60 Days of DISNEYLAND #47: Edna Disney, Daredevil

Walt Disney's sister-in-law was a daredevil who loved testing out the rides at DISNEYLAND. She once gave park management a scare when she rode Space Mountain while in her 80's. The elderly Dynamo was more than up to the challenge.

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http://www.retlawyensid.com/2014/05/edna-disney-wild-ride.html

The Story of DISNEYLAND: What About Tomorrow?

As 1954 turned to 1955, DISNEYLAND was taking shape nicely. Many of the early problems had been resolved and mountains, castles, quaint towns and mysterious rivers were quickly taking shape. Visitors to the job site would be impressed by the pace of construction on the western side of the Magic Kingdom. But on the eastern side of the site in Tomorrowland? The project seemed stuck.

Walt Disney was always thinking about the future. Ever an optimist, he firmly believed that no problem was too big that it couldn't be solved by brainpower, research and science. It was obvious that any Magic Kingdom he oversaw would include an area dedicated to the wonders of the future. The only problem was deciding how that future should look. 

With so many other things to do, the dilemma was punted off to the future. As the park's opening date grew ever near, however, something had to be decided- and soon! As longtime readers of our site know, Mr. Disney wanted DISNEYLAND to be amazing. If he couldn't do Tomorrowland right, maybe he shouldn't do it at all- for now. They could put up a nice fence promising that Tomorrowland would be something to look forward to in the future. The idea had taken hold firmly by early 1955.

However, Walt Disney's quirky animator Ward Kimball would convince him otherwise. Mr. Kimball had been assigned the task of producing an episode of the Disneyland Television Show based on the idea of humans eventually going into Space. 

Man in Space premiered in March of 1955 and instantly turned Americans on to the idea of sending astronauts to space and eventually the moon. Futurists were consulted on the possibilities of space travel and the research that would be needed to accomplish it. The show didn't just astonish and inspire viewers- it inspired Mr. Disney too. He now knew what Tomorrowland should be- and he instantly approved construction- full speed ahead!

Tomorrowland began construction on an escalated basis to get it into shape by opening day. There would be rockets to the moon, circle-vision films and the highway to the future- Autopia.

Despite barely starting major construction in early 1955, Walt Disney's Tomorrowland would be up and running with the rest of his Magic Kingdom- in just 6 months! Amazingly a few buildings began construction literally just days before the park opened. On July 17, 1955, this Tomorrowland would be ready for business. As Walt once said- anything can happen in DISNEYLAND.

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #48: Walt Disney's California

In 1961, Walt Disney commissioned a feasibility study to build a second theme park in Anaheim that would be located west of DISNEYLAND Park. The park would feature the sights, sounds and tastes of California and be called Disney California Living.

Walt would run out of time to see this project built, but the company he founded would open a strikingly similar sounding theme park located south of DISNEYLAND Park- Disney California Adventure- in 2001.

For the full story, click here:

http://www.retlawyensid.com/2014/04/walt-disney-california-dreaming.html

Mouseketeer Roll Call! Red, White and Blue!

Not all of the Mouseketeers were equal. Originally, the group was divided into three groups to better manage the children, who had limitations placed on their availability by California law. For example, the Red Team could be filming, the Blue Team could be in classes and the White Team could be on break. It soon became apparent, however, that some kids were more popular than others (Annette) or more pleasant to be around (Annette) or easier to deal with (Annette). This meant that the teams began to signify a mouseketeer's status on the show.

The Red Team became the "It" kids. These were the most popular, talented Mouseketeers who were always front and center. In this group were obviously Annette and Darlene, and also Bobby, Cubby, Lonnie and Tommy.

The Blue Team was the second tier group. They might be used in a dance routine, but never in the front and could fill in for a Red Team member from time to time.

The White Team was the third tier. They were often used onscreen only as spectators or stand-ins. If a grocery store or local parade had a "Meet the Mouseketeers!" promotion, a White Team member was most likely who might appear. (Though the Red Team members were most likely who one might encounter at DISNEYLAND appearances.)

In the final years of the show, the cast was mostly reduced to just Red and Blue Team Members. As production of the show became a well oiled machine, use of the lower tier Mouseketeers became unnecessary.

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #49: Growing up in DISNEYLAND

Ron Dominguez's family once owned DISNEYLAND; at least, they once owned some of the land that became DISNEYLAND. Mr. Dominguez's family ranch once stood where the Rivers of America and Critter Country are now. When his mother agreed to sell, she asked Mr. Disney to give her son Ronald, who was then attending college, a job. He agreed and it was an excellent decision. Mr. Dominguez eventually became the president of DISNEYLAND before he retired. The home he grew up in was moved to the backstage area between Tomorrowland and Main Street, where it became the park's first administration building.

For the full story, click here:

http://www.retlawyensid.com/2014/04/the-man-who-literally-lived-in.html

What about the Red Head?

She's the belle of the ball at the Bridal Auction in the classic DISNEYLAND attraction Pirates of the Caribbean. The alluring "Red Head" has been flirting with passersby and entertaining guests since the attraction opened in 1967.

But what happened to this alluring lass? Her eventual fate has been in plain sight since the very beginning! The next time you embark on a voyage to see those salty old pirates, take a look at the bawdy painting in the ghostly bar at the beginning of the boat ride.

There's the red head, who apparently escaped her predicament and became a pirate herself! Painted by Marc Davis, who was personally chosen to work on the project by Walt Disney himself, the painting is appropriately entitled A Portrait of Things To Come. Of course, nobody riding through the attraction is told about the painting's title or what it represents. It's just another little detail that doesn't necessarily mean much on its own, but adds to the overall experience. 

This was exactly what Mr. Disney wanted- to build a believable world by including details that added to the story he was trying to tell. Sure, there might be too many details to notice on a first ride, but that's what keeps guests coming back for more. That's why Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom continues to attract guests from around the world.

This painting is exclusive to the original attraction at DISNEYLAND. While all of the other Pirates attractions feature the red head, none of them feature this particular painting.

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #50: Where's Frontierland, Mr. Disney?

It's true! In the 1950's, there was no way to get to Frontierland from Adventureland without going back out to the Central Plaza then using Frontierland's main entrance. The "dead end" was eliminated in the 1960's.

For the full story, click here:

http://www.retlawyensid.com/2014/04/adventureland-dead-end.html

Great Moments in Disney Animation: "When She Loved Me"

"When somebody loved me- everything was beautiful. Every hour we spent together lives within my heart."

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #51: What's Gotten into the Matterhorn?

Long before there was a monster in the Matterhorn at DISNEYLAND, there was a Basketball court inside it. Or was there? (There was.)

For the full story, click here:

http://www.retlawyensid.com/2014/04/the-matterhorn-basketball-court.html

Humphrey the Bear

One of the best known Disney Bears is Humphrey, who starred in less than ten theatrical shorts. His first short was made in 1950, which was right before Walt Disney Productions discontinued producing all shorts. If he had been created earlier, he doubtless would have starred in several more.

Humphrey was often joined by a "by the book" type ranger named J. Audubon Woodlore. Ranger Woodlore treated the animals in his National park as though they were children away at a summer camp, enforcing rules and chores upon them. This appeared to make poor Humphrey extremely nervous and he often tried his best to follow the rules of the forest.

Humphrey has made a comeback of sorts, with a gift shop at Disney California Adventure being renamed after him, complete with a pin trading location.