Q : I have some amazing family photos from 1964 Disneyland (including me in Mickey Mouse ears!). These photos include Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Carnation truck on Main Street, the Indian Dance Circle, and many other items long gone. While I have shown these [photos] to other Disney fans, who are just fascinated with them, I wondered if Disney archivists would be interested in seeing these photos as well?
Peggy, Redwood City, California
A: The Walt Disney Archives has quite a comprehensive collection of Disneyland photographs, but thank you for thinking of us.
Q : I am trying to find out information on the hand-drawn watches they sold in the Parks. Do they still offer them? When I was at Disney in 2005, they put a new band on and cleaned it for me—I was told that was one of the extras for buying the watch. But the last two times I went I could find no information on them. I was unable to even buy a new band to match the one that came with it. Any help would be a big help.
Eric, Somerset, Pennsylvania
A: I checked with former Imagineer Eddie Sotto, who proposed the artisan watch program at Disneyland; it began in 1994. The watches and related services are no longer offered, as the program ended in 2013. Many different artists were involved. A large batch of original artwork for the watches was recently acquired by the Walt Disney Archives.
Q : My Aunt played in a big band that traveled around the world in college. She had the opportunity to play at the Westcot “idea-unveiling” ceremony. She has maps of what Westcot was supposed to look like, and pins and pennants that say “Westcot.” I was just curious if you knew more about Westcot and how rare the items are. Also, I would like to thank you because I visited the Walt Disney Studios and had the chance to meet you. You signed a copy of your amazing book for me—I was just in so much shock that I forgot to ask you my question.
Sidney Handy, Temecula, California
A: WESTCOT Center was to be a west-coast version of EPCOT Center, with Spacestation Earth as its centerpiece, and a World Showcase. It was initially announced in March 1991, to be built where Disney California Adventure was eventually situated. Items related to WESTCOT would be curiosities but probably would not have a lot of monetary value, since today few people remember the proposed park. The park’s announcement brochure recently sold on eBay for about $30.
Q : For my birthday, my sister gave me a Disneyland park map that looks like an antique. The front says “Your Guide to Disneyland” and “Compliments of Bank of America.” The copyright reads “Copyright, 1955, by Disneyland, Incorporated.” When you first unfold it, there is an ad for the Disneyland branch of Bank of America advertising money orders, and when it is fully unfolded, there is a full-color map with “Copyright, 1956, Walt Disney Productions.” It’s an amazing gift, but I’m wondering if there is any thing to look for so I can tell whether this is an original map or a reproduction. Thank you!
Robyn, Modesto, California
A: I am unaware that those Bank of America guides have ever been reproduced. They predate the large-size Disneyland souvenir maps by a couple of years, and are a nice collectible.
Q : I have some amazing family photos from 1964 Disneyland—I was 4 years old—which include me in Mickey Mouse ears! These photos include Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Carnation truck on Main Street, the Indian Dance Circle, and many other items long gone. One such item shows my sisters and me at the entrance of Adventureland and the Tiki Room with the Barker Bird. While I have shown these items to other Disney fans, who are just as fascinated with them, I wondered if Disney archivists would be interested in seeing these photos as well?
Peggy, Redwood City, California
A: The Walt Disney Archives appreciates your interest, but they already have thousands of photos taken each year at Disneyland.