Desktop: Rivers of America

With Independence Day coming up this week I figured this image fit perfectly for this week's desktop image. The classic Mississippi River paddle wheel Liberty Belle is leaving the dock, Aunt Polly's Dockside Inn (a tribute to the Mark Twain classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) is off to the left, and the Haunted Mansion is of course dead center. Should be smooth sailing today, clear skies, calm waters, and the only sound you can hear is the howl of a forlorn dog...

Gorilla camp

Now this was an interesting find - it appears that someone has set up camp above the gorilla forest on the Pangani Trail to keep an eye on them. I'm not sure if this falls in the extreme detailing category or if it is a working observation station. It is not exactly easy to see from the trail but you can get an idea of where it is located in the photo below...

Classic logos, modern gates

Don't forget to take a minute when you get off the Monorail to take a look at the entrance gates at Epcot. The new stainless gates have the traditional Epcot logo right in them - not only does it make a nice artistic fence, it is a great nod to the classic Future World logos!

Now arriving from Hoth

In honor of yet another Star Wars weekend season wrapping up this weekend we head around the country to Star Tours in Disneyland. The Arrival/Departure board at Star Tours is full of all sorts of intergalactic destinations that I would love to visit. It appears that your choices are slightly limited when it comes to the galaxy but come on, what are the odds that we're a hub spaceport for Star Tours? But when your transfer is in cool places like Endor or Hoth or Tatooine does it really matter that you have to transfer Starspeeders? Getting there is half the fun!

Check out is at 11 or whenever

Ryan over at Main Street Gazette took a look at Stage 1 Company Studio earlier this week. This reminded me of another great sign at the hotel lobby counter. I'm thinking this might explain how the Electric Mayhem could afford to stay at the hotel for years between gigs!

Cabin room

The Liberty Belle has an interior sitting room that most people walk right past in favor of the railing view instead. But even if you are headed for the sunshine on the deck be sure to at least stick your head into the room. It has the feel of a classic riverboat and no doubt in a downpour it also makes for a great place to escape...

An energetic mosaic

The Universe of Energy queue has a great mosaic, and check out how the clock is designed to blend into the wall. If you look at the right angle you can't even see it... The little tiles also went well with the old Radok Block Kinetic Mosaic video wall in the preshow area. Can't remember what it was like before Ellen moved in? Can't say I blame you - I sure don't. Check out this video to refresh the memory...

Recycling - small world style

These colorful trash and recycling cans reside along the sidewalk near it's a small world. A combination of Mary Blair style and Jiminy Cricket help add a splash of color and fun to these receptacles. Don't forget to separate your bottles and cans!

Financial roller coaster

The tradition of window advertising continues across the esplanade from Disneyland - over in the Bay Area in DCA you can find a few creative ads in the windows. This is a personal favorite - Cable Car Financial... A fun logo, a great slogan, and a San Francisco classic all in one!

A water tower formerly known as Dixie Landings

These water tanks can be found near the marina at Port Orleans Riverside adding just another touch to the old southern river port feel. I seem to recall that these used to be labeled for Dixie Landings when the resort used to use that name yet I have yet to find a photo of that to prove that I'm not losing my mind...

On break, back soon

Hey you - you got a pass? Wait, it's break time and I'm out of coffee - back in a bit, just wait here ok? And even though I have to leave this here gate up don't go past it into the studio. Got it? Good. I'll be back after I refill... You better be here when I get back, I don't want to catch you in the studio...

Giraffe meets bird

There are a number of colorful bird houses in the Oasis - this one features a giraffe or two... Though I'm not quite sure what the second bird house is - it looks like there are actually birds carved on that birdhouse. Any ideas? That just seems too logical for the ever-creative Imagineers!

Mojave Oil Co.

Tucked away in a corner of Mickey's garage is a trio of Mohave Oil Co. cans. This is one of my favorite details. For those that recognize but can't place the logo think back to a certain tanker truck in a certain canyon. That's right, the tanker in Catastrophe Canyon just happens to be in the Mohave Oil Co. fleet. I love how the Imagineers planted these over at both parks, though I'm curious about which one of these came first...

Today is the 20th birthday for Mickey's Birthdayland which turned into Mickey's Starland and is, of course, Mickey's Toontown Fair today. For more great Toontown artifacts go check out the Toontown Field Guide over at 2719 Hyperion!

This is not a post

Only the Muppets would have a Department of Artificial Reality. I have days that I feel I need to hang a sign up like this at work! They sure do a good job, they had me fooled into thinking that was a door...

Desktop: Destination Main Street or Matterhorn?

There are just some times that a photo makes itself. I was just taking a break at the plaza for a couple minutes and I look up from my bench to see this. The Matterhorn and a horse drawn streetcar were positioned perfectly. This view not only is an interesting study in time and place but also of the details on the streetcar - they are full of intricate paint and wood details...

