Disneyland - Trader Sam's - World Of Color and General Trifles

I finally made it to Trader Sam's tiki bar over at the Disneyland Hotel.  Several times, actually.
The bar looks like the Jungle Cruise crashed into the Tiki Room --- what's not to love?
Tiki drinks, Disney style.
Order a Shipwreck or an Uh-oa.
The bar lights up with special effects.
One of them made possible from fellow blogger Kevin Kidney - who designed the "ship in a bottle" above the bar.  It is a replica of a certain ship floating down in the caverns of the Pirates of the Caribbean.
Here's Kevin's post about his (and Jody Daily's) involvement.  Once again, Kevin and Jody are amazing!
The Shipwreck drink itself?
So-so.
I heartily endorse the Uh-oa.
After a couple of these, you soon echo the sentiments of our dear friend Koro, the midnight dancer:
"Today my magic feet no move.  My head sore.  But last night all tiki gods had BIG time.  SOME luau!  When drums begin to pound, (your) head full BIIIIG SOUND!"
Some views of the interior of Trader Sam's are set forth below for your edification and enjoyment.
The bar is cozy.  There is a porch outside the bar, but it is pretty warm during the day.  I would probably wait until dusk or evening before taking a seat out there.

 The "ship in a bottle" is on the shelf above the liquor bottles near the center of the photograph.

From our table just inside the entrance doors, here is the view looking toward the west wall of Trader Sam's.  Lamps, tiki totems, Jungle Cruise photos and bamboo are a banquet for the eyes of an old skipper and West-sider.  It's a good thing this place wasn't around back in the 1980s.  2/3rds or more of our opening crew would have never made it into work!

Along the walls are plenty of framed prints and pseudo-mementos, such as the example below.   

Overall, Trader Sam's is worth a visit (or five)---especially if you are staying on site and don't need to drive home!  Be sure and stop by.  Give Sam my best!
Great bartender.
Bit of a head case.
A real "people person" though.
Not a vegan.
He really wants to serve you.
So, don't get too close to the large kettle in the back.

As I mentioned in my last post, we stopped by the "other" park and actually sat down to take in World of Color.  Staying at the Grand Californian, we were able to be the first into the park to get FastPasses for the event.  We got the "Blue" section and, thanks to a hot tip, we were told the best spot to take in the show was along the bridge that leads across the water towards Ariel's Grotto.
I snapped the shots below from our vantage point on the bridge as evening fell upon us.
We were treated to a gorgeous sunset. 

 Once evening set in, Mickey shone brilliantly from the - ahem - Ferris Wheel ("Don't worry, Lilly, my Park isn't going to be dirty like a carnival.").

And here is a shot of the World of Color show in progress---as you can see, we had some of the best seats in the house---short of grabbing a table at Ariel's Grotto.

World of Color hints No. 1, 2, 3 and 4:

1.  Stay at one of the resort hotels---preferably Grand Californian---you get into the Park early (if you are there on the right day) so you can be among the first to get WOC FastPasses.

2.  Get in line EARLY at the hotel entrance gate for California Adventure (just past the Napa Rose in the Grand Californian).  The line presently forms before DCA opens.
GET.
THERE (in line for the hotel entrance to DCA).
EARLY.

3.  As for the show itself - GET TO THE SHOW AREA EARLY.  Get to the rope at the bridge leading to Ariel's Grotto (between the Little Mermaid attraction and Ariel's Grotto) well, well, well BEFORE the scheduled showing of World of Color that you are attending.  Be among the first along the rope so you can pick out your spot when it drops.  Hold hands.  Cling to each other.  The massive horde behind you WILL stampede you and tear at your party like charging bull elephants.

4.  Bring a blanket or two to lay out on the ground and mark your spot (anything that can help you stake out territory from all the "last minute Larrys" who WILL inevitably show up just before showtime and try to hone in on your personal space).

That is all for now, dear readers.
You guys are fabulous!
Keep up the good work!

---Mike

Disneyland - Club 33 and I meet Anne

My family and I went to stay at the Grand Californian during the last week of July.  A Grand time was had by all.  We made the most of our week, dropping by Trader Sam's over at the Disneyland Hotel, giving Steakhouse 55 a try, finally braving the crowds for a---believe it or not---FIRST time ever viewing of "World of Color," stepping aboard the new Star Tours and taking in lunch at Club 33.

