As we all know, Disneyland has a history rooted in the prime of America, the post war economic boom of the 1950s.  With that in mind, Disneyland instantly becomes and icon that that era, and a personal favorite topic of mine.  While there, it was nice to pick up on some fun retro elements of the park that can often be missed if you’re just running around, and I’d like to share them with you.  Please remember, for a large view of my images, just click on them.

Disneyland 1955

Inside the lobby of Disneyland’s Opera House is an array of artifacts covering Disneyland conception and infancy.  Included here is a diorama of what Disneyland looked like when it opened on July 17, 1955.  As you can see, it’s pretty barren.  The portion to the right of the Rivers of America is the area that was devoted to the Rainbow Mountain Stagecoach and Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules, and later the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train.  The significant remains of this can still be seen today, on Big Thunder, the buildings which the train passes near the end of the ride were part of these original attractions.  New Orleans Square is now in the small area between the Rivers of America and the Jungle Cruise.

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Yesterday I returned home from a week long trip to California.  Three of those days were spent at the always enjoyable Disneyland.  My family has a long history of attending Disneyland.  My dad actually went opening week, and I’ve been so often that I know how to get around without a map.

The three days in the park were some of my best yet, the longest line I stood for was 45-50 minutes, which was for Roger Rabbit in Toontown, followed by 35 minutes for the new Submarine Voyage, featuring the cast from Finding Nemo.  There are endless topics about Disneyland, and this is the first in at least two entries about Disneyland.

Disneyland: Then and Now

In Walt Disney’s Opening Day speech, he said “Disneyland will never be completed as long as there is imagination in the world”.  That phrase has held true, and for the past fifty-four years, Disneyland has been under constant change.  The first big changes happened in 1959, with the additions of the Monorail, the motor boat cruise, Skyway, Fantasyland Autopia, Matterhorn, and Submarine Voyage.  And in 1967, New Orleans Square opened, with the new ride Pirates of the Caribbean, and in ‘69, the Haunted Mansion finally opened its doors, after standing empty since 1963.  Tomorrowland has gone through the most changes, with total remodels and additions and removals of attractions.  The Jungle Cruise has seen a few additions, Indiana Jones joined the adventure, and the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse turned into Tarzan’s.  Frontierland got rid of the slow moving mine train and pack mules, and Big Thunder Railroad replaced it, offering up “the wildest ride in the wilderness!”  Fantasyland saw more rides, and an facade facelift in 1983, just before the ‘84 summer Olympics.  But I would like to talk about the most recent changes made to Disneyland…

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So, Wednesday my dad suggested going to Disneyland for Thanksgiving.  He hands me his credit card, says “If we don’t do this trip now, I don’t ever see it happening again after you get married”.  So, now $839.06, later, he and I are heading to California in a week.  We’re driving down Monday morning, and seeing family Tuesday, then spending Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in the park before driving back Saturday.  I’ve been to Disneyland the day after Thanksgiving in the past, and I highly recommend it, because no one is there, and I mean no one.  Why you may ask? Because everyone is out shopping! You can get on to rides such as the Matterhorn without wait, and ride it again without getting off if no one is in line!

As for Thanksgiving itself, it’s never been a big holiday for my family.  Its only had significance because that is when we break out the Christmas decorations.  For Thanksgiving dinner though, we are still going to eat someplace nice.  My first thought: Disneyland’s Blue Bayou aka, the restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean.  I ate there the last time I was at Disneyland, and remember their gumbo being very, very good. Well, I just got off the phone with Disney Dining Services, and 1. I couldn’t get a reservation until 9:15 in the evening and 2. the operator said he would never recommend eating there. But he did suggest Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen located in Downtown Disney, where I was able to get a 6:15 reservation.  He even recommended a waitress for me! He was very, very nice.

I think this will be my twelfth trip to Disneyland, if not my fourteenth.  I’ve lost count. Isn’t that sad?

As mentioned previously, my dad and I have been working on creating life-size characters from Tim Burton’s Nightmare before Christmas to decorate this year for Halloween and Christmas. The process is a labor of love, I must say, but once all is said and done, it will have been worth it.  We got the idea a couple years back when Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion began having a Nightmare overlay, seen on the right, that runs October through December.  If you have the chance to go, I recommend it; it is stunning the amount of work and creativity that goes into it.   (Not to mention, Disneyland decked out for Christmas is also a treat!) Nearly every inch of the Mansion has been touched by Jack Skellington, from the outside decorations, to the inside, plus it has a totally new narration. The past three times I’ve been to Disneyland have been during those months, so I’ve been able to experience it quite a few times.  Every time you see something new, which is what I love about Disneyland.  Additionally, the most recent DVD edition of Nightmare offers up a video tour and a behind the scenes documentary on the process that went into designing the overlay.

