Disney Nostalgia Pictures

[Sherry E]

Since we are on vintage characters, here is one of me, I think summer of 1976, but can't remember. I think I'm 6. I'm the one with short hair in the lower right corner. The only time I ever had short hair in my life and I hated it! I also spilled orange juice on my sweater that morning at breakfast, so it was wet and annoying.

Anyway, as you can see everyone just went up to characters and all the parents took pictures at the same time.

So cute! I vaguely remember DL had some Bicentennial Mickey merchandise in 1976. Do you remember that, Budgie? Yep, your photo reminds me of what ToonTown is like now - a free-for-all to get a character picture. The character picture-taking process has improved a lot these days, thanks to CM's who often provide some order and assemblance to the whole thing. More people are willing to wait their turn now. But in the '70s, spotting a character in DL was like spotting Brangelina walking down Rodeo Drive today, and people rushed over to whoever it was like they were not going to get another chance in their lives to snap Goofy and Donald in a photo, and they would jump into anyone's picture!!

That same sort of mob scene of unruly guests was also on display on my last day at DL in December 2008, when I got my Dream Fast Pass. The poor Dream Squad was pushed up against the Castle walls, held prisoner by a mob of people shoving their hands in the Dream Squad's faces to make sure that all 64 people in their respective parites got the Dream Fast passes! I stood there patiently and waited as various women my age and older stuck out their palms over my head, in front of my face and under my arm to try to get a Fast Pass from the trapped Dream Squad, who were doling them out as fast as they could. I waited for them to hand ME a pass. I wasn't sticking my hand in thier faces or anyone else's.....nor do I go jumping into anyone else's character photos because, heaven forbid, I may never see Goofy again at Disneyland!!

 

[Sherry E]

By the way, speaking of character evolution over the years.....I have always wondered (for 18 years now!!) if I was just imagining this. Can someone tell me if the Mickey and Donald in these two pictures below (from 1991) look smaller than usual?? One of my friends in these photos - the one with the short, dark hair - is not a tall guy at all, so I was comparing his height to that of Mickey (he is taller than Mickey in this case), and Mickey seems shorter to me than he normally would be. And Donald seems really little! But I could be totally hallucinating! Still, I am not the only one who thought they seemed small. I even recall another one of my female friends saying, "Oh, it's a baby version of Mickey and Donald," when they came out to take pictures.

 

[PinkBudgie]

They do look sort of little. Look at the Donald in mine. I was trying to see if he looks about the same size. That donald is only a little big taller than that boy next to him. Also interesting to look at the material on the two Donalds. The later one is shiny.

I have a Mickey Mouse picture of my boys from the late '90s. They were just barely tall enough to ride all the rides (forget how tall that is) and come to bottom of his head.

And yes, I do remember some bicentennial stuff at that time. I think the electrical parade was changed a little. Like they added an eagle or something.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Since we are on vintage characters, here is one of me, I think summer of 1976, but can't remember. I think I'm 6. I'm the one with short hair in the lower right corner. The only time I ever had short hair in my life and I hated it! I also spilled orange juice on my sweater that morning at breakfast, so it was wet and annoying.

Anyway, as you can see everyone just went up to characters and all the parents took pictures at the same time.

Okay, how is it that you were at DL in 1976? I would have been almost 1 and I know I didn't go until I was 5. Did I stay with Grandma or something? Why is this the first I'm hearing about this? Maybe it was a family secret and I wasn't supposed to know that you guys went off to DL without me! By the way, nice hair.

 

[Sherry E]

They do look sort of little. Look at the Donald in mine. I was trying to see if he looks about the same size. That donald is only a little big taller than that boy next to him. Also interesting to look at the material on the two Donalds. The later one is shiny.

I have a Mickey Mouse picture of my boys from the late '90s. They were just barely tall enough to ride all the rides (forget how tall that is) and come to bottom of his head.

And yes, I do remember some bicentennial stuff at that time. I think the electrical parade was changed a little. Like they added an eagle or something.

That's funny. The older Donalds (like in your picture) had more of a velour-looking ensemble (or something dull and lacking oomph) and the 1991 version wore a jazzy, shiny little number! I hadn't even noticed that until you pointed it out, Budgie!! And yours doesn't appear very tall, but he may be slightly taller than mine, who seems teeny! I wonder why they had shorter versions in addition to the regular sizes of characters back in the early '90s. This puzzles me. They don't have the wee ones now. I remember they would be waddling around over in the Plaza area, like where the Opera House is. If I recall, on the same trip where the Lilliputian Donald and Mickey were out and my friend made the comment about the "baby versions" of them, we also saw some 'regular-sized' Mickeys and Donalds and I said, "They are taller, right, or am I going crazy?" And she agreed that these other ones were normally-sized but the first ones were the tiny images of Mickey and Donald, as though the regular Mickey and Donald had gone through the looking glass and were shrunk on the other side!!

I think you're right - I think they did add something patriotic or Bicentennial-esque to the Electrical Parade. I only have a vague recollection of seeing some 1976 Mickey stuff sold in the parks. And then in 1984, when we hosted the Summer Olympics in L.A., Disney also did some stuff with the Olympic Mascot (Sam the Eagle) and put him on some pins and things. I think the people behind designing cloisonne pins for Disney were also responsible for designing the 1984 Olympics Sam the Eagle pins.

 

[Sherry E]

Okay, how is it that you were at DL in 1976? I would have been almost 1 and I know I didn't go until I was 5. Did I stay with Grandma or something? Why is this the first I'm hearing about this? Maybe it was a family secret and I wasn't supposed to know that you guys went off to DL without me! By the way, nice hair.

You guys are too funny! The secret Disneyland trip of 1976 has been revealed!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Oops! Did I let that slip? Actually, we were all trying to remember what year that was. Maybe it was 75 and you were there after all, just not born yet. I forgot what year I got my hair cut. I do remember a bicentennial parade though...

It would be interesting to have a series of pictures of one character like Mickey and see how he changes through the years.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Oops! Did I let that slip? Actually, we were all trying to remember what year that was. Maybe it was 75 and you were there after all, just not born yet. I forgot what year I got my hair cut. I do remember a bicentennial parade though...

It would be interesting to have a series of pictures of one character like Mickey and see how he changes through the years.

Maybe DL did the bicentennial stuff for a year and started it on July 4, 1975 or sometime during that summer so they could show it for 2 summers and get more use out of it. If that's the case, then I guess I was at DL but I wouldn't have been able to see much of it.

 

[Diznygrl]

I just wanted to point out that I remember having the same sweatshirt your friend on the left is wearing, only it was the Minnie Mouse version! Man, I used to love that thing, but I wouldn't be caught DEAD wearing it now! I think it went almost down to my knees and I thought I looked super cool wearing it with black stretch pants!

Thanks for the memory.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Now that you mention it, I remember those sweatshirts too! I think I had one, but can't remember what was on it.

Last night I was reading the Disneyland Encylcopedia and they had a list of parades. It was, in fact, 1975 when they had "America on Parade". That book is great!

 

[Sherry E]

I just wanted to point out that I remember having the same sweatshirt your friend on the left is wearing, only it was the Minnie Mouse version! Man, I used to love that thing, but I wouldn't be caught DEAD wearing it now! I think it went almost down to my knees and I thought I looked super cool wearing it with black stretch pants!

Thanks for the memory.

That white sweatshirt had the 'rear view' of Minnie (or Mickey) on the back, didn't it? I thought I had a rear view Mickey t-shirt somewhere but I may be imagining it. Maybe I was thinking of my friend's sweatshirt and assumed I had a similar thing. I still occasionally see some Mickey/Minnie shirts with a 'rear view' here and there at DLR but not as often as I did back then, in the early to mid-'90s. And they could be older shirts that are no longer sold, but people are still wearing. They were really popular back then, as were the basic black Mickey t-shirts that had one colorful graphic on the front. The basic black t-shirt with Mickey on the front is oddly becoming extinct. So many of the shirts these days are multi-colored or have different colored sleeves, or they only come in brown or white or gray or anything but black. I used to have a bunch of basic black shirts with Mickey in different poses on the front, and it is hard to find those now. However, I did find one in World of Disney back in October last year so I grabbed it. But when I went back in December to see if I could find it again and maybe even get an 'extra' one, they were all gone!

