Check Out 1992 O Pee Chee Wacky Packages Unopened Trading Cards Pack (6 stickers/pack)

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Making Learning Fun

Autism is a disorder of the brain that is biological in function. It causes anywhere from mild to severe social impairment and an inability to function normally in society. However, there are ways to treat many of the cases of autism. Autistic children can learn and excel and if certain teaching methods are used, their progress can be nothing short of fantastic.

One of the most important things to realize in making learning fun for autistic children is the fact that they learn in different ways than children without autism. Autistic children generally have a disability in social skills. Sometimes this difficulty in communication involves language skills. However, there are a number of ways to make learning these important skills more than just a chore. By injecting fun into learning, it has been shown that autistic children learn at a faster pace. Actually, fun and learning work well for all types of children, but autistic children are special and require more tailored methods.

Children with autism seem to learn best when the instructional material is presented in visual form. In this case it might be worthwhile to try different educational programs via a computer. Using a computer is a fun way to learn. The majority of educational programs are highly visual. Many of the games available involve storylines, plots, and realistic human behaviors. Some of the skills autistic children can learn from carefully selected video games are language skills, reading and math skills, and social skills. Visual learning devices are highly effective and can be accompanied by various rewards to reinforce what is being learned. For instance, food and extended leisure activities can be used as rewards that will encourage the child to want to learn. In addition, the use of positive reinforcement will help develop a bond between student and teacher, and create a sense of trust that will help strengthen the learning environment.

Social stories are another way to make learning fun for children with autism. Since one of the aspects of autism is the inability to interact normally in a social situation, social stories can be utilized in a variety of different ways in order to model appropriate behavior. Autism education pioneer Carol Gray developed this approach in 1991. By using engaging stories, children with autism can learn appropriate and inappropriate responses to situations. The level of fun, of course, is up to the way social stories are used. Usually, the stories are tailored to the child. By modeling situations familiar to an autistic child, they can be better prepared to react in a socially appropriate to those same situations in the future. Social stories usually have three distinct ways of addressing a particular situation. The first describes who, what, where and why in relation to the situation. The second is a perspective sentence that illuminates how others react to the situation being discussed. Finally, the third sentence tries to model an appropriate response. Sometimes the use of social stories can be accompanied by music and pictures. In terms of making the process a bit more fun rewards can be used when a situation is properly addressed.

Children with autism require special education needs to address their social difficulties. It is really important to make these activities as much fun as possible so the student will stay motivated. It is not easy for an autistic child to change his or her response to various situations, so it is imperative that the activities be non-threatening and highly interesting. It has been demonstrated that over time the use of visual aids and social stories are two of the most effective ways to help autistic children overcome social situations they feel are threatening. To most of us, these situations are normal, everyday occurrences, but to children with autism they can sometimes be terrifying moments that they do not have the skills to deal with. These teaching methods, while entertaining and fun, can help children adapt and manage their perceptions of social interactions.

Rachel Evans also writes a FREE Autism Newsletter. You can grab your copy here: Free Autism Newsletter. For information about using autism social stories as a learning tool or for more on which autism toys.

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Appraise Your Spiderman Comic Book Collection

Even if you have no intention of selling your favorite Spiderman comic book collection, it may be nice to know the value of it, if for nothing more than conversational purposes. For one thing, it's just very cool to even have a Spiderman comic book collection, since most people's collections tend to be a bit more random.

But someone who went through the trouble to keep up with an entire series, who has collected the actual set, something like a Batman or a Spiderman comic book collection, has something special. This is especially true considering how many times some of the storylines have split apart or gone off into alternate universes.

The best way to go about appraising the value of your Spiderman comic book collection, or of course, is to start looking at price guides. This is true whether it is a small collection or whether it is quite comprehensive.

But don't look at just one. There are several out there, but what you should do is reference at least three. The Official Overstreet Cartoon Book Price Guide is a popular one, but if you can find a Marvel cartoon book price guide, and a Spiderman comic book price guide, you can get a better idea of the market by comparing your results.

One great thing about The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is the fact that it is considered by some collectors to be the price guide bible for all kinds of cartoon book collectors. Another great thing is its comprehensive nature.

For instance, you can compare the price of your Spiderman comic book collection to that of other types of collections. Gemstone boasts -well-researched pricing- and -in-depth historical information,- not to mention tips on grading your books.

Markets do strange things sometimes, and that's another reason to have many different sources, like a Spiderman cartoon book cost guide and a Marvel cartoon book price guide. For instance, within the Marvel universe, a Spiderman book collection may fluctuate in value compared to other Marvel comics.

In the meantime, Marvel cartoon books may fluctuate in value compared to Image or DC Comics. So it helps to compare what the markets say about both that specific universe and that specific superhero.

If you want to sell your Spiderman cartoon book collection, the deciding factor is the price you set on it. You can consult various sources, such as the Marvel cartoon book price guide or the Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.

