Disneyland Executive Club & Three Fences revisited

For the lucky few, it’s Disneyland’s “Executive Club”. The "Executive Club" is not to be confused with the "Magic Kingdom Club” (ticket & book shown in yesterday’s post). The Magic Kingdom Club only provided discounts and bonus tickets to employees of big companies and organization, check back soon for a post series about the Magic Kingdom Club.

The Executive Club was set up for companies and organizations to buy tickets to Disneyland and GIVE THEM AWAY!!! How come I never worked for a place like that?

I love the way this is worded… I picture some guy in a polyester business suit and a big cigar entertaining his guests “without ever leaving his office”.





At first it looks like streaks from the scanner, but I think it's strings from the balloons, odd picture.






Free ticket books, free meals – Hey that 1970’s couple is eating at the Tahitian Terrance (I heard a rumor it might be coming back). And a VIP Hostess Tour for "extra-special guests".






This certificate system was neat. The company or organization only paid for what was redeemed. I think I have some of these blank certificates somewhere, can't find them, ugh, so much for organizing my collections. I post them when I find them.






I got lucky and was able to stop by Disneyland for lunch yesterday. Check out the gate flyer! I have gotten so used to the “year of a million” fluff on the front that I didn’t notice this until I got home. What a great picture of the Matterhorn, it almost looks like an old photo, right down to the authentic Mickey Tee-shirts. Nice touch whoever came up with this one.






It almost looks like this from the Summer of 1971. Of course you can find this full Vacationland posted on this coming Bonus Sunday.






I went back to “Three Fences”, some things at Disneyland just draw me to them. I got a better picture this time. Jason at Disneyland Nomenclature reports the black fence is from the Autopia combine of 1999/2000, the green fence on the right I believe is from the Sub-Nemo update of 2007. That fence along the back is the one that draws my attention (yes I touched it). Compare this with the last two photo’s below.





From Daveland, this is Autopia in 1956. That fence is definitely the same style as the old one at “Three Fences” now, but it can’t be that old.





Also from Daveland, this 1959 pre-opening shot of the sub lagoon area shows the same type of fence. Do you think that 3 ½ panel section that is still there is from 1959?




Tomorrow?

Disneyland - 1965

Today we take a little trip back to 1965. Disneyland is 10 years old and already so different than 1955. It's the "Tencennial Celebration" the "First Fabulous Decade". I sure do like to watching the Disneyland Tencennial TV special with Walt showing off all the new and exciting things coming to Disneyland. Walt's interaction with his Imagineers is a pleasure to watch.






Here a "Magic Key Book" From April 1965. These were for "Magic Kingdom Club" members only. I promise I have a whole series coming soon that will detail the "Club".





This "Magic Key Coupon" was pure magic in 1965, it gets you on ANY ride in Disneyland. Hmmm, what to use it on???





Here's your list of choices. I'm heading for the Mine Train thru Natures Wonderland!





$4 seems like a tremendous deal to me.





Here's your Gate Flyer for 1965.





I like 1965, I think I'll stay for while, how about you?

Knott's Berry Farm - The "C" Ticket part 1

Knott's Berry Farm underwent many changes in 1975. You can see my prior Knott's posts by checking the "labels" section on the lower right side of this blog. I just added the "labels" function to the blog, I am trying to update the previous posts and should have them all done this week.

Part one of the Knott's "C" ticket post will cover 1975 to 1977. There was no "C" ticket prior to 1975, that year Knott's went from A-B to A-B-C-D. From May 1975, this Adult "C" ticket has most of the attractions from the 1974 "B" Ticket. A nice round up if you ask me.






Next is a Child's May 1975 "C" Ticket. Basically the same thing as the Adult "C" shown above. However, this "C" ticket came from a May 1975 ticket book that still looked like the old 1974 and prior books, see next scan.






This is the Admission ticket for the the May 1975 Child Knott's Ticket book. This is the "old" style with Whittles, I thought we left him in 1974?






Here is the back, again I thought we left the "Fun" family in 1974? Dad's pipe is way out of style, come on, it's 1975! See the "755" on the lower right side, May 1975.






Things must have been a little confusing at the main gate in 1975. This is also from May 1975, this matches the ticket style much better than Whittles!






Just to further add to the confusion, there are three different "New" style May 1975 backs of the ticket books! The first two I have no idea why they are different color, everything else is the same. The third one is for "Adventures Club" member's only.






Speaking of the "Adventures Club", here is a club "C" ticket from May 1976. The new Roaring 20's land gets two attractions on the "C" ticket. The Sky Cabin, still at Knott's and I still have never been on it. The Gasoline Alley Auto Race, making it's debut on the "C" ticket but moving UP to the "B" ticket in 1977 (link). I wonder why it moved up; Fuel prices? So popular that that it made sense to move it up? Also, the Antique Auto Ride became the Tijuana Taxi, more mini car confusion!






Was the Sky Cabin originally going to be called "Sky Flight"? Or is that just a reference to the entire attraction area?






This concept art is great and while it didn't come out exactly like this, it was pretty amazing when I saw it new.






May 1977, no changes. This mustard color Globe paper is starting to grow on me, at first I thought it was kind of ugly, but now I like it.






Lets go to the Summer of 1975 for this "Knott's Good Time Gazette". Was this used as a gate flyer?






Back side lists the actives and hours. Did anyone see that TV special on Channel 5?





