'65 Disneyland Trading Card by Donruss

Back in 1965, the Donruss Trading Card Company produced a set of 66 bubblegum cards to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Disneyland. Each card featured a ride, attraction, or character from the park.

Snow White appeared on card #18 with the caption: "SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS WELCOME GUESTS TO FANTASYLAND IN DISNEYLAND."

Each card measured 2.5" x 3.5" and was printed on regular card stock. The backside was part of a puzzle that when put together, the complete set would form a picture of Disney characters. There was also another printing variation, though less common, where the cards had a blue back instead of the puzzle.

Here's a look at just a few of the other cards. Note the "SUMBARINE" misspelling on card #6...

Card images via The Bubblegum Hall of Fame

The complete checklist:

1. SANTA FE AND DISNEYLAND RAILROAD TRAINS TAKE YOU THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON DIORAMA
2. GOOFY AND HIS DISNEY CHARACTER PALS ARE REFLECTED IN THE SUN GLASSES OF A YOUNG DISNEYLAND GUEST 
3. SLEEPING BEAUTYS CASTLE IN DISNEYLAND MARKS ENTRANCE TO FANTASYLAND 
4. DEPARTING FROM SWISS CHALET IN FANTASYLAND GUESTS ON DISNEYLAND SKYWAY TRAVEL HIGH ABOVE THE MAGIC 
5. INDIANS GREET DISNEYLAND RAILROAD AS THE 1890 LOCOMOTIVE PAUSES AT FRONTIERLAND DEPOT 
6. THREE OF DISNEYLANDS MOST POPULAR ATTRACTIONS: MATTERHORN, MONORAIL AND SUBMARINE 
7. ALICE AND THE WHITE RABBIT BEGIN A RIDE THROUGH THE ALICE AND WONDERLAND ATTRACTION AT DISNEYLAND 
8. WESTERN MINE TRAIN TAKES DISNEYLAND VISITORS THROUGH NATURE WONDERLAND 
9. DISNEYLAND GUESTS BOARD DOUBLEDECK BUS FOR TRIP DOWN MAIN STREET TO TOWN SQUARE 
10. SPACEMAN GREETS TOMORROWLAND VISITORS AT DISNEYLAND 
11. STORYBOOKLAND MINIATURES ARE VIEWED FROM THE COLORED CASEY JR. CIRCUS TRAIN AT DISNEYLAND 
12. ALICE IN WONDERLAND AND HER FRIENDS WHITE RABBIT AND MAD HATTER GREET GUESTS AT DISNEYLAND 
13. DISNEYLAND SUBMARINE PASSES THROUGH WATERFALL AS GUESTS EXPLORE LIQUID SPACE 
14. OLD FAITHFUL ERUPTS AS THE WESTERN MINE TRAIN MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH NATURES WONDERLAND 
15. FANTASY IN THE SKY FIREWORKS EXPLODE NIGHTLY OVER SLEEPING BEAUTY'S CASTLE 
16. DISNEYLAND MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS FRITZ AND OTTO ASCEND THE 90 FEET HEIGHT OF MATTERHORN MOUNTAIN 
17. GAILY DECORATED TREE BRINGS CHRISTMAS TO DISNEYLAND TOWN SQUARE DURING YULETIDE SEASON 
18. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS WELCOME GUESTS TO FANTASYLAND IN DISNEYLAND 
19. CORPS OF TOY SOLDIERS MARCHES DOWN MAIN STREET DURING DISNEYLANDS CHRISTMAS SEASONS PARADES 
20. DISNEYLAND AFRICAN VELDT IS VIEWED FROM ABOARD JUNGLE CRUISE IN ADVENTURELAND 
21. WALT DISNEYS ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM MARKS THE ENTRANCE TO ADVENTURELAND 
22. SETS FROM 20000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA ARE ON DISPLAY FOR TOMORROWLAND VISITORS 
23. SLEEPING BEAUTYS CASTLE IN DISNEYLAND MARKS ENTRANCE TO FANTASYLAND 
24. TRAPPED SAFARI AT DISNEYLAND AS VIEWED BY PASSENGERS ABOARD JUNGLE CRUISE 
25. VISITORS ABOARD DISNEYLAND MARK TWAIN VIEW LIFE LIKE INDIAN VILLAGE 
26. CANAL BOATS STORYBOOKLAND FEATURES MINIATURES SETTINGS FROM DISNEY ANIMATED MOTION PICTURES 
27. MICKEY MOUSE AND HIS DOG PLUTO TAKE A RIDE ON DISNEYLAND FIRE ENGINE 
