Day 103: I think I can, I think I can…

January 12, 2023

Dear Disney,

There are parts of Disneyland’s Fantasyland that I had always passed but never knew how to ride. I would pass the Storybook Land boats and watch the other Guests sit on the boats and enjoy the canal boats. I would watch the boats get swallowed by Monstro and wonder where the queue was, then I would get distracted by a dark ride or a friend wanting to go on the Tea Cups or the Matterhorn. Bu there was one ride that I never saw, but heard frequently, Casey Jr. Train Ride.

Casey Jr. Train Ride is one of the original Disneyland rides, sort of. Casey Jr. Train Ride was available on opening day but was closed the following day. The ride was reopened after a couple weeks. I do not know if it is apogrypha, but I was told that the engines were too light and the coducters had to ride on top of the engine to weigh them down. I’m not sure if that is true or not, but the mental image of conductors riding the Casey Jr. Train like a bronco is amusing.

Whether it is true or not, the ride was re-introduced after a few weeks and has brought smiles to the hearts of young and old ever since.

Casey Jr. Train Ride is the train that pulled the circus in Disney’s Dumbo. Casey Jr. is a named after Casey Jones, a famous train engineer from the 1900’s. The book The Little Engine the Could is based off of the train and the ride and you can hear the engine say “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” as it climbs the last hill.

The constantly present song “Casey Junior”, written by Frank Churchill and New Washington, can be heard throughout Fantasyland.

Darling and I came to this ride later and life, but it quickly became a favorite of ours. Next time you are in Disneyland, enjoy the short, quirky Disneyland original, Casey Jr. Train Ride.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling