Donald Duck Days - February 27 & 28, 1971

It’s Donald Duck Days at Disneyland, February 27 and 28, 1971. “SEE two special parades at 12:30 and 4:45 p.m.” I hope it wasn’t the same parade twice!






The back has a great game, the “Donald Duck Odd-yssey Game” The object was to earn souvenir decals from the five magical realms of Disneyland. Lucky for us we've got all five stickers so water will now roll off our backs.






Following up on yesterday’s post, here is the back of the Euro Disneyland Passport. Westcot2000 asked if the passport had a date, possibly the date is August 31, 1993, but that’s just a guess from “310893”It seems much later than the opening in April 1992, maybe it was an expiration date? I was told this was from the first week or so the park was open. Also note it’s “Valid during ANY SEASON.” and the first three letters of the computer print are "MKP" Magic Kingdom Paris??? I'm confused, you?





Both of the items in today’s post were given to me along with a TON of vintage Disneyland paper items spanning three decades; tickets, photos, magazines and lots, lots more. You know who you are out there so THANK YOU again for your amazing gifts, we’re all going to be enjoying them.

Euro Disneyland Pre-opening Report

Time for a post on a subject I know nothing about...  Euro Disneyland.  Now called Disneyland Paris, this was the second Disney Theme Park built outside of the united states. This great glossy color brochure is a gem. The artwork reminds me of the Walt Disney World concepts (cover art of the Castle look familiar?) and the entire brochure looks to be copied from the Tokyo Disneyland pre-opening brochure (link).








Hey, I like that map! Isn't that concept art on the right (Tomorrowland-ish) from Disneyland circa 1960's? This place looks pretty similar to Disneyland Anaheim, maybe I better visit France!









There is a 22 page report that came with the brochure. Its pretty dry, but any Disney theme park nut like me will find it fascinating. Download the entire report here:

Euro Disneyland 22 page report - Disney Way I


I want one copy of everything in this library! Jason at Disneyland Nomenclature might find the "Nomenclature Guidelines" of some interest, I sure would!






There are a few pages that talk about Tokyo Disneyland, this is the second page of the "coming attractions" to Tokyo Disneyland. "Matterhorn Bobsleds" March 1993. I don't think that ever happened did it? Toyko Magic might know.






This blank envelope came with the package, I have no idea why.




Here's an early Euro Disneyland Passport or "Haute saison" you didn't know I speak French did you? Oh, I don't....

A Celebration of Heroic Proportions - February 23 & 24, 195

A Celebration of Heroic Proportions February 23 & 24, 1985. Wow, that's a pretty strong statement! I guess giving away a couple of cars every DAY is a big deal, even if most of them were Chevy Cavaliers!

Here's a weird press photo of the Captain Hooks ship in the Main Street Electrical Parade. Black and White photos at night seem kind of lame for what they are trying to convey here. Yes the photo looks just as bad in person.

This Week Magazine - September 19, 1954

Welcome to Magazine Monday. For today’s feature let’s set the way back machine as far as it goes here on the blog. From September 19, 1954 it’s “This Week Magazine”. This large format “Newspaper” magazine is from the “Cleveland Plain Dealer”.

“Teen Tops. Fashion hits with the younger set” you’ll see more about that later. The mental illness article was a real downer with its talk of lobotomies so you won’t see more of that later.






“Walt Disney’s New Ten Million Dollar Toy”. These old article sure made a big deal about how much the park was going to cost and they were usually wrong! What train is that??? Parts of the train resemble the C.K. Holiday (link) but the number is wrong and it seems larger? Plus wasn't the C.K. Holiday built from scratch?

Throughout the entire article Disneyland is referred to as a “Fair”. I wonder what Walt’s thoughts on that were?






“Sardinian Donkeys” and “Midget Horses”, sounds more like a Circus! “Pot Shots at Indians”, that is NOT the way the shooting gallery ended up.






Did someone ask the Sardinian donkey if they wanted to wear that costume? Fascinating information on the “Adventures of Alice in Wonderland” attraction. Poor Land of Tomorrow, getting the short end of the stick in 1954 just like 2009!!!!






Not much else in this issue except advertisements and this great Agatha Christie story “Murder at the Vicarage”. I like the full page illustration by Robert Fawcett.







Speaking of advertisements, here we go. It’s the 1950’s, so you gotta have Oatmeal! On the left are some more “Teen Tops", I like the “Jester” with its double droop.






“For 4th Meal Fun”! Only in the 1950’s was dessert considered a meal!






"Waxed paper keeps food fresher, longer." “It isn’t a meal without BREAD!” so there.






