There’s a large park, not too far of a drive from the house. I remember Mom taking Grandpa and me there to ride the carousel when I was growing up. Grandpa and I loved it. I always raced him to the same horse – a black-and-white one near the outside, with red, white, and blue jewels. I had a blast watching him ride the golden brown horse next to me. Huge grin on his face. Waving his hands as if he were conducting the music. It was awesome.
After reading up on Walt Disney over the weekend, it seems he had a similar appreciation for carousels. He also enjoyed taking his daughters to Griffith Park, out in Los Angeles, to ride the merry-go-round, which inspired him to create a theme park of his own. And we all know what happened after that.
As if that weren’t enough, many of you recently decided to check out this carousel after it showed up on Wallace’s map of Walt’s Haunts. Some of you discovered a special horse as well, with an intriguing clue. A clue that makes me question whether or not the carousel was used to do more than entertain and amuse. In your own words and pictures, here’s how all of you found it.
Path for the future? Keeps the world going round? It sounds a lot like he was referring to later plans for the carousel of progress, or even its sequel, Horizons.
Haha! Great point! I totally passed by that lol… the original wdw version of the attraction really hit on the rotation and progress of humanity.
Great story, Amelia. I can tell you loved your grandfather. I can’t imagine you ever doubting or thinking odd out him. You guys shared special times together.
As far as carousels go, they can be excellent in terms of many ways of thinking. The look, the story told, the rotation, the rhythmic movement. Many times, it serves an excellent model of mathematics. I can imagine there’s something deeper that can be found.
Path for the future keeps the world going, interesting clue. Can’t to see what it says on the bench.
Very Intersting…. this is extremly cool, thank you for the update Amelia, I do have a question though. when you went to ride the carousel with your grandfather, why was that one horse your favorite?
This was was fun to find and solve. Tricky too, because you’re trying to line up the letters – the Carousel is spinning, you’re going up and down, the music is blaring – and then you’re ride is over, you’re only 6 words in – better go buy another ticket.
People in this society must have had a good sense of balance and the ability to not be distracted from outside noises!
LOL
I am just picturing a grown man gowing up and down, up and down… and then running back to the ticket booth to go again! 
I’ve been thinking about what Wallace said about the song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” How we should remember it through this journey, that it is more than a song.
Doing some research I was able to find some interesting quotes:
“The theme song, `Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,’ had a wonderful positiveness about it. In a way, it was Walt’s theme song, because he was very positive about the future. He really felt that there was a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.”- Richard Sherman
“Walt Disney was the eternal optimist, and he really believed that things could be better. And Bob and Dick Sherman wrote that song as a personal ode to Walt. They really meant it…. That was Walt’s anthem, and they recognized that.” -Marty Syklar
Maybe more than just a theme song or ode to Walt, it’s an ode to the “Society” and its members. I think it would be a safe bet to assume that Amelia’s grandfather was a member. As he shared that same optimism and positivity for the future, which we see in his stories.
Just the though, Hastin, make my head hurt! I’ve seen the pictures and it makes me queasy just trying to read it while it’s still!
I was so lucky I went with a buddy. He rode the ride, while relaying the message over cell for me to write down haha.
What I thought was interesting about the whole thing is that Wallace calls it a carousel on the map, yet everything I saw, from the parking signs, the ride itself, and even facts about it in the Opera House at Disneyland ALL call it a merry-go-round. Yes, I know the words are interchangeable, but when everything else is calling it a merry-go-round…why list it as a carousel?
Super noteworthy observation!! Seems like the Carousel of Progess gains significance with every single new clue! And just like Ricardo found a mention of a carousel in Bradbury’s work, maybe we can find it in significant places in the others’ works as well.
I wonder if Wallace called it a carousel because this is all tied to the Carousel of Progress? or, perhaps, simply because Walt always called his merry-go-rounds by their alternate name of carousel.
On the topic of carousels and Ray Bradbury. In Bradbury’s story “Something Wicked This Way Comes” he also talks about a carousel, its role in the story being a device that allows(when spinning backwards) you to become young again or(when moving forward) become older. Now having a copy of the book there is a letter from the author at the end of the book which talks about how the story went from screen play to the final book published in 1962 and eventually become a Disney film in 1983. Now it may not tie into the game but found it interesting that he also wrote
“So there you have the long journey from carousel to carousel, circus to carnival, and my suspicion, shared by Walt Disney, that something was rotten in the Denmark behind the freak tent canvas. Disney created Disneyland as a bright antidote. He made a new world. I finished a novel…” Ray Bradbury December 1998
Seems like they both had a thing for carousels and well shared very similar ideas.
Good catch, Ricardo – it’s been so long since I’d read the book or seen the movie that I’d forgotten what it was about! There are definitely some common threads between Bradbury’s work and Disney’s – I was looking over Bradbury’s bio to see if anything that happened in 1966 might be an obvious trigger for induction into some sort of society, but nothing jumped out at me. Maybe it just took a few years after the 1962 publication….
