Category Archives: Disneyland

Undercover Cats: The TRUTH about Disneyland’s Secret Cast Members

07 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in Animals, Cats, Disneyland

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The cats are out of the bag. And to think it happened in Fantasyland… There’s more to their covert kitty fluff than gratuitous sass and snark, though. Disneyland cats are working cats-members that provide a valuable function in the Happiest Place on Earth.

Covert Kitties Turned Social Media Mavens

Several years ago Taylor Roberts, a freelance writer, glimpsed a cat darting across a path in Fantasyland and snapped a picture.

That night he started the Cats of Disneyland Twitter account with tweets voiced by the witty cats. A web site soon followed: Cats of Disneyland.

With Roberts’ dry humor combined with photos of the covert cats, Disneyland’s secret cats-members skyrocketed to social media stardom. Articles about Disneyland cats were featured in the Los Angeles Times and KTLA. Blog posts were written about them, like my 2015 post, The Cats Behind the Mouse. (Giovanni, Disneyland California Adventure, PC:Elizabeth Fais)

NOTE: Taylor Roberts started the Disneyland Cats accounts on Twitter and Instagram, but it now appears those accounts were taken over by someone else. It’s not uncommon for popular accounts to be purchased and transferred to new owners.

In a theme park inspired by the world’s most famous mouse, it’s the cats of Disneyland who have the run of the place. —Los Angeles Times

As Becky so proudly flaunts, atop the roof of the Mexican eatery in Frontierland, Rancho del Zocalo (PC:Elizabeth Fais).

Becky, Disneyland Cat
All the media hype continued to keep the cats’ indisputable value to the daily operation of the Park a secret, though.

Cats-members with a Cause

Disney parks pride themselves in cleanliness. So it’s a little embarrassing that cats are necessary for the Disney “Mouse” squeaky clean image. In truth, the cats play an important role in keeping rats and other vermin out of the Park.

Disneyland’s cats have been behind-the-scenes cast members since the Park opened in 1955, infiltrating the grounds from the surrounding orange groves of the time.

The cats at Disneyland are feral, which means they are happy living and hunting outdoors, and prefer to stay away from people.

I became interested in the cat population at Disneyland, because of the work I do with feral cats in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve made several trips to Disneyland to research the cats. On one trip, I talked with the manager of the feral cat program and here’s what I learned:

  • Approximately 200 cats live at the Disneyland Resort, including Disneyland California Adventure, the Disneyland Hotel, and the Grand Californian Hotel.
  • The cats have been trapped, spay or neutered, and then released (TNR) back into the park. This is the proven, humane method for managing feral cat populations. For more information, read about Stanford campus’ Feline Friends Network.
  • There are feeding stations for the cats “back stage” to supplement their diet and keep them healthy.(PCs:Elizabeth Fais, Ned, at the Disneyland Hotel)
  • They’ve implemented an ingenious flea management program that is low-stress for the cats and highly effective.
  • The cats are given medical care and attention, as needed. This ensures healthy, long lives for each of the cats.
  • When a cat becomes too friendly with Park guests, they are given a home with a devoted Park employee.
  • Feeding and petting the cats is discouraged at all times. Disneyland cats are wild animals, and must be treated with respect and caution.
  • The best times to get a glimpse the cats are early in the morning (early admission, if possible), or around sunset. Feral cats are nocturnal, and usually sleep out of sight during the day.
  • Ask cast members for tips on where the cats hang out. The evening crew seemed to know the most when I asked, as that’s when the cats are most active.

Disneyland Cats: Unsung Heroes!

Something must be done…I mean sung! The “underdog story” is popular in the Disney Classics library.Francisco, Disneyland Cat It’s time to break old boundaries and blaze new trails. We need an “undercat story” accompanied with terrific songs. Of course!

Disneyland Cats
~
The Musical

Are you listening Andrew Lloyd Webber,
Pixar &
Disney Animation Studios?

Francisco’s already to auditioning!

(PC: Elizabeth Fais, Francisco, Disneyland California Adventure)

 

Walt’s Original Animators ~ Disney’s First Firehouse Band

15 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by in Disney, Disneyland, Music

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Animation … and All that Jazz

Linger long enough in front of the Firehouse on Disneyland’s Main Street, and you’re FullSizeRenderbound to hear a Dixieland jazz band playing old-time favorites. Few people realize that the first Disney firehouse band was made up of Walt Disney’s original animators. These were the guys who animated Snow White, Pinocchio, Bambi, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, and more…the classics.

