Our 3rd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November - November 22nd - 25th, 2013 Post #3416

[PrincessInOz]

Really loving this walking tour of WDS. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Sherry E]

Bret -

I thought of you the other day because there was an updated version of that "Disneyland: Behind the Magic" (or whatever it's called) show on TV. It used to run on the Travel Channel in the old days, and then I think it was updated a wee bit a couple of years ago to include a little segment about some newer things.

However, the recent version that aired last week -- which was on Destination America instead of the Travel Channel -- was majorly revised to include a whole big chunk about the different lands in DCA and all the new stuff. I recorded it and will have to go back and watch it thoroughly, but it seemed like at least half of the show was devoted to DCA (all sorts of footage from Cars Land and Buena Vista Street) whereas in the original version there was hardly any DCA stuff.

That's what was happening when you were at DLR, and wondering what was being filmed! Back when you were mentioning the filming, I had a suspicion that it had something to do with one of those former Travel Channel shows being updated to include new footage, and that appears to be the case. In fact, there was a lot of filming going on when I did the first CL preview slot on June 9th (a CM asked me to move out of the way because I was blocking a camera guy's clear shot of Luigi's) and I think they incorporated some of that footage too, from what I can tell.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Really loving this walking tour of WDS. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you PiO.

Bret -

I thought of you the other day because there was an updated version of that "Disneyland: Behind the Magic" (or whatever it's called) show on TV. It used to run on the Travel Channel in the old days, and then I think it was updated a wee bit a couple of years ago to include a little segment about some newer things.

However, the recent version that aired last week -- which was on Destination America instead of the Travel Channel -- was majorly revised to include a whole big chunk about the different lands in DCA and all the new stuff. I recorded it and will have to go back and watch it thoroughly, but it seemed like at least half of the show was devoted to DCA (all sorts of footage from Cars Land and Buena Vista Street) whereas in the original version there was hardly any DCA stuff.

That's what was happening when you were at DLR, and wondering what was being filmed! Back when you were mentioning the filming, I had a suspicion that it had something to do with one of those former Travel Channel shows being updated to include new footage, and that appears to be the case. In fact, there was a lot of filming going on when I did the first CL preview slot on June 9th (a CM asked me to move out of the way because I was blocking a camera guy's clear shot of Luigi's) and I think they incorporated some of that footage too, from what I can tell.

So that what was shooting on the day during the AP preview last year. I still can't remember what they were filming that day and for what show. Now it is likely the Disneyland: Behind the Magic. I always thought it was the Disney company filming to promote the new lands at DCA. That would have been neat to watch Disneyland: Behind the Magic and see the updated show of the DLR. Thank you for informing me about the filming on that day and I will try to look for the video and watch it.

Thank you Sherry

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – May 4, 2013 – Part 4​

On our last update, we were walking around the WDS to see all the different buildings and stages. We got to see Stage 1, 2, & 3 where they have filmed classic shows and movies. Got to see the Water Tower up close where it was amazing. Now let's get back to the report.

We just left around Building 74 and now heading on over to the next building. On the way, we were seeing the Michael D. Eisner building and thought that this was the next building that we were going too.

The group didn't head on over to the Michael D. Eisner building. The building we were going to next was on our right hand side when we were walking down. It was the Frank G. Wells building. The Frank G. Wells building is home to the Walt Disney Archives, WD Television, Disney University, management offices, HR department and the multi-plane camera. We were right at the entrance while Kelly was talking about the life of Frank G. Wells as the former president of the WD Company.

While the group head on in the building, I had to get the front entrance before I went in.

The FGW sign had a speech from "Lincoln: Man of the People" by Edwin Markham. Also on the bottom of the sign "Humility is the Final Achievement" is a very interesting story that Kelly told us. She said that those words were from a fortune cookie that FGW carried with him in his wallet. So they put those words on the sign to dedicate the building to him.

We entered the FGW building and there was another group in the Disney Archives room. So we all waited in the lobby at the FGW building until it was time to head on in. While we were in the building, I went around to take as many pictures as possible.

The FGW building has a Starbucks in the building which is neat. I remember from Alison (franandaj) that she said that there was a Starbucks in the FGW building.

A couple of pictures right by the entrance to Starbucks

Now I looked at the display cases to see a lot of different models from past movies and shows. The Magic of Models and Miniatures

That's it for this post and I will have more from the Frank G Wells Building.

 

[PrincessInOz]

That's a lot of wonderful models in the foyer there. Looks like we could be in for a nice round of archival material next.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – May 4, 2013 – Part 5​

On our last update, we were at the WDS in Burbank going through the Frank G Wells building. It was almost our time to go into the Disney Archives room and see all the historic artifacts of the Walt Disney Company. But first, we were out in the lobby looking at all the different display cases that had models and miniatures from different rides and shows.

