Twain from the Train (2005)

My very first visit to Disneyland was in January 2005. Of course, it rained pretty much all day. But it was pretty exciting to see historical "Disney things" for the first time. Things that had history that dated back to Walt's day. For example, the Mark Twain Riverboat, seen here as viewed from the Disneyland Railroad.

On one of my Walt Disney Treasures DVD sets, there's an episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color called "Disneyland After Dark", first aired in 1962. It features nighttime entertainment around Disneyland, including many guest stars. One segment featured Louis Armstrong performing on the Mark Twain. Very cool!

Say Cheese... or Not! (2009)

I've previously written about the photo cutouts that used to be found in the back of the Town Square Exposition Hall, before it was converted into the Town Square Theater on Main Street USA at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Here's a December 2009 photo of Amy with Dopey from Snow White. Or more like an accidental photo "before" side-by-side an actual smiling photo "after." I must have accidentally shot the photo when Amy wasn't ready. It produced a pretty funny face!

How LEGO Quatro stacks up... literally!

A few years ago I wrote about ripping off a kid at a garage sale by grossly underpaying for a large collection of bricks.  While I made out quite well on that transaction, it took a bit of work to get all the bricks cleaned and sanitized.  I've continued this cycle many times over the years.

Recently, Amy picked up a used bucket of LEGO Quatro bricks for Wesley at a local sale.  The Quatro line features LEGO bricks that are 4 times the size of standard LEGO, and twice the size of the popular Duplo line.  Like all LEGO bricks, they work together so you never quite outgrow the toy.  I've still got Duplo bricks from my childhood I pull out every now and then to work into new creations!

Curiously, the Quatro line is also discontinued.  LEGO operated it from 2004-2006 as an entry into the 1+ year old market, as their existing Duplo line started at age 2.  According to Lugnet, only 10 different sets were produced in the line before the plug was pulled.

Cleaning oversized LEGO bricks

I've read that the death of Quatro came out of the restructuring of The LEGO Group back in 2006, as the company looked to turn things around financially after some pretty disastrous years.  Rival Mega Bloks has a similar-sized "Maxi" series of bricks that are very popular and far more affordable.  LEGO just couldn't compete by selling more expensive, but higher quality, plastic bricks at this size.

Still, you can find Quatro pretty easily at garage sales and the online secondary market.  When Wesley is old enough, he'll be playing with this oversized bricks that I cleaned today!

The Haunted Mansion from Tom Sawyer's Island (1985)

We return to the Magic Kingdom during our 1985 vacation.  Here, my Dad, sister, and I are sitting on some boxes on Tom Sawyer's Island, looking across to the Haunted Mansion.  Originally, the Mansion didn't have a covered awning, but the hot Florida sun quickly made that a necessity after WDW opened in 1971.  Over the years the awning has changed colors, from white to red to green.  Last year the queue was expanded to include an "interactive graveyard," which in the photo above, would be located on where those trees are on the left side.

And hey, how about those tall socks!

The Backside of Water

Probably one of the most iconic rides at a Magic Kingdom-style park is the Jungle Cruise. It's combination of plastic animals, fake adventure, and cheesy dialogue can be quite fun if you get the right skipper.

Oh, and there's always the "Backside of Water!", as seen in this January 2011 photo from Walt Disney World. This is viewed as your boat goes behind Schweitzer Falls.

Karen & Steve at Santa's Village (1983)

Back in February, I wrote about a set of Walt Disney World sun visors that my sister and I were wearing. Specifically, we noted:

Karen's red Walt Disney World visor features the original "D" logo from WDW, which is still far more iconic than the boring script used today. The red visor part was somewhat transparent, with a white Mickey Mouse head stuck on top. I had an identical version of this visor as well, except that it was blue.

While visiting with my parents a few weeks ago, we flipped through some old photo albums, and wouldn't you know it… I found a photo of myself wearing the blue version of that visor!

