24 hours and 60 years
So… are you among the crowd taking in the full 24 hours at either Disneyland or Walt Disney World today? If you are, I certainly hope you will enjoy your time.
Me? I am safe at home, thanks. Last weekend, I visited Anaheim for a celebration with friends. Had a great time. I should have some views to share from my mis-adventures later this weekend. Still catching up on things of all kinds.
I would have enjoyed being there for the big doings starting yesterday (with the press preview events) as well as the 24-hours of Disneyland being open. Lots of good times with old friends, plenty of what Jim Hill refers to as the free shrimp for the media crowd, and making plenty of new friends as we all stand in queue for various attractions, food, beverages and bathroom breaks. But I don’t feel too bad about not being there today.
Ten years ago, as a media guest I was able to take in the big kick-off events on May 5th, 2005 as Disneyland began to celebrate it’s 50th anniversary. It was quite a day with a new parade and a fireworks spectacular that looked fondly at 50 years. Later that summer, I had the pleasure of doing a live radio broadcast from Disneyland for CBC One out of Saskatchewan, Canada. It was all about sharing memories of those first Disneyland visits – both my own as well as caller’s to the show. And of course, i was there for the big day on July 17th, as the anniversary of the 1955 Press Preview was heartily observed by one and all. Somewhere I still have my bottle of air from the Park on that day. Saving that as a collectible for the 100th!
Later that year, I was lucky enough to share a long weekend at the Park with all of my family. 18 made for a great number when ever we were asked “How many?”
Oh, that dog…
The shared experience really is what a visit to Disneyland is all about. Friends, family, children… you name it. There is the famous, oft repeated, Fletcher Markle interview done for Canadian television in which Walt shares his thinking behind the creation of the Park. He says that “there should be something built, some kind of amusement enterprise where the parents and the children could have fun together.” Consider how it is almost 60 years since Disneyland opened it’s gates to guests. All of those memories of great times for millions of guests. Guess Walt knew what he was talking about…
The attraction of that shared experience will continue to bring folks to visit Disneyland as well as to Disney theme parks worldwide. Celebrating the success with a big party in Anaheim is only the start as we look forward to more wonderful experiences ahead.
If I needed a reminder of how all this really works, I got it last weekend while out walking in Disneyland. There was a young girl (maybe 4 years old) who was being followed by her parents. She was proudly carrying her very own box of popcorn. Her smile was bigger than the box and both her parents had one, too. That’s the kind of magic that Walt wanted for everyone who would visit.
Glad to see it still works.
Oh, to be in Anaheim, now that spring is here.
Oddly enough, that is the plan for this weekend.
A quick drive down the Five to Anaheim.
While I will take a bit to visit both sides of the Disneyland Resort, it is far from the reason for this trip. Well, maybe… Okay, it is for a party for friends and it just happens to be at the Grand Californian Hotel.
My last visit was in January for a rare Monday. Having been in the southland for a private railcar trip, it was a pleasant diversion. Sadly, the weather turned to rain and it was a miserable crawl by automobile out of the LA basin home to the Bay Area. Not so this trip as the forecast calls for mostly sunny with some clouds and temps in the low 70’s.
Unlike ten years ago, I will miss the kick off festivities for the 60th Anniversary of the Park. To be honest, that doesn’t bother me all that much. While I am sure that there will be plenty of smiles and tears to go along with Disney magic, the announced plans for the event failed to tug enough at heart strings to make me really down at missing anything. Sure, parade will be nice, as will fireworks and the new version of World of Color. And some attractions are getting some well needed attention. All spiffed up to look the best for happy guests.
60 is kind of a funny number. To be sure, there is something to celebrate in reaching that anniversary. I haven’t personally gotten there yet myself, but as far as milestones go, it is somewhere in the middle. 50, now there is a big number. Half a century, five decades as time passes. Now 65, oh that is another spot. Retirement, a well earned break and time to enjoy all that life still has ahead right?
I’ve made an observation to friends that I would really like us all to still be kicking about to celebrate Disneyland’s 75th. As much as I would like to see the 100th, odds are not in my favor. But who knows? That is a ways off yet. Too far to worry about it…
All that nonsense aside, I am looking forward to sharing time with friends and seeing a thing or two for myself. The fact that it takes place in Anaheim and at the Park? Just a good bonus.
Disneyland at 60 or Yawn…
So, in July of 2015, Disneyland turns 60 years old.
Plans call for a new day-time parade, new night-time fireworks and a new show using the system created for World of Color in California Adventure.
And that’s about as far as it goes. Oh, sure. There is new resort merchandise ahead, including the usual event to kick off selling it. Call me cynical, but nothing shown here says “Buy me”.
Yes, the park will be spiffed up, all shiny and sparkling. Literally. The castle gets the “ooh shiny” treatment with lots of lights (okay LED’s or light emitting diodes for the curmudgeons) and gems to catch the sun.
But what don’t Park guests get for the big Six-Oh? Well, no new attractions. Nothing inside the berm. Maybe a look back in the form of a museum of sorts in the Innoventions rotating building in Tommorowland; it’s self a left over from the 1960’s redo of the area as the GE Carousel of Progress, re-purposed from the 1964 New York Worlds Fair. And some new/revised areas across the way in California Adventure as Condor Flats gives way to the Grizzly Peak Airfield.
