Look Out Disney We Have Pins 1996 - 2005

Going Strong to the Finish

"Whose the leader of the club?"

These Magical Milestone pins are special to me because my wife and I got to share their events with our twins.  They were born in 1994 and they were taken to enjoy Disneyland when they were eighteen months.  I mean enjoy.  My wife and I were seasoned Disneyland veterans.  We both went as children with our families.  We both went there as independent adults and together as a couple without children. We have seen way too many families trying to drag their families to all the attractions, parades, and fireworks in a single day.   We knew from the crying and screaming kids and the short tempered parents that the all-in-one-day trip was not enjoyable.  We also noticed some children, whose parents were pushing to take photographs and were actually scared of a five foot Mickey Mouse. We knew to keep it slow and limit the pleasures Disneyland had to offer.  Naps during the day and some pool time makes it restful for both children and parents.  So down Memory Lane I go.  I reach inside the old 50th Anniversary pin bag and pull out the last of the Magical Milestone pins from the years 1996 to 2005.

In 1996 the area behind Big Thunder Mountain was rethemed to become a stage show that coincided with the opening of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  Quasimodo, the bell ringer of the cathedral, starred in the live action revue that involved acrobats and wire work.  The show was called Hunchback of Notre Dame Festival of Fools.  It featured the music and characters and was based on Topsy Turvy Day.  In the song it was said to be the day of the Epiphany, "on the sixth of January."  It was a good show but didn't last too long.

"Topsy Turvy everything is getting crazy"

We all decorate for Christmas.  It is the best way to brighten those long winter nights.  In 1997, It's a Small World did its Christmas overlay.  The outside brightly colored as if the whole facade was wrapped Christmas presents.  In the inside the dolls are dressed in Christmas costumes and the different countries have their native greetings for Merry Christmas.  Our family loves two things for sure, Disneyland and Christmas.  Disneyland gives us both with the parade, decorations and the big tree on Main Street.  Through the years they even added snow to the nighttime parade.  I bet everyone has seen the It's a Small World decorated on the Disney Christmas Day Parade televised Christmas morning.  Also every year they do a cut away to the front of It's a Small World on News Years Eve.  

Christmas Across the World 

I'll see you there for Christmas!

On May 22, 1998 the new Tomorrowland opened.  The future always caught up with Tomorrowland before the disney people could alter the attractions to keep it fresh.  I was there in 1967 for the opening of the then new Tomorrowland.  It was a landmark event in my life, and in Time Machine Travelogue Four I traveled there to reminisce.  The new 1998 Tomorrowland was, to me, a disaster.  The 1900's Jules Verne and H.G Wells look didn't show me the promise of the future.  People were waiting six hours in line to ride on the People Mover's replacement, the Rocket Rods.  They were one thing for sure, noisy.  The ride was short in the amount of time you were on it and it was similarly short in the amount of time it was in the park.  Rocket Rods' future was short.  I learned my lesson, wait a while you don't have to be the first to see new Disneyland features.  

Sadly there is no more tomorrow there.

Like Prince sang, "We are going to party like its 1999." Who would be a better party animal than a man who thought he was a gorilla. This swinger hung out with many other party animals.  His world was rocked by the first girl to come along, Jane.  His castaway parents much like the Swiss Family Robinson used items salvaged from there sinking ship to create a treetop home.  A home that the leopard Sabor invaded and killed his parents.  Tarzan was adopted by Kala a gorilla who lost her infant to the same leopard.  The Swiss Family Tree House was revamped to tell the story of Tarzan.  This is when I first noticed I was getting older.  Trying to keep up with five year olds as they ran up the stairs.

Swinging into Adventureland

In 2000, Disneyland turned forty-five years old.  On July 17th, our family came for the birthday of Disneyland.  They gave every guest adorable comical party hats.  I still have the hats and will focus on those memorabilia items later. Because I also purchased the forth-fifth anniversary watch.  Just wait till we do a blog post on Disney watches.  There was a ceremony and a 45th Anniversary Parade.  What made this the most special was it was the first Disneyland Birthday Party that my twins attended with my wife and me.  By now they were Disneyland veterans.  They understood both the importance to the Disney people and to their mom and dad.  It was a glorious happy day.  