What really stands out to me is that Ray said, “He made a new world.” Isn’t that what the society is trying to do?
I was thinking the same thing, since I just watched Something Wicked two days ago. I’m a huge Bradbury fan. I even have an autographed Martian Chronicles book! I grew up reading his books with my dad, so I would be SO excited if Bradbury is really involved in the story.
Maybe that secretary shorthand about Bradbury a couple weeks ago was a meeting about the carousel? Or maybe inducting him into the society (like the telegraph mentions?)
It is really cool that Griffith Park inspired Disneyland. Something many do not know. Some of my family has been to Griffith Park, but I have never. Always knew about the history behind it. Never really wanted to go though. Thanks for reminding me about this place. Next time I am put in the LA area, it will be my first stop.
Circles…
The carousels, the cans, the plate at c33, the map compass, the small world poster, the Lincoln poster wheel, the circles on the dress of the woman in the carousel of progress poster. I hate to keep posting trivial ideas that don’t lead anywhere. Sorry.
Here’s another: I assume the sheet music the woman in the COP poster is the theme song and a supposed major clue. But the notes on the sheet music don’t really match the melody line, at least the beginning of it. Any connections there?
I like the circle theory!
When I try to zoom in on the sheet music, it gets blurry. Do you have a clear picture of it? Looks like the first notes are B, G, B, F but can’t really see.
“Man has a dream and that’s the start
He follows his dream with mind and heart
And when it becomes a reality
It’s a dream come true for you and me.”
This sounds like an outline for “The Optimist” Journey.
1. Man (Walt) has a dream and that’s the start:
So far Walt’s Haunts have revolved around Walt’s Dream for Disneyland(or tomorrowland redesigned in 1966)- Things that inspired him, his trains, the merry-go-round, even the bench where he first got the idea.
2. He follows his dream with mid and Heart:
This could be referring to the clues we need to find in Disneyland or the next part of the journey after we find out what is happening on 8/1
3. And when it becomes reality it’s a dream come true for you and me:
Refers to the meet-up at D23 Expo and the endgame.
The Griffith Park Carousel is so beautiful and brings so many people great joy. No wonder Walt was inspired and it sure made him optimistic! I too was so happy riding it because when my family and I first moved here after immigrating from the Philippines as a child, this was our hangout and the memories suddenly came rushing back. I understand exactly how you feel Amelia! The message on the strap was also very poignant but still am curious what this all means. The carousel seems to be much more than entertainment. Hopefully the bench will reveal some more insights.
This is all connected to the new movie “Tomorrowland”, don’t you think? Anyone remember that mysterious box that Damon Lindelof tweeted about in January and the D23 story about what was inside the box? Look closely at the closed box – top right side. Does that red mark look familiar?
https://d23.com/d23-turns-to-disney-archivist-to-uncover-clues-about-brad-bird-and-damon-lindelofs-mysterious-twitter-photo-of-box-1952/
Yes, Teri, that is the box that “belongs to Amelia’s grandfather Carlos” that started this whole thing. That’s the reason this game ends at the D23 Expo.
I figured it was connected, but good catch on the symbol! That’s definitely the TU we’ve been seeing!
Is it a “Plus U” rather than a “T U” ?
A bit off topic but I finally got my record in the mail today! I guess the postal service wanted to check out the clue before I did. ;p Thanks so much Amelia!
Nice! Even though the clues have been solved, I would have still loved to have gotten one for posterity’s sake haha
Same here. I thought I had received mine, but it was just my D23 membership kit. Lol. I was actually more excited if it was the record.
Same here! Thank you, Amelia!
You’re very welcome, Catherine.
I looked at the Wikipedia definition of a carousel. Carousel and Merry Go Round are not the same thing by definition. Carrousel is the French word for Merry Go Round as Carosello is the Italian word for Merry Go Round. Any rotating platform may also be called a carousel. Anything from a Merry go Round to the rotating conveyor belts at airports can be called carousels . Kodak even had a carousel projectors because it used rotating slides. I think this has to do with the Carousel of Progress . Maybe a film about Disney’s involvement with the World’s fair?! Let’s see . What do I have to do to receive a record? Or am I out of luck?
I seemed to remember the difference being in direction of rotation. I searched just now and here’s what I found:
“there is a distinct difference to amusement ride manufacturers. Carousels turn counter-clockwise, while Merry-Go-Rounds turn clockwise.”
So that means that the Carousel of Progress turns counter-clockwise. While a Merry Go Round at a child’s playground would turn clockwise.
Sounds right. Carousel of Progress does rotate counter-clockwise.
It could even be a metaphor, in some way…
It does now, but c.o.p. originally turned clockwise. I think the direction was reversed when it moved to wdw.
