Nostalgia Redux
Meanwhile… back on Facebook, and no I am not dead, gone or absent. Just distracted.
A few folks lately have been on their horse about changes to Disney theme parks or suggesting that Disney bring back attractions from the past. As the British Prime Minister of fond of saying, “I refer the gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago”. Or just to say I won’t retread some past posts once more.
While I am not enamored with some things (She’s not my Redhead!), it appears that some folks will never understand why some attractions are gone forever, no matter how much the faithful hue ad cry for their return.
A case in point seen above – I made many a voyage down the Rivers of America aboard both the Bertha Mae and the Gullywhumper. And I was sad to see them sail off into the proverbial sunset in Anaheim. In today’s world of equal and safe access for all theme park guests, Federal regulations (specifically the Americans with Disabilities Act) would render a new Keel Boat impractical. To safely and securely load guests with special needs would have passenger loading numbers too low in the modern world of theme park operations. Just the design of a new keel boat would have so many restrictions (seat belts, life preservers and flotation devices, stairway size, hand rails, non slip surfaces, etc., etc.) that the final product would never see production. Practical it would not be.
Yes, I think a new water craft, say something smaller than the Mark Twain or Columbia, but larger than a Keel Boat, would make sense. It could be operated with less crew than some and with modern construction methods and materials perhaps require less maintenance. Even one of the small watercraft from Walt Disney World might do. And who knows? Maybe someone at the Company thinks along those same lines.
The same holds true with the much lamented PeopleMover. Bringing it back is no simple task. Especially the trackway. After Rocket Rods and the creation of stresses that the structure was never designed to withstand, the investment required to replace it is of such an amount that would never be approved. Disney’s sharp pencil folks in the fiscal side of the house of Mouse just won’t go there.
Not to mention that all of Tomorrowland is real estate with a future. Consider that much of the infrastructure is living past it’s prime. Some buildings go back to opening bay and others have just lived lucky, thanks to maintenance cycles. I see demolition and redevelopment all about the land once Star Wars: Galaxies Edge settles in for what Disney hopes is a long and productive life.
As Yoda remarked, “Always is motion is the future.”
Disney needs to make something new and exciting to keep customers coming. Especially new customers, as they really fund the day to day operations by coming for that once in a lifetime adventure. Often that comes after someone tells that mythical family of 3.2 kids and 2 adults from Peoria about their trip and all the new things they saw and did.
Terminal Nostalgia; look it up.
I may not always like the new, but I would rather go forward than backwards. Been there, done that and have the t-shirts.
It’s not the years. It’s the miles.
Someone once passed along those sage words of wisdom.
I tend to agree with the sentiment. For along the path that fate has put in my way, there have indeed been memorable miles. But time has had its way and crept into the equation as well.
A few weeks back, my high school class held its 40th reunion. It was great to see folks who had gone their own ways, on their own adventures since graduation in June of 1977. Looking back, things did not go anywhere near the plans I though were ahead for me. And while I do not regret that, I do see some moments that I would have rather went other than they did.
I am sure we all have those lurking about. Those “turn right or turn left” moments. Who can say what that path not taken might have offered us?
By no means is the adventure over. I hope to see a great deal more before I call it a day. But just the plans I once had changed, so will those future paths. And that is worth the wait.
Travel
By Edna St. Vincent Millay
The railroad track is miles away,
And the day is loud with voices speaking,
Yet there isn’t a train goes by all day
But I hear its whistle shrieking.
All night there isn’t a train goes by,
Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming,
But I see its cinders red on the sky,
And hear its engine steaming.
My heart is warm with the friends I make,
And better friends I’ll not be knowing;
Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take,
No matter where it’s going.
The American West – How the Fantasy Lives on at Disneyland
An exclusive for the Friends of the Walt Disney Family Museum Facebook page – story and photos by Roger Colton
If you look back to the map of Disneyland as it opened in July of 1955, one can make the case that the largest portion of the Park was given over to Frontierland. “Tall tales and true” was a phrase used to tell the stories presented to guests here.
