The "Jungle Cruise" ride is a 1955 original attraction in Adventureland. Largely unchanged since opening day the "Jungle Cruise" was , sad to say, not a big hit. Designing the ride was some what of a challenge as the Disneyland Landscaper Bill Evans had to be creative in his landscape design. He up-rooted orange trees from the grove that Disneyland was built on and re-planted them upside down and grew vines on them. He substitute many trees native to California to give the effect of a tropical climate. The water was dyed brown so that the guest could not see the bottom of the shallow canal which varies from 3-8 feet.
Supposedly this is the ride that inspired Walt to start "plussing the show" as he called it. One day he heard a mother tell a child that they did not need to go on that ride since they had already been on it. Walt's main concern was, as always the Guest. In 1955 all that the Jungle Cruise had to offer was a tropical feel ad the Elephant pool created by Marc Davis. So began a somewhat continual renovation of the ride. Today the ride is based on a 1930's era British expedition to the tropical jungles of Africa. The Boat house is designed to resemble a base camp with expedition equipment and even an old friend of Walt's a talking parrot.
Another part of "plussing " the ride that is the most entertaining for kids and adults alike are the jokes and antics of the famed river boat drivers of the Serengeti. Common jokes are:
Now behold the backside of water!
Wave goodbye to all the people you'll never see them again.
Wow it looks like those gorillas finally go that jeep turned over.
Don't worry Hippos are only dangerous when the wiggle their ears.
and finally... This is Trader Sam he is having a sale today two of his heads for one of yours.
The Jokes are only example and not drirect qutes....because they are only funny if you are actually on the ride.
When I was little I used to remember walking to our families favorite resting spot the Bear Country Jamboree. No longer there (sad) now replaced with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. On the way there just past the Haunted Mansion there was a small cliff with a cave in the hill side about half way up. If you listened carefully, well I take that back it was loud enough to hear all the time, you would hear SNORING! Yes to a 5 year old who can't wait to see the Bears sing and a talking Moose head (Melvin still in Winnie the Pooh) your Dad and Older Brother telling you that there was a really BEAR in the cave was quiet believable. I mean it really sounded like a Bear snoring. It was Rufus the Bear and his cave was turned in to Splash Mountain. Rufus was moved for a while to the top of Splash Mountain by the first drop but now Brar Bear lives there. I miss Rufus he was definitely a land mark and always meant to me that I was near a childhood favorite spot.
Since today we are celebrating two very real birthdays today I thought that the Mad Tea Party would be a great ride to blog about today. One of the 1955 original Fanatsyland rides the Mad tea Party originally did not have any brakes so the tea cups would spin as fast as the riders could get them going. Originally the ride was located about where Dumbo is today by King Arthur's Carousel ( Dumbo and Mad Tea Party are the only two rides to change places). The two rides switched places in the 1983 refurbishing of Fantasyland.
Attraction facts
Ride system: Three small turntables, which rotate counter clock-wise, each holding six teacups, within one large turntable, rotating clockwise
Restrictions: The original attraction at Disneyland is unable to run in the rain, once the turntables are saturated with a moderate amount of water they slip and can no longer spin.
All other versions of this attraction at Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland are covered to prevent such situations, as well as protect riders from extreme heat and sun.
I think that Disneyland has evolved into an all encompassing ride. For my proof you only have to look at the Tram back and forth between the front gates of Disneyland and the Mickey & Friends Tram. It is so exciting to clamber aboard the tram with the strollers and backpacks and what ever else you can possibly haul to Disneyland (i.e. the Happiest place on Earth). After an abbreviated pause for the tram conductor to tell the 1st time tourist to stay behind the yellow line so they don't get run over. You here over the loud speaker " We are now on route to the Disneyland Resort Entrance Plaza...". What a rush, in the old days the Tram we have today would have been a "E" ticket ride. That's a whole other blog. You fill the air rush through your hair (present blogger excluded) and everyone is talking about what to do first it's such a rush!
I think Walt really thought about transportation when he created Disneyland. He had street cars going up and down main street, the people mover, the monorail, Autotopia, etc. Walt was always worried about the comfort of the guest they even created a special concrete pavement that is easier on the feet than normal concrete. You may not think that at midnight when you're the second to last group out of the park and all you want to do is soak your feet for an hour. UGH! But Walt cared about us in the old day you would have to walk to your car from the front gate and that was the longest walk ever. You still have to walk some but I think the Imagineering team really wen tot great lengths to make us want to come back the next day even if our feet hurt. So to conclude from the time you get out of your car to the time you get back in it your on a ride so sit back relax and keep you hands, arms and legs inside the vehicle at all time.
