SeaWolf38's Tour Trip Report

[SeaWolf38]

This is my report on the trip I took on June 22 (this past Sunday), where I took the "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour. Bear with me here, it's my first trip report, so I'm new to this haha. So anyways, the day was nice, and my family and I arrived at around 12:30 p.m. We were early, as the tour began at 2, so we went shopping on Main Street for a while (where I noticed the long line for Tiki merchandise at Disneyana), and then went to the Frontierland Shooting Gallery just for the heck of it. At about 1:30, we headed over to the Guided Tours center to check in.



We checked in, and were first given tags to attach to our belt loops, to know that we were on the tour.

[Evil Step-Mom]

I have always wanted to go on that tour, what did you think of it?

[SeaWolf38]

I was bored while waiting, so I decided to snap these shots of the DRR while I waited.




This is the headlamp on the C.K. Holiday. There is a beautiful painting of Yosemite Falls on the side.


Finally, it was almost time to head out on the tour.




They issued everyone in the group (about 20 people altogether) radio headsets for the audio portions of the tour. My headset's number resembled a certain area code in Orange County...


We began our tour here at the guided tour building, a building that once was the Police Station on Main Street (not the true Disneyland Security headquarters though... its located to the left of City Hall)

[SeaWolf38]

I have always wanted to go on that tour, what did you think of it?

I really enjoyed it, especially since we had a special surprise on the tour... but more about that later

[horizonsfan92]

Thanks for the report so far!

Can't wait to see what the surprise is!

[SeaWolf38]

And so the tour began. This is our tour guide.


The first stop was outside of the train station. After the introduction to the tour, we were led over to the Opera House.




Once inside, our tour guide explained many things about all the displays inside the lobby. Here are a few shots I took while inside...

[MsSarah]

Very nice so far

[SeaWolf38]

Next up on the tour was across Town Square, to the Fire Station. We were told about Walt's apartment overhead, and how he would spend his days while staying there.




Next, we headed up Main Street towards the Central Hub, where the "Partners" statue and Walt's vision to have the lands radiate out from this central hub were explained.




Next on the tour was Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, celebrating its 45th birthday that day!





The big surprise of the tour is coming up next! More to come!

[Evil Step-Mom]

Just want you to know that the suspense is killing me....

[aashee]

Awesome. Can't wait for the rest.

[SeaWolf38]

The big surprise of the tour was.... Disney Legend and longtime Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr entered the Tiki Room courtyard!


He was a really nice guy, and great to talk to as well. At first, he started talking to our tour guide...


... but because she had a microphone on that transmitted to the headphones that the tour group was listening to, we all heard him talking. Soon after, he began to tell us a few stories of him working with Walt.


Soon, it was time to head into the Tiki Room... I shook Mr. Gurr's hand and told him what an honor it was to meet him, and then everyone headed inside. I can now say that I saw a performance of the Tiki Room with Bob Gurr on the Tiki Room's 45th birthday! Afterwards, the tour guide showed us how one of the AA flowers works, and Mr. Gurr stuck around to listen, and then tell more stories about the attractions he designed (including the original Alweg Monorail and the streetcars on Main Street), the window that he was honored with on Main Street (the Meteor Cycle Company in the alleyway by the Disney Clothiers Shop, that leads to the lockers [he explained to us that they gave him a bicycle shop because he is an avid bicyclist, and because of the nature of many of the attractions that he designed. The company's slogan, "Fast, Faultless, Fadless" is a tribute to himself and the test of time that all the attractions he designed have stood.]). This is a pic of the tour guide with the flower in her hands, and Bob Gurr standing beside her... its not a good pic, however, because I couldn't use the flash right in their eyes...


Next, it was time to say thank you and goodbye to Mr. Gurr and let him enjoy the rest of his day there, and for us to move on to the Jungle Cruise. Needless to say, my day was already made right there haha!

[SusieP.]

Bonus!

[aashee]

Wow, wow, WOW! Meeting Mr. Gurr and hearing some of his stories is priceless. I'm always worried when I recommend things to someone and find out they didn't care for it. But it looks like the WIWF tour was a smash hit!

[DisneyPro]

Congrats on meeting a Disney Legend! That must of been awesome expierence!

[SeaWolf38]

After our encounter with Mr. Gurr, I was already satisfied with the tour, and there was more to come in the tour! We next boarded a safari boat for our voyage on the Jungle Cruise.






The backside of water! Don't try this at home, you may hit your head on the back of the sink!


After our trip down the rivers of the jungle, we headed into Frontierland.


We stopped beside The Golden Horseshoe to see Fess Parker's window.


Still more on the way!