ANAHEIM, Calif., May 26—DISNEYLAND MONORAIL EXTENDED—Motorists traveling along Harbor boulevard in Anaheim, Calif., get a possible foretaste of the future as a train rolls over the extended Disneyland-Alweg monorail system. More than a mile and a half of concrete beamway has been added to the line, connecting Disneyland hotel with the amusement park. The monorail is the first in the U.S. to run adjacent to a major traffic artery.

It was an exciting time for transportation and the Monorail in 1961. How I wish the Monorail had caught on nationwide, and not just in Las Vegas! Many a time when I am caught in a traffic jam, I look at the center divide of the freeway and wish that there was a Monorail overhead. Had Walt lived, I have a feeling he would have made one happen in Los Angeles at the very least.

Here are some color photos from the same time period, showing the sleek and beautiful Disneyland Monorail, back when it still held the promise of the future!

Hmmm...farmer's-tractor-type-vehicle or Monorail. Yup...I'm choosing the Monorail!









I'm digging the vintage autos, too!



Oh, to ride in the cone! What a treat!



Time to zoom in so we can drool over the Alweg logo!



Here's the yellow monorail speeding round the corner of the Matterhorn, with the Skyway floating overhead:



Follow my Daveland updates on Twitter. See more vintage & current Monorail photos at my regular website.

Baca selengkapnya »

Welcome to Tomorrowland! The Clock of The World greets us at the entrance with its wacky retro-futuristic styling that is reminiscent of a blender (too bad it didn't dispense margaritas!).

Today's batch of images from October 1960 documents a journey aboard the Skyway, from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland. This is as close as you're going to get to the real thing which was removed back in 1994. So step into your bucket, fasten yourself in, and enjoy your trip!

















Be careful when stepping out of your Skyway bucket! Hope you enjoyed your one-way trip aboard The Skyway. Follow my Daveland updates on Twitter. See more vintage Skyway photos at my regular website.

Baca selengkapnya »

I know there are a few 70’s fans out there, so just for you, I am going to devote a few days to one of my least favorite decades. And I can say that, cause I was there for every year of that polyester era. Today we spend a little time in Fantasyland, starting off with a view of small world, currently undergoing a refurbishment, due to open in approximately one month. If you weren’t sure it was the 70’s, you’d know in shot #2 by the decidedly funky type-style choice for the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant. Mr. Smee is visiting with us today.



For this cherished view of Skull Rock Cove, I promise not to lament again the passing of this area of Fantasyland. Not one word from me. I promise.



Before we leave Fantasyland, let’s take another look at the Matterhorn, taken from the Tomorrowland side.



Come back tomorrow and spend some time over in Frontierland, ya hear? See more vintage & current Fantasyland photos at my regular website.

Baca selengkapnya »

One underwater shot, as we wrap up the '59 series today. The rest are just more technicolor eye candy for you to drool over.





This one is like going to Vegas with its sensory overload of attractions: The Skyway, Rocket to the Moon/Moonliner, Submarine Voyage, The Monorail



And for you nosey-noos, just a few conch shells on the rocks in the previous shot. Nothing to see here folks, just move along.





Today, the Submarine Voyage is drawing crowds again, this time themed to tie-into Pixar’s "Finding Nemo." It sure is good to have the lagoon moving again.







See more vintage Submarine Voyage photos at my regular website.

Baca selengkapnya »

The last of the Big 3 for new attractions at Disneyland in 1959 was the Submarine Voyage. At a cost of $80,000 each, you can understand why Walt’s fleet was a big deal. These 2 photos were taken only 10 days after the June 14, 1959 opening day ceremonies. Note the patriotic bunting.



The next four are also from June 1959.



These also give a glimpse of the neighboring Motor Boat Cruise & Matterhorn:







See more vintage Submarine Voyage photos at my regular website. Meanwhile in media-land, “Sleeping Beauty,” the Platinum Edition, is now out, and boy is it a beauty (pun intended)!









The section of extras on the Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle Diorama is not to be missed. Pick it up on Blu-ray at Amazon.com as well as regular DVD at Amazon.com.

Baca selengkapnya »

Although I won’t be giving out any blue-ribbons to this photographer for his composition, I do have to give him credit for his choice of subjects! The intro shot is naturally of the Castle; the Disney family crest is still missing from the entryway. Mom and son are standing off to the left; as you’ll see tomorrow, mama looks a lot like Patsy Cline. In shot #2, we have reached Tomorrowland; rather than shoot what everyone is looking at, our photographer chose to capture everyone’s posterior for....well, posterity.



3 time’s the charm with this view of the still fairly new (less than 6 months old) Flying Saucer attraction.



Rounding out today’s post are a few shots of the Monorail & The Submarine Voyage attraction:





And here is the exact same angle as it looks now:



See more vintage & current Tomorrowland photos at my regular website. For all you Pirates of the Caribbean movie fanatics, you can now pre-order the complete trilogy on Blu-ray for under $60 at Amazon.com.

Baca selengkapnya »