All the updates on Club 33 at Disneyland that you'll ever need.

Folks, it's been a while since I've blogged here; it's off season, we got through the holidays, I've been super busy with other stuff.  But I wanted to present the following link:

http://disneydose.com/club-33-preview-center/#axzz2qVF4Er28

If, like me, you are a Court of Angels fan, you need to read this article, because it's a very thorough dissertation on the expansion of Club 33 - and also gives some reasons as to why our beloved Court of Angels was closed.

Verdict: excited about the Club 33 changes, especially since they seem to be incorporating some ideas from "The Princess and the Frog", but extremely irritated at the fact that only Club 33 members will be able to enjoy the Court.

And just a couple days ago, DisneyDose posted this last look at Club 33 before the re-do:

http://disneydose.com/club-33/#axzz2qVKWudap

Ah well, time to get in touch with some folks who know some folks who know some folks who are members ...

16 Things That Are Awesomely Hidden at Disneyland!! (a.k.a. I'm having a FREAK OUT!!)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/awesome-hidden-gems-you-must-experience-at-disneyland

Back in 2011, yours truly getting ready to leave for her Disneyland visit for the book,
holding the Mickey doll bought for her by her Mom back in 1972.

First of all, full thanks to Peggy Wang at Buzzfeed for assembling this magnificent collection of gems.  Click the link above to see the whole story.  Nicely done!

And now: the freak out ...

You can get a death certificate at the Haunted Mansion??

Take a ride in the Lilly Belle train car???

Get a free map of the Jungle Cruise?????

I pride myself in knowing all the details of what makes Disneyland THE most magical amusement park of them all (and remember: I visited a boatload for the book).  It's the original; there would be no Disney World, Disney Paris, Disney Tokyo or China or the other one I keep forgetting, if it wasn't for the first one built by Walt himself in 1955.  I worship at the altar of Madame Leota (and still get freaked out by Little Leota, but that's another story).  I genuflect at the light emanating from the second story of the firehouse, telling all that the magic and the story lives on.  Point being: I KNOW my Disneyland lore.  I KNOW "my" park.

But I did not know a BUNCH of these gems.  And it makes me mad.  Because I won't be back at Disneyland until March.

Yeah, I know, I know.  You're saying, "Oh, you have to wait a full three months plus, poor baby.  Here's my tiny violin playing 'My Heart Bleeds for You'".  But when a class A Disneyfanatic learns about things hidden at the park she owns tons of books about, has visited countless times, and owns a PIECE of (two chunks of one of the Mary Blair Tomorrowland murals, savagely ripped apart to make stuff that isn't half as charming or memorable), she needs to revisit and she needs to do so NOW.

I'll be in southern California for a class in March (nothing having to do with Disney whatsoever), but then, well, I'll just HAVE to swing on by the park.  And now, I've got an agenda.

I knew about most of these little-known gems at the park, but certainly not all (and I must thank my friend Melissa for posting this link on Facebook in the first place).  When I spent my birthday at the park in 2003, I was thrilled to be gifted with an honorary Disneyland citizen certificate (which you KNOW I have framed and in clear view, so I can remind myself of my elevated status on a daily basis).  During my birthday visit this February, I was knocked to my knees by the rare treat of visiting Walt's firehouse apartment (the post where he'd sit and watch all the happy folks enter his park).  And I knew that you can ride up in the front of the monorail if you ask nicely; the last time (truly last) we took my Dad there, he got to do this and was giddy like a three-year-old).

But to fancy a ride in the Lilly Belle train car, the one named after Walt's wife, the one decorated in fancy red velvet, the one you can sometimes take a meager glimpse of?  I'm blown away.

To come home with a map of the Jungle Cruise is to remind my Dad of that last trip he took there, when he chortled about the hippos' wiggling ears and got a kick out of the tour guide's snappy monologue.

And, the piece de resistance: to actually have a Haunted Mansion "death certificate".  For, as you know (or should), upon leaving your Doom Buggy, Little Leota will remind you to "hurry baaaack" and to be sure to "bring your death certificate" the next time you visit.  Boom!  You can actually DO this now, without the muss and fuss of actually having to die.  Bonus!

I tell you, I am jazzed.  And I'm saving up my pennies for Spring.  Because the Lilly Belle awaits ...

