Retro Disneyland

[HootDad]

Hi all,

I debated whether to post this here or on the Disneyland board, and I decided to post it here as it was inspired by the DL podcast. I LOVED the segment with Nancy and Mary Jo about the Charles Phoenix presentation. I immediately signed up for his newsletter. I really hope he comes out to New York - I would love to see one of his lectures. Thanks to both of you for an awesome segment!

It got me thinking about my first experiences at Disneyland. My family moved to SoCal in the summer of 1967, and that same summer was my first trip to DL. There are some thing I remember very fondly from those days.

I do recall all the cool and funkey motels - though we never stayed at one (being locals). The Candy Cane, The Peter Pan, The Inn of Tomorrow and the Alpine. I also remember Bel Isle restaurant which server HUGE portions. We would go there and order one or two sandwiches and one or two orders of fries - plenty for six or eight people!

This would have been after they took out the mule ride and the stagecoach, but I do fondly recall the Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland, which pre-dated Big Thunder.

Tomorrowland was the first thing to change.On that first trip we went to the House of Tomorrow ("Look! A TV in the kitchen!") but I'm pretty sure it was gone before we went back. New Orleans Square was there, and I'm pretty sure Pirates was open on that first trip (if not it opened soon thereafter). The Haunted Mansion, however, was not open. There was nothing there but the mansion itself, teasing us with what was certain to be THE COOLEST RIDE EVER!

Fantasyland changed much later - I want to say 1981? In those early days there was the Chicken of the Sea Pirate ship that sold tuna sandwiches, and of course the very cool Skull Rock Cove. It was a tradition for me and my friend Kirk to get yelled at by security at least once every trip for climbing on Skull Rock. (shameless plug - stories on recent excursion with Kirk at my blog). Alice was also longer and Peter Pan was shorter.

Anyway - again, thanks Nancy and Mary Jo. Great segment.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thanks for the kind words.

I'm so glad I went to that talk. Charlie Phoenix has a wonderful way of speaking, and he certainly did his research before this talk. He has another one coming up in Long Beach, and since I'm local, I'm thinking of going to that one, too.

He showed so many pictures of things that I remember seeing in person, but haven't seen in photos. It also brought to mind when we used to go to America the Beautiful 360º theater. After the show, guests would go into this exhibit area (where they sell Buzz Lightyear stuff now), and I remember going in this tiny room with my parents and cousins, and calling their mom in Texas. She was amazed that she could hear all of us on this thing called a 'speaker phone.'

I do recommend going to one of his talks as they are very entertaining.

 

[HootDad]

Thanks for the kind words.

After the show, guests would go into this exhibit area (where they sell Buzz Lightyear stuff now), and I remember going in this tiny room with my parents and cousins, and calling their mom in Texas. She was amazed that she could hear all of us on this thing called a 'speaker phone.'

YES! That was a tradition for us as teens - we would all cram into one of those booths and call a friend who could not make it.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Thanks, John!

I'm a little late to the party to say thanks, but it certainly is heartfelt! I knew that this would be one lecture that many folks would enjoy. After all, nostalgia and memories is a big part of why many of us love the Disney Parks!

A big thanks to DIS Friends Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily, who let us know this was happening! MJ, her daughter, my husband, and I all had a fabulous time! A brief blog is going up (Tuesday? maybe?) to talk very briefly about our experience and show a couple photos - one of Charles and a couple retro ones from one of my fellow bloggers - just to give y'all an idea of the kinds of photos we saw!

Thanks for the wonderful comments and shared memories!!!!!

 

[sayhello]

Thanks for the kind words.

I'm so glad I went to that talk. Charlie Phoenix has a wonderful way of speaking, and he certainly did his research before this talk. He has another one coming up in Long Beach, and since I'm local, I'm thinking of going to that one, too.

He showed so many pictures of things that I remember seeing in person, but haven't seen in photos. It also brought to mind when we used to go to America the Beautiful 360º theater. After the show, guests would go into this exhibit area (where they sell Buzz Lightyear stuff now), and I remember going in this tiny room with my parents and cousins, and calling their mom in Texas. She was amazed that she could hear all of us on this thing called a 'speaker phone.'

I do recommend going to one of his talks as they are very entertaining.

OMG, Mary Jo! I remember those phone booths! It was such a cool thing. Everyone crams in, and then "Who do we call?"

Unfortunately, America the Beautiful always made me ill...

Sayhello

 

[PinkBudgie]

OMG, Mary Jo! I remember those phone booths! It was such a cool thing. Everyone crams in, and then "Who do we call?"

Unfortunately, America the Beautiful always made me ill...

Sayhello

I remember those phones too! I was just talking about them the other day. We always called my grandmother. That was part of what made Tomorrowland so cool. Adventures Thru Inner Space was my favorite ride.

Loved the segment and the blog! I wish I could have heard that talk! I love Disneyland history. Thanks!

We have a Disneyland Nostalgia thread over on the Disneyland boards with pictures people posted of "classic" Disneyland. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1988546