Travel back in time to the era of the Gold Rush and race through canyons and cliffs of the deserted mining town of Tumbleweesd in a runaway mining train. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad located in Frontier land is inspired by scenes from the southwest such as Bryce Canyon and Arizona's Monument Valley. Big Thunder was the vision of imaginer Tony Baxter (no relation). The ride opened in 1979 and was a big hit! Built over the location of the "Mine Through Nature's Wonderland" the small town overlooking the loading area is part of the original town from Natures Wonderland. Miners havening a good time in the saloon and a player piano can be heard as you roll back into the station.
Here's a couple little know facts about Big Thunder:
A crate by the stairs reads "Baxter Boring Co."
Look a the Goat and pick up your feet for fun thrill as you race down around the Mountain
Big Thunder was the first ride at Disney Land to utilize "computer-aided design" in it's design
The Name Big Thunder is derived from the name of a waterfall on Natures Wonderland.
For a place as amazing as Disney you would think that any snacks,treats or food in general would not be a issue that was given a lot of thought. Walt however gave a great deal of thought to Food at Disneyland. He wanted you to feel at home even though you were in a magical place. The original 1955 Restaurants included:
Lets take a tour through the park and look at all the wonderful places to eat all day long. The best meal of the day is of course Breakfast. There is not many places that serve breakfast but here are some great places to start off the day right:
River Belle Terrace: an original 1955 restaurant- Home of the Mickey Mouse Pancake
La Brea Bakery Cafe: Downtown Disney- Best Bacon and French Toast in the Park
Main Street fruit Stand: Great place to get some healthy morning snacks
What comes between Breakfast and lunch why 2nd breakfast (or morning snack time) of course. Usually the time is right after we have ridden POC and maybe the haunted Mansion and are ready to take a long walk over to Fantasyland or Tommorowland and you need some little pick me up:
Apple, Carmel and Peanuts-Found at the Critter Country Fruit Stand
Popcorn
Churros
HOT McDonalds French Fries at Harbor Galley or Conestoga Fries
Pooh Corner- Best Carmel dipped pretzel sticks and apples in the land.
After some thrilling rides and having It's a Small World stuck in your head for the rest of the day its time for lunch. There are so many great lunch places it's hard to say where you should start but I know where I head to first:
The Golden Horseshoe:Chili Bread Bowls,Burgers and dogs while watching the best Hillbillies this side of the I-5 freeway.
The Bengal Barbacue- Chicken, Beef and veggie Kabbobs oh Yum.
Redd Rockett's Pizza Port- Hey It's got AC for those hot summer days and great Pasta,Pizza and Salads.
Royal Street Veranda-I've never eaten here but dang it smells good 1 word GUMBO
After Lunch parades and shows are always fun. Some show let you bring more nummy treats but whats best in the hot afternoon sun when you wan to cool down ICE CREAM!
Clarabelle's Frozen Yogurt-in ToonTown
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, hosted by Nestlé® Ice Cream-Main Street
Main Street Cone Shop, hosted by Nestlé® Ice Cream- Main Street
Tiki Juice Bar, hosted by Dole Pineapple-Frozen Pinapple Pops- Adventureland
Mint Julep Bar-New Orleans Square
And last but not lease any street vendor- Nestle Chocolate Chip Ice cream Sandwich
Dinner is great as the sunsets and the lights come on Disneyland changes into a different world. It's like eating by candle light or like a picnic under the stars. your still have 4-6 hours until the park closes so it's time to relax a little and fill up because you have probably walk several miles and stood in line for more time than it took to walk there. Here's my dinner favs:
Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, hosted by Ortega-BBQ and Mexican Food-Frontierland
Blue Bayou-( a late comer to the original restaurants) Fine dining Disney Style
Plaza Inn- Fried Chicken dinner (coleslaw with almonds)
Village Haus Restaurant, hosted by Minute Maid - great for the kids Mickey Chicken Nuggets. Fantasy land
A whole bunch of places in Downtown Disney!
Well our day of Disney Treats is almost over the rides have shut down and now the crowds stroll down through Main Street shopping and what getting snacks for the evening. Main street has so many places to pick up snacks and souvenirs that it's almost too much to name them but her we go:
Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen- Homemade candy while you watch
Market House- A great place to pick up treats to go -chocolate covered pretzels, hot coco and more
Speaking of Hot Coco - In the winter time they sell it from street vendors with whip cream NUM!
Popcorn Carts- Nuff Said
Gibson Girl and Main Street Cone Shop
And Finally you will always find a Churro stand in the town square in front of the Train Station.
Well I'm full now and all this talk of food has made me gain at least ten pounds. I'm sure I have left some stuff out and of course we haven't even begun to talk about Disney's California Adventure. I'm not big on candy myself but there are lots of places to buy it in Disneyland, Downtown Disney and DCA. One thing you will never find at any of the Disney parks is GUM. It too hard to clean up and gets on peoples shoes so if you bring some yourself make sure to use a trash can, by the way did you know that the trash cans are spaced apart from each other by how long it took Walt Disney to eat a hot dog. True Story.
