Samland Visits Orlando – Exceptional, Acceptable or Regrettable
Some may view this as the latest Samland column. Others will simply say that he has provided a trip report as a cheap way...
SAMLAND: How the Court of Angels Got Its Name
One of the best things about Samland are the readers. You folks are great. I recently posted an article about the Court of Angels...
SAMLAND: Selections from the Library
Sam Gennawey reviews two interesting books for Disney fans today. First up King of the Jesters, the Danny Kaye biography from David Koenig. And...
The Court of Angels – New Orleans Square Disneyland
The removal of the Court of Angels in New Orleans Square to make room for an expanded Club 33 has become the latest polarizing...
Samland: Thoughts on Starbucks on Main Street at Disneyland
It seems that everybody has an opinion on the inclusion of a Starbucks on Main Street at Disneyland. I went to the park this...
Samland visits the new Universal Plaza
Universal Studios Hollywood’s greatest strength has also been its greatest weakness. Since 1964, the old chicken ranch had always been a working production studio...
Terminator 2: 3D Battle Across Time
Director James Cameron may be best known for his use of cutting edge technology in telling monumental stories. When Terminator 2: Judgement Day debuted...
Samland Grabbag, LA History Museum and Book Reviews
BECOMING LA - LA COUNTY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
For those familiar with Charles Phoenix, I believe one of his great contributions to humanity was...
How to Operate the Disneyland Monorail
Recently, as I was sorting through some files, I came across a 1966 operator’s manual for the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System and thought I would...
A Walt Disney World Transportation Fairytale
Once upon a time the planners at Walt Disney World really did want to follow Walt’s vision and create a place that would show...
Disneyland Inspiration
I would assume that most people who read MiceChat (especially those reading Samland) are the type who visit the Disney parks more frequently than...
The CalArts Disney Connection
Welcome to Samland. This week I have decided to reach over to the bookshelf and extract an excerpt from Walt and the Promise of...
Animal Kingdom and Disney Hollywood Studios Exceptional, Acceptable, Regrettable
Over the last couple of months, I have been making observations of things that have struck my fancy in the Disney Parks. The goal...
Sam Compares Parks, Disney, Universal, Knotts, Magic Mountain
Let's face it: Tickets for theme parks are expensive. Every year, we have come to expect price increases that exceed inflation, and every year,...
Magic Kingdom: Exceptional, Acceptable, and Regrettable
Last time, I took at look at my recent trip to Epcot. This week, the focus is on the Magic Kingdom. As we now...
Epcot: Exceptional, Acceptable, and Regrettable
Epcot has long been a favorite of mine. As you can imagine, I have been somewhat obsessed with Walt’s original vision, if you know...
From the Crazy Mixed Up Files of Samland
I'm constantly working on all kinds of stories, research and ideas. Some become full blown articles here on MiceChat, others make it into books....
Why the Monorail Failed in Los Angeles
I realize that most people associate early Monorails with Walt Disney. It is well-known that one of the earliest drawings of Tomorrowland by Herb...
Disney 1975: The Year That Wasn’t
In another look at yesterday’s tomorrows, let’s turn the clock back to 1975 and see what Walt Disney Productions (WDP) was up to with...
SAMLAND: The Port Disney Story
Back in the late 1980s, Walt Disney Productions management was becoming increasingly concerned with the public realm surrounding Disneyland. The area had been deteriorating...