GDB friend Irene gave me a LOT of photos taken by her brother Bruce and his friend James (together they are the "Dream Team"!); today I am sharing a somewhat random selection of four images.
We'll start with this view of the south end of Tom Sawyer Island, with a fully-loaded raft heading back to the mainland. This is an unusual angle, and it really shows just how large that Fantasmic! show building (behind them) is. Some might say it is too big, but I would never say such a thing.
Almost all of the photos from Irene are undated, but I think it's safe to assume that this one is from around 1991, when "Beauty and the Beast" was released. There's Belle posing with two kids at a structure that I have never seen in photos before. It almost looks like a former parade float. Notice the little writing slate leaning against the step (it appears to have "2176" written on it); I wonder what that was for?
Now we're looking across the Rivers of America toward Cascade Peak (with all of the waterfalls turned off?), and the wrecked Mine Train on the tracks - you can even see at least one of the "marmots" that popped up from the rocks in the train cars.
I always love a good look at signs, and here's a good photo of the signs outside of Injun Joe's Cave. If that description doesn't make you want to go in and explore, I don't know what will!
Many thanks to the Dream Team!
Major, I think that number on the step is given to the people who are having their picture taken, in case they want to purchase the professionally-taken photo, later in the day. Of course, you don't have to purchase the photo that Disney takes, and they do allow you to take pics with your own camera.....for now (surprisingly). Maybe that will change in the future. Maybe you will need to make reservations two weeks in advance, to have your picture taken with the characters. And maybe there will be a non-refundable charge of $50 per picture/character, at the time you make that reservation.
ReplyDeleteWas Injun Joe's Cave renamed when Jack Sparrow and his cohorts invaded Tom Sawyer Island?
I concur with TM!’s assessment about the slate. It’s a bit early to start celebrating the Quatercentenary.
ReplyDeleteTM!, yes, Injun Joe’s Cave is now Dead Man’s Grotto.
Thanks again, Dream Team!
Love the "Injun Joe's Cave" sign. Thanks Lou and Sue and the Major too!
ReplyDeleteMajor-
ReplyDeleteAnother thumbs-up for the 'Injun Joe's Cave' sign. It's nice to know we now have a place to come and check it out... for free.
Going forward, annual pass holders (whoops - make that Magic Key holders-!) may be charged "a [non-refundable] small fee" in order to read such things inside the Park. I'm making my reservation right now - if it's within the 'booking window' - to insure I can still enjoy the unique smell inside the Haunted Mansion, without having to pay a 'higher, up-charge' on the day I visit. No more spontaneity for me-!
Thanks, Dream Team, for reminding us there was a time at Disneyland when breathing the air was still free-! (What could they possibly have been thinking-??!!)
Good to see the “Injun Joe” sign.
ReplyDeleteSad to see Cascade Peak and the forlorn Mine Train, marmots or no.
To the far right of the train, under the wooden dock, is the return Intake for the Dark Water circulation system, where the Rivers of America are sucked out to the Motorboat Lagoon to resume their long trek back through the Park’s waterways.
She really is a lovely girl, that Belle. I loved that movie.
Thanks to Major and the Dream Team!
JG
Lots of photo-bombing going on in the first picture...Columbia and Matterhorn just have to be included!
ReplyDeleteSeeing the wrecked Mine Train is bittersweet.
Thanks, Major & Dream Team!
Update: Lou’s out of the hospital! Slowly heading in the right direction...
@ Sue-
ReplyDeleteYay-!!
Sue, Glad to hear the good news about Lou. Thanks for the update.
ReplyDeleteNanook, Just make sure to reserve all your time windows for the attractions and pre-order lunch and dinner on the mobile app in the morning. Then all you have to do is show up in time at each pre-planned reserved time slot for your Disneyland magical experiences.
I notice they had a Dream Key but not a Wish Key. I want the Wish Key as I 'Wish' not to participate.
@ Ken-
ReplyDeleteYeah - some “wishes” are just too hard to fulfill-! (Maybe if you clap really hard…)
Ken and Nanook: I’m surprised you can pick and choose in the morning for that same day...what’s happened to the 3-6 month planning plan?? I wouldn’t be surprised if you have to be on that app at 12:01 a.m. and have quick reflexes.
ReplyDeleteHad a thought about intellectual property this morning after seeing Injun Joes Cave...first my thoughts concerned messing about with Tom Sawyer. "Let's take out literary history and put in IP"...then I thought...well....the IP came from Disneyland itself...and if there was no movie with Mr. Depp ...sooo...if there was not a movie, which spurned a whole new bevy of IP, and they made Tom Sawyers Island as an extension of the POC experience...with pirates and something very "Blackbeards Ghost" or the pirate influences of The Mickey Mouse Club Hardy Boys (Gold Dabloons and Pieces of Eight...) would I be getting all crazy over taking a sign down? Well, yes...probably. I did absolutely love TSI. Even as an adult. Injun Joes Cave was E ticket worthy- to me at least. Fort Wilderness was great...so quiet...and the Security Guards had their own special costume which was awesome BTW. It looks like the Fantasmic "Bunker" has taken over the island...oh dear...it has been a while since I have seen these things. RIP Cascade Falls, and I look forward to seeing the Fantasmic Barn on an episode of "Yesterland". I wonder if the the river sucker tube is anything like the chocolate tube in Willy Wonka? Seems like a river tube would suck up the smallest of Augustus Gloops.
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, your theory makes a lot of sense! I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me. Drugs probably. Part of the fun of going to Disneyland was being spontaneous, and deciding what you wanted to do at any time. I absolutely hate the idea of having to plan things out way in advance. Yuck. That’s one of the things about WDW that did not appeal to me, though maybe a daily visitor could still just show up and do whatever they wanted. And would you believe I haven’t been on Tom Sawyer Island since it had the Pirates makeover?