After looking through the Magic of Models and Miniatures, I looked at the WD Archives case with Snow White toys, pictures, dolls, etc.

Down the hallway, I looked at the multi-plane camera that was used to for the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The Multiplane Camera plaque

Disney’s Multiplane Camera pictures right across from the actual multiplane camera

Everyone in the group is waiting to head in the Disney Archives room while another tour group is already in the room.

A look at the Disney Archives door where we will be going in shortly

Just about 10 minutes in the lobby, the other group that was in the Archives room came out and we were on our way to go inside the room.

But that will be told on the next update. So stay tune to see what is inside the Walt Disney Archives.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I love the picture sketch of the various Mickey 'looks' through the ages. It's interesting to see the changes.

Looking forward to the next update.

 

[ACDSNY]

Nice updates, it's cool to see what's in the archives.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I love the picture sketch of the various Mickey 'looks' through the ages. It's interesting to see the changes.

Looking forward to the next update.

Nice updates, it's cool to see what's in the archives.

Thank you PiO and Angela.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – May 4, 2013 – Part 6​

On our last update, our group was now in the Frank G Wells building and waiting to go into the Disney Archives room to see all the historic artifacts of the Walt Disney Company. While we were waiting, we were all wondering around the lobby seeing all the different pictures, toys models from the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. We also got to see the multiplane camera that they used for the movie. Now it is our time to head on in towards the Disney Archives room and see the interesting things.

We just entered the Disney Archives room and it was so neat to go inside the room. When we entered the room, Dave Smith, Founder of the Walt Disney Archives was there for the tours that day and everyone was so excited to see him that day. He talked about the Archives and how it was started.

While he was talking, I took a few pictures of the room. I did get close up pictures later on while we were in the Disney Archives.

Dave Smith brought out the first item to show us that day and this was a very interesting item that he showed us. It is the Marriage Certificate of Elias and Flora Disney. This was a very interesting story that Dave told us that they have found this Marriage Certificate of Elias and Flora.

After Dave Smith talked about the Marriage Certificate, he showed us the Baptism Certificate of Walt Disney. The one’s that was in the Walt Disney Family Museum was a replica of the original on that Dave Smith showed us that day during the tour.

Next he showed us the first Disneyland guide book which was produced in 1955 and it had an interesting story. I believed Dave said that the book at that time cost about $0.50 back in 1955. He said that Walt made the guide book cheap back than was so the people could tell their family & friends about Disneyland. This was a great way to do free advertising of DL back then.

The next one was the Picture Souvenir Book of Disneyland in Natural Color which is the original back in 1955.

He showed us a ticket book from the Magic Kingdom in Florida which was neat

A Walt Disney World ticket book that had all the original rides back at the MK in 1971.

Next was the first ticket to EPCOT Center that he showed.

And lastly he brought an Oscar award so the people can hold it and take pictures with it. I didn’t take a picture of holding it since we have limited time to look around the Disney Archives.

After he was done talking, he was now starting to sign autographs of his book “Disney Trivia from the Vault Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered”. I forgot to say when we got to the WDS that I did purchase the book before the tour since I can get an autograph of Dave Smith that day.

The book shelves had a lot of Disney books as well as models and miniatures on top.

I looked at all the different items that Dave Smith showed us during his talk. There were a few of them that I didn’t take a picture of at the beginning since I was looking around the room. Here are some items that he had showed us and I got a close up picture of.

Marriage Certificate of Elias and Flora Disney

Certificate of Baptism of Walt Disney

An Invitational Press Preview Pass from opening day at DL and a post card to Flora Disney

A Parking Pass sticker for the premier of DL on July 17, 1955. There are a few of these stickers left today since most of them were stick on the windows of the cars and there are not too many of them today.

The Picture Souvenir Book of Disneyland in Natural Color

Disneyland Guide book

That is it for this post and I will have more from the Disney Archives during the D23 event.

 

[tksbaskets]

Got here safely and it was a nice day yesterday. Just about to leave to Burbank for the tour this morning but here is a quick update from yesterday. My DA and I got to Anaheim around 4pm and we ate at the ESPN Zone as our favorite restaurant at the DLR. We watched a lot of NBA Playoff games yesterday. Even though it was hot during the afternoon, the nighttime was so great in the mid 60s. I went to the park last night and it was quite busy in early May. I was able to watch Magical fireworks last night and it was a little disappointment where Tink or Dumbo flew last night. It was not that windy and I was kind of surprised that they didn't fly during Magical. But it didn't stop me of having a great time watching Magical. I also got to have a Dole Float where I don't get that.

Here are some pics from yesterday with the new lens that I bought the Nikkor 18-105mm lens.

