Casey Jr., July 1963

It’s July 1963 and our Disneyland Casey Jr. attraction engineer is having difficulty exiting the vehicle. For all you gearheads, I have included a closeup of the dashboard. You’re welcome.



For Chuck: Here’s a comparison shot of the dashboard from 2008. Casey doesn’t need no stinkin’ steering wheel! Ha!



And from 2012:



In the July 1963 background detail view, you can see the second Casey Jr. Circus Train lumbering uphill:



This image came from the same batch, and provides a nice overview of both Casey and the Storybook Land attractions. I love how they are interwoven.



The Storybook Land tour guide looks positively bored.



Zooming in you can see the original Fantasyland Depot, which would be torn down in 1965 to make way the new one.



See more Disneyland Casey Jr attraction photos at my main website.

That Sense of Arrival

You know you’re getting old when…yes, I often reminisce about the good old days. Guilty as charged. This July 1964 image of the Tomorrowland Depot at Disneyland brings back the memories of the anticipation stepping off a train at your destination used to bring…or the excitement of waiting at the depot for your loved one to arrive. Here’s the E.P. Ripley, aka #2, pulling into one of the least photographed depots at the Park.

Main Street’s Train Station, also July 1964:

The Frontierland/New Orleans Square stop, September 1964:

And the final station in the Grand Circle Tour quartet, the Fantasyland Depot, in all its Tournament Festival glory, circa 1950s:

What about today? I still photograph trains (or trolleys in this case) arriving/departing, as seen here in San Diego:

In Chicago:

…and waiting in Baltimore:

What about you? Do you still get excited at the tracks, or have you joined the ranks of the jaded who don’t think about the luxury of being able to travel? Perhaps the lockdowns will restore that sense of joy, once they get lifted.

See more Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.

Miscellaneous Monstro

Heading into the weekend with a plethora of Monstro/Storybook Land images, starting with a Skyway shot from April 1960. Get off the rocks, Cast Member! Don't you know that could be dangerous?!?



An alternate closeup view shows the Fantasyland Depot and a Richfield vehicle:



This guest from July 1963 is cautiously making friends with Monstro.



Katrina is about to sail off on another adventure, circa February 1964:



I wonder how long this helmet head took to create?



A December 1964 Skyway shot:



An undated 1970s view:



A closeup of the attraction’s signage, back when you had to have tickets for each attraction:



A few contemporary shots from December 2015:









See more Disneyland Storybook Land photos at my main website.

The Fantasyland Depot

Sure it looks flat and cheaply made, but that's part of the charm of the original Fantasyland Depot. This rare image is the best one in my collection and I can't believe I was able to acquire it! Based on other slides in the set, it's most likely from 1956. I'd say a zoom in is definitely called for here!



The colors and detail are so vibrant I almost feel like I could jump into this photo and board the train!

Here's a previously posted shot of the ticket booth:



And what was once my best shot of the Depot. Oh how I love an upgrade!



See more vintage Disneyland Fantasyland Depot photos at my main website.

The Autopia, 1950's-style

Today’s first photo of the Tomorrowland Autopia is from the same March 1956 batch as yesterday’s post. In the background is the Mickey Mouse Club Circus tent, still lingering even though Mickey Mouse no longer inhabited by the tent by this time. However, as Jason from Parkendium pointed out, the large tent was gone by January 1956, which means this slide was shot earlier (and developed in March). 

The next two shots are from one year later, where we see Roddy & Sharon...



and Jennifer & Caroline zipping around the track, with the Fantasyland Depot behind them.



More Autopia photo fun at my main website.

Chicken of the Sea Mayhem!

At first glance, this 1958 color image looks like your basic shot of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship taken from a Skyway bucket. You can just see the interior rim of the bucket.

My inclination for a zoom was to focus on the Fantasyland Train Depot. Matching the Medieval Tournament Faire look of Fantasyland, this is a very cute themed structure.



As I began to crop the image, I noticed something even more interesting. Note the little boy at right scaling the rigging of the ship, and the guests on the left staring in shock. It would appear that the hands of his parents are attempting to bring him back down.



Hopefully a mishap was avoided, otherwise, I'm sure it would still be talked about today!

See more Daveland vintage & current Disneyland Chicken of the Sea photos at my main website.

Grand Circle Tour, 1950's-style

Using a mix of "old" and "new" (as in previously and not previously published) photos, today's post will give you a Grand Circle Tour around the park, starting with two Summer 1955 images at the Main Street Train Station. It's difficult not to get excited as you approach the entrance gates and see the E.P. Ripley patiently waiting at the Main Street Train Station for its next load of guests.



Can you imagine taking a spin around the park with this guy at the helm?



The C.K. Holliday is parked at the Frontierland Depot in this 1950's shot:



This 1956 photo shows the original Fantasyland Depot:



Going in a bit closer you can see guests exiting the Depot area, attempting to decide which attraction they will experience next. One of the Autopias? Storybook Land, perhaps?



A closeup of the Fantasyland Depot Ticket Booth:



Last stop on the Tour is the Tomorrowland Depot, circa September 3, 1958. #3, The Fred Gurley, is pulling into the Depot, only a few months after its March 28th debut.



Seeing these photos all together makes me yearn for a REAL trip aboard one of the beloved trains.

See more vintage & current Disneyland Railroad photos on my Disneyland Railroad web pages.

Fifty Cents

That's right; that's all it used to cost to take the Grand Circle Tour on the Disneyland Railroad. Today, the cost is $87. Talk about inflation! As many of you already know, when the park first opened, there was a general admission charge to get into the park and then an additional ticket cost for each attraction. Ticket books held colorful tickets that were grouped (and priced) according to the excitement factor of the attraction. Today, you pay one charge (starting at $87 for adults) to enjoy all the attractions. The first image for today shows the Fantasyland Station and Ticket Booth of the Disneyland Railroad, circa 1956, which is when this structure opened. The original location of the Fantasyland stop is approximately where the Kodak photo kiosk is today.

One from 1957/1958:



A closeup of the ticket booth, October 1958:



In 1965, this station was closed and the train track was moved to its current location during the construction of 'it's a small world.' The Mickey's Toontown Station opened in January 1993. Here are a few contemporary shots:





See more vintage & current Fantasyland/Toontown Depot photos on my Fantasyland Toontown web page.