There were seven members in the original band, and they called themselves the Firehouse Five Plus Two.

I took this photo on a recent trip to Disneyland. But this band only has six members, not seven like the original firehouse band.

The Firehouse Five Plus Two

The Firehouse Five Plus Two was a hot ticket in the 1950’s. They played around town at night, as well as appearing in several Disney television specials, including the very first special in 1950, One Hour In Wonderland.

I had the opportunity to talk with Frank Thomas, the piano player in the original band. He thought their music caught on, because they played for the sheer joy of it. I don’t doubt that’s true. The band was active from 1949 to 1972, playing and recording while never giving up their day jobs as animators and artists with the Walt Disney Studios. Their more than a dozen records are still available in digital formats today, standing the test of time.

The following image is from their appearance with Bing Crosby on his CBS radio program. [PC: Wikipedia]

Firehouse Five Plus Two with Bing Crosby

Their joyful energy is infectious in the following 1951 recording of “Brass Bell Blues”, featuring Ward Kimball (tb), Danny Alguire (tp), Clarke Mallery (cl), Frank Thomas (p), Harper Goff (bjo), Ed Penner (tu), and Monte Mountjoy (d). Google their names. You might be surprised by the classic Disney magic they each had a hand in creating.

 

Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds ~ Icon of Imagination & Innovention

23 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in Disneyland, Inspiration, Roller Coasters

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The Man Behind the Mountain

I admire a guy with the audacity to build a replica of the most iconic mountain in the Swiss Alps amidst the (then) orange groves of Southern California, within in sight of the Santa Ana Freeway … then “plussing it” with imagination and innovention (innovation + invention = innovention).

Matterhorn, Disneyland

Walt Disney was that man. But what most people don’t realize is that Disneyland’s Matterhorn wasn’t a glimmer in Walt’s eye when the park opened in 1955. A pile of dirt occupied that spot–from the excavation of  the moat for Sleeping Beauty’s castle–called Holiday Hill.

Opening Coincided with Anniversary of 1st Successful Ascent

June 14, 2015 marked the 150th anniversary of the first successful ascent to the peak of the Matterhorn, Switzerland’s most famous mountain. It also marked the anniversary of the opening of Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds. Walt Disney was known for his meticulous attention to detail, so I’m sure he planned the coincidence.

Walt Disney and his wife Lillian loved to spend their summer vacations in Switzerland. However, it Matterhorn, Switzerlandwasn’t until Walt was in Zermatt, Switzerland filming the live action movie “Third Man on the Mountain” that he got the idea to build a to-scale (1/100) replica of the Matterhorn. Walt sent a postcard of the Matterhorn to Imagineer Vic Greene with the message “Build this!” written on the back.

Construction on the Matterhorn Bobsleds began in 1958 and the attraction opened on July 14, 1959, along with the Disneyland Monorail and Submarine Voyage. [PCs: Wikipedia]

Note: “Third Man on the Mountain” was based on the 1955 Newberry Honor book Banner In The Sky by James Ramsey Ullman.

A Roller Coaster “Inside” a Mountain?

I often wondered how Walt came up with idea for a roller coaster inside a mountain, until I read the history of the early railways in the Alps. Remember, Walt Disney was a huge railroad enthusiast–why there’s a railroad circling the park–and he and his wife spent many summers in Switzerland.

Glacier Express

A direct railway route through the Alps was considered as early as 1848. But it wasn’t until the latter half of the 19th Century that four great tunnels were constructed. Because the change in elevation from one side of a mountain to the other was too drastic for a direct route, spiral tunnels (helicoidal) were constructed to gain the necessary altitude and maintain the required grade for safe passage. You can read more here.

I spoke with Diane Disney Miller a few years ago while visiting the Walt Disney Family Museum, and asked if her father got the idea for the “bobsleds running through the mountain” from the spiral railway tunnels in the Swiss Alps? She smiled and replied, “I don’t know, but that certainly sounds like him.