It all started with a mouse.

While we were there that summer riding the Disneyland Hotel tram back and forth form the Sierra Tower of the hotel to the Disneyland Main Gate.  Over the years, this was one of my son's favorite rides.  He loved waiting for the tram. He loved that there were no seat belts.  The freedom was thrilling for him.  I should have known then he was going to be a daredevil.  On our journey on the tram there was a steel skeleton rising in the parking lot.  That maze of I-beams was slowly becoming a new park.  The thrill of seeing something new on the horizon just whetted our Disney loving appetite.  This immense skeleton was destined to become California Adventure.  In 2001, we made two visits to the now Disneyland Resort.  Both times we stayed at the new Grand Californian Hotel.  The first time was in May and the second time was for the California Adventure's First Christmas.   

What can you do with a billion dollars?

Ever worked all spring working the soil in your garden.  Rototilling in manure to form a rich environment for your plants to grow.  As John Hammond said in Jurassic Park, "Spared no expense."  Then, you sweat and toil on your hands and knees to plant new plants. Well, you know the feeling that the Disney  people had when they planted a new park, California Adventure.  Imagine you wake up in the morning and find all your plants cut off at the root and dying.  As I said before California Adventure was doomed because it was not thought out.  Who came and destroyed all your plants?  It was a cut worm.  A bug destroyed your dream garden.  The amusement park was suffering a similar loss of dream.  What they planted was dying on the ground.  What were they going to do?  What was going to be their savior?  Ironically, it was a group of insects.  The bugs from A Bug's Life created a new land in California Adventure, Bug's Land.  In 2001, this land's attractions were perfect for my seven year old twins.  They especially liked the Tuck and Roll's bumper cars. 

It's tough to be a bug

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. 
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot. 
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho. 
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot. 
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho." 
I bet you guessed it.  The 2003 Magical Milestone 50th Anniversary pin was Pirates of the Caribbean.  No, not the attraction but the Jack Sparrow fueled movie.  The movie not only brought box office success, it brought changes to Disneyland.  Ol' Tom Sawyer was cast aside.  His island was rethemed to become Pirates' Lair.  There were new pirate items added to the island.  Skeletons and treasure chests were hidden and revealed by visiting guests to the island.  Now even Jack Sparrow stalked the island looking for booty.  He tried to take my watch on one of our visits to the Pirate's Lair.  Jack also was added to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.  As you float though Port Royal, you can spy Jack in the scenes.  So we all know how the song starts it is the last two verses I like best.

We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads,
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. 

Yo ho yo ho a pirate's life for me.

In 2004, we had annual passes to Disneyland.  The previous summer we had an extended stay at the Disneyland Resort.  Someone at the Main Gate upon entry told us that since we had stayed over a week the amount of each ticket can be put toward the amount of an annual pass.  The amount we would have to pay was less than one days Park Hopper ticket.  We jumped at the opportunity and headed to Main Street.  At that time the old bank was the annual pass processing center.  We all got our pictures taken for the new passes.  We planned shorter weekend trips that year.  Years before, when California Adventure opened, my son being a dare devil had to ride every attraction in the new park.  The roller coaster, California Screamin' and the Maliboomer.  Many people who have gone to any old amusement parks know this vertical lift and drop ride.  This type of ride was not my cup of tea, but I rode it for my son.  The ride took off straight up to a 180 feet then drops bounces you back down to Earth.  We shot up and when we reached the top I looked over to my son and all the blood had drained from his face.  He was as white as a ghost.  I was worried he was going to pass out.  This was a lock on the total dare devil.  He hit ground and was ready to go again.  Then came the 2004 addition to California Adventure, The Tower of Terror.  It is similar to that Maliboomer but themed better.  So here I went again, being lifted an dropped.  We got into the cursed elevator and were bought roughly to the first scene that sets the storyline of those doomed elevator patrons of the 1930's.  Then with a rumble, voom we were off.  When we got to the top with me holding firmly to my seat, my son's right arm shot up in a triumphant fist pump.  When we got the picture they supply as a memento for sale,  almost everyone else was terrorized or screaming.  Not my son he had a Cheshire Cat Grin and that emphatic fist.  

