The entrance to the Archives exhibit, a large mirrored walk-thru sculpture spells out "100" and I stand in the first 0.

D23 Celebrates 100 Years of the Disney Studio

September 14, 2022, 1 Comment

Last weekend was the long anticipated event, D23 Expo (originally slated for last year, but pushed back due to COVID), return! The three day event celebrates all things Disney and takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center (conveniently located just across the street from Disneyland) and includes exhibits, panels, and shopping. It’s something I’ve attended…

Pete sits on the neck of the massive green and pink dragon, Elliot, from the film Pete's Dragon.

From Disaster to Icon: Main Street Electrical Parade Turns 50

May 11, 2022, 3 Comments

As a child in the early 90s I basked in the colorful glow of the Main Street Electrical Parade as it whirled through Disneyland during the handful of visits we made before it “glowed away forever.” I was so enchanted and even bought the VHS of the parade and discarded lightbulb so a piece of…

Myself standing in our backyard, with lush agave plants, wearing a blue cowboy hat, blue gloves, red bandana, a white shirt with blue plaid and red text reading "Frito Kid" and blue jeans, and brown cowboy boots.

The Forgotten Frito Kid of Frontierland

August 28, 2019, 6 Comments

As mentioned in my previous post, today I’m sharing the costume I made and wore to D23, but first a little bit of backstory… When entering Disneyland one of the first things Guests see are posters for the various attractions and restaurants. One such poster in the early days was for the Casa de Fritos.…

Outside of the Anaheim Convention Center, a massive white statue spells out "D23 expo"

D23 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience

August 26, 2019, Leave a Comment on D23 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience

Over the weekend Patrick and I went to the D23 Expo, a three day event that is best described as Disney convention, but it’s all things Disney, including Star Wars and Marvel. There are exhibits to view, places to shop, and many panels to attend. Some are massive, and cover big announcements for upcoming films…

Myself standing in front of the Haunted Mansion, Myself standing in front of a fountain surrounded by trees dripping in Spanish moss, wearing a black t-shirt with Madam Leota (a medium with her head floating in a crystal ball) and music instruments floating about on it, reading "Having a Ball" and a black full skirt, holding a sign reading "50 Years of Frightening Fun"

Foolish Mortals: How the Haunted Mansion Manifested to Frighten for Fifty Years

August 13, 2019, 3 Comments

Last week Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, the “delightfully unlivable” southern plantation that is home to 999 happy haunts, turned 50. Patrick and I visited the “happy haunting grounds” to wish it a spooktacular birthday. What few may know about the Haunted Mansion is that the ghosts could have been having their “swinging wake” for much longer.…

The book, Walt Disney's Disneyland, features a cover of a crowd watching fireworks from Main Street, sits upon a blanket featuring a drawn make of Disneyland.

Book Review: Walt Disney’s Disneyland

February 26, 2019, Leave a Comment on Book Review: Walt Disney’s Disneyland

So, in case it wasn’t obvious enough, I love Disneyland. And I love any book that really showcases the history of Disneyland, especially when it’s big and includes lots and lots of pictures. So Chris Nichols’ latest book, Walt Disney’s Disneyland was literally a dream come true. Nichols’ book covers Disneyland from its infancy through…

Entrance to Tomorrowland, flags from all over the world flank a pathway toward a clock with a moon and sun on top, and a tall rocket looms in the background.

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Tomorrowland

October 8, 2018, 5 Comments

Today we jump into the future…well, what Disneyland Imagineers of the 1950s and 1960s thought the future would look like, more specifically, what the world of 1986 would look like. Out of all of the lands, Tomorrowland is the one that has seen the most change, with complete overhauls in 1967 and 1998. The first…

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Adventurelands

August 27, 2018, 4 Comments

Earlier I introduced a new postcard series where I would be sharing my vintage Disneyland postcard collection. And since it’s so large, I decided to split it up into each of the lands, beginning with Main Street USA. Today we enter the mysterious Adventureland. I think it’s important to note that when Disneyland opened in…

A look at the Main Street Train Station, with "Greetings from Disneyland" across it. A floral version of Mickey greets guests.

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Main Street U.S.A.

August 16, 2018, 9 Comments

Over the years I have shared selections from my vintage postcard collection, from Palm Springs to Portland, but I have never shared any of my vintage Disneyland ones! Today that changes! This is the first in what will be a series of five posts, each themed to one of the lands of Disneyland. Today we…

Dumbo ride vehicle, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride ride vehicle, with a devil in the background.

Forgotten Disneyland Attractions at the Van Eaton Pop-Up Exhibit

August 2, 2018, 1 Comment

Last week I was invited to a preview party of the That’s From Disneyland pop-up exhibit that just opened to the public yesterday, and it was all sorts of amazing. The pop-up exhibit showcases items from Richard Kraft’s collection, including vintage souvenirs, posters, ride vehicles and more. All of which will be going to auction…

Atomic Redhead

Disneyland history

D23 Celebrates 100 Years of the Disney Studio

From Disaster to Icon: Main Street Electrical Parade Turns 50

The Forgotten Frito Kid of Frontierland

D23 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience

Foolish Mortals: How the Haunted Mansion Manifested to Frighten for Fifty Years

Book Review: Walt Disney’s Disneyland

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Tomorrowland

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Adventurelands

Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Main Street U.S.A.

Forgotten Disneyland Attractions at the Van Eaton Pop-Up Exhibit