The previous image is of the Glacier Express, Switzerland. [PC: Wikipedia]

Icon of Innovention

The new attraction had to twist and turn far beyond anything done before, and still remain safe. Bringing Walt’s idea into reality required innovention.

Hollow steel pipe track was used, instead of the flat tracks of traditional roller coasters. The tubular track had bracing welded to the outside of the rails, which allowed for contact with the bobsled on the top surface (with load bearing polyurethane wheels), on the inside to control horizontal movement, and on the bottom to restrict vertical movement. The tubular track was pressurized so sensors could alert when there was wear on the rails.

The bobsled cars are every bit as revolutionary as the track, as is the Ride Control System developed to operate and monitored the ride. The following illustration shows the intertwined tracks of the two bobsled routes, as featured in The “E” Ticket magazine (Number 42) — Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds.

Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds, E Ticket Magazine

Note: A selection of “E” Ticket back issues are available through the Walt Disney Family Museum online shop.

I could go on and on, but I won’t. The following video is much more fun. Lederhosen aren’t required, but screaming is encouraged.

Matterhorn Bobsleds ~ Fantasyland Course (Right)

This video shows the 2015 refurbishment for Disneyland’s 60th Celebration, including a revitalized Abominable Snowman, updated special effects, and new props for staging.

Calling All Railfans (Train Buffs)!

I read (somewhere a while back) that the Matterhorn Bobsleds tubular track rail system was later used by some narrow gauge railroads, incorporating a third (tubular) rail at the center of the track. I don’t remember where I read this, and can’t find a reference. Would love to know if this is true. Thanks!

The Cats Behind the Mouse ~ Disneyland’s Feline Cast Members

24 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Cats, Disneyland, Fun Facts

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There are no words for the irony. Feral cats were original inhabitants of the Magic Kingdom…the place that started with a mouse.

Original Rulers of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle

When Disneyland opened in 1955, the interior of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle was empty. Later, when Walt Disney decided to build a walk-through attraction inside the castle, they discovered a significant number of feral cats had claimed it as their royal home. Unfortunately, there was also a huge infestation of fleas.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle, Disneyland, California

Homes were found for all the castle cats, the place was treated for fleas, and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle became the walk-through attraction we know it as today. Everything was good. That is, until rodents began to take over the park. Again…the irony.

No one had taken into consideration that the castle cats provided a much needed service–they kept the park free of unsavory vermin. So, when a new group of feral cats found their way onto Disneyland property, they were allowed to stay. These cats were trapped, neutered, then returned (TNR) to their home “land”, to maintain a stable (cat) population.

It’s no spoof, I’ve got proof!

Today, the Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, California) is home to approximately 200 feral cats. Disney neuters, feeds, and provides medical care for the cats, and in return the cats keep the park free of rodents and other vermin.

Feral cats have a home – outdoors! And although they appreciate a can of cat food, they don’t want to snuggle with you on your couch. ~Alley Cat Allies

Feral cats are not socialized to people, and prefer to stay out of sight. I recently visited Disneyland with the intention of photographing some of the resident feral cats. Intention is the operative word. I managed to get pictures of 9 of the 200 feral cats, and consider myself extremely lucky. Here’s proof of Disneyland’s most elusive ca(s)t members.

Becky ~ Rancho del Zocalo restaurant, Disneyland

Early one morning, I caught Becky climbing up to her perch atop Frontierland’s Mexican restaurant, Rancho del Zocalo. The way she poses, you’d think she knows the Bougainvillea backdrop compliments her complexion.
Becky, Disneyland Cat

Francisco & Friend ~ Grizzly River Run, California Adventure

Francisco (left) hangs out at Grizzly River Run in California Adventure, and is one of the friendliest of Disneyland’s feral cats. He’s been known to come near the fence to give park guests excellent photo-ops. His** friend (right) came out too, but stayed at a distance in camouflage.

**Most tortoiseshell cats are female, as are calico cats. However, there are rare male tortoiseshell and calico cats. Likewise, most orange tabby cats are male, yet I have a friend with a female orange tabby.

Francisco and Friend

Giovanni & Friend ~ California Adventure

Giovanni (left) hangs out at the Wine Country Trattoria restaurant (California Adventure) behind the upstairs terrace. His friend (right) hugged the rock wall far in the distance, pausing only long enough for me to snap a picture before darting out of sight.
Giovanni and Friend, Disneyland Cats, California Adventure

Disneyland Hotel Feline Cast Members

Cats also patrol the property around the Disneyland Resort hotels. I stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, and found a few shy cast members luxuriating in the bushes surrounding the pool and Trader Sam’s on the warm, sunny afternoons.
Cats at the Disneyland Hotel

I learned the names of some of Disneyland’s cats from talking with cast members when I visited the Park.

Grumpiest Cat Alive Takes on the Happiest Place on Earth

21 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Amazing but true!, Cats, Disneyland, Humor

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Who’s the Grumpiest Cat in the land?

Grumpy Cat (a.k.a. Tardar Sauce) was born on April 4, 2012. She is a female cat Grumpy_Catwho’s face appears grumpy because of feline dwarfism and an under bite. Grumpy Cat soared to popularity when a picture of her was posted to the social news website Reddit on September 22, 2012 by the owner’s brother.

Tabatha Bundesen, Tardar Sauce’s human parent, says that she and her brother Pokey were born to normal kitty parents. Due to Tardar Sauce’s dwarfism, she is undersized and her hind legs don’t work quite the way they should (you can see her cute waddle-walk in the following video).

Oddly enough, her human insists that Tardar Sauce is calm and “really nice”. It’s her brother Pokey who’s actually the grumpy one. Image from Wikipedia.

The Grumpiest Bestseller

GrumpyCat-a-grumpy-bookGrumpy as she is, Tardar Sauce wasn’t satisfied with just being an internet sensation.

Oh, no. She needed a bestselling book deal too.

The official Grumpy Cat book was published on July 23, 2013 by Chronicle Books. Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book…

Teaches the fine art of grumpiness and includes enough bad attitude to cast a dark cloud over the whole world.

What’s the big about all the grumpy?

I seriously did not get the Grumpy Cat sensation. Maybe because I pretty much ignore sensations of any sort … twerking included. So I didn’t pay much attention to Her Grumpiness … until I saw the following video of a grumpy dwarf cat getting the royal treatment at the Happiest Place on Earth.

That’s when I finally realized she was a real cat, and that was her real face—not just a photoshopped expression. (I know, I’m a little slow some times.) I loved the way she walked, because it told me that she’s a special needs kind of kitty, which makes her all the more adorable. Plus… this cat rates getting to go to Disneyland when no one else is there!!! Visiting royalty doesn’t get that type of exclusive treatment. Only Grumpy Cat. She instantly became my new hero!

GrumpyCat-disneyland_composite

I’m an animal lover, and I get a little goofy (pun intended) over animals in general, grumpy or not. But I still didn’t get the world-wide Grumpy Cat craze, until I read the blog post by Josh Getzler, Why we need Grumpy Cat.

What do you think? Are you a Grumpy Cat fan?

Before you answer, watch the following video. If you’re not a fan, you just might become one in the next minute and a half.

Grumpy Cat Meets Her Disney Side

The Story Behind Mary Poppins ~ “Saving Mr. Banks”

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by in Disney, Disneyland, Movies, Walt Disney

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The Trailer That Stormed the Twitterverse

Mary Poppins book coverA couple of weeks ago, news of the just-released trailer for a new movie about Walt Disney stormed the Twitterverse. That’s how I first heard about “Saving Mr. Banks”, the untold story behind Walt Disney’s acquisition of the rights for “Mary Poppins” — the much-loved children’s book by P.L. Traverse.

P.L. Traverse’s Mary Poppins books were loved by many, well before Walt Disney turned the first book in the series into a major motion picture in 1963.

But the whole world fell in love with Mary Poppins,Mary Poppins movie poster when Julie Andrews starred in the leading role opposite Dick Van Dyke. The Sherman Brothers’ musical score had everyone singing the hit songs Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Spoon Full of Sugar, Step in Time, and Feed the Birds, to name a few.

Maybe it’s because so many of us grew up loving this story and its characters (even the dancing penguins!), that the trailer about the untold story behind the personalities that brought this story and film to life sparked a reaction similar “the tweet heard round the world.”