Oh!  While walking through the Park during our visit, I spotted a young woman wearing a "Jungle Is 101" t-shirt as I entered the Plaza from Adventureland.  "Hey!  Nice shirt!" I called out.  The young woman was with two of her friends and she looked at me.  "I'm MIKE, the Jungle is 101 blogger."  

"I'm Anne."

"ANNE!!  Nice to meet you!  Are you guys having fun?!  I'm here with my family."

Anne has been one of this blog's 4 (four) readers for quite some time now.

She was very nice and said she wears her Jungle is 101 shirt to the Park often.

It was an absolute treat to meet a reader in person.

Quite a rare event, since I figure I've got about a 4-in-8 billion chance (3-in-8-billion if you exclude my mom!) of actually meeting someone who reads this stuff.

Anne seemed remarkably cogent and normal for a "Jungle is 101" devotee!

Anne, it was very nice to meet you!

Now, where was I?

Ah, lunch at Club 33.

For you Disneyland-o-philes, Club 33 is something you have heard about many times.  I imagine a few of you have made it up there for lunch or dinner.

As for the few who have no idea what Club 33 is---here's a link.

We took in the Club for an 11:30 a.m. lunch.  

Here is a photo-essay of the visit.

The number of the club, the mysterious "33" is said to relate to Walt Disney having been a member of the Freemasons.  The 33rd degree of Freemasonry is the highest.  Here is a video tour of the Club. 

We arrive at the red main entry and board the elevator shown below (those are my daughters inside) for a lift to the second floor dining area.

 

My wife and I took the stairs.

At the top of the stairs, you can see into the Trophy Room.

To your left (but not shown) is an ornate leaded glass telephone booth that was a prop or set element from "The Happiest Millionaire."
The entire Club interior was designed by Emile Kuri---the famous Hollywood set designer who also has his own window on Main Street.
Here is the main dining room.

And here, the main corridor, with bar (right) and buffet.  The marble-topped table on the left was featured in Mary Poppins.  Cher-ooo!

The main upstairs entrance corridor.  Ahead and to your left is the ladies' restroom.

As you round the corner at the top of the stairs, the men's room is to your left.  In the photo below, you can see (at the left side) the side of the telephone booth mentioned above.

Here is the main entrance hall, looking back at it from the bar and buffet area.

Our table was in the southwestern corner of the main dining room.  We could step out onto the balcony there above New Orleans Square.  Here are a few views from the balcony.  Ahhhh. 

Below, we look down toward the main entrance of the French Market.  

Next time you are there, turn around and look back and up.  You will see our balcony there next to the magnolia tree and above the Cafe Orleans.  

Here is the balcony as seen from street level.

Here is a view from the eastern end of the balcony, looking down at the riverfront of New Orleans Square.

Fabulous artwork and a close up of some of the interior wallpaper.  Fresh flowers, but of course.

The delightful Club 33 Bloody Mary atop our table in the main dining room.

Now, some views from inside the Club and out onto New Orleans Square.  First, a peek down from the main corridor:

Next, the view out of the window at the top of the main entrance stairway (the phone booth is to the right, not shown).

Here is the view from the corridor where the buffet and bar are located.  We are looking out upon the entrance to the Blue Bayou.

Here is another view.

And this is a shot, taken from street level, of the window out of which the above photographs were taken (the white-trimmed window at the upper right side of the photograph).

 Another view of the main dining room.

Looking south toward the Court of the Angels (through that lanterned archway in the the distance) from our balcony along Orleans Street.

And here is the opposite view, looking from the intersection of Orleans and Royal Street back up toward our balcony (the one in the center-left of the photograph, next to the tall magnolia tree).

 A view of the riverfront side of the main dining room balcony (this is above the Cafe Orleans - note the blue and white umbrellas).

Looking out from the Court of Angels and up Orleans Street.

Finally, a shot of this blog's skipper luxuriating on the curb in front of City Hall, while waiting for the afternoon parade.  See?  I'm alive and well despite the severe lack of posts recently.

