We've seen plenty of photos of Storybook Land over the years, but in my opinion today's examples are particularly beautiful. The warm light of the setting sun adds a romantic glow to the scenes, and what can I say, they are just pretty pix.
First up is this Skyway view, with Cinderella's Castle (or is it just "Cinderella Castle"?) on top of its stony mountain. Casey Junior is chugging by; we can see some of the outbuildings to the left of the castle, part of the pony farm I suppose? At the bottom of the frame, Toad Hall sits on the end of that island. A twisted tree trunk looks like it was actually the root system of a small tree that was stuck in the ground upside-down.
This next view was taken from a Canal Boat, with a nice composition featuring another Casey Jr. train, with Cindy's Castle again. And Toad Hall, much closer!
Major-
ReplyDeleteThese images are particularly outstanding examples of Storybook Land. Only the 'big' castles are non possessive; Cindy's castle in SBL is possessive.
Thanks, Major.
Wow, you know how to call 'em, Major. These are indeed, beautiful pictures. The various lighting conditions came together to produce wonderful images! I don't see the Pumpkin Coach. Although there is something orange up near the Castle. But it doedsn't appear to be on the roadway.
ReplyDeleteCall Orkin! The 'quilt' is infested with starfish!
I can't decide which of these two photos I like best, so I'll just say, BOTH! Cindy's Castle sure looks iconic here, rising up, up, up above the Casey Jr. train. Looks like there are a couple of monkeys in the monkey cage.
Thanks for today's exceptional photos, Major. (You're spoiling us rotten!)
Isn't that Ratty's home, out in front of Toad Hall? And didn't one or more of the Disney souvenir books state that a grape plant with a tangled or tortured root system, was turned upside down and stuck in the ground (just as you guessed, Major!) and used to represent the tree above Ratty's house?
ReplyDeleteWonderful images today. Love the stitching on the patchwork quilt inspired by the Silly Symphony animated short "Lullaby Land" (1933). To think one day those trees behind Storybook Land would be nicely filled in creating a beautiful backdrop of green foliage. Thanks, Major.
ReplyDeleteStorybook Land is one of my favorites. These photos are kind of historical, not for what's in Disneyland, but outside of it: including the Pope House and the very very old Dreyfus Winery (1885), when grapes were going to be the thing before oranges. Unfortunately, a disease ran rampant and killed all the grapes...hence: Plant oranges. The building lasted until 1973. Strangely, it does have Disney connections as the bank building built on the site, along with the Sheraton, now the (something else)....I had an office at the Pacific Inland bank (now defunct) when I worked in Group Sales...MKC was there too...and the Sheraton bar was home to many after hours cocktail hours. When the Alicante Hotel was built down the street...all the offices were relocated there...with a few other departments added. The actual Administration building on Disneyland property is pretty small. I have heard..legend....that Walt said he did not want an Administration building on site, as management "needed to be out there with the guests" and employees. I do agree to some extent...the closer you are to the customer, the more you know...but somewhere you have to house the accountants/etc. The "Ad building" had various offices too...and wardrobe/costuming/security took up a lot of it on the back, and the Disney University/Casting on the front. Now you can barely see it, and I think it's an employee Starbucks. Back to Storybook land...As a garden enthusiast, my mind boggles at the amount of attention you would need to give this garden to look so very very perfect all the time. With so many dwarf plants that require people who really know what they are doing...and not those that just turn on the sprinklers and walk away. PLUS: all the boxwoods to trim, and maintenance on the miniatures....etc etc etc....really a masterpiece. Please do not jack with this experience WDI! Thanks Major for the mini rabbit hole Tuesday. PS. Re: yesterday: Boysenberry technically is not capitalized...but in the vernacular often it is due to it's family name. As raspberry, blueberry, blackberry...are not capitalized, nor would boysenberry. No offense to Rudolf Boysen. In the plant world there are strict naming guidelines. Technically, a boysenberry is Rubus idaeus, Rubus fruticosus, Rubus aboriginum, and Rubus loganabaccus. As loganberry...after James Logan is not capitalized nor would another fruit like boysenberry, or snowbank berry (after Luther Burbank). Meyer lemons after Frank Meyer tend to be capitalized most of the time, and I think it's because Meyer and Lemon are two different words. Boysen Berry would certainly be capitalized as well...as it's Boysen's Berry. Ultimately, Mr. Knott named the fruit after the guy who gave him the struggling vines...and as a matter of respect to Rudy Boysen, I generally capitalize it too. In the agriculture world, these statements I'm sure would be debated.
