Flashback Friday - Walt Disney World 1992

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY! 

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, I didn't get to go to Walt Disney World as a youth. My playground was Walt's original Magic Kingdom - Disneyland.  But when I turned 21 I did get to visit Walt Disney World, and have been back many times since then.  

Here's a look at the entrance to Space Mountain and the Tomorrowland Station of the Skyway in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom from October 1992.  Sadly the Skyway closed in 1999, but Space Mountain lives on!   Check out the part of the sign with the rocket ship flying downward.  

Flashback Friday - Disneyland 1993

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY! 

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was a popular destination for our family.  Sometimes we were there just the four of us, other times with extended family members.  Oftentimes my brother and I would get to go for school or church incentives, or as awards for a successful sports season with the teams we played on.  Trips with friends, or friends families were often the case as well, and as we became teenagers, the park was a popular destination to hang out.

  

Here's a look at The Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square in 1993.  At that time the Pet Cemetery was brand-new, having recently been added to the queue area in front of the Mansion.  For years Cast Members had enjoyed the sight of this little creative touch in a back-stage area of the park not readily visible to guests - though sharp, eagle-eyed guests could spot it if turning their heads to the left immediately upon exiting the attraction, but finally the Imagineers decided to relocate it for all guests to be able to see and enjoy it.  Similar to the Disneyland version, a Pet Cemetery later appeared at the Walt Disney World version of the famed attraction in the '90s.  

Flashback Friday - Disneyland 1978

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY! 

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was a popular destination for our family.  Sometimes we were there just the four of us, other times with extended family members.  Oftentimes my brother and I would get to go for school or church incentives, or as awards for a successful sports season with the teams we played on.  Trips with friends, or friends' families were often the case as well, and as we became teenagers, the park was a popular destination to hang out.

  

Here's a look at Tomorrowland from April 1978.  The shot itself is a bit blurry, but it's of Sam the Eagle, host of America Sings, an all-audio animatronics show celebrating America's music, which originally opened in 1974 in honor of America's upcoming Bicentennial in 1976.  The show occupied the space originally designed and built for the Carousel of Progress which opened at Disneyland in 1967, and closed in 1973 to be shipped east to Walt Disney World.  Just as COP did, the audience revolved around a series of stages, with each section celebrating a different era in American music, with the eagle and owl seen here popping up in each sequence to tell the story of the various musical styles.  Never meant to be a long-term attraction, since the Bicentennial celebration was only meant to last from 1975 - 1977, the show closed permanently in 1988.  (I was in the last performance as the carousel spun around for it's final performance).  Prior to the closing in 1988, a few geese were stripped of their skin and found a new home in the all-new Disneyland classic Star Tours, when it opened in early 1987.  When the show was dismantled, many of the audio animatronics found new life in the Disneyland classic, Splash Mountain over in the all-new Critter Country (replacing Bear Country) in 1988 as a cost-savings measure.  Thanks the smashing success of both Star Tours and Splash Mountain at Disneyland, a whole slew of new animatronics in the same style had to be created when both Star Tours opened at Walt Disney World's Disney-MGM Studios in 1989 and Splash Mountain was added to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland in 1992.  

Flashback Friday - Walt Disney World 1992

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY! 

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, I didn't get to go to Walt Disney World as a youth. My playground was Walt's original Magic Kingdom - Disneyland.  But when I turned 21 I did get to visit Walt Disney World, and have been back many times since then.  

  

Here's a look at Main Street U.S.A. in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom from my visit to Florida in October 1992.  Here we see the original Center Street section on the west side of Main Street.  This section was once a vibrant little part of the park, with the Harmony Barbershop located at the back of this little side street.  Today it's all just part of the Emporium, as this street section was closed in as part of the Emporium back in the late '90's to increase the retail space available. Today the barbershop is located in Town Square instead, near the Fire Station. 

Flashback Friday - Disneyland 1976

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY! 

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was a popular destination for our family.  Sometimes we were there just the four of us, other times with extended family members.  Oftentimes my brother and I would get to go for school or church incentives, or as awards for a successful sports season with the teams we played on.  Trips with friends, or friends families were often the case as well, and as we became teenagers, the park was a popular destination to hang out.

Here's a look at the banks of the Rivers of America in Frontierland from October 1976.  The Indian Village still stands in the same spot today, but has been enlarged and enhanced a few times since this photo was first taken.  It is a charming addition to the ride around the river via both the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Sailing Ship Columbia. 

Flashback Friday - Disneyland 1980

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY! 

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was a popular destination for our family.  Sometimes we were there just the four of us, other times with extended family members.  Oftentimes my brother and I would get to go for school or church incentives, or as awards for a successful sports season with the teams we played on.  Trips with friends, or friends families were often the case as well, and as we became teenagers, the park was a popular destination to hang out.

