purtell@reed.UUCP (Lady Godiva) (03/30/85)
I am a great fan of Disney, particularly the animated movies. I would like some information on any clubs or organizations, either international or national, or even local (Oregon), that centre around Disney's works, both his full length movies and animated shorts, and Disney World, Epcot, etc. Please mail the information to me, unless you think that someone else would find it interesting. Thanks, elizabeth purtell (Lady Godiva)
uggworek@sunybcs.UUCP (Donald Gworek) (04/10/85)
> I am a great fan of Disney, particularly the animated movies. I would > like some information on any clubs or organizations. Information on "The Disneyana Collector", "Disney News", "The Magic Kingdom Club", "American Coaster Enthusiasts", "Amusement Park Journal", and "National Carousel Association" follows: --> The Disneyana Collector c/o Groiler Enterprises PO Box 2000 Danbury CT 06816 A quarterly newsletter brimming with current Disney information. The Winter issue outlines Disneyland 30th Anniversary plans, profiles Ward Kimball, and profiles a collector of Disneyland memorabilia (she has just about every map, guidebook, and postcard). There are also classified ads from other collectors, and a "Mousellaneous"\ column of general happenings in Walt Disney Productions. This is a free newsletter, mailed bulk rate, and 8 pages long. It is a very nice piece of mail now and then -- I like to read and reread The Disneyana Collector. --> Disney News PO Box 3310 Anaheim CA 92803 A color glossy magazine published quarterly for The Magic Kingdom club (more on this in a minute). The Spring issue features Disneyland's 30th year, the new Morocco Pavilion in Epcot Center, the "Hoop-Dee-Doo" show at Fort Wilderness, Church Street Station in Orlando, "Baby" the new Touchstone film, and MORE. Subscriptions are $8 for two years (eight issues). It is mailed bulk rate, and about 30 pages long. A must for those interested in Disney, and the public is WELCOME to subscribe. --> The Magic Kingdom Club This is a travel service offering discounts to Disney attractions, discounts at Arvida (NOW a part of Walt Disney Productions) hotels, discounts at Cypress Gardens, discounts at Howard Johnson motor lodges, discounts for National Car Rentals, and MORE (like trips to Japan, Spain, Morocco, Germany, etc). The public is not allowed (oh yes you are!) to join MKC. Only large companies like Kodak, General Motors, Rochester Railway And Signal, General Dynamics, et al, are allowed to have MKC Chapters. If you work for these companies and others, contact your MKC rep to join!!! Ah! But the public CAN join the Magic Kingdom Club. I am a student and ALSO a MKC member. How can I be a MKC member??? I bought stock in Walt Disney Productions about four years ago. Shortly after, to my SURPRISE, I received a Magic Kingdom Club membership card--YAHOOO! DIS trades at about $77 right now. Go to a broker, buy a couple shares (I bought two at $58), and you will be able to have MKC benefits in a few months. Expect to pay about $90 a share though-- there is a 10% broker service fee, and DIS hits $80+ every couple days. When you are a stockholder, you will receive quarterly reports, and a NICE picture-filled annual report. There are also other mailings, and an invitation to attend the annual meeting at Disneyland (like this year) or Walt Disney World (last few years, due to Epcot). --> Lynn Becker Comic Character Memorabilia PO Box 385 La Mirada CA 90637 Lynn publishes an 18-page newsletter-type catalog every few months, listing a seemingly endless assortment of souvenirs and merchandise. He sells mostly Disney items, but just about any conceivable character merchandise can be found in his catalogs (like Joe Palooka, Farrah Fawcett, Flip Wilson/Geraldine, Beany & Cecil, Wimpy, Popeye, Betty Boop, Little Lulu, Deputy Dawg, Poppin Fresh Dough Boy). He sells the most extraordinary Disney collectibles imaginable too. Tokyo Disneyland merchandise, employee nametags, Walt Disney Productions' company Christmas Cards, comemorative buttons, pins, books, maps, et al, and all are quite rare and hard to come by. The subscription for catalogs is $2, and that fee is refundable with your merchandise order. --> American Coaster Enthusiasts PO Box 8226 Chicago IL 60680 This is a national 1000-member organization of roller coaster lovers! Last year the club helped Kings Island park (Cincinnati OH) innagurate the new stand-up-while-riding looping coaster, and over 500 coaster crazies (including me) attended! (A duplicate of that coaster is opening in Toronto's Canada's Wonderland Park this year). The club also has an annual convention, and several mini-conventions and regional gatherings. This year there will be a mini-con for the grand opening of a wooden (!!!) racing coaster in Montreal. ACE publishes a quarterly magazine ("Roller Caoster!") that has a full-color cover for the summer issue. There is also a newsletter called ACE News, that keeps members up to date on current coaster news (like Paragon Park is closing, Roseland Park is in its last season, the coaster in "The Purple Rose Of Cairo" was the one at Bertrand Island Park, The Riverside Cyclone is getting brand new trains, the Crystal Beach Comet will have a backwards train this year) ACE is dedicated to fun, and to preservation of the dear wooden coaster. (Woodies are FUN!!! Steel looping coasters are "'*modern*'" but the ride is blah.) Memberships are $20 Individual, $30 Couple. --> Amusement Park Journal PO Box 157 Natrona Heights PA 15065 APJ has been a very professional magazine on amusement parks, both new and old. The Editor has been subsidizing the cost of the printing since the magazine's inception, but he is unable to pour those kind of funds any much longer. Back issues are still available and recommended!!! Currently, APJ is the BEST newsletter on amusement parks. It is monthly, and just brimming with information on America's favorite entertainment--amusement parks! APJ is the nation's hotline for amusement park news. Both the traditional parks like Elitch Gardens in Denver CO, and the theme parks like Six Flags Over Georgia. There is an annual convention, and last years' was held in Dorney Park in Allentown PA. Subscriptions are $20. APJ also sells historical books (like on Kennywood in Pittsburgh), and historical relics (like blueprints for the Crystal Beach Comet or photos of the Crystal Beach Cyclone). --> National Carousel Association PO Box 307 Frankfort IN 46041 A 700-member organization devoted to the appreciation and preservation of carousels. I have friends who are GA GA over carousels and band organs, but, although I ride every carousel I see, I have never had enough interest to join NCA. I understand there are many many local carousel groups (the Western New York organization is doing an EXCELLENT job restoring the Alan Herschell carousel factory in North Tonawanda NY!!). I don't know much about NCA, but I thought I would post the address just in case someone is interested. A slinger I have says membership is $20, and you will receive a quarterly magazine, newsletters, and a biennal census of existing carousels. Write NCA for more information. This is all the information I have at the moment. A few other sources of information on Disney clubs (and others) could be EPCOT Outreach (in Communicore, you can ask for ANY information and they will track it down for you), Walt Disney Productions (500 S Buena Vista, Burbank CA), and your public library (I once saw a blue and yellow book titled, I think, "Encyclopedia of Associations" or "Encyclopedia of Organizations"). So, have fun!!! -- Don Gworek oo 346 Roesch Avenue \ Buffalo NY 14207-1318 \/