Lilly Belle Corrections

4 Comments Posted by on September 9, 2011

So I’ll admit it–I wasn’t taking notes during my Lilly Belle trip, but fortunately I emailed our conductor, Vern, and he very nicely pointed out that I got some of my facts wrong.

Vern sets the record straight

From the horse’s mouth:

Although, Walt had always wanted a private car for his railroad, it wasn’t realized until almost 10 years after his death. Then a man named Ken Kohler, the Roundhouse Superintendent, from 1961-1990, suggested that the observation car be revived as a Bicentennial Car. The Grand Canyon, car #106 didn’t see much light in storage, but was a great candidate for change.  Eventually an idea was spawned that resulted into the building of this elegant private railcar as it is today. In July 1974, Ken was successful in convincing the powers-that-be into returning the car to the rails as a swank Presidential car as part of the park’s bicentennial celebrations. In 1975, the observation car, known as Grand Canyon, was refurbished and converted. Under the guidance of Retlaw Enterprises (Walt’s personal company, which still owned and operated the railroad at that time) Bill Cottrell and Lillian Bounds Disney, Walt’s widow and the car’s namesake, the canary yellow-and-green “Grand Canyon” received a meticulous, two-year-long makeover into the beautiful, burgundy “Lilly Belle” began. The car [was] to be used by Disneyland for Club 33 guests when visiting the park or hosting important guests.

And as such, the kimono in the car was not a gift to Walt, who was already gone. Man, I just love learning all of these little facts and fun stuff, don’t you? Thanks Vern!

Everything Else , , , , ,

Spin Cycle: Photo Essay

9 Comments Posted by on September 8, 2011

I love reading the Spin Cycle at Sprite’s Keeper. It’s not a Disney blog or even Disney related, but Sprite’s Keeper posts a topic every week and bloggers write some kind of entry based on that theme. This week’s theme is picture essays.

You had me at picture. Also essay.

So let’s do some audience participation! Here’s your pictures. Come up with captions, short fictional essay, or just your observations about these.

Big Thunder Ranch Smoking Area, June 2011

Ashtray souvenir, circa 1960s

Enjoy!

And special thanks to cousin Krissy for the ashtray picture!

Everything Else , ,

Autopia Fireworks

3 Comments Posted by on September 7, 2011

As I’ve mentioned before, the fireworks at Disneyland are something special. I’ve heard the best place to watch them is from the Storybook Canal Boats or the Matterhorn, but one night we caught them while we were riding Autopia.

And mixing fireworks with a ride like Autopia is pretty much all kinds of awesome.

The show started before we boarded.

Autopia is one of Theo’s favorite rides, and why not? It’s one of my favorite rides too!

I always thought that driving the cars was awesome but that once I could grow up and drive a real car, that would be even better. NOT TRUE!!! There’s just something about driving the miniature Autopia car that is just pure fun.

You don't get to really pick your car color. Thank goodness Theo was down for red.

Theo has just now hit the height of what’s allowed on Autopia. He can officially drive.

Hold tight, big guy!

He cannot, however, actually see over the steering wheel.

Just the top of his head

Since Theo is on a Mr. Independence streak, he refused to let me steer or even curl my arms around his back and then sneak up and steer.

No Mommy! No steer!

So basically I just let him ram into the rails on the whole path. Whatever.

Anyway, it was really awesome seeing the fireworks from the ground. And I had handed over the camera to Kevin for this, so…

KEVIN IS AN AWESOME PHOTOGRAPHER!!!

actually, Kevin IS an awesome photographer, but this is not his best work.

Anyway, snuggling with Theo is always fun.

Huggy bear kissy face

But the fireworks were the most fun of all.

The happy face ones I particularly love

It’s always interesting getting a view of the fireworks from various places in the park.

Castle effects

But overall, I just love Disneyland fireworks everywhere I see them :).

Right over the Monorail track!

Tomorrowland ,

Jambalaya Jazz Band

3 Comments Posted by on September 6, 2011

As I’ve said before, one of the biggest surprises for me during MYWTM is the amount of roving entertainment all around the park. Walt was a huge music lover and I knew about the Disneyland Band and the barbershop quartet known as the Dapper Dans, and some people in Victorian costumes who sing at Christmas, but other than that I had no idea about the little groups and bands that are all over Disneyland. I’m so glad MYWTM is making me slow down and enjoy the atmosphere because I really would have missed these fabulous gems just like I have every year before MYWTM.

The day I rode the Lilly Belle, I caught sight of these guys in New Orleans Square:

Natty outfits, swingin' tunes, New Orleans Square...

It’s the Jambalaya Jazz Band! Nope, it’s not the Dixieland Band, although they are often confused with each other.

Jambalaya. Jazz.

They even had Mardi Gras beads in their pockets that they tossed to a few of the little kids standing around. And said children didn’t even have to…*ahem*…do anything to get some beads ;).

I only listened to them for a song to  two, but like the rest of the bands I’ve discovered, they were lively, very fun, and fabulous to listen to. It’s so exciting to make these discoveries. So far I’ve stumbled across:

The Pearly Band, a jolly performance in front of the castle with special guest stars Mary Poppins and Bert!

Supercalimumblemumble

The Straw Hatters, a group of musicians clad in straw hats with special guest stars Pluto, Donald Duck, Mickey, and Minnie:

Over in the corner of Town Square

The Dapper Dans, which everyone seems to know about. No special guests that I saw but their singing is second to none, and their chime-playing (Kelli knows the proper term for that) is really fantastic.

About halfway down Main Street

The Hook and Ladder Company, a bonny group of firemen and their mascot Spot, who is nearly kidnapped by the evil Cruella DeVille, and we’re also entertained by Chip and Dale and Goofy.

Town Square right in front of the fire department (and below Walt's personal apartment)

Arrrrr, the grimy band of pirates, the Bootstrappers, singing traditional pirate tunes (sans ale) in New Orleans Square.

What's a pirate's favorite letter? Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

And of course, the Disneyland Band.

Middle of Town Square at the flagpole

Now that’s entertainment! And all of that entertainment–the kind you can basically trip over on your way to somewhere else–I think that’s a part of the Disneyland Magic, don’t you?

 

Adventureland, Things I Never Knew Existed , , , , , , , , ,

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