Here are two views of the attraction building exterior from December, 1968, when the ride was about 9 months old. A pirate band plays from the balcony above in shot one, and in shot two you can see how the entrance looked before the “trench” was dug in front.
As an extra bonus for today, I have a little anecdote from a Daveland reader. On a recent Disney Studio Tour in Burbank, the guide mentioned that Shaun Cassidy now occupies Walt’s old office. Shaun Cassidy? Seemed a little odd, but Daveland reader Maverick pulled through on this one! Here is his personal story:
“While I was visiting a friend of mine who works at Hollywood Records, we heard from a page that for some reason, Walt Disney's old office was actually unlocked and no one was around. So we ran up there, and sure enough, we got in with no one to stop us. It was completely empty, with a coat of fresh new paint. It looked like someone was going to be moving into the office. So I started taking photos with my cell phone when I heard a voice from behind me. "Hi, how are ya?" I turned around, and it was Shaun Cassidy."Oh hi, Shaun! I'm Maverick from LIVE 1055 in Ventura (a radio station I was programming at the time)." "Great, nice to meet you," Shaun said as he shook my hand. "I'm a huge Disney fan, so I was just taking photos. What brings you here?" "Oh...this is my new office."
Apparently Shaun Cassidy has a production company at the Walt Disney studios, and needed a bigger place. When the studio said, "Well the only available office we have big enough for you is Walt's old office," Shaun thought, no way…this should be a museum! The studio said, take it or leave it. So Cassidy took it. He told me that one wall would be devoted to old photos of Walt in the office. We talked for a while and he even invited me back when the office was finished.
Finally I asked if I could get a photo of the two of us together. He was kind enough to do so, and we were on our way.”
Thanks for sharing, Maverick! Follow Maverick's latest exploits on Twitter.
See more Disneyland Pirates of the Caribbean photos at my website.
Maverick looks like he was getting a clue (bad South Park reference).
ReplyDeleteNothing against Shaun Cassidy, but it does sort of surprise me that Walt's old office was treated as just another empty room. Still... an interesting bit of info!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave and Maverick for sharing the story and photo. I think that's great that Sean Cassidy wants to devote part of the office to the memory of Walt. I'm guessing the office has been completely redone over the years leaving nothing original behind....those look like newer doors and door handles in the background.
ReplyDeleteWhere are the furnishings from Walt's offices now? Disneyland had both recreations for years....then I think one of them was sent to Disney/MGM studios for Walt's 100th birthday, but where are they now?
Shaun should have to share the office with Parker Stevenson, its only fair.
ReplyDeleteBut really, you'd think they could keep THIS one office "off limits" like Walt's apartment.
Stroller alert in the wide shot of Pirates!
Shaun's right! Completely agree with him.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the story, and I remember when the POC building was like that. While I won't complain about the present version, I don't mind that change, I will say this: the new version is grand but the old version worked too. In pictures it looks spartan. In person it actually worked very well, because it felt like a real New Orleans and/or Caribbean building, not so much a fancy attraction facade.
If you weren't there then and give a hoot about a trivial like that, just imagine entering POC via the Blue Bayou entrance. Similar feel up to the door. POCs entrance past the door until the dock was simpler than today too but I'm not sure if the glitzing up really adds or detracts. It made Blue Bayou feel all the fancier though for its inside lobby where as there's a bit more of a fantasy vs reality feel to it now. At least how it seems to me. Still love it all.
Great Story!
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