Until next time, I hope you've enjoyed this little photographic tour of Club 33, from inside and out.
My best to all of you---and thanks for checking in!

---Mike

Disneyland - The Lost Safari Leader Returns

My best to you, Adventurers and Adventurettes!

Mike here.

I would have posted more in the past two months had it not been for a wrong turn in the Guatemalan rainforest. You can get pretty disoriented in jungle overgrowth, especially with a blowdart in your neck! After I came to in a dark hut, I managed to free (most) of the other members of our group and we made our way down river and back to our rickety dock. Talk about a sight for sore eyes! The guys on the dock greeted us warmly, but had somehow managed to be completely unaware of the fact that we had been missing for over eight weeks. Ah. Skippers.

I have much to tell you as, after our ordeal, I made a sojourn to the Grand Californian for four days in order to recuperate. Poolside mojitos can powerfully combat the most virulent of jungle maladies. I also managed an invite into an exclusive club in New Orleans Square---it had been a while since my last visit. I have pictures, but no time to upload them this morning. Stay tuned.

The Park, as always, revitalized my weary spirits, rekindled my devotion and rewarded my many years of Disneyland experience. Oddly enough, we had a supremely happy time at this particular place on earth. Hmm. Maybe there's something to that old slogan after all...

As to you, my devoted four (4) readers (Hi, Mom!), what can I say? I feel like a deadbeat dad, an AWOL soldier, a bolting groom, a Ponzi scheme con-man, a pirate rowing away from you on a lonely island beach, a DMV clerk, a Congressman, a neighbor who borrowed your rake four years ago (and still has it), a garage mechanic in a small desert town---350 miles from anywhere---who has your broken-down car up on a rack, a distant cousin who is still promising to make good on that loan---someday, a...well...like someone who has left you high-and-dry. I am sorry.

I will try to make amends by getting back to posting daily---or at least a couple times a week! Thank you all for continuing to check in with me and for your good thoughts and best wishes on my behalf. These are truly cherished and appreciated.

---Mike

Disneyland - Thoughts on Thunder Trail

When the crowd finally gets to you and the magic has dissipated, take a stroll to the far northwestern border of Fantasyland or wander past the Frontier Landing and main entrance of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

There you will find the oft overlooked area known as Thunder Trail. It is shaded, for the most part, and is usually spacious, uncrowded and serene. Sure, there are coyote wails and runaway mine trains---not to mention an earthquake that occurs with uncanny regularity---but beyond those minor distractions you will find a bit of open space, peace and relative calm.

These can be rare commodities during a busy summer day at Disneyland.

I used to sweep Thunder Trail during my sweeper days.
Ah. I can still trace my route from "popcorn alley" past the entrance to Big Thunder, up the hill, over the wooden bridge and around the bend to Thunder Ranch.
I would pause here and there along the way, to catch a glimpse of fish jumping or feel the spray of the waterfall at the back side of Thunder Mountain.
As a guest, there are wooden benches to enjoy and glorious shade. Lean over the railing and watch the mine trains rush by. Have a drink of water and people watch.
People watching is one of Disneyland's greatest outdoor sports.
You will see every variety and types our species has to offer.
Large. Small. Tan. Sunburned. Newborns to centenarians.
All manner of fine folk.
Even a few that are perhaps unrefined (ex Jungle skippers, for example).
You might even try to talk with one or two passers-by.
But, if nothing else, you will enjoy the respite from the packed pathways and queues you'll find elsewhere. It's a good "mental break."

Modern Disneyland Touring Tip ("MDLTT") No. 56: take a shortcut through the Plaza Inn when trying to get to Tomorrowland from the northeast corner of Main Street. Just go through the "exit" gate located behind the Corn Dog wagon and walk through the seating area until you come out the small exit gate over by the restrooms.

MDLTT No. 45: ride Splash Mountain before noon but avoid it in the late afternoon or early evening (unless you've brought a change of clothes and socks). Nothing like trying to enjoy the Magic Kingdom as the cool evening breezes waft against your soaked t-shirt and your sopping socks squish inside your damp shoes. No thanks. Ride early and give yourself plenty of warm daylight to dry off before nightfall.