Door dings

The queue at Test Track is really something - an array of car parts, test dummies, and tools litter the area. It is one of those queues that you could spend plenty of time in and not get bored - and as a bonus you might actually learn something. Here we have a collection of doors in various states of disrepair either awaiting to be installed on test cars or to be analyzed after they have gone out on the track...

It's a toonhole

From time to time I have to pop manhole lids for work - and no, it is not an enjoyable part of the job. Someone has to figure out which direction those pipes underground go and occasionally that person is me.

But if I had to pop toonholes, now that would be fun! My question - what all can be found beneath the streets of Toontown? Is this like the famed portable hole? Hmm - wonder if I can pop this manhole and find out...

Fit for a king

Even the most mundane, hidden restrooms receive the royal treatment in the Magic Kingdom! Fancy lettering, royal titles, and yet another cool lamp. Behind the Village Haus is where you can find these bathrooms - they are by the famed Village Safe...

Skip the fire alarm

Don't pull the fire alarm, don't call 911, don't do anything - just start running! This very instructive sign can be found at the Studio 1 Company Store. And of course, once the Muppets get going with the explosives (just talk to Crazy Harry) your only hope would be to just get out of there!

Pullman section, please

Another nice and slightly unexpected detail from the California Zephyr - this one is on the platform. If you look down you can see which end of the train to board for the coach or Pullman sections of the train. I'll take a ride in the Pullman, please. Nothing quite like being able to ride on the train in the luxury of the sleeper cars.

Snails on the ceiling

At the Pizzafari there are all sorts of fun rooms to eat in - I had never eaten there before my last trip and had a blast eating with the shelled creatures. Here I was foolishly thinking "I can get pizza in other parks" and I was missing out on some great atmosphere. This room is all about carrying your house with you - snails, turtles, armadillos and the likes call this corner of the restaurant call it home...

University of Candy Science

Now this is my kind of degree! Can I get a masters degree in the art of candy science? How about PhD? Man, what a deal that would be! But while you are contemplating that be sure to check out the wood grain behind the degree. The wood panel has all sorts of character - in the form of Mickey, Pluto and more!

A tasty Mickey

This is a tasty treat is one of my favorites! Nothing like a warm, soft pretzel to get your energy back to keep plowing along for the rest of the day. It is interesting that while they are easy to find in Disneyland, they are impossible to find anywhere in Disney World even though there are plenty of places to buy regular soft pretzels. The question of the day is does anyone out there know why they are a west coast only feature?

Rabbit, er, mouse ears

All I can say is I love that mouse ear antenna! The rest of the rec room details area terrific, but how about that antenna? Too bad people don't have the old rabbit ears any more, that would be fun to try to bend them around into Mickey ears...

Catch the Route 46 bus

Another sign along the Streets of America, a bus stop for Route 46 in Chinatown. Mmmm - Chinese food, now I'm starting to get hungry. Now wouldn't that be a fun addition to the set - walk thru the door into a Chinese takeout place tucked behind the flats.

I'm not quite sure what the sign below the bus stop sign says but with the SFPD logo and the rather sad looking dog I imagine it is something to do with leash laws. And a side note from your resident transit nerd - if you are riding the Muni in San Francisco there is no Rt. 46 currently, but if you catch the 45 that bus goes through Chinatown...

A tree in a window

Just another example of why it is important to look up - this little window is perched high in the Grand Californian courtyard. The stained glass look fits nicely with the Arts and Crafts styling, much like the White Water Snack signs. It looks better from the ground - you can hardly tell it isn't stained glass from 6 stories below...

Green Mickey

This not-so-hidden Mickey doubles as one of those edible Mickeys. The fresh plants, cabbage and lettuce it appears, in The Land are conveniently arranged to form the classic Mickey. I don't know what it is about Living with the Land but I love that ride - the calm boat ride, the scenes, the lab, the fresh plants...

Flying Yak Air Transport

The colorful collection of direction signs in Asia have a lot of fun ones to inspect. Here are a couple of them for today - it includes one of my favorites. There is just something about shipping goods with the Flying Yak - the huge fuzzy yaks airborne is a funny image. And how about those Super Hi-Class Masterpieces at the wood carving shop?

Desktop: A bear and a hotel

Once again an after dark desktop, this time from California Adventure. The iconic Grizzly and the Tower of Terror are looming over the park at night. This shot was from an outdoors staircase at the Grand Californian - we crashed in the room at the end of the day but had just enough energy to go exploring and came upon some neat views of DCA, inc. this one.

In the event of an event...

It's a Muppet crate! Ok, ok, fine - so it is a suitcase but still - it has all the creative markings that you come to expect from both the crate labeling folks and the Muppets. It sure looks like Frankie's Formalwear is doing a good business these days.