ANAHEIM, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2013) – New developments in Orange County continue to add to the area's appeal as a premier leisure and business travel destination. The following is a list of highly anticipated grand openings and new developments in the Anaheim/Orange County area for 2013 and beyond. For a comprehensive list of Anaheim and Orange County news, visit http://press.anaheimoc.org/.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Great Wolf Resorts Water Park Hotel Comes to OC

Great Wolf Lodge® Water Park Resort, located about one mile south of the Disneyland® Resort, will be constructed more than 10 stories tall with 600 rooms, 30,000 square feet of meeting space and an attached water park. It is slated for completion in late 2014. Contact: Greg Blodgett, (714) 741-5124, greg1@ci.garden-grove.ca.us. 

Three New Hotels Added to Anaheim Resort District

Three new hotel developments are underway in the Anaheim Resort™ District: TheHyatt Place Anaheim Resort is set to open late 2014 with 178 rooms and two Spring Hill Suites properties are being constructed; one with 172 rooms and second with 120 rooms. Both Spring Hill Suites hotels will open summer 2014. Contacts: The Hyatt Place Anaheim Resort, John Rozatti, (714) 971-5000, john@cortonainn.com. Spring Hill Suites, Elaine Cali, (714) 765-8853, ecali@anaheimoc.org.

Island Hotel Newport Beach Expansion

The Island Hotel Newport Beach, a luxury coastal business and leisure hotel, has added 6,000 square feet of additional meeting and event spaces. The expansion finished in late 2012 and saw the hotel enlarge its ballroom from 6,630 square feet to 8,710 square feet. The ballroom's capacity went from 450 people to 600. The ballroom's foyer went from 2,784 square feet to 3,936 square feet. In all, Island Hotel Newport Beach now has 21,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Contact: Michael Lyster, (949) 720-2636, mlyster@irvinecompany.com

Nation's First LEGOLAND® Hotel Now Open

LEGOLAND® California Resort opened the nation's first LEGO®-themed hotel on April 5, 2013. The 250-room, three-story hotel features brightly colored and interactive LEGO® décor, a pool, Castle Play area and restaurant. Designed for families with young children, every room is themed after one of the most popular LEGOLAND areas: Pirate, Kingdom and Adventure. Contact: Julie Estrada, (760) 918-5377, julie.estrada@legoland.com.

New Winery and Expansion at Temecula's South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa's plans for its 2013 expansion efforts include a new winery set to be named Carter Estates. The new 5,470 square foot winery, which will also house a tasting room, is part of the project that will include construction of 23 buildings on 42,000 square feet of space for resort, winery, spa, and office and meeting space. South Coast Winery Resort & Spa is still on target to open their new three-story, 50–unit, all–suite structure, and additional meeting and event space in Spring 2013. This boutique property will feature 50 additional spacious guest suites, measuring in at a full 538 to 850 square feet. The new addition will also include a custom–tailored 10,000-square-foot rooftop garden. Contact: Crystal Magon at (951) 587-9463 ext. 7204 or cmagon@wineresort.com. 

ANAHEIM/ORANGE COUNTY TOURISM

Anaheim/OC Debuts Video Chef Series 

The Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau debuted a new OC Chefs Series on the AOCVCB YouTube channel in January 2013, showcasing Orange County's most interesting chefs. The new series serves up greater awareness about the culinary landscape of OC, highlighting the variety of restaurants in Orange County and features the personalities of the chefs that make these establishments so successful. Contact: Elaine Cali, (714) 765-8853, ecali@anaheimoc.org.

Virtual Planning Tool Helps Create Imaginative Events In Anaheim

The AOCVCB also recently launched Grand PlazaVille, a new online planning tool that allows meeting planners to seamlessly visualize their event in the Anaheim Convention Center Grand Plaza. Grand PlazaVille showcases the Grand Plaza's flexibility as a meeting and event site and enables users to simply “drag and drop” an array of event elements. The updated Grand Plaza microsite also includes a time-lapse video on the evolution of the Grand Plaza project from beginning to end. Contact: Elaine Cali, (714) 765-8853, ecali@anaheimoc.org.

