The oldest plant in Disneyland

Great video from Disney Parks about the horticulture in Disneyland brings to light the fact that the oldest plant in Disneyland is a two foot tall pine tree in Geppetto's village.



Here's a wider view of Geppetto's village so you can see the tree's location in the foreground.



I've heard several stories about Walt himself planting one of the trees in Storybook Land. Its also my understanding that bonsai trees were not used because their in the 1950's placed them out of reach of the budget for the entire landscape. If this is a 150+ year old pine, then it was probably the only bonsai used and therefore could have been carefully planted by Walt.

The petrified tree stump may be the oldest attraction in Disneyland, but this little pine takes the prize for the oldest living attraction at the park.

Time for Lemonade and Crackerjack!

Casey Jr's back! After about two years in limbo, I'm back with more Casey Jr. and Storybook Land related material for the blog. I've been collecting content the entire time (does one ever stop?) so get ready for all sorts of new stuff.

Toys for Tots Train

Ok, so what does Toys for Tots have to do with Casey Jr.?

In 1948, Walt Disney designed the first poster for Toys For Tots, including the trademark train logo still used today by the organization.

A few other posters were also designed that included Disney characters as well...  Although I'm not sure which train influenced the use of the other on the posters.  Was Casey used because it resembled the train logo, or is the logo derivative of Casey Jr.'s silhouette.  

I was pleased to see these poster images still in use today, at the Walt Disney Studio store on the Burbank lot.  
So next time you see the red Toys For Tots train, think of Walt and Casey helping out children in need.

Monstro the Whale

During the development of Fantasyland, a Monstro the Whale ride starring the famous aquatic mammal from Pinocchio was proposed.  Guests in small boats would enter a cave, perhaps pass by a scenes from the movie with a spashing exit out the whales mouth. 

In this design, Montro has taken the place of Hook's pirate ship as the "weenie" in Fantasyland.  Casey's track winds along the back of the land.  You can almost sense these two attractions beginning to merge.


Of course, now we know Monstro as being then entrance rather than the exit to Storybook Land.  The only flaw with the final design is the fact that many children find going INTO a mouth full of teeth just too frightening.

Storybook...book

Just what was Walt looking at in that previous post you ask?  Why, that would be Bruce Bushman's incredible caricature of Storybook Land.  Similar to the park maps that guide visitors around the park, this illustration was meant as a roadmap for the different sights one should expect to see in the new attraction.  

Canal boats full of Mickey-eared guests, two Casey Jr. trains full of smiling children, and a handcar with two rail workers traversing the quilt.   Wait... a handcar?

Where'd these guys come from?  Did the Casey Jr. railroad ever have a tiny handcar that ran around the tracks powered by a couple hickory striped cast members?

Like an open book

Before the Storybook Land Canal Boats opened, the original boat ride under and through the wooden trestles of Casey Jr. was called the Canal Boats of the World.  Walt's original plan for Disneyland was to include an entire miniature land on the same par with Frontierland and Tomorrowland.   Now just nine months after Disneyland opened, the original plan for "Lilliputianland" could be realized.

In this photo Walt shows off a giant storybook map of the new attraction under construction. Walt's characteristically pointing with two fingers to Cinderella's castle, the crown jewel of the new ride. Each miniature's location has already been mapped out, including the nation where the story takes place. Perhaps this was a way to link the theme of "Canal Boats of the World" to "Storybook Land Canal Boats"

Disneyland Magazine

After an extended break in posts, today I'm sharing a bit of Casey in print form on the back cover of Disneyland Magazine from 1971. Here Casey's colors are interpreted as a hunter green with gold wheels and capstack. A fairly well illustrated image, despite the creepy looking Mickey Mouse in the corner trying to sell you a used car. (I think its the eyebrows.)

Can you find all six hats in this image? I should have photoshopped on out just to drive you folks crazy!