Back in 1985 the Big D turned 30 and I must say she looked pretty good given the mileage. I remember working Main Gate as a sweeper. There was a long display of GM vehicles that guests could win if they were lucky enough to hit the jackpot. I'm not sure if a 1986 Fiero was all that much of a grand prize, but it beat the heck out of a plush Goofy. Anyway, there's a ton of stuff out there on the 30th Anniversary. I share my slice of Disneyana in the form of this authentic 30th Anniversary Passport (dated June 23, 1985---a little less than a month from Disneyland's actual 30th anniversary date---July 17, 1955---I worked Main Street that day!).
Since we are cruising down Memory Lane like it was the Rivers of America, it is fitting and just that I should drop in a photo of my mom and me (circa 1970). We are aboard the now defunct Mike Fink Keel boats. Ah, the Gullywhumper, how we miss you!
Fortunately, I wasn't on the Rafts to Tom Sawyer's Island when the following mishap occurred. When I was working at Disneyland in the 1980s, swamping or sinking rafts was not all that unusual. This is not to say that swamping was ever intentional, but some cast members were fond of maximizing the number of guests on board before making the attempt to cross the Rivers of America. The slightest wake during the crossing would quickly splash over the deck of the raft and the guests would soon have moist ankles. Doh!
Back in 1985 the Big D turned 30 and I must say she looked pretty good given the mileage. I remember working Main Gate as a sweeper. There was a long display of GM vehicles that guests could win if they were lucky enough to hit the jackpot. I'm not sure if a 1986 Fiero was all that much of a grand prize, but it beat the heck out of a plush Goofy. Anyway, there's a ton of stuff out there on the 30th Anniversary. I share my slice of Disneyana in the form of this authentic 30th Anniversary Passport (dated June 23, 1985---a little less than a month from Disneyland's actual 30th anniversary date---July 17, 1955---I worked Main Street that day!).
Since we are cruising down Memory Lane like it was the Rivers of America, it is fitting and just that I should drop in a photo of my mom and me (circa 1970). We are aboard the now defunct Mike Fink Keel boats. Ah, the Gullywhumper, how we miss you!
Fortunately, I wasn't on the Rafts to Tom Sawyer's Island when the following mishap occurred. When I was working at Disneyland in the 1980s, swamping or sinking rafts was not all that unusual. This is not to say that swamping was ever intentional, but some cast members were fond of maximizing the number of guests on board before making the attempt to cross the Rivers of America. The slightest wake during the crossing would quickly splash over the deck of the raft and the guests would soon have moist ankles. Doh!
2 comments:
I have a photo from the early 1960s of a fully loaded raft crossing the river, staying just barely above the water line. And the Cast Member was wearing flip-flops! (My eighth grade worked the Rafts and had her foot smashed between the raft and the dock--which would seem particularly unpleasant without any foot protection!)
I also had something to share from the January 1958 Disneylander periodical, from a section that had a sentence or two about many people throughout the Park: "GARY CONK has perfected the art of grounding rafts. Those ducks sure can throw you off course!"
thanks for visiting DOB Mike.I never worked st The park however growing up in So Cal I ususally ended up the a couple times a year growing up. I remeb rthe "85 celebrations ad the Big guest coutner clock at the entrance.
Dave
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