December 31, 2011
December 23, 2011
December 22, 2011
Pecos Bill Entrance
Considered by many as the meanest, toughest, roughest cowboy of them all, Pecos Bill has been credited for inventing all things Western from rodeos to cowboy dancing to spurs, hats, and lassoes. He can draw faster shoot straighter and ride a horse harder than any man alive.
Unfortunately, we don't know when and where he was born, just that he was raised by coyotes and that his name comes from the river in Texas. Over the years, Pecos Bill along with his trusty horse, Widowmaker, have made quite a name for themselves forging new trails and taming others.
Legend tells us several tall tales, like the time Pecos Bill jumped on a powerful twister and rode it like a bucking bronco. Then there was the time when Pecos Bill dug out a path to create the Rio Grande river during a severe drought that hit his beloved Texas. And then there was the day Pecos Bill was so bored that he took his handy six-shooter and shot out all of the stars in the sky except for one. That's why they call Texas the 'Lone Star State.'
In 1878, with the encouragement of his friends, Pecos Bill decided to open his own watering hole, a restaurant, whose motto very much reflects its one-of-a-kind owner, 'The Tastiest Eats and Treats This side of the Rio Grande.' Pecos Bill called it the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe and it quickly became a popular hang-out for some of his legendary friends.
As time went by, it became a tradition when each friend paid a visit they would leave something behind for Pecos Bill to remember them by. As you can see from the articles and artifacts that don the walls, many of which carry inscriptions, Pecos Bill had some mighty impressive friends.
Seems that every trail eventually led to the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.
Unfortunately, we don't know when and where he was born, just that he was raised by coyotes and that his name comes from the river in Texas. Over the years, Pecos Bill along with his trusty horse, Widowmaker, have made quite a name for themselves forging new trails and taming others.
Legend tells us several tall tales, like the time Pecos Bill jumped on a powerful twister and rode it like a bucking bronco. Then there was the time when Pecos Bill dug out a path to create the Rio Grande river during a severe drought that hit his beloved Texas. And then there was the day Pecos Bill was so bored that he took his handy six-shooter and shot out all of the stars in the sky except for one. That's why they call Texas the 'Lone Star State.'
In 1878, with the encouragement of his friends, Pecos Bill decided to open his own watering hole, a restaurant, whose motto very much reflects its one-of-a-kind owner, 'The Tastiest Eats and Treats This side of the Rio Grande.' Pecos Bill called it the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe and it quickly became a popular hang-out for some of his legendary friends.
As time went by, it became a tradition when each friend paid a visit they would leave something behind for Pecos Bill to remember them by. As you can see from the articles and artifacts that don the walls, many of which carry inscriptions, Pecos Bill had some mighty impressive friends.
Seems that every trail eventually led to the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.
December 21, 2011
Mickey’s On Top of the World - The Construction of Disney's Hollywood Studios
This is Mickey Mouse walking on top of
the world. You know which world I’m referring to, right? The
Crossroads of the World landmark found at the entrance.
Based on the original structure from Sunset Boulevard, The Crossroads
of the World at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has one noticeable
difference, Mickey Mouse. While Mickey looks itty bitty from the
ground below, you can get a better sense of his size from the photograph
below taken on Dec. 21, 1988.
Mickey is 5’3” tall while the spinning globe he stands on is 6 feet
in diameter. His right ear is made out of copper in order to serve as a
lightning rod. Both Mickey and the globe were created by former Disney
master sculptor Perry Russ.
Sitting on top of the world, Mickey has been walking and waving to every guest entering the park since opening day.
December 20, 2011
December 19, 2011
December 18, 2011
December 16, 2011
IllumiNations in HDR - Fireworks at Epcot
This picture was not taken by me! If you own the rights for this pic, just let me know!
December 14, 2011
December 13, 2011
ARTISTIC PAINTING - The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios! Everyday! Starting at dusk :-D
December 12, 2011
December 10, 2011
December 8, 2011
December 7, 2011
Earliest Official Candlelight Photo from 1959
posted at the Disney Parks Blog on December 7th, 2009 by Heather Hust Rivera, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company
This past weekend we celebrated Candlelight at Disneyland park. As we were getting ready for the event, we came across this photo from our archives.
Candlelight started in 1958 at Disneyland park, but the first photo we have of the ceremony is from 1959.
