Disneyland - 30th Anniversary Passport - Mike Fink Keel Boats - Sunken Raft To Tom Sawyer's Island

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!

1984 Day Custodial Schedule - Dept. 336

In 1984 the main Custodial office was located behind Plaza Gardens at the top of Main Street. This "Back Area" off stage was basically surrounded by Big Thunder to the west, Plaza Gardens to the southeast, the Frontierland Shootin' Arcade to the south, the rear of the Snow White attraction to the northeast and the backside of the Village Haus restaurant and Pinocchio attraction to the north. A large set of gates led from this back area across Thunder Trail and through a tunnel to the large back area north of the Park where the Parade Building was located.

As you can see, Day Custodial had a work schedule that provided sweeper coverage for the entire Park during operating hours. After that, the Night Crew would come in and take over. Night Crew were easily recognized by their blue uniforms. Day Custodial---like all the "good guys"---wore white.

Our Custodial Manager back in 1984 was Ray Sidejas. The Stage Supervisors for the Department were Charlene, Gary, Luke, Judy, Jim, Vanessa and Larry.

Several of my old sweeper friends are listed here on the schedule. This document was hung on a clipboard in the office. You would come into the office, drop off your timecard, check your schedule and head out to your area. By the time you arrived at the office, you were already in costume and ready to go. Typically, sweepers would enter the Park for their shift at Harbor House, walk under the Disneyland RR tressel and head to Wardrobe to pick up a clean costumer (if you hadn't done so the last shift). You would then change and head over to the Custodial Office, usually by way of the Cast Member entrance near the Inn Between. You would cross the Hub and enter the Custodial back area through a door at Plaza Gardens.

Once you saw where you were assigned on the schedule, you would go out to the "Area Locker" for your area. Main Street's locker was located behind where the Main Street Lockers are presently located. Adventure/Frontier's was located behind the current "Bengal Barbeque" and the River Belle Terrace. New Orleans Square/Bear Country's was near Fowler's Harbor. Fantasyland's was behind Village Haus. Tomorrowlad had a locker near Space Moutain (between Space Mountain and the Arcade), there was also one over behind America Sings.

After arriving at your area, you would check in with your lead and see what part of your area was assigned to you. In Frontierland, for example, you could be given "Thunder Trail," the long main pathway that lead behind Thunder, past Thunder Ranch and to the back entrance of Fantasyland. You were expected to cycle through your assigned area about every fifteen minutes. Sweepers developed keen eyes for drink spills, popcorn, cigarette butts, vomit, diapers, food wrappers, etc. We also became masters of moving swiftly through crowds, developing what I termed "the Disney walk." The Disney Walk is still helping when visiting the Parks today. It is a slightly faster pace than that of the average guest and involves quick in and out passing of "slower traffic." It is sort of like being a running back in football, only there's no straight-arming your opponents (on most days). You see, the "Crowd" never knows exactly where it's going, but YOU do. Sweepers know the shortcuts and the best ways to get from one area of the Park to another.

We will have more on the fascinating world of Sweeperdom in future posts. This is the kind of riveting material that drives novelists.

Disneyland 1987 - Welcome to Adventure/Frontier

I was quite happy to receive my letter advising that I would soon be a Jungle skipper back in the Spring of 1987. They were in such a rush to hire me, they did not even bother to type in my name, but just scrawled it across the form letter. Ah, the Disney Magic.

Cast Members from the 1980s will certainly remember these little reminder slips. Hope you jotted your shift down correctly!

And how about those cool gift bags you used to get at Disneyland? I must say, the artwork on the gift bags has gone downhill a bit lately. The bag shown here is an example of the fun and very Disney graphics that were used. Oh yeah, back in my day the Park was called by its proper name: "Disneyland." "The Disneyland Resort" is weak. I still don't get why they had to change the name. Come to think of it, I kinda miss the old parking lot, too. Disney's California Adventure has still got a long way to go. At least the "new Disney" is pouring about a billion dollars into DCA in an effort to make up for the penny pinching nonsense that brought us all the first iteration of that park. Here's a thought---try adding some SHADE!

Polynesian Resort - Back to the Beach

Here's a photo of my son's sand castle on the sandy shores of the Polynesian Resort in June 2005. The contemporary resort is off in the distance to the right. We are heading back for another Polynesian stay this summer. We are hoping to get into the Tahiti longhouse this trip. It is very close to the Transportation and Ticket Center ("TTC") and, of course, the Polynesian itself is a Magic Kingdom Monorail Resort. Our last stay three years ago was completely enjoyable. We are dying to get back to Ohana for dinner!
In the image above, it appears that the entrance to the Magic Kingdom is not too far from the end of the rainbow. June thunderstorms in Florida are actually quite refreshing. Last trip it seemed the rain came just in time to knock back the rising heat a bit.
As demonstrated by the shot above of the Polynesian taken from the Monorail, thunderstorms often add to the day by creating a beautiful Floridian sunset. What the heck, we had our ponchos at the ready throughout our stay. Besides, for Californians rain is a welcome sight.

