The first photo of today is not from the March 1957 batch, but rather another 1957 set of images. Why is it here? Because I want to set the scene for you, faithful readers. Imagine boarding your 1957 Skyway bucket and soaring high over the park. Below you see a silver-suited spaceman from the future. And in image #2 (where we transition back to the March 1957 grouping), you float by the iconic Moonliner, sponsored by TWA.



Quickly passing through the Matterhorn into Fantasyland, we fly over the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant:



So close you can almost reach out and touch the Crow's Nest!



Once out of the Skyway Bucket, we leave the Fantasyland Skyway Station (shown here in this August 1958 image)...



and our March 1957 photographer begins to explore Fantasyland from the ground. It appears he wanted to hide behind the landscaping for this Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship shot:



And then wanted to get as close as possible to Monstro's eyeball in this Storybook Land shot, capturing the area that would soon be home to Skull Rock (note Cinderella's Castle towering in the background of Storybook Land):



So many details on Toad Hall! I love riding Storybook Land; sooooo much to observe.



To wrap up this series, I'm going to yank you back over to Frontierland with two shots of the Mighty Mark Twain:





Hope you enjoyed our journey through time to explore March 1957 at Disneyland!

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Today's post will focus on 3 areas of the park that I don't always get the chance to visit. Last Saturday morning, the park opened at 7am because of the premiere; thanks to that, I was able to ride on the caboose of Casey Junior. For someone who likes to take photos, this is much better than being crammed into a Storybook Land boat!

I think I can almost hear Casey now: "I think I can I think I can..."

With a REAL good imagination you can feel the chain tug, too, as the cars feel the strain of the uphill climb.



Going uphill took a lot of testing for little Casey!



But I digress...back to the backseat journey. I am fascinated by miniatures; therefore, Casey and Storybook Land absolutely blow me away every time. Imagineers could have gotten away without creating a fraction of the details that one sees in the buildings and landscapes created to represent the classic Disney animated films.



Check out the light fixtures, roofing tiles, and hand lettering on the village where Pinocchio and Gepetto live:



This is one of my faves; especially the leaded stained glass windows by Harriet Burns:





Just looking at this photo without any background knowledge, one would be hard pressed to realize that this is a miniature:



Over at the Haunted Mansion, my special request to check out the Pet Cemetery on the side of the attraction was granted. I hadn't been there in at least 5 years. Again, it amazes me that an area rarely seen by guests has been so thoughtfully themed.













Not wanting to give California Adventure the shaft, I am including the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail attraction. Apparently, this interactive area of fun will be "plussed" to incorporate some of the characters and theming from the Pixar classic "Up," mainly in the amphitheater area. I love edutainment, and few do it better than Disney.



I was able to match prints in the pavement with the educational signage:







It's fantastic to have an area where kids can get physical, explore, and be reminded that fun exists away from their computers.







Happy Sunday - how about getting out of the house today and exploring the area that you live in? Make sure to check out the details along the way!

Follow my Daveland updates on Twitter. See more vintage and current Casey Junior photos at my regular website.

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We come to the end of the series today, where we still find ourselves in Fantasyland. Shot #1 is at the Alice attraction. Shot #2 shows Alice’s other attraction, the Mad Teacups (with Mr. Toad and The Skyway providing a nice supporting cast!). Although Alice wasn’t a favorite movie of Walt’s, apparently he thought she was perfect for the park.



Here we have Dumbo in glorious widescreen, enhanced for 16x9!! Be sure to scroll all the way to the left, readers.



And one more of Dumbo for all you Dumbo fanatics:



I am guessing that this shot was taken facing the Midget & Junior Autopias. And btw: many thanks to yesterday’s expert panel on guessing where the landscaping was. CoxPilot - your answer sounded the most plausible!



Poor Monstro; he obviously hasn’t heard of Crest Whitening Strips.



See more vintage & current Fantasyland photos at my regular website.

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Today I am posting two of the best Skyway shots I have seen in awhile; I posted them a little larger than normal, so make sure you scroll all the way through them to catch everything. Shot one is a nice overview of the Storybook attraction, and also includes views of the Fantasyland Depot and the Viewliner Station (as well as the back of the Midget Autopia). The second shot shows the Blue Viewliner/Station, Junior Autopia, AND the Midget Autopia (oh yeah, and the Fantasyland Depot WITH the train still at the station).



For more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my regular website.

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Here are a few shots of the Autopia through the years, beginning with an undated shot of a little girl very happy to be behind the wheel. The 2nd slide (same batch) shows what appears to be the same little girl, who has now picked up a passenger.


This shadowy shot is from January 1960.

August 1982 shows a different car that definitely owes its styling to the Corvette.
4 & 5 are current shots of the Autopia route, including a nice tribute to the Midget Autopia, Fantasyland’s short-lived counterpart.





Might as well throw in a vintage one of the Midget Autopia from March 1959, which gives a good idea of its location near the Storybook Land area.



For more Autopia photos, visit my regular website.

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This trip back to April 1958 starts off with a view of King Arthur Carrousel & Ticket Booth. The vantage point is definitely higher than pavement level; anybody able to tell where this would have been taken from? Maybe the castle?


Picture 2 shows the well worn sails of the Jolly Roger Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship. The 3rd and last for today is Cinderella’s Castle inn Storybook Land.


For more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my regular website.

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Work continues on the weekends as the June 11 deadline approaches for the opening of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. As is typical with most Disneyland rides, this one contains an homage to the past by including one of the helmets from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.



Probably the one that Kirk is missing in this photo.


Back to the past, with another April 1958 image of Casey Junior coming home from his most recent journey.



For the last one today, here’s Cinderella’s Castle, circa 1958 also. For more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my regular website.

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