By Mark Landucci

As Disneyland rapidly approaches its 60th birthday, I’ll be developing a series of articles that deal with possible future attractions, future plans, land re-theming and the current state of the attractions. Okay. Now to the task at hand.  We, as fans, are always waiting for the next big E-ticket attraction or the next big restaurant or the next new land.  I’m guilty of this. However, before we get into any in the future, we have to look at our past. Disneyland sparkles with hope, newness and the promise of a great big beautiful tomorrow, but there are traces of past. A past in which more than a few of us wish we could revisit again. I’d like to take a quick journey into a few of the relics that remain inside the park today. Now I know that some of you have seen a few of these artifacts before, but others haven’t. Either way, they are lying in wait for your exploration. So click on to read more about the shadows of Disneyland’s past...

By Mark Landucci

By Mark Landucci

By Mark Landucci

By Mark Landucci

To say that Disneyland is a case study in botany is a very accurate statement. Understand that about 90% of the plants at Disneyland are not indigenous to California. Let that sink in for a minute. Well over 800 unique species exist and thrive in the park. Today, however, I want to talk a little bit about trees.

….and this seems like a very boring topic. Trees. Honestly, who really cares about trees at Disneyland when there’s mountains in space, mountains full of big thunder or mountains that can (and will) splash you? I mean, with everything else to see and do (and eat), why would one even bother about the trees? I can go to any park in any city and get my kite stuck in a tree. I can walk down my street and see trees swaying in the wind. No big deal, right?? However, trees have always been an important part of the Disneyland story in terms of design and heritage. Continue after the page break for more...

By Mark Landucci

I have thought about the reasons why Disneyland appeals to families, to people of all ages from every walk of life… and to me, personally….And why it continues to do so. At first thought, it’s quite easy for people to come up with the obvious reasons: I go because I like the rides, I go because I like the food, I go because I like the fireworks, I go because I like the feelings I get when I’m there and I go because it brings back fond memories for me. Are all of these valid reasons? Yes! However, while Disneyland is an excellent vehicle for helping you to remember earlier visits with families and friends or what it was like to be a kid…Perhaps its strongest feature is helping you to forget. You see, I think it’s something more organic, more external and more subtle. And I think the real answer is right there in front of you. Continue after the page break for more...