Riding the Skyway multiple times. Ditto the teacups (can't take it anymore at my age!)
... the pirate ship run by Starkist. Wasn't really a ride, just a counter service restaurant serving tuna sandwiches inside the ship.
... and the ticket books! A,B,C,D,E. And the booths in the park where you could buy books of extra tickets, which could be used for any ride, so of course you saved them for the E-ticket rides!
Ah, yes! I remember those too. My first visit was in 1956 when I was 5. Park had been open just about a year. My dad took me. That became a yearly ritual in the summer and I looked forward to that one special day eagerly (I lived in northern Cal at that time). I can't say that I really remember anything from that very first trip, being only 5 years old. But that started a life-long love of all things Disney. I have very clear memories of the drive from the Long Beach area down Katella through miles and miles of orange groves. And we would keep watching out the window to try to be the first one to spot the Rocket Ship to the Moon, which was the tallest landmark in the park in those days before the Matterhorn.
I remember that pirate ship very clearly. That was such a treat. The skyway was so cool. And even more so when they built the Matterhorn and the skyway went through it. I think you can still see remnants of the loading area in Tomorrowland above the bathrooms at the north side of the Starwars Launch Bay, which was originally the Carousel of Progress.
In the early years (don't know when this disappeared) they had a demonstration circle where they would fly model airplanes on control lines. The circle was right where the People Mover loading area is at. They would often have 2 guys out there at the same time, each flying 2 planes (one with each hand) and they would be doing lots of aerobatic tricks with those 4 planes all at the same time. Those guys were good. It started my love of flying model planes. I may have even bought a trainer there in Disneyland if I'm remembering correctly. That area later became the Astro Orbiter. Then they built the People Mover and relocated the Astro Orbiter on top of it. Wow, now we were really flying high! Of course, they eventually moved the Astro Orbiter to its present position at the entrance of Tomorrowland
Later when I was attending college at Long Beach (around 1970), I began to go on a frequent basis. At the time I think you could buy just an entrance ticket without the A-E tickets. That way I could go in an evening and just soak up the atmosphere, doing the "free" stuff that did not require a ticket. Or I could purchase the book of just E tickets, which is what you wanted anyway. (Wish I had saved some of those left-over A B and C tickets that you always seemed to have.)
In 1971 I met my wife while working at a theme park (Magic Mountain). That job was the coolest time, Was in a band that played in the evenings and we could come and go at that park anytime we wanted. It was like our own personal park because that first year they were not crowded. Then came marriage and family (2 daughters). Of course, we took them to Disneyland very early in their lives. I remember a time when my youngest was about 3 and we were walking through Fantasyland and the Big Bad Wolf was walking through the area. She was TERRIFIED and went screaming and running away from us. A chase ensued and we got her calmed down. The girls both still have a great love for Disney.
We don't get to go as often anymore, but its still one of my favorite places on earth. Will be in WDW in 3 weeks (haven't been there for about 8 years). Looking forward to getting back to the original later on.
