Some trips to Disneyland are meticulously planned and perfectly executed. Others are more leisurely. Some are downright chaotic. And then there are the ones that just seem to roll out at their own pace.

That said, since we are halfway through 1996, it seems a good time as any to take a look at that year’s Annual Pass.

If you’re a little confused by the bold image of the Indiana Jones attraction on the front, you are not alone. After all, it had opened back in March of 1995, over a year earlier. But it was the latest attraction, and the design is still pretty cool, even today.

The back features a dot matrix portrait of the passholder— and since they were now stored digitally, Disneyland could use the same image several years in a row. This particular visage greeted me on my passes through the year 2000. As you can see from the text, this was a Premium Annual Passport, meaning it was good 365 days a year, and included all discounts as well as parking. Passes started at $99, but this one set me back $220. (And worth every penny of it, as far as I am concerned.)

I was headed into the park hoping to see a new show that was opening, something about the latest Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. But there was already something new outside the main entrance gates: Anaheim Police on horseback. This turned out to be a short-lived phenomenon, but one that was quite popular at the time. Today, of course, it would be a lot more difficult to pull off, as much of this area is used to control foot traffic to and from the tram drop-off and into Downtown Disney. 

Note the clear view of the monorail crossing the parking lot on the left-hand side of the lower photo. That track is still in the same place today, but in the Disney California Adventure park. These days, the monorails there pass across the facade of Soarin’ Over California… Or America… Or the World.

Once inside, there were further distractions. Just beyond the Opera House, on the patio adjacent to the Disney Showcase, was a somewhat lonely-looking “step and repeat” backdrop. It was no more than a pair of 4×8 panels, with two logos repeated over and over again. But what, exactly, did they mean? And why was it just sitting out there in the corner of Town Square?

Regardless, I asked a passing cast member to take my photo. Maybe this would be significant one day…

The guide map for the day had a major change, as well, on the front cover. Previously, there had been promotions for the Toy Story Funhouse and the Farewell Season of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Now there was a colorful illustration beckoning one and all to the Hunchback of Notre Dame Festival of Fools. And again… whatever that was. You see, the movie had just opened, in fact, on the same day as the show. So no one quite knew what to expect.

Further, there was a bit of confusion over exactly how and where this show would play out. Look closely at that guidemap, and behold the amazing summer of entertainment that was Disneyland in 1996:
— The Lion King Celebration Parade performing daily on the parade route;

— The Main Street Electrical Parade performing nightly;

— The Spirit of Pocahontas Stage Show in the Fantasyland Theatre;
— Fantasmic! Nighttime Spectacular performing on the Rivers of America;

— and now, The Hunchback of Notre Dame Festival of Fools, performing in… Frontierland?

A look inside the guidemap revealed that the new show would be performing around the bend of the Big Thunder Trail, where the ranch and barbecue were located. These were gone, replaced by a new performance arena and a Festival of Foods, featuring turkey legs.

It is hard to describe this show in brief detail, so that will remain for another day. The staging, based on medieval pageant wagons, took place all around the audience and featured a merry troupe of jesters, mimes, heroes, villains, singers, and dancers, all under the direction of Clopin, the master of the revels. It would prove very popular and run through April of 1998.

And here is Clopin himself, looking more at home in the courtyard of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Since the film had just appeared in theaters, this was the first look many guests had at these characters.

Just outside the courtyard, on the walkway to Carnation Plaza Gardens, could be found this slightly frightening-looking fellow, Quasimodo. He tended to hide among the rocks and shrubs, although he was more than willing to pose for photos.

And who could resist an opportunity to meet Esmeralda, the fiery gypsy girl who dared stand up to the cruel Judge Frollo as she defended the helpless Quasimodo from the whipped-up anger of the crowd? I know I couldn’t, thirty years ago at Disneyland.