 

[bonofreak]

This is my DS in April 1984, my DD has her back to the camera. (Isn't it awful how we dressed our children back then? Those shorts really ARE short!! )

But I love the way my son is looking at Pinnochio's shoes!

 

[bonofreak]

Another of my DS with Pinnochio, this one I wanted to show how he was holding back the other kids from getting in the picture! What's funny about that is, that is my niece who was trying to get in there! My DD is standing there, very politely waiting (Of course! ) And my EX sister- in-law is behind them, I'm not quite sure if she was trying to keep her daughter back or help her to get IN the picture!

 

[bonofreak]

By the way, speaking of character evolution over the years.....I have always wondered (for 18 years now!!) if I was just imagining this. Can someone tell me if the Mickey and Donald in these two pictures below (from 1991) look smaller than usual?? One of my friends in these photos - the one with the short, dark hair - is not a tall guy at all, so I was comparing his height to that of Mickey (he is taller than Mickey in this case), and Mickey seems shorter to me than he normally would be. And Donald seems really little! But I could be totally hallucinating! Still, I am not the only one who thought they seemed small. I even recall another one of my female friends saying, "Oh, it's a baby version of Mickey and Donald," when they came out to take pictures.

If you go to the first page of this thread, the first picture I posted of the parade in I think 1964 it was; that Mickey Mouse was a Wee Little Guy, too! I think I even have some pictures of the Wee Little Donald Duck too, when my kids were little. It is a mystery as to why they had some teeny ones! To make the kids not feel scared or intimidated? I don't know!

 

[bonofreak]

Here he is, a shiney-shirted, Wee Donald Duck in 1985 with my DD!

 

[Sherry E]

This is my DS in April 1984, my DD has her back to the camera. (Isn't it awful how we dressed our children back then? Those shorts really ARE short!! )

But I love the way my son is looking at Pinnochio's shoes!

Pinocchio's shoes do look extra huge! I can see why your son is intrigued by them! Pinocchio was out and about in the parks a lot back in '83-'85, because the Pinoocchio ride had just opened ad part of the new Fantasyland. Other than the character meals where he may appear these days, you don't see him just wandering around too much anymore.

Another of my DS with Pinnochio, this one I wanted to show how he was holding back the other kids from getting in the picture! What's funny about that is, that is my niece who was trying to get in there! My DD is standing there, very politely waiting (Of course! ) And my EX sister- in-law is behind them, I'm not quite sure if she was trying to keep her daughter back or help her to get IN the picture!

I wish all the characters (in ToonTown) would hold back other people from getting in a picture that is not theirs. It's called WAIT YOUR TURN! Oh well, at least there are a few good 'people wranglers' here and there who managed to control the chaos a little bit so that we can all get pictures without strangers in them!

If you go to the first page of this thread, the first picture I posted of the parade in I think 1964 it was; that Mickey Mouse was a Wee Little Guy, too! I think I even have some pictures of the Wee Little Donald Duck too, when my kids were little. It is a mystery as to why they had some teeny ones! To make the kids not feel scared or intimidated? I don't know!

He IS Wee! At first glance, when you don't really study that picture of Mickey in the parade, you don't notice his size so much. But as soon as you mentioned it and I went back to look at the picture and Mickey's size in comparison to the people in the parade, I realized he was, indeed, wee! You must be right about the reason for the peewee versions of Donald and Mickey. I can't think of any logical reason for having normal-sized versions and miniature versions other than to make the kids more compfortable and less intimidated. I think you hit the nail on the head there. But, clearly, because of budget cuts or whatever, the mini characters have apparently been pink-slipped! I haven't seen any minis in years, so unless I have missed them I think they are gone. I can accept the Lilliputian Donald and Mickey, but it would start looking a little too bizarre if they had, like, mini versions of the Beast or the Genie or Jafar, Sully, Cruella or Baloo! I would think I entered some sort of Bizarro World when I walked onto Main Street.

