A trio for your Sunday reading, starting with a shot of the very young Plaza Inn. It had only been open a year at the time these photos were taken.

I am assuming this guest is posing with one of the hostesses. What a costume—looks like a cross between the Haunted Mansion and the Tahitian Terrace.



Over at the Tiki Room, Uti stands guard over the entrance and Juan (José's cousin) the Barker Bird is still greeting guests below—all is well!



Apparently the "traffic jams" this talking bird caused was the reason he was removed.



Last (and unfortunately least), here is a shot of the Swiss Family Robinson Tree exit area. This one might even be a hard sell for the signage geeks!



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It's a veritable Del Monte Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup assortment today, as the Circa Summer 1962 batch comes to a close. Taking you back out to Central Plaza, we again see the patriotic bunting that typically adorns the park during the July 4th "season." Oh yeah...don't forget to check out that Matterhorn thing in the background!

The photographer made a short detour to Tomorrowland, just in time to get a blurry shot at The Autopia:



And then went back over to Adventureland to capture a few more crazy hats and guest's derrieres (that's French for buttocks, just in case you aren't that sophisticated).



This one is my fave for the day; not only does it show signage (Geek alert!), but it also shows the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse under construction. That's right—the attraction about which Walt himself dared to say “And they say only God can make a tree!” I wonder if lightning struck after he said that to Julie Andrews?!?



And the final one (get out the hankies) is the wonderful Skull Rock Cove, situated behind The Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant. One of those semi-hidden restful areas where a handful of guests could get away from the regular crazy that often goes on at Disneyland during the summer.



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Welcome to Adventureland, a mere month after Disneyland opened.

And Adventureland's entry gate circa 2011:



The Jungle Cruise, over 50 years later, is still kicking and still packin' 'em in. This rhino is no longer in the attraction:



A color shot of the rhino from the same time period:



The beloved hippos:



Shortly before, here's how the hippo looked as the park was quickly heading towards opening day:



Still looking purty good, even today:



Somebody's ready for a turkey leg!



From the same time period, here's a color shot of the croc (or is that a gator? I never can tell the diff):



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The final talley is in! The winner in the Daveland Disneyland Favorite Restaurant poll is "Bring Back The Tahitian Terrace" with 102 votes (32%). Coming in at a very close second is The Blue Bayou, with 99 votes (31%). The Tahitian Terrace has been gone for almost 18 years now, but it still has a fairly healthy fan base. Located where the Aladdin's Oasis in Adventureland currently stands, it was an outdoor restaurant with live entertainment.



Here’s an excerpt from Vacationland Magazine, Summer 1967:

One of the Park’s most popular restaurants for several years — the tropical Tahitian Terrace is located in Adventureland. Here, Oriental and Cantonese foods are served in the lavish setting of the South Sea Islands. Highlight of an evening meal at the Tahitian Terrace is an authentic Polynesian show by the Royal Tahitian dancers featuring the hula, the flaming sword dance and South Sea Island music and songs.

Welcome! Your Tahitian Terrace hostess will adorn you with a colorful plastic lei:



I am sure that this restaurant/live show combo was not a hit with the number-crunchers. Can't you hear it now? "We can get them in and out much faster if we cut the show!" I don't know about the numbers, but it sure looks like a lot of fun to me!



At least choice #2 is still available for guests to enjoy. Once again, Vacationland Magazine provides a great description for us:



On the banks of New Orleans Square’s Blue Bayou, the starting point of Disneyland’s new Pirates of the Caribbean adventure, is perhaps the most unusual of all the Park’s — if not the world’s — restaurants, the Blue Bayou Terrace. Here, visitors enjoy gourmet prepared delicacies as they dine in the evening — all day long! Crickets chirp, fireflies float among the cypress and clouds drift past an ever-present summer moon.

Oh those Monte Cristos...a pure slice of heaven.



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I promise this is the last post from my most recent trip to Disneyland! Disneyland is a magical place, but never more so than at night...especially when hardly anyone else is around! The Premiere of "On Stranger Tides" provided the perfect opportunity to shoot some long exposure shots at low ISO to capture the most detail. The first three show Adventureland; almost difficult to recognize without the swarm of guests and strollers!





The Haunted Mansion at night looks very other-worldly. I remember as a kid the first time I visited Walt Disney World, I was absolutely convinced that riding The Haunted Mansion at night was a different experience than riding it during the day.



Main Street U.S.A. is an area that drives me crazy most of the time. Too many people waiting for parades, camped out on the curb...hordes of guests tromping through on their way to other lands, not even noticing ALL of the beautiful details...the mobs in line at the registers trying to get that final souvenir before "last call."

However, in the following photos, Main Street can be seen in its pristine glory, brightly lit for all to see.











As a final parting view, The Main Street Train Station. All that's missing is one of the trains!



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Today’s post is a fairly comprehensive albeit not so artistic look at the Jungle Cruise, circa August 1958. Naturally, I have posted these images in the order they were taken. Enjoy!





















This photographer definitely had an affinity for the back side of water! See more vintage (and current) Jungle Cruise photos on my regular website.

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This dock shot of the Suwanee Lady is from August 1956. Looks like the one lady is going to have to talk her friend into braving this trip! See more vintage (and current) Jungle Cruise photos on my regular website.

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Hearts and flowers to Kevin Kidney for supplying today’s special Valentine’s Day image. What a cruise this would be! See more vintage (and current) Jungle Cruise photos on my regular website.

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As in the last JC post, sorry about the quality on these (I believe these slides are dupes), but I do think the dock shot is pretty cool as it shows a sign not often seen. Shot #2 is your standard every-day to be expected taken Hippo shot.



This last one is so dark I have no idea where on the cruise they are, but if I had to guess, they are probably looking at the gorilla.



See more vintage (and current) Jungle Cruise photos on my regular website.

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