Classic / Historic Must-Dos

[Mike_M]

Don’t think I saw this in the thread, but even though there are plenty of food items that are based on his favorites, the only image I have in my head of Walt eating is popcorn.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

There are some great books about Walt & Disneyland you can read prior to your trip to enhance your trivia knowledge and maybe pick up some extra historic/classic things to look for! I liked Walt Disney: An American Original, Travels with Walt Disney, and Disneyland: Inside Story.

 

[Peachy0118]

Don’t think I saw this in the thread, but even though there are plenty of food items that are based on his favorites, the only image I have in my head of Walt eating is popcorn.
View attachment 548062

This is a great image! Thank you!

 

[Peachy0118]

Thanks everyone so much! I've been to Disneyland a few times and am just trying to create a "classic" itinerary. (We also have a "thrilling" itinerary for DH... hahaha.) These ideas are fantastic! And thank you so much for the book suggestions. I read a lot and these are great additions to my TBR lists...

 

[Peachy0118]

There are some great books about Walt & Disneyland you can read prior to your trip to enhance your trivia knowledge and maybe pick up some extra historic/classic things to look for! I liked Walt Disney: An American Original, Travels with Walt Disney, and Disneyland: Inside Story.

Thank you so much for the suggestions. As a huge book nerd / Disney nerd this is perfect!

I am having trouble finding Disneyland: Inside Story
Do you happen to know the author?

Sorry to bother you and thank you again!

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

Thank you so much for the suggestions. As a huge book nerd / Disney nerd this is perfect!

I am having trouble finding Disneyland: Inside Story
Do you happen to know the author?

Sorry to bother you and thank you again!

Sure! Here’s all of the authors in case others are interested too:

Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas
Travels with Walt Disney by Jeff Kurtti
Disneyland: Inside Story by Randy Bright

I read all 3 via inter-library loan, I think they can be a little expensive if you are buying them.

 

[Peachy0118]

Sure! Here’s all of the authors in case others are interested too:

Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas
Travels with Walt Disney by Jeff Kurtti
Disneyland: Inside Story by Randy Bright

I read all 3 via inter-library loan, I think they can be a little expensive if you are buying them.

Thanks so much! The others I found... just no luck with the one. I'll try another venue.

 

[Guy in Fargo]

I think you need to 'get' the beauty of disneyland.

It's not one ride, restaurant, experience. It's that you're literally emersed in a place to entertain.

The architecture, the cast, the music, it's all of it.

It's the little things that you may be seeing for the first time on your 15th visit.

It's your memories, while part of a collective experience, that put it over the top.

My recommendation is at any given time at any place (except maybe not the restroom) to just take a deep breath and realize what a beautiful place disneyland is, and how lucky you are to have this moment.

 

[Mike_M]

I think you need to 'get' the beauty of disneyland.

It's not one ride, restaurant, experience. It's that you're literally emersed in a place to entertain.

The architecture, the cast, the music, it's all of it.

It's the little things that you may be seeing for the first time on your 15th visit.

It's your memories, while part of a collective experience, that put it over the top.

My recommendation is at any given time at any place (except maybe not the restroom) to just take a deep breath and realize what a beautiful place disneyland is, and how lucky you are to have this moment.

I see your point there, and for the most part agree.

If this was someone’s only or first trip, yeah, enjoy the whole place as much as possible as a singular experience. I think it’s difficult for most who have gone multiple times to not feel that way automatically as soon as we walk through the tunnel onto Main St.

But a pilgrimage to seek out the details that Walt personally approved, or had some involvement in creating, sounds like a fun change of pace and a unique theme for a trip.

 

[Epicnemesis]

I think you need to 'get' the beauty of disneyland.

It's not one ride, restaurant, experience. It's that you're literally emersed in a place to entertain.

The architecture, the cast, the music, it's all of it.

It's the little things that you may be seeing for the first time on your 15th visit.

It's your memories, while part of a collective experience, that put it over the top.

My recommendation is at any given time at any place (except maybe not the restroom) to just take a deep breath and realize what a beautiful place disneyland is, and how lucky you are to have this moment.

This is what I tell people when they say they hate Disneyland because of the lines/crowds.

It might also be a mentality only enjoyed by pass holders. Disneyland is at its best when you let it drive your day. If you try to make it conform to you it’s going to be a frustrating day. If I bought a day ticket you bet your butt I have rides I would HAVE to hit.

