Disney Trivia Guy

The Contra Costa Times interviewed me and wrote an article about writing my book on July 20, 2012. It was in the section of the paper for Antioch News, Brentwood News and Pittsburg News. They came to my book signing at Stories: A Family Owned Bookshop in Brentwood (now closed). In case you can't read it, here is what it said; Disneyland has become a destination for young and the young at heart since it opened this week 57 years ago. With its ever-changing array of attractions, the park can be a bit overwhelming, especially when tugging along after the youngsters and trying to find your way around the park without getting lost. Joshua Shaffer has some ideas that might help make for a much better trip. The Antioch resident has spent the past six years working on publishing his ideas, fun Disney facts and more in his new book "Discovering the Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide." The book offers readers not only ways to save money but interesting facts he...

Today is Allison Janney’s birthday. I heard her on the radio twice today. FUN FACT: Star Tours The Adventures Continue , the voice actress that portrays Aly San San, the android stewardess in the pre-boarding video, is none other than Allison Janney. She is known for her roles in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), American Beauty (1999), Nurse Betty (2000), Finding Nemo (2003), The West Wing (1999-2006), The Help (2011), and dozens more. The most commonplace to recognize her is in your car. She is the spokeswoman for Kaiser Permanente and can be heard frequently on the radio in their commercials. She is also Peach in Finding Nemo (2003) and Finding Dory (2016). She can also be heard in the new DuckTales (2017-present) reboot as Glittering Goldie. If you liked this fun fact, you should check out my book that has over 3,700 fun facts in it about Disneyland and Disney Movies. www.DisneyGuy.org

*Article was written on June 30, 2017 Disney is planning on changing the infamous Auctioneer scene in Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean in 2018, along with Disney World’s Pirates. We get the frequently spoken line  “We wants the redhead,”  from this attraction. Pirates first opened on March 16, 1967, just four months after Walt Disney passed away. Walt was only able to experience the Auctioneer scene before his passing. “Walt visited the show building in Disneyland and went on a tour with Marc Davis and a few other Imagineers. The boats’ water channel was not filled yet and all the sets were frame worked, so they were able to walk through. The Auction Scene was set up with the Auctioneer moving about. This would be the last Walt ever saw of the attraction’s sets, because of his failing health and then eventually his death.” - Discovering The Magic Kingdom: An Unofficial Disneyland Vacation Guide 2nd Edition page 508 (set up in the Burbank studio) Mar...

The mermaids first appeared at the Submarine Voyage’s grand opening in 1959 where they were used for promotional purposes. They later returned to the lagoon for the summers of 1965, 1966, and 1967. They would swim around for four hours each day to entertain guests by doing aquatic stunts. Sometimes they would swim up to the people floating by in the submarine and peek through the porthole. They would also perform synchronized swimming. Some of the girls started to complain about the fumes from the, then diesel, subs and the high chlorine content of the water. So, it pressed Disney to remove them. The Cast Member girls who portrayed the lovely mermaids made a reported $1.65 an hour. There were some instances when young men were caught jumping into the water and swimming out to the mermaids, who were basking in the sun on the coral in the middle of the lagoon.  The brunette with the orange-red top is Edie Carhart. You can hear an interview with her HERE . Check...