Given that the American population had been fascinated with the West since before gold was discovered in California, the decision to share a fantasized version of it at Disneyland was inevitable. With everything from pulp novels to radio, film, books and the latest fad of television, the call of the West was the siren song that so many people easily succumbed to.
Who as a child had not played Cowboys and Indians? And who did not know that the good guys wore white hats while the bad guys wore black? Disney had already seen television make good use of stories from the frontier with heroes such as Davy Crockett and Zorro. These were just the latest tales in the string that went back well over 100 years. With entertainment such as the Wild West shows of Buffalo Bill Cody and others, imaginations ran wild with adventures that could be in store.
Of course, the reality of life on the frontier was often very dull. A character in the 1972 film, “The Cowboys” remarked that “There ain’t no Sundays west of Omaha.” A family story from the 1890s in central Nevada was life on the back of a horse, working as a ranch hand. Wearing the same clothes day in and day out, regardless of weather. Work was monotonous and entertainments basic when they existed at all.
Yet the fantasy of it all lived on. And it still does today. Everything from rodeos to re-enactors to trail rides (such as seen in the 1991 film, “City Slickers”) to competitions for trail-drive cooking – let’s face it, there is something for everyone. Even many little girls who fall in love with horses start out with the fantasy, but end up learning the realities of it all.
A look back at Frontierland over the years gives an idea of some of the ways guests could enjoy their own Western amusements. There was the popular Indian Village where you could watch, and even join in, some traditional ceremonial dances. You could ride aboard a stagecoach, Connestoga wagon, the Rainbow Ridge Pack mules or a mine train into Natures Wonderland to take it all in. Or you could voyage down the Rivers of America aboard the Indian Canoes, the Mike Fink Keel Boats, the sternwheel steamboat “Mark Twain” or the proud sailing ship “Columbia”. With all of that taking up much of the western side of Disneyland, there was more than enough adventure waiting to be explored.
Times may have changed. While western stories may not be as popular as they once were, the tales of good versus evil still are popular. Many stories once set in the West, now have migrated to outer space. A good example is the Star Wars universe. The coming attractions as part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are set somewhere on the Outer Rim of that galaxy, a modern frontier if you will.
Getting ready to share new tales and experiences at Disneyland meant that construction along the Rivers of America and in the outer parts of Frontierland would have to be closed off from guests. 18 months have passed since those closures took place. But now Disneyland has returned a series of classic attractions back for guests to enjoy. Friday, July 28th, 2017 saw the proud sailing ship “Columbia”, the paddle-wheel steamboat “Mark Twain” and the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes all return to the Rivers of America.
Also returning along the shores of the Rivers is the DIsneyland Railroad. With plenty of new scenery along the Rivers of America and the railroads first left turn, the new route of the railroad offers plenty to see as the river was “plussed” with the addition of great surprises seen from the trains as well as from the boats on the water. It wouldn’t be fair to give away hints of what lies in store, but you can expect to see old favorites in new locations along the way, as well as some new items, too!
To kick off the return of the railroad, the creative chief for Disney, John Lasseter wanted to honor two Disney legends who helped inspire Walt through their own love of trains. Both Ollie Johnston and Ward Kimball owned and operated full size steam locomotives. Ollie’s “Marie E.” (named for his wife) came to Disneyland in 2005 for a few trips around the Park with Ollie at the throttle. Now owned by John and Nancy Lasseter at their Justi Creek Railroad (at the Lasseter Family Winery in Glen Ellen, CA), it was under steam, with John at the throttle, to lead a parade of trains over the newly constructed route. Ward and Betty Kimball’s “Chloe” once called their Grizzly Flats Railroad home. Now part of the Grizzly Flats collection at the Southern California Railroad Museum, “Chloe” and her summer coach number 7 were towed by the “Marie E.” Project Director Ken Mitchroney and Docent Beth Weilenman were aboard in homage to Ward and Betty for the festivities. This small train was first across the new rails, as a fitting honor to two gentlemen and ladies who did their part in inspiring Walt to have a train at the Disney theme park.