ReplyDeleteChuck, I think that now is the perfect time to start celebrating the Quatercentenary, since I’m probably going to be… er… “resting” in 2176”.
K. Martinez, I just want to be the guy who makes those ragged edges on the Frontierland signs. Some fun!
Nanook, I think guests should be charged according to how many steps they take inside the park. A pedometer will be implanted in each person as they enter. If you want to save money, just stand in one spot. Fair is fair!
JG, thanks for pointing out the intake for the “dark water system”, I had no idea that that is where it was (is?). And is it heresy to say that I like “Beauty and the Beast” more than “The Lion King”?
Lou and Sue, THANK YOU so much for letting us know that Lou has been released from the hospital! WHEW. I know he isn’t out of the woods yet, but as you said, he is definitely moving in the right direction.
Nanook, ditto.
K. Martinez, ugh, just the thought of having to pre-plan every meal is such a bummer. And I know that at WDW, people would make so many reservations that the park started penalizing them if they didn’t show up. I think I also will “wish” to not participate! I’ll join Irene over at Knott’s.
Nanook, I just can’t believe that they have managed to make the park so unappealing. To me, anyway, not to everybody who lives in Orange County, apparently.
Lou and Sue, don’t worry, the 3 to 6 month planning is on its way.
Bu, it’s hard to say whether we would be happier with a “Blackbeard’s Ghost” overlay, though I can’t say too many people remember that film with much fondness. I saw it when I was a little kid at the Fountain Valley drive-in. I’m sure I was entertained, but I didn’t exactly have the most discerning mind. Disney wanted to find a way to make TSI more relevant and “sexy” to guests, and adding the POC pirates was probably a good idea, just not to us fans of the original theme. I used to think that “Fantasmic!” might someday go away, but not anymore. They might just replace it with a different riverfront show, and even THAT is doubtful.
Having been to WDW since the suits made everyone plan every moment, I can say that it did hurt the experience. Planning days months in advance is difficult, especially with Florida's unpredictable weather. Now, granted, many of us used to do it anyway (four parks, plus two water parks, plus a recreational shopping area takes a bit of forethought) but you weren't locked into anything.
ReplyDeleteOne good thing, though, it that Tom Sawyer Island is still the same. I took mu six year old grandson to it and he had the same exciting experience I had at Disneyland's TSI when I was nine (nervousness in the caves included).
Major - you and anyone else is more than welcome to join me anytime you want at Knott's, especially now that you no longer need to make an advance reservation!!! YooHoo. I was just telling my husband this morning about the new pass system called Magic Key and said but that's OK - I'm not going there anyway, I'll stick with Knott's. As an aside, Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorites from that era and yes, I liked it better than Lion King.
ReplyDeleteSue - so happy to hear about Lou being home. Home is best!!!
And one other thing I forgot to mention - growing up TS Island was my very favorite place to be! I loved exploring that place and all those caves. My poor, patient mother. Sitting over on that island waiting for me to come out and go to other parts of Disneyland. I was considered too young to be there on my own at that time (7 years to about 10). She was pretty over protective. I have stories about not going on Snow White for years because the first time it frightened me a lot. Or the time she dragged me out of line at autopia where I was waiting with Bruce because a girl's car got bumped from behind and it knocked her front tooth out!!!
ReplyDeleteIrene and Bu...How true. TSI was a favorite place of mine back in the 50s and 60s. The cave was extra spooky...and nice and cool too. Security dressed the part. And yep, a number of times I left the folks stranded on the "Mainland" staying past the time I promised to return. I'd stand along the river and hoped to get their attention by waiving!
ReplyDeleteSue...such great news to hear about Lou!
And Major...you stole my thunder about the loss of spontaneity in the Park. It has taken the joy of the freedom of movement that we once had. Oh for the Private Party days again. I now just wish for a general admission ticket to simply walk around Park without taking-in an attraction. :( KS
For all those concerned about the forlorn little mine train, it is being (or maybe has been) restored by the Carolwood Foundation. Tim LaGaly, who rebuilt the Lilly Belle some years ago, is handling the job.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.markeades.com/disneyland-mine-train-restoration-underway/
Sue, thanks so much for the update on Lou, we continue to pray for his full recovery as he returns home to health.
ReplyDelete@KS, I'm with you on the general admission ticket. I could go to TSI and sit in the devastated hulk that remains and remember how cool it was when I was 10.
@Steve DG, thanks for that piece of news about the train. Someone will cherish it even if Disney won't.
JG
Sue, even the Castle sneaked it's way into that first pic!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that Lou is doing better and was able to leave the hospital!
Oh, and I was at work and had to hit send before I was done.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Lou's doing better!
Steve D.: Thank you for adding that link. It sure is nice to see that poor little train has been rescued!
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic! I didn't even notice that sneaky castle butting in, too!
Stu, since when does work come before GDB?! Even Nanook retired so he could be a full-time Jr. Gorilla. ;o)
Annual passes, fast passes, pre-pay-extra "get in the front of the line" passes, and VIP passes - have all made trips to the Parks pain in the "passes." OK, I'm getting down off my soapbox. (Stu, I agree with you about WDW.)
Love today's funny comments!
Thank you for the nice comments regarding my dad! He's eating (with assistance) and talking a little, today...and also trying to use his arms and hands. All very encouraging! I told him he has to hang around until ALL his pictures have been posted on GDB.
Sue..I'm late to say I'm encouraged to hear the news! KS
ReplyDeleteThanks, KS!
ReplyDelete