Friday, January 30, 2009

Trip Report - January 26, 2009

It’s been six weeks since my last visit to the park, so much for “twice a month”! I did have a couple chances earlier this month, but it was rainy or windy, neither of which are much fun at Disneyland. However, Monday (1/26) was a beautiful day at the park, crisp and clear, everything was fresh and clean.

This flyer was being handed out in the parking lot. What happened to the cool parking lot flyers like the vintage ones I post? This thing is just an advertising leaflet! Wow an annual pass for $5.42 a month, do you think anyone will buy it?






Half the folks coming to the park on Monday were buying it and in line at the ticket booths! This is around 11:00am, have fun with that line.






The main gate was basically no waiting and the rest of the park was at “low crowd” levels. I have to tell you, the park is sooooo nice when it’s not crowded; some areas of the park are virtually empty.






Check out that sky! This was actually taken as I left at 12:21, that clock is very accurate.






Pretty.






The castle looking grand with that blue sky background. Doesn’t the castle look much better without all its Holiday layover junk?






Did you know they sell medieval swords at a little shop in the Fantasyland castle courtyard? These “replicas” look pretty convincing to me. The cast member told me they are indeed “functional” and if you buy one, it get’s shipped to your house. You mean I can’t buy one of these any carry it around Disneyland all day??? By the way, they seam reasonably priced at $170 for “Excalibur” model. For some odd reason, I want one.






Fun to photograph, but spinning rides aren’t for me.






Three fences is doing well, the vines that were so green a few months ago (link) seem to have died off. See the older style of fence in January 1957 at Gorilla’s Don’t Blog (link).







Upon spotting this construction wall I figured “great, they are finally fixing that crack in the monorail beam”.







Nope, the walls are for some work on the ground. The crack has actually gotten worse! Here a photo from last month (link) at that time they had already patched it twice. Now its triple patched, leaking water (from where I don’t know) and other cracks have developed. I hope this is just cosmetic, I did see monorail purple pass over it a few times.






Far out ceiling, I’ve read this was going to be the style for the “Tomorrowland 2055” that never was. I’m not sure if I like it or not.






Daveland had a wonderful post yesterday (link) about the PeopleMover. One of the comments (from Mike who has an upcoming blog we can not wait to see) was that “three planters in the center of the Tomorrowland corridor (are) in the Goodyear corporate shape”. That's funny because on Monday I took this picture with the intent of asking if these were original 1967 planters and benches, well I guess they are!






Speaking of the PeopleMover, the north show building exit has a few of the 1967 tiles missing. That must be recent as always check out this area. I hope they have the tiles, they might be hard to re-order. Ps. they aren’t in the planter below, yes I looked.






Majestic isn’t she? Check out Gorilla’s don’t Blog again for a post on what the waterfall used to look like (link).






A new lunch favorite. I always avoided these gumbo bowls from New Orleans square because I thought it only came with clam chowder or some fishy stuff, but there’s a Steak Gumbo version that is yummy as can be!






Those little doors upstairs on the Stage Door Café are real, I saw the maintenance guy come out thru the middle doors.






Did I mention it was a beautiful day?




There's always something fun happening in Frontierland, these girls seemed to be having a good time.







Does anyone even notice this nice touch of old Disneyland? I do….






Oh boy, these “Celebrate” things are, well…… Hmmm, nothing nice to say really. They’re “bright”? The fake flowers won’t die? Hopefully those iron shackles don’t damage the 120 year old antique gas light posts?







Only in the last year have a sat in these chairs, it’s actually very charming and you have a marvelous view of Main Street and the hub. Hey, didn’t this used to be the House of Bra’s?






The AP center at the Bank of Main Street is about to become the Disney Gallery. I think they are going to tear out the current interior. I tried to get some photos of the interior since it is mostly original to 1955; even the vault is still there. But it was too crowded and crazy in there, my photos came out horrible. I’ll try again next week; yes I’m going back on Tuesday!






From a post of a couple weeks ago (link) this is a 1955/56 brochure cover for the Tops Motel in Anaheim.






This is the Motel as it looks today. The “Classic Motel” is more of a weekly/monthly rate place now, not too many Disneyland tourists I bet. The coffee shop is long gone, looks like they sold part of the lot to make a gas station. The rooms building is remarkably the same, time marches on, or does it?






9 comments:

  1. Great trip report and photos! I noticed the generic "Disney Parks" cup that says "Celebrate Today." I guess that means WDW is running the same campaign.....and using the same cups. And you are correct...there is nothing nice to be said about that party hat motiff. It is actually worse than the puffy clouds and scrolly stuff used for the "Year of a Million Dreams" campaign.

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  2. Nice food pix! I thought I was the only one that took photos of my Disneyland Meals...

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  3. Thanks for the trip report! I always love those. Oh man, those lines for that Annual Pass. CRAZY. It is a pretty sweet deal though. Is that shop with the swords where Merlin's Magic Shop used to be?

    The "Tomorrowland 2055" ceiling... meh. It doesn't look futuristic, it looks alien. Always makes me bummed to see the Peoplemover track unused, especially as it goes into the buildings.

    And yes, I do believe that used to be the "Intimate Apparel" building, with the stuffed "granny" sitting to the left.

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  4. One thing that's really noticeable when you look at current photos of Disneyland after looking at photos from the Fifties and Sixties is how much larger Americans have gotten in the space of a generation! I can certainly understand the need for the new larger it's a small world boats! I think I'll go get some extra exercise this weekend.

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  5. An excellent report as always. Looking forward to the B of A interior shots!

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  6. I had the same experience yesterday.
    Thought parking lot ad was strange,
    Line was long at the booths,short lines in the park and a BEAUTIFUL DAY! I also went into the sword shop and thought Weapons? Hummmm.[I miss "Merlins Magic", "Mickey's Christmas Chalet"]
    and the lamp post look like they have 1980s dry flower arrangements and their UGLY!
    Thanks

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  7. Nice info on the Top's Motel!

    I've been planning to feature this place on a future installment at WalterWorld. There are several additional postcards available from earlier and later era's.

    It's amazing that the entire building is still there. A 70's era pool is gone, and that mini-market/gas station kind of onscures it, but it was a revelation when I found it intact a couple of years back.

    Good work as always!

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  8. FANTASTIC trip report, Tim. I went last Tuesday and there were practically no lines...it was fantastic!

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  9. Thanks everyone! Tokyo, yes I think the "Celebrate Today" campaign is using the ugly same cups at all the parks, spreading the joy around the globe!

    Katella Gate, I'm not sure why I take pics of my DL meals, it must have some deep rooted meaning? Or I just like to eat at DL!

    Hey Major! Swords are at the old magic shop, I think I'm going to buy one for my birthday in May! Bums me out about the PeopleMover track too.... Folks give me the oddest looks when I take these photos!

    Pegleg Pete; I try to wait until the "View" is more clear on my pics, but its getting harder with all these "large" people roaming around the park!

    Disney on Parole; You're cracking me up "1980's dry flower arrangements" now we just need some wicker furniture and we're set!

    Walterworld; I was thinking of you and your blog when I found the TOPS Motel. I was hoping to find a filled in pool, but no such luck! The whole neighborhood looks pretty original. Let me know when you do a post, would love to see those vintage postcards.

    Dave; Once again our paths almost crossed at the "park". One-day!

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