By Keith Mahne

Disneyland opened in 1955 with an exposition of transportation systems, from double-decker buses to riverboats. Already a mini-city in transportation activity, Disneyland inaugurated the first daily monorail service in 1959. The design and development of the monorail system reflected Walt Disney's personal commitment to not only build an attraction, but more importantly, to provide a transportation system for the future. With the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, the Disney organization revealed a new monorail system as the primary transportation link between the resort hotels, Ticket and Transportation Center, and the Magic Kingdom called the MARK IV Monorail. In today's new article, thanks to a 14 page booklet from the 1979, you'll get to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about Walt Disney World's original monorail system...

By Randy Crane

If you were to ask a Disney Parks fan what it is that makes the Disney Parks unique and special, you may get several answers. World-class service. Fun for the whole family. Great storytelling. But one phrase that you’ll hear more than almost any other is, “Their attention to detail is amazing.” How does remembering that the Imagineers care about the design details of the Disney Parks help us to also remember that God cares about the everyday details in our lives? Author Randy Crane returns in today's new article to explain...

By Keith Mahne

From the Walt Disney World Vacation Kingdom dedication plaque in Town Square: "WALT DISNEY WORLD is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney and to the talents, the dedication and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true..." Walt Disney's dream...what a dream it was: a complete vacation resort destination; a total environment that Walt himself referred to as "a new, different kind of world...big enough to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine." And the dream came to life and started to grow: the Magic Kingdom, resort hotels and villas, campgrounds, abundant facilities for recreation, shopping and entertainment; all set against a lovingly preserved and designed backdrop of rolling landscapes and winding waterways. And, as Walt had suggested, there was still plenty of space for the Disney-style thinking, tinkering and building called "Imagineering." Today, this 27,443-acre wonder stands as the leading vacation destination on earth and the first 10 years of its existence played a big part in that. Let's review Walt Disney World's first 10 years and discover why it remains as happy and joyous a place as the day it opened on October 1, 1971...

By Keith Mahne

Since Disneyland opened in 1955, guests have treasured the elements that set the Disney theme parks and resorts apart — the cleanest venues, the friendliest cast members, and the most exceptional show. Though each of these three things are extremely important and are what keeps Disney a step ahead of the competition, Disney's cast members are by far the most important of them all. But did you know that there is a secret ingredient used within the company that keeps cast members looking their best while "on stage"? It's called the Disney Look. This look has changed with the times, yet always remains true to Disney's ideal of offering wholesome family entertainment in the world's top vacation destinations. In today's new article, let's peek inside the pages of a Disney Look handbook and see what it really takes to be a Disney cast member...

By Keith Mahne

If you're a fan of Disney Avenue, you probably realize how much we love Disney music around here. Let me tell you about a classic Disneyland album you're going to love. It's called Echoes of Disneyland and it was created by a man named Dee Fisher, a true staple at Disneyland during its first fifteen years in operation. Dee was the manager of Disneyland's Wurlitzer music store at the corner of Town Square and Main Street USA. On many a quiet evening he would fill the air with the haunting yet subdued tones of his electric organ in a twightlight concert of familiar Disney tunes. After many guest requests, he recorded this album, live at the Park, for Disneyland records in 1957. Listen to the beautiful and soothing sounds of this magical 1957 album in today's new article...