Views of the Viewliner

The photographer who took these two images is my hero/heroine; they wrote the actual date on the back of the slides AND the camera setting! These April 26, 1958 shots are of the short lived attraction that transported Disneyland guests between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, The Viewliner. Walt Disney’s predecessor to The Monorail only lasted from June 26, 1957 to September 15, 1958. It became a victim of progress and a large renovation in this section of the Park that included the Monorail, The Submarine Voyage, and The Matterhorn. See that pine-topped hill with guests hiking up the dirt path? Alternately known as Snow/Holiday Hill, Lookout Mountain, and unofficially “Lover’s Lane,” it was the future location of the Matterhorn, which would serve to hide the large Skyway support shown in the photo. At far right is the Tomorrowland Viewliner Station:



The camera settings for both of these were F8 1/50, in case any of you were wondering. Image #2 shows the Fantasyland Viewliner train which was blue; the Tomorrowland version was salmon/red in color.



A closeup of the train zipping over the bridge where the  Motor Boat Cruise sailed.



There were a few bridges where the two attractions overlapped:



This image shows the Fantasyland Viewliner Station:



While the Monorail is a classic, the Viewliner sure is cute. It’s too bad it couldn’t have been recycled elsewhere in the Park.

See more Disneyland Viewliner photos at my main website.

Disneyland Transportation Cutbacks: Fantasyland & Tomorrowland

One of the lesser-known transportation cuts at Disneyland was the extended route of the Omnibus. This duo of July 1957 images shows the Omnibus in Town Square. Nothing strange about that! However, the next shot clearly shows it in the middle of Fantasyland, near the Fantasyland Autopia!



Before the construction of the Matterhorn, the Omnibus took guests right into Fantasyland, as seen in this 1958 shot:



This December 1957 shows Snow Hill (eventually the Matterhorn) on the left and the Monsanto House of the Future at right.



Shot from the Skyway (more on that in a minute), you can see it near the Alice attraction, circa July 1958:





This provides a great segue into one of my largest transportation disappointments at Disneyland. When Toon Town opened in 1993, it had the Jolly Trolley, which took guests around the new land. It didn’t take long for the Park to bolt this little cutie to the ground and turn it into a photo op:



I wish…oh how I wish…that instead of bolting it down, the Disney Corporation would have seen fit to expand its tracks to have the Troller run all the way to Central Plaza. Once at Central Plaza, there is no good way (other than walking) to get to Toon Town.

The Skyway opened in the Summer of 1956:



Guests could soar over the Park from Fantasyland:



All the way to Tomorrowland, as seen in this July 1957 image. What a great way to save time, steps, and get some incredible views!



This one is probably a debatable transportation cut, as it really falls more into the attraction category. Still…for a nice leisurely cruise, the Motor Boat Cruise operated in one form or another from 1955—1993. The Skyway afforded this overhead shot from August 1956:



Loving this 1960s shot with the Monorail AND the Motor Boat Cruise dock all together:



Last time I saw it, the Motor Boat Cruise dock was just rust and decay. Here’s an interesting idea…with the Autopia sorely needing an update, how about creating a vehicle that goes on land AND water. Since both attractions use a track for the vehicles, I wouldn’t think a hybrid would be all that difficult.



Finally, the most mourned loss of Transporation in Tomorrowland is the PeopleMover. Circa July 1968:



August 1969 gives a great view of the Rocket Rods when they used to soar majestically over the center of Tomorrowland, and the Mary Blair murals on the right:



This 1969 images shows the PeopleMover entering the attraction building. So much to see on this slow little attraction!



The PeopleMover was changed into the Rocket Rods in 1998; they were a bomb, and ended up shuttering the entire thing by September 2000.



Today, the decaying/crumbling tracks are all that are left of this one.

Did I miss any?

See more Disneyland photos at my main website.

Motor Boat Monday

It was the Summer of 1956, and the Phantom Boats took their last cruise around the lagoon at Disneyland. Overhead, the recently opened Skyway attraction gives guests a birds-eye view of the Park below. In just one year, the Viewliner Train Station would stand where the dirt lot can be seen on the lower right. Today, these boats look like something out of the 1960’s “Batman” TV series with their retro fins and bright colors. 



