When Disneyland first opened in 1955, Walt Disney gave most of the tours. Visiting dignitaries, celebrities, titans of business and sometimes the media were often guided around the park by Walt – the FIRST Tour Guide. By the end of the decade it was clear that the public wanted guided tours as well. Plus, there’s…
Category: Disneyland
Fantasyland Refresh
On May 25, 1983 Disneyland refreshed Fantasyland by replacing the ‘fair-style tents’ with the ‘village-style’ buildings we know today. At the same time, the Mickey Mouse Club Theater, which showed 3-D movies of the Mouseketeers, was replaced with Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, a new attraction based on Walt Disney’s “Pinocchio”.
#4 Ernest S. Marsh
The Disneyland Railroad #4 Ernest S. Marsh was named after Ernest Marsh, president of the Santa Fe Railway from 1957 to 1967. He was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on January 10, 1903. In 1918 he went to work for Santa Fe and worked his way through the ranks to replace Fred Gurley as President on…
Space Mountain history and photos
It happened on May 4th, 1977 – Disneyland opened Space Mountain – though not ‘officially’… The attraction was open to guests to ride for an “E” ticket, but the park’s second ‘mountain’ wasn’t dedicated until a few weeks later on May 27, 1977. It’s also interesting to note that Disney World opened their version of…
Lilly Belle 2
This engine, Lilly Belle 2, was going to be the 2nd locomotive at Walt Disney’s “Carolwood Pacific Railroad“. Walt’s CPRR was a 1/8th scale miniature live steam railroad that Walt built around his home in Holmby Hills. The engine was started in 1950 by Roger Broggie and was conceived as a 4-6-0 (two pilot/front wheels…
April 22, 1964: The 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair opened
Today in Disney history – on April 22, 1964, the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair opened, featuring many popular attractions that eventually moved to Disneyland… In the early 1960’s Disneyland was embarking on the largest expansion since the park was built. The plans, ideas, and construction for New Orleans Square were well under way when…
Dedication of The Walt Disney Story
On April 8, 1973 “The Walt Disney Story” was dedicated in the Disneyland Opera House. Walt’s wife, Lillian Disney was on hand to celebrate the occasion, accompanied by Guest Relations Hostess Bonnie Drury.
Happy Anniversary #5 Ward Kimball and Lilly Belle
On February 15, 2006 at 7:30am at Disneyland, the newest engine to the Disneyland Railroad was dedicated as #5 Ward Kimball. On the same day the Lilly Belle VIP parlor car was re-dedicated after being off the line for many years. In attendance was Betty Kimball, the wife of the new locomotive’s namesake, Ward Kimball….
30 magical years…
After 30 wonderful years working at Disneyland you’ll get this beautiful statuette of Jiminy Cricket. The plaque reads: “recognizing 30 magical years with The Walt Disney Company”
Walt Disney’s Kalamazoo hand car
Here’s the Kalamazoo handcar at Fullerton Railroad Days in 2012. Walt Disney on the Kalamazoo handcar in front of the #2 E. P. Ripley