In the end, though, your personal situation can either make the price higher or lower. If you are hesitant about selling it, make the price higher to make it worth selling. If you need money quickly, give it a price tag that will make it sell faster.

Either way, you have the final word on the price regardless of what your resources suggest for your Spiderman cartoon book collection.

Visit us for free tips and training to help you make quick easy money and have the financial freedom you deserve.

Candy Bar Wrappers - Easy Ways to Create These Chocolate Party Favors

Are you looking for a great idea for party favors for your next celebration? How about covering chocolate bars with wrappers customized for your occasion?  You can even make them yourself.  They're cheap, easy and appeal to all age groups. Besides, everyone loves candy.  Here's some simple ways to create these festive treats.

Wrapping paper

You don't have to be crafty, if you want to make these yourself.  An easy way to make candy bar wrappers is to simply cover the bars with gift wrap.  This material is great because it's thin enough to mold around your chocolate. Plus, it's available in festive prints, like balloons for a birthday or hearts for a wedding.

Use the rolls and not the folded sheets of paper, to avoid creases where you don't want them.  Choose quality paper. Dollar store wraps may be cheap, but can easily tear.  It's better to pick something a little stronger, even if it costs more.

Next, measure and cut out your candy bar wrappers from the paper.  If you're covering regular 1.55 ounce Hershey bars, for example, you will need to cut pieces that are 5.25 inches by 5.5 inches. Then all that's left to do is to place the chocolate face down on top of the unprinted side of the gift wrap and pull both sides of the paper to the center of the treat.  Use double stick tape or a glue stick to hold in place.

If you want to personalize these even further, you can print out a message on paper.  Use fancy fonts in complimentary colors.  Cut out your text with regular, scallop or other decorative edge scissors. Then use a glue stick to adhere to the top of your completed bars.  Or, you can set up your personalization in your label software on your computer and print it on inkjet peel and stick labels.  Also, check the scrapbooking section of your local craft store for adhesive backed tags and journaling blanks that you can write on and attach to your treats.

Free stuff online

If you want something that looks a little more polished, you can find websites that offer free printable candy bar wrappers or templates.  Try looking for these on your favorite search engine.  You'll be surprised how many nice people are giving these away. They're available in many sizes to fit different chocolate treats.  You may have to hunt a little to find something close to what you want, but most of the work has already been done for you.

You will find two types of freebies.  First, there are the printable designs.  With these, all you have to do is print them directly from your web browser.  Then cut up, wrap and glue.  The other type are templates that you download.  These are generally set up for specific programs, such as Microsoft Word.  After you save it to your computer, you open the template in the corresponding program.  You can then edit it, if you want.

Some extra tips

If you will be making a lot of these party favors, you may want to consider investing in an inexpensive paper trimmer.  It will make all that cutting go faster and your cuts will be straight.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a lot of popular commercial candy bars are now packaged with plastic wrappers that are crimped at the edges.  They no longer have the foil covering underneath.  So, if you like the look of the old-fashioned chocolate bar with foil peaking out of the edge, you can still achieve it.  First, tape down the crimped edges, so they don't poke through.  And cover the whole thing with either thin aluminum or confectionery foil (found online).   Then place your personalized wrapper around it.

Also, you may want to experiment to see what will work best to hold your wrappers together.

Glue sticks don't seem to hold as well as double stick tape.  Adhesive dots and strips are even better.  You can find these at the local craft store.

The easiest method

If you don't have the time, inclination or ability to make these chocolate party favors yourself, you can still be involved in creating them.  You choose the design, message, fonts, color and maybe even add a photo or two, and let the professionals do the work.  Since these candy bar wrappers will be personalized according to your specifications, they are uniquely your creation. Search online for a company that has great designs and prices, and will work with you to customize your favors.  They may even offer you a choice in chocolates from popular brands to those freshly made by a chocolatier.

Whether you make these yourself or create them with a professional, candy bar wrappers are fast, affordable and fun. So, the next time you have a special occasion on the horizon, consider these personalized chocolate favors.  Your guests will love them!

Linda Kling, as the owner of Photo Party Favors, has offered ideas to people planning parties and celebrations since 1992. Visit her website for more information on photo chocolate favors, including personalized candy bar wrappers with gourmet chocolate bars, plus free printables, party recipes, quotes, trivia, more.

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• Includes 11''x14'' special series poster
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Secret of Chess

Welcome to my article on the secret of chess. Chess is a very popular recreational and competitive game. It is one of the great mind games which our ancestors have invented. The current form of the game emerged in Southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century after evolving from similar, much older games of Persian and Indian origin. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide in clubs, at home, by correspondence, online, and in tournaments. This is the variant I'm talking about today.

I wanted to talk about the much-discussed "secret of chess". So, how do we solve this seemingly simple recreational and competitive game, played on a square chequered chessboard with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight square between two players? The answer of course, is not that easy to find, however in my constant practice and research, I believe I have found at least one answer.

There are many possible hypotheses for the "secret of chess". I will give my opinion on some of the myths I think are busted (I'm not sure if there's a reference there to some TV show there) and which hypotheses I think are plausible.

1. Computers will solve the game of chess.

Computers are strong opponents and the best analyse many millions of positions per second (e.g. Rybka), however, simply look at the statistics - there are 318,979,564,000 possible ways to play the first four moves of chess. In addition, America's Foundation for Chess found that there were 169,518,829,100,544,000,000,000,000,000 ways to play the first ten moves of chess. For a computer to solve the game of chess, it would have get through every possibility for a whole game, and it would also have to assess every single position correctly.

On another note, if a computer solves the game of chess, a person could not possibly remember what to do against any possible move in order to beat someone - it's just too difficult. The use of computers to try to solve the game of chess is inefficient, see hypothesis number 4 for a better use of computers.

Assessment: Busted.

2. Secret of Chess: Maximise the opportunities for your opponent to make mistakes.

In a 2003 article concerning the world's strongest nonagenarian (the strongest active player in chess in the world aged ninety or older), the authors gave a possible answer. The information was provided by writers Neil Sullivan and Yves Casaubon. The strongest nonagenarian in ChessBase's opinion at the time was Arkadiy M. Gilman (rated FIDE 2237 in 2003), who hails from Russia and lives in Canada.

Anyway, in the analysis to "Gilman,A - Grondin,J [D02], Le Bolduc II - A Montreal CAN (6), 08.10.2003", which was a win for Gilman is 23 moves, the authors subtly slipped in the secret of chess. In my opinion, this is the best practical way to utilise one secret of chess. By allowing your opponent to make mistakes, you can exploit their inaccurate moves. And by maximising their possibility of making mistakes, you have more opportunities to exploit them.

One way this can be utilised is through opening preparation. By surprising your opponent at the board, your opponent will likely not react with the best response and there's a chance he will slip. Of course, you cannot count on this happening.

Assessment: Plausible.

3. Secret of Chess: Dress like a grandmaster and you start to play like one

This is my personal favourite. GM Nigel David Short MBE is often regarded as the strongest British chess player of the 20th century. He became a Grandmaster at the age of 19, and became challenger for the World Chess Championship against Garry Kasparov at London, 1993. Still an active player, Short continues to enjoy international successes. He is also a chess coach, columnist and commentator.

After an extraordinary comeback in 2008's Commonwealth Chess Championship, Nigel Short said, "Anyway, I was struggling at this point. I obviously couldn't play like a grandmaster, so I decided that I should at least dress like one. I started putting a suit and tie on, although everyone told me it was too hot. But it apparently put me in the right frame of mind. I think I am a bit of a sluggish starter, and in this way I managed to dig myself out of the hole."

It could be that the formalness of dressing with a suit and tie can put someone in the "right frame of mind". Just see from Nigel's games in the tournament.

Anyway, here's a snapshot of the crosstable:

1 Short,N 2655 9.5/11

2 Ganguly,S 2631 9.0/11

3 Hossain,Enam 2489 8.5/11

4 Arun Prasad,S 2492 8.0/11

5 Sengupta,D 2454 8.0/11

Now I have my own experience with this hypothesis. Recently I played in the Australian Schools Teams Championships and our team scored 19.5/20 (it was a four-player vs. four-player match system) against tough opposition. We were all in full uniform with tie and blazer. So this hypothesis worked well for me.

Assessment: Plausible.

4. Secret of Chess: Analysing your games using computers and having access to millions of chess games for preparation and general study purposes.

This is a logical "secret", but one which was subconsciously so obvious to me that I forgot to put it in my draft to this article! It has long been said that the key to improvement is to analyse your chess games. This was stressed out in a whole book called The Road to Chess Improvement by American GM Alexander Yermolinsky (2000). Additionally, the concept of thoroughly studying your own games is also discussed and strongly recommended in many other pieces of chess literature. Perhaps GM Edmar Mednis said it best, "playing without a concurrent critical review of one's skills will simply get you nowhere."

It is now the computer age and it is quite typical to use a chess database program to store and analyse your games. This is where ChessBase is the world leader in chess software and innovation. Their Fritz and ChessBase interfaces (which have little differences between each other) are the most comfortable chess database programs I have had the pleasure to use. They provide the perfect "aquarium" for your chess study and analysis.

Having access to millions of chess games through the Fritz database or a "Mega Database" (a ChessBase product purchased separately from Fritz) is also essential for study and preparation. Players can survey the new developments of their favourite opening systems by examining recent games and they can prepare for their opponents by looking up the database. This fairly obvious "secret" can be employed by both the world champion or by your budding next door neighbour.

Assessment: Plausible.

5. Secret of Chess: Chemistry.

When asked, "What is the secret of success for this US Women's Olympiad Team?" Zsusza "Susan" Polgár replied, "For one, chemistry." She also noted, spending "a lot of time together" with the team, working hard, learning to "know each other well", having a "team captain and a head coach that also know and understand" them, and having a "good chief theoretician".

In late 2004, the US women's team made history at the Chess Olympiad by capturing silver, the first ever Olympic medal for the United States. The player and driving force behind this success was Susan Polgar, who came out of a seven-year hiatus with a stunning performance.

When playing on a team, it's important to have chemistry with the other members of your team. Knowing each other's style of play and continually encouraging one another is important. I experienced this in the Australian Schools Teams Championships, as well as other international events.

Assessment: Plausible.

6. Secret of Chess: Have enough coffee in the house.

In 2004, third place of the qualifier for the Canarias en Red Internet Chess Festival went to Chess Today author GM Mikhail Golubev who has told his readers the secret to success in these Playchess events was to "have enough coffee in the house". Apparently, he was out of the "sustaining brew" and lost a previous ACP Inaugural. In this tournament, he had plenty and was rewarded with a fantastic Buchholz to easily qualify for the finals.

I've always liked to drink at the board, although not coffee in particular. I have experimented with drinking Milo, Sustagen, Up&Go and Multi-V at the board (I'm not sure if these brands are native to Australia). Many of these work well as they wake you up at the chessboard game. I know IM Jeremy Silman has recommended apple juice and chewing on ginseng.

Assessment: Plausible.

7. Secret of Chess: XiangQi

What is the reason for the remarkable success of Chinese players in international chess? According to Prof. David H. Li it is due to the fact that they are all experienced in XiangQi, the combative and fast Chinese version of the game.

According to the professor, "When one is accustomed to playing a game with a higher manoeuvrability ratio, one has an advantage in playing a game with a lower manoeuvrability ratio. Moreover XiangQi introduces synergy into your thinking process and playing style. By broadening your horizon, you start to think more creatively; by improving your grasp of spatial relationship, you are visualizing more dynamically; and by deepening your analytical skill, you play more imaginatively." Of course, there is more. Simply check out the article about XiangQi and chess.

I also played XiangQi when I was younger, shortly before I started learning chess. I had some flair for the game and I liked to play it against my grandfather. Sometimes I played it online, but I haven't played in years and I don't recall ever playing it while I was playing "international chess". I'm planning to re-learn the game and play it online occasionally. I've always thought, having learned it before I learned the rules to international chess, that it has helped me in developing my chess skills.

Assessment: Plausible.

So these are the hypotheses I put forward to you. You can decide which ones have merit and which ones are totally busted, and I have given my own opinion on all of them. If you have learned something useful today, I would have done my job.

Zhigen Lin is a chess player. You can check out his website at http://chess.geniusprophecy.com/

Top 20 Reasons Why Children Should Study Music

All you need to do is visit the kids' audio/video section of your local CD shop and you will be bombarded with a multitude of educational enhancement products to buy. You may find 'Baby Einstein' or 'Brainy Baby' and an abundance of similar merchandise to make your child smarter. These types of goods can be a wonderful way to introduce music to your children before the age of three. However, nothing can replace private music lessons for a 3 to 9 year old.

The brain develops at a rapid rate between birth and three and is an essential window for the development of neurons. Therefore, encouraging musical exploration is an easy way to promote intellectual development.

Before the age of three, toy instruments can be an excellent introduction to the real thing and group musical play classes can prepare a child for later study. Singing at any age is highly beneficial and linguistic & musical awareness can begin as early as the fifth month of pregnancy when the fetal brain and ears are wide open to receive stimulus.

From the age of 3 years old, a child's brain circuits are mature enough to begin instrumental and/or vocal lessons. Voice is probably the most important instrument because singing is a tremendous gateway to confident communication and full self-expression.

The piano is usually the best musical instrument to start with because it does not require any specific fingering to play. However, children should choose instruments to play by the sounds they like. Kids will practice more if they like the sound of an instrument.

If your child chooses the piano, inexpensive electronic keyboards are a good way to begin because they are very affordable and portable. Many brands on the market today will display the notes on a digital screen while music is being played. These types of keyboards can greatly assist a child to begin to read musical notes and symbols. They also often have built in rhythm and song functions that make singing and dancing along with the music easy.

Since Howard Gardner's "Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences" in 1983 and Gordon Shaw and Francis Rauscher's "Mozart Effect" in 1993, there has be much debate and research into whether or not music study can be linked to better academic performance.

You will find thousands of books, products, articles and websites discussing the advantages of studying music. For your convenience, the top 20 benefits reported for vocal and instrumental music study are listed below.

1. Music training has been linked to spatial-temporal reasoning skills. (I.e. ability to read a map, put puzzles together, form mental images, transform/visualize things in space that unfold over time, and recognize relationships between objects. These skills are often helpful in science, math, and chess.)

2. Musical symbols, structure, and rhythmic training utilize fractions, ratios, and proportions, which are all important in mathematical study.

3. Increases problem finding/solving, logic and thinking skills like analysis, evaluation and the linkage/organization of ideas

4. Optimizes brain neuron development & circuitry

5. Assists motor development especially coordination of hands, eyes and body

6. Expands multiple intelligences and helps students' transfer study, cognitive and communication skills from subject to subject in any syllabus

7. Group orchestra or ensemble activities help promote cooperation, social harmony and teach kids discipline while working together toward a common goal.

8. Music augments memory. For example, most people learn their ABC's by singing them. Repeating a tune in a predictable rhythmic song structure makes memorization easier.

9. Singing is a great way to aid/improve reading ability and instruction. Karaoke is a perfect example. Children may learn a song by ear (auditory) but words on a TV or computer screen provide a simultaneous visual anchor.

10. In vocal music learning rhythm, phrasing, and pitch greatly enhances language, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary skills. This is especially noticeable when using songs in first and second language study.

11. Improves critical reading and writing

12. Raises test scores, decreases performance anxiety, and teaches kids how to handle/manage stress during standardized exams

13. Helps children channel unexpressed and/or negative emotions in a positive way

14. Boosts creative thinking

15. Reading music and performing memorized pieces help children to think ahead

16. Improvisation helps people to "think on their feet"

17. Solo performance is connected to self-esteem & self-efficacy. (concept of self capacity) Children learn to reach for their very best.

18. When kids prepare and consistently practice for recital or performance, they work to sing/play without errors. They generally apply similar determination and perseverance to many future endeavors academic or otherwise.

19. Improves understanding of homework and enables a higher levels of concentration

20. Children who study music usually have a better attitude, are more motivated and are less intimidated by learning new things

Strong music reading, writing notation, sight singing (solfege), music theory, literacy, and moving the body to music are solid, transferable skills. Learning is a two-way street. For example, one can assume that mathematics can also develop music. Academic achievement links positively with musical achievement and vice versa.

As early as the 19th century, the visionary Dr. Maria Montessori included music and arts into her worldwide school curriculums to greatly enhance and accelerate learning.

'Lorna Heyge, Ph.D., says: "While educational leaders turn to early childhood music because it promotes brain development, they will stay with music because of the joy and stimulation experienced in actual music making. Music learning requires total involvement-that is why it appeals so much to young children."

Copyright 2006 Deborah Torres Patel

Deborah Torres Patel helps ordinary people become extraordinary communicators. She began her formal musical training at 5 years old and is a passionate advocate of arts education for children. Her work with adults has clearly shown that a foundation of music at an early age contributes significantly to one’s overall confidence and full-self expression later in life.

For free voice, presentation, powerful public speaking and video training tips subscribe to her popular newsletter at: http://expressingyou.com

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Disneyland Hotel

During the spring of 1954, Walt Disney approached the Texas oil wildcatter and television pioneer Jack Wrather concerning the possibility of building accommodations for the many guests that Walt hoped would flock to his innovative "theme park," then under construction in Anaheim, California. Since the "imagineering" and building of Disneyland was taking nearly every penny that he had, Walt approached Jack, hoping that his long-time friend would be willing to take such a huge risk. Wrather was the producer of Lassie, The Lone Ranger, and Sgt. Preston of the Yukon, popular 1950s television programs.

Originally, Walt had approached Hilton executives and other well-known hotel chains, hoping to convince them to finance the construction of a first-class hotel next to Disneyland. However, the general consensus was that such a venture was too risky. No one was certain that what was quickly becoming known as "Disney's folly" would be successful.

In 1954, Anaheim was a little-known community, largely consisting of orange groves. The entire city had only seven small motels and hotels, accommodating only a total of 87 guests. Wrather admitted at the time that he was somewhat skeptical about building in such a small community (of approximately 30,000), next to an experimental and yet unfinished theme park. His doubts were further increased by the fact that the risky venture had already been turned down by more than one major hotel chain.

Wrather spent several days with Walt Disney, looking into the area's potential for expansion. Legend has it that Walt had tears in his eyes while describing his dream of Disneyland to Wrather. With a sense of adventure, Wrather became convinced that the idea just might be a success. Also, with Walt showing such emotion for and dedication to his project, how could Wrather have resisted?

One of the first discussions between the two friends was where the hotel should be located. Wrather first talked of locating it near the entrance to Disneyland. Walt said, "Jack, our guests aren't going to be thinking about a hotel when they begin their visit to Disneyland. They'll start looking for a room when they leave the park. The best place to build your Hotel is near the Disneyland exit." Wrather agreed with Walt's logic and leased 60 acres of Disney-owned land on West Street directly across from the Disneyland exit. There he built what was to become known as the "Official Hotel of the Magic Kingdom."