One can’t fault the management in Anaheim or Burbank for this. Attendance at Disneyland remains high, from both casual guests and annual passholders. Why dip into the corporate coffers for major expenses if people keep coming with what is in place right now?
Color me disappointed somewhat. Disney has added Pixar, Marvel and Lucas to the empire. Surely one of these could offer something for the 60th? Frankly looking down the road to the 65th, 70th and the even bigger 75th anniversaries for the Park, you have to see those parts of the entertainment industry as being part of a bigger influence.
I certainly understand how much of a challenge it is to design anything that those Accountanteer’s are willing to fund. Yet, if they could turn loose with big bucks for Radiator Springs (a.k.a. Carsland), what’s the hold up? After all, can’t let Universal and Harry Potter steal that much of the spotlight. Star Wars alone can and will hold audience attention in theaters as well as theme parks.
Yes, I may just be impatient. Wiser folks than I have said that Bob Eiger will announce plans for Star Wars projects worldwide either during the Star Wars Celebration or at the D23 Expo – both also being held in Anaheim this year.
But Disneyland’s 60th? So far, nothing compelling for this summer has been announced to get me down the Five to the Southland. Maybe just an excuse to visit friends will be enough.
A bit of Disneyland close to home
For the years 1964 to 1970, I called the city of Mountain View, California home.
We lived in a new housing tract just off US Highway 101 near Sterlin Road. But it was what was located on the other side of the freeway that often caught my eye. In particular, if a ride in my parents car involved using the on-ramp to the northbound lanes there. Because it would provide a glimpse into the world of theme park attractions. Specifically Disney theme park attractions
This image has made the rounds on Facebook among various groups.
Sharp Disney fans will identify the hanging attraction vehicle as one of the flying pirate ships from the Peter Pan attraction. A further look at the guide rail system the vehicle is attached to shows the system used at Florida’s Magic Kingdom. But it is the location pictured in the image that tells today’s tale.
That berm with the white guard rail? Yes, indeed. That’s the northbound US-101 on-ramp from Sterlin Road. And this is the yard in back of Arrow Development‘s location at 1555 Plymouth Street in Mountain View. Arrow had a fruitful relationship with Disney providing many attractions and for a while, even owned it’s own theme park, Frontier Village, in nearby San Jose.
We saw all kinds of attraction prototypes tested here. Who wouldn’t be fascinated seeing roller coasters tested on a short track as you accelerated onto the freeway?
1855 Plymouth Street in Mountain View, CA.
Arrow is long gone and the property redeveloped into offices. But for those days gone by, it was exciting to think what awaited us on that next theme park visit may have gotten it’s start that close to home.
San Francisco’s PresidiGo
Ron and Diane Miller at what would become the Walt Disney Family Museum,
in San Francisco’s historic Presidio.
When it comes to spectacular locations in San Francisco, the Presidio is pretty high on the list. With views of the Golden Gate (bridge and all) that just can’t be beat, it is not hard to understand why it is such a favorite of so many people.
Yet, it manages to be one of the most difficult for folks from out of town to find, let along enjoy. If you drive a car (your own or a rental), all of the current construction along Doyle Drive and the approaches to the Golden Gate Bridge can be more than a little confusing. Trying to get a taxi cab from anywhere in the City can also be frustrating as more than one cabbie has confused Montgomery Street downtown with the street of the same name on the Presidio’s Main Post.
You can travel to the Presidio using the San Francisco Municipal Railway’s (or SF Muni) bus routes to and from the Presidio. Many require at least one transfer from one bus route to another to get there or back.
Another favorite of tourists is one of the hop-on, hop off double-decker bus tours that makes the rounds of the City. Yes, it does stop right in front of the Walt Disney Family Museum, but not on a predictable schedule that I have seen in action.
But would it surprise you to learn that there is a free bus service that travels from downtown San Francisco to and from the Presidio? Indeed, there is. And it is called PresidiGo.
Last Saturday, I was enticed to visit the Museum as a friend had an extra ticket for the 3:00 pm presentation by Glen Keane. But not wanting to drive into San Francisco from Livermore (46 miles or better than an hour and a half of travel time) made me think about alternatives. The one that made the most sense was to take a BART train from it’s Dublin/Pleasanton station to San Francisco’s Embarcadero Station. From there, a ride aboard the PresidiGo Downtown Shuttle to the Presidio’s Transit Center and a short walk to the Museum. In about the same travel time, with a whole lot less hassle, there I was. And the shuttle ride? It was absolutely free!
On weekends, the Downtown Shuttle operates between 1030 am and 730 pm. During the week, the same route operates between 610 am and 930 pm; however it requires a pass for employees or residents before 900 am and for certain afternoon departures from the Presidio. A stop at California Street and Drumm Street, right in front of the Hyatt Regency Hotel – next to the California Street Cable Car and BART’s Embaradero station – is well placed for travel in both directions.
So pass the word! Here is a very simple way to travel to and from the Presidio from downtown San Francisco.