Next time your here drop in

Now comes the very special event, the Fifty Anniversary event, The Happiest Homecoming on Earth.  I am happy to say, "We were there."  In the blog post of April 6th, Time Machine Travelogue Eight.  It was two things for sure crowded and rewarding.  It cemented the love for Disney in my children.  I am sure without a doubt they will be there for the 100th Anniversary.  During this trip, I collected all the pins I could in this Magical Milestone pin release.  There was also a couple of bonus pins that had Incorporated that lovable little monster 626, Stitch.

5o Years of fantastic fun!

Where's the dog?

Hey Frogs look at this little monster

Going through the pins I discovered that there was a kick off pin.  I failed to recognize this.  So I am including it here at the end.  Because it is a celebration of the Magical Milestone Pins.  Over the months, we have taken a retrospective through the pins and the memories that corresponded to them.  Who better to kick off a Disney event than Tinker Bell.  She started the Wonderful World of Color television show, and soared through the air above Sleeping Beauty's Castle to bring forth the nightly fireworks spectacular.

Here's to the next 50 years!

For your convenience, I am including links to all the previous Magical Milestone posts.  Disneyland started in 1955 and so did our reminiscences. So here they are in order:

Look Out Disney We Have Pins 1955 - 1965

Look Out Disney We Have Pins 1966 - 1975

Look Out Disney We Have Pins 1977 - 1985

Look Out Disney We Have Pins 1986 - 1995

Also check out the pins released as part of the 50th Anniversary, the Golden Vehicles that were '55 originals.

Look Out Disney We Have 50th Anniversary Pins

Look Out Disney We Have 50th Anniversary Pins Two

Thank you for taking your time to share my family's and my memories of fifty years of Disneyland travel.

Time Machine Travelogue Eleven

A Theme Parks First Christmas

The Warmth of Christmas and Family

There are many technical  advancements in any piece of new machinery. If you build a time machine, you'll understand that. One of the most obvious problems is the arriving in an area undetected. Some inter dimensional and  trans time devices have used phone booths like Dr. Who. However phone booths are an ancient relic. Poor Superman must be unafraid to change in alleys.  In the world we currently live there has been a serious increase in surveillance cameras. In the past however there were far fewer. But still you cannot just appear with a machine in a middle of crowd. Even the glowing doorway that you step through would attract more attention than you would like.  However, with planning we should be able to return to a destination I told you about in the Time Machine Travelogue Seven post on March 30, 2012.  We are dropping you near the fireplace in the main lobby.  Be careful of the Christmas tree.

"Oh, Christmas tree, Oh Christmas Tree"

Makes me homesick

In 2001, California Adventure was celebrating it's first Christmas, we were celebrating with them. We had the sponsor, my mother, with us on that trip. We went first class.  With all the necessary planning, we were able to take my seven year old twins on a trip to Disneyland and a magical visit from Santa Claus.   We arranged a stay on the concierge level of the Grand Californian Hotel.  When you stay at the concierge level,  they put you in a room on the sixth floor.  The sponsor got a suite for herself  this would allow extra room for a Christmas Morning celebration.  She and my daughter mostly stayed in that room except Christmas Eve Night. The rest of us stayed in an adjoining room.  In the suite,  the hotel placed a decorated artificial Christmas tree.   The tree was about four foot tall and sat on a table in the suite. It was very nicely decorated with Disney character ornaments. Two of the ornaments  were mercury glass Radko's of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse dressed in Victorian attire.  My Mom loved Christmas. I once saw her hang tinsel a single strand at a time on a seven foot Christmas tree because she wanted that draped flowing effect. My wife also is a Christmas fanatic. Her birthday is just a few days before Christmas so she has to wait all year to celebrate something. They both looked at hotel decorated tree and said in unison,"It is not enough."  followed by, "We need more ornaments." Luckily, the Grand  Californian Hotel has a shop,the Acorn. They had many distinctive ornaments shaped like glittery leaves and pine cones.   You add our newly purchased ornaments to the ornaments from Disneyland and the tree was incredible.  The tree and the original ornaments were ours to keep. To maintain the kind of Christmas that we all were use to, we had to pack all the gifts into our limited luggage space.  We, however, had too may toys.  This required that some of the toys be shipped to the hotel in advance and be stored by the concierge personnel.  