ARTS & CULTURE

Pageant of the Masters Celebrates 80th Anniversary  

Pageant of the Masters celebratesthe 80th anniversaryof showcasing iconic art through “living pictures” at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts July 7 – August 31, 2013. This year's theme, "The Big Picture," will add a cinematic spin to its world-class presentation with classic masterpieces that inspired legendary filmmakers. Contact: Sharbie Higuchi, (949) 464-4282, sharbieh@aol.com. 

ATTRACTIONS

Disneyland® Park

On select dates throughout the year, “Limited Time Magic” at the Disneyland® Resort will surprise and awe guests with new entertainment and imaginative events, including the New Orleans Bayou Bash and special ticket offers.

In March of 2013, Disneyland® Park rolled out the royal red carpet for Fantasy Faire, a new meet-and-greet area with Disney's® fairy tale heroes and heroines. Fantasy Faire is a picturesque village square that extends Fantasyland, where guests can shop, dine, meet classic Disney characters and experience two new shows, including “Mickey and the Magical Map,” a live show in the Fantasyland Theatre featuring Mickey Mouse in his timeless role as the sorcerer's apprentice.

Disney California Adventure® Park

Guests also can celebrate more classic characters and storytelling at Disney California Adventure® Park, which completed a significant expansion in 2012. The all-new, 12-acre Cars Land, inspired by the Disney•Pixar film “Cars,” features three new attractions, including the exhilarating Radiator Springs Racers. Entertainment in Disney California Adventure Park is also enhanced, as Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins join the cast of “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!” Contact: Paul Garcia, (714) 284-6386, paul.m.garcia@disney.com.

Knott's Berry Farm® Theme Park

Knott's Berry Farm® theme park has added three rides to the theme park's “Boardwalk” area. The additions include the Coast Rider roller coaster, Surfside Glider and Pacific Scrambler. All three rides opened June 2013. Contact: Jennifer Blazey, (714) 220-5131, jblazey@knotts.com. 

SeaWorld® San Diego's New Aquatica™ Waterpark.

The brand-new Aquatica SeaWorld's Waterpark™ is located just minutes from SeaWorld® San Diego in Chula Vista. This unique waterpark features guest experiences from serene to extreme and is home to a variety of exotic animals, providing an educational component to a waterpark adventure. Aquatica made its debut on June 1, 2013. Kelly Terry, (619) 225-3241, kelly.terry@SeaWorld.com.

Universal Studios® Hollywood Despicable Me Minion MayhemTM to Debut in 2014

Universal Studios Hollywood™ will debut “Despicable Me Minion MayhemTM” in 2014. The much-anticipated arrival of this 3-D HD movie motion simulator adventure will add a new dimension to the theme park. Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's worldwide blockbuster, “Despicable Me,” will come to life in Hollywood with the addition of a few surprises unique to the Entertainment Capital of L.A.℠

Contact: Trana Pittam, (818) 622-5985, trana.pittam@nbcuni.com.

DINING

THE RANCH Restaurant & Saloon Private Dining Room Nearly Complete

THE RANCH Restaurant & Saloonis ready to serve up another development with a 200-seat special event space located on the sixth floor of the Extron building. The Sixth Floor will be home to an opulent 50-seat private dining room complete with its own wine cellar, a 20-seat private dining room and an 18-seat classroom kitchen. Completion of the banquet room is slated for summer 2013. Contact: Melissa Cutter, (714) 780-4042, mcutter@theranch.com. 

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS

Anaheim Convention Center Grand Plaza 

The Anaheim Convention Center's Grand Plaza,a 100,000-square-foot outdoor special event space, is open for business. Completed in January 2013, groups can now dine al fresco, listen to concerts or attend receptions and exhibitions. The Grand Plaza enhances the open, campus-like space surrounding the Anaheim Convention Center and flows between the Hilton Anaheim and Anaheim Marriott hotels. The area also features a special Transit Plaza for efficient transportation flow for convention attendees. Contact: Elaine Cali, (714) 765-8853, ecali@anaheimoc.org.

