Disneyland Magic Kingdom Club Day, June 2, 1968

Begun in 1957, The Magic Kingdom Club was an early Annual Passport program that offered memberships to companies and their employees for free, giving them discounts and other perks. Today’s post centers around a little ginger girl who was “kissed by angels” as the saying goes. Her visit was on Magic Kingdom Club Day, June 2, 1968. Below, she poses with Alice in Wonderland in Town Square; the Mad Hatter photobombs them in the background:



Lisa Allison is the Special Guest (could they have made that paper any bigger?!?):



Here she enjoys a snack in Fantasyland with who I assume is her mother.



A hot dog was the snack of choice.



Elsewhere in the Park (Tomorrowland), The Devlin family was also enjoying Magic Kingdom Club perks on the exact same day:



I wonder if they crossed paths?

See more Disneyland Magic Kingdom Club photos at my main website.

Alice in Fantasyland September 1964

This September 1964 image shows The Mad Hatter, The White Rabbit, and Alice in Wonderland interacting with a few guests in Fantasyland. The oval netting in the band of the Mad Hatter’s hat is so that the cast member inside the costume can see out.



While we’re in Fantasyland, how about a 1956 shot of the Mad Tea Party? Fantasyland looks so different with its original façades meant to resemble medieval traveling tournament tents.



See more Disneyland Fantasyland photos at my main website.

Children's Classics in Central Park

Central Park in New York City is a total gem, especially for those who love the classics of childhood. This statue of Hans Christian Andersen is from 1956 by sculptor Georg J. Lober and depicts him reading one of his most famous works, The Ugly Duckling.



He looks a bit tired. I would be too if I'd been sitting in the same place since 1956.



This bronze statue from 1959 by José de Creeft was a tough one to photograph; everyone in the park was climbing all over it while they got their photo taken. And not just the kiddies.



This 1959 work by Frederick G. R. Roth was once a fountain. Not as famous as the other two statues, it depicts the major characters from Alice in Wonderland.



The Duchess:



The Mad Hatter:



The Red Queen:



Last but not least, Alice herself.



More Alice and Central Park at my main website.

Alice is Wonder-full, Pt. 3

Today marks the last installment of my revamped Alice in Wonderland attraction coverage, beginning with a very angry Queen of Hearts.



Hold onto your heads; this could get ugly.





Time to exit for a quick interlude outdoors.



Then back inside again for a little Mad Tea Party.



Perfectly integrated video.





Alice has been added to the proceedings.



A comparison shot from the previous version:



I really like the stylization of Alice used here in the attraction.



The birthday cake at the end for the Merry Unbirthday is pretty much the same:



which is fine, as it's still the perfectly explosive finish to this very fresh attraction:



Be sure to check it out on your next trip to Disneyland; it's worth the line!

See more Daveland vintage & current Disneyland Alice in Wonderland attraction photos at my main website.

Through the Years: Alice in Wonderland

Today's post showcases "Alice In Wonderland." Here is the little lass as she appeared in Walt Disney's 1951 animated film.

In this August 14, 1958 image, Walt is being driven down Main Street, U.S.A., on the way to the Grand opening of the Alice dark ride in Fantasyland.



Rather than Kathryn Beaumont (whose voice was heard in the attraction itself), Walt chose to use Mouseketeer Karen Pendleton as his Alice for the day.



This January 1964 photo from the UCLA Digital Archives, shows native Korean, Jong Sook Kim who had lost her sight in an accident. She was brought to the United States by Dr. William McColl, who along with the Loins Foundation, was able to raise the funds for an eye operation that restored the sight in one of Kim's eyes. Pretty amazing stuff.



There is a definite 1960's vibe to this Alice, who sports a different hairdo from the animated film version. Note the eyelet detail on her apron:



By October 1966, the elaborate apron is gone and Alice looks a bit closer to the animated heroine:



I see trouble brewing between the little boy and the Mad Hatter:



Alice and The Mad Hatter in January 1969:



The little boy must have had some connection to the Rose Bowl game, as he is wearing an Ohio State ribbon. Ohio State won the game against the USC Trojans, 27–16.



This July 2005 photo is the only one I have been able to get (so far) of the lone Alice figure in the Fantasyland Dark Ride at Disneyland. According to Mike Cozart from the Tomorrowlounge67 blog: "I understand that the Alice figure, March Hare and Mad Hatter from the 1984 Alice In Wonderland were forgotton backup figures in storge at WED intended as back-ups for WDW's Mickey Mouse Revue." She does seem out of place in the attraction, as the rest of the figures are modeled closely after the ones in the film.



From the Plaza Inn Character Breakfast, September 2007:



Alice was allowed a cape on this chilly 2012 morning:



Tim Burton put his twist on the Alice franchise, with Mia Wasikowska playing Lewis Carroll's (aka Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) famed character.



Over at Disney California Adventure, Alice has taken on the Tim Burton vibe at the Mad T Party:



Hope you enjoyed our day with Alice!

See more vintage & current Disneyland character photos on my character web page.

Crest on the Castle, January 1964

More from January 1964 today, as we see this charming couple posing in front of the Castle.



To their left is nothing but mayhem and mischief, as these two young guests get ready to duke it out. One in Mouse Ears, the other in a Cowboy hat, and both with toy weapons...this can only end in a spanking.



Zooming back to the center of the Castle, we can see that there's still no crest atop the drawbridge door.



June 1965 is the first photo in my collection to show the new crest; I can only assume it was placed there for the Tencennial. Whether it is or isn't the actual Disney Family Crest is still a matter of heated debate; one I have no intention of jumping into!



One last shot from my January 1964 batch is this image of Fantasyland, with the Mad Hatter drawing a crowd around him:



See more vintage & current Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle photos on my Castle web page.