In the photograph above, you just might see a cowboy hat or a sombrero formed in the clouds of a late afternoon sky in Florida. This was taken at EPCOT in front of the Mexico pavilion.
You can take the Skipper out of the Jungle, but...never the Jungle out of the Skipper. Yours truly at the helm of a Boston Whaler in the wilds of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Notice, my crew appears to be missing---again. I hate it when that happens. We'll be sure to post shots of our latest trip in the near future. Only 11 days until we hit the skies for Florida!

1984-86 "Day Custodial" Some Names from the Past

For most of you out there, this list will mean nothing. For those who lived in Day Custodial whites for a few summers in the mid-80's, maybe some of these names will ring a bell.

Let's roll up those Kimbies, strap on those towels, pocket up some park guidebooks, grab a pan(a metal one, of course---not those atrocious plastic things of today; and preferably personalized with one's name or a nickname in permanent marker) and broom, head to the area locker and pray for no "Code V" call in any of your attraction lines.

Throwing some names out from memory, pardon the spelling and don't feel slighted if you've been left out---it's been 24 years!

Kevin Gallaway (took me spelunking in the Amboy crater lava tubes---awesome!)

Curt Visca (later of "Curtoons" fame and local TV in Orange County---always wore Ray Bans)

Beth Nichols (spoke French, great sense of humor!)

Michelle Garden ("Shelly!" A completely nice person)

Mary Luetto (Always smiling!)

Jerry Lofquist (his pan was labeled "J.Lofty III" in 1984)

Blake Ingram (tallest sweeper you'll probably ever see; very funny guy)

Chris Christensen (had the Ray Bans, too; good buddy of Blake's)

Andy Arko (my pal; remember softball games?)

John Toth (best Pee Wee Herman impersonator in the Inn Between)

Eric Grubb (Main Street trash record setter---along with yours truly)

Ranger Dave Fraser (Main Street lead during my summer closing shift)

Jackie Lacey (Dave's gal from Adv./Frontier attractions)

Helmuth Sunrise (or as old "Arthur" used to ask for him: "Where's Yomo? He's off, he's off.")

Don Dishner (Over the Line afficionado)

Debbie Gagne (funny!)

Dana Ohanesian (leader of the "Disney Explorers Club"---who put that cone on Abe's head?)

Andy Garcia

Harry Hemhausen (lead, old school)

Larry "Colonel" Snow (reservist, elder statesman of West Side sweepers)

Bernie Esposito ("He's Bernie Esposito, we sweepers think he's "neato" (sung to "If I only Had A Brain from Wizard of Oz)"---that's why I remember his name)

Stacey Booth

Kim Carrow

Andy

Mike Kelly (uh, that's me)

I'm sure there's plenty more, but those names seemed to have stuck!

Thanks for those great lunches at the Inn Between (how did most of Day Custodial end up with lunch at the same time? Hmm.) We laughed, we cried, we rafted the American River (above Sacramento---not the Rivers of America in Frontierland), we raced canoes (ok, that was in the Rivers of America), we engaged in backstage water fights, drove the main street trash truck a little too fast when trying to dump "Main Gate," mastered the cigarette butt between the legs and into the pan, and still somehow made sure that our flower beds were done before Night Crew came on.

Go Sweepers!

For kicks, here is a photograph I found of Kevin Gallaway on a "former cast member" site---taken just outside the Village Haus in Fantasyland, it appears!!

Jungle Cruise - 1987 - Man (er, uh...Kid) Overboard!!

Ah, the green waters of the Jungle. In the image above, our dear little hut has had a bit of a facelift since the days I took the helm of the Amazon Belle. This photograph was definitely taken within the last five or six years. The water alone looks to have been fresh from a recent rehab (the more recent the rehab, the more lime green the color; with time, the water turns a darker green).

Speaking of green Jungle water, it brings to mind a tale of when I was a skipper. It involves the loading dock, a small child, quick reflexes and "verbal judo."

