Theme Park Thursdays: 15 Years of Disney California Adventure, Part One

In 1959, Walt Disney began to look outside his Magic Kingdom and he wasn't happy with what he saw. The City of Anaheim had let the outside world impinge on the tourist area around DISNEYLAND. Incompatible housing, tawdry neon and outside competition sprang up around the park.

The company owned several parcels of land in and around the park. Mr. Disney pondered what he could do with the vacant land to keep more of the tourism cash brought in by DISNEYLAND in the company's coffers, thus providing him with more money to expand and improve his beloved theme park.

The company actively pursued building another attraction, and Walt's imagineers started putting together ideas. One idea was to build a park that would celebrate California and its varied sights, sounds and tastes. The park would feature restaurants, shopping and attractions that would showcase California and bring the state to DISNEYLAND guests. As shown below, the park would have been built north of the DISNEYLAND Hotel.

Mr. Disney would get too busy with his various projects at DISNEYLAND and beyond, but this idea would get placed in a drawer. Perhaps it would eventually see the light of day...

RetlawYensid.Com Weekly Schedule

After a few months of testing, RetlawYensid.Com is now finalizing its weekly schedule of Disney Magic!

Music Mondays: We explore the world of Disney Music!

Toontown Tuesdays: We feature one of Disney's Amazing Characters each week!

Walt Wednesdays: All About Walt- Every Week!

Theme Park Thursdays: We explore the world of Disney Theme Parks, especially Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom of DISNEYLAND.

Freaky Fridays: Anything goes from Anaheim to Zootopia!

Disney Quote Weekends: Choice words and pictures from the World of Disney.

Walt Wednesdays: Walt's Chili Beans

Walt Disney's favorite food was chili beans. Whenever he was left to cook for himself, he would prepare his favorite dish his way- mixing a can of Gebhardt Chili with Dennison's.

The Gebhardt chili was included because it had more meat in it. He included the Dennison's chili because it had more beans than meat. Cast members at the Plaza Inn at DISNEYLAND would keep some cans on hand just in case the boss stopped by.

Toontown Tuesdays: Figaro

Figaro has been quite a durable character in the World of Disney. Of course, everyone remembers him from Walt Disney's Masterpiece Pinocchio.

In the 1940's and 1950's Figaro became Minnie Mouse's cat, appearing in seven cartoons as a mischievous annoyance who still somehow had Minnie Mouse's heart.

Even today, Minnie Mouse still keeps Figaro close to her heart and her business! In Minnie Mouse's Bow-tique, Figaro has a part.

Eagle-eyed DISNEYLAND guests can spot Figaro "guarding" a bird in the rooftops of Fantasyland.

Music Mondays: "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow"

When General Electric commissioned Walt Disney to produce a show for them at 1964's World Fair, they anticipated getting something that would be uniquely "General Electric". It seemed to be the case at the time, but the years have shown that what they got was uniquely Walt. That's why Mr. Disney was more than happy to move the attraction to his Magic Kingdom of DISNEYLAND.

Walt Disney was always optimistic about the future. He saw today's challenges as things that could be conquered with research, technology and knowledge. That's why his Tomorrowland was always brimming with brightness and positivity.

Whe asked to write a song for this attraction, the Sherman Brothers knew exactly what to do- they wrote a song that was optimistic, positive and hopeful- just like their boss Walt Disney. There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow was not just the theme song of the Carousel of Progress, it was Walt Disney's theme song.

There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

There's a great big beautiful tomorrow

Shining at the end of every day

There's a great big beautiful tomorrow

And tomorrow's just a dream away

Man has a dream and that's the start

He follows his dream with mind and heart

And when it becomes a reality

It's a dream come true for you and me


So there's a great big beautiful tomorrow

Shining at the end of every day

There's a great big beautiful tomorrow

Just a dream away

Disney Quote Weekends

"Not as creepy as Dipper's Internet history!"

Happy 15th Anniversary, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel!

Disney Quote Weekends

"Songs are like hugs that mouths give to ears!"

Walt Disney, Grand Marshall

Happy New Year!