Tikibird Goes West to Walk in Walt's Footsteps - June 2003, DLH- COMPLETED!!! About This Page:

[MinnieMary]

Chocolate Cherry Sourdough! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] Those are 3 of my favorite things. I'm definetly going to have to try that when I'm there in Aug. Your wonderful trip report is getting me excited about going to DL. Even though I've been there many times, this will be the first time since I've been to WDW. I agree with you that some attractions have the advantage at DL.

[ProChristo]

I don't think I could try sushi. I think you are brave. Another great installment!

[LilMarcieMouse]

Wow what a full day. I would not have tryed Suhi.Yuck. I can't wiat to here about the tour. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Janet 46]

Sandy, I had the same reaction to sushi and I will not be trying again! You did waaaaay better than I would have. I would have played it safe and ordered the teriyaki. And I didn't have to 'steer clear' of my hubby since the Devils won! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

I love your pictures. I feel like I'm there.

[luvnwdwgal]

Chocolate Cherry Sourdough Bread-YES!!
Sushi-NO!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I'm really enjoying your trip report Tiki! Can't wait for more!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[loobyoxlip]

LOL at the sushi ordeal, Sandy. You are definitely brave than most. YUCK!

Thanks for the pic of the fantasy waters show. I wanted to take the kids to that, but of course it didn't work out.

Yes, Indy is great. Maybe next year Jalen will be tall enough. Crossing fingers!!

[DisneyDoll]

There is supposed to be music during the dancing waters show. I remember seeing this when I was about 10 years old the first time (that would be about 20 yrs ago)it could very well need a rehab.
You are very brave to have even tried that gross me out raw fish! Tentacles... [img]graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] Disgusting!

[Tigger's Mom]

Sandy,

I had planned to spend this afternoon [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img] the next section of my TR, but decided to drop in and start [img]graemlins/read.gif[/img] yours for a bit first. Well, needless to say, I have spent all my allotted time in your report!! It's terrific!!

I can totally relate to your sushi experience!! I only liked the beef tetaki!! (It wasn't crunchy in the least!)

Can't wait for the next post - I feel like I'm there with you.

More, please...

[Mauimouse]

Sandy,
Another great day, and you are brave for trying that sushi, there is no way that I would get that near my mouth!

Looking forward to reading about your tour, I just booked the Keys to the Kingdom Tour for my next WDW trip! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[DebiDebiDebi]

Wahoo Tiki! Keep it coming!

[DisneyDoll]

I'm really looking forward to hearing about the Tour. I'm dying to do this. Give lots of details please!!!
Reading your TR has prompted a lot of nagging on my part for my DH to take me to DL. He is starting to get PO'd which means I'll probably get to go again soon! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

So glad to hear that this report is getting some of you ready for a trip to DL! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] I really can't say enough about how much I love the place!

I realized that I forgot a VERY important part of yesterday's adventures - right before our ride on Autopia - I got a DOLE WHIP! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] Turned out to be the only one of the trip, since we didn't get around to it again, but it was quite yummy! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

Just finished scanning the pics for the next installment - hope to get to it soon - but new kitties are arriving at our house tomorrow! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[tikibird]

Day Four – Part One – Tiki and Gonzo Walk in Walt’s Footsteps – Tuesday, June 10th


I’m up at 6:30 a.m. and just about jumping out of my slippers! Today is the day that Craig and I take our “Walk in Walt’s Footsteps” tour! And, happily, I’m finally feeler a whole lot better! I wear my vintage-looking Mickey shirt in honor of Walt!

I notice when I head to the Coffee House that someone is sitting in my quiet spot, so I decide to try for a table outside the Coffee House. I have brought a piece of that delicious Chocolate Cherry Sourdough bread from LeBrea bakery with me! After I get my coffee, I settle down at a table, and am soon visited by a host of swallows. I felt kind of like Snow White! I threw them some of my bread, and they were, ala Finding Nemo “Mine, mine, mine!” After breakfast, I collect my oldest and we leave for the park at 8:00 a.m. I wasn’t sure where we were going to meet for the tour, so I wanted to leave plenty of time to get through the gate. Turns out, the tickets are at guest services (they were pre-purchased over the phone), and we only need to wait outside the gate.

As we were waiting, we got to watch members of the “Golden Ears” club enter the park. These appear to be retired individuals now working for Disneyland. I told Craig that I wanted to be a member of the Golden Ears club now. He told me I had to wait a few years!

Finally, at close to 9:00 a.m., our tour guide Nancy, and her assistant, Dean, show up and take our group (there are about 10 of us), through a separate ticket gate, and inspect our bags. We are given a menu with the following selections (included in the tour): Chicken Caesar sandwich, Roast Beef sandwich, Ham sandwich, Turkey Bacon sandwich, or Garden Salad. Craig and I both select the Turkey Bacon sandwich. I notice that Nancy has an awesome “Walk in Walt’s Footsteps” pin that shows Walt walking in front on the castle, and I am secretly hoping we will get one at the end of the tour.

Spoiler Alert – you may not want to read from here on to the end of this and the next post if you are planning to take this tour in the near future!

As we stood at the entrance of the park, Nancy explained to us how Walt set up Disneyland to be just like a movie. The red bricks signify the red carpet of the theater. He originally wanted to have red curtains hanging at the entrance of Main St., but had to settle for the tunnels on either side after being convinced that the curtains were not conducive to crowds.