And of course the inside is a big MAP!!! Full high resolution scan here:

June 1975 Knott's Map (10mb)






With all the Knott's maps posted lately, I completely forgot this oldie. From 2008, do you recognize the place?

Mega Bonus Sunday

As promised throughout the week, here are four "complete scans". High resolution in PDF Format.

From Summer 1960, Vacationland. Slow down Mickey, you're spinning it to fast! Neat stuff inside about Natures Wonderland, the all new Disney After Dark and lots more.

Vacationland - Summer 1960 (52mb)

Now for a couple of guide books back to back. Summer 1973. Notable; First and only Main Street Electrical Parade cover. The last showing of the Carousel of Progress can be found on page 23.

Disneyland Guide Book - Summer 1973 (12mb)






Summer 1974. Notable; The New America Sings on the cover, first and only cover appearance. Guide shortened by 4 pages (one sheet) achieved by making New Orleans Square and Bear County only one page each, the "Shops and Stores" section was also reduce to two pages from four.

Disneyland Guide Book - Summer 1974 (11mb)






And staying in 1974,this Disneyland Family Special is a fun little guide. If you have even seen a Walt Disney World guide like this, it's daunting, zillions of choices and plans. The Disneyland plans are a little more conventional and seem like more fun! I decided against the Pinto, for obvious reasons, and the Torino/Galaxy of that year is a bit of a pig, so I'm going with the Capri, three days for $54!

Disneyland Family Special - 1974 (18mb)





Tomorrow: The continuation of the Knott's Lettered ticket series, the "C" Ticket.

Magic Mountain Wall Map - 1971

From the opening year of 1971, this Magic Mountain Wall Map is pretty cool. This is before there was any expansion. Its also true to opening day and not just an artist rendering. See some great Magic Mountain concept art on my 1971 Inaugural Guest Preview Day post (link).

I spiced this together from four large 12" by 18" scans. I did an OK job putting the pieces together (those dark lines are folds, but you see my seams too...). Somehow I got the boarder out of alignment but kept most of the inside in place. Also it lost some clarity along the way.

A slightly higher resolution file can be found here: Magic Mountain Map 1971

If anyone wants to stitch together all four pieces for themselves, in high resolution, you can download it here:

Magic Mountain Wall Map in 4 parts at 400dpi (Zip File - 38mb)

Come back tomorrow for Mega Bonus Sunday!

Main Street Electrical Parade - Back at Disneyland?

The Main Street Electrical Parade, could it be coming back to Disneyland? It’s been over at Disney’s California Adventure since the summer of 2001. According to Al Lutz, the current plan (miceage.com link) is to have the the Electrical Parade return to Disneyland in the spring of 2009.

Let's take a look back at the famed parade. From the Summer of 1973, this is the first (and I believe only) appearance of the MSEP on a Guide Book. Oh, what the heck, I will post this entire book on Bonus Sunday.

Since this little “Facts and Features” flyer mentions the soon to be released “Pete’s Dragon” I’ll place it at 1977. “1. Study the Map on the back of this flyer carefully.”





Here’s the map they want you to study carefully! Seems pretty simple to me, but I’ll study it a bit longer anyway…





Well, I thought America Sings got short handed with space in the big souvenir books of the late 70’s and early 80’, The Main Street Electrical Parade got almost zero space! Out of 8 Guides (73 to 86) this is all I could find. “Stuff from the Park” has some great rare shots of the parade in action (link).

Now from October 17, 1996, your Souvenir Program to an Annual Passholder Event “Farewell, Main Street Electrical Parade”.





WOW an entire special event just to celebrate the closing of a parade. Where was the party when the Skyway closed? PeopleMover? Rocket Jets? Mission to Mars? America Sings? Ok, I’ll stop.





Oh, I see, special merchandise, now I get it. Oh and how many people bought the “authentic light bulb” for $10? There’s one on Ebay (link) buy-it-now for $19.99.





Interesting how this Souvenir Program is mostly Black and Yellow. Was there some kind of message in that?

So is it coming back? (Said in my best Paul Frees voice) "It could only happen at Disneyland"

This weekend: For Saturday I’m trying to stitch together a super opening year (1971) Magic Mountain Wall Map. Sunday is Mega Bonus Sunday. All these in there entirety; Summer 1960 Vacationland, 1974 Disneyland Family Special (United Air Lines), Summer’s 1973 and 1974 Guide Books.

It was 20 years ago today...

April 10th 1988, America Sings sang its last song. I did a post back in February (link) showing a press pass and a grainy video of the attraction. I have since found a much nicer video on YouTube. I rode Splash Mountain on my last visit just to see all the animals from America Sings, ok, that last drop was a blast too!!!

This was filmed on the last day, April 10, 1988. Notice one of the geese is missing in the first two scenes (there are supposed to be four in each scene). I hear they “loaned” them out to Star Tours but never got them back! (YouTube Link – part 1) - (YouTube Link – part 2).

Here is the cover to the Summer 1974 Guide Book. Yes I posted this cover before, but check back this Sunday for the entire guide.





Some stock photo’s I cobbled together from the big souvenir books. They didn’t devote very much space in the books for America Sings, not even half a page







WOW – Check out this whole page photo from an early 80’s souvenir book! THIS is Disneyland…





Tomorrow? Rumor has it that “It’s Back" - Here’s a sneak preview: