Happy Anniversaries! That’s Number 64 to Disneyland, and Number 25 to my first book, Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland, published July 17, 1994. Little did I know that day, as I signed and dated the first 151 copies sold at the NFFC Show & Sale in Garden Grove, that Mickey would consume so much of my life and career.
A Behind-the-Ears Look at Mouse Tales
I guess I had an inkling that the book might do well when a month prior, the Orange County Register ran an interview with me, which made readers think the book was readily available. At first, I was irked that the paper had jumped the gun. But local bookstores were flooded with calls and scrambled to place advance orders with their wholesalers. The premature publicity was the best thing that could have happened since it put the book on retailers’ radar and gave them time to order it in advance.
Within weeks of Mouse Tales’ release, the first printing of 3,000 was entirely sold out, and we rushed back to print twice more before the summer was through. (The book is currently in its 21st printing.)
Back then, bookselling was a whole different animal. There was no Amazon.com (well, there was, but on July 17, 1994, it was 12 days old). There was no Print-on-Demand publishing (books had to be printed and sold by the thousands). There was no social media, and while email existed, everyone in the business expected to be contacted by phone.
That first year, I arranged a bookstore signing to sign at a bookstore almost every week (sometimes several signings a week). Signings were great excuses to set up a newspaper or radio interview, and also forced bookstores to keep my book in stock and prominently feature it on a table near the entrance or in a display in the window. I’ll never forget the B. Dalton’s at South Coast Plaza (next door to the Disney Store) creating a massive window display of books and promotional flyers in the shape of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Most importantly, the signings allowed me to meet some very interesting people. They continue to be overwhelmingly wonderful, although I must admit to in the first years being borderline-accosted by a handful of park middle managers, incensed that I would dare peel back the curtain. Many readers have been dear friends, valuable sources, or—at the very least—encouragement to keep writing.
To this day, people I meet still regale me with their favorite “Mouse tales”—
• Gumby Alerts
• Jello Tests
• Club 22
• Dolly’s Dip
• The People ReMover
• “Go kick the pig,”
• “What about the other leg?”
• “How long is this ride?”
In fact, at a Disneyland Alumni Club reunion last month, a 1960s ride operator approached me to provide “clarification” on one of my favorite anecdotes: The Trash Can Ride. So went the original story, two prankish Frontierlanders removed the lid from a trash can on the Keel Boat dock and advertised it as “The Can Ride,” even convincing one unsuspecting guest to climb in and stand on top of a foot of trash as those on bypassing watercraft looked on in shock.
But this ride operator remembers the episode a little differently than his former co-worker did. He insists that it was actually the guest’s idea to get in the trash barrel, and that he gave in reluctantly. But that the guest was having such a good time “riding” the can, that soon a line began to form of other visitors who wanted a turn. Meanwhile, the operator was terrified that he’d be reprimanded—or worse—for allowing such behavior.
My Disneyland adventure has been thrilling so far, but I promise there’s a lot more ride left. If you find yourself in Anaheim next month, please come say hi at the Original Disneylanders show Aug. 21 to celebrate my new book The 55ers, or at D23 Aug. 23-25. Seeing new faces (and those old ones, too) who share my fascination in the history, mystery and fun of the undisputed Happiest Place on Earth is the best part of this job!
D23 Original Disneylanders
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We’ve got something REALLY special for you coming up the Wednesday before D23 Expo. Join Disneyland author and historian David Koenig and a cast of Disneyland 1955 originals for a celebration of the Happiest Place On Earth. Joining you will be the ORIGINAL Disneyland Mouseketeers, Imagineering Legend Bob Gurr, and dozens of opening day cast members!!!! This is the must-experience event of the season and we hope you’ll join us. Tickets have JUST become available, get your Disneyland 55ers TICKETS HERE NOW.
SPECIAL MICECHAT EVENT OFFER FROM THE ANAHEIM HOTE: The first 25 guests to book at least one room night at The Anaheim Hotel will receive one free ticket to this MiceChat event!!! Book the event and stay through the D23 Expo. You’ll get one free admission to the Original Disneylanders event, you’ll be a short walk from the D23 Expo, and you’ll be just across the street from Disneyland. Win, Win, Win. Just book using this link and then send your hotel confirmation to [email protected] for your event comp. BOOK THE ANAHEIM HOTEL USING THIS SPECIAL LINK |
Disneyland Birthday Discounts!
Our partners at Get Away Today are discounting Disneyland tickets in honor of the park’s 64th birthday.
To celebrate Disneyland’s big birthday, our friends at Get Away Today have a special, limited-time offer for tickets. This is a great offer for a quick trip to the Happiest Place on Earth or if you’re planning a longer trip for the end of the year (book now for use by the end of the year). Click HERE for more info and to buy your tickets.