A blog post from Yesterland about the new Mid-Century-themed hotel at Universal Studios!!

http://www.yesterland.com/cabanabay.html

Feast your eyes!  My dreams have come true!  A new, fresh modern hotel done in the style of Mid-Century motels!!  I'm so giddy!!

Kudos to the folks at Yesterland, one of my most favorite sites, for exploring this and finding some great photos of what promises to be a GrOoVy undertaking!!!

Book review from the blog of Suzanne Rowe Ogren - check it out!

http://www.srogren.blogspot.com/2013/11/kudos-for-cotton-candy-road-trip.html#links

It's always a pleasure to hear from fans of the book, to learn how it's affected them, how it allows them to take a trip back to simpler times, how it moves them spiritually - or generates inside them the deep desire to take off on their own vintage amusement park road trips!  So it was delightful to learn my friend, fellow author and actor Suzanne Rowe Ogren, wrote a lovely review of my book on her blog.

Take some time and visit Suzanne's site and get to her know her!  She's a fascinating lady, with many wonderful stories of her own to tell.  And, as a vintage amusement park superfan, you can imagine how thrilled I was to learn about her past at Walt Disney World, where she worked for many years, as costumed characters, inside the Haunted Mansion - the list goes on and on.  Her husband, R.J. Ogren, worked there as an Imagineer - are these folks cool or what?

But don't let me ruin the surprises.  Give her blog a read and find out for yourself!

Kiddieland Carousel Goes Up For Auction November 16, 2013

I keep telling folks, "When I win the Powerball, I have a lot of plans".  First will be paying off the mortgage and other Serious Adult Things That Need Attention.  Then there's taking Daddy for a trip of a lifetime to Vegas, where he'll stay in a high roller suite and eat lobster, and drink red wine that sells for $300 a bottle.

Then, I'll start saving all the amusement parks and all the classic, historic rides.  Like this one:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/10/21/carousel-from-kiddieland-goes-up-for-auction/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

A carousel from Kiddieland Amusement Park. (Credit: Donley Auction Services.)

 

 

As many of you know, Kiddieland was the first park I visited for the book - and its closing was the impetus for my committing to write the book, to get the word out about vintage parks and their historic significance.

 

 

Give this article a gander.  You'll learn about the age of this amazing carousel, and what makes it a special amusement park collectible.

 

 

The auction house says it could fetch a pretty penny.  Well, if I win that Powerball by November 16 (I WILL win, just don't know when ...), I'll be throwing a whole bunch of pretty pennies at this one.  And, should I win it, I'll be donating it to a deserving park that will house it well and take good care of it.  That is my pledge and promise - you read it here, folks!

Join me at Nest Vintage Modern for a Spooky Book Reading/Storytelling Evening

Check it out!

On October 24, I'll be reading a spooky chapter from my book, and telling ghost stories and, oh, just might lead folks in some ghost hunting!  Head on over to Nest Vintage Modern for this FREE event on October 24, from 7 to 9 P.M.

The Flying Witch Dark Ride at Rye Playland

Here's a link to Nest and the event:

http://nestvintagemodern.com/ai1ec_event/4391?instance_id

Ghost Lake at Conneaut Lake Park!! It would be crazy-spooky NOT to go!!

 

 

My beloved Conneaut Lake Park is at again, assembling a top-drawer haunted attraction for Halloween!  If you're in the greater Pittsburgh or Erie areas, you'd best head on out to CLP for their Ghost Lake super-colossal horror extravaganza!

http://www.ghostlake.net/Default.aspx

From their website:

Check with your cardiologist before attempting the 13 LEVELS OF FEAR. The Longest and scariest Halloween attraction in the world. Over 160 live creatures who want to scare you like you've never been scared before. Ambulance standing by for those that get too frightened. Among the attractions are Clown Town (Come on. Fess up.  Who ISN'T creeped-out even just a little by clowns?), the 3D Fun House of Fears, and something referred to as "The Fog". The gatekeeper to the Devil's Den, circa 2009 CLP was the only park I visited multiple times for my book (three, in fact).  Although I haven't been to Ghost Lake, I can vouch for a couple of the attractions, like the Devil's Den (a classic Pretzel dark ride from the 60s) and the Blue Streak coaster as being the real, old-fashioned, scary-but-fun deal. And let's not forget that the Hotel Conneaut is haunted.  For reals: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgzcogWSmRw  It's also part of the Ghost Lake experience. So what are you waiting for?  Oh, yeah.  that visit to the cardiologist ...