Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Early Storybook and Casey Jr.



Although Storybook Land is a beloved Disneyland classic, it was not available to guests during the first year of opening. As you can see by this blurry 1956 image, Monstro and the rock work that surround him was still being created during year two.





From the same batch, you can see that Casey Junior is anxiously awaiting his neighbor to be finished so that guests would actually have something to see besides dirt and mud. Zooming in for a better look at what the guy with his hands up is doing. Still a mystery.



This September 1958 shot shows the Casey Junior Circus Train zipping through the beautifully created landscape of a finished Storybook Land.



Don't short change this attraction; even today, racing through the miniature landscapes is a thrill!



See more vintage and current Disneyland photos at my main website.

3 comments:

K. Martinez said...

Nice pics of the Storybook Land transformation. I still would've loved to have experienced the "Mud Bank Ride".

I never short change the Casey Jr. Circus Train. Every trip I take to Disneyland I ride both the Casey Jr. and Canal Boats through Storybook Land, one right after the other. Same with the Main Street Vehicles of which I ride all four types each visit. Lots of folks focus on the 'E' tickets and bypass the "lesser" attractions. I love 'em. Especially the "Walt" era attractions.

As for the mystery activity, maybe the operator is lifting the lid to check on the gauges for the motor unit that drives the Circus Train. Of course that's just a wild guess on my part.

Thanks, Dave.

Fifthrider said...

Hes's checking on the special reserved seating for the naughty kids.

Anonymous said...

Storybook land rides are the best in the Disneyland after POC and HM.

I do the same as K Martinez, ride both one after the other, sometimes multiple times, if I can get the group to agree.

Great pics of Monstro construction. I guess all that rock is framed with wood underneath. Hope it lasts better than Cascade Peak.

Thank you, Dave.

JG