Here's a look at the Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland in June 1980.  This opening day attraction was once located directly behind the King Arthur Carousel, in front of the Fantasyland Theatre.  With the 1982-83 remodel, bringing about "New Fantasyland", the tea cups were moved to the north and east opposite the Alice in Wonderland attraction. 

Flashback Friday - Disneyland 1966

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY!  

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was a popular destination for our family.  Sometimes we were there just the four of us, other times with extended family members.  Oftentimes my brother and I would get to go for school or church incentives, or as awards for a successful sports season with the teams we played on.  Trips with friends, or friends families were often the case as well, and as we became teenagers, the park was a popular destination to hang out. 

Here's a look at Fantasyland in May 1966.  Standing in front of the Chicken of the Sea Restaurant is my grandmother (with light blue sweater on her shoulders) and my great-grandparents who were visiting CA from their home in Norway.  My mother and aunt were about to graduate from high school, and so they came over for an extended 2 month stay.  While in Southern California they also got to experience the San Diego Zoo, Knott's Berry Farm, Descanso Gardens, the Huntington Library and Gardens and many other local area attractions.  But Disneyland was definitely a favorite!  Sadly the "Chicken of the Sea" sailed off to "Yesterland" with the 1982-83 total redo of Fantasyland bringing about "New Fantasyland", but the memories of that fun little "Peter Pan" inspired restaurant lives on in old photos such as this one. 

Flashback Friday - Monorail to Disneyland Hotel

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY! 

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was a popular destination for our family.  Sometimes we were there just the four of us, other times with extended family members.  Oftentimes my brother and I would get to go for school or church incentives, or as awards for a successful sports season with the teams we played on.  Trips with friends, or friends families were often the case as well, and as we became teenagers, the park was a popular destination to hang out. 

Since moving to the midwest, I don't have the good fortune to get to visit my favorite place as often as I would like to any longer, but every chance I get I'm there and have a GREAT time.  My personal library of Disneyland photos numbers in the tens of thousands, but the vast majority of those are from my own adulthood, not my childhood, and certainly not before I was born.  But I definitely enjoy seeing all of the old photos of Disneyland - especially from the days when Walt Disney was alive.  

I snapped this picture of a picture at the Disneyland Hotel on my last visit to the Disneyland Resort in 2012.  It shows the Monorail arriving at the Disneyland Hotel station which opened in 1960 when the Monorail line (which opened in 1959) was extended across West Street (now known as Disneyland Drive) from the park to the hotel.  The extension took great care and required special permission from the city and county as it took the Monorail out over a working public street - Disney's innovative thinking and push for progess at work!  The station,  was the first link for hotel guests to get directly to the theme park, and provided transportation directly into the park via the Tomorrowland Station.  Other options included taking the courtesy tram or simply walking across the street and through Disneyland's parking lot. 

Flashback Friday - Country Bear Jamboree Christmas Show

As we turn back time on this Flashback Friday, we take a glimpse at the seasonal overlay for the classic bruin show - the Country Bear Jamboree Christmas Show.  This special seasonal overlay appeared at both the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland, bringing a bit of holiday cheer to update and refresh an old standby every December.  

Flashback Friday - Downtown Disney a la Disney Village Marketplace

As we turn back time on this Flashback Friday, we take a glimpse at the entrance to Downtown Disney - or what was known in 1991 as the Disney Village Marketplace. 

Flashback Friday - Disney-MGM Studios 1991

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was the only Magic Kingdom that I knew as a kid.  It was, of course, the ONLY Magic Kingdom when my parents were kids.  My dad was almost a teenager when the park opened, becoming one just a couple of months later, and my mother was still in single-digits at the time.  Walt Disney World and all of the other Disney Destinations were still decades in the future when they were young.  


As a youth, I didn't get to go to Walt Disney World until I was 21, but have certainly enjoyed many, many visits there ever since.  Here we take a look back at that first trip to Walt Disney World, with a view of Disney-MGM Studios, as it was then known, (now Disney's Hollywood Studios) at the beautiful recreation of the famous Grauman's Chinese Theater - the home of The Great Movie Ride -  which once was the view all visitors to the park encountered at the end of Hollywood Boulevard.  Sadly this view was blocked in 2004 or 2005 when the Sorcerer's Hat was constructed directly in front of it.  The theater itself is a faithful, full-scale recreation of the famous Hollywood landmark.  As a kid I enjoyed going to it for numerous films with friends.  Here I am standing in front, basically where the front of the hat stands today. 

Flashback Friday - Disneyland 1958

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was the only Magic Kingdom that I knew as a kid.  It was, of course, the ONLY Magic Kingdom when my parents were kids.  My dad was almost a teenager when the park opened, becoming one just a couple of months later, and my mother was still in single digits at the time.  Walt Disney World and all of the other Disney Destinations were still decades in the future when they were young.  


