Click on thumbnails to view larger photos. Use back arrow to return. All photos by Joe Thompson unless otherwise credited. All rights reserved.

Disneyland - 2012

• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012 - introducing the DCA Red Cars
• 2013 - a truncated trip
• Disneyland Books
• Return to Park Trains and Tourist Trains

We paid a visit to Disneyland in July, 2012. The temperature never topped 90F, but the humidity made it feel hotter. We saw some dramatic clouds, remnants of a hurricane.

Dramatic clouds hung over Small World one evening. July, 2012.

This is the eleventh consecutive year that I written about our visit to Disneyland.

We had a nice room on the 7th floor of the Fantasy Tower of the Disneyland Hotel. We had not been in that tower, the one with the main lobby, for several years. Our room was right next to the elevator, but we could not hear it. The giant reconstruction project was finished.

Our room was in the Fantasy Tower. This sign is by the pool side entrance. July, 2012.

The Marina from our room. July, 2012.

We saw Disneyland Railroad locomotives 1, 2, 3, and 5. We did not see 4 (Ernest S Marsh). They ran four trains parts of some days.

Number 1 (CK Holliday) is one of Disneyland's original locomotives, a 4-4-0, built in 1955 by Disney's WED Enterprises in the Burbank studios.

Locomotive #1, CK Holliday, crosses the Critter Country Trestle. July, 2012.

Locomotive #1, CK Holliday, at the Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

Locomotive #1, CK Holliday, rolling into New Orleans Square Station. July, 2012.

Number 2 (EP Ripley) is one of Disneyland's original locomotives, a 4-4-0, built in 1955 by Disney's WED Enterprises in the Burbank studios.

Locomotive #2, E P Ripley, crosses the Critter Country Trestle. July, 2012.

Locomotive #2, E P Ripley, rolling into New Orleans Square Station. July, 2012.

Number 3 (Fred Gurley) is a Baldwin locomotive, built in 1895 as an 0-4-4 and converted by Disney to a 2-4-4T in 1958.

Locomotive #3, Fred Gurley, crosses the Critter Country Trestle. July, 2012.

Locomotive #3, Fred Gurley, at the Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

Locomotive #3, Fred Gurley, rolling into New Orleans Square Station. July, 2012.

A rear 3/4 view of Locomotive #3, Fred Gurley, rolling into New Orleans Square Station. July, 2012.

The New Orleans Square Station. July, 2012.

A sign at New Orleans Square Station. July, 2012.

A "Train Exit Only" sign in the exit at New Orleans Square Station. July, 2012.

Ward Kimball, who passed away in 2002, was a Disney animator and railfan. He designed the gold Jiminy Crickets on the sides of the headlight. Number 5, a 2-4-4T, was built by Baldwin in 1902 as an 0-4-4T for a plantation railroad in Louisiana. This was Disneyland's first new locomotive since 1959. Disney acquired Number 5 in a trade with Cedar Point, an amusement park in Ohio, where it had operated as Number 1, the Maud L, from 1963 to the early 1990's. Cedar Point had added the leading pony truck. In return for Maud L, Cedar Point received the first Ward Kimball, a Davenport 2-4-4T which Disney had intended to operate on the Disneyland Railroad, but which proved to be too heavy for the bridge at Critter Country. The locomotive went to Walt Disney World in Florida, where it proved to be too light (!). The new Ward Kimball sat in storage until 2004, when restoration began at Boschan Boiler & Restorations.

Locomotive #5, Ward Kimball, pulls into the Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

A member of the crew watches for hand signals, talks on her radio, then climbs up on the car step at the Main Street Depot. I have heard that this practice may be eliminated because of workplace safety concerns. July, 2012.

Two crew members take a safer perch on the front platform of parlor car Lilly Belle as it leaves Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

Two crew members take a safer perch on the front platform of parlor car Lilly Belle as it leaves Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

A side detail of parlor car Lilly Belle as it leaves Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

The rear platform of parlor car Lilly Belle as it leaves Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

A no disco dancing sign at the Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

A view of the central platform door, never opened, at the Main Street Depot. I took the photo from the train visible in the reflection. Note the red fire buckets. July, 2012.

A model of Disney's live steam locomotive Lilly Belle is on display at Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

A display case of Disneyland Railroad relics is on display at Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

A sign over the doorway at Main Street Depot. July, 2012.

Lucky waits with a horse car 3 in front of the Castle. July, 2012.

We saw and rode behind horse car Numbers 2 and 3. On busy days, the conductors walked in alongside the cars to clear oblivious guests from the tracks.

Lucky heads for the Depot. Note his cast member badge. July, 2012.

Lee waits at the Depot with horse car 2. July, 2012.

The Disneyland Firehouse on an early admission day. July, 2012.

This alley, which branches off from Main Street, probably has a name. July, 2012.

Monorail Orange passes the Lego Store on its way to Downtown Disney Station. July, 2012.

