In 1978, Bil Keane, creator of the popular daily one-panel cartoon strip The Family Circus partnered with The Walt Disney Co. for a series in which Daddy, Mommy, Billy, Dolly, Jeffy and P.J. (no Barfy and Sam left in the Disneyland kennels, I'm afraid) visited the Happiest Place on Earth.

 

Okay, I don't actually KNOW that Keane and the folks at Disney teamed up to create this series, but knowing how protective the Mouse House is of their image I can't imagine the cartoonist just went ahead and did it without at least a thumbs-up... and at most someone from Disney's legal team standing over his shoulder as he sat hunched over his drawing table. So in July and August of '78, fans of the Keane family (Yup, they're named after Bil's family - Daddy and Mommy are actually named Bil and Thelma. Go win a trivia contest!) were treated to their escapades as they visited the park's famous attractions.

 

Looking at the cartoons now, I find it interesting what they DON'T show - namely no indoor rides. Sure the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain are glimpsed from the outside, but there's not a single cartoon (to my knowledge) of the family crammed into a Doom Buggy or on a boat adorably mangling the lyrics to Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) as they cruise through Pirates of the Carribean. The only ride you actually see them on is the Jungle Cruise, which is an outdoor attraction that had been extensively photographed throughout the park's existence. My guess would be the good folks at Disney, ever vigilant, didn't want anyone but them giving up their secrets.

 

Having lived in Southern California all my life, I'm extremely familiar with Disneyland - and love it. It truly is a magical place for me, no matter how many changes it undergoes. I've been there dozens and dozens of times over the years, and it never ceases to be a treat.

 

But that means I'm also familiar with the realities of visiting the park with a family, and the decidedly NON-magical moments that can occur. I thought this was an excellent opportunity to replace the wholesome myth with the sometimes exhausting reality. So here you go - a day at Disneyland with the Family Circus... through the eyes of someone who's actually had the experience firsthand.