Characters Need To Be Larger Than Life

Anyone who’s seen Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color on TV (or Tom Hanks as Walt Disneybecame addicted to the reruns), is familiar with Walt Disney, the man: his voice, his mannerisms, and demeanor.  So, it would be a hard-sell for any actor to fill those shoes. The same could be said for P.L. Traverse, if we were as familiar with her as we are with “Uncle Walt.”

Emma Thompson as P.L. TraverseI admit, that at first I was taken aback by Tom Hanks‘ impersonation of Walt Disney. My internal editor said things like, “Walt Disney didn’t talk like that” and “Walt Disney wasn’t that demonstrative.”

Then I took a step back and realized that P.L. Traverse probably wasn’t as pinched and twitchy as Emma Thompson‘s impersonation either. I finally realized that, much like the characters in the stories we write, the characters in movies have to be larger than life to be interesting.

Along with the characterizations of Walt Disney and P.L. Traverse … I’m sure embellishments were added and (or left out), to make the “story” screen-worthy. I’m OK with that, for the sake of an engaging (based-on a true) “story”. How about you?

A Sneak Peak at “Saving Mr. Banks”

To Learn More About the REAL Walt Disney…

If you are captivated by Walt Disney (the man) and all he accomplished, you should most definitely visit the Walt Disney Family Museum (WDFM) in the San Francisco Presidio. Trust me. It’s not like any museum you’ve ever been to. You will be amazed. You can find out more on my blog post about the WDFM here.

A Day of Magic at The Walt Disney Family Museum

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Animation, Disney, Disneyland, Walt Disney

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I admit it. I’m an animation geek. And I’m particularly geeky when it comes to Walt Disney feature-length animated films that were produced when Walt Disney was alive. So you can understand why I was shocked to hear that some young people today think “Walt Disney” is a made up brand name. Like Captain Crunch, or something.

Diane Disney Miller, the daughter of Walt and Lillian Disney, was shocked too. So much so, she and her family went to an enormous effort (and a heck of a lot of expense) to preserve the history and imagination of her father’s legacy by founding The Walt Disney Family Museum.

Front of the Walt Disney Family Museum

It took seven years of planning, designing, and construction before the museum opened in San Francisco’s Presidio on October 1, 2009.  [photo by moi]

The Walt Disney Family Museum

Walt Disney Family Museum logoWARNING! This is no ordinary museum. Be prepared to be amazed! [WDFM logo, Wikipedia]

The moment you step inside the first interactive gallery, you are walking in Walt’s footsteps, with his voice narrating his story. The journey starts with Walt’s ancestors immigrating to America, and shows you their humble beginnings on a farm in Missouri. From there you join Walt’s adventures selling papers, working on a train, enlisting in the army as an ambulance driver, cartooning, and creating his first animated films.

Not all of his early endeavors paid off. After a bankruptcy and losing the rights to his first animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt was on a train when he got the idea for Mickey Mouse. When you step into the elevator to go up the second floor of the museum, you step onto that train car with Walt, as he tells you the story.

When you get off the car, you’re in Hollywood!

As you walk through the galleries, you witness the development of a new animated art form, and the plethora of products and technologies that followed. The men who worked with Walt share their stories at the touch of a finger, on interactive consoles throughout the galleries. It’s amazing that one man could assemble such talented teams — artists and engineers — and inspire their genius to create all that they did.

I could ramble on and on about the live-action films, nature documentaries, audio animatronics, and other technologies Walt Disney inspired. And don’t even get me started on Disneyland. But that would be boring. It’s much more fun if you sneak a peek at the Interactive Galleries on the Walt Disney Family Museum website! And while you’re over there, check out the Special Exhibitions, Classes and Workshops, and Special Programs for the whole family.

I was having a cup of coffee in the museum cafe after my last visit, when I overheard a teenager at the next table talking on her cell phone…

I just walked through Walt Disney’s life, and it was so cool!

That simple statement — made by someone who wasn’t alive during Walt Disney’s lifetime — proves the timelessness of Disney magic. Forty-seven years after his death, Walt is still creating magic …  for young and old alike.

In the following video Diane Disney Miller announces the museum’s opening on October 1, 2009.

Preview of the Walt Disney Family Museum on CBS

If you’re planning on visiting the museum, be sure to check the Walt Disney Family Museum web site for Hours, Location, and Directions. There’s ample parking directly across from the museum too!

