the Hotel's golden era to life like never before.

$49.95
Disneyland Hotel 1954-1959

Disneyland Hotel 1954-1959

The Little Motel in the Orange Grove

Over 300 photographs documenting the hotel's early years with authentic 50's period graphics and design.

$39.95
Donald W. Ballard

About the Author

Donald W. Ballard first became interested in the Disneyland Hotel in the late 1970s and never considered a trip to Disneyland complete without a stay at the Hotel.

By 1998, he began documenting the Hotel's history by compiling vintage papers, photographs, magazines, and souvenirs that captured its unique story. What started as a short article for a Southern California travel magazine eventually grew into a comprehensive series of books, including Disneyland Hotel: The Early Years 1954–1988, Disneyland Hotel 1954–1959: The Little Motel in the Middle of the Orange Groves, and Disneyland Hotel 1960–1964: The Little Motel Grows Up. Through extensive archival research and firsthand accounts, his work preserves an important and often overlooked chapter of Disney and Southern California history.

Ballard was featured in the Disney+ television series Behind the Attraction (Season One), appearing in Episodes 7 and 9, with a particularly prominent role in Episode 7. He has also shared his research and passion for Disney history as a speaker at two D23 events, the Walt Disney Family Museum, and numerous other public and fan-focused presentations.

Throughout his research, Ballard developed a deep appreciation for the Hotel's original owner, Jack Wrather, recognizing many parallels between Wrather and Walt Disney—both innovators and risk-takers who placed the guest experience at the center of everything they created.