My cousin who is 79 was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She remembers her parents taking her to Disneyland on opening day in 1955. As an 11 year old girl she was so impressed and still talks about it to this day.
That’s amazing, I can see why. I’m 64 and my fondest memories are going to Disneyland in the late 60s and all through the 70s. I consider this Disney’s golden golden era.😊
My family went on a 3 week road trip from Ohio to California and back in the last two weeks of July and first week of August of 1969. We stopped at places like Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone, but i was 12 and my sister 8, so we were focusing on our 3 day stop in Los Angeles for 2 whole days at Disneyland and one at Sea World. It was my highlight to be sure, but i have wonderful memories of the other stops as well. My favorite rides were the Adventure Through Innerspace, The Tiki Room, the mule ride and Indian Village, The Pirates of the Carribean, the Matterhorn, and the Flight to the Moon ( the moon landing was scheduled just a few weeks later)...the ride we went on most was It's a Small World, because it was my mom's favorite and we had to keep her happy to get on the rides we loved. Lol The attraction that we all loved (except my 8 yr old sister) was Great Moments with Mr Lincoln) The only disappointment was that we were just a couple weeks shy of the opening of the Haunted Mansion, which I wouldn't ride until I went to Disney World in Florida on my honeymoon there in 1977. Watching this video was like looking at family home movies and pictures from that wonderful trip so long ago. Disney today is not like the Disney parks of yesteryear....back then we saw all the details, today you have to be on your phone to avoid 3 hr long wait lines. If people are staring at their phones all day, why provide details or keep everything spotless??? It isnt just nostalgia talking...the parks just aren't as wonderful as they were in the 60's-80's. They were affordable and wonderful.
This one of the best, most detailed Disneyland documentaries I have seen, and I've seen many of the Disney-Produced Docs. The rare, home-movie type clips of those years and the well-written script gave this an elevated quality. Thank you for this :)
Born near Disneyland in 56 , went my whole life, our local playground. Loved it and really miss easy fun days there, no need for an app or scheduling rides , just ran around carefree having the time of my life
We might know each other! Was born in1957 and lived about 2 miles from the park, around Lincoln and Harbor. Anaheim was different then, a good place to come of age.
@@kendallevans4079 It was different in the best ways, we were free as birds back then, running around in those sunny golden days. Went to Estancia High. Retired to Vegas and loving it but home and the beach are just a short drive away. Nice to meet you Cali girl!, Thanks for your reply
These are the exact years that I went to Disneyland every year while we lived in CA. In 1965 I was at the park for the parade and fireworks celebrating the 10th anniversary. As we stood watching the parade, a large car pulled up close to us and out of it came an older man with thining gray hair. It was Walt Disney. I remember all of these things, and have home movies of it all. The place was absolutely immaculate. Not a gum wrapper in sight.
I was pretty little in the 60's, but I remember riding horses at Disneyland. Whatever people want to think, the Native American tribe representatives were a great educational opportunity to respect for their culture. I remember how exciting Tom Sawyers island was.
It was a truly amazing and magical time to watch Disneyland grow add so many new attractions. I’m 68 years and have had the opportunity to see so many changes.
While my Dad visited once or twice in the late 60's, we as a family, visited primarily in the 80's and early 90's. A lot of the older attractions were still there. The one thing I miss most is the parking lot. Basically the tram ride would be your first actual "ride". And seeing the Matterhorn in the distance built up anticipation which was really strong by the time you crossed the gate. One of the things that made Disneyland great was that the Grandparents, parents, and children, could all ride together, at the same time, on most of the rides. No one had to split up, or wait on the side lines while others finished their ride.
Walt regretted not having more land. Even though the park was big by 1960's standards, he had the foresight to see it wouldn't be enough in the future. That's how the idea of grabbing the plentiful open swamp land in Florida that most developers thought couldn't be built on.
I went as a child 1969. It was so fun. I couldn't believe how clean it was. It was a place where you went dressed up nice pants and dress shirt for brother and dress for me. The matterhorn ride was so fast. I loved all the flowers. It was busy but not overly so. I really enjoyed the hall of presidents,( I didn't know it wasn't the actual presidents voices) Frontier land was fun, but really liked the rides like Dumbo and haunted house. It was fun to see my dad acting like a kid himself . Good memories.
