Best of 2015

Walt Disney World: a coloring book
Golden, 1983

Based on the popularity of Adult Coloring Books this year, it should be no surprise that the most popular items from my blog in 2015 were from the 1983 Walt Disney World: a coloring book posts.

Coloring Main Street - March 21

Coloring Frontierland - March 27

Coloring Long Lost Attractions - April 3
 

Coming in a close second to the coloring book posts, was the Water Recreation pre-opening postcard that Bob sent his friend Al.  If you missed it, you can revisit it at this link: Sorry, Al - August 7.

Very Merry Christmas

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Button
1989

All this month I have been sharing my collection of buttons from Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.  This is the earliest button from my collection, 1989.  This week I am celebrating the season with Mickey.  I trust everyone has a safe and happy holiday and a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The First Snow

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party button
1994

We have yet to see our first snow this season here in Pennsylvania but we leave for Walt Disney World this week where we are guaranteed snow on Main Street at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.  I assumed that 1994 saw the first snow on Main Street USA based on the theme of the button but my research shows that this didn't occur until 2000 in Disneyland.  Hmmm.....but even in 1995 the button features snow.  Anyone have any additional thoughts on "The First Snow?"

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Buttons

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party button
1992

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party began in 1983. For several years, guests were given a souvenir button to commemorate the event.  To kick off the start of the holiday season, here are two from 1992 and 1993.

Happy 4th Anniversary!

4th birthday button
America On Parade, 1975

This week marks the 4th Anniversary of my blog.  To celebrate, I shall do as Walt Disney World did on their 4th birthday with this cast member birthday button.

Below are the top three viewed posts over the past 4 years.  Apparently diet drinks are popular Walt Disney World commemorative items.

 

Drink Up Me Hearties: October 12, 2013

Japanese Small Plate: September 21, 2013

Nutra-Sweet Daisy: September 7, 2013

Happy Anniversary and thanks for sharing some of the magic with me!

Happy Belated Birthday, Minnie

Stuffed Minnie  Mouse

Not to be overshadowed by her man, Minnie also celebrated her birthday this past week.  I shared her 'other half' last week.  So here is the feminine version of this 80's plush toy from Walt Disney World/Disneyland.

Happy Birthday, Mickey!

Stuffed Mickey Mouse

Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse.  This coming week, November 18, Mickey turns 87 years old.  This plush toy made for Walt Disney World & Disneyland is not that old.  Based on catalogs I have from the mid-70's, this is a newer model.  I am guessing early 80's.  It was made in Korea and measures 11 inches from his seat to the top of his ear.

 

This Thing Really Floats

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea postcard
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One of the great things about collecting postcards is some of the messages you find on the back.  The sender of this post in 1973 was very excited about his "fantastic voyage" on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  "Would you beleve that this thing realy floats."  This card, as with many in this early series, was printed with & without the Florida Flag logo.

Happy Halloween

Trick or Treat from 1972 and this Hallmark Pop-up Book, 'A Fun-Filled Visit to Walt Disney World with Mickey Mouse.'  There aren't exactly 999, but you can see all of my previous Haunted Mansion posts HERE.  Happy Halloween!

So Much Dust

The Haunted Mansion coloring pages
Walt Disney World: A Coloring Book, 1983

Leading up to Halloween, it is only appropriate that I share some early Haunted Mansion items.  Although, I must say that in reviewing my earliest Walt Disney World guides, the Haunted Mansion does not get much coverage.  It appears in all of the early guides but typically is overshadowed by other Liberty Square attractions.  The pages above are from a 1983 coloring book.  The Haunted Mansion gets 2 of 8 pages in the Liberty Square section of "20 Magical Years."  

While doing my research, I learned an interesting fact about the dust used to create the old effect in the mansion. "Local legend has it that enough has been used since the park's 1971 opening to bury the mansion."  That began appearing in WDW guides around 1990.  Imagine how big the pile of dust would be now.
And those cobwebs....well that's a secret process.

