Anaheim Grows, June 1966

It's June 1966 and our vintage photographer captured the iconic Disneyland entrance sign, which heralds 616 new guest rooms and the park hours of 10am-Midnight. In addition though, this photograph captures the surrounding growth in Anaheim spurred on by Disneyland's success.

Panning left, we can see that Frankie Avalon is in town:



Panning right, we see the Anaheim Convention Center under construction. It would open in July 1967. That sign for Chalet Pancakes & Steaks makes me hungry for some flapjacks!



How the Convention Center looks now:



See more Disneyland entrance photos over the decades on my main website.

Disneyland aerial, 1969

Examining an aerial shot can provide tons of fun. Being able to zoom in close to certain areas and seeing how they've changed over the years is right up my alley. This March 15, 1969 view of Disneyland and Anaheim is ideal for this kind of activity! Where shall we start?

Let's go for dessert first by zooming right into the park area. No DCA, no Space Mountain, no Big Thunder Mountain, and no Splash Mountain. Good Lord—what DID they have back then? Well, there's Cascade Peak, Nature's Wonderland, The Indian Village, and the beloved Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant in Fantasyland.



Zooming in to the New Orleans Square area, the Haunted Mansion is just months away from first opening. Amazing how big the show building is; you just don't see that when you're inside the berm.



Here you can see the Disneyland Hotel Tower and original buildings surrounding it; no Paradise Pier and no Grand Californian. At the base of the photo, Katella Avenue is visible with a 2-year old Anaheim Convention Center at right, and the property that is now the Anabella Hotel is at left.



Last zoom for today shows Harbor Boulevard, with the Howard Johnson Anaheim property top right. This place is just screaming to be developed!



See any "lost" buildings from your past in this shot?

See more vintage Disneyland aerial photos on my aerial web page.

The Anaheim Hilton & Convention Center

I spent the night in Anaheim after shooting the PeopleMover wedding since I had another photo shoot the next evening up in Santa Monica (details to be revealed at a future date!). I did my usual research of hotels in the area; the prices around Disneyland fluctuate like the stock market. Surprisingly, of the places I checked (that I would be willing to stay at!), the Hilton near the Convention Center was the best value. It had been years since I had stayed there, and I was pleasantly reminded what a fantastic choice it was.



The area around the Hilton is nicely designed and landscaped, especially at night.



After the wedding, I grabbed a quick bite in the food court and crashed on my comfortable bed for a few hours.



When I woke up, I toured the property and snapped these photos of the hotel and the nearby Convention Center.



The lighting leads your eyes towards the Convention Center at the end of the walkway.



The fountain in front of the Convention Center changed colors throughout the evening, giving a low-key performance that echoes the World of Color which is only a few blocks away.







Back inside the hotel, the lobby is sleek and full of energy.



I had to wait until the next morning to get a shot of it when it wasn't teeming with guests recapping their conventions over a tasty beverage.



Mix is the name of the in-house restaurant. My breakfast the day I checked out was tasty and affordably priced, served by a waitress who gave just the right amount of cheerful attention.



The design details are perfectly executed, whether its the chime-inspired light fixtures outside of the elevators:



or the shoeshine stand, full of vintage charm:



Next time you're in Anaheim, I highly recommend the Anaheim Hilton!

See more Anaheim Hilton & Convention Center photos on my Anaheim Hilton web page.