Wow, just returned from an exhilarating press trip through the OC and Anaheim. Started off by checking in at the Disney Grand California, a cool property with a dramatic open lobby modeled after the famous Ahwahnee in Yosemite. That was quickly followed by a ‘hard-hat’ trip through the nearby, soon-to-launch Anaheim GardenWalk, a massive compound of shopping, dining, entertainment and (eventual) lodging. Next was meeting with some Disneyland executives at the Grand California’s Napa Rose restaurant, in an inviting, high-ceilinged setting with some great murals of wine country embellishing the walls. Started with an incredible salad of endive, blue cheese and pear, followed by a filet mignon topped with melted brie in a red wine reduction with candied walnuts. Can you tell I like food?

 

The next day took our group through Huntington Beach, where a breakfast stop at the Hyatt Regency was followed by a signature massage at the property’s incredible Pacific Waters spa. That put me in the perfect relaxed state for a stroll through Laguna Beach, one of my favorite Southern California stops with its hopping downtown and lively beaches; took a look at Wyland’s gallery of marine seascapes and saw some other hip galleries as well. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, we headed to Crystal Cove and saw some charming beach cottages before lunching at the Beachcomber Café in Newport Coast. Hard to find much to complain about dining alfresco on seared scallops in a corn chowder sauce (and ahi tacos!) while watching dolphins splash about in the ocean 50 yards away.

 

Then it was on to nearby Pelican Hill, a grand resort opening late this year that is impressive in both its luxury and scope. One of the many fantastic facets we took in was a “Coliseum’ swimming pool facility modeled after the famous Roman landmark; the pool will be lined with one million glass tiles—cut and laid by hand, a great example of the detail and craftsmanship being put into the property.

 

Next, back to the Disney Grand for a quick freshen-up before our “progressive dinner” and site inspections at The Hilton Anaheim, Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim Marriott. The Hilton is undergoing extensive changes, including a major lobby makeover, and the Marriott just completed some large upgrades as well. At the Convention Center, we met with Aramark’s “Director of Sustainability” for some healthy food and drink, and had the chance to see some plastic eating utensils actually made from potatoes. Not only environmentally sound, but potentially edible in a crisis? You never know until you try.

 

The next day featured a presentation by the good folks at Disney on their global projects—including Disney Hong Kong—and an overview of their customer-service strategies. One interesting tidbit: upon conducting research that most people will hold their trash for up to 17 paces before littering, they placed trash cans throughout the park every 20 feet. (I predict Disney growing into a large and successful company in the future if they keep up these kinds of innovative efforts.) Next it was on to the park and an excellent lunch at the Blue Bayou restaurant before touring the Dream Suite, an exclusive enclave of rooms inside the park only used for special occasions, such as visiting families randomly treated to one of the “million dreams” Disney is giving away this year.

 

We wrapped things up with a gala event back at the GardenWalk, taking a limo over from the Grand Hyatt in style and enjoying a wonderful dinner before seeing ’70s and ’80s band Chicago take to the stage and light up the night with some of their awesome classic hits. Rising at 5 a.m. the next morning to take my shuttle back to Long Beach Airport, the whole adventure seemed to have gone by in the blink of an eye.