Crystal Palace

It's odd how often you can visit a place and there still be things that for one reason or another you have little experience with.  The Crystal Palace is one of those things for me.  I have very vague memories of eating there in the late 70's or early 80's.  I went in for cookies and hot cocoa at Mickey's Very Merry back about 1991.  Other than those occasions I have never stepped foot inside this restaurant.  The first 9 pictures are from about 1989 up to 2003.  Digital pictures follow from 2003 to the present.

I believe this is from January 1990 or 1991.  There had just been a particularly brutal freeze and it really harmed much of the tropical foliage on property.  I remember the area around the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular at the Studios was almost completed killed.

Not technically the Crystal Palace but this quiet little fountain sits adjacent between the CP and Casey's.  First Aid is at the back of the courtyard.

This May 1990 photo shows our model Angelia posing with a bird at the fountain.

 

WDW Meetings & Convention Ticket Brochure

The great thing about this 1994 brochure is the number of pictures in it of things that either no longer exist or have been seriously altered.  Let's count...

Out of the six images on these panels, only two still exist.  That view of Spaceship Earth is no longer possible with the monolithic Leave A Legacy stones in place.  The Aladdin's Royal Caravan parade has been gone from the Studios for almost 18 years.  Mickey's dressing room and Mickey's Starland is long gone.  Classic Illuminations (which I really miss) has been extinct now for 13 years.

The only image on these pages that might qualify is SpectroMagic.  With the rotating schedule of night parades I suppose it could return.

Only one of these images qualify as well.  While the Magic of Disney Animation does still exist, since it's no longer a working production facility you will never again see an animator at work.

Two images on these pages.  Splashtacular didn't even last a year after it's debut (I never even saw it even though I worked the press event for its premiere).  Body Wars and the entire Wonders of Life pavilion have sat vacant now for years only be used as a special event tent.

Here's the jackpot!  No more Mannequins (best dance club ever!!!).  No more Neon Armadillo.  No more Pleasure Island Jazz Company.  No more entertainment and some of the buildings in this photo have been demolished.

Final count:

22 total pictures

12 extinct or altered attractions

Frontier Fowl

The wilderness is teeming with wildlife.

Fiesta Hoy!

We're back inside the pyramid again for another cruise on the river of time with Donald, Jose, and Panchito.

Even though this picture isn't in focus, I love the myriad of colors and shadows.

Mulan Parade

Celebrating our favorite cross-dressing chinese girl, the Mulan parade ran at the Studios from 1998-2001.

Disneyland Monday - California Adventure Pin

I don't know how long this pin was available, but I bought this one in the fall of 2000 at the Disneyana Convention at Walt Disney World.