Hormel, Central Soya and before McDonald's

Here are some random shots of Frontierland from the 80's and 90's. First up is The River Belle Terrace, brought to you by Hormel - Makers of Fine Meat. Next up is Big Thunder Ranch (remember Big Thunder BBQ?), brought to you by those fine people at Central Soya.

Up last is the Harbor Galley. When this eating establishment opened it served seafood delights. A few years later, we got overpriced fries. Ewwwww! Lets hope they return this establishment back to something worth eating.

Main Street and Construction

Here is a lovely little view of the Guided Tour Gardens , circa 1990. Note how much more open it is and there were restrooms back there too.

With the construction on Tinkerbell' s Hollow (or what ever its name is), here is a pic of Ariel's Grotto being built!

Backstage Goodies

This shot is from 1997, during the Tomorrowland remodel. This is from the backstage area behind the Country Bear Theater. There, laying on the ground is the entrance sculpture to Space Mountain (the original 1977 one). It currently is the one next to the Star Trader. But if you look further in the pic, you'll see the Mouserail. Sitting in storage for years after the 35th anniversary, it will soon be chopped up and painted grey, outlined in orange tape and put into the que for Rocket Rods.

Souvenier Friday

Here is a ticket to a private party that I went to in 1995, the year of Indy. This was I believe the last year for this particular private party. If you have never been to a private party at Disneyland, it is a surreal experience. Low crowd numbers, dancers everywhere but as I remember 3 food facilities for 30,000 people! Oy!

Souvenir Stand at Alpine Gardens

Long before Tinkerbell and Ariel, but after the House of the Future was a little out of the way place called Alpine Gardens. In the photo below is a shot of the souvenir stand that is in the place that Ariel used to spin out. The souvenir stand was originally the four seasons porch from the House of the Future. Look at all them postcards.

Odds and ends

To go with the post over at Vintage Disneyland Tickets, here is the postcard from that same time. Image is copyright Disney. :)

I have been very busy lately here in Phoenix. I was the chair of this city's first Red Dress Party called "Red Hot Salvation". It was a fundraiser for the Bill Holt Clinic for Pediatric AIDS. We raised somewhere in the neighborhood of $2000. And I have had a guest all the way from Paris. So I've been showing him the beautiful Southwest! Anyway, I'll be back on a more regular schedule next week after I get back from Disneyland.

Till then!