I will update you later today from the WDSaA.

Bret,
How could I not be subscribed to your report?? I missed so much. I saw that Sherry had posted about your trip report in the Christmas thread so I did a little investigating. Better late to the party than never arrive I guess.

I love the pictures here with your new camera lens. Did you enjoy the tour of the WDS? I looks nice and informative.

Anything else I've missed from you? Other trip reports? Hope all is well. Sounds like you've been very busy at work.

TK

 

[PrincessInOz]

Another great update. I loved looking at all those 1st day passes. Wonder how much one of those would sell for on eBay?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret,
How could I not be subscribed to your report?? I missed so much. I saw that Sherry had posted about your trip report in the Christmas thread so I did a little investigating. Better late to the party than never arrive I guess.

I love the pictures here with your new camera lens. Did you enjoy the tour of the WDS? I looks nice and informative.

Anything else I've missed from you? Other trip reports? Hope all is well. Sounds like you've been very busy at work.

TK

Hi TK,

It's nice to see you back on the thread with the latest update. It has been awhile since you have posted on this thread.

The Nikkor 18-105mm lens is a nice addition to my DSLR and the quality is very nice. There were a few times that the pictures were not that good but it is still a learning experience. My DA and I enjoyed the tour a lot that we will consider doing it again in the near future. Maybe not next year unless I go with someone else where I will go again. The best part of the WDSaA tour is just beginning with yesterday update. So stay tune for more updates later on. It is something that any Disney fan would want to do and I can't believe it took me 4 years to do this tour when D23 was formed in 2009.

I had my annual Holiday trip in November of last year and the January trip with my aunt (not my DA that goes with me to the Disney parks a lot) with her BF and DD2 now DD3 which was her first time to Disneyland and she had a great time. You can go back on my links and read about it which was a nice experience where I haven't done some rides, shows and dining experience for quite some time.

I haven't been lately on the threads since I got a new job. It is nice to work again but it not the same when I am not on the threads talking to you and the other DISers.

Another great update. I loved looking at all those 1st day passes. Wonder how much one of those would sell for on eBay?

Thank you PiO. Seeing all these interesting items that Dave Smith showed us was so neat. It was nice to show all those different passes of the Disney parks. I would say those tickets would be worth a lot of money to any hardcore Disney fan. I wonder what Alison would pay for those tickets?

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – May 4, 2013 – Part 7​

On our last update, our group in the Disney Archives room at the Frank G Wells building and we were seeing all the cool items that Dave Smith the founder of the Disney Archives showed us during the tour. He showed us a lot of great items during the tour and now we are free to look around the Archives room.

When I looked at all the items that Dave Smith showed us, I went around the room to look at and take as many pictures as I can.

Animation Cels

The case that I had got pictures from earlier which really interested me the most. A model of the company plane.

From the Carolwood Pacific which was Walt’s backyard railroad at his house. It was very neat to see personal items from the Carolwood Pacific Railroad at the Archives.

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Some of Walt earlier works and drawings

A picture of WD when he was 10 months old and Walt in the Red Cross. His passport and order paper during his days in the Red Cross.

Walt’s personal 16mm camera and projector that he used for some of the live footage of Saludos Amigos

Different awards that Walt won over the years

We looked at the next case which had different props and items used in the movies. The one that I thought was the neatest in the case was the snow globe that was used in the movie Mary Poppins.

The next case right next to it had Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs toys and books.

That’s it for this post and I will have more from the WDSaA tour.

 

[tksbaskets]

The tour looks fascinating!! I love the history behind the WDS. Did you have enought time to see everthing you wanted to??

 

[franandaj]

Very interesting! Some of the cases were exactly the same as when I was there in August. (prince of Persia capsule, sorcerer's apprentice ring, that case) All the other cases were completely different as were the artwork that was around the room.

He showed us the same guide books, and told us the story about how Walt produced them cheap so that everyone would take one home and show them off to their friends and neighbors, and tell them about Disneyland. We didn't see the marriage certificate or baptism, but some of the same ticket books.

I couldn't resist taking my picture with the Oscar, I mean when will I ever get to hold one again!

Great updates! I hope you enjoyed your studio tour, even the part waiting in the Frank G Wells building was cool. That was all different from when I was there too. I think maybe when we see another one of those come up on the D23 site, we should do it again. Fran wasn't feeling well that day, I think she would enjoy a do-over.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Love the showcases. lots and lots of detail there.

 

[mvf-m11c]

The tour looks fascinating!! I love the history behind the WDS. Did you have enought time to see everthing you wanted to??

