Crocodile Smiles at World of Disney

The Crocodile from Peter Pan gazes down upon shoppers at the World of Disney Store, and I don't think he's got customer service on his mind. What a fantastic character design; Who could blame Hook for being afraid of this critter's single-minded quest for Captain a la Carte?

Most artists drawing a cartoon crocodile would probably focus on the sharp teeth, but Disney's animators zeroed in on what's truly scary about this guy: his gaping bottomless pit of a gullet. The croc (unofficially known as Tick Tock) gave me nightmares when I was a small child, and--though he's one of my favorite characters--his mouth still creeps me out big-time!

Donald in Bronze

The impressive Partners statue of Walt and Mickey draws folks to the middle of Disneyland's Central Plaza, but alert guests soon realize they're surrounded by a charming circle of smaller character tributes.

We've looked at Pluto and the White Rabbit, but today we're focusing on Mickey's friend and rival, Donald Fauntleroy Duck. Positioned and posed to take full advantage of his castle-tastic backdrop, the temperamental fowl admirably conceals his boiling rage at the fact that--just a few yards away--Mickey gets to pose with the boss.

The Weirdest Thing In DCA

At Disney California Adventure, guests encounter many offbeat sights, from a Cadillac Mountain Range to the factory restroom of Monsters, Inc. Inside a Paradise Pier shop called Sideshow Shirts, however, they'll come face to face with the park's strangest inhabitant...

It's this guy. If you've never shopped for souvenirs under the gaze of a gigantic, stooped-over sideshow barker holding up the ceiling...well, here's your chance!

It really is an amazing statue, full of personality. It reminds me of the old Fun House at San Francisco's Playland at the Beach (long gone), which featured a large central room under the watch of giant clown faces hanging from the ceiling.

Paradise Pier once hosted a giant hamburger, a giant orange, a giant test-of-strength game and giant sunglasses on a dinosaur. Our friend the giant Sideshow Barker has managed to--so far--escape the wrecking ball fate of his oversized buddies. In that light, the poor guy almost looks like he's hiding, hoping he's not the next to go. I'll keep my fingers crossed for him; He may be strange, but he certainly is unique, fun and startling in a classic boardwalk kind of way.

DCA's Brother Bear Tribute

Can you name these two? Kenai and Koda, from the strange, moose-infested Disney animated film Brother Bear, stand watch near the entrance to DCA's Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. The outdoor play/adventure zone, full of rope bridges and rock climbs, has shifted its focus to Dug and Russell from Up, but this life-size statue still stands as a silent tribute to Disney's moderately successful and somewhat forgotten animated tale of the hunter who gets turned into a bear.

With the release of Pixar's Brave (I film I love), the Walt Disney Company made history by becoming the only studio on Earth to have released two animated films -- within a decade of each other -- about a human turning into a bear. Thankfully, both movies turned out pretty great.

Pluto in the Park

Pluto is perhaps the most joyful little statue in all of Disneyland. He's certainly claimed a prime location in Central Plaza, a spot many DL fans love as a place to relax while still being surrounded by park activity -- not to mention the wonderful sounds of the Horse-Drawn Streetcars and other Main Street Vehicles.

Pluto's just one of many, many great little details most guests only notice once they've slowed down after rushing from ride to ride for half the day. When folks finally start relaxing and looking around at Disneyland, that's when the park's charms truly come into focus.

The Founder of Radiator Springs

This familiar town landmark, the Stanley statue, guards the Radiator Springs Courthouse (which also houses the Fire Station and Sheriff's Office) in Cars Land.

In Cars lore, Stanley founded the town of Radiator Springs as an expansion of his thriving tourist rest stop, Stanley's Oasis. The Oasis, now a ghost town, can be toured in the standby line for Radiator Springs Racers.

Stanley's not only a town legend, but also the departed husband of Lizzie, the absent-minded Model T who runs the Curio shop. Their wedding photo can be found somewhere in Cars Land, but most folks have to "wait" a bit to discover it...

Man and Mouse: The Storytellers Statue

The Storytellers statue, portraying a young Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse arriving in California, has turned out to be one of DCA's real treasures. Its placement -- right on the sidewalk among the guests -- was an inspired decision that couldn't have worked out any better.

Guests love seeing Walt portrayed as "one of us," and there are often crowds around the statue as guests take turns standing alongside the duo for a photo.

While the famous Partners statue over in Disneyland is a tribute, Storytellers is a celebration of opportunity and possibilities. It adds a subtle but important touch of energy and optimism to the reborn California Adventure.