I'm most sad to see how Frontierland has changed! It's still my favorite land, but i had no idea it was so vast and imaginative. I also think it's so cool they had real Indian tribal groups performing! It's too bad they removed that. Some of these elements seemed more educational and well rounded. I alao get a kick knowing Pirates and Haunted Mansion were going to be walk throughs... the mansion walk through would have been unique and cool! It's great to see how Disney's original vision was to immerse us in times and experiences of the world, not just about the movies and characters. And Skull Rock and the pirate ship?! Too bad that's gone. Seeing the giant rocket ships and people mover also bring back lots of good memories from the 80's. Great doc, thanks!
B & R in central California and was able to go Disneyland once a year. I first drank Mt. Dew on Tom Sawyer island. Loved the GE Carousel of Progress (it was free no ticket required) I am now 65 y/o and have not been to Disneyland since 1978 when we still used the coupons. i still have a “D” coupon framed and hanging on my kitchen wall and the value on the coupon says 60 cents…..lol. Thank you for posting these memories
What a fantastic documentary, enhanced with home movie footage from the 1960s! It's fantastic to see how people dressed (appropriately) in this bygone era. It would be great to add The Tahitian Terrace dinner show, and the Golden Horseshoe Revue. Sadly, both of those shows are long gone, as Disney doesn't like to pay for live performers when audio animatronic robots are cheaper to use.
I wish that were true. I would LOVE to see more animatronics! Any local theater can do live performances. If you want Disney you can go see Disney on Ice or one of the many stage adaptations of Diseny movies.
Memories. I was born 10 miles and 6 weeks before Disneyland. I always know it’s age😉. This actually pinpointed my first visit by some of your mentioning ride closures. 5 years old was my first memories.
I always try to imagine what it was like for people to go there back then. As a child, we would watch commercials on TV and they were black and white - but it was another 20 years before I got there and by then, the world was all very much in colour. I just wonder what my little black and white girl would have experienced to get there and see it all in living colour.
We called Voyage thru Inner Space, The Monsanto Ride, and towards the end of its life it was free, not a C ticket any longer. Pretty interesting doc there friend.
Back when Disneyland was worth going to. In fact, it was amazing in those days, even with the coupon books that limited what rides you went on. And no two-hour lines.
Disneyland had the first video phone. I loved the submarine and the microscope ride. I also like the storyland ride that went through the whales mouth.
I moved to america in the 70s I remember Disneyland being the best place on earth as a 11 year old boy the jungle ride scared me to death.the good Ole days.
I loved your documentary, but I believe your height of the T-Rex in the Primeval World diorama is a bit exaggerated. The back wall (mural) of the diorama is only 34 feet tall. My great uncle was a friend of Del Yoakum who painted the Grand Canyon mural in the late 1950s. They were both in the same painter's union. Disney was a master of forced perspective as was Yoakum-making small things appear much larger. Disneyland's Main Street facade was built with that same premise. 44 feet would've exceeded the total height of the 3 story building the diorama is housed in. Actual estimates based upon archaeological skeletal specimens put T-Rex at between 12-16 feet in height. I wouldn't put the Disney model any taller than 20-22 feet tall.
I remember when you went in you used to pay and get a book of tickets, they were marked ABCD and E the E tickets were for the good rides and I think they only gave us four of those
Good old days! My favorite years were the late 80's and early 90s. Once People Mover was replaced, and Skyway gone. Something was missing. So easy to make Disneyland as great as it was in the the past. NEW LEADERSHIP, is all it takes.
I was born in 1970, so this is HISTORY for me. First visit was in 1976, that I remember. I had my 6 year Birthday party on Tom Sowyer Island. Offical Disneyland event....
Born in Anaheim in 1957. Grew up about 2 miles away where we could see the 9pm summer fireworks every night. Back then just entrance was $2, no A-E ride coupons. We would go often and just walk around. Later as teens, go to look at girls. We were always broke. Saw things change over the years, more rules because more problems. No same sex dancing until around the late 70's. People eventually ruin everything, including the happiest place on earth.