MDLTT No. 18: hit the ice cream stand near the lockers on East Center Street - Main Street - during the day parade. The line is usually mcuh shorter then and their waffle cone sundaes are superb.

MDLTT No. 66: NEVER attempt the Dumbo line at mid-day with children under 6 (or any other living organism for that matter). Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon-day sun. The rest of us should hit Dumbo earlier in the cool morning or later in the afternoon/early evening. Face it, screaming, hot and partially-cooked children are for witches, not astute Disneyland guests!

MDLTT No. 37: DON'T stand against the rope line to watch a parade or the fireworks if you can avoid it. Why? Attempting to secure such a position once the event commences is something akin to Custer's efforts to repel Sioux warriors at the Little Big Horn or the ship's carpenter's stab at fixing the ruptured hull below the waterline of the Titanic. You will spend most of your time being pushed and shoved by last-minute Larry's who will not be deterred from obtaining a viewing location, regardless of how many people have already beat them to it or the fact that most of them have waited there for over an hour. These folk claw and wrangle under the ropes like Vandals at the gates of Rome or Caribbean pirates boarding a Spanish galleon laden with gold. Nothing short of armed resistance and cauldrons of hot oil (ala the Hunchback of Notre Dame) will subdue or repel the onslaught.

MDLTT No. 29: it's 10:00 a.m., try Tom Sawyers Island if you have kids say 11 and under-ish. Let 'em run free for an hour or so. Join them or luxuriate on a shaded bench during the mayhem. By the time lunch comes around, you've helped them burn off some energy!

Savor the challenge and promise of tomorrow, my friends!!

---Mike

Disneyland - Sunday, June 5, 2011

Back in the Park today.
But first, met up with some friends over at California Adventure and took in Tower of Terror and the new Little Mermaid attractions.
The Little Mermaid is well done, but I doubt anything is worth a wait of over an hour and a half.  Fortunately, we had a little "pixie dust" with us and were able to bypass the line.  Sorry, but some Disney secrets will go with me to my grave!
The theme is well executed and the scenes are very close to the animated feature's iconic moments.  The audio-animatronics are top notch as well.  Overall, two thumbs up for Ariel and her crew.  Oh, and way to go all you folks at Disney.
We left DCA (I hate the acronym, but, what the heck, it saves space and extra keystrokes) and over to Disneyland.  Quite a crowd awaited us inside.
We took in Indiana Jones and stared at Big Thunder (still down for rehab).  Dinner at Rancho del Zocalo and then over to the new Star Tours.  A posted 165-minute wait.  Um.  No.  We'll try that one later, thanks.  Besides, I was fresh out of "pixie dust," and had no angle for a bypass of this monstrous queue.  Rats.
I did not have the opportunity to quiz any fellow guests as to their opinions of the new Star Tours.
Rode the old Matterhorn, however, down the Subs side, and had a great time.

Modern Disneyland Touring Note No. 73: the Blue Ribbon Bakery is a pretty good call if you need a coffee fix and simply cannot tolerate the 20-minute wait across the street at Market House.

Modern Disneyland Touring Note No. 29: they've changed the Village Haus menu to one that is a lot more limited.  Still a very nice atmosphere and one of the shortest food location wait times.

Modern Disneyland Touring Note No. 23: the French Market is still a great place for lunch or dinner!  The crowd is usually quite light, so you are in and out of the buffet line without much delay.

Modern Disneyland Touring Note ("MDLTN") No. 15: the new parade is actually well done.  Take the time to see it and get there early to scope out seats along the curb on Main Street (we prefer the west side, between Penny Arcade and Coke Corner).

Last "MDLTN" of the day, No. 38: if you have a family member with any type of learning or behavioral condition, you qualify to obtain a special assistance pass that may be presented at the entrance of most attractions to permit a more direct access and bypass the Stand-By queue.  Check in with Guest Services at either Disneyland (City Hall) or California Adventure (follow the signs---the new construction over there has made getting about a bit confusing).