The Marie E. and the Chloe passing over the new trestle and rock work.
Following closely behind was the Disneyland Railroad’s own “C.K. Holliday” with it’s original freight train consist, full of Disney characters and cast members. Fireworks erupted as this 1955 original commemorated the past and launched the new era of steam train service at Disneyland.
Some other surprises await along the route of the Disneyland Railroad with some added touches to both the Grand Canyon Diorama and the Primeval World display. Nice touches to bring both a bit more into the current theme park world.
It’s fair to say that the West lives on at Disneyland. And with the future ahead for the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it will continue for some time to come.
Roger Colton is a member of the Orange Empire Railway Museum, operating as the Southern California Railroad Museum, in Perris, California. For more information on the Museum, please visit http://www.oerm.org/
Nothing Lasts Forever.
I published this over on Facebook last month. Worth sharing here.
Long time, no post?
Hey Loyal Readers!
That’s me on the left, with cohort Shelly Valladolid aboard the C.K. Holiday of the Disneyland Railroad at the Main Street Station last year.
Yes, it has been more than a while since I took up the cause and posted in this space. Apologies all around.
In the real world, I changed professions last year as the contract for my previous employment came to an end. That led to the new gig as the Customer Relations Supervisor for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. It is a good fit for my skills and experiences over all the years. That’s the good news part of the equation.
The bad news? Well, sports fans, that is my daily commute. I still drive from home out west in Livermore to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. Then it’s a 45-minute train ride into San Francisco’s Embarcadero. From there, a short walk takes me to the Ferry Building (with all of the associated myriad temptations awaiting) for the ferry ride across San Francisco Bay to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. Onto to the San Rafael Transit center and my desk. A reverse repeat awaits for the journey home in the afternoon.
If all goes very well (and it rarely does) the morning commute can come in at two hours from door to door. The afternoon is more like two and a half hours is the transit gods are smiling. On days where the gods have been angered? I don’t like to think about those days. Just no fun of any kind…
So, you can appreciate that the rare moment to rustle up some words and pics for the blog are few and far between. But, as they say, that is the price of doing business and while we are at it, you knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred.
I have managed to take in a few things on rare time away from the job. Back in late June, I managed to visit Anaheim with family for an extended four days at Disneyland. That meant a much laid back approach with some visits to lesser explored places than on previous family visits. Good times for everyone.
Having done all that, once again I manage not to be taking the plunge at either D23 Expo or Comicon. Yes, the record of no shows at both events remains mercifully intact. Honestly, the con or convention scene was so much a part of my younger days that I am glad to be able to say that I am much better now. No more dining on hotel hot dogs or room service leftovers. And no more wondering when all those lost hours of sleep might be made up, even at a severe discount.
I do miss seeing good friends and catching up on all of the latest scoop in various fandoms. Years may have passed and children became grandchildren, but those were some good people all around the world. I shared some great fun with so many.
From time to time, I get thinking back on all of the things that I have been able to enjoy over the years. Experiences and places that really were memorable because of the people who I was able to share them with. That’s the real treasure to look back on.
Earlier this year, business took me east and gave me an opportunity to check in with some folks that I spent a lot of time online with back in my days as a paid Community Manager for AOL. I had not seen them in almost 15 years. Even though we only spent a few hours at dinner together, it was a great reminder of the fun and work we all put in back in the wonder years of the online experience when things were kinder and gentler. Sure, we had trolls even then, but they weren’t so vitriolic as they are now.
Occasionally, opportunities come along that take me back in time. One coming up this weekend, as a matter of fact. While I won’t spoil the telling of that tale until another time, it is the kind of moment that I tend to enjoy all the more with someone along for the ride.
My father passed away earlier this year after having been given an extra four years, thanks to good personal medical care. Had he still been with us, I would have offered him the chance to join me on this particular adventure. I can see his smile, all the wider for what lies ahead. And that would have made it all the more special.
So, words of advice. Take the moment and enjoy it as it comes. Make those memories to last you and yours. See you down the road after more adventures. And if time allows, I will share more of them with you right here…