My Blue Walt Disney World Visor

The 1983 photo wasn't taken at a Disney theme park, however. Rather, it was shot at Santa's Village, a long-gone amusement park in suburban Chicago (that was recently rebooted with the same name, different experience).

I wonder if my sister and I realized at the time that those helicopter controls really didn't do anything!

History of Norway (2009)

This large mural sits in the queue for the Maelstrom ride at the Norway pavilion in Epcot. It's a fun, but very short, ride… and one of the few "thrills" to be found in World Showcase. Disney's official description is as follows:

Maelstrom is a family-friendly adventure on a troll-tormented Viking ship from modern-day to historic Norway in the World Showcase area at Epcot theme park.  Come aboard for a stormy voyage through a Norwegian fjord, a troll-infested swamp and on to the North Sea via a thrilling backward plummet.

After departing a contemporary village, you'll be water-blasted to the past through a unique aquatic landscape. You never know what's around the next bend—you might even encounter polar bears and pirates! Once you've dodged the trickster trolls and other obstacles, disembark in the safety of a calm harbor. Then watch a glorious 5-minute film that captures the remarkable beauty of Norway today.

Exploring Norway's heritage isn't going to be smooth sailing, so buck up like a Viking would!

I wouldn't say it's that exciting, but there's never usually a line, so it's worth a ride!

Anyone for Niagara Falls? (2009)

Today we visit the Carousel of Progress, as seen in 2009 on a family trip. This attraction features the song "It's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow," which was written by Richard & Robert Sherman.

Robert passed away at age 86 this week. Thus it's fitting to feature the Carousel as a little tribute, given that he worked with Walt on this project for General Electric's Progressland pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair. We'll miss you, Mr. Sherman!

Steve at the Sun Icon (2005)

Amy & I first visited Disney('s) California Adventure in 2005. As has been our experience in visiting West Coast Disney theme parks, it rained. DCA has never had a good reputation, something that will hopefully be changed when the first phase of its massive $1 billion reboot is finished up later this year.

In today's photo, I'm standing next to the Sun Icon, which believe it or not, sat at the end of what was DCA's "Main Street". This oversized hubcap looks like it would fit in better at a tourist welcome center/rest area. There apparently were reflectors that would help aim sunlight at this sculpture throughout the day. I wouldn't know… it was raining.

Cheap stuff like this is part of the reason that California Adventure got such a bad reputation. It was just bad all around. Bad theme, low budget execution, and pretty much no fun. Which is why it's being replaced with this…

Carthay Circle Theater Concept Art

This is a recreation of Carthay Circle Theater, which is where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs got its world premiere in 1937. It's all part of a new "Main Street" being built in DCA called Buena Vista Street. Hopefully, it serves as a better visual anchor when you first walk into the park.

I'm looking forward to returning to DCA someday… and hopefully, it won't rain.

Magical Sibling Visors (1985)

We return to Walt Disney World in 1985… the home of double-decker buses, unadorned golf balls, and tall socks.  My Dad, sister, and I are in EPCOT Center's World Showcase, overlooking the lagoon.  You can see The American Adventure and Japan in the background, along with one of the Friendship boat launches.

This photo is notable for a couple reasons.  First of all… Dad wearing a tank top.  What in the world?

Beyond that, however, I wanted to point out the sun visors that my sister and I are wearing.  They are full of Disney retro-goodness.  Here's a close-up:

Retro Disney Goodness

Karen's red Walt Disney World visor features the original "D" logo from WDW, which is still far more iconic than the boring script used today.  The red visor part was somewhat transparent, with a white Mickey Mouse head stuck on top.  I had an identical version of this visor as well, except that it was blue.  The tan/brown visor I'm wearing proclaims EPCOT Center and features the original EPCOT logo.  Looking back, the hat color was blah, but I loved the logos used on the front!

Of all these souvenirs  from our 1985 trip, I think only my shirt still exists.  I've got it in a box here at the condo!