Yesterday we did a lot more work, and not only is it coming along wonderfully, we’re almost done.  However, we decided to do the coffin sleigh and skeleton reindeer, (which will go on the roof) so that will be another task altogether, it won’t have to be done until Thanksgiving though.  So far, we’ve put in about 35 hours (five days at about seven hours a day), and a little over $250.00.  I think it’ll all be worth it in the end.  As you can see, Jack and Sally are done.  Lock, Shock and Barrel are also done, Boogie is done, the hill is done, as are all of the headstones.  The Mayor and Zero are almost done.  I’m very happy with how all of this is turning out.

Tomorrow is the first day of the big “OMG We’ve Run Out of Hangers 50% Off Everything Sale” where I work.  It runs three days, I’m working one extra day tomorrow for it, it always means fun and a bonus!  Friday brings Patrick getting his wisdom teeth pulled.  I had mine pulled a few months back, so I owe it to him to make sure he is as comfortable as he made me.  Sunday is the big Coburg Antique Show, which is always a blast.  Coburg is a quaint little town of about 1,000 about five miles north of Eugene.  It has a few good antique shops, and also offers up the best fried chicken you’ve ever had, available at the local market.  So look for an entry about it on Sunday.

Thursday Cinema tomorrow might be a little different.  Instead of picking apart a period film, I want to introduce a film that has been inspired by the past, and offers up stunning visuals for the vintage eye to catch and enjoy.

Alright, this entry is a little late.  But better late than never.  The 9th of August marked the 40th anniversary of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion.  The spooky fan favorite has entertained those brave enough to enter since 1969 when it first opened its doors.  I have always been a big fan of Disneyland, and especially of the Haunted Mansion.  My second favorite style (mid-century being my first) is the southern plantation style and wrought iron of New Orleans, so walking into New Orleans Square in Disneyland has always made me smile.

My dad attended Disneyland opening week in July of 1955.  Growing up in the suburbs of LA, he attended often and witnessed changes as they happened.  He continually mentioned that the exterior building for the Mansion stood “empty”  six years before it opened.  Built in 1963, the imposing building made Disney goers curious and rumors spread like wildfire – “It’s too scary! People have been having heart attacks!” was a common claim.  Now, 40 years and a few tweaks later, the Mansion still gives chills and thrills today.

In the Mansion’s 40th anniversary year, Disney has launched a new magazine, Disney Twenty-Three.  (23 because that is the year that Disney Studios opened) The magazine is chalk full of goodies and inside stories.  In the fall issue, the Haunted Mansion is the cover story with a ten page article inside.  The story brings little of anything new to me.  I already knew about the infamous Hat-Box Ghost, the fact that the organ in the ballroom was Captain Nemo’s in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and other changes and rumors.  New to me however was the pre-opening “phone booth” idea where a phone booth would be placed outside with the voice of a “trapped worker” on the inside, followed by a ghost saying “You’ll be seeing through us sometime in the future” and the original concept of the raven which is seen through out the ride.  Originally, he was to be the ghost host and he was trapped inside a raven’s body due to a curse of a pendant he wore.  The article is written by the Disney Photo Library manager, Ed Squair, who actually never attended Disneyland until 1990, but was fascinated by Disneyland, and especially the Haunted Mansion as a kid growing up watching The Wonderful World of Disney. His writing style is annoying to say the least, and filled with quips that seem to boast and brag about his Mansion collection and the fact that he works at Disneyland.

D23 is spendy to boot.  At $15.95, it’s painful to purchase.  However, I am puddy when it comes to Disneyland, especially when regarding the Haunted Mansion.  The Mansion story, thankfully, wasn’t the only interesting article.  After it is a  three page story about the history of the Blue Bayou (the restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean).  This story is much better written and even includes the recipe of the most popular item on the menu, the Monte Cristo Sandwich – the article claims that 200 of them are ordered a day!  There is also a story about the first major revision that happened at Disneyland, in 1959 as well as a bit on the upcoming Toy Story 3.

If you are interested in getting the inside scoop on The Haunted Mansion there are several sources I recommend Jason Surrell’s book: The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies and the extensive fan website, Doombuggies.com.  Both include outstanding, indepth information about the original Haunted Mansion and its counter parts around the world, as well as the Holiday Haunted Mansion, and the film that was released in 2003, which really wasn’t all that good.  Personally, I blame Eddie Murphy.  I don’t care much for his style.  The behind the scenes special that is on the DVD is interesting, which you can watch on YouTube!