Anaheim Packing District

The LAB, Holding, LLC has recently renovated a 1919 citrus packing house, the Anaheim Packing House located just two miles from the Anaheim Convention Center and Disneyland Resort. Set to open in fall 2013, the Anaheim Packing House will feature a 40,000-square-foot artisan food hall composed of boutique food and beverage purveyors, live music and communal seating. Just steps away, the two-acre Farmers Park, to be completed summer 2013, will showcase festivals and events, as well as weekend Farmers Markets. The adjacent 1925 Packard Car Showroom structure now houses Umami Burger and Anaheim Brewery. All three components will complete what will be known as the Anaheim Packing District. Contact: Jamie Wood, (714) 966-6661 ext. 233, jamie@anaheimpackingdistrict.com.

New Shopping, Dining and Entertainment Center In Buena Park

A brand-new, highly-anticipated retail destination that combines a modern and dynamic urban design, featuring world-class selection of shopping, dining and entertainment called The Source has begun construction in Buena Park. The project will include more than 500,000 square feet of retail, office, restaurant and entertainment space. The Source is slated for completion in 2014. Contact: Katie Wanamaker, (714) 521-8580, katie@glpmanagement.com

Discovery Science Center Expansion

The  Discovery Science Center isset to expand imagination with new space.The $18.5 million first phase will include a new 40,000 square-foot Discovery Pavilion, a California Natural Resources Pavilion and Education Wing, and a 4,000-sqare-foot expansion of the Grand Hall of Science. The new building will be designed with LEED® Silver standards to maximize energy-efficient technologies. The multi-phase expansion is scheduled for completion in fall of 2014. Contact: Dan Nasitka, (714) 913-5018, dnasitka@discoverycube.org. 

Honda Center Improvement Project


The Honda Centerwillraise the bar for dining and entertainment with an extensive improvement project featuring the 12,000-square-foot Grand Terrace. This exclusive indoor/outdoor entertainment space will be equipped with an 80-foot bar, upscale decor and dramatic views. It will also include a 250-seat full service restaurant located on the main level, which will be open to the public for all events. The expected completion date is late 2013. Contact: Merit Tully, (714) 704-2112, mtully@hondacenter.com.

Orange County Great Park Continues Development

A $70 million development plan to expand the Orange County Great Park to more than 200 acres is currently underway. The development will include a sports park, a 114-acre agricultural area and an arts and culture exhibition space. Located in Irvine, the Great Park's current 27.5 acres includes an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing visitors with spectacular aerial views of Orange County. Contact: Marcus Ginnaty, (949) 724-6574, mginnaty@ci.irvine.ca.us.

SHOPPING

Center Street Promenade

Center Street Promenadehasrolled out a retro revival area inDowntown Anaheim, including a new twist on vintage-style stores. Recently awarded Developer of the Year by Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Shaheen Sadeghi and his LAB team have been working magic in downtown Anaheim for the last year, opening several new shops (118 Degrees, BARBEER, Home: Eco-nomics, Healthy Junk, Heart & Sole, The GOOD, Gypsy Den, LOOK and The Yoga Mat), literally changing the face of Downtown Anaheim. Contact: Jamie Wood, (714) 966-6661 ext. 223, jamie@anaheimpackingdistrict.com.

South Coast Plaza® Offers New Shuttle Service

South Coast Plaza® now offers visitors expanded ways to access world class shopping via its Shopping Shuttle.The expanded shuttle now services 90 surrounding Anaheim area hotels through its partnership with Starline Tours. Pricing is $16 for adults and $8 for children. Contact: Werner Esher, (714) 435-2000, escherw@southcoastplaza.com.

TRANSPORTATION

ARTIC Coming Soon to Anaheim

The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) continues to move forward after breaking ground in September 2012. The ARTIC project was allocated $29.2 million to fund construction. The project will be an iconic, timeless transportation facility where people will seamlessly move between transit services to reach Southern California activity centers and business districts, and is expected to be completed in late 2014. Contact: Ruth Ruiz, (714) 765-5060, rruiz@anaheim.net. 

About Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau:


The Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau (AOCVCB) is Anaheim and Orange County's major destination marketing organization. It is a non-profit marketing organization dedicated to promoting Anaheim/Orange County as a premier leisure, convention and meeting destination. For more information, call (714) 765-8888 or visit anaheimoc.org. Follow the AOCVCB on Facebook (AnaheimOC), Pinterest (AnaheimOC) or Twitter (Anaheim_OC).