Where's the legendary San Fransisco fog?

If only we coud decorate the real Golden Gate Bridge for Christmas!

However, we had two theme parks to play at while we were waiting for Santa Claus.  Both parks were fully decorated.  I have been accustomed seeing the high level of Christmas decorations at Disneyland over the years.  I could never be immune to the touches that the Disney Staff magically put on seemingly overnight.  Every Christmas seems more glorious than the last.

California Adventure was also decorated festively. The Monorail traveled on its trip from the Disneyland Hotel to Tomorrowland via a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Therefore, as you entered from the Esplanade into California Adventure, you had to cross the bridge.  It was a charming Christmas display that was as beautiful during the night as it was in the day.  As with Disneyland every thing has a little touch of Christmas. The Hollywood area lampposts were festooned much like the streets I remember in the 1950's.  

"Silver Bells, Silver Bells, it's Christmas time in Disney"

Southern California Christmas, palm trees and candy canes.

Christmas adds to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

Clark Griswald would've done a little more.

In an effort to create a look of sights of California,  Disney built an iconic area that resembled San Fransisco.  If you really went to Alamo Square Park in San Fransisco, you will see the famous Painted Ladies, a row of brightly colored Victorian houses.  Also, in the City all that is left of the 1915 Pan Pacific International Exposition is the Palace of Fine Arts.  This is a historical landmark.  The idea of painted Victorian row houses and The Palace of Fine Arts were incorporated in the original California Adventure.  Having once lived in SF, I was pleased to see the area all decorated for Christmas.

Lipstick on the San Fransisco Painted Ladies

"When the lights go down in the City"

We wanted my mother to see and share the new theme park of California Adventure.  You may have noticed we affectionately called her the sponsor.  This was not because she paid for everything but because she oversaw the Disney education of first me and then the twins.  She organized, arranged, made all the calls, and investigated what to see and how best to see it.  I caught this sponsor bug from her and when she passed the honor is all mine.  However, on this time trip, she was still the one to school the twins on the joys of Disneyland at Christmas time.

Enter a World of Christmas Magic

Disneyland is always decorated for Christmas.  Over the years, the sponsor made sure when we were young that we made a trip to Disneyland at Christmas.  Years passed and our distance from Southern California increased, but tradition of visiting at Christmas remained strong.  My Mom lived for the looks in the twins eyes as they experienced new things.  Maybe she also did that with my brother and I, but when you are a kid you don't notice it. The twins  were Disney veterans by then.  But in 2001, they were seven.  This made for so many memories.  Sleeping Beauty's Castle was decked out.  This has become intense over the years but it was simpler then.

Holiday flowers abound

A sea of Christmas red

Christmas time is poinsettia time

On Main Street in the Town Square they always have a large community Christmas Tree.  It is a good spot for a family photo.  Disney cast members are there to take photos that you can purchase from them, however, they will take a photo using your camera.  These are probably the only photos I'm in.  

Ia there a gift for you under this Christmas tree?

Our gift under this tree was spending time with family at Disneyland

While you are waiting on Main Street, there is something special to wait for.  No not only the hot coffee and hot chocolate in the a collectors cup which i highly recommend.  The  Disneyland Christmas Parade.  I'm sure that everybody has seen the parade on television on the Disney Christmas Special broadcast Christmas morning.  The parade at night is a treat.  Colorful floats with Disney characters, magical gingerbread men, snowmen, and of course Santa Claus.  

