Season's Greetings from Kids and Mice

Happy Halloween

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Halloween Time at Disneyland 2012

Once again, the park is decked out for the frighteningly fun Halloween holiday.  Mickey's Halloween Party has been selling out almost every night and only a few tickets are left for some of the remaining nights. The event allows the entire family to come dressed in costume.  Trick are treat trails are found all over the park for candy and treats. There is also the special Halloween firework show and other entertainment, unique to this event.  Don't miss it!!

Jack has decked out the Haunted Mansion again, which remains Haunted Mansion Holiday through the new year!

Deck the Halls with Ghoulish Delight

It's that time of the year again, when holidays collide!  Once again, the Halloween decorations are dense and immense all over Disneyland. There is extra fun during Mickey's Halloween Party, when there is added music and lighting effects.  The various windows on Main Street are back-lit with flashing LED glow. It's hard to describe and something you just need to see. It would be fun to see this any night during Halloween Time and not just during the special event

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Walt's Formal Office - D23 Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives at the Ronald Reagan Library

After Walt Disney passed away in December 1966, his office was left untouched with exception of his secretaries and housekeeping. When Dave Smith was initially hired by the company as a consultant, there was not much work to do. The archives had not been officially created yet and many in the company were not aware that anyone was keeping track of such things.

Recently, I had the chance to speak to Dave about the process of archiving the offices. One of the first assignments Dave took on occurred in 1970, was to catalog and store everything in both Walt's formal and working offices.  He painstaking made detailed notes, took exact measurements and catalogs each item including furniture, books and trinkets through the rooms. The items were boxed up and put into storage.  Dave said that he felt perhaps one day, someone would want to recreate the office, much like is done with the oval office at Presidential libraries.

The office space was later used by Ron Miller and then Michael Eisner.  Currently, it is occupied by Shaun Cassidy for his production company.

It wasn't long before these items came out of storage and were put into Disneyland when The Walt Disney Story opened in the Main Street Opera House in April 1973.  Walt's working office was packed up and shipped to Walt Disney World in 2002 as part of the "One Man's Dream" exhibit and remains on loan there from the archives to this day.  The formal office was packed up at Disneyland in 2009 when The Walt Disney Story featuring Great Moments with Abraham Lincoln was again reworked and reopened.

Current Display at the Reagan Library

 Right now, the formal office is once again on display.  It now features the exact dimensions and exact placement of all items as they were originally when Walt Disney used the office.  

 

You can see this display at the D23 Treasures of the Archives exhibit opening July 6, 2012 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA.

New and Improved! Disney California Adventure

The all new entrance to Disney California Adventure Park is complete.  Buena Vista Street is now where you make your way into the park.  The detail is incredible and immersive.  You really feel transported to something between a movie set and the real thing.  There are new shops and dining establishments.  There are even "streetmosphere" entertainers, like those found at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida.  The place looks fantastic.

The details are not just outside, but inside the shops as well.

These are just a few of the places you'll upon entering the park.  It is really nice to see the amount of detail and care put into DCA, making it the kind of park we actually all expected to see in 2001.  Well, it took another decade and a little over a billion dollars to get there, but it was worth it.  It reopens June 15, 2012.

The Rebirth of Disney California Adventure Park

June 15, 2012, Disney California Adventure reopens and is rededicated as a Disney park.  The newly added  Buena Vista Street feels just like being back in a glamorous version of 20s Hollywood.  The new Red Car Trolley will pick you up at the main gate and take your through Buena Vista Street, into Hollywood Land and drop you off at the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

The biggest part of the all new California Adventure Park is Cars Land.  You will really feel like you are actually in Radiator Springs.  There are new shops, eateries and three new attractions.

Radiator Springs Racers

Luigi's Flying Tires

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

We will provide details of each attraction in upcoming posts.  Line up begins at 11 PM tonight, June 14th for those who want to be among the first inside the park on opening day.  See you there!

Friday Quote from Mr. Disney

"I never called my work an 'art' It's part of show business, the business of building entertainment."
-Walt Disney

Cars Land is opening June 15, 2012

Morning on the Rivers of America

Goin Down the Bayou!

Leap Day 2012 at Disneyland

Starting at 6 AM tomorrow morning, Disneyland (and the Magic Kingdom at WDW) will open for 24 hours straight.  I plan to hit the park around 1 AM on March 1st to experience some after hours magic.  Here are something unique happenings at the park during the late night hours:

• Performances by Billy Hill & the Hillbillies at The Golden Horseshoe from 11:15 p.m. – 4:45 a.m.
• A Special showing of “Fantasmic!” at 1 a.m.
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• Character meet & greets throughout the night (subject to change):
• Mickey Mouse and friends in pajamas at Carnation Plaza Gardens
• Darth Vader and Stormtroopers in Tomorrowland
• Country Bears in Frontierland

Wordy Wednesday

While visiting Disneyland, be sure to visit the Main Street Cinema.  Located on Main Street, U.S.A.

Monday Quote from Walt Disney

“A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.” - Walt Disney

Monday Quote from Walt Disney

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."  -Walt Disney

Some Special Sights at Knott's from 1/12/2012

Marion Knott and the Mayor of Calico at the re-dedication

A real live bandit

Marion, posing for press.

Backstage tour of the Calico Saloon stage, by "Fingers" himself.

Fantastic model trains on display this weekend only.

A roundhouse you can visit!

The Lone Boysenberry

It's very unorthodox of me to put posts about Knott's up on this blog, but today I visited the park for the 60th re-dedication of the Calico Railroad and Ghost Town.  I learned that there is only one known boysenberry bush remaining inside the park.  It's located on the outside of the roundhouse but unless you are touring the building, you probably won't ever notice it.  It seems the last of the known bushes were removed from the park when the Silver Bullet was installed over the lake.  This current bush was transplanted from some of the other remaining bushes across Western Avenue several years ago.

Pulling An All-Nighter

I was there! at the 60 hour party in 1986 for Captain Eo's premiere and again in 1987 when Star Tours opened at Disneyland. I remember lots of people sleeping on benches and a long line that stretched down to Main Street. I even still have my Captain Eo t-shirt given out to everyone who attended the party.

Disney announced early this morning that they will be holding a similar event at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom on Feb 29th from 6am through March 1st at 6am. This time it's only 24 hours and not three days, but it's the same concept.

I must admit that I am intrigued over the idea of being at Disneyland and perhaps riding the Haunted Mansion at 3 in the morning. As for staying the full 24 hours, forget it. For me, it would likely end up causing an aversion to the park that could last for weeks. I'm not gonna take the chance.