Here's a pair of very nice views that I am pretty sure date to 1968; I think you will like them!
First up is this shot taken from the Peoplemover, looking down on the Motor Boat Cruise, which is experiencing a traffic jam. It's those ducks again! Why don't they get jobs? I like this unusual view, with the boats passing beneath the Autopia freeway.
Next is this great shot of guests who appear to be returning from Tom Sawyer Island - this is the "Injun Joe" raft. There was also a "Becky Thatcher", a "Huck Finn", and "Tom Sawyer" - though I don't know how many of these still operate today. I'd guess that no more than two rafts are still in service. Anyway, the guests seem to be at a raft landing that is not far from the Keelboat and Canoe load area; across the way, another raft seems to be dropping off a load of people. The river really looks wonderful here!
Major-
ReplyDeleteClearly, all those 'captains' are pissed at not being able to ply the waters of the Submarine Lagoon - but as we know, the 'dark water' and 'clear water' systems shall never co-mingle.
THIS is the Rivers of America as it should be - including a 'homemade' exit sign - and not a Fantasmic in sight-!
Thanks, Major.
First pic......"Leaning Employee Alert!!!"
ReplyDeleteIn the second pic, we can see just a smidgen of Fowler's Harbor on the far left.
Thanks, Major!
@ TM!-
ReplyDelete"Leaning Employee Alert!!!"
I KNOW-!! The horror-!
Interesting indeed. I don't understand what's happening here. How is it even possible for the Motorboats to pile up like this? Did the CM at the station go take a bathroom break? You say "ducks", but I don't see any ducks, not even AEDs!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the River looks very natural here: the right color, the right kind of ripples, lush foliage along the banks. Looks like we can see Castle Rock in the background. There are two CMs on the Raft, is that normal? Maybe the one on the left stays at the dock to help people on and off. Behind the "Injun Joe" planks are three blond boys with crewcuts. They also appear to be dressed the same, and at least two of them are wearing glasses. Could they be triplets? Although the one nearest to us seems to be a little shorter... must be the runt of the litter.
An interesting 'pile up' pic and a nice day on the ROA. Thanks, Major.
@ JB-
ReplyDelete"How is it even possible for the Motorboats to pile up like this?"
Initially I was thinking the exact same thing; but if you look at other images of the Motor Boat Cruise, this condition of 'traffic' on the waters is actually quite common.
I KNOW-!! The horror-!
ReplyDeleteNanook......."Friday the 13th Part XVII: The Leaning Employee!"
Nanook.......preceded by "Friday the 13th Part XVI: Jason Goes To Disneyland!"
ReplyDeleteAs a kid, I worried that there wasn’t enough clearance for the motorboats under the bridge and they’d get stuck. Just one of those weird things you think about rides you never rode and only saw in the off season on days they weren’t operating. Of course, I think of a lot of weird things, even without those parameters.
ReplyDeleteJB, I’m looking hard but I can’t see Castle Rock. Is it behind the Autopia?
That was me above. As if you all couldn’t guess.
ReplyDeleteThe riders in the next to last boat have it figured out. Relax and enjoy the ride since the steering wheels do nothing.
ReplyDeleteI know we have heard it all before, but I miss the motorboats. A quiet peaceful ride through the woods, entwined with Autopia in the best Disney fashion.
Major, I’m sure Mike can tell us more about the rafts, but I think today’s rafts are different. The logs seem bigger and the hut is different somehow. I think you are right about there being fewer of them too. This is a great picture, Castle Rock’s bandanna flag waving in the distance. Pull up a dynamite keg and enjoy the ride!
Thank you!
JG
Nanook, I would be mad too, my 1,000 hp motor boat deserves clear water!
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, I understand that the management thinks that a leaning employee is a bad look, but jeez, those poor guys had to stand for hours and hours. Lean all you want, dude!
Nanook, Bu has probably passed out.
JB, oh trust me, ducks are responsible, even if you can’t see them. They have their evil ways. I think two CMs on the rafts was normal back then, but have no idea about now. I assume there are always cutbacks to save money. I noticed the triplets, they are slightly different sizes so they might just be brothers; sometimes when my brother and I were younger people thought we were twins.
Nanook, yes we’ve seen many photos of the motorboats “bumper to bumper” (so to speak), I wouldn’t mind *close* boats, but some of those appear to actually be touching.
TokyoMagic!, wow, I would love to see a Friday the 13th movie filmed at Disneyland!
Anonymous, I don’t ever remember being worried about the boats piling up under the bridges, but I definitely was worried about my Autopia car stalling. I think I had a troublesome car one time, an employee had to keep coming out and restarting my car with the pull-cord. It was crummy being the cause of the traffic jams!
Chuck, how do I know that you are the REAL Chuck and not some AI?
JG, I couldn’t remember if the steering wheels might have allowed the boats to go a little bit left or right (all the while constrained by the rail); sort of like the Autopia. It’s been too long. I think the Motorboats would be beloved if they were still around today. I assume that the old waterway was truncated with the advent of “Galaxy’s Edge”. Hmmm, I never thought about the rafts being different today, I’ll be curious to know if they were replaced at some point!
It was such great advertising to be able to see one attraction from another!
ReplyDeleteLots of great late-Sixties textile prints on that raft crowd.
Major, I’d love to see any movie filmed at Disneyland. I wonder how much trouble that would be?
ReplyDeleteAs far as how do you know that I am the REAL Chuck and not some AI? I don’t know as I’m not quite sure myself. Let me ask my next door neighbor, Clu.
^ Chuck — Ha! 40-lbs worth!
ReplyDeleteChuck, if "Clu" has basically the same face as you, then you're both AI.
ReplyDelete