My little princess love the Disney Princesses

Grab that souvenir cup of hot chocolate, this cookie looks dunkable

Snowmen in Anaheim?

A very cozy Mickey and Minnie

"Santa Claus is coming to town."

On our time trip we shared with three generations the Happiest Merriest Place on Earth.  On December 24th, we put the twins to bed and waited for Santa to arrive.  He not only knows when you are sleeping.  He knows where you are sleeping.  This was a magical Christmas.  Thank you for time traveling with us and sharing a very special Christmas.  When we return you to your own time, you too can make these kinds of memories with your family members.  Just book a trip to a Disney Park.  We at Time Machine Travelogue hope that you will.  Prepare for reinsertion to your own time and rejoin us soon.

Time Machine Travelogue Seven

July 17, 2001 California Adventure

The time machine is ready to clock a few more hours of time.  So I need to pick a date.  Having just recently gone to Disneyland for the One More Disney Day celebration, I have Disneyland on my mind.  Thinking back for a time in the past to return to I am reminded of two trips I made there in 2001.  So let’s spin those dials for our own 2001 Space Odyssey.  There was a significant event on the Disney calendar of February 8, 2001, the opening of California Adventure. 

No, I know better than going to the Opening Day ceremonies.  However, I had been to the Disney Hotel when the parking lot was torn up and steel skeletons were starting rise from the emptied space.  These were going to be the new park attractions and the newest jewel of the resort the Grand Californian hotel.  I got the itch and had to go and I was ready to go as the say First Class.  We monitored the Disney.go.com website to see what this new development would offer us.  I was meticulous.  I printed every page on the website in color, three holed punched it, and put it in a ring binder.  We would look at those pages and virtually knew every attraction, place to shop, and restaurant.  We were psyched.  We decided to book that trip.  We definitely had to try the newest thing the Grand Californian Hotel.  

We wanted to have a park view and stay on the concierge level.  You should have guessed when we would go to the now new Disney Resort Complex.  The logical choice for us of course was July 17, 2001.  This is Disneyland’s Birthday and a time, we as a family, enjoy.

Our Twins were already veterans of Disneyland and Disneyland Hotel having been going there since they were 18 months.  We worked extremely hard to convince their Aunt to go with us.  She didn’t want to go at first.  She didn’t have the same passion for Disneyland.  We explained to her that she needed to see Disneyland from the Twins eyes.  She should see how they enjoyed the adventure.  She agreed and we scheduled he trip.  We would drive down and she would fly down a couple of days later.
We arrived in Anaheim and got off the freeway and followed the signs and ended up in the multi-storied parking lot.  They were nice about it and directed us to the gate for the Grand Californian Hotel.  At the gate they asked our name and from that moment we were treated like royalty.  We were taken to our room and drew back the curtain California Adventurehad

the park 

was laid out before us.  We were directly over the Grand Californian entrance into the park.  Our view was of Grizzly Mountain home of the Grizzly Rapids Ride.  We got our luggage, changed clothes and headed to the park. Oh what a delightfully short walk it was compared to other Resort Hotels.  We had to walk around and see all the sights that we read all about.  Being a warm summer morning, the twins first gravitated to a water feature in what was then called the Bountiful Valley Farm.  They got soaked and it was just the first hour in the park.  But who cares we were only a short walk back to the room and a dry set of clothes

Twins can have completely different personalities.  My son is a daredevil and my daughter is a little more cautious and doesn’t dive into the more thrilling rides.  When you enter the driveway to the hotel you first saw Mulholland Madness, it looked fun to her and her mom who also was not a fan of the roller coaster type rides.  I recognized it as a ride that debuted at the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962, the Mad Mouse.  I tried to warn them but they thought they were ready.  Big mistake, it took years before my daughter would try thrilling rides again.