The colors are so vivid, and Main Street, U.S.A. looks much like it does today. It seems as if the photo was just taken yesterday. However, if you look a little more closely, you’ll notice that the members of the choir are sporting various looks from the ’50s.
Look at the people in the crowd along Main Street and see how well-dressed they are.
December 6, 2011
December 5, 2011
December 4, 2011
December 3, 2011
December 2, 2011
December 1, 2011
Magic Kingdom Utilidor
According to modern legend, Walt Disney was bothered by the sight of a cowboy walking through Disneyland's Tomorrowland enroute to his post in Frontierland.[1] He felt that such a sight was jarring, and detracted from the guest experience. When the Florida park was being planned, engineers designed utilidors to keep park operations out of guests' sight.
The utilidors are built on 9 acres (36,000 m2), and the floor plan is a circle with a path down the middle. The tunnel walls are color-coded to make it simple for users to determine their location. The utilidors can be accessed from a main tunnel entrance located behind Fantasyland, or through unmarked doors throughout the Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom cast members park about one mile (1.6 km) away and are transported via a Disney bus to the tunnel. Some shops, restaurants and attractions have direct access to the utilidors.
November 30, 2011
Happy 176th Birthday to Mark Twain
Born November 30, 1835
Writer & humorist Mark Twain is born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in the small town of Florida, Missouri. (He will be raised in Hannibal, Missouri.) Walt Disney admired Twain's writing and so the famous author's name and image can be found scattered throughout Disney theme parks all over the world.
Tom Sawyer Island - based on Twain's classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - is the only Disneyland attraction that Walt personally designed!
Disneyland also features the Mark Twain Riverboat, which takes guests on a 12-minute journey around the Rivers of America.
Both Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland have versions of the Mark Twain Riverboat as well.
In Florida, Mr. Twain appears in Epcot's Audio-Animatronic stage show The American Adventure, and the Magic Kingdom features a version of Tom Sawyer Island (located in Frontierland).
Disney's 1990 animated The Prince and the Pauper is loosely based on Twain's classic novel The Prince and the Pauper, first published in 1881.
In 1991 The Disney Channel aired the Disney Channel Premiere Film Mark Twain and Me, about a young girl who befriends the famous writer.
November 29, 2011
November 28, 2011
November 27, 2011
November 25, 2011
Enjoy the Original Coca-Cola Taste at the Magic Kingdom
Delicious, Refreshing and Uplifting!
Coca-Cola sponsored the
first Disney television show, One Hour in Wonderland, which aired as a
special on December 25, 1950. When Disneyland opened in 1955, Coke
became a participant with the Refreshment Corner on Main Street, U.S.A.,
and remains a participant there today. Coca-Cola is now the global
beverage provider for all of Disney's 11 parks in the U.S., Hong Kong,
France and Japan.
November 23, 2011
Walt Disney Dances The Night Away at Disneyland
In this 1958 photo, Walt is having so much fun dancing at Carnation
Plaza Gardens.
November 22, 2011
Mickey Pretzel
"You can only find them one place: in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom at Frontierland Pretzel Wagon between the Diamond Horseshoe and Pecos Bill Cafe (next to the turkey leg cart). Pair the twist with cheese and chocolate dipping sauces. Insiders tell us it’s still in “testing phase” at Walt Disney World Resort, but we bet it’s here to stay.You also can find it at Disneyland park at Refreshment Corner, Bengal Barbecue, Frontierland Pretzel, Small World Pretzel and Tomorrowland Pretzel. At Disney California Adventure Park, they are sold at Bayside Brews, the Beer Truck and Hollywood Pretzel."
- Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
November 18, 2011
Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse!
Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. He was voiced by Walt Disney from 1928–1946 theatrically, and again from 1955–1959 for the original ABC TV The Mickey Mouse Club television series. The Walt Disney Company celebrates his birth as November 18, 1928, upon the release of Steamboat Willie which was released at the Colony Theater in New York on Nov. 18, 1928, although Mickey had already appeared six months earlier in an unfinished test screening of Plane Crazy (Steamboat Willie being the first Mickey Mouse Cartoon to be released).
November 11, 2011
Mickey in Vintage Guest Room at Disney's Contemporary Resort in 1972
This photo was taken in 1972 in one of the resort rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort.
November 5, 2011
November 4, 2011
November 1, 2011
A Haunted Mansion is Built [Vintage Picture]
Here is a look at The Haunted Mansion while it was still under construction on February 24, 1971.
