Behind The Storybook, June 1958

Sometimes I have to look at a photo a few times to catch all the wonderful details, like this one shot from the Disneyland Skyway showing the Storybook Land attraction. Zooming into the background, you can see the Fantasyland Viewliner station as well as the Junior Autopia. Yes, back in the day there were multiple Autopias.

I was not aware that there were TWO bridges for the Viewliner with the Santa Fe sign. Or, quite possibly I knew at one time and forgot over the years. I’m sure “Anonymous” will let me know my error.

Here’s the one that spanned over the Motor Boat Cruise attraction:


See more Disneyland Storybook 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.

Lady Guinevere at Disneyland

While the Canal Boats of the World attraction was completely retimed and improved by June 1956, it would appear that the boats themselves didn’t take on the names of Disney characters until later. Here’s a shot of the Lady Guinevere boat about to enter Monstro the Whale.

Here’s an overhead shot of the attraction from 1956:



Anyone know what the vehicle is at top? The Viewliner under construction perhaps? A bus?



See more Disneyland Storybook Land attraction photos at my main website.

The Skyway, Summer of 56

This Summer of 56 batch has yielded some amazing vintage views of the Park, including this journey on the Skyway attraction. For all you newbies, the original attraction had buckets that carried you from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland (and vice versa!).

At first glance, this just looks like an unfortunate composition of the buckets.



This zoom in view provides a glimpse of one of the Mickey Mouse Club Circus wagons.



I also did a close-up of this guest with his camera. Where's that footage now?!?



Sailing over the Storybook Land attraction:



Looks like maintenance is doing some landscape work:



And here we are at our final destination, the Fantasyland Skyway Station:



This gorgeous little structure had a long life, even lasting many years after the attraction had shut down.



Thanks to Ken at Stack's Liberty Ranch, we have this additional view of Robin Hood (this time without Will Scarlet). Looks like they posed with guests for $$. I wonder if they gave the proceeds to the poor?



See more vintage Disneyland Skyway photos at my main website.

Monstro's Storybook

This undated 1950s shot taken from the Skyway shows Pinocchio's Monstro, the famous whale that serves as the entryway to Disneyland's famed Storybook Land attraction.

Zooming in, you can see the gigantic Storybook Land Map that advertised the attraction when it first opened.



Another aerial shot with a similar view:



Here's a closeup of that great big beautiful Storybook; wonder what happened to it?



Back to Monstro…thanks to some funky lighting and vintage image fading, he looks like he needs a trip to the dentist.



From January 1959, Monstro's profile:



"To be, or not to be…that is the question."



See more Monstro, both vintage and contemporary, at my main website.

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.

Monstro is Born

The Storybook Land attraction at Disneyland's Fantasyland has been around for years, and there are many who mistakenly think it has been at the park since opening day. Not so. Running out of time, Walt had to compromise and guests road canal boats through banks of mud. Not very exciting. In this May 1956 image of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant, sharp-eyed viewers will note workers feverishly attempting to finish Monstro the Whale before the new-and-improved attraction's June 16, 1956 re-opening. You can also see the uncapped tower of the ticket booth:



Here's how they both looked upon completion in an August 1956 shot; note the steam coming out of his blowhole.



A contemporary shot of Monstro:



and the repurposed ticket window lighthouse:



Are you wanting more? Of course you are; you're only human…at least I hope you are. March on over to my main website and see more photos of Storybook Land at Disneyland.

January 28, 1977 at Disneyland, Pt. 2

Back to January 28, 1977 for the thrilling conclusion AND the answer to how I know what the date was. First up is a beautiful shot of Skull Rock Cove. I am a sucker for anything showing this area. Obviously, this is a photo-worthy spot, as it is part of the GAF Photo Trail.



A closeup of the Skull. Excellent faux rock work!



Moving down the way to Storybook Land, a shot of our 1970's trio in front of Monstro.



Zooming in for a closer look at the tags they are wearing. Just not close enough to really make out what they are.



However, as they exit the small world boats, we have another opportunity.



Jackpot! It's a Disneyland Passport, dated January 28, 1977.



The façade of small world:



and a closeup of the Bank of America sponsored signage:



Another Fantasyland shot:



With a closeup of the souvenir booth:



Hope you had fun visiting 1977!

See more Daveland vintage (and current!) Disneyland Fantasyland photos at my main website.