On March 18, 1955, Jack Wrather, Bonita Granville Wrather (his wife), and Anaheim Mayor Charles Pearson, using a three-handled shovel, officiated at the groundbreaking for the Disneyland Hotel.

The Disneyland Hotel opened on October 5, 1955, nearly three months after Disneyland's live televised grand opening on July 17, 1955. The first guests registered at a hotel having only 104 guest rooms located in five two-story complexes, built at the southeast corner of the leased property. These were the South Garden rooms, later to be known as the Oriental Gardens. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arnone of Inglewood, California were to be the first guests at the newly opened hotel.

The Disneyland Hotel was the first major resort to be built in Southern California since the early 1940's. However, the number of available rooms quickly proved to be insufficient for the unexpected demand, and 96 more units of the same type were added the following year on the property's northeast section. Built by Hodges and Vergrift Construction Company, this new addition was called the North Garden rooms, later renamed the Garden Villas.

During the first year, room rates ranged from $9 for a standard room to $22 for deluxe quarters. Rooms were advertised as accommodating four people. For an additional adult, there was a $3 charge.

At the same time that construction had begun on the additional garden rooms at the northeastern corner of the property, construction was under way on the Administration Building, which would house a lobby, restaurants, shops, and meeting rooms. The Gourmet Restaurant was opened in a converted ranch house on the property, redesigned by C. Tony Pereira. This converted ranch house had been the original Disneyland administration building.

The original hotel design, by the architectural firm of Pereira and Luckman, called for 300 motel and hotel rooms, suites and garden apartments. Also included were plans for three swimming pools, tennis courts, a golf course, cocktail lounges, and four restaurants. The original blueprints designated a total of 10 buildings in the South Garden or Oriental Garden section. However, only five buildings were actually built.

The opening of the Administration Building (which would later become the Travelport), and the "official" grand opening for the hotel was on August 25, 1956. It was a star-studded grand opening celebration that resembled a Hollywood movie premiere. Celebrities in attendance included Walt Disney, Art Linkletter, William Bendix, Alan Ladd, Sue Caroll, Yvonne DeCarlo, and Jeanne Crain. Also in attendance were as many as three hundred enthusiasts, observing the ribbon-cutting and taking a grand tour of the facilities.

By 1956, there were 204 guest rooms and suites at the Disneyland Hotel. As an added attraction, each garden patio had its own orange tree, a reminder of what the original property had been only a few short years earlier. This had been a part of the original plans when the grounds were being cleared to build the hotel. An additional amenity at this time was the Coral Club which included a huge 45-foot by 75-foot completely tiled and heated swimming pool, wading pools for children of all ages, fountains, sandlots, and a cabana area. The pools were surrounded by lounge furniture for guests' relaxation and so that they might acquire a Southern California tan. One-day laundry and dry cleaning services were available, and a physician and nurse were on call. An 18-hole putting greens and shuffleboard courts were also early inclusions at the Disneyland Hotel.

Guests were able to register for a hotel room from their car or they could go into the lobby for a more traditional method of registration. There were parking spaces for 1000 cars, and parking was free. Also, limo and bus service was provided. Richfield Oil (also the Disneyland sponsor of Autopia) offered full automotive care. Even in the 1950s, every room was equipped with a television set and air conditioning.

During these early years, the attendance at Disneyland was beyond the most optimistic expectations. Even Walt had to be amazed by the overwhelming success of his dream. As a result, the City Council of Anaheim began reviewing plans for other motels and restaurants. Disneyland had proven all the skeptics to be wrong, and Disneyland was destined to bring major changes to what once had been a sleepy, orange grove community.

From the beginning, the Disneyland Hotel was one of the outstanding showplaces of Orange County. Celebrities such as Jack Benny, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Billy Graham, and Cary Grant were often spotted at the hotel. These and other celebrities enjoyed bringing their families for a stay at the hotel and for a trip to Walt's park. Also attracted were business people, coming for luncheons, meetings, and conventions. The Disneyland Hotel quickly had become the place to see and the place to be seen.

Room rates in 1957 were advertised from $10 to $19. SuitesÊwent for between $22 and $25. The hotel's brochures boasted of an assortment of shops, air conditioned rooms, television in every room, pools of all sizes, restaurant and cocktail facilities. Also touted was tram service to Disneyland every five minutes, transportation via a Disneyland station wagon, playgrounds, childcare facilities, barber and beauty shops. Doctor, nurse and even dental facilities were available on the grounds. The brochures further emphasized a private sundeck or patio for every room. Best of all, the Disneyland Hotel was billed as the only hotel right at the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland. Also in the late 1950s, the concept of "seasonal" and "non-seasonal" rates first appeared. Typically, it would cost a dollar or two more for a room during the holidays and summer months (late May through mid September).