Here he is, a shiney-shirted, Wee Donald Duck in 1985 with my DD!

Oh my goodness - he IS teeny! And he is wearing the shiny, jazzy Vegas Donald shirt! This one you got looks even smaller than the one in my picture, and I knew that one was small (especially in person). Thank the heavens that I was not imagining how small Donald and Mickey were. I was beginning to think I had lost my mind on that trip in 1991, but I am relieved to see confirmation of the diminutive doppelgangers for Mickey and Donald!!

 

[Diznygrl]

That white sweatshirt had the 'rear view' of Minnie (or Mickey) on the back, didn't it? I thought I had a rear view Mickey t-shirt somewhere but I may be imagining it.

Why yes, as a matter of fact it DID have a rear view of Minnie on the back.

This is my DS in April 1984, my DD has her back to the camera. (Isn't it awful how we dressed our children back then? Those shorts really ARE short!! )

But I love the way my son is looking at Pinnochio's shoes!

HA! A few weeks ago in another thread about first memories of Disneyland, I said that all I really remember from my first trip was riding around in an old uncomfortable metal stroller. It looked exactly like the one in this pic, fringe on the canopy and all! Hehe, I guess it's a silly thing to point out, but it gave me a giggle!

 

[PinkBudgie]

HA! A few weeks ago in another thread about first memories of Disneyland, I said that all I really remember from my first trip was riding around in an old uncomfortable metal stroller. It looked exactly like the one in this pic, fringe on the canopy and all! Hehe, I guess it's a silly thing to point out, but it gave me a giggle!

Ok, the fact that you noticed the stroller too is very strange. I was going to say that picture from 84 sure has an old looking stroller in it. I would have been in high school then and I was just amazed at how old the stroller looked. I don't FEEL like '84 was the olden days!

I remember my sweatshirt now. It was long and I wore it with leggings and it was Mickey Mouse standing by a brick wall. I think it said Mickey down the side too.

I love these pictures because there is so much in each of them beyond the first glance!

 

[Diznygrl]

Ok, the fact that you noticed the stroller too is very strange. I was going to say that picture from 84 sure has an old looking stroller in it. I would have been in high school then and I was just amazed at how old the stroller looked. I don't FEEL like '84 was the olden days!

I remember my sweatshirt now. It was long and I wore it with leggings and it was Mickey Mouse standing by a brick wall. I think it said Mickey down the side too.

I love these pictures because there is so much in each of them beyond the first glance!

LOL, yep. Sorry to say that the strollers really DID look that ancient! It's hard for me to believe too, and I was only 3 in '84!

 

[fairycat]

That white sweatshirt had the 'rear view' of Minnie (or Mickey) on the back, didn't it? I thought I had a rear view Mickey t-shirt somewhere but I may be imagining it. Maybe I was thinking of my friend's sweatshirt and assumed I had a similar thing. I still occasionally see some Mickey/Minnie shirts with a 'rear view' here and there at DLR but not as often as I did back then, in the early to mid-'90s. And they could be older shirts that are no longer sold, but people are still wearing. They were really popular back then, as were the basic black Mickey t-shirts that had one colorful graphic on the front. The basic black t-shirt with Mickey on the front is oddly becoming extinct. So many of the shirts these days are multi-colored or have different colored sleeves, or they only come in brown or white or gray or anything but black. I used to have a bunch of basic black shirts with Mickey in different poses on the front, and it is hard to find those now. However, I did find one in World of Disney back in October last year so I grabbed it. But when I went back in December to see if I could find it again and maybe even get an 'extra' one, they were all gone!

That shirt was insanely popular since my sister and I both had the Minnie one too!! With the front and back view of your favorite mouse. It's funny how many of us had that shirt.

Now I need to bug my Mom and Grandmother they have some great old pictures of us at Disneyland. Including us with the very short Donald haha!