Children’s Fairyland Since 1950! create, imagine, play and learn
yesterday i took a trip down memory lane. thoughts and images i did not even realize still existed in my memory bank took me by surprise as the incredible executive director of Fairyland, C.J. Hirschfield, took me on a tour of the completely renovated storybook park. words just fell naturally from my lips as we passed each icon. the stories i found myself sharing with C.J. were just as vivid as the day they had occurred, nearly 40 years ago. i recalled birthday parties and feeding the sea lions ( who no longer reside in the park ), the jolly trolley and noah’s arc. i envisioned my brother michael and i running around; up the dragon tail, around the pirate ship and down the blue slipper all the while, he trying to keep up with me. ( most have learned now, it’s best just to sit and wait for me and i’ll eventually slow down and return. ) i recall the only shaded area with colorful little circle shades above, where finally he could catch up with me as i sat for a short moment to catch my breathe. i remembered how i was dressed: mom always dressed me as neat as a pin, with my hair pulled way back in a tie and topped with a bow. no doubt i was wearing white bobby socks, sparkling clean shoes and a cute dress with bloomers.
i hope you will allow yourself to take a moment to remember your childhood just as i had the opportunity yesterday to remember mine,
and are inspired to
“journey through the magical shoe, as you visit the dream of every child come true”.
As always, there is so much more to discover!
XOXO! Debbi
Join Us on June 7th for the
Children’s Fairyland Annual Gala – it’s not too late to purchase your tickets.
who could forget? 
old mother hubbard in her shoe, puff the magic dragon and noah’s arc? 
meet fairyland’s newest friends…soon to be named. stay tuned!
Please wait...
Debbi; it was my cousins George and Leo Whitney who introduced Walt Disney to Fairyland. That was in January 1954. Walt was visiting BOA headquarters in San Francisco regarding a loan for Disneyland construction. Walt stayed with the family, toured Playland in San Francisco which they owned and they took Walt to Fairyland the following afternoon. The Oakland Museum has the newsreel footage of Walt’s visit. Fairyland is the only non-Disney park that has an official “Hidden Mickey.” It’s in the Alice tunnel to the right of the fun house mirror. Walt painted it himself! I love all the work they have done on the place. It was looking bad for quite awhile.
Looks fantastic now!
By the way, I confirned the hidden mickey two ways.
1) Walt in his later years had let his drawing talents lapse. The animation was long since turned over to his artists. I recently saw a drawing of mickey that Walt did in the early 1950’s and it’s exactly the same as what’s on the wall in the Alice tunnel at Fairyland.
2) My cousin told me about the hidden mickey. I asked him how he knew if Walt really painted it. The reply: “Warren, I was standing right next to him when he painted it.”