Blast from the past remembrance

[soaringirl]

Hope someone helps me remember... My first visit was almost 30 years ago, back in 1981. I remember that we stayed right in front of the park since we went walking, and there was a mini golf between the hotel and the parks, which we enjoyed. But we did somewhere transbord the monorail to the park, since I remember that being the highlight of both trips (the other was in '82).
It was july, but only Space Mountain had a long line (1 hour!) and I'm almost sure that Haunted Mansion had a long line too but not as long.
Second trip it was the Disneyland hotel?? I'm almost sure my parents were happy because we were going to stay inside the park or something like that, there was a plaza near it were we ate.
My mother remembers fondly of Anaheim, as a beautiful little town that had nothing to do with L.A., and I keep remembering it like that as well.. well, now I know it's a suburb and not a town per se, but I'm just curious as how is Anaheim now...

 

[jlmarr]

There used to be two miniature golf courses around DL - one near DLH about where the DTD parking lot is now, and the other on Harbor Blvd at Disney Way. I'm guessing you were near the first one...

 

[nunzia]

I still have our scorecard from one of those places from the 60's! I do think the monorail used to pick up right at the DLH..didn't it? I remember we stayed there once (how my parents much have splurged..we usually stayed at the Saga Inn..no longer there, but I remember its logo was a knight on a horse) and I distinctly remember...I think..boarding the monorail right there..with my ticket book in my sweaty little hand.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I do think the monorail used to pick up right at the DLH..didn't it? ...and I distinctly remember...I think..boarding the monorail right there..with my ticket book in my sweaty little hand.

Yes, it did.

You used to be able to ride the monorail without park admission.

If you were going to or from the Park, you could ride the monorail and enter DL through Tomorrowland. However, if you didn't have Park admission, you could pay to ride the monorail round trip. If I remember right, only certain doors opened when the monorail arrived at DL.

We used to go to the Dancing Waters show at the DLH and ride the monorail round-trip for a nice evening outing.

- Dreams

 

[DizMe]

I do think the monorail used to pick up right at the DLH..didn't it? I remember we stayed there once (how my parents much have splurged..we usually stayed at the Saga Inn..no longer there, but I remember its logo was a knight on a horse) and I distinctly remember...I think..boarding the monorail right there..with my ticket book in my sweaty little hand.

The funny thing is that the monorail has not moved! The hotel has just changed. The towers are in the same place but much of the old hotel grounds are now DTD. Do you remember the whole 2-level shopping area with shops, cafes, coffee house, etc? That was around the monorail area. There was also a swimming pool and some little convenience places as well as a couple of building areas that had additional hotel rooms (one had Japanese gardens around it and the other was kind of like a motel). All of that is gone now and has been replaced with streets & DTD, so it makes it seem like the monorail is a lot farther from the DLH lobby than it used to be when in actuality both are in exactly the same spots as before.

 

[momtoprincess A]

The first time we went to Disneyland was in '76 and again in '79. We stayed in a campsite that was right beside Disneyland. Across the street from us was the (if I remember right) strawberry fields.
We use to walk a block or so to a train caboose that had $.99 breakfast.

 

[nunzia]

The funny thing is that the monorail has not moved! The hotel has just changed. The towers are in the same place but much of the old hotel grounds are now DTD. Do you remember the whole 2-level shopping area with shops, cafes, coffee house, etc? That was around the monorail area. There was also a swimming pool and some little convenience places as well as a couple of building areas that had additional hotel rooms (one had Japanese gardens around it and the other was kind of like a motel). All of that is gone now and has been replaced with streets & DTD, so it makes it seem like the monorail is a lot farther from the DLH lobby than it used to be when in actuality both are in exactly the same spots as before.

Oh Yea!! They were like the Garden Rooms or something..very pretty area...back when I stayed at the DLH I don't think you had to pay admission..but maybe you did? and then you bought the ticket books for the rides? I still have a few, but of course all the E tickets are missing

 

[MamaLou]

In 1996 we stayed at a Travel Lodge that was just down the street from the DLH. We could walk up the street a little ways and hop on the Monorail to get to the park. The Travel Lodge is, of course, gone now...as is the neat little cafe, Vern's - it had lots of movie memorabelia and was so convenient to grab a quick meal before heading into the park.

 

[soaringirl]

Wow!! so many remembrances!!! Thank you very much for sharing!

 

[spacemermaid]

Did someone say "blast to the past"?!?

My family would stay at Stovall's (or, if Stovall's was booked, Stovall's Space Age Inn, a few door down) when it still looked like this:

for our trips to the Park when I was little.

Does anyone else remember the Chinese restaurant, Chao's, across the street from the Park's main entrance? We used to get the 99cent breakfast there (they had "American style" breakfast) before going to Disneyland in the morning. Sometimes, we'd have dinner there too...I remember the place had really cool decorations, carved wooden dragons, beaded curtains, and a little garden outside with a fish pond & stone lanterns. Now, the place is an IHOP...

 

[thmar]

My first visit was in 1958 when I was 5 years. Many things have changed, but the magic and wonder are still there!! I love that place!!

 

[darph nader]

Did someone say "blast to the past"?!?

My family would stay at Stovall's (or, if Stovall's was booked, Stovall's Space Age Inn, a few door down) when it still looked like this:

for our trips to the Park when I was little.

Does anyone else remember the Chinese restaurant, Chao's, across the street from the Park's main entrance? We used to get the 99cent breakfast there (they had "American style" breakfast) before going to Disneyland in the morning. Sometimes, we'd have dinner there too...I remember the place had really cool decorations, carved wooden dragons, beaded curtains, and a little garden outside with a fish pond & stone lanterns. Now, the place is an IHOP...

Used to love Chao's. Good breakfast at a decent price,and at the end of the day I would hang out at the lounge and shoot the breeze with the bartender. Even had an ashtray follow me home one time. We keep it with our collection of Disney stuff.

 

[spacemermaid]

Used to love Chao's. Good breakfast at a decent price,and at the end of the day I would hang out at the lounge and shoot the breeze with the bartender. Even had an ashtray follow me home one time. We keep it with our collection of Disney stuff.

That is so cool! Wish I'd thought to have a "souvenir" "follow me home"!