28. WHITE RABBIT AND MRS. RABBIT ON AN EGG HUNT DURING DISNEYLAND EASTER SEASON 
29. WESTERN MINE TRAIN CROSSES TRESTLE OVER BEAR RIVER GOING THROUGH NATURES WONDERLAND 
30. DISNEYLAND ASTROJET PROVIDES THRILLING RIDE IN TOMORROWLAND 
31. INDIAN ELEPHANTS PLAY IN SACRED WADING POOL AS SEEN BY PASSENGERS ABOARD DISNEYLAND JUNGLE CRUISE 
32. DELUXE PASSENGER TRAIN OF THE 1890 VINTAGE LEAVES MAIN STREETS STATION 
33. DISNEYLANDS GONZALES TRIO ENTERTAIN GUESTS AT MEXICAN VILLAGE IN FRONTIERLAND 
34. A DISNEYLAND FUTURE ATTRACTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR OPENING IN 1967 THE HAUNTED HOUSE 
35. DISNEYLAND SKYWAY PASSES THROUGH MATTERHORN MOUNTAIN 
36. DISNEYLANDS SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON TREEHOUSE TOWERS 80 FEET ABOVE ADVENTURELAND 
37. THE WONDERS OF LIQUID SPACE ARE VIEWED ABOARD THE NAUTILUS ONE OF THE DISNEYLAND SUBMARINE FLEET 
38. BRIGHTLY CANOPIED LAUNCHES CARRY PASSENGERS PAST NATIVE HUT IN THE JUNGLE CRUISE AT DISNEYLAND 
39. DISNEY CHARACTERS MEET IN FRONT OF DISNEYLAND MAIN GATE WITH A FLOWER PORTRAIT OF MICKEY MOUSE 
40. COLORFUL DISNEYLAND BAND MARCHES DOWN MAIN STREET 
41. ABOARD BRIGHTLY CANOPIED LAUNCHES DISNEYLAND VISITORS BECOME EXPLORERS ON JUNGLE CRUISE 
42. KING ARTHURS CAROUSEL IN DISNEYLAND IS AMERICAS LARGEST CAROUSEL 
43. AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE RIVERS OF AMERICA IN DISNEYLAND 
44. GUESTS THRILL TO CLIMAX OF BOBSLED RIDE AS SLEDS RACE TO A SPLASHING HALT IN GLACIER LAKE 
45. WESTERN MINE TRAIN DEPARTS FOR TOUR OF NATURED WONDERLAND AT DISNEYLAND 
46. GOLDEN HORSESHOE REVUE IS STAGED SEVERAL TIMES DAILY IN THIS ORNATE FRONTIER SALOON AT DISNEYLAND 
47. LIFELIKE IN APPEARANCE AND MOVEMENT. THESE ANIMALS INHABIT THE RIVERS OF AMERICA AT DISNEYLAND 
48. OLD FASHIONED STANDS AND POPCORN VENDORS CAN BE FOUND ALONG MAIN STREET AND TOWN SQUARE 
49. CANAL BOATS STORYBOOKLAND FEATURES MINIATURES SETTINGS FROM DISNEY ANIMATED MOTION PICTURES 
50. THE WHITE RABBIT AND MRS. RABBIT SURPRISE ALICE IN WONDERLAND WITH AND EASTER BASKET 
51. SANTA FE AND DISNEYLAND TRAINS DEPART FROM THE 1890 MAIN STREET 
52. STORYBOOKLAND MINIATURES ARE VIEWED FROM THE GAILY COLORED CASEY JR. CIRCUS TRAIN AT DISNEYLAND 
53. DISNEYLAND MARK TWAIN CARRIERS FRONTIERLAND VISITORS ALONG RIVERS OF AMERICA 
54. DISNEYLAND INDIAN VILLAGE FEATURES CEREMONIAL DANCING BY THE RIVERS OF AMERICA 
55. THE COLUMBIA IS A FULL SIZE AUTHENTIC REPLICA OF THE FIRST AMERICAN SHIP TO SAIL AROUND THE WORLD 
56. DISNEYLAND MIGHTY MATTERHORN MOUNTAIN TOWERS ABOVE THE SUBMARINE LAGOON IN TOMORROWLAND 
57. COMICAL REINDEER GREETS GUESTS DURING THE DISNEYLAND ANNUAL CHARACTERS PARADE
58. MICKEY MOUSE LEADS THE DISNEYLAND BAND IN FRONT OF SLEEPING BEAUTYS CASTLE 
59. SQUID ATTACKS SHARK IN SUBMARINE LAGOON AS VIEWED BY PASSENGERS ABOARD AIR CONDITIONED SUBMARINES 
60. PETER PAN WELCOMES DISNEYLAND VISITORS TO FANTASYLAND 
61. DISNEYLAND ASTROJET ENABLES GUESTS TO PILOT THEIR OWN JET THROUGH A FAST MOVING JOURNEY 
62. INDIAN WAR CANOES TRANSPORT DISNEYLAND VISITORS DOWN THE RIVERS OF AMERICA IN FRONTIERLAND 
63. DISNEYLAND TOUR GUIDE POINTS OUT EXHIBITS AND SHOPS ALONG TOWN SQUARE AND MAIN STREET 
64. DAVY CROCKETT FORT MARKS ENTRANCE TO FRONTIERLAND AT DISNEYLAND 
65. DISNEYLAND MAD HATTERS TEA PARTY FEATURES A MERRY WHIRL IN SPINNING CUPS AND TWIRLING SAUCERS 
66. TOMORROWLAND AUTOPIA ALLOWS DRIVERS SOME FREEWAY FUN

