Help a SoCal native....

[draybook]

I'm a HUGE Disneyland fan. The only problem is that I haven't been there since 1992, as we moved away after 1991 and I could only go out to visit once in 1992. I've been reading all about the park now and it saddens me that they got rid of so many rides from my past. Skyway, Country Bear Jamboree, Swiss Family Treehouse, Mission to Mars, Peoplemover(which I loved for the Tron part) and the Submarine Voyage to name some.

Now, I plan on taking my family out to SoCal next summer(08), and we will probably be out there again for my daughters cheerleading finals, or at least I hope so. I only plan on taking them to DL, since I have no interest in DCA and my kids aren't huge fans of thrill rides either. However, I will be buying the SoCal pass thing so we can also visit the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld, since once again I haven't seen them since 1992.

My basic request is this, for older pictures of DL that anyone might have. I would also like to see or receive pictures of older SeaWorld and SDZ, as well as other pics of the beaches and the LA area. I guess I'm having my mid life crisis early, because I've really been homesick lately. I used to go to DL at least 5 times a year when I was young, since my grandparent's lived 8 blocks south in Santa Ana, so my aunt took me there a lot.

Thanks to anyone that might be willing to help me out. To those who live near DL or work there, be sure to be grateful of having the opportunity. I'm currently stuck in Mississippi, just across the state line from Memphis, and I'd give almost anything to be back in SoCal. If anyone wants to send pics to my email, it's draybook@yahoo.com. Again, thanks to anyone who wants to help me out and I look forward to being out there next year. I already told my wife she's going to have to fight with me to get me on the plane to leave California.

 

[arliepooh68]

Hey I totally know how you feel. . we moved away for a few years and when we returned the parking lot was gone! then we went in and the skybuckets were gone!!! the last time I was on tom's island it wasn't nearly as fun as when we were younger, I was hoping my kids would have a blast on the island like me and my brother did, but they were bored. . . the bridge in the water was closed, all the fun things on the island were closed, so it was pretty boring for them . .. but my saddest day was later in the day we went and watched the country bears, and for whatever reason I videotaped the show, having seen it hundreds of time something told me to video it that day. . . at the end of the show they informed us it would be closing and would be no more. . . I love pooh and all, but I wish they would bring back the bears!

 

[HydroGuy]

If you will be spending more than a day at DLR, I would encourage you to reconsider DCA. There is more the DCA than thrill rides, and it gets a bum rap IMO. There are some good rides and great shows at DCA.

 

[draybook]

Well, we will most likely be spending 3 days at DLR, so we might actually swing into DCA. Plus, since I know it will probably be another 10 years before I get to come back, I want to soak in as much SoCal as I can.

 

[HydroGuy]

Well, we will most likely be spending 3 days at DLR, so we might actually swing into DCA. Plus, since I know it will probably be another 10 years before I get to come back, I want to soak in as much SoCal as I can.

Three days is plenty to experience both DL and DCA. The best way to experience them is to hop back and forth and not dedicate entire days to either park.

Here are some fun things at DCA (especially fun if you are not a WDW vet and do not like thrill rides)

Soarin Over California - ABSOLUTE MUST - Disney imagineering at its best
Turtle Talk With Crush
Grizzley River Run (think Splash Mtn - a mild thrill ride)
Animation Studios in general
Monsters Inc
Its Tough To Be A Bug
Aladdin Show
Block Party Bash (likely yo be gone by 2008 though)
In 2008 new ride Midway Mania

 

[Judy from Boise]

You need to visit Werner Weiss's Yesterland site. It is fabulous. Just google it.I (another native from Ventura County) started to go to DL in the early 60's....went at least annually my whole life, then moved away in 1991 also. Luckily for me we adore Boise......but we go to Disney every year.I think DLR is better than ever.

 

[ArielAdventurer]

I would encourage you to go to go DCA..It is worth the time to go...

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I'd suggest going over to www.youtube.com and search for the old rides. Last night my son and I were doing that. We watched America Sings, the old Submarine Voyage, Country Bears, People Mover (showed the Tron section even) and of course a lot that is still there. Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion. It was fun, and got us excited for our trip next month. It was also nice to show my son EXACTLY what those rides were like in "my day".

I also recommend that you guys check out DCA on your trip. There are a lot of attractions that are worth it!

 

[mystic_path]

I also recommend that you guys check out DCA on your trip. There are a lot of attractions that are worth it!

I totally agree with this, even if it only to check out the should not miss Aladdin show, the animation studio (Which also has turtle talk with crush), a bugs life 3D which is by far the best 3d show in my opinion, as well as the Muppets 3D show.

 

[dizneyfreakz]

I will post some of my old 90s pics up soon.

 

[mikayla73]

You sound like my DH. He grew up in So Cal and misses it terribly. For now we are land locked in Misery (oh I mean Missouri). We are moving to AZ next month and are extremely excited about it. I was born and raised here, but when DH took me to So Cal ... I loved it!!

We were actually watching America Sings on you tube last night! That is a great place to search for the older rides and get to see them again. Some of the videos there are pretty good.

I agree with the others, make sure to give DCA a chance. I think it is a fun park and I wasn't sure why it gets such a bad rap either. Of course I like thrill rides, but it is more than that

 

[draybook]

I think I've run out of videos to find on YouTube. I've been watching videos of Disney on there for the last 3 months. I loved the PeopleMover one and I hope they bring it back like I've heard they might. That Paul Pressler guy and that other exec need to be taken outside and pummeled with whiffle ball bats after what they did to DL.

I probably won't enjoy some of DCA just because I'm not into a lot of coaster rides. I have a slight case of asthma, plus i get motion sickness a little in certain situations. I can ride things like BTM with little problem, but SM would make me heave. Kind of like how I can fly in a plane all day long, but when I rode in the Blackhawk when I was enlisted, it took all my might not to throw up.

Thanks for the suggestions.