The posters of the various attractions in the tunnels are symbolic of the “coming attractions” found in theaters, and the reason you see popcorn carts, even first thing in the morning, as you enter Main St., is because you of course, can buy popcorn in the theater.

On the upper windows of Main St. are the credits of the movie. Here various Disney cast members are honored by having their names on the windows.

The reason for the Mickey flower bed is that everyone wants to get a picture with Mickey, and he can’t physically be everywhere at once. We got to spot a couple hidden Mickeys in the entrance area.

Once inside the park, Nancy takes us to “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln”, where we watch a short film on Walt’s life. As we exit, we run into Andy and Chris, who are on there way to catch some attractions before the park gets too crowded.

Nancy takes us over the firehouse and explains that this is where Walt’s apartment was. When he was in, he would put the light on in the window, and this is why the light (hard to see in the picture) always remains on. This apartment is still pretty much how Walt left it, and very few people have ever been able to visit it.



Next, we walk down Main St. and Nancy asks us to notice the awnings on the left hand side of the street. Walt wanted to capture the smells of the bakery and ice cream shop, so there are vents under the windows that send out the smells, and the awnings hold them there to entice guests inside! These buildings are also built with a forced perspective, to make the castle look further away from the end of the street.

After our tour of Main St., it is time for us to go to: THE TIKI ROOM!!! We watch a show with other guests, and then get to stay behind to hear some history of the attraction. My birds were the first animatronics.




The Sherman brothers were invited to view the birds sing “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing” by Walt, and then asked to create a song for them, which turned out to be “In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room!”

Dean comes out and asks us if we would like to meet one of the 1963 Original cast members of the show – of course we do, so he brings out “Orphelia”


It was so cool to get to see this young lady up close and to understand how she worked!

Nancy pointed out a hidden Mickey to us – check out the three circles at the top of the bird cage!



I asked Craig to take a picture of me with Jose (but poor Jose’s head got cut off!), as I had one taken with him in Florida in December!



This, of course, was a highlight of the tour for me!

Next, we walk to New Orleans Square to catch a glimpse of the infamous Club 33.



This is an exclusive club with individual memberships starting at $7,500/year. The waiting list is years long. Craig is asked to provide the “special” knock, which he of course knows of by heart, and Dean meets us at the door! We are allowed into the lobby area only, where we get to hear the history of the club. I get to get my picture taken in the wooden elevator that leads upstairs to the club!



Nancy talks to us from the stairway, which also leads to the main floor.




After our sneak peek of the club, it is time for our ride on the Disneyland Railroad.

To be continued……

[tikibird]

Day Four, Part One continued...



We get to get on the train first via a separate entrance, which was cool! We hear more about Walt’s love for trains and get to see the engineers fill up the steam engine with water. One of them playfully through a bucket of water against the glass when he saw I was taking a picture.



While others were boarding, we saw a young boy and his mother talk with the engineers about his love of trains. I was thinking how much Walt would have enjoyed that moment!

We ride the train over to Toontown, which was name such as Walt once said “The toons all live in Toontown.”

We walk through Tomorrowland and see a mural of various attractions that have been there since the park opened. We walk past the Matterhorn and are told how it was one of the original steel coasters.


On to Fantasyland, where we are told that Walt originally wanted to have pink elephants on Dumbo, but decided against it due to the association with an alcoholic drink. Nancy impressed me by stopping several times to pick up litter as she walked.

She told us that someone was watching us every time we went through Fantasyland, and sure enough, when she pointed up on top of the Snow White ride – out popped the wicked queen every few minutes!

We walk past Small World and are told how it has been revised to its original colors and soundtrack, and go past King Triton’s fountain, where the House of the Future used to reside.



Nancy tells us about the castle for awhile, and then we go to Frontierland, where we hear that originally, the shooting gallery had to be painted everynight before laser technology.

Finally, we get to take the back entrance to what would have been Walt’s and Lillian’s apartment had he lived, the now Disney Gallery. We take another look at the Pirate’s display, while Nancy explains to us what all of the various rooms would have been in the apartment. I get Craig’s picture on the patio, with a prop from the new pirates’ movie. BTW – my son is NOT promoting marijuana with his shirt – it actually says “SHEMP, the Forgotten Stooge”, but his shirt is covering the “S”!



The tour ends on the patio of the Gallery with lunch. We enjoy our sandwiches and talk with a couple from Southern California. They are impressed with our knowledge of the Disney parks, so I am quick to tell them the wonders of Passporter! We also talk about Craig’s upcoming participation in the College Program - Nancy overhears this and comes over to congratulate him and wish him well.

We are given “Official Citizen” stickers, and YES – the same WIWF pin that Nancy was wearing!

As part of our lunch, we have a piece of apple pie. Now, I know that Walt loved pie and for some reason, sitting in what would have been his apartment, enjoying a piece of pie, just gave me a new appreciation for the man that created the parks that I love so much.

Craig and I both really like this tour, and felt it was well worth the time and the money. I highly recommend it to any Disney theme park fan!

After our tour, Craig picks up a Pirates’ T-shirt, CD and wallet in the Disney Gallery. I can tell he is still hungry, so we decide to go for the Mickey Pretzel with Cheese!




Isn't this cool? I can't understand why they don't serve these at WDW!

This is the one other “must have” Disneyland treat we haven’t gotten yet, and since the Food Police is not with us – we go for it!



Next up – Day Four, Part Two – DCA, including Aladdin – The Musical and Dinner at the Rainforest Café

[DebiDebiDebi]

OK, I gotta do that tour!!!