The D23 tour was so great and it was worth every penny. There was a lot of great history of the WDS and the mysteries surrounding the Disney Company. For only 2 1/2 hours which went by so quickly that it didn't felt like 2 1/2 hours. It felt like 1 hour during the tour and we didn't get a lot of time at the Disney Archives and the Disney Legends Plaza which I will tell you about later on during the posts.

Very interesting! Some of the cases were exactly the same as when I was there in August. (prince of Persia capsule, sorcerer's apprentice ring, that case) All the other cases were completely different as were the artwork that was around the room.

He showed us the same guide books, and told us the story about how Walt produced them cheap so that everyone would take one home and show them off to their friends and neighbors, and tell them about Disneyland. We didn't see the marriage certificate or baptism, but some of the same ticket books.

I couldn't resist taking my picture with the Oscar, I mean when will I ever get to hold one again!

Great updates! I hope you enjoyed your studio tour, even the part waiting in the Frank G Wells building was cool. That was all different from when I was there too. I think maybe when we see another one of those come up on the D23 site, we should do it again. Fran wasn't feeling well that day, I think she would enjoy a do-over.

I remember during your trip report last year that the cases were a little different during your visit. It was neat to see something different instead of the items during your trip report.

I remember Dave Smith saying thing you have said during your trip report of selling the guide books so cheap so that everyone could take home and show them off to their friends and family. That was a genius idea from Walt to advertise Disneyland during the early days.

I thought about holding the Oscar but I wanted to get more pictures of the cases and all the different things to look at in the Archives room.

Thank you Alison. My DA and I enjoyed the tour a lot and wish that it lasted longer than 2 1/2 hours. The Frank G Wells building was the highlight of the tour especially going through the Disney Archives and meeting Dave Smith. It was nice to see different stuff after reading and seeing all your great pictures when you at the Disney Archives. There is an upcoming D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives on June 1st and the last one on the event schedule is November 2nd. You and Fran could possibly go to the November tour. I would say the same thing that Fran would enjoy a do-over at the WDS.

Love the showcases. lots and lots of detail there.

Thank you PiO.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 2 – May 4, 2013 – Part 8​

On our last update, our group in the Disney Archives room at the Frank G Wells building and we were seeing all the cool items that Dave Smith the founder of the Disney Archives showed us during the tour. I was looking at all the different cases that had a lot of different items that were used in past movies. We got to see a lot of different toys from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

After looking at the case with the Snow White and Seven Dwarfs toys, books, etc. now I was looking at the case on the left hand side which had a lot of different Disney character toys, watches, buttons, etc. which were neat. There were a lot of different things in the case during the early days.

Donald Duck and Pluto toys, cups during the early days

Pinocchio and Dumbo toys

A lot of Disney watches

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse toys, clocks, etc.

Kelly told us that we only had a few more minutes to go in the Archives until the next group turn to come in and see the Archives.

Annette Funicello costumes during her days during the Mickey Mouse Club

I head on over to Dave Smith table and asked him to sign my book. I asked my DA to get a picture of us together and this was the best picture that she took while I was getting my book signed.

Now we were asked to leave the Archives so the next group can come in and I had to get some last second pictures of the Archives before we left.

We have now exited the Archives while the next tour group which was the 10:30am group behind us is now about to head on in the Archives while we left the building.

While we were outside, she told us about the Frank G Wells building where the outside is painted with movie film which is very neat to see an outside of the building.

There were a lot of people walking down, I would have guess that it was the guests during the screening at the theater.

Now we were heading into the next best part after the Archives is the Disney Legends Plaza. It is the central hub for the Disney Legends awards and pays homage to the recipients. It was so neat to see the Disney Legends Plaza with all the different plaques of all the great people that contributed to the Disney Company.

Before we entered the Disney Legends Plaza, we got to see Walt Disney Heroes Award plaque

Kelly talked about the Disney Legends Plaza of how it was started and showing all the different plaques with recipients name, reason for getting the award and their hand print and signature. There were others that didn’t have hand prints or signatures since they didn’t received the award when they were alive. This was so amazing to see all the different plaques of all the recipients for the Disney Legends Award.

After she finished talking, we were now free to go around the Disney Legends Plaza to see all the different plaques and some statues that we have seen at Disney Parks around the US. Seeing the Michael D. Eisner Building in the background is so neat and amazing to see at the Disney Legends Plaza.

That’s it for this post and I will have more pictures from the Disney Legends Plaza and all the different plaques. That is a lot of picture taking of all the different plaques.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice!


Love that you got Dave Smith to sign your book.

I was really interested to see all of the archive merchandise in the cases. A work colleague was showing me a picture of something he's got in his collection....it's a Mickey themed bug spray can. The old fashion kind where you put the liquid in the barrel and there is a piston that you pump. He's been trying to find out where it originated from as no one seems to know.