Disneyland True Short Stories: "I'm Going to Disneyland!"

 If you're as old as I am, you'll remember the famous sports stars of the moment exclaiming, "I'm going to Disneyland!" after winning the Super Bowl or World Series. That ingenious marketing idea was started in 1987 by then Disney CEO, Michael Eisner. But did you ever wonder where that idea came from? Ok, probably not, but it's a fun story. 

After completing the first ever flight around the world without stopping or refueling, Jeannie Yeager and Burt Rutan had dinner with Michael and Jane Eisner, his wife. 

At the dinner, Michael asked the aviators "What are you doing next?" To which they replied, "We're going to Disneyland." And with that, Jane turned to Michael and said, "Michael, you've got to use that."

And so it was that the next year (1987) Eisner started that marketing campaign.  

Downtown Disney During Coronavirus Restrictions October 2020

I needed to run down to Southern California to pick up a couple of Disney props I obtained from an auction so I figured we'd see what Downtown Disney was like with all the Coronavirus restrictions:

We used this coupon found on Micechat to park at the Anaheim Hotel. I had read that parking in the main Disney parking lot on the West side of the park sometimes meant waiting in line for upwards of 30 minutes at the security checkpoint so we decided to park on the East side of the Park so we could use the East side entrance.

It was truly bizarre to see this pick up/drop off location completely void of vehicles and people. Normally when we come during the summer this sidewalk can be like navigating your way through a maze.

The first of MANY covid related signs...

...and another...

...and another...

...and many more. If I didn't know better, I would have thought this virus had a 99.9% death rate, not survival rate.

There was not another single person entering or leaving on the East side (makes sense since all the hotels are basically shuttered, waiting for Disneyland to be able to open again). 

First, we had a temperature screening... 

...and then went through security. 

No wait!! I doubt we'll see this ever again once things get back to normal.

I was most excited about seeing the new Disneyland Backlot Premiere Shop which had just opened a couple of weeks before we were there.

Here's the entrance which is just on the California Adventure side (South) of the East security checkpoint.

Entering the (normally) back stage area of DCA! 

This was so cool to me to see backstage - probably even cooler than going in the new store!

And here's where you enter the store. Not the grandest of entrances, but still, it was nice to see Disney doing everything they could to get more people back to work by opening this store despite all the restrictions being placed on them.

My first look inside the store...

The merchandise isn't unique to this store but it was nice to have another area to shop to help disperse the crowds.

Here's a look at where you checkout. The switchbacks were not needed this day.

Now off to the esplanade!

I was kindly, but firmly reprimanded after taking this photo by one of the cast members because I took off my mask. I understand why she had to do it but, as you can see, there wasn't another person within 50 yards of me. A little common sense goes a long way in times like these...

Here's a look toward Disneyland from the esplanade. Anyone that's been to Disneyland in the past 10 years knows how eerie this is - not a single person in the whole view of the camera! 

This was as close as I was allowed to get to Disneyland. It was roped off at this point.

Here's a look back toward California Adventure.

I was able to go right up to the exit at DCA. Here's a look inside. This area actually opened for shopping and dining in November (although the dining has now been banned in the area by California so only food pick-up is currently available as of December).

Although there were lines to get into each store (Disneyland has been forced to implement operational capacity restrictions at it's retail locations), the lines weren't too long and we only waited for about 5-10 minutes to get into the few stores we went to. It was actually nice to be able to pleasantly walk through the World of Disney Store without feeling like a packed sardine! Here's a look at the line to
Pin Traders.  

It was a short, but fun visit that will have to hold us over until Disneyland is allowed to open next year.