ReplyDeleteTwo splendid views of the best part of Disneyland! SBL is the symbol of the kind of all-in chutzpah that characterizes the best attractions.
ReplyDeleteI like photo 2 for the composition and general look, but, as Bu notes, photo 1 shows more than just the attraction, the historic world beyond the berm, where the hard work gets done.
The tree in front of Toad Hall was Ratty’s dwelling, and this looks like a grape vine to me.
In my farming years, we had orchards of Santa Rosa plums (developed by Luther B) and Franquette and Hartleigh walnuts, our neighbors had Thompson Seedless grape vines and Fritz almonds. as I recall, these names of the developers of the varieties were often capitalized, as were the plums, but it wasn’t consistent. The various market news sources used capitals, but grocery stores often did not. There were also variations in spelling, Hartley for Hartleigh, etc. still not sure which was correct as both were in common usage. Off to research this now.
Loving these pictures, Major, and the memories they bring, often having little to do with the subjects. Thank you.
JG
One of the nurseries near our old farm calls the walnut varieties “Hartley” and Franquette, both capitalized. I guess the naming settled down after 60 years.
ReplyDeleteJG
Nanook, I was pretty sure that was the case (re: “Cinderella’s Castle”), it even appears that way in a notable vintage postcard.
ReplyDeleteJB, I looked for the pumpkin coach too (I always do), but I think these were the early days when it was so low that it would not be visible from these angles. I feel like I need to do either the Storybook Canal Boats or Casey Jr. at night the next time I go to the park!
TokyoMagic!, yes, that’s Ratty’s, now known as Poochie’s. I’m not sure where I heard that story about the uprooted tree (or grape plant), maybe it is in “Disneyland: The First Quarter Century”?
K. Martinez, I like the stitching too, though I don’t know how many people “got” that the landscape was supposed to be a big patchwork quilt! The big trees are great too, my friend Mr. X is waiting for other trees to make Galaxy’s Edge not visible from Frontierland.
Bu, While I’ve heard much about the Pope House, I have not heard of the Dreyfus Winery. I’m amazed that the building (not sure which one is the one you mean?) lasted until 1973. I think Walt was right about getting the management out of the offices and into the park, where they can observe the crowds, restaurants, queues, bottlenecks, bathrooms (yes, even bathrooms) for themselves, rather than waiting for a report from an area supervisor. But there’s that nice air conditioning in that office! The “Team Disney” building (which I find kind of ugly) seems to have taken over for the old Administration Building, I guess? Not sure what else goes on in the old structure. We’ve read a number of rumors that Storybook Land could be on the chopping block, but both Casey and the Canal Boats were very busy on my recent visit, they sure weren’t lacking for guests. I did a little research of my own re: boysenberries; I didn’t think the word should be capitalized, even with Rudy Boysen’s name being attached. But it is not exactly a huge deal! It’s pretty nice that Walter Knott gave Rudolph Boysen credit for the berries that “made” his park (sort of), and anyway, “Knottsberries” doesn’t quite have the same ring.
JG, even after all these years, I still get a kick out of getting glimpses of the backstage areas from “up high”. Of course much of it is familiar(ish), but I am interested in the Dreyfus Winery, I wonder if that was mentioned in the Todd James Pierce book? If I can find my copy I will look. I truly don’t ever remember that the “tree” in front of Ratty’s was a grape vine, but in this case I think it’s my brain being faulty.
JG, I suppose the spelling (or capitalization) depends on each individual circumstance.
the first photo evokes the early Disneyland which I think of as "what if I built some fun stuff in my backyard?"... which is of course just what Walt did, at scale.
ReplyDeleteas a tiny lad, our family visited Colossal Cave outside of Tucson, and I still remember the exact location in our backyard where I took a gardening hand trowel and told my Mom "I'm going to build a Collosal Cave"
Major, nice pics. Bu, interesting to learn about the winery building.
Major, HOW IN THE WORLD did you recently get in and out of that Monkey cage car?? You are tall!
ReplyDeleteLTL, that “backyard setup” quality is one of the reasons I like Storybook Land so much, though perhaps guests of today won’t understand the charm of it all. I love that you wanted to build a Colossal Cave!
ReplyDeleteLou and Sue, I barely fit, and it wasn’t easy to unfold myself out of the cage either!