Toontown Tuesdays: Gopher

Speaking with a whistle, the helpful gopher from Disney's Winnie the Pooh proudly announces that he's not in the book. In context, he means that he's not in the phone book, but he's also not in the AA Milne books either.

Who should be blamed for this pun? Walt Disney himself, who inserted the joke after several animators questioned the gopher's inclusion. In the film, the gopher is enlisted to help extricate the tubby Pooh from Rabbit's front door. He would later join the characters on their various other adventures in the different Winnie the Pooh films and television shows.

Happy 15th Birthday, Disney California Adventure!

"To all who believe in the power of dreams, welcome. Disney's California Adventure opens its golden gates to you. Here we pay tribute to the dreamers of the past: the native people, explorers, immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State. And we salute a new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow, from the silver screen to the computer screen, from the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. Disney's California Adventure celebrates the richness and the diversity of California... its land, its people, its spirit and, above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire."

February 8, 2001

"In 1923, Walt Disney arrived in California to follow his dreams. Dreams which led to extraordinary achievements and wondrous adventures! Adventures where natural majesties, bustling communities and groundbreaking discoveries would all find a place in his heart. Today we invite you to explore your dreams as you experience your very own California Adventure!"

"To all who come to this place of dreams, welcome. Disney California Adventure celebrates the spirit of optimism and the promise of endless opportunities, ignited by the imagination of daring dreamers such as Walt Disney and those like him who forever changed- and were forever changed by- The Golden State. This unique place embraces the richness and diversity of California... Its land, its people, its stories and, above all, the dreamers it continues to inspire."

Disney Quote Weekends - Disney California Adventure Week

Disney Quote Weekends - Disney California Adventure Week

Freaky Fridays: Disney's Eureka - Disney California Adventure

One of the strangest parades to ever grace a Disney parade route (er, "performance corridor") was Disney's Eureka, which premiered at Disney California Adventure on opening day,

The parade was dedicated to the state of California and featured no Disney characters at all. There were, however, walking bridges.

Puppet floats and acrobatic acts dazzled Guests.

The floats and dancers reflected the diverse nature of California and built upon the themes explored in Golden Dreams.

The parade's theme song Come Away With Me was more of a contemporary song than was usually found at Disney parks and featured multilingual singers. Though it had a catchy hook and chorus, some of the lyrics were rather strange.

Like an egg getting fried on a sidewalk

I'm a freak for the heat of the dream talk

So was the parade a victim of its own eccentricities? Many guests enjoyed its ambitious nature and the fact that Disney made an artistic stretch that didn't come with toy and plush tie-ins. Guests with children expected to see Mickey, Minnie and the gang, or at least some recognizable characters. They eventually won the day as the parade was replaced with something more Tooncentric.

Theme Park Thursdays: Disney California Adventure Part 5

By mid-2000, Disney was ready to announce that its newest theme park would open in February 2001.

The park would be partly a departure from the theme parks that came before. This park would celebrate the California of today instead of depicting a romanticized past. Like EPCOT Center before it, this park would have more of an adult vibe, offering alcoholic beverages and few Disney characters.

Stepping through the front gates, guests would enter a living postcard, passing under a representation of California's famed Golden Gate Bridge.

The park's icon would be a stylized representation of the sun, surrounded by a wave fountain with songs about California playing in the background.

Guests would find more thrilling attractions than typically found in other Disney parks and less cartoony theming than might be found across the way at DISNEYLAND.

Featuring a more mature look and feel, the park hoped to carve out a different experience than found next door. Only time would tell if it would be successful.

Walt Wednesdays: The Walt in Disney California Adventure

References to Walt Disney are everywhere within Disney California Adventure if you know where to look. The obvious one is the Storytellers statue. In addition to depicting Walt in his younger days, the luggage he's carrying has his business card imprinted on it.

Not far from the statue is the Elias and Company Department Store, which is name after Walt Disney's father.

The Los Feliz Five and Dime is named after the neighborhood where Walt Disney lived for many years.

The very first "Disney Brothers Studio" was located on Kingswell Avenue. The Kingswell Camera Shop honors this Disney connection.

Where can one find this "Hidden Walt" in Disney California Adventure?

It's in the Sorcerer's Workshop located in the Disney Animation building. As you enter the workshop, look behind you and up. You'll find this tribute to Mr. Disney.

Toontown Tuesdays: Duffy the Disney Bear - Disney California Adventure Week

Duffy the Disney Bear began life in the early part of the 2000's. He didn't have a name originally but was sold with a card that featured his legendary story. Apparently, Mickey Mouse had a high fever and went to sleep with his trusty bear. The fever and Mickey's love of his stuffed bear friend resulted in him transferring his mouse shaped icon to the bear itself.

The bear sold relatively well, but had been discontinued by the mid-2000's when Tokyo Disneyland decided to re-introduce the character with a new name- "Duffy". He became a huge success in Japan, with hours long waits for new Duffy merchandise. The lovable Duffy was then brought back to the United States, where he makes his home exclusively in Disney California Adventure.

Music Mondays: "Just One Dream" - Disney California Adventure Week

When Disney California Adventure first opened in 2001, it actually featured a film that tied into California history- Golden Dreams. 

Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg as the mythical "Califia", the film told the history of California through the true stories of the people who dreamed of and built the state.

For hundreds of years, California has called to dreamers and visionaries around the world and this film told that story to millions of Disney California Adventure's guests.

The climax of the film featured a beautiful song sung by Heather Headley that played out over a montage of California's biggest dreamers and best visionaries. Just One Dream sent guests out in an uplifting and inspirational way; encouraging them to follow their dreams.

Just One Dream

One dream 

We come from everywhere with just one dream


This home is where we all can share in just one dream 

One day


I still believe if we can see the possibilities


The world can be a better place

So many miracles are happening around us every day


Look to the mountaintop, not the mountain in your way

Side by side, heart to heart


We can finish anything we start


Anything can be done


With just one dream

Sometimes


The hardest thing to do in life is try to understand


The reason why we have to cry

One friend


You know that's all it takes is just one friend to lend a hand


A helping hand, that's all it takes

So many people miss the miracle of what it is to care


Love is what brings us all together, anyway

Side by side, heart to heart


We can finish anything we start


Anything can be done


With just one dream 

Hand in hand, we can do


What it takes to make our dreams come true


Each of us, if we trust
In just one dream

We are the wings


We can fly into forever


Like a promise of the sun


We're born to shine 

We have the strength


We can change the world together


Build a stairway to the stars we can climb

Side to side, heart to heart


We can finish anything we start

Anything can be done


With just one dream 

Hand in hand, we can do


What it takes to make our dreams come true


Each of us, if we trust, in just one dream 

In just one dream

Disney Quote Weekends