WDFM Calendar of Events
The museum is closed EVERY Tuesday,
New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

The YAppiest Day on Earth!

05 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Disneyland, Fun, YA, YAppiest, Young Adult

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17 YA Authors + Disneyland = Crazy Awesome Fun!

YAppiest Authors

3.30.13 Disneyland, Anaheim, CA

From left to right, back row first: Jennifer Bosworth, Chris Howard, Me, Lish McBride, Sean Beaudoin, Kevin Emerson, Elise Allen, Robin Mellom, Gretchn McNeil, Martha Brockenbrough, Rachel Cohn, Carrie Lawler Arcos, Gabrielle Zevin, Cecil Castellucci, Shannon Messenger, Cat Patrick, and Jessica Brody. (pic by moi)

~oOo~

The awesome Cat Patrick dreamed up this epic event: Seventeen young adult authors + bloggers, librarians, and book enthusiasts like me converged on Disneyland at 8:00 AM Saturday, March 30th.

Chris Howard, Indiana Jones Ride

The fun started as soon as we stepped through the gates of the Magic Kingdom… We rode rides, screamed, got drenched and/or stuck on rides (thanks to Tigger spilling honey on the Pooh ride), pretended we were pirates, ate chocolate, tacos, and more chocolate (though no chocolate tacos that I’m aware of). It was the best day ever! All shared with a group of amazing people who love books. (Chris Howard pic by Kasie West)

Anyone too far away to participate could (and maybe still can) order autographed books by these amazing authors through the  Mysterious Galaxy’s website.

Not to make you jealous if you didn’t know about this fab event (or couldn’t make it), but here’s a glimpse of what you missed…

Screaming, Reading, Silly Hats, and Prizes!

There was Tower of Terror screaming (pic by Jennifer Bosworth)…

Tower of Terror

Some were too busy reading to scream (pic by Kevin Emerson) … while others couldn’t help themselves (pic by moi) …

Reading and screaming on Splash Mountain

Silly hats happen to just about everyone at Disneyland, as Kevin Emerson discovered (Rapunzel pic by Cat Patrick)… Then there were the lucky dogs who won prizes (Sean Beaudoin pic by Cecil Castellucci)…

Rapunzel Hat and Hot Dog prize

And a Book Signing, Chainmail and All!

Anyone who couldn’t make it to the park could join the YAppy crowd at the 5:30 book signing at the Anabella Hotel, across the street from Disneyland. Mysterious Galaxy provided the authors’ books for sale. Autograph slinging ensued, followed by more food and drinks … and wouldn’t you know … chainmail! Compliments of a YAppiest fan who stopped by after attending WonderCon…

Chainmail Author Signing

Chainmail book signing

A sparring good time was had by all!  (pics by Cat Patrick)

More YAppiness & Giveaways Galore!

The YAppiest Day on Earth was soooo awesome, I’m going to keep the YAppiness rolling with reviews and giveaways of the books written by these crazy awesome authors — 17 in all. I’ll post two reviews per month (in alphabetical order by title), each with a FREE GIVEAWAY!

Yes, there is an ulterior motive. I’m hoping you won’t be able to resist joining the YAppiest bunch next year for even more outrageous shenanigans!

the YAPPIEST GIVEAWAY roll:

  1. Because It Is My Blood — Gabrielle Zevin
  2. Beta — Rachel Cohen
  3. Ditched: A Love Story — Robin Mellom
  4. Divine Intervention — Martha Brockenbrough
  5. First Day on Earth — Cecil Castellucci
  6. The Infects — Sean Beaudoin
  7. Let the Sky Fall –Shannon Messenger
  8. The Lost Code: Book One of the Atlanteans — Kevin Emerson
  9. Necromancing the Stone — Lish McBride
  10. Out of Reach — Carrie Arcos
  11. Pivot Point — Kasie West
  12. Populazi — Elise Allen
  13. Revived — Cat Patrick
  14. Rootless — Chris Howard
  15. Struck — Jennifer Bosworth
  16. Ten — Gretchen McNeil
  17. Unremembered — Jessica Brody

Stay Tuned for a chance to win one (or more) of these epic reads!

