I remember the mine train rides. They were outside, and went through an area that looked like the desert, and the grand canyon. They were right next to the mule train rides(all of which is now the Big Thunder Mountain). I remember dancing with the indians where Bear Country now is. And being a little afraid of them lol Also, I do believe I met Daniel Boone there;)
I also remember some sort of hover craft type ride in tomorrowland. Round bumper car sort of things that lifted off I think from air jets coming out of the floor. I don't think they were there for long! I do remember "real" mermaids in the 20000 leagues under the sea ride. I also remember some boat rides that were near the autopia.
I also remember stealing the apple from the witch in the snow white ride-it was a high schoolers pasttime. We got away with it several times. The last time, many years ago, the second someone stepped foot out of the car, a bright light came on and we were told by a great voice from the air to return to the car IMMEDIATELY, which was done. We didn't get in trouble, nothing was said, but we got some hard looks from the operators when we exited... Last time I was there I believe it had finally been replaced with a hologram lol
We were in a canoe once that tipped over when someone decided to stand up in it. We ended up about hip deep in the water, it was pretty funny actually! We all got back in, and were given a handful of free E tickets as compensation for getting wet.
I also remember the "dead" bodies at the burning log cabin on Tom Sawyers island. I remember the cabin originally had a real (gas) fire, but then it changed to some flapping red colored tin foil or something like that.
I do remember they used to make someone walk the plank and jump into the river off the pirate ship. I haven't seen the pirate ship active in years, does it still run?
I remember once they had horses in the stalls in the firehouse, but I only remember that once... The stalls are small, and have ever since been pristine clean.
My friend's brother and a friend of his got caught smoking pot on tom sawyers island. They were escorted through a door in the fort, down stairs, and into a small holding area below the fort. They were then escorted via tunnels out of the park.
A former customer of mine was the first female glassblower at Disneyland park.
There used to be lots of antique cars and fire trucks and things that they used to give rides up and down main street when it was busy. Haven't seen those in many years, wish they still used them.
I was one of the many kids priveledged to sing at the Christmas show at Disneyland park. Michael Landon was the person reading the story of Christmas, and there were probably 1000 kids who did the candlelit(battery operated candles) parade and then made up the huge choir that stood on stands in front of the main street train station. I remember when we were practicing backstage, the AMAZING sound that came out when 1000 kids started singing the hallaluja chorus, and all of us stopping, looking at each other, and thinking WOW, was that us? And then loads of us teenagers with tears streaming out of our eyes when we did that particular song in front of thousands of people in the park...it was an incredible experience. Oh, and we did get to go in the park free and ride the rides as compensation:)
The backstage area was more like a car park, with lots of warehouses and things. We were practicing outside under a large covered area. I remember when we were standing in the back getting ready for the parade, we were in a fairly large holding area by the Small World. We saw lots of cast characters come and go, all with their heads on (guess the Queen of Hearts hadn't been around lately lol). Also saw all the floats lined up waiting their turn to go, and they also came back in that way, but through a passage way from behind the buildings.
I remember after we sang and had removed our choir robes, they walked us all the way from the backstage area near small world through passage ways between buildings, that had gates here and there they'd close so people didn't see us passing. They walked us all the way through fantasy land, frontierland, all the way to main street through that passage before they let us through a gate somewhere near the fire station. That's how they get vehicles and ambulances and so on around through the parks without being seen as well.
I remember when the parades used to have lots of carriages and were actually drawn by horses and ponies. There used to be the "Disney Pony Farm", and they had lots of welsh ponies to pull snow white's carriage, along with the main street horses and the mules living there. I guess once upon a time Frontierland used to have stagecoach rides, like Knotts Berry Farm, but they had lots of problems with runaways, and they didn't last long. Those were before my time though. I do recall seeing some of the roads from them that were left over through the mine train ride-I think the train was built to replace the stagecoaches. I remember the mine train used to go past the "old faithful geyser", or were they calling it old unfaithful? Don't recall. I just remember the train slowing and stopping so we could see it erupt... I think the goat that is eating dynamite used to be on the mine train ride. I also remember there was a saloon with all kinds of singing and fighting noises coming out of it, also a dentists office with a guy screaming in pain...
I loved the shooting galleries that used real bb guns to hit the targets. Those were more fun than the current laser ones.
There is still the sound of a telegraph at the New Orleans train station stop. It's about 8 years since I was last there, but I heard it that last time, as I have for years and years.
I remember the first time I went into Country Bear Jamboree, and being utterly fascinated by the talking animal heads on the wall above me. I can't believe they took out the Jamboree and put in that horrid children's ride...And bear country has gotten so boring, there really isn't anything there once you walk past Splash Mountain anymore. I was surprised at Splash mountain, seeing it full of all the old America Sings animatronics. I sure do wish they'd re-release "Song of the South", but they are too concerned with being PC these days...
The wishing well next to the castle used to echo...don't think it does anymore. And the house of tomorrow used to sit where there is a garden now not far from the castle, by tomorrowland. I remember it being a Jetson type house.
I remember having a season pass, so that we could go dancing at Disneyopolis every weekend. I think that's now used for stage shows.