Thanks to all who have checked in with me during my on-again, off-again hiatus from the blog.  I am fine, and my father-in-law is progressing.  He is still in rehab and is getting stronger slowly but surely.  We hum a merry tune and cheerfully, together, we whistle while we work.
I tried the Snow White approach and he looked at me in a manner reminiscent of the wicked queen, Ursula and Cinderella's Stepmother all wrapped up into one.
Okay.
No whistling during physical therapy.
Got it.
How about "Step in Time?"
Kick your knees up!!


Okay.
Okay.
Putting down the chimney broom.
Sorry, governor...

---Mike

Disneyland - Sunday, May 22, 2011

I returned to the Park this day, after what was (for me) too long a hiatus.
The fresh paint job on Main Street (and continuing elsewhere, including over at the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland) literally shone from off the storefronts.
A healthy crowd surged through Disneyland as the 2011 summer season started.
Our middle and youngest daughter took off on a tour of Fantasyland attractions while my wife, son and I wandered to my beloved West Side.
Snaking our way through the throng of guests, we made it to the Mint Julep Bar for a cold and time-honored light green, magic libation. 
We found a table along the railing of the French Market, with the Disneyland Railroad chugging into the station immediately behind us.
The hum of conversation, clank of plates and bustle of diners soon faded as the sound of gentle and distinctly American jazz rose to the fore.
The Royal Street Bachelors (2011 version) had taken the small stage and begun to play.
I sat there and was simply at peace.
At home.
At Disneyland.
Good to be back.
My wife looked across the table and could see it in my face.  She smiled.
My son, now a sophomore in high school, told us about how he and his best friend now spend more time at the Park sitting, talking and watching than they do riding the attractions. 
He is amazed how they now enjoy the Park's atmosphere and, say, a quiet table on the porch of the Plaza Pavilion as much as, if not more than, a trek with Indiana Jones or a rollicking ride on Big Thunder.
One other moment caught me during our visit that I suppose is worth sharing.
I was seated at a table in the Village Haus, alone and facing one of its windows. 
Through the leaded glass of the window, I could see Fantasyland, Casey Junior, Village Haus umbrella tables, tall pine trees and vibrant flower beds, and a stream of guests moving in the foreground.
Deja vu?
Not quite.
But I was taken by how vividly then I was transported back to the Village Haus in 1984, looking out that same window.
I felt myself blink back and forth between then and now, while seated in my chair.
I half expected to look down and see my old sweeper whites and Red Wing shoes.
It was eerily real, but only for a flash, like the vague shadow of something that passes through one's peripheral vision.
This wasn't simple nostalgia either.  It was not so emotional or touchy-feely.
I breathed in and looked up.  The window caught my eye.
I breathed out and could feel my pan and broom leaning against the chair.
And the towel dangling from my belt.
And the cool, starchy crispness of my white day custodial shirt.
The flashlight in its leather holster off my right hip.
My Mickey watch, too.  The one with the old Velcro band that kept it securely on my wrist.
I knew my break or my lunch was nearing an end.
When I got up, I would step back out to resume my rounds, with the Skyway drifting overhead.
The Skyway?
Straining to see through the glass, I searched for it.
I tried to make out the tower near Casey Junior.
Vainly my eyes tracked the air where the cable used to run.
No soft pastel gondolas floated past.
What happened? 
My mind was actually puzzling over the sudden disappearance of the attraction.
This realization shattered the moment like a dropped sugar sculpture.
I was back again.
A dad.
A lawyer.
A guest.
From the 1980s hopeful promise of the future, to 2011's oh-so-pleasant Now.
My soul cringed.
Just a tad.
But nevertheless I said a heartfelt Thank You for what had just occurred.
It is funny how the Park can lift you now or take you back to then or promise great, big beautiful Tomorrows.
I have a feeling I'll be back for more.