Disneyland was so great back then . I was born and raised about 20 miles from it. We went a lot. They had ticket books A,B,C,D, E. Es were the best rides. I still have a book with some tickets in it. Shame what it has become.
I was one of the "lucky" thousands that attended that hot Opening Day in July 1955..... when the newly laid asphalt was still sticky, and lines were so long you were "lucky" to get in 4 or 5 rides that day. But it was WONDERFUL!! Would I go back to "WokeLand" today? Hell No!
@@CPAndy-x5x Oh believe me, Disney is missing me and tens of thousands of others who no longer spend money at the "Magic Kingdom." Angry? No, just a realist.
My cousin who is 79 was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She remembers her parents taking her to Disneyland on opening day in 1955. As an 11 year old girl she was so impressed and still talks about it to this day.
How cool
Does your cousin still visit the park to this day?
That’s amazing, I can see why. I’m 64 and my fondest memories are going to Disneyland in the late 60s and all through the 70s. I consider this Disney’s golden golden era.😊
My family went on a 3 week road trip from Ohio to California and back in the last two weeks of July and first week of August of 1969. We stopped at places like Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone, but i was 12 and my sister 8, so we were focusing on our 3 day stop in Los Angeles for 2 whole days at Disneyland and one at Sea World. It was my highlight to be sure, but i have wonderful memories of the other stops as well. My favorite rides were the Adventure Through Innerspace, The Tiki Room, the mule ride and Indian Village, The Pirates of the Carribean, the Matterhorn, and the Flight to the Moon ( the moon landing was scheduled just a few weeks later)...the ride we went on most was It's a Small World, because it was my mom's favorite and we had to keep her happy to get on the rides we loved. Lol The attraction that we all loved (except my 8 yr old sister) was Great Moments with Mr Lincoln) The only disappointment was that we were just a couple weeks shy of the opening of the Haunted Mansion, which I wouldn't ride until I went to Disney World in Florida on my honeymoon there in 1977. Watching this video was like looking at family home movies and pictures from that wonderful trip so long ago. Disney today is not like the Disney parks of yesteryear....back then we saw all the details, today you have to be on your phone to avoid 3 hr long wait lines. If people are staring at their phones all day, why provide details or keep everything spotless??? It isnt just nostalgia talking...the parks just aren't as wonderful as they were in the 60's-80's. They were affordable and wonderful.
Life was so simple. Wish I could be alive back then. It was beautiful
I agree with you there. I would have loved being alive during that time period as well.
It was, trust me...I was there. People respected each other and still had manners and civilities.
This one of the best, most detailed Disneyland documentaries I have seen, and I've seen many of the Disney-Produced Docs. The rare, home-movie type clips of those years and the well-written script gave this an elevated quality. Thank you for this :)
Born near Disneyland in 56 , went my whole life, our local playground. Loved it and really miss easy fun days there, no need for an app or scheduling rides , just ran around carefree having the time of my life
The way it should be today if it weren't for all the damn crowds!
We might know each other! Was born in1957 and lived about 2 miles from the park, around Lincoln and Harbor. Anaheim was different then, a good place to come of age.
@@kendallevans4079 It was different in the best ways, we were free as birds back then, running around in those sunny golden days. Went to Estancia High. Retired to Vegas and loving it but home and the beach are just a short drive away. Nice to meet you Cali girl!, Thanks for your reply
i grew up in Anaheim and even met Walt Disney when he was building Disneyland. This brings back a lot of forgotten memories.
Wow, that's freaking amazing!! Can you elaborate?
These are the exact years that I went to Disneyland every year while we lived in CA. In 1965 I was at the park for the parade and fireworks celebrating the 10th anniversary. As we stood watching the parade, a large car pulled up close to us and out of it came an older man with thining gray hair. It was Walt Disney. I remember all of these things, and have home movies of it all. The place was absolutely immaculate. Not a gum wrapper in sight.
Thanks for sharing that awesome story!
I visited Disneyland as a child in 1964 and again in 1967. Fabulous memories. Thanks so much for this video.