I still like going upstairs above the pirates of the carribean, to what used to be apartments and private gardens for the Disneys. There are lots of old maps and designs for rides and things up there that are fascinating if you are into all things Disney.
I also remember some sort of hover craft type ride in tomorrowland. Round bumper car sort of things that lifted off I think from air jets coming out of the floor. I don't think they were there for long! I do remember "real" mermaids in the 20000 leagues under the sea ride. I also remember some boat rides that were near the autopia.
I also remember stealing the apple from the witch in the snow white ride-it was a high schoolers pasttime. We got away with it several times. The last time, many years ago, the second someone stepped foot out of the car, a bright light came on and we were told by a great voice from the air to return to the car IMMEDIATELY, which was done. We didn't get in trouble, nothing was said, but we got some hard looks from the operators when we exited... Last time I was there I believe it had finally been replaced with a hologram lol
We were in a canoe once that tipped over when someone decided to stand up in it. We ended up about hip deep in the water, it was pretty funny actually! We all got back in, and were given a handful of free E tickets as compensation for getting wet.
I also remember the "dead" bodies at the burning log cabin on Tom Sawyers island. I remember the cabin originally had a real (gas) fire, but then it changed to some flapping red colored tin foil or something like that.
I do remember they used to make someone walk the plank and jump into the river off the pirate ship. I haven't seen the pirate ship active in years, does it still run?
I remember once they had horses in the stalls in the firehouse, but I only remember that once... The stalls are small, and have ever since been pristine clean.
My friend's brother and a friend of his got caught smoking pot on tom sawyers island. They were escorted through a door in the fort, down stairs, and into a small holding area below the fort. They were then escorted via tunnels out of the park.
A former customer of mine was the first female glassblower at Disneyland park.
There used to be lots of antique cars and fire trucks and things that they used to give rides up and down main street when it was busy. Haven't seen those in many years, wish they still used them.
I was one of the many kids priveledged to sing at the Christmas show at Disneyland park. Michael Landon was the person reading the story of Christmas, and there were probably 1000 kids who did the candlelit(battery operated candles) parade and then made up the huge choir that stood on stands in front of the main street train station. I remember when we were practicing backstage, the AMAZING sound that came out when 1000 kids started singing the hallaluja chorus, and all of us stopping, looking at each other, and thinking WOW, was that us? And then loads of us teenagers with tears streaming out of our eyes when we did that particular song in front of thousands of people in the park...it was an incredible experience. Oh, and we did get to go in the park free and ride the rides as compensation:)
The backstage area was more like a car park, with lots of warehouses and things. We were practicing outside under a large covered area. I remember when we were standing in the back getting ready for the parade, we were in a fairly large holding area by the Small World. We saw lots of cast characters come and go, all with their heads on (guess the Queen of Hearts hadn't been around lately lol). Also saw all the floats lined up waiting their turn to go, and they also came back in that way, but through a passage way from behind the buildings.
I remember after we sang and had removed our choir robes, they walked us all the way from the backstage area near small world through passage ways between buildings, that had gates here and there they'd close so people didn't see us passing. They walked us all the way through fantasy land, frontierland, all the way to main street through that passage before they let us through a gate somewhere near the fire station. That's how they get vehicles and ambulances and so on around through the parks without being seen as well.
I remember when the parades used to have lots of carriages and were actually drawn by horses and ponies. There used to be the "Disney Pony Farm", and they had lots of welsh ponies to pull snow white's carriage, along with the main street horses and the mules living there. I guess once upon a time Frontierland used to have stagecoach rides, like Knotts Berry Farm, but they had lots of problems with runaways, and they didn't last long. Those were before my time though. I do recall seeing some of the roads from them that were left over through the mine train ride-I think the train was built to replace the stagecoaches. I remember the mine train used to go past the "old faithful geyser", or were they calling it old unfaithful? Don't recall. I just remember the train slowing and stopping so we could see it erupt... I think the goat that is eating dynamite used to be on the mine train ride. I also remember there was a saloon with all kinds of singing and fighting noises coming out of it, also a dentists office with a guy screaming in pain...
I loved the shooting galleries that used real bb guns to hit the targets. Those were more fun than the current laser ones.
There is still the sound of a telegraph at the New Orleans train station stop. It's about 8 years since I was last there, but I heard it that last time, as I have for years and years.
I remember the first time I went into Country Bear Jamboree, and being utterly fascinated by the talking animal heads on the wall above me. I can't believe they took out the Jamboree and put in that horrid children's ride...And bear country has gotten so boring, there really isn't anything there once you walk past Splash Mountain anymore. I was surprised at Splash mountain, seeing it full of all the old America Sings animatronics. I sure do wish they'd re-release "Song of the South", but they are too concerned with being PC these days...
The wishing well next to the castle used to echo...don't think it does anymore. And the house of tomorrow used to sit where there is a garden now not far from the castle, by tomorrowland. I remember it being a Jetson type house.
I remember having a season pass, so that we could go dancing at Disneyopolis every weekend. I think that's now used for stage shows.
I still like going upstairs above the pirates of the carribean, to what used to be apartments and private gardens for the Disneys. There are lots of old maps and designs for rides and things up there that are fascinating if you are into all things Disney.
I could go on and on. Lots of memories!