I had just dumped a load of guests at "Unload" and had throttled into position at "Load." I was giving my welcoming spiel to the boarders ("Step aboard, Adventurers...please don't mind your boat loaders, they are very affectionate and have a disturbing fascination with touching people by their elbows. Just smile as they do this and continue stepping into the boat. They usually let go of your elbow," or some such drivel). The boat loaded up about halfway, with most of the folks on the dock side (port for all you mariner types). At the rear load position, a child was about to step in when the Loader somehow missed the small boy's elbow or forearm. The boat simultaneously lurched away from the dock as folks entering from the rear walked along the starboard side.

As I spieled into my microphone, I caught a tuft of the boy's brown hair as it disappeared below the boat's railing on the dock side. A splash of gross, green water that erupted in the same location told me that we had a swimmer between the dock and the edge of my boat. The frantic scrambling of the read Load position Loader was also a tip off that something was terribly amiss in Adventureland. As this drama played out, the guests on board---being humans (mostly)---leaned toward the dock side of the boat to see what was happening. Experience in boating (and skippering the Cruise) told me that this was a "BAD" thing.

"EVERYBODY stand up and lean AWAY FROM THE DOCK!!!" I shouted to my vessel full of guests. I must've sounded pretty serious because (for perhaps the first time in Jungle Cruise history) the guests actually took a skipper seriously and followed orders. Cops call this type of authoritative affectation "verbal judo." It is meant to compel immediate compliance. Sometimes it actually works, because when I yelled "LEAN AWAY FROM THE DOCK!" again, everyone leapt to their feet and immediately leaned toward the center of the boat and away from the dock.

This action by my crew of guests shifted the weight in the boat so that the dock side of the vessel was tilted up and away from the edge of the dock---thus affording the small boy who had fallen between the boat and the dock a wonderful opportunity to NOT be crushed! The boat leaning away from the dock also allowed our frantic boat Loader to reach down and grab the soaking boy by the arm. He instantly pulled the boy up out of the gunky water in a single motion.

When the crying child was safely back on the dock, everyone in my boat sat down. A wave of relief rushed over all of us. Then the guests started clapping---for our heroic boat Loader and, oddly enough, for ME, since they all realized--at about the same moment---the reason why I had suddenly shouted at them to get AWAY FROM THE DOCK! If they had all kept leaning over to look, the boy would be crushed or at least stuck under the boat (which is not a good place to enjoy the attraction).

The kid never thanked me, but he's out there somewhere---uncrushed---walking with a memory of Disneyland and the Jungle Cruise that I don't think he'll soon forget. I don't blame him though, he was wet, scared and was shuffled away from the dock before he or his surprised parents had the opportunity to fully absorb what had just occurred.

As for you, dear Reader, just think about that green Jungle water. Now think about being in it over your head. You'd best step lively the next time you think of boarding a Jungle boat!

Disneyland's 30th Anniversary - My Small Role In History

July 11, 1984: I was there that early morning before the park opened, along with a bunch of other Cast Members, to help form a human "30" for a photograph in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle that would later be used in promotional literature (and the 1985 Guidebook).

The article to the left is from the Disneyland Line. In digging through my old stuff, I was surprised to see that there was actually an article on the event! I was there, along with some fellow sweepers. I was on the Plaza Gardens side of the photo in my white sweeper garb, waiving with my right hand over my head. I actually received a much larger copy of the photograph at the time, but it has been lost along the way. Anyway, the photograph ended up on the cover of the 1985 Disneyland Souvenir Guide Book.

I wasn't part of the lucky few who made up the "30," but I am just to the left of the top portion of the "3." Can't you tell? Anyways, I still remember that morning, because I was only about two months into working at the Park and it was all still new. It never stopped being fun. Down below I have blown up my copy of the 30th photograph. You can see me in the left hand side. I am looking back to my right (just my luck) and there is a red circle around me. It's got details kinda like the Zapruder film, but I promise---that's me. My friends Eric Grubb, Michelle Garden and John Toth are a bit more recognizable in their sweeper whites (at least to me they are).

I did get my Donald Duck birthday button for showing up at the crack of dawn to be part of the picture! I'll have to see if I can dig that up somewhere.

Hard to believe the Park celebrated its 50th just three years ago! My wife was there this past Wednesday with my daughter and my mother. She said Disneyland was looking very clean (quite a change from the Eisner days). It was also amazingly uncrowded, but don't tell anyone---we'd like to get over there before the crowds return.

One way to avoid crowds is to fly to Florida and hit Walt Disney World for nine days. That is where we're heading in just under three weeks. I'll be sure to post photographs of our trip.

