Snowmen in the Very Merry Christmas parade at Disneyland, 1992
Here are a couple photos I took almost a quarter century ago in 1992. The elaborate Very Merry Christmas Parade at Disneyland began with an overture of Disney tunes over the speakers, followed by the live trumpeters. The first half of the parade featured scenes from classic Disney movies, including Snow White, Fantasia, Mary Poppins and others. The second half of the parade featured many of the elements in the current A Christmas Fantasy parade, including the snowmen, skating snowflakes, and of course Santa Claus and his reindeer for the finale.
Mickey & Minnie ice skate in the Very Merry Christmas parade at Disneyland, 1992
What is now the entrance to Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland, as it appeared in 1991, the entrance to the Meet Baloo attraction
When I became an assistant producer on Disney’s TaleSpin animated television series, I never thought it would end up being a big part of an exciting year at Disneyland in 1991! TaleSpin was part of the very first two-hour Disney animated block on television entitled “The Disney Afternoon” in 1990.
In 1991, the Disney Afternoon Live promotion at Disneyland includes special shows and parades and attractions. I always loved Disneyland, so to have an abundance of TV Animation represented was particularly exciting for me, especially having worked on TaleSpin since the start.
I hope you enjoy some of my happy memories, and feel free to click on any photo to view it larger.
Construction on the Meet Baloo attraction at Disneyland in 1991Inside the Meet Baloo attraction. This successful experiment led the way to the current Meet Mickey attractionThe complimentary Disneyland souvenir guide featured Mickey and Minnie with Disney Afternoon friendsThe Disneyland Cast Member newsletter featuring The Disney Afternoon at DisneylandThe Disneyland Motor Boat Cruise attraction was transformed into Motor Boat Cruise to Gummi Glen during the Disney Afternoon Live in 1991The Plane Crazy show at Videopolis in Disneyland, 1991The “Friends for Life” number from the Plane Crazy show at Videopolis. Baloo is missing his TaleSpin outfit during this rehearsal performanceA party at Louie’s in the Plane Crazy show at DisneylandTwo Gummi Bears pose in the Afternoon Avenue in DisneylandGadget poses in Afternoon Avenue in DisneylandFat Cat poses at the Duckburg Train Depot stop of the Disneyland RailroadMixing up shows, characters from TaleSpin pose in front of the DuckTales school in Disneyland
The Great Movie Ride – Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Walt Disney World
This is where I’d like to be right now. Where would YOU like to be right now?
This is Munchkinland in the Great Movie Ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. I love traveling into the world of Oz, and I still love seeing the Wicked Witch appear!
Tomorrowland in Disneyland, 1975, Prince John in front of America the Beautiful
I just discovered this photo of me in Disneyland from 1975. I haven’t seen it in more than 40 years! That’s Prince John from “Robin Hood” that I’m giving a big hug to – he looks remarkably the same today! Also in that batch of photos I discovered are images from the groundbreaking Disneyland parade America on Parade, as the park was already celebrating America’s bicentennial.
My sister and I are at the entrance to Tomorrowland. Behind us, in what is now the entrance to Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, is the CircleVision theater, presenting the 1967 America the Beautiful movie “in the round,” which just happened to lend itself perfectly to the bicentennial celebration.
As you can see, the movie was sponsored by AT&T at that time. Within the movie that was a tour of the United States, one segment visited Hawaii, and was shot from the AT&T ship, Long Lines, which, as it was explained in the movie, was a ship to help expand and improve the worldwide telephone network by laying underseas cable across the Pacific, the Atlantic, and in the Caribbean. At the conclusion of the film, the AT&T commercial jingle, “Reach out and touch someone” would play as the audience exited.
I sure loved that film! For those that are not familiar with CircleVision, it was a 360 degree movie that completely encircled the audience as if you were really standing in whatever location was being shown. What amazing technology America the Beautiful was! This was before video, and this meant having to run nine film projectors simultaneously, and have them on a loop to be able to run continuous shows throughout the day. Disneyland’s original CircleVision movies required 11 cameras, but the updated America the Beautiful used wider film formats which meant less projectors were necessary. Did you know you can still see some more recent CircleVision movies today at Epcot?
Since 2009, the opening music from America the Beautiful can still be heard as part of the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction at Disneland, and for me, it brings back such happy memories of the past, just as finding this old photograph did!
Happy Halloween! Here’s a photo I took at Disney California Adventure in 2005. Mickey’s ears still adorned the California Screamin’ attraction with a jolly Jack-o-lantern nestled inside.
Classic Disneyland postcard photographed by Gary Krueger
I just posted my interview with Gary Krueger on my Mouse Clubhouse website. In this conversation, Gary talks about his times photographing Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney movie premieres and much more – and you’ll see lots of postcards of Gary’s photography! CLICK HERE for the interview and postcards
Lady and the Tramp on Main Street for 40th anniversary of Disneyland
Here’s a throwback Thursday to a picture I took on Disneyland’s 40th anniversary. Lady and Tramp and other characters towered over Main Street on July 17, 1995. With the opening of the Indiana Jones Adventure as the newest attraction, the theme of the year was “40 Years of Adventure.”
“Thank you, Mickey, thank you Donald, let’s all give a cheer! The whole world wants to thank you, thank you for 30 happy years!” are the opening lyrics to this 1985 parade celebrating the 30th anniversary of Disneyland. Here’s a couple photos I took back in the day.
Disneyland 30th anniversary parade, 1985The opening unit of the Disneyland 30th anniversary parade, 1985
Snapshot Sunday: Disney parks original character Figment in the Journey Into Imagination with Figment attraction at Epcot in Walt Disney World– shot with a Sony RX100 II
The Journey Into Imagination with Figment attraction in Epcot is a fun little ride that I just love. A fun fact is that the little dragon’s voice is that of Mouse Clubhouse friend Dave Goelz, who is best known as the original Muppet performer and voice of Gonzo!
To capture this very dark scene, I got decent results with an ISO of 6400. The ride didn’t move too fast, so I was able to move my shutter speed up to 1/160 and then bring my aperture down to 1.8.
Feel free to write or comment if you want any more details about the photos, such as settings I used, etc.
Kitchen Kabaret at Epcot in Walt Disney World, 1993
I thought it would be fun to post this photo I took in Epcot back in 1993. Looong before Soarin’ was in The Land, this Audio Animatronics variety show, Kitchen Kabaret, made audiences chuckle with good nutrition humor. Pictured are Ham and Eggz, who offered up lots of “cheesy” jokes. While Mr. Hamm reminds people that cheese is a great source of protein, Mr. Eggz comments, “I cheddar to think about it!”
This photo brings back memories of the pre-digital age, where I used lots of film to take lots of photos – and would have to wait until returning from my vacation to have the film developed with great hopes that the pictures turned out.
While Kitchen Kabaret remains just a memory at Epcot, there are plenty of new exciting things to do there today!