---Mike 

Disneyland - Lost Safari

As I sit in my father-in-law's hospital room in the Medical Telemetry Unit, I can gaze out the window toward Anaheim Stadium. 
Beyond it, I can see the outline of the Matterhorn. 
The Park is so near, yet seems far away.
Funny how a loved one spending two months (and counting) in a hospital can keep your heart's attention.
I'll never lose the spot in my heart for the Park, of course. 
Looking at my blog's Sitemeter numbers drop from a cliff, and finally having the forethought to bring my laptop with me, I make a small vow to try clicking out an entry today.
I feel I've been gone so long. 
Returning to the blog for a few moments after almost a month away is at once alien and familiar.
I'm a member of the Lost Safari, finally stumbling back into camp years after having left it.  Groggy eyes find my Jeep overturned, my provisions ravaged and my tent mildewed and discolored from years of exposure to the Jungle.  No sign of the others.
My arms and legs ache from endlessly clinging to the pole above that damned rhino.  The pith helmet smells of sweat.  The monocle has rusted in its metal frame.  The khakis are threadbare in places.  I have lost so much weight, my knees are knobbed and skin hangs from sallow cheeks.
It is a burden to breathe in this oppressive humidity. 
What happened here? 
Ammo boxes are torn open.  Rounds are scattered everywhere.
Rusted pots.  A cracked bottle of ether.
Specimen boxes and brittle butterflies.
The green and muddy river gurgles past the bank below.
The sounds of jungle fauna and distant drums form a white noise about me.  It echoes in my ears.
I know those sounds so well.
Yet they are dreamlike in this moment.  Different.
Eyes struggle to focus as my head throbs.
Sleep comes - fitful and then deep.
I know that I shall wake and then I shall continue my journey back.
Back to the dock.
To the Bazaar.
To the Treehouse.
To Adventureland and beyond.
Until then, my loyal four (4) friends and readers, hang in there with me. 
Know that I am making my way home.
Soon enough, I'm sure, I'll be rounding the bend toward Trader Sam, casting him a happy smile as he raises a handful of heads toward my boat.


---Mike 

Disneyland - The "Main Street-ness" Of It All

Walt really loved his home town of Marceline, Missouri.
Main Street, U.S.A., was based upon his fond memories of that place.
Why it's the first thing you come upon when you exit the tunnel.
You know, they could've built Sleeping Beauty Castle at the Park entrance instead of a railway station.
Our first glimpse of Disneyland could have been Fantasyland, or Frontierland, or Tomorrowland.
Instead, thankfully, quaint little Main Street serves as the front porch, the red carpet, the opening scene leading us into the Park.
Ever felt at home there?
Just walking along the center of the street or stepping into its shops?
Its dimensions are actually quite cozy.  Lean against the wall outside of the Market House and glance across the street to the West Side.  That really isn't far, is it?  You could easily underhand a baseball to a friend on the other side.  Watch the windows!! 
Having briskly crossed that way many, many thousands and thousands of times, I can attest to its friendly confines.  Of course, the use of forced perspective in the construction of its storefronts makes tiny Main Street seem a bit larger than itself.
The details of the buildings, with their intricate carpentry and "ginger breading," belie the studied eye of their designers and call us back to a different time.
It is a surprisingly short walk from the Emporium in Town Square to Coke Corner and the Plaza.
Some guests blow through this area of the Park in a frantic rush to get to the "biggies" like Space Mountain, Indiana Jones or the Matterhorn.
Too bad.
Main Street is meant for lingering.  Soaking in.
It is an architectural "hug," for the guests.  Colorful paints, varied textures, bright awnings and curtained windows surround the folks who stroll down its center---with Sleeping Beauty Castle a focal point in the distance, drawing them up the street.
The smells of coffee, popcorn and whatever sweets are being cooked up over at the Candy Palace float there.
The ding of a horse-drawn trolley bell gently requests that guests make way as the large draft horse pulling the car clops along ahead of it.  Even the vehicles are a bright array of reds, dark greens and yellows.  The fine Omnibus, with its canopied roof, green paint and yellow trim, chugs up one side of the Plaza, as the bright red fire truck, with its shiny wooden ladders and brass headlamp, heads down the other.
I love the painted wood surfaces of Main Street.
Run you hand across them.  Ever feel any painted thing so smooth?  All the layers that must have been laid down over the years!  The window sills and doorways attest to the patient hand of many a Disneyland painter.
And light bulbs.
The good kind.  Round (not spiraled).  With filaments.  Warm, yellow light.  The kind that turn on the instant you flick the switch.
They're everywhere.  Step out of the north end of the Candy Palace and look up.  Rows of bulbs outline the base of the overhang there.  They fill the space with sparkling light on summer evenings or rainy, winter nights.
The gas lamps burn brightly, too.  Neat trees in their planters line the walkways.
Music lolls to your ears, up and down the little blocks of buildings.  Familiar old songs with buoyant tempos provide a tonal backdrop to the experience.
Meticulously planned and laid out, Main Street nevertheless feels spontaneous and playful.  It feels at once new and long, lived-in.  Each time I step out onto it, I feel like I'm "home."
That's the way it is supposed to be.
Until next time, close your eyes and take a stroll past the Penny Arcade fellow Disneylanders!