Japanese Cup of Coffee

Embossed Coffee Cup

A recent addition to my collection is this early coffee cup from Walt Disney World.  A unique castle icon and Big D/Globe Head logo are embossed on the front with a crisp cobalt blue.  It is unusual to see this particular castle icon being used as the primary image on a piece.  It is the design used by much of the pieces 'made in Japan' but is typically seen on the back or bottom of the pieces, like on the 'Plane Crazy' plate I shared recently.  I've added a picture of that back, here.  You can also see the difference in castle icons by comparing the main design on this mug to one I shared several years ago.  You will see the flat bottomed 'Japanese' castle on the bottom of the mug but the main design is the more commonly used 'jack-o-lantern' castle.  I call it that because the bottom geometric shapes remind me of a carved pumpkin.

Highway in the Sky

Monorail to the Magic Kingdom postcard
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I had already planned to share this postcard today because of the sequence of cards and because I spent the earlier part of the week riding the Las Vegas monorail.  I was so disappointed each time the doors closed and I did not hear that familiar voice say...."Please stand clear of the closing doors...."  Ironically, today this same color monorail (I can't assume it is the same one from 1971) stalled on the "highway in the sky" leaving passengers stranded for 2 hours.

As you can see from the images, this Dexter Press card was printed with and without the Florida Flag logo.

  

Happy 4th Birthday!

4th birthday button
October 1, 1975

Happy 4th Birthday, Walt Disney World!  Okay, so I am 40 years late to the party.  But here is how they celebrated in 1975.  This cast member pin-back button was part of the Park's birthday tradition.  This button broke from the early basic circle design and continued the trend of highlighting an upcoming new attraction.  America On Parade, which began in the summer of 1975, was the parade celebrating the US Bicentennial.

Fair Weather Pirates

Pirates of the Caribbean mug

After taking the hot summer off, Pirates of the Caribbean is scheduled to reopen this weekend.  As one of the 'coolest' rides in the Magic Kingdom, it was a shame that they have just reopened now as the fall begins.  So for all of those guests that missed the opportunity to beat the heat with the Pirates this summer, we raise our glass mug to you.  I don't know the exact age of this mug but I am guessing it is from the 80's or early 90's based on the curved logo on the bottom that was popular during that time.  It is 5.5" tall and 3.25" wide at the widest part of the base.

Cards, Anyone?

Playing Cards

Anyone want to play cards?  This deck features the original artist rendering of Cinderella Castle and the curved logo with the separated Big D/Globe Head.  This is similar to items like these early plates.  The cards are a standard bridge size (2.25 x 3.5).  The faces are not unique except for the two Jokers and the Ace of Spades which have the full logo.

Mickey's First Cartoon

Miniature Plate
"Plane Crazy"

Mickey's first cartoon was not "Steamboat Willie" but was "Plane Crazy".  However, Captain Mickey made it to the big screen before Pilot Mickey.  This miniature plate (only 3 1/4" across) celebrates his early appearance.  I assume it was purchased in the parks, maybe in the late 80's because the Made in Japan logo is similar to this plate from 1984.

Skyway to Our Memories

Skyway Over the Magic Kingdom postcard
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There are a few attractions from the earlier days of WDW that are gone but not forgotten thanks to this early postcard series.  Skyway to Tomorrowland closed in the late 90's but this postcard from the early 70's (obvious by the groovy pants) will live on.  Another extinct attraction featured in this series of cards was the Mickey Mouse Revue.

Back to School - WDW Style

Main Street, USA eraser

Here is the remainder of my early Walt Disney World eraser set that I began sharing last week.  These two highlight Main Street, USA and Tomorrowland.  My collection is missing just one of the lands.  Can you tell which one is missing in action?  It was probably used to erase a young child's doodle on their notebook... "I wish I was back at Disney."