Search - Walt Disney Treasures - Disneyland - Secrets, Stories & Magic (Collector's Tin) on DVD

A Day at the Park

James Hiller | Beaverton, OR | 12/27/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I generally enjoy Disney's "Treasures" releases, due to their wealth of insiders knowledge and vintage film and shows that appear in these special collector's packages. I do own Walt Disney Treasures - Disneyland USA, and watch it from time to time, fascinated by the many selections offered. I was so happy to learn that Disney was releasing a new set of videos, "Disneyland- Secrets, Stories and Magic".



This two-disc set offers a small variety of shorts, clips, and films that were used to promote Disneyland in it's earliest stages. The first disk contains a recent documentary on the creation and development of Disneyland, with many, many interviews by Disneyland insiders still living, which provides a fascinating look at how Walt built the park. This doc tends to concentrate on the early years, instead of a broader fifty year view of the park.



The treasure on this disk, however, can be found in the "People and Places" documentary filmed in a new technology at the time, "Cinemascope". Filmed in all four lands, this film shows Disneyland in it's true infancy, with stage coach rides, the trip to the moon, and a park without New Orleans Square. Despite it's occasional un-PC tone (you audibly groan as the narrator talks about Native Americans), it's a fascinating look inside the park early on. I watched it once, then immediately watched it with the insightful commentary track by Leonard Maltin and Tony Baxter. Wheeeee!



Disc two is a bit more disappointing. There is an unexplicable boring "Operation Disneyland" made for TV stations showing the technological nightmare of bringing the live opening day Disneyland broadcast to the public. I stopped it three minutes in for fear I'd fall asleep. Fortunately, "Disneyland through the Seasons" makes up for this faux pas. I loved watching it, despite the hint of sadness, realizing Walt had died just prior to its broadcast.



I gave this set, which in my opinion is sold VERY cheaply, four stars, only because I want more. As a true Disney fan, who loved Disneyland ever since he was six years old, it's hard to satisfy my hunger for Disney information. This is a great, great appetizer, though!"

Great & 6 years over due

mskrisclark | home | 01/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When the "Walt Disney Treasures" sets started in 2001 the very first one I purchased was the Disneyland set.

I love it & still watch it now.



Why did it take Disney 6 years to put together another set/package for Disneyland is beyond me.

WAY TOO LONG to wait Disney.



I love this set.



Some of the episodes I have on video tape already. It is so nice to have all of them with perfect picture. Having the "Disneyland "U..S.A." show in wide screen is great & the commentary with Leonard and Tony is fantastic.



Let me say this to Disney-PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER 6 YEARS TO GET ANOTHER DISNEYLAND SET/PACKAGE TOGETHER.



And, my requests for the next set/package. 1959 for the opening of the Matterhorn, Monorail & submarines, 1967 for the opening of Pirates & the new Tomorrow land & 1969's "Disneyland Showtime" for the opening of the Haunted Mansion with Kurt Russell & the Osmond Brothers.

"

Annette on The Golden Horseshoe Revue

Henando DeSoto | New York City | 12/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This review was going to be strictly for the Annette Funicello fans out there until I previewed one of the episodes. I only bought this DVD because it contained a show entitled THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE REVUE which aired on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color some 45 years ago. The Revue is a staple at Disneyland. Here, it was presented for TV with a few Guest Stars, one of whom was Annette. I am a Annette "completist". I hadn't seen this since it was first aired. I had been working late and so I thought I'd just take a look at Annette's song "Mr. Piano Man" and watch the entire DVD some other time. I ended up watching the entire episode. This show never looked so good. Remember the kaliedoscope opening with a chorus singing; "Color... color!"? I was hooked from the start. Some quick math indicates that Annette was about 18 years old here. She's even prettier than I remembered and, not only does she sing "Mr. Piano Man", she sings something called "The Buffalo Round-Up" which I didn't even remember at all! I also loved Betty Taylor as Slue-foot Sue, a pretty Patti Page type with a nice strong vocal delivery. I had forgotten how entertaining Wally Boag could be with just a few props, a rubbery face and a contortionists' body. His style reminded me of a slightly less handsome version of Dick Van Dyke. Ed Wynn and Gene Sheldon are here along with a staged saloon fight that has become a staple of theme parks throughout the country but never done better than on this show with musical accompaniment. I had forgotten how good wholesome family entertainment could be! This really took me back. Now, I can't wait to see all the rest of the features on this set. Five stars!"

Amazing journey in the only park Walt ever walked in.

Patrick Pedneault | Toronto, Canada | 06/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 2 DVD collection is simply superb. If you are a fan of Disneyland and want to know how it all started, then these documentaries are for you. There are some lands and attractions that you hear from older Disneyland 'enthusiats' that are documented and well talked in there.



The one documentary that I found was quite amazing is People and Places: Disneyland USA. It is quite fantastic and so well restored; it look like it was filmed 25 years ago, not in 1955



The one thing that is quite apparent throughout the documentary is the almost palpable absence of Mickey Mouse in the first years of the park. He is at the entrance (with the famous flower face) and there is a little Mouseketeers area, but that's pretty much it.



This collection is limited to only 50 000 (just like all the other Walt Disney Treasures). Make sure you grab it now if you want it; it is a 2007 release and once it's gone, it's gone! There is no known instance of Walt Disney Treasures that are re-edited.



Something I highly recommend."