Checklist via PSA.

The Carthay Circle "Theatre" opens today at DCA

In an earlier post, we followed the building progress of the new Carthay Circle "Theatre" at Disney California Adventure. Now the construction walls have come down and it officially opens (along with Buena Vista Street and Cars Land) today!

The far left marquee panel reads, "An Icon Returns"...

All photos courtesy of Connie at Life is a Journey (unless otherwise noted).

Back in January of this year, they were still laying the pavement around the front of the new structure...

Photo copyright Max Guggenheim via Disneyland News Today.

Official Disney photo from late May, side panels were not yet completed on marquee...

Image via Disney Parks blog.

But now the wait is over. The building will house the Carthay Circle Restaurant which will transport guests back to the evening of the world premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. "Re-creating the excitement of that night, Carthay Circle Restaurant will immerse guests in the post-screening atmosphere – as if they are celebrating alongside Walt and Lillian Disney, themselves."

On May 10th, the park opened reservations for the 200-seat upstairs dining room which is actually divided into smaller rooms for a more intimate setting.

Restaurant photos via the Disney Parks blog.

More Disney-released photos of the restaurant interior...

The Disney Parks blog also revealed photos from the menu...

In late May, these opening day announcement cards were being handed out by cast members in front of the Carthay Circle...

A beautiful facade and attention to details...

Image via InsideTheMagic.

Bill Cantos arranged all of the music that will be heard in the Carthay Circle Restaurant. "His task was to arrange classic Disney music and give it a timeless sound that blends into the atmosphere" of the place...

On the first floor is the Carthay Circle Lounge, which serves appetizers, desserts, beer, wines, and cocktails.

In addition, the Carthay Circle will house the exclusive 1901, a private lounge open only to members of Disneyland's Club 33. The name for the lounge comes from the year of Walt Disney's birth. It's described as a "warm, intimate space," walls decorated with personal artwork and photographs of early animators.