My sincere best wishes to each of you four (4) devoted readers.  Hi, Mom!

---Mike

Disneyland - Walt Stamps - Mickey Mouse Club - 1985-ish Mike

From the Jungle is "101" archival box under the bed, we have located the following gems.

The stamps on the envelopes above provide a happier memory of September 11th than we are stuck with today.  The official USPS Walt Disney stamp's first day of issue was on September 11, 1968.  Somehow, I ended up with three pristine examples of the stamp on the envelopes seen here (click on the image for a closer view).  I found this great article by Wade Sampson over at MousePlanet, which provides you with the historical background of the stamp shown here.  Note that the envelopes also bear the Marceline, Missouri post office mark.  If you do not immediately perceive the significance of this, know that Marceline was Walt's "home town" growing up---though he was not born there.

I also came across a photo print that was given to me by a family friend who had long ago been married to one of the original Mouseketeers, Don Agrati.  That's Don next to Linda.  Don went on to do other things, including a stint on the classic TV show My Three Sons.  Anyway, the photo is in excellent condition and shows Walt and the Mickey Mouse Club cast on one of Walt Disney Productions sound stages in the mid-1950s.  Go ahead and click on the photo and get a close up view.  If you look closely, you'll see that Walt is sporting his "Smoke Tree Ranch" tie.  Here's a link to Smoke Tree Ranch for more information on Walt's association with this place.  

Last, but not least, let's beam back to 1985-ish for a picture of this blog's author (in response to the many requests received for an '80s view of my mug).  As can be seen, "Preppy" clothing was "In."  I'm still digging the green Izod with its famous alligator logo.  The Mickey Mouse watch was a mandatory accessory for this cast member (still is, in fact).  This photo was taken in Palm Springs on a Spring Break get-away with a group of about 15 Day Custodial cast members.  Oddly, the US Postal Service has yet to grace a stamp with my likeness.  That's okay by me, since the new protocol apparently requires me to have been dead for 10 years before they issue a stamp of me.  I'll pass.

That's all I have for you today, kids!  Have a wondrous day wherever you are and whenever you read this!

---Mike

Disneyland - An Ode

Oh, for a day at Disneyland!

Sunshine blinking off flower petals, with smooth green railings circling the beds.
Stepping from tunnel to Town Square, the Park wraps around you.

Music lilts from somewhere in the background of the blue-skied day.
A day that spreads out before you like a banquet.
Or a Christmas morning.
Promise-filled, wondrous, anticipated.
To feel a bounce in my step and the curve of a smile.
To run my hand down the side of a proud Percheron!
Give me a morning moment on the Hub.
Until clanging bell and piping steam whistle beckon from the distance.
Feet turn and eyes follow.
Through the frontier, over wood-planked porches.
Under trees, beside rivers, beneath mountains.
Breathe in popcorn and butter, jungle water, diesel, musty pavement, Lafitte's Landing's and the Blue Bayou's damp air, locomotive steam and metal brakes, magnolia blossoms, a chlorinated Submarine lagoon, pineapple, rubber snakes in a barrel, fresh peanut brittle, coffee, new and neatly folded t-shirts stacked in the Emporium or conditioned air and upholstery in the Lincoln Theater.
Novel and new, yet deeply familiar.
Give me talking birds, singing flowers, drunken pirates, grinning ghosts, squirting elephants and runaway trains.

Sit me on a wooden bench in the shade.
March a band by me in full sound.
Tire my legs from walking.
Surround me with a crowd.
We'll have fireworks to round things out.
It'll be grand.
So take me.
Take me.
Take me to Disneyland!!


Have a great day, all!

---Mike