As young girls, my grandparents treated their twin daughters - my mother and aunt (who are the young ladies in today's flashback photo) - treated them to a day at Disneyland each year for their birthday.  Previously we've looked at them on one of those trips in about 1957, here they are once again in 1958, this time standing on the bridge in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Flashback Friday - Disneyland 1980

Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was a popular destination for our family.  Sometimes we were there just the four of us, other times with extended family members.  Oftentimes my brother and I would get to go for school or church incentives, or as awards for a successful sports season with the teams we played on.  Trips with friends, or friends families were often the case as well, and as we became teenagers, the park was a popular destination to hang out.  


Here's a look back at July 1980, when Disneyland celebrated its 25th anniversary.  Here Mickey, Donald, Goofy & Pluto ride atop a parade float, traversing the parade route from Main Street, U.S.A. north past the Matterhorn Bobsleds (in the photo) up towards It's a Small World.  

Flashback Friday - Disneyland 1976

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY!  


Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was a popular destination for our family.  Sometimes we were there just the four of us, other times with extended family members.  Oftentimes my brother and I would get to go for school or church incentives, or as awards for a successful sports season with the teams we played on.  Trips with friends, or friends families were often the case as well, and as we became teenagers, the park was a popular destination to hang out.  


Here's a look at July 1976 of my brother and I with Gideon, from Pinocchio.  Back in the day when there were more characters to be seen than the Princesses, the Fab Five, Pooh & Friends and a handful of Pixar favorites.  I miss those days because there were a lot more characters in the parks, and you were able to capture moments like this, with them just out and about working their way through the parks, instead of in a structured setting where you have to wait in a line for who knows who long just to have a moment with the character and get his/her autograph.  I realize the way that they do it now is designed to be "fairer" and give people a chance to see them, but gone are the impromptu moments like this where mom and dad tell their kids to run over and say hi to so and so and then snap a picture. 

Flashback Friday - Disneyland 1957

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY!  


Time to go back in time thanks to fun old family photos of days gone by.  Growing up in Southern California, Disneyland was the only Magic Kingdom that I knew as a kid.  It was, of course, the ONLY Magic Kingdom when my parents were kids.  My dad was almost a teenager when the park opened, becoming one just a couple of months later, and my mother was still in single-digits at the time.  Walt Disney World and all of the other Disney Destinations were still decades in the future when they were young.  


As a youth, I didn't get to go to Walt Disney World until I was 21, but have certainly enjoyed many, many visits there ever since.  But I remember not even knowing that Walt Disney World even existed until the early 1980's, when a friend of mine in Jr. High School made a trek to Florida to visit family for a family reunion.  When she got back, she regaled me with stories of the "other Disneyland".  I had no clue what she was talking about, and had to find out.  Soon enough I knew that there was indeed another Magic Kingdom out there, and even a second park called Epcot Center under construction.  With glee I watched the grand opening broadcast on television for Epcot and was enthralled.  I also learned about the then-under construction new Disneyland for Japan.  And again I was enthralled.  "MY" playground was expanding into other "neighborhoods" not just in another state, but then another country, around the world!  How cool was that!  


As the years went on, I remember trying so hard to convince my dad that we needed to make a trip to Florida to experience the "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" attraction - trying to play on his emotions towards his favorite Walt Disney film from his youth... sadly it never worked - he saw right through me, and just kept reminding me that Disneyland had terrific submarines that I could ride in anytime I was in the park.  What a great way to squash a young boy's dream.  ;-)  But I wouldn't be satisfied.  I learned a lot more about the Walt Disney World Resort, and even remember talking about Epcot's World Showcase in a feature story in Journalism class for my high school newspaper. (I still have that edition with my Epcot info somewhere in a box in my garage).  Oh how I wanted to see what Walt Disney World was like back then for myself - even though I had Disneyland as a playground just about 30 minutes away. 


And now, all these years later, it's fun to pull out the old photos from time to time and see how things have changed, while some things have remained the same.  I plan to share some of these old photos here, both of Disneyland, and later of my first treks to Walt Disney World.  Much has changed there too in the past 21 years since my first visit. 


As young girls, my grandparents treated their twin daughters - my mother and aunt (who are the young ladies in today's flashback photo) - treated them to a day at Disneyland each year for their birthday.  Here they are, in about 1957, following their day in the park.  They're fraternal twins, one being blond and the other brunette, but simply because they are twins, my grandmother loved having them dress alike to show the rest of the world that they are twins!  Even to the point of they both had to get the same button for their matching jackets!  Enjoy this glimpse of how styles and park-wear have changed.  They're low, but those are heels that my grandmother is wearing.  Ladies, when was the last time you wore heels into a theme park?  

It looks like these young ladies just enjoyed a great day at Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom - Disneyland!