You're welcome.
I was pretty little in the 60's, but I remember riding horses at Disneyland. Whatever people want to think, the Native American tribe representatives were a great educational opportunity to respect for their culture. I remember how exciting Tom Sawyers island was.
It was a truly amazing and magical time to watch Disneyland grow add so many new attractions. I’m 68 years and have had the opportunity to see so many changes.
While my Dad visited once or twice in the late 60's, we as a family, visited primarily in the 80's and early 90's. A lot of the older attractions were still there. The one thing I miss most is the parking lot. Basically the tram ride would be your first actual "ride". And seeing the Matterhorn in the distance built up anticipation which was really strong by the time you crossed the gate. One of the things that made Disneyland great was that the Grandparents, parents, and children, could all ride together, at the same time, on most of the rides. No one had to split up, or wait on the side lines while others finished their ride.
Walt regretted not having more land. Even though the park was big by 1960's standards, he had the foresight to see it wouldn't be enough in the future. That's how the idea of grabbing the plentiful open swamp land in Florida that most developers thought couldn't be built on.
I went as a child 1969. It was so fun. I couldn't believe how clean it was. It was a place where you went dressed up nice pants and dress shirt for brother and dress for me. The matterhorn ride was so fast. I loved all the flowers. It was busy but not overly so. I really enjoyed the hall of presidents,( I didn't know it wasn't the actual presidents voices) Frontier land was fun, but really liked the rides like Dumbo and haunted house. It was fun to see my dad acting like a kid himself . Good memories.
This was awesome!!! Thank you sooo much!!!
You're very welcome!
I reimber all of this and more..Also Tinker Bell zipping down from the Castle..Thanks to my Dad in the past for sharing All..And your video .
Sweet memories of a great time. Thank you.
I'm most sad to see how Frontierland has changed! It's still my favorite land, but i had no idea it was so vast and imaginative. I also think it's so cool they had real Indian tribal groups performing! It's too bad they removed that. Some of these elements seemed more educational and well rounded.
I alao get a kick knowing Pirates and Haunted Mansion were going to be walk throughs... the mansion walk through would have been unique and cool! It's great to see how Disney's original vision was to immerse us in times and experiences of the world, not just about the movies and characters. And Skull Rock and the pirate ship?! Too bad that's gone. Seeing the giant rocket ships and people mover also bring back lots of good memories from the 80's. Great doc, thanks!
Hey, thanks for watching! 😎
Thank you for the great home movie footage of vintage Disneyland. 😊
B & R in central California and was able to go Disneyland once a year. I first drank Mt. Dew on Tom Sawyer island. Loved the GE Carousel of Progress (it was free no ticket required) I am now 65 y/o and have not been to Disneyland since 1978 when we still used the coupons. i still have a “D” coupon framed and hanging on my kitchen wall and the value on the coupon says 60 cents…..lol. Thank you for posting these memories
You're most welcome!
What a fantastic documentary, enhanced with home movie footage from the 1960s! It's fantastic to see how people dressed (appropriately) in this bygone era. It would be great to add The Tahitian Terrace dinner show, and the Golden Horseshoe Revue. Sadly, both of those shows are long gone, as Disney doesn't like to pay for live performers when audio animatronic robots are cheaper to use.
😂😂
I wish that were true. I would LOVE to see more animatronics! Any local theater can do live performances. If you want Disney you can go see Disney on Ice or one of the many stage adaptations of Diseny movies.
Memories. I was born 10 miles and 6 weeks before Disneyland. I always know it’s age😉. This actually pinpointed my first visit by some of your mentioning ride closures. 5 years old was my first memories.
I always try to imagine what it was like for people to go there back then. As a child, we would watch commercials on TV and they were black and white - but it was another 20 years before I got there and by then, the world was all very much in colour. I just wonder what my little black and white girl would have experienced to get there and see it all in living colour.
We called Voyage thru Inner Space, The Monsanto Ride, and towards the end of its life it was free, not a C ticket any longer. Pretty interesting doc there friend.
I remember the mule ride and stage coach. They were fun.