1901 images via the Disney Parks blog.

And out in front is the Carthay Circle Fountain...

Video of Buena Vista Street, the Red Car Trolley, and inside the Carthay Circle Restaurant...

Video posted by WDWNT.

The original Carthay Circle Theatre is long gone, but its legacy will now be re-introduced to new generations for years to come.

Scary Adventure's - The End is Here

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST.

"I'm Wishing"...

Magic Mirror on the wall...

The Queen makes her transformational spin into Witch #1 whose head tilts down as you pass by...

Entering the dungeon...

Spell book and cauldron. Witch #2 dunks the apple into the poison brew...

Witch #3 poles her boat thru the swamp...

The less oft-seen solo croc moves along the right side of track...

Witch #4 offers the poison apple to Snow White...

Witch #5 escapes to the rocky cliffs...

The dwarfs give chase. Doc's lamp shakes in his hand. Hidden black lights set the mood...

Lightning strikes as Witch #6 attempts to dislodge the boulder...

True love's first kiss...

Of course there are newer, faster, and much more technologically advanced theme park attractions, and I certainly enjoy many of them. Yet, my encounters with Snow White's Scary Adventures have always left a very lasting impression. I loved its classic dark ride design, simple yet clever special effects, and its incorporation of both music and sounds from the film. These all combined to re-tell the story and create an experience that was very much alive for me.

Now just three hours remained before it would close forever. More people than ever were lining up to say farewell, and as they exited, cameras flashed and actual "goodbyes" were spoken by many. An energy of both melancholy and celebration seemed to be simultaneously permeating the queue area, or at least that was my sense of it.

At one point, the line stretched all the way down to Winnie-the-Pooh. I'd never been around so many Snow White fans. There were the diehards who kept riding over and over. One I ran into rode all day long, from the rope drop at 8:00 am until close at 10:00 pm. With only a few short bathroom breaks and a quick 20 minute lunch at nearby Pinocchio Village Haus, he managed to ride in each of the different dwarf mine cars for a grand total of 37 round trips (which is quite good considering the length of the queue line).

Several Disney website and blogger folks were on hand including Kevin Yee of MiceAge.com. Both active and off-duty cast members were now showing up. The only one who probably didn't quite understand that this was indeed the end was Ben.

While his parents took turns riding with him, Ben kept racking up the numbers. With less than an hour left, I asked Ron about the current ride total and was surprised to hear how close they were to 3500! Around a dozen I think it was. At the start of the day, they needed 49 rides to reach their goal. Yet, the park would be closing soon. Ron did the calculations and mathematically, it just didn't seem possible. But Sara said not to worry; they were gonna make it!

Sara and Ron takes turns riding with Ben.

I knew there were numerous guests in line who were hoping to be aboard that very last mine car. But as Ron wrote in his blog post...

As the night progressed, virtually everyone in the crowd seemed to understand what was going on with Ben and gladly helped in making his experience a special one. I didn't realize it until the next morning, when my wife pointed it out to me, but as my family was so focused on Ben's last night with SWSA, dozens of random strangers were tweeting and blogging about Ben and how much his experience was touching their hearts.

At 10:00 pm, the line was capped. No additional guests could get in, yet all those already in line would be able to have their last ride. This did not apply to the wheelchair/disability loading area. Along with just a couple of other people, Ben was able to continue boarding while the regular queue line slowly began to dwindle.

It took about a half hour but by 10:30 pm, no one was left in line. A crowd had gathered out beyond the ropes, and they were cheering and applauding each and every remaining guest as they came out and exited their ride vehicles. The operators had placed a green cone in one of the mine cars to mark that the last of the guests had come thru.

The green cone

Then Ben, both his parents, and his grandfather who works maintenance at night in the park, all boarded their vehicle to become the last "official" guests to ever ride Snow White's Scary Adventures.

The last "public" ride on SWSA.

Three minutes and ten mine cars later, the crowd burst into applause as Ben came thru the doors.