By 1959, over 25 hotels and motels had crowded around Disneyland to take advantage of the Park's spectacular drawing power. By 1960, Anaheim had established itself as Orange County's largest city, with a population in excess of 100,000. People were traveling from all areas of the world to visit the "Happiest Place on Earth." Indeed, Anaheim had magically grown from a quiet, small agricultural community into a mecca of tourism, and the boom had only begun. As Walt had promised on opening day, the park continued adding attractions (the Monorail, the Submarine Voyage, and the Matterhorn all opening in 1959); and the hotel continued to grow, having more than 300 rooms by 1960. A 13,000-square foot convention center was also added at that time.

Rates for rooms in 1960 ranged from $10 to $26 a night during the off-season and from $16 to $29 in season, the holidays and the summer months.

At a press conference held in 1960, Jack Wrather and Walt Disney announced plans for the extension of the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System to link the park to the hotel. Walt had long envisioned a rapid transit system for major U.S. cities, and this addition to the Monorail would provide a working model. Dick Nunis, who worked his way up from a summer job in 1955 to become the president of Disneyland in 1980, stated that Walt saw the Monorail as more than just an attraction; Walt saw it as aÊworkable transportation system. He wanted to demonstrate its potential as urban rapid transit, and so he envisioned the monorail's extension to the hotel.

The park's monorail was closed for construction on April 10, 1961. Disneyland also had to closed Autopia to facilitate the installation of new pylons through its grounds. The original 8/10th-of-a-mile track would be extended by 12,300 feet, making it nearly a two-and-a-half mile round-trip journey between the park to the hotel. The cost of the extension was $1.9 million ($500,000 more than the original cost of the Monorail when it was installed at Disneyland less than two years earlier). The construction required more than 118,000 hours of labor, 10,760 tons of sand, 66,700 bags of cement and 702 tons of steel. New style Mark II trains were introduced for the extended Monorail including a new gold colored train. The Monorail, with its extension to the Disneyland Hotel, reopened on June 1, 1961.

Other major expansions were planned for the hotel in the early 1960s. They included a new golf complex featuring an 18-hole, par-three course, a 50-tee driving range, and a miniature golf course with the individual holes named after Disneyland attractions. One of the course favorites was hole #5, which featured a mini replica of the Matterhorn Mountain. Also added at this time was a helicopter landing pad, linking Los Angeles International Airport with Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel. The new facility provided an efficient transportation link for both business people and tourists. Soon, LAA Airways was operating an average of 12 flights per day to and from the airport in its 28-passenger, turbo-jet copter liners.

In 1961, the Wrather Corporation went public, offering 350,000 shares of common stock. President and Chairman of the Board Jack Wrather and the Wrather Corporation had grown to include four major divisions: Television and motion pictures, the Disneyland Hotel, the Muzak Corporation (the often satirized elevator music), and Stephen's Marine, Inc. The company also was involved in management services for various other marine based businesses.

The Anaheim skyline was also about to undergo a major change in 1961 when the concept of "building up" replaced the concept of "building out." At the Disneyland Hotel, an 11-story, high-rise tower was built. This added 150 new guest rooms to the hotel complex. At that time, it was the county's tallest building and the nation's tallest building constructed utilizing the post-tension, lift-slab method. Another exciting innovation was an external, glass elevator, one of only a handful constructed at the time in this country. Its designer, architect Kurt Weber, recalled that the glass elevator offered a dramatic view of the growing community of Anaheim. It also took guests to the Top of the Park Lounge, which featured breathtaking views of Disneyland. The Lounge offered alcoholic beverages and nightly entertainment in a decidedly blues motif. Constructed for the less adventurous was the Monorail Lounge which was located next to the Monorail station on the second floor level. Ground had been broken for the new tower building in October of 1961. The project was completed less than a year later in September of 1962. At that time, two additional Garden structures were also added to the hotel.

In 1962, rates ranged from $17 for a room with a twin bed to $53 for two deluxe and medium adjoining rooms during vacation and holiday seasons, $10 to $47 during off-season. There were new rates for the tower building. A twin-bedded room was priced from $24 vacation rate up to $35 for a room with two double beds. Off-season, tower rooms were priced from $20 to $26.

Orange County celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1964. At a press conference held at the Disneyland Hotel, the announcement was made that Major League Baseball was coming to Anaheim. The Angels would continue to play in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium until their new Anaheim stadium was constructed in approximately two years. During their first year in Anaheim, the Angels would lead the American League in attendance, attracting over one million fans.

By 1964, during vacation and holiday season, room rates were $17 for a single room, $53 for an adjoining deluxe room with a medium room, and $30 for a deluxe room alone. Winter rates were advertised from $10 for a single small room to $49 for an adjoining deluxe with medium room. The Tower rooms were priced from $24 to $35 during peak-season and $20 to $28 during off- season. Peak-season now was being defined as from June 1 to September 15, December 11 to January 3, and April 9 to April 24.