Back when Disneyland was worth going to. In fact, it was amazing in those days, even with the coupon books that limited what rides you went on. And no two-hour lines.
Golden age Disneyland was over when they tore down Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland for a rollercoaster
As an LA native, Disney will always be Land, not World.🙂
Fabulous. Station wagons in the parking lot, that’s for sure. ;). Loving these vintage inside baseball videos. Thanks.
I was born in Orange, CA in 1961 and grew up in Disneyland. It was great whenever someone would visit it was another trip to Disneyland
Disneyland had the first video phone. I loved the submarine and the microscope ride. I also like the storyland ride that went through the whales mouth.
Yeah, Adventures Thru Inner Space was one of the best rides!
The Monsanto House of the future was open through December 1967, and was demolished in 1968. I saw it in the summer of 1967.
I moved to america in the 70s I remember Disneyland being the best place on earth as a 11 year old boy the jungle ride scared me to death.the good Ole days.
wow, nice documentary
I would have loved to have seen Nature's Wonderland and Tomorrowland 1967.
Same here!
1955 opening - both Annette Funicello and Marlo Thomas were there. (See Disney Vault DVD series.)
Woow I loved it 😊
The Sunkist Citrus House lasted until 1989 on Main St.
I loved your documentary, but I believe your height of the T-Rex in the Primeval World diorama is a bit exaggerated. The back wall (mural) of the diorama is only 34 feet tall. My great uncle was a friend of Del Yoakum who painted the Grand Canyon mural in the late 1950s. They were both in the same painter's union. Disney was a master of forced perspective as was Yoakum-making small things appear much larger. Disneyland's Main Street facade was built with that same premise. 44 feet would've exceeded the total height of the 3 story building the diorama is housed in. Actual estimates based upon archaeological skeletal specimens put T-Rex at between 12-16 feet in height. I wouldn't put the Disney model any taller than 20-22 feet tall.
Bring back People Movers.
We can hope so.
I remember when you went in you used to pay and get a book of tickets, they were marked ABCD and E the E tickets were for the good rides and I think they only gave us four of those
Frontierland sounds like it used to be much cooler back then.
Lots of great footage here, but if you do future documentaries I suggest you learn correct pronunciations (such as Tangaroa).
great
Good old days! My favorite years were the late 80's and early 90s. Once People Mover was replaced, and Skyway gone. Something was missing. So easy to make Disneyland as great as it was in the the past. NEW LEADERSHIP, is all it takes.
I was born in 1970, so this is HISTORY for me. First visit was in 1976, that I remember. I had my 6 year Birthday party on Tom Sowyer Island. Offical Disneyland event....
walter cronkite knows
Born in Anaheim in 1957. Grew up about 2 miles away where we could see the 9pm summer fireworks every night. Back then just entrance was $2, no A-E ride coupons. We would go often and just walk around. Later as teens, go to look at girls. We were always broke.
Saw things change over the years, more rules because more problems. No same sex dancing until around the late 70's. People eventually ruin everything, including the happiest place on earth.
Disneyland was so great back then . I was born and raised about 20 miles from it. We went a lot. They had ticket books A,B,C,D, E. Es were the best rides. I still have a book with some tickets in it. Shame what it has become.
I had my 29th birthday at club 33 in 1989
Back when it wasn’t 100% about making money.
True dat homie.
Wish i could back there
where a documentry from 1980s?
I don't have that one.
The magic land is no longer magic.
It’s Autopia, not “auto topia” 42:37
The tree house opened in 1962 not 1964
I was one of the "lucky" thousands that attended that hot Opening Day in July 1955..... when the newly laid asphalt was still sticky, and lines were so long you were "lucky" to get in 4 or 5 rides that day. But it was WONDERFUL!! Would I go back to "WokeLand" today? Hell No!
Amazing story, thanks for sharing!
You won't be missed. Disney doesn't want angry people there.
@@CPAndy-x5x Oh believe me, Disney is missing me and tens of thousands of others who no longer spend money at the "Magic Kingdom." Angry? No, just a realist.
Makes me sad to see what’s happened to Walt’s dream.
Sad to see how far Disney has fallen.