Before we get started with the latest trip report let’s give a big shout out to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for pulling off a nice win last night. Donald looks ready to throw those Yankee’s one mean fast ball!


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Tuesday was an exceptionally nice day at the park with that made to order Anaheim weather and low crowds. I got to the main gates at 8:15, with the park opening at 9:00. The “Magic Mornings” guests get to enter the park up to one hour early. I got a place right in front of one of the gates. The ticket taker reminds me of my Grandma.


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At 8:40 they opened the gates and let everyone get right up to the turnstile.


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A n t i c i p a t i o n…


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At 8:42 the let us in! No running please.


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Let’s peak back into the New Disney gallery. My cheap camera just has a fit with this poster.


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Look what we have here, something new – a Silver Plated “E” Ticket!!! I almost bought one, but it wasn’t in my budget for this trip. It looks like it’s the 1959 version and also comes with the neat-o 1959 replica book.


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The little note on this beautiful machine says its been in Disneyland since 1955. It's really a shame it’s not operating anymore, but a least I can stare at it endlessly (and trust me, I do).


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The candy makers were hard at work making Nuttles!


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Fancy for no reason other than to be fancy, Disneyland at its best.


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The Matterhorn as seen from the Plaza Gardens.


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You’ll notice an ongoing theme in the bulk of the photos to follow – no people! I love people as much as the next guy, but I gotta admit; I love “Disneyland under Glass” – that’s the first few hours on a weekday in the off season. Large sections of the park are mine for the taking.


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There’s plenty of things to complain about in Southern California, the weather isn’t one of them.


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One empty log after another, only about every 5th one had guests. Not much of a wait at 9:30am.


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Paging the Omega man.


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Not only did the canoes have no line, they had no cast members either. I guess it was self service day? Tempting indeed.


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This is Anaheim, are you sure?


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I could handle one of these by myself… yeah right!


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Answering the age old question of where “does a bear go in the woods”.


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New Orleans Square was freshly cleaned and oddly devoid of people.


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My usual hang out at Disneyland.


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My alternate hangout in Disneyland is “Club 30”. I saw an “Otis Elevator” man go in this door; it looks like a small hallway inside?


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No one ever pays any attention to this guy, he’s just all alone is this weird little courtyard room.


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Just behind that courtyard and in between two shops are these unlocked, unobserved stairs.


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Were do these stairs go? There wasn’t even a sign that said “Cast Members Only” and no one was around. I was a good boy and resisted the urge.


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Zocalo Park has a fun and funky mood to it.


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It gets extra funky with this guy when it’s just you and him.


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Heading to the hub I found this magnificent animal.


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Let’s follow the trolley around the hub for a bit.


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Work is still being done on the castle moat. I want that job so bad!


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Look, you get to play with lots of pretty paint colors, just like the old cartoons!


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Poetic isn’t it?


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The vintage ticket booth is looking splendid. It was missing its top in my trip report from July (link).


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Three fences of course is looking good as well.


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Anyone familiar with the Matterhorn queue line knows this is a welcome sight.


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Drinking fountains for all sizes and an emergency defibrillator, what will they think of next?


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Groovy Baby.


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“Discover the Joys of National Motoring”.


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The controls look simple enough – I am really liking that vintage brass & wood steering wheel!


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Who do you think would win in a race to Town Square?


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He said he had gloves “somewhere”…


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I’m hungry so it’s off to the Bengal Barbeque.


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In my last trip report I raved on and on about the Chieftain Chicken Skewers at the Bengal Barbeque (link). Warning **Don’t get them now** They now are using small gross rubbery grey chicken chunks that I wouldn’t feed to a dog. I couldn’t even take a picture, as it would be considered indecent. I rarely return food, but this time I ran back up there and said “what is this?” The super nice CM (Jose) told me they just changed the “type” of chicken last week, it’s now a “mix of white and dark meat”, yeah, from road kill!

Anyway, Jose tried to give me a different skewer in exchange, but I couldn’t decide on which one so he gave me all three. Two are beef which were ok but I’m not a big beef on a stick fan and the asparagus bacon wrap thing was different. I should have asked for my money back, but as nice as Jose was, he didn’t seem to offer the returning of my money. The Bengal Barbecue is off my list!


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Time to visit Tom Sawyers Island. I have only been to the island once since the Pirates took over and I’m ready for them to leave anytime. This visit however had a purpose.


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My memories of youth are right there in that bubbling water…


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There are some nice views from the narrow center of the Island.


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It's brilliant how Splash Mountain whips you out by the river just for few seconds, great sensory overload.


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The reason I traveled over to the island was to see the recently reopened “back trail”. Just to the left of the fort entrance there is a trail that follows the river bank all the way to the back side of the fort.


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This path has been closed for a while; I think ever since they removed the original fort and replaced it with a Home Depot version. The path just reopened last week.


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It’s a great path, not as “improved” as the others on the island.


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There are several sections with no rail or fence; you could actually fall into the river here, just like the old days.


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As you travel up the path, it starts to bend around behind the fort.


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I will confess this much - many years ago we would go to this spot and do things you are not supposed to do in the park.


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Turning around as the trail ends gives a great view of the river and the Hungry Bear Restaurant.


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The graveyard is back behind the fort. It’s not as large as before, but nice to see its return.


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Here’s a little video walking on the trail heading back to the front of the fort. Don’t watch this video if you suffer from motion sickness.


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This is the only train I saw on this visit to the park. The Disneyland Railroad and Casey Jr. are both down for refurbishment.


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Somehow I always end up on the wrong side of things!


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It's just past noon and time to leave. Still light crowds and not a ton of people arriving.


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The fall flowers seemed a little less vibrant than a couple of weeks ago (link).


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Ghost Goofy stole some kids Churro and he almost ate it.


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This is for Major and all the poster fans out there. It's very hard to get a picture of this due to the reflections, but I thought you’d find it amusing. Is that the sub from the original poster with Alfred Hitchcock and a smiling Hitler in the windows?


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