Book Covers for Giveaways

Historic Roller Coasters: Beaches, Boardwalks, and Abominable Bobsleds

16 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in Disneyland, Historic, monsters, Roller Coasters, San Diego, Santa Cruz

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California Screaming

A delectable post on All Things Summer (by Tami Clayton) set me thinking… What’s my  most quintessential summer experience? And because I’m a total adventure geek, the answer is two words: Roller Coaster!

My love affair with roller coasters is limited to the historic kind, however. Sorry, folks. I’m not a fan of the super-thrill-whirl-and-hurl roller coasters of today. I much prefer the sky-high rickety old wooden structures from the previous century. [photo credit] Maybe that’s because I grew up in a small town in Southern California, that was a two-hour drive from San Diego.

That’s where my adrenaline-ride love affair began … at Belmont Park in Mission Beach. Because THE BEST DAY EVER, was a trip to the beach and riding the roller coaster. Oh yeah, and a chocolate milk shake was part of that package too!

Twin Giant Dippers

San Diego’s Giant Dipper, also known as the Mission Beach Roller Coaster, was built in 1925.  The original coaster was constructed by a crew of 100 to 150 people in two weeks. When the coaster opened on July 4, 1925, it was the centerpiece for Belmont Park. The park was a huge hit in the 1940’s and 1950’s, but fell into disrepair in the late 1960’s. The coaster finally closed in 1976, and was scheduled to be torn down in the early 1980’s. [photo credit]

Luckily, a group of citizens formed the “Save the Coaster Committee”, intervening in the demolition of the Giant Dipper, and had it designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The coaster was restored, to the tune of two million dollars, and re-opened on August 11, 1990.

The Santa Cruz Boardwalk Giant Dipper is the twin sister of the San Diego Giant Dipper. And I can say from first-hand experience, that the Santa Cruz coaster is every bit as much of a thrill ride as its sister!

The Santa Cruz Giant Dipper opened on May 17, 1924, and is the fifth-oldest roller coaster in the United States today. [photo credit]

Over 55 million riders have ridden the coaster since its opening. The United States National Park Service recognized the Giant Dipper as part of a National Historic Landmark also covering the nearby Looff carousel in 1987. [Wikipedia]

The Santa Cruz and San Diego Giant Dippers are the only remaining coasters on the West Coast built by the noted coaster builders Prior and Church.

But hang on to your hats folks …  there’s one coaster that deserves a mention, even if it’s not “officially” historic …

The Matterhorn Bobsleds, Disneyland Resort

What the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride lacks in historic clout, it more than makes up for in kitsch. And I mean that in the BEST possible way. Because the Matterhorn Bobsleds are awesome! [photo credit]

Walt Disney was inspired to build a miniature of the Matterhorn at his park in Anaheim, while filming the live-action drama “Third Man on the Mountain” in Zermatt, Switzerland (1956). Under Walt’s direction, his team of Imagineers recreated the mountain to scale (exactly 100 times shorter than Switzerland’s 14,700-foot-tall original), and designed special tubular steel tracks for the coaster to simulate the smooth motions of bobsleds gliding over ice. The ride contains two separate tracks that intertwine with each other as they descend the mountain, another stroke of genius by the man with the magic. The ride opened for the first time in 1959, and has been a favorite ever since.

The Matterhorn underwent its first major renovations in 1978, with the significant addition of the Abominable Snowman. The Audio-Animatronic creature roars at passing bobsledder as he glares with red glowing eyes. As if to say, “Get the hell off my mountain!” Uh, huh. Like that’s really working, Big Guy. I don’t know about you, but he’s one the main draws for me on that ride. The Skyway attraction, the buckets that passed through the middle of the mountain, were taken down in November 1994. And in 1995 the Frank Wells Lost Expedition tribute was added in honor the late Walt Disney Company President, who was an avid mountaineer.

The silhouette of the Matterhorn rising above Fantasyland is iconic. Yet oddly enough, Disneyland (in Anaheim, California) is the only Walt Disney park in the world with a Matterhorn ride. I’m not sure why. If anyone out there knows the “official” story, I beg you … please share.

Never ridden the Matterhorn Bobsleds; can’t make it out to Anaheim for face time with Mr. Abominable? No worries!

Check out the video of a real-ride experience … lederhosen are not required … but screaming is highly encouraged.

what Experience always says “summer” to you?

Abominable Bobsleds!