Both the Disneyland Hotel and Disneyland celebrating their "Tencennials," 10-years of successful operations, in 1965. The hotel announced plans for the Tower Annex, an expansion to the existing tower, which would now give the hotel 616 guest rooms. An additional six conference rooms (bringing the total to 28) would be added to the complex. These conference rooms would be designed to hold from 15 people to two thousand people.

A new shopping plaza building was also constructed on the hotel grounds. It was described as having glass walls and graceful grillwork, gleaming in a lush garden setting. It was further described as resembling a necklace on green velvet,Êcontaining the beautiful and unusual in a score of smart, avant-garde specialty shops. Here one could buy aromatic tobaccos from Turkey, candles from Mexico, leathers from London, toys from the U.S., Germany and Japan, and here one could select from fashions inspired in Paris, Rome and Carnaby Street. The Plaza also featured a beauty shop, a travel agency, and a dental facility. Both the Tower Annex and the Plaza Shopping Center cost $5.5 million as part of the Hotel Expansion Program. At Disneyland, "it's a small world" was added after its successful run at the New York World's Fair.

Rates in 1966 for what was billed as wintertime ranged from $15 for a queen-sized bed up to $30 for a deluxe room. During vacation times, the rates were $20 and $35 for the same rooms. The Tower now had a North and South designation, with the South side being the more expensive. The North side rates were priced from $20 for a queen-sized bed up to $28 for two double beds. The South side went for $22 to $30 for the same bed types.

By 1966, Orange County had become the tourist hub of America, producing tourist income greater than any other U.S. county. Anaheim now had 125 hotels and motels and a population of over 150,000. Sadly on December 15, 1966, Walt Disney, one of the most influential men in Anaheim's history, passed away. Walt had been a lifelong smoker and had developed lung cancer. It was reported that Jack and Bonita Wrather were devastated upon hearing news of Walt's passing. Half of the two pioneers of tourism in Southern California was now gone. These two had plotted a course in the 1950s for the future of tourism and conventions in Orange County, thereby forever changing Anaheim's destiny. Jack Wrather would also succumb to cancer in 1984.

Shortly after Walt's death, the Walt Disney Company began numerous attempts to purchase control of the hotel. Finally in 1988, 33 years after the original groundbreaking, the Disneyland Hotel would become a portion of the empire that Walt had founded.

In just a little over 11 years, the Disneyland Hotel had grown from 104 guest rooms and a smattering of amenities into a major tourist facility with 616 guest rooms, ample dining and shopping facilities, a full golf complex, and a full range of convention and meeting facilities. The hotel also helped introduce a futuristic mode of rapid transit in the form of the Monorail, and the hotel was instrumental in changing the previous agricultural economy of Anaheim into the major tourist destination that it is today. What appeared to be a questionable area for development in the early fifties turned into one of the most dynamic areas in the country. A large portion of this change and growth had been stimulated by a man with a mouse and a Texas oil wildcatter.

Sources:

Kaleidoscope: The In-Room Magazine of Disneyland Hotel and Inn at the Park: Spring 1980, summer 1980, and fall 1980.

Disneyland Holiday Magazine: various issues from 1957 and 1958.

Disneyland Vacationland Magazine: various issues from 1958 to 1966.

Disneyland Line: Vol. 22, No. 40, October 5, 1990.

The Disneyland Hotel Employee's Handbook, 1989.

Disneyland Hotel advertising brochures: 1955, 1957, 1960, 1962, and 1966.

Disneyland Guidebooks: 1955 to 1965.

Disneyland Hotel Postcards: 1955 to 1964.

The Handbook of Texas Online: The Jack Wrather obituary.

Dreams to Reality by Bret Colson and Geoff Black. A brief history of modern day Anaheim, 1997.

Disneylander: The magazine for Disneyland employees, various issues from 1959 to 1961.

Check In Magazine: Various editions from 1965 to 1967.

All sources came from my personal collection of Disneyland Hotel items with the exception of the Jack Wrather obituary and the book Dreams to Reality. The wonderful Kaleidoscope magazines and several articles from Holiday and Vacationland magazines came from other collectors. All photos also came from my personal collection except where noted. I requested access to the Disney Archives for research purposed but was denied access.

Donald W. Ballard lives in Northern California with his wife and children. He first became interested in the Disneyland® Hotel in the late 1970’s. He never considered a trip to Disneyland® complete without a stay at the Disneyland® Hotel. The Hotel was an adventure and experience in itself to him aside from the joys of Disneyland®.

By 1998, he decided to start documenting the Disneyland® Hotel’s history. He began compiling many vintage paper items, photographs, magazines and souvenirs from the Hotel’s rich history. What first started as a short article for a Southern California travel magazine eventually became this book.

http://www.magicalhotel.com

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