Monorails Blue, Orange, Red and I think Purple were operating on different days while we were there, but frequency was irregular.

Monorail Orange arrives at Downtown Disney Station, wrapped to celebrate the opening of Cars Land. July, 2012.

Monorail Orange at Downtown Disney Station. July, 2012.

Monorail Orange at Tomorrowland Station. July, 2012.

Monorail Red cruises through Fantasyland. July, 2012.

A typical crowd in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. July, 2012.

A submarine sails by the Matterhorn. July, 2012.

The Matterhorn was closed last year while the bobsleds were renovated. Among the new features are individual seats in the cars. July, 2012.

A sign reminds bobsled riders that each gets his or her own seat now. July, 2012.

My family managed to ride every ride in the park, except for the kids' rides in Toontown and the Haunted Mansion.

Once each trip, I like to have Mickey Mouse pancakes at the River Belle Terrace. July, 2012.

They helped us eat breakfast at the River Belle Terrace. July, 2012.

A street in New Orleans Square. July, 2012.

A street in New Orleans Square. July, 2012.

A street in New Orleans Square. July, 2012.

A duck-like totem guards the entrance to the Jungle Cruise. July, 2012.

Tours Departing Daily. July, 2012.

A sign warns passengers to beware of the gap between the landing and the boat. July, 2012.

A sign on the wall at Tropical Imports, next to the Jungle Cruise entrance, advertises "Provisions/Fuel/Ammunition in Stock," but I have seen only rubber snakes and snacks. July, 2012.

Shrunken Ned dispenses advice at South Seas Traders, across from the Jungle Cruise entrance. July, 2012.

The Toontown firehouse. July, 2012.

The Casey Jr train station. July, 2012.

The entrance to Mister Toad's Wild Ride on a quiet early admission morning. July, 2012.

A detail of rhe entrance to Mister Toad's Wild Ride. July, 2012.

A closer detail of rhe entrance to Mister Toad's Wild Ride. July, 2012.

The weather vane atop Mister Toad's Wild Ride. July, 2012.

The weather vane atop the Haunted Mansion. July, 2012.

Mark Twain sits by the landing early one morning. Notice the shutters on the pilothouse. July, 2012.

A life preserver on the Mark Twain. July, 2012.

The Mark Twain's stern wheel. July, 2012.

A fire ax on the Mark Twain. July, 2012.

The Mark Twain sails by during Fantasmic. July, 2012.

A stern view of the Mark Twain during Fantasmic. July, 2012.

The blue clamshell Mutoscope. July, 2012.

The instructions and patent information on the blue clamshell Mutoscope. July, 2012.

The red clamshell Mutoscope. It was showing a Chaplin movie. July, 2012.

This large sign at the Plaza lists wait times and operating statuses for various attractions. On this morning, crowds were very light. We assumed that many people were over in DCA, waiting in lines at Cars Land. The Matterhorn Bobsleds were closed temporarily. This happened a lot. The worst wait that morning was 45 minutes for Space Mountain. July, 2012.

Towards the end of our visit, we got stuck in the Roger Rabbit queue for an hour or more. I had time to take some photos, like this one showing the door to Jessica Rabbit's dressing room. July, 2012.

The big ballyhoo this year was about the revisions to Disney California Adventure (they dropped the apostrophe s), which had just gone through a major remodeling, which tried to make it look like Los Angeles when Walt Disney arrived in the 1920s. Within DCA, the big new attraction was Cars Land.

A banner in the plaza between Disneyland and DCA advertises the new Radiator Springs Racers. July, 2012.

A banner in the plaza between Disneyland and DCA advertises the new Red Cars. July, 2012.

A banner in the plaza between Disneyland and DCA advertises the new Junkyard Jamboree. July, 2012.

A banner in Downtown Disney advertises the Luigi's Flying Tires. July, 2012.

One feature of the revisions is a Red Car line that runs from the main gate to the Tower of Terror, with stops at Carthay Circle and Hollywood Boulevard. I saw two cars, 623 in an older Pacific Electric livery, and 717, painted like a PE Hollywood car. July 17 was the date that Disneyland opened. The cars are double ended. The terminals are stub ended. There is a passing track on Hollywood Boulevard, closer to the outer terminal than the inner.

Red Car 623 carries an older Pacific Electric color scheme. July, 2012.

Red Car 717 carries the Pacific Electric color scheme worn on its Hollywood cars. July 17 is Disneyland's birthday. July, 2012.

There is an overhead electric wire which is not energized. I learned on my first ride, when the trolley pole dewired, that the correct (rear) pole has to be up and in contact with the wire or the car will not move.

Buena Vista Street Station is near the main gate. July, 2012.

A cast member (Disney's term for employee) explained that the people working on the Red Cars rotate through three jobs: motorman/motorette, conductor and station agent. The station agents work at the terminals and stops, answering questions and getting people to wait in line. When the crowds are heavy, an agent will walk in front of the car to ask people to get out of the way.