Park guests and cast members alike were cheering and clapping for Ben and his parents as they made their way out of the queue.

Camera flashes lit up the area. It was truly an amazing scene.

Yet in actuality, this was not the last ride aboard the Scary Adventures. As it turns out, Ben missed the goal of 3500 by just seven rides. Cast member Stacey Patrone was aware of this and once again stepped up to make this a night to remember for Ben's family.

In the darkness out beyond the ropes, the standing crowd of fans did not immediately disperse. This was the end for SWSA and many of them stood in silence as if to pay their last respects.

Cast members and security guards quietly held position.

The ride operators made themselves look busy around the queue.

Stacey had instructed Ben's parents to wait by The Friar Nook's while the crowd slowly dwindled. Ron allowed both Ken Sundberg and myself to join them. It took a little time, but the last of the park guests finally made their way toward the Fantasyland exit.

Our small group was then invited back to the queue where the cast members fired up the ride for one last set of Scary Adventures. When they turned the key in the control panel, an alarm began to sound, apparently because it was after hours or maybe because the attraction had already been shut down for the night. Anyway, it took a moment before they managed to silence it. Then they asked how many trips Ben still needed to make 3500. Seven!

Ben and his mom got into the first seat, Ron and I in the second, and Ken in the third. We were off! Disney was holding the ride open after park hours just so Ben could reach his goal. Ben's family (and a couple of Snow White fanatics) were thrilled. I personally never thought I'd ride it again, but here I was.

It was clear how special this moment was for Ben's family. After nine years and 3493 rides, they were nearing the end of a very long journey that had started with their move from Seattle to Orlando. I made a decision not to film our little group during these last rides. Everyone was having such a good time, talking and laughing. I didn't want to infringe upon it.

We joked about how you're supposed to keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle. Sara said that after several thousand times, she'd always wanted to reach out and touch the wishing well. So Ron, who was sitting on the right side of the mine car, did just that. Next time thru they switched positions and Sara got her hand on it.

As we approached the swamp, Ron mentioned that the third crocodile is a tough one to reach because it moves, and you have to be in the right place at the right time. I happened to be sitting left center and got my first touch on its snout as we whizzed by.

We were all having such a good time. It was a perfect release to an intense emotional day. Then on the sixth round, Sara had a splendid idea to let Ben go solo on the final ride. I could see Ron was a little apprehensive at first. In all of the previous 3499 trips, Ben had always been supervised by at least one of his parents. I thought it was a brilliant way to end. For me, the Snow White story has always held deep symbolic meaning. Ben was now eighteen. So there could be no better way to finish than for him to go thru the dark ride on his very own mythological rite-of-passage.

We all exited the mine car, I grabbed my camera, and Ron and Sara led Ben to the boarding area. He hopped in the empty vehicle, but when his parents didn't follow, the curious look on Ben's face said it all.

Stacey Patrone ran the control panel for the last time.

Number 3500! The Sneezy mine car carried Ben thru Snow White's Scary Adventures on the last ride ever.

Video of Ben entering and exiting the ride for the very last time...

"Magical" is a descriptive which can sometimes be over utilized by the Disney marketing machine. But on this evening, the Magic Kingdom really was. What a night! What a last couple of days! I'll really miss the Scary Adventures on my next visit, but I won't soon forget the connection I felt to it and to the other fans who also enjoyed this classic dark ride on its final run.

_______

If you haven't yet read them, be sure to check out Ron Miles' blog posts:

• SWSA Final Night - Prelude
• SWSA Final Night, Part 1 - The Beginning of the End
• SWSA Final Night, Part 2 - The Fairest One of All
• SWSA Final Night, Part 3 - Counting Up, Counting Down
• SWSA Final Night, Part 4 - The Big Ending
• SWSA Final Night - Epilogue

_______

Some other nice write-ups, photos and/or videos from the final night:

Matt Roseboom at Orlando Attractions Magazine

Ricky Brigante at InsideTheMagic

Chris Barry at MousePlanet