Ok ladies, time for house work while wearing your Sunday finest. Do laundry the “safe, easy way” with “Purex Dry Bleach”. Hey that looks pretty handy, I’m going to have to find myself a jar of that stuff.






“Nothing else will wash as clean as TIDE yet is so mild!” I hope Larry Tate paid Darrin Stephens top dollar for that slogan!






Since we are in 1954 and in case you missed my two prior 1954 Magazine posts, here are the links to both.


Link to: Why Disney changed his mind about TV - TV Guide October 1954






Link to: Fortnight revisited, November 1954 - Before the attitude....

Bonus Sunday - Dell Comics Complete Fantastyland Section 1955

From Yesterday's post, here is the entire "Fantasyland" section of the Giant Dell Comic from 1955.





Complete Fantasyland Section of Giant Dell Comic 1955 - 55mb


To entice you to download the entire section, here's the first two pages of the Fantasyland section.

Dell’s GIANT Comics – “Walt Disney’s Donald Duck in Disneyland”. 1955

Welcome to Souvenir Saturday! Now that I’ve expanded my storage space for the blog, we shouldn’t have any further interruptions.

Dell’s GIANT Comics – “Walt Disney’s Donald Duck in Disneyland”. Dated 1955, the content is defiantly pre-opening as some of the artwork doesn’t match the actual park.

The Front and back covers are stunning. This type of artwork really catches my eye, I could gaze at it all day long.





The back cover is even better than the front. I like the way they moved stuff around so everything fits in the scene.






Inside the front cover Donald points out some of the “wonderful things to see and do at Disneyland”. (4) Rocket Pylon – TWA not signed on yet? (9) Mad Tea Party Ride – I guess there not “cups” yet? (15) South Sea Island Village – Adventureland? (16) Log Fort and Block Houses – What Block Houses?






The comic book starts of with the whole gang showing up at the main gate because Mr. Disney thought they should have a “special preview before the park officially opens”.










After they separate at the hub, they visit each land. Most of the stories digress into typical Dell comics stuff and the stories don’t really talk about Disneyland.

In Adventureland Donald Tells Daisy a story of when he went to Africa and of course Daisy doesn’t listen because she is so into the ride!






Tomorrowland takes Mickey, his nephew Morty, Niece Ferdie and Gyro Gearloose to the moon, with trouble from Pete and Skrugg!






Frontierland tells the tale of Davy Crockett and Georgie Russell, not much Disneyland in this section.






The Fantasyland section if full of the Disneyland attractions in that land and is a blast to read. Check back tomorrow on Bonus Sunday for the entire Fantasyland section.






As the day ends the gang meets up again at the hub. Uncle Scrooge missed all the fun, but read on and you’ll see he still had a great time!







My favorite panel from the comic book.

Post - Delay

I had a great post all lined up for Souvenir Saturday when guess what? I finally figured out how "blogspot" makes its money!!! It did seem like "something for nothing" since I have posted 420+ posts and not paid a dime.

Did you know there was a limit to the number of uploads on your blog? I guess I never paid attention as I'm sure it was warning me somewhere.  Anyway, I paid for the upgraded storage account (10 times the space of the free account) but of course they take your money right away and them make you wait up 24 hours for it to take effect!

Please enjoy this error message for up to 24 hours, courtesy of blogspot and piscca.

Operation M.O.U.S.E. Money - Follow up

You may recall a post from last month were we took a look at some late 60’s Operation Mouse Money, sort of a early Disney Dollar, only it was worth ¢50. A loyal blog reader sent in scans of the Operation Mouse Money and I posted it here (link). Well, after some emails back and forth, the loyal reader let me know he was the original owner of a couple of the Mouse Monies and was willing to part with one.

We agreed on a trade, I happily picked up a few items at the Emporium for the swap and in no time at all, the Mouse Money shown below was in my mail box! I was happy as Homer Simpson in a candy shop! It’s the size of a real dollar and its in amazing condition. And its on Star and Castle Paper!!!!! The readers scans were great, but I just had to scan it again now that its home.








Look what else my loyal reader friend sent me, a Disneyland Line from July 17, 1980, how incredibly cool was that! THANKS! What a fun cover, the middle photo is silly & cute, the ones of Walt on the right are nice if not often repeated, but the ones on the left look less familiar to me.






Park Scan; Before and after Black & White style.






Typical anniversary history stuff that I never get tired of reading. And I sure do like the story about the Clock on Main Street Station having the wrong time and why it wasn’t getting fixed right.






The back cover has some nice rare photos too, thanks Tink!





With this blog I've meet some great people, made new friends and made some great trades! Thanks everyone!

Come back tomorrow for Souvenir Saturday - 1955.