Christmas at The Club Pt. 2

Now that we've enjoyed our beverages in the Jazz Lounge, it's time to mosey on over to Le (aka "the") Grand Salon Restaurant at Club 33. You just can't beat being greeted by these two. Are these pants too subtle for the season?



The vulture that once graced the Trophy Room is now out in the lobby:



The hallway leading to the Grand Salon:



This feller has been moved around a bit as well:



That face looks like someone who has eaten too many turkey legs at the Park.



An elegant place setting:



We were fortunate to have the Carolers follow us over:



Now we were able to get the inside view of this wreath that we had spotted outside from down below in New Orleans Square:



The peacock Christmas tree:



Festive garland:



The five course meal was delicious:





I also have to give kudos to the staff, who had definitely stepped up their game since my last visit to the Club in May.



No Daveland Club 33 post would be complete without a few shots of the Men's Room.



My subtle pants photobombed this one:





It was a beautiful evening, and I felt so fortunate to have been able to experience it during the Christmas season.



More Club 33 version 2.0 photos at my main website.

Christmas at The Club Pt. 1

What better place at Disneyland to get into the Christmas spirit than Club 33? Out in New Orleans Square, the angel is looking over the guests; how many look up to see her?

Inside the misplaced window above Cafe Orleans you can see a Christmas wreath in side the Club where a fireplace once stood.



Once inside the Court of Angels (oh, how I have missed you), you can see all kinds of Christmas ornamentation.



Poinsettias add a nice splash of red.



Tinker Bell in the lantern looks much better at night.



Inside Le Salon Nouveau, aka The Jazz Lounge, more Christmas trees and Christmas bedazzlement await.





The Carolers were fantastic; they took requests and really plussed up the evening.





I ordered my new favorite beverage from the Hotel Marceline-themed cocktail menu.



I had never heard of a Throws & Maskers before!



How about a branded cup of Club 33 java?



I love the cool purplish lighting of the bar.



And the ghostly clarinet player.



This time I steadied my hand…



and got an improved shot of the hidden Darth Vader.



More Club 33 version 2.0 photos at my main website.

Toy Story Mania

It's one of my favorite DCA attractions yet I haven't been on it for over three years. What can I say…long lines suck. The exception to the rule is when you have a fantabulous group of people to hang out with AND a VIP Tour Guide. We were all shooting at targets within milliseconds thanks to Maria.

Matt was having a problem with double vision. Can't understand why.



Another attraction where I don't mind if the vehicle has to stop unexpectedly. So many fun things to shoot with my camera.



Look at the concentration!





Here's what you see when you take off your glasses.









Although I beat Janet, my score was nothing to write home about.



Or to even compare with the rest of the group who did way better than I did.



That's what happens when you take three years off; you get rusty.

More of the Toy Story gang at my main website.

The Tower of Terror

Welcome to the Hollywood Tower Hotel, where Terror is its middle name. Or first name. Or somewhere in the name. Where would you like the elevator to take you?



A few shots of the library on the left. Always a ton-o-mazing details to pour over.



The boiler room is my very favorite place to shoot; the lighting, the details, and it's the place you wait in line the longest.











Once you get in the elevator, the psychedelic journey begins.



Oh to be able to get off the elevator and explore these hallways!





I was not quick enough to get any aerial shots of DCA from the top of the elevator this time.



As you can see, our group had a pretty fantastic time!



More Tower-riffic photos on my main website.

Attack of the 50 Foot Ambassador

Back in the day before Photoshop was ever a word, people had to create magic by hand when it came to trick photography. This image is probably one of the most bizarre in my collection of vintage Disneyland photos. Disneyland Ambassador Julie Reihm has been enlarged and superimposed over the Disneyland Main Street Train Station. I am assuming that the original goal was to have it look like she had her hands around the E.P. Ripley train pulling into the station. Instead, the person who put the images together missed the mark, making the photo even more strange. Here is the vintage publicity blurb that accompanied this January 25, 1965 shot:

DISNEYLAND 10TH ANNIVERSARY…Disneyland enters its second decade in '65 and to inaugurate the event, a special "Disneyland 10th Anniversary" program will be presented on "Walt Disney's World of Color," over NBC-TV Sunday, Jan. 3 (7:30-8:30 p.m. PST; EST). Julie Reihm, a Disneyland Tour Guide, who has been chosen as "Miss Disneyland," is pictured here inviting viewers to watch the program which will feature among other stars and attractions, Hayley Mills and family, Louis Armstrong, Tinker Bell, Mickey Mouse, a cake with dancing candles, marching bands, pom-pom girls and a regiment of tin soldiers marching down the Magic Kingdom's famous Main Street. Walt Disney as usual will be on hand to emcee the program and review the history of his magic land and describe some of the new attractions now in the works.

More Disneyland Ambassador and Tour Guide photos at my main website.