Red Car 623 makes a short turn at Carthay Circle. July, 2012.

One car makes a short turn at Carthay Circle when a musical show is performed there. The other car is used as a background for the show.

A front view of Red Car 623 as passengers disembark at Carthay Circle. July, 2012.

A view looking past the motorette as 623 rolls around Carthay Circle towards Buena Vista Street. July, 2012.

The center exit/entrance door of car 623. July, 2012.

A view looking past the motorette as 623 turns into Buena Vista Street from Carthay Circle. July, 2012.

A sign marks the stop at Buena Vista Street Station. July, 2012.

The controller stand of 623. The same lever controls motors and brakes, so it is a one-armed bandit. July, 2012.

Pulling the cord once causes the whistle to blow multiple times. The bridge which carries the monorail over Buena Vista Street is visible in the background. It used to look like the Golden Gate Bridge. July, 2012.

This authentic-looking switch controls the exterior lights. It is in the off position. July, 2012.

This car card in the headliner advertises the Red Car Trolley Route, identifying itas Line 98. I don't know the significance of the number. July, 2012.

This car card in the headliner advertises is a public service ad warning people to watch the wig wag signals. July, 2012.

A front view of Red Car 623 back at Carthay Circle. July, 2012.

A sign marks the stop at Carthay Circle. July, 2012.

The station at Carthay Circle resembles a Pacific Electric waiting room. A wigwag signal stands in front. July, 2012.

The station at Carthay Circle hosts a big sign listing DCA attractions and wait times. It looks as if Radiator Springs Racers are down. July, 2012.

The station at Carthay Circle hosts a big map of DCA. Details show Red Cars at Buena Vista Street and the Tower of Terror, near the outer end of the line. July, 2012.

This replica of the Carthay Circle Theater serves as a fine-dining restaurant. We ate lunch there and enjoyed it. July, 2012.

Red Car 717 sits at Carthay Circle to serve as part of a musical show. To the right is a replica of the Carthay Circle Theater, which serves as a fine-dining restaurant. July, 2012.

Red Car 717 at Carthay Circle with the replica theater in the background. July, 2012.

Red Car 623 turns from Carthay Circle into Hollywood Boulevard. July, 2012.

Red Car 623 turns off of Hollywood Boulevard. July, 2012.

A sign marks the stop on Hollywood Boulevard. July, 2012.

Signs below the Hollywood Boulevard stop sign give safety information. July, 2012.

Red Car 623 inbound on Hollywood Boulevard. The conductor walks in front to clear the tracks. July, 2012.

The tracks disappear behind a gate at the outer terminal, next to the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

The gate at the outer terminal. Note the tracks. July, 2012.

Red Car 717 at the outer terminal. July, 2012.

The sign at the Hollywood Tower Hotel/outer terminal stop. July, 2012.

Red Car 717 prepares to leave the outer terminal. July, 2012.

Red Car 717 pulls out of the outer terminal into the busy street. July, 2012.

Red Car 717 passes the Hollywood Tower Hotel. July, 2012.

Red Car 717 turns onto Hollywood Boulevard. July, 2012.

A Red Car Trolley pin. July, 2012.

An animated mural in the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop features a California Street cable car passing Ghirardelli Square on North Point. California Street cable cars have never run on North Point. July, 2012.

The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop replaced the tortilla factory in DCA's Cannery Row area. We had to try it to make sure the quality was acceptable. There are animated murals of San Francisco scenes behind the counters.

Another animated mural in the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop features a California Street cable car approaching the corner of Haight and Ashbury with Coit Tower in the background. Psychedelic. July, 2012.

In the same mural, the scene has changed to night. July, 2012.

The Radiator Springs Town hall houses the traffic courts, the fire department, and the sheriff. July, 2012. A statue of town founder Stanley stands proudly out front.

The most popular new feature at DCA is Cars Land, inspired by the series of movies from Pixar. The main street of Radiator Springs contains several buildings from the movies.

The Radiator Springs Town hall houses the traffic courts, the fire department, and the sheriff. July, 2012. A statue of town founder Stanley stands proudly out front.

This sign shows the ghost of at least one other behind it.

This looks like Grange hall.

This sign appears on a bridge over the queue area of Radiator Springs Racers. July, 2012.

We spent a lot of time in the Cars Land queue area for Radiator Springs Racers, a ride based on the Test Track in Florida. The ride kept breaking down.

A sign in the queue area of Radiator Springs Racers advertises Stanley's Cap Tap. July, 2012.

A sign in Stanley's Cap Tap the queue area of Radiator Springs Racers lists prices for radiator caps. Of course, a Franklin would not need a radiator cap. July, 2012.

A sign in the queue area of Mater's Junkyard Jamboree. July, 2012.

I liked Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, which had tractors and trailers on circular tables. Where the tables met each other, a trailer would switch from one table to the next. I also liked Luigi's Flying Tires. Vents in the floor made the large tires into personal hovercraft.