Q : I was reading a question you answered about Figment and you said he was featured in many Disney Educational Cartoons; do you have a link to those of some sort or are they on DVD? I’m a really big fan of Figment! Also, since Figment’s sponsorship with Kodak ended, does that mean that Figment is at the risk of shutting down? I’ve read that past attractions like Horizons at Epcot shut down because of that, and Spaceship Earth stopped working for an amount of time before Siemens started sponsoring it. I’m getting worried!
Adriana, Sewell, New Jersey
A: Two titles to check online are Reading Magic with Figment and Peter Pan and Would You Eat a Blue Potato; sometimes clips from them appear on YouTube. I know of no plans to remove Figment from Epcot.
Q : I am a twin who played Little Ricky on the I Love Lucy show from the third through fifth seasons. We were doing the part of Little Ricky during the grand opening of Disneyland, so my mom took us down, and I am told that there were some pictures and/or footage of one of us with Lucy and Desi taken in the teacups.
Joe, Portland, Oregon
A: Lucy and Desi are not on our list of celebrities that were at Disneyland on opening day, July 17, 1955. We know that Lucille Ball visited Disneyland on July 1-2, 1957; July 17, 1958 (Desi was with her at least this time); August 12-13, 1959; April 12, 1960; and August 6-7, 1961. It would not be easy looking for a photograph without knowing which date.
Q : Have there been any stories of any ghost sightings at Disneyland or any of the parks—real ghosts, not on the Haunted Mansion attractions?
Avi, Irvine, California
A: There are a few ghost stories going around. Cast members at Walt Disney World have tales of a ghost, who they have named George, in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. George is supposedly a friendly, though mischief-making ghost. http://doombuggies.com/myths3.php talks about several in the Haunted Mansion, including a little boy at the unload area. Naturally, there is no official confirmation of any of these.
Q : I would like to find more information about Holidayland. My grandfather has a couple of pictures that show Disney artists with sketches of Holidayland, some even have Walt Disney in them. Where can I go to find out the artists’ names and anything else about the pictures?
Mark, Irvine, California
A: Holidayland was a picnic area, from 1957 to 1961, under a circus tent outside the Disneyland berm where companies could rent the area for company picnics, then the guests could enter Disneyland itself. We probably cannot identify sketch artists that worked there, but if you want to send copies of the photos to Disney.Archives@disney.com they can look at them for you.
Q : I attended Grad Night at Disneyland in 1971 and want to relive some of those memories. I found a site that listed the entertainment and poster but would like to see what the marquee read, what the ticket books looked like, etc. I do have the Winnie the Pooh plush animal, somewhere, but it is missing the graduation cap. Any information you could share would be very much appreciated. I have been unlucky searching the web.
Shelley, Rescue, California
A: In 1971, Grad Night was held at Disneyland on June 4, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, and 18. We would not know the wording on the marquee, but accompanying this answer is a copy of the ticket.
Q : I have really vague memories of some kind of temporary theme in Disneyland related to the Disney Afternoon. I think I remember these from when I was very young (I was born in 1986). I looked online about these memories and only found a name: Disney Afternoon Avenue. But I don’t know if it’s all true. Once again, these are very vague memories of mine, and I could have just dreamed them for all I know. Know anything about this, Dave?
Joseph, Nevada, California
A: The only Disney Afternoon theme at Disneyland was indeed Disney Afternoon Avenue, for eight months in 1991. The area in front of it’s a small world was decorated with building fronts modeled after the ones in the Disney Afternoon TV shows, and costumed characters interacted with guests. The Fantasyland Autopia and Motor Boat Cruise were also themed to Disney Afternoon.