The benefit of staying Concierge is you get the use of the Concierge Lounge.  They serve a really good Continental breakfast.  They have snacks like cookies and sodas the rest of the day.  Another great thing about the sixth floor Concierge Lounge is you can see the Disneyland fireworks with synchronized soundtrack.  It was well worth the price.  Remember I once blogged that we personally changed Disneyland and the Grand Californian Hotel.  It was on this trip when one of these occurrences happened.  They have a beautiful balcony and we sat and ate breakfast there.  My son went inside through the sliding glass door for another treat.  Excited he ran back to us at the table.  Bam! Right into the super clear sliding glass door.  He fell back stunned.  The hotel staff was immediately on the spot.  They checked him out and he seemed okay.  The next stay there were logos on the door so that you could see the glass. 

Staying at Disneyland Resort Hotels allows a guest Early Entry in to Disneyland.  I will never forget my sister in laws reaction to standing in Disneyland at 6:30 in the morning or what she called, “Dark thirty.”  She enjoyed the trip and the memories that were made with the Twins. 

We were totally impressed with the Grand Californian Hotel. The California Bungalow style was beautiful.  It reminded me of the architectural style of the Greene and Greene Brothers. This style I always enjoyed and tried to emulate when I was building custom homes many years ago.  They had me as a return guest forever.  Only things like pool changes to the Disneyland Hotel could get me to change my mind or the fact that the Grand Californian is booked.

Hardly a Disney Theme

The park itself, California Adventure, left us unimpressed. Real Disney fans had heard at on time that they were planning Westcot.  An Epcot styled area for the land of the parking lot.  then we heard it was scuttled.  Then the California themed park would be put in it's place.  I never understood why you would try to entice people to come to California to see a microcosm of California at Disneyland.  If you lived elsewhere in California, you would and could be closer to the real California tourist attraction.  There where many features that where fun Disney innovation, but there were others that you could do at other amusement parks or state fairs.  The key to a Disney is in the way it is themed to something recognized as Disney.  The original California Adventure was too much like a mall.  There were too many shopping outlets.  Most of the restaurants resembled food courts.  

My son and I rode every ride that was open since then many have been either closed or rethemed.  California Screaming, the roller coaster, was almost to much for me.  I found I could only ride it two times a day.  The launch is accomplished using a linear induction motor and jets you off from zero to 55 mph in seconds.  This was not the reason I needed to limit my daily trips. Being turned upside down effected me more than I had expected.  While it wasn't a Disney themed attraction it was a welcome inclusion to your overall stay.  Another county fair attraction was the chain swing ride.  The Orange Stinger had a nostalgic factor from me.  When I was young, we often traveled from LA to the Central Valley.  This was before the Interstate.  When the Grape Vine was the twisty road.  Along the way there were Giant Orange Stands selling cool orange juice.  So it was a reasonable theme.  The Maliboomer while fun and themed like a giant muscle carnival test.  Ring the bell and win a Cupiedoll.

There was one innovative attraction.

 California Soarin' gives the rider a feeling that they are hang gliding over different regions of California.  The sights, sounds, and smells are perceived as you progress on you journey.  It reminded me of 360 Degree Circle Vision which was in Tomorrowland at one time.  When the scene changed, turned and flew by, you had the sensation that you were flying.

The 3D adventure It's Tough to Be a Bug was a better fit with Disney Pixar themeing.  Here you entered a underground ant hill that was surrounding the tree from the movie A Bug's Life.  Once inside, you learn the characteristics and hardships that the smallest species on the Earth.  It has many sights and smells the bugs possess.  Plus there is a surprise near the end of the show that brings you to your feet.

Well, there are upgrades we are going to do the time machine.  We are installing room temperature superconductivity.  This will give us constant voltage with less ohms of resistance.  We are going to need it because in 2001 we had two stays at the Grand Californian.  So we will save some of the other attractions for the second trip.   We will time travel back to California Adventure also on the next time out.  It was a stay with the Sponsor for Christmas 2001. It was a heart warming trip that will never be forgotten by our family.