King Triton Conquers Paradise Pier

After beginning his theme park career quietly at Disneyland, King Triton has moved on to Disney California Adventure in a big way; he holds the record for getting his face on more DCA attractions than any other character. Somehow, he's managed to take over Paradise Pier!

As seen in the above photo, Triton once reigned over his own jumping fountain garden, making sure the humans visiting his daughter's meet n' greet behaved themselves.

When the grotto was bulldozed to make room for Pixie Hollow, the impressive Triton statue found a new home across the way as the crowning exterior centerpiece of The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure.

Of course, Triton already had a presence in DCA'a seaside amusement park. He's got his very own sea-creature carousel.

And he guards his daughter's restaurant.

Okay, this one looks a bit freaky and began as an unnamed guardian for Wolfgang Puck's Avalon Cove restaurant.  Now that Ariel's moved in, however, we can only assume it's now supposed to be Triton...or the uncle we never hear about...

And, of course, King Triton also appears in the finale of The Little Mermaid ride.

At any rate, Paradise Pier is certainly well-protected. At this point, maybe Triton Pier would be a better name for the  place! In fact, he could burst out of the waters of Paradise Bay to host World of Color! The place needs a fun backstory...maybe Ariel's dad should simply take over.

Walt & Mickey Watch Five & Dime

The incredibly talented performers of Five & Dime bring a fantastic burst of energy and fun to Buena Vista Street. On your next visit to Disney California Adventure, try not to miss this wonderful act -- my favorite of all of DCA's entertainment.

My sister took this photo and caught not only the show, but a pair of very special spectators in the background.

Grizzly River's Bear With No Name

This gigantic bear, all geared up for white water escapades, silently guards the entry to Grizzly River Run at Disney California Adventure.

It's an impressive sculpture, and a puzzling one; considering all the time, effort and talent that went into its creation, it's odd that the bear has no name, no backstory (beyond his gear), no merchandising presence, and -- as a result -- little impact on guests' memories of DCA.

Then again, when DCA first opened, the 2001 powers-that-be aimed for the park to be as unlike Disneyland as possible, and that extended to a lack of Disney characters or traditional storytelling. Our grizzly friend here might have fallen victim to that somewhat pixie-dust-free approach to park design.

Today's DCA bursts with charm, personality and Disney/Pixar characters. I say it's time to give this wonderful statue a name, a backstory, and some more visibility as a character on the ride itself and on the park merchandise. He's a white-water-rafting grizzly bear in a Disney park! Someone in charge needs to let the Imagineers and product designers go wild with the concept.

WDW 1993: Splash Mountain Signage & Statues

We're temporarily moving from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom for this bit of our 1993 tour, to check out a few wonderful exterior details around Splash Mountain. All these elements are still present in 2012, but fans may be able to spot the differences between then and now.

Here's the statue of Brer Fox, Brer Bear and Brer Rabbit as it appeared in '93, with a natural-looking finish.

And Brer Rabbit looks for adventure atop one of the best signposts on earth.

We've discussed before which resort's Splash Mountain we find superior (Spoiler: It's WDW's). More focused storytelling was one factor that swung the vote.

I wish we'd spent more time in the Magic Kingdom back in '93. In our defense, though, this group of Disneyland regulars just couldn't stay away from Epcot for more than half a day!

More from 1993 WDW soon!

Goofy Greetings at the Paradise Pier Hotel

When entering the Paradise Pier Hotel, you can't miss this wonderful statue of Surfer Goofy. It's the only major Disney character reference in sight, but it's enough to get the point across. The Goof looks comically surreal in the otherwise bright-but-businesslike seaside resort-themed lobby.

Of course, you won't be doing any actual surfing at the resort, but the hotel pool features a fun coaster-themed water slide.

The Bronze White Rabbit

While relaxing on this summer Sunday, let's look at one Disney character who never, ever relaxes: the harried and perpetually stressed-out White Rabbit. For this statue in Disneyland's Central Plaza hub, the sculptor really captured W.R.'s spirit perfectly; he looks like he could bolt away at any second -- if he weren't already bolted down.

There are four other White Rabbit figures in Disneyland: a life-size statue at the Alice dark ride's loading zone, and three inside the ride itself, including the one who gets an exploding Unbirthday cake in the face.

What a great and under-appreciated character!

The Owl Guard Never Sleeps

This wonderful little statue guards the equally wonderful Sleeping Beauty Castle. Overlooked by most guests, he's a fan favorite and a must-visit character for those who know he's there.

Some folks understandably believe him to be Archimedes, Merilin's grumpy sidekick from the Sword in the Stone...but he's not. He's the playful and nameless owl from Sleeping Beauty. Stop by the next time you're in Disneyland; he loves to pose.