Anyone that has been on the Carousel of Progress knows that the attraction/ride/show moves on a platform/conveyor system of sorts
It’s actually a massive plate that moves on a rack and pinion system… Kind of like how the plate in the center of a microwave moves, just at the edges, instead of the center.
“Path for the future and keep the world going round” could mean one of many things, like of course the Carousel of Progress attraction, which is now located in the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, or it could also make reference to the “it’s a small world” attraction in Disneyland, which was the only Disney attraction to run simultaneously on both the east and west coast in 1964-1965. Maybe it might make reference to the 12 story high “Unisphere” which was the symbol created to represent the New York World’s Fair? Here is a link on the creation of the New York World’s Fair Unisphere: http://youtu.be/SARurfS2SjE Who knows for sure? Many possibilities.
Amelia, don’t know if you have already seen this or not yet, but here is a complete youtube video called, “Disneyland Goes to the World Fair: http://youtu.be/tpUOtLL4D1o
Or for anyone else who has not seen this great video of Walt Disney himself showing and explaining the four exhibits he created for the New York World’s Fair. Enjoy!
Randy all I can say is Thanks, I enjoyed this so much.
Sharon you are very welcome! I watched it again last night. I had seen it before years ago. I hope to find more clues and youtube videos of Walt Disney getting ready for the 1964 World’s Fair.
What are the ideas about the importance of having a Mark V diving helmet as part of the crest on the Club 33 plate? With it on the crest it would seem to be related to the beginning of the society. Jules Verne is the oldest member based on his date of birth. Diving was a feature in 20,000 Leagues.
Agree, I hunk that Jules Verne was he first member an probably founding father of the society. Tis is probably why the divers helmets on the crest and his name is on top of the plate, the position of honor.
WED was incredibly inspired by Verne. I mean, beyond the 20,000 Leagues ride in Disneyland, the other Disney resorts host various Verne-themed rides (Discoveryland in DRP is entirely based off of Verne’s work). All of that was obviously done after Walt’s death, though, so I wouldn’t look to those for any specifics. But I wouldn’t doubt that there is a more significant connection between the two men in regards to the Society and the mystery of the Optimist as a whole.
True and don’t forget “journey to the center of the earth” in Tokyo Disney Sea.
There’s a number of time travel connections with HG Wells, Samuel Clements, Jules Verne, Ray Bradbury, and possibly Walt Disney. Near the end of his life, Ray Bradbury wrote a story where you could go back in time to a specific day in your past. Kind of like an ‘our town’ idea, only with a positive twist. The idea of time travel seems to be connected with the ideas of the optimists and the future. Ray Bradbury also suggests in an interview, that because of the work he has done, he is immortal for at least twenty to fourty years. He states that Walt is immortal for at least the next hundred years. The work of each of the society members has made them immortal in this sense. Amelia’s grandfather has just joined that status with this blog and all of us…and the best part is…as we work for a better tomorrow today, we become part of that immortal dream as well.
In geometry, the circle has no beginning and no end. With a society that focuses on the past, present, and future, the work and product of this society sounds pretty exciting, and endless. Like a clock, a ride, a carousel.
Just some more random thoughts to put into the pile.
Well said, sir!
“Here age relives fond memories of the past…and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”
Walt’s dedication of Disneyland represents all of the people whose names have been revealed to us so far.
“Our Town” was inspiration for what was going to be Edison Square, Walt’s idyllic example of a future neighborhood showcasing various electric inventions and sponsored by GE. It was supposed to open in 1965 but was scrapped and its inventions moved to the Carousel of Progress. Kind of a random side note, but since you mentioned the play I thought I’d throw it out there…
Ray was once asked what he would like the future to look like, and he said “Disneyland.” That it was already a perfect embodiment of everything he hoped for the future. I agree with you that through their ideas and beliefs they have immortalized themselves, and this project will immortalized Amelia’s grandfather in the same way. Such a wonderful adventure we are all going on!
I just remembered, when Walt introduced the concept of IASW on the Disneyland 10th anniversary, he referred to it as a timepiece. When it was dedicated in the park, he narrates that nowhere is telling the time more fun ( paraphrasing grossly here). What if IASW is the fuel or the power behind the tomorrowland rides, not necessarily the electricity, but the energy behind the tomorrowland dreams, making them a reality. Only around our small world are ideas, dreams, and realities that orbit.
I don’t know if anyone has noticed the interconnected satellites on Wallace’s poster for IASW… Idk I just think they may be important. If anyone has any ideas about this let me know.
Yes. We also noted that the two figures are holding cell phones, which all relates to the side A “hidden track” on the records Amelia sent out.
I also feel that it has something to do with the alternate narration script for IASW that Amelia posted up (the one talking about connectivity and devices). This is all really interesting
And the IASW VIP narration that Amelia’s grandfather was working on!