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…
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…
Walt and the CP #173
The photo to the right IS Walt Disney, but he’s NOT posing next to his miniature live steam engine CP #173 Lilly Belle – it’s a composite photo. This synthesized photo was created by a MAPO employee who combined Roger Broggie’s photo of Walt and a fellow steam enthusiast, along with a photo he took…
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 is Disneyland history – April 22, 1964: The 1964/1965 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 Walt…