Pirates of the Caribbean - Hot July 1984

Before "The Bridge," the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance was easily approachable. Of course, it took quite a while to get there. I remember when the line wound back and forth and then down the side of the attraction (between the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse and the Pirates of the Caribbean building). There was a nice covered area (bullpen) along the side of the attraction and you could peek into some of the windows to see the lucky folks who had made their way inside (before they reached the boat loading area). The Swisskapolka lulled incessantly in the background from high up in the Treehouse, providing a bouncy background soundtrack to your seemingly endless stay in line. I can still remember the smell of the Pirates of the Caribbean as you entered. It really hasn't changed much actually---kind of a musty, watery, chlorinated smell. There was also that cool blast of air conditioning as you finally hit the turnstile and entered the building.

On some busy summer days before "The Bridge" was put in place, the line for Pirates would extend almost all the way down to the Rivers of America. It created quite a traffic jam on the West Side, especially if the attraction's hosts were "newbies" and hadn't quite yet mastered where the poles and chains were supposed to go.

I remember one hot day in July 1984 when the crowd was enormous. Somebody got the "bullpen" posts and chains out of whack and the Pirates line became a total mess. Another sweeper and I were trying to push a heavy trash cart through a sea of guests. When we reached the Pirates, things literally became impassable. Security had to clear a route for us and a small contingent of Pirates ride operators made fairly quick work of getting the guests back into a line that actually went somewhere. There's nothing like the combination of afternoon sun, heat, no breeze, thousands of guests, crying children and waiting in a serpentine line to make the Disney magic fade just a touch. Doh!

Fortunately, most folks are pretty good natured about such experiences---you have to expect them when you hit a popular theme park in California right around the 4th of July vacation peak. Here's an insider tip: stay home. Buy an annual passport and come back with your kids in February, March or late September/early October. If you don't like crowds, celebrate the 4th of July and Christmas in your own home. Otherwise, join forces with 64,000 of your friends and herd on into Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom (the original, of course). I'm sure you'll find, there's nothing quite like it.

1983 Guidebook and Blackfooted Rock Hopper

Ah, Disneyland in the early 1980s. New Fantasyland. New Coke. Here's the souvenir guidebook for 1983, along with the "Adventureland" section showing how things were back in the days before "Aladdin" took over the "Tahitian Terrace." Of course, there was no "Indiana Jones" attraction then, either, so it's probably a wash since Indy definitely is one of the few gems added to the park during the Eisner era. Still...losing the "Tahitian Terrace?" Ouch. Still hurts.

Here's a Tahitian Terrace-related Jungle Cruise story. It is true.

As the boat approached the dock at the end of the ride, there were some stepping stones in the water along the back side of the Tahitian Terrace stage. These were part of the pathway that led from the Jungle Cruise to the "backstage" break area behind Main Street. You would walk along the stones on your way behind the Tahitian Terrace to the area where the Jungle boats were stored when they were taken off line.

This walkway was also used by the Samoan "fire dancers" who were Cast Members in the Tahitian Terrace dinner show. They would use the walkway to make their entrance from the rear of the stage, dressed in full Polynesian regalia. These guys were enormous and were not known for even tempers. One Jungle Cruise skipper found out the hard way why it is not good to anger large Samoans.

It seems that one such Samoan gentleman was making his way across the stepping stones as the skipper and his crew were passing by Trader Sam and heading toward the dock. The skipper pointed out the Samoan to his crew of guests. He told them over the microphone/speaker to enjoy their glimpse of the "Amazing Blackfooted Rockhopper on the port side." The Samoan gentleman hear this crack (as he was only a few feet from the boat) and became...shall we say...agitated. He leapt onto the dock and then onto the bow of the boat---in full Polynesian war regalia---and reached in and grabbed the frantic skipper by his shirt. He was about to unleash a torrent of physical pain on the poor guy when other nearby skippers (and Disney security) came to his rescue. The angry Samoan never got a clean shot as his prey, but sure scared the heck out of the guy. Mental note: don't refer to large Samoans as "Blackfooted Rock Hoppers" (especially when they are within striking distance).

Penny Arcade - 1984

The Penny Arcade on Main Street was once a...penny arcade.
Imagine.
It was there that we first met.
As I walked into the place, I was drawn to her.
She did not say a word.
Neither did I.
Our eyes locked for a moment and I found myself walking over to her. Something about her was mystical.

Her long dark hair draped over her shoulders. She had dark eyes, incredible lashes and full lips. She wore a dramatic silky blouse with a vest and a bold sash.
I stood before her searching for a way to connect. There are some people in this life you wouldn't drop a dime on.

For her, I dropped a quarter.
We never spoke, but she left me with this.