Disney Paper Collecting by John Komlos from finddisney.com

Welcome to my Disneyland paper collecting journey.

My collection began over 30 years ago, shortly after I met my wife.  She was an avid Disney fan and had love for animals, especially dogs.  So, it was natural that she collect “Pluto.”  I saw how much fun she and other members of our family were having, so I wanted to begin collecting something having to do with Disney.  I wanted something unusual and interesting to me.  So, I decided I would collect Disneyland information guides.

This is the first 1955 Disneyland "pictorial" guide.  There was one guide that came out prior to this when Disneyland first opened.  They wanted to have it available when the park opened.  So it had hand rendered drawings of the attractions in stead of pictures, as many of the attractions were not completed when the guide had to go to print.  This guide went out later in 1955, after they were able to provide pictures of the finished attractions.  The guide was reprinted in 2005 for the 50th anniversary of Disneyland.  (You can tell the difference by the copyright on the front cover of the 1955 and the bar code on the rear cover of the 2005.)

	The first Disneyland Guide/Map that was handed out when you entered Disneyland was sponsored by Bank of America.  As you can see, it has artist rendered drawings of attractions just like the first Pictorial guide.  Again, this was because the attractions were not completed before the Guide/Maps had to be printed.
	As you can see in the photos to the left, The larger guide/map was updated with an increase in the number of California Bank of America branches:  "Now more than 600 branches"

As I started to research Disneyland guides, I realized that there were many different kinds.  There were Annual pictorial guides, there were informational guides and maps that were given out at the park when you came in, and there were professionally written guides. 

Disneyland tickets are some of the most interesting items.  Through the years Disney has changed their ticketing media tremendously.  Below I have shared some of the first tickets and their story, as well as samples of more current ticketing media.  Through the years Disneyland has used their tickets not only for admission but the tickets are used as advertising for special events including corporate event and, of course, Disneyland events.  Tickets have been used for  corporate events, for  Disney anniversaries, and ride introductions (commemorative tickets).

Above is a Disneyland ticket book from the 70's. 

When Disneyland first opened in July 1955, there were no ticket books. Guests paid a general admission fee to get in and then paid to ride each ride individually.  Disneyland began to sell ticket books later in 1955. There were 3 tickets  “A,” “B,” or “C” The best rides required a “C” ticket. The following year 1956, Disneyland introduced the "D" ticket.  In 1959 the Big 10 ticket book was introduced including the "E" ticket.  The "E" ticket was used for the best rides and worked its way down to the "A" ticket, for the smaller, less popular rides.  The ticket book provided one “A” ticket, one “B” ticket, two “C” tickets, three “D” tickets, and three “E” tickets.

The ticket book to the left consisted of 1 - A, 1 - B, 2 - C, 3 - D, and 3 - E tickets, as well as the General Admission Ticket. 

	In 1982 Disneyland begin using what they called Passports.  For $12.00 a guest would get general admission, ride all of the rides (except the shooting gallery) and enjoy all of the entertainment.
	In 1985, for Disneyland's 30th Birthday, they produced a special ticket.  This ticket was given upon admission and would tell guests if they won a prize.  Similar gift giveaways were used in later years.  This ticket also showed what guest number they were.
	Disneyland also produces ticket media for special events for large corporations.  The ticket on the right was used for a Telephone Pioneers of America Party.
	Special commemorative tickets were also available for anniversaries or grand openings.  This ticket was for the opening of Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye.  It was an actual ticket that could be used for admission, but most people bought it and kept it intact for its collector value.

I have just touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Disneyland Paper collecting.  What I outlined here are just a few of the many areas of collecting.  There are many other paper items that one could collect.  There are advertising brochures, one sheet ads, and general Disneyland information pieces.  There are Postcards, Books, parking tickets, magazines, menus and placemats and stamps.  Each could constitute a very large collection on their own.  If you have any questions about Disneyland paper collecting, please contact me at

Disney Paper Collecting
John Komlos
john@finddisney.com
www.finddisney.com