Old Disney Park photos

[feistygalkmc]

OH those MIckey Bars! I remember them. I am going to see if I can locate some of my old Disneyland pics. This is such a fun post.

 

[steffali]

Ok I had to comment...I had that same NKOTB shirt, that hat...and that haircut. I looked just like that back then.

I also get all teary seeing the photos of little kids in the late 70's and 80's...I wish so much I could have visited WDW when I was a child. I think that's where many of you got that "magic" you still carry around today. I'm so envious...

I am also surprised in the first few pages of the thread, the 70s photos in particular, how few kids there are in the parks!! My how things have changed.

Hey people NKOTB are making a comeback!!! I love them

 

[MyGoofy26]

I also get all teary seeing the photos of little kids in the late 70's and 80's...I wish so much I could have visited WDW when I was a child. I think that's where many of you got that "magic" you still carry around today. I'm so envious...

I started going to WDW when I was just a few months old. We went at least every year. At least. By the time I was in kindergarten, mom was planning the next trip and I uttered a phrase that has haunted me the rest of my life. "Mommy, do we HAVE to go back to Disney World?" I'll tell you this though, I've never said it since!!

I never took it for granted though. I knew I was extremely fortunate. Very few friends ever got to go. I used to love taking friends with us so I could introduce them to my "second home."

But I think growing up with regular visits really impacted me. It's so hard to explain. It makes sense in my head but it's very hard to put it into words. There is something different about WDW. I can go to other theme or amusement parks and have fun, but I never feel like I do at WDW. It truly feels like going home. So much of my childhood is benchmarked there. I can walk down Main Street and (unfortunately only in my mind's eye) vividly remember the picture we had to take in front of the flower carts every single trip. I remember my grandpap dragging us into Hall of Presidents every day we were in the MK so he could take a catnap in the back row. I remember riding Dumbo with grandma for the last ride of the night. I remember finally working up the courage to ride Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion, the latter I distinctly remember listening my way through because my hands were firmly glued to my eyes except a quick peek through fingers to see the ghost hitching a ride with us.

Even as the parks have grown, I feel like they've grown with me or me with them. As attractions were added or replaced, I can remember where I was in my life when they were new.

To a lot of people, it's corny and silly. But to me, and probably many people here, it makes sense. All I know is that I can't wait to have kids of my own and start all over.

 

[chrisgeraci]

I totally get it. When I tell my friends or family that I am going to either Disneyland or Walt Disney World the reply is always the same, "Again?" Like I am suppose to get tired of it? I really do believe there are two types of people; people like us who get what you are saying without having to articulate it and the rest of the world. I'll admit I do get tired of the crowds, but I have been spoiled. I first started going to DL and WDW in the early 90's when park attendance was at an all time low; then ten minutes seemed like a long wait for anything! Despite the ever growing crowds, something happens when I walk through the main gates of DL or MK. Its an overwhelming feeling of wonderment, awe, happiness, content, you really do leave the "real" world behind. It's what keeps us going back.

As for kids...I brought my son for the first time for his 4th birthday in 1994 and seeing the disbelief on his face, the smiles, the excitement, the joy I will never forget that. Since that time we have gone to one of the parks every year for his birthday. Last December we celebrated his 16th birthday in WDW. It was a very poignant moment for me. I have watched him grow up as a "Disney" kid.

Now I look forward to when I can take his kids (someday) to a Disney Park.

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

 

[jenseib]

Is that Alice? If it is I like her wavy hair. Now it stick straight! I think it is but I could be wrong! I know that's Mr. Walus.

My first thoguth too was, Since when does Alice have a perm?

 

[jenseib]

I'm hoping some of you reminiscers can help me out here. We came across these pics when we found the others. I know they're not Disney, so bear with me, hehe. I'm pretty sure they're all from Sea World (due to the ship and the stands) but the thing I'm standing on out front stumped us - we can't figure out what that is. Anyone remember Sea World looking like this in the early 80's?

From looking at picture number 3, I would say it's SeaWorld. I haven't ever been to the FL one that I know of, but we used to go to the OH all the time, and that is exactly how the stands looked for the shows.

 

[angey77]

My first thoguth too was, Since when does Alice have a perm?

If it was taken in the late 80s, early 90s, EVERYONE had a perm. hehe.

 

[Jozymouse]

I also have a picture with Alice from 1988 and she had real hair instead of a wig. You could tell she did her hair with a curling iron since she had very light waves in them. By the way, the full name of Grandma Duck is actually Elvira "Grandma Duck" Coot , but she is always referred to as Grandma Duck. I saw her once in a TV Walt Disney Easter parade in the early nineties. She was walking along with Gladstone Gander. I totally wish these characters would be available for meet&greet

 

[jenseib]

If it was taken in the late 80s, early 90s, EVERYONE had a perm. hehe.

Well I know that,( always had a perm too ) but if they are supposed to be in character, shouldn't they look like the character? LOL! I like the way Alice looks now. I think t hey got muchbetter with the costumes over the years.

 

[angey77]

Well I know that,( always had a perm too ) but if they are supposed to be in character, shouldn't they look like the character? LOL! I like the way Alice looks now. I think t hey got muchbetter with the costumes over the years.

I'm all about staying in character, but maybe she was taking a cue from the Big Cheese himself. Even us humans were not immune to bad fashion!

 

[cindyfan]

It looks like Alice's actual hair, rather than a wig.

That's right I think,
it was when the "face" characters still had their own hair and were not required to wear wigs. Now they have to wear the wigs so you aren't supposed to tell them apart.
But kids are smarter than Disney gives them credit for.

 

[guitarob]

Greatest... Thread... Ever... I just went through all 84 pages. Maybe I should work now...

Keep 'em coming!!! I'll have to talk to my father and see if I can't get my hands on photos of our earlier trips back in the late 70's early 80's!

Meanwhile...

 

[WeatherbySwann]

By the way, the full name of Grandma Duck is actually Elvira "Grandma Duck" Coot , but she is always referred to as Grandma Duck. I saw her once in a TV Walt Disney Easter parade in the early nineties. She was walking along with Gladstone Gander. I totally wish these characters would be available for meet&greet

Wow, I didn't know Gladstone was a ever a character in the parks!

 

[Scoobmuzic]

I am pretty sure this was in Inniventions but it was 1999.

My DH (always willing to try anything) He sat there reading the lines on the prompter and was talking to Jay Leno (I think!!) on the screen. Brave Man!!

 

[DisGal520]

Speaking of Alice - do any of you have pictures you could post of ALICE @ WDW in 2001??


Also Elfins from the 2001 parades??





DisGal

 

[WeatherbySwann]

Also Elfins from the 2001 parades??

What are Elfins?

 

[brack]

I am pretty sure this was in Inniventions but it was 1999.

My DH (always willing to try anything) He sat there reading the lines on the prompter and was talking to Jay Leno (I think!!) on the screen. Brave Man!!

Actually this was at the Studios . It's the theater next to the Sound Stage. They would pick people to appear as if they were on one of several TV shows. This one was the Johnny Carson show. I got picked for this one once.

 

[DisGal520]

What are Elfins?

They were multicolored fairy elf characters in the Tapestry of Dreams or Tapestry of Nations parade held in Epcot in 2000 - 2001. I believe I saw them on floats as well as walking in the parade.


DisGal

 

[Scoobmuzic]

Actually this was at the Studios . It's the theater next to the Sound Stage. They would pick people to appear as if they were on one of several TV shows. This one was the Johnny Carson show. I got picked for this one once.

Thanks brack!! I had a feeling I was not remembering quite right