If you want to know why they were replaced with a much less exciting looking boat, look no further than the lower portion of today’s original image. This little boat with a spare gas can in it had to be ready to go at any moment to rescue guests who were stranded mid-ride in the lagoon because they had over-heated.



Did you spot the tiny little house that once resided on Harbor Boulevard? Today, the land that little hut was built upon would be worth quite a bit today.



Here’s a previously posted shot of one of the fiberglass Phantom Boats:



…and the necessary close-up:



See more Disneyland Motor Boat Cruise photos at my main website.

Motor Boats and The Viewliner

This undated 1950’s image of Disneyland was taken from the dock of the Motor Boat Cruise attraction and affords a rare view of the Fantasyland Viewliner station. Why so rare, you ask? Because the Viewliner barely lasted a year before it was removed.



To give you an idea of where the photo was taken, here’s a May 1958 view from the Skyway, showing both the Motor Boat and Viewliner attractions:



A detailed shot of the Fantasyland Viewliner station, with (appropriately) the Blue Fantasyland Viewliner parked at the station.



Another view of the same area from the ground:



A detailed view of the station:



…and the Motor Boat Cruise dock, as well as the regular Disneyland Railroad Fantasyland Depot:



For Motor Boat Cruise fans, here’s an August 1958 shot:



I can just here the little girl now. “I don’t see mom and dad, Tommy. Full speed ahead!”



I believe the track seen in this portion of the photo belongs to the Viewliner:



Got enough to last you for the weekend? I sure hope so!

See more vintage Disneyland Viewliner photos at my main website.

Motor Boat Monday

This August 1963 colorful gem shows the Disneyland Motor Boat Cruise attraction. This slow-paced ride was not a huge hit, but definitely has/had its fan base. Guests who just wanted to relax and have a slow leisurely ride around the waterways at Disneyland loved it. Those who were easily honked off about the mechanical failings of the boat and the lack of interesting scenery avoided it.

Since 1993, this area has sat vacant, alternately used as an outdoor smoking area and a place for guests to relax. The last time I shot it was in 2011. It is surprising that the Disney Corporation would let prime real estate like this languish, especially considering its proximity to it's small world and the Fantasyland dark rides.

See more vintage Disneyland Motor Boat Cruise photos at my main website.

Cruising in the Fifties

Two consecutive shots from August 1958 of the Disneyland Motor Boat Cruise. Brothers? Friends? Not sure...but it would appear that the one boy wants to take charge of the wheel. The lady in the boat on the left sums up this attraction for me. Looking off to her right, she seems thoroughly bored.



In shot two, the same little kid with the crew cut is really taking over. I bet he ended up running into another boat.



See more vintage Disneyland Motor Boat Cruise photos at my main website.

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The Only Train Of Its Kind!

How can one image yield three additional images? When it’s of the Disneyland Viewliner, the “only train of its kind in the world!” That may not necessarily be a good thing, especially since the Viewliner lasted barely a year at Disneyland (June 26, 1957–Sept. 15, 1958).



Nearby you can see the Disneyland Railroad Fantasyland Depot (background) and the entrance to the Motor Boat Cruise (foreground):



And of course a closeup of the Viewliner itself. It looks so tiny when you see people next to it. It does not look very comfortable! One can easily see why Walt scrapped it in favor of the Monorail!



For you youngsters, the two boxes in the foreground are called phone booths. That’s where people used to go when they had to make a phone call and they were away from home.

See more Disneyland Viewliner photos at my main website.

A Phantom in the Lake

In August 1955 The Motor Boat Cruise attraction at Disneyland received a cosmetic makeover when the boats were redesigned by Bruce Bushman. Holy tailfins, Batman! Despite the new look, mechanically the boats were prone to break down easily, stranding guests in the middle of the lake. Removed at the end of 1955, they were put back into the lake for their last hurrah during the summer of 1956 when this photo was taken. Here’s a closeup of two of the boats:



See more Disneyland Phantom Boat photos at my main website.