 

[Mike_M]

...It might also be a mentality only enjoyed by pass holders. Disneyland is at its best when you let it drive your day. If you try to make it conform to you it’s going to be a frustrating day. If I bought a day ticket you bet your butt I have rides I would HAVE to hit.

It’s not just AP holders.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been going there for 40 years (wow that feels weird to write down...), but having gone with the flow for most of those trips, it’s just second nature anymore.

This thread reminds me that I have yet to experience the Walk through Walt’s steps tour which I hope to do once things get back to normal. Spending a day focused on Walt’s touches would be a different, but fun change of pace.

 

[Guy in Fargo]

To each their own, but my plans for disneyland went straight out the window when my four year old daughter wanted to go straight to the castle on her first visit (didn't she know that we were supposed to cut hard left into Adventureland to ride the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean before there were any lines!). I've been living it through their eyes ever since.

We've had trips (which are usually five days in length) where we didn't do some of our favorite things. But have still had the most magical of times (we spent most of that trip on the carousel).

 

[Peachy0118]

To each their own, but my plans for disneyland went straight out the window when my four year old daughter wanted to go straight to the castle on her first visit (didn't she know that we were supposed to cut hard left into Adventureland to ride the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean before there were any lines!). I've been living it through their eyes ever since.

We've had trips (which are usually five days in length) where we didn't do some of our favorite things. But have still had the most magical of times (we spent most of that trip on the carousel).

That's very sweet. I'm sure that would change opinions of course (though I am with your daughter... castle please!). Lol

We don't have any small children with us, and the plans are also for people who are traveling just adults. But that is so sweet to share! Love the image of a little one pulling you along to the castle! Hehe

 

[disneycat321]

No one's mentioned it yet, but I'd add Casey Jr. to the list. We are two adults with no kids and just rode it for the first time in 2019 after years of Disneyland trips. We'd always assumed it was just a little kids' ride, but we loved it! It's quintessential classic DLR Fantasyland. We loved the views of Fantasyland it provides, and it just feels like a classic. Plus, according to that Touring Plans list, it opened just 2 weeks after opening day in 1955.

 

[Peachy0118]

No one's mentioned it yet, but I'd add Casey Jr. to the list. We are two adults with no kids and just rode it for the first time in 2019 after years of Disneyland trips. We'd always assumed it was just a little kids' ride, but we loved it! It's quintessential classic DLR Fantasyland. We loved the views of Fantasyland it provides, and it just feels like a classic. Plus, according to that Touring Plans list, it opened just 2 weeks after opening day in 1955.

Yup it was one of the things that didn't quite make opening day, so a cool classic one. Thanks for the add to my list!

 

[amyamya]

No one's mentioned it yet, but I'd add Casey Jr. to the list. We are two adults with no kids and just rode it for the first time in 2019 after years of Disneyland trips. We'd always assumed it was just a little kids' ride, but we loved it! It's quintessential classic DLR Fantasyland. We loved the views of Fantasyland it provides, and it just feels like a classic. Plus, according to that Touring Plans list, it opened just 2 weeks after opening day in 1955.

Try a ride a night in the backwards facing caboose! One of my favorites!

 

[MrJT]

Specifically, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad and Snow White

A little late to the party here, but I thought that I heard/read that Snow White was going to either go away or be totally revamped.

 

[Peachy0118]

A little late to the party here, but I thought that I heard/read that Snow White was going to either go away or be totally revamped.

It has gotten a revamp

 

[MrJT]

It has gotten a revamp

Gotcha. I haven't really followed park news over the past year. I don't even want to fantasy plan my next trip to either resort until I can go without a mask.

 

[JC1984]

Here is my opinion and my opinion only:
Pirates: Walt worked on it and IMO blows WDW pirates out of the water (no pun intended). It feels a lot less rushed than the WDW Pirates.
Mr. Toad's: Opening day attraction and obviously hasn't been replaced but I wouldn't put it past the money making machine of Disney.
Matterhorn: Enough Said...
Mr. Lincoln: Not the most exciting attraction but a classic none the rest.
(I will probably be read the riot act for this) Small World: The ORIGINAL and again blows the WDW version out of the water.

I love DLR for it's own reason granted after working there and visiting too many times a little of the magic has faded for me over the year but I appreciate the ORIGINALITY behind it and the fact it was the only one Walt actually walked through.