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.

Floating through the Matterhorn, 1980

Disneyland newbies probably don’t know this, but at one time you could “float” through the Matterhorn attraction in a Skyway bucket. Oops…those newbies might not even know that you could travel from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland in the air, looking over the guests and attractions while doing so. Ah…those were the days. These June 1980 images were taken by a guest doing said activity.



The Skyway existed from 1956-1994. The buckets were changed in 1965 for the Disneyland Tencennial celebration, converting the shape from round to a more square configuration. Below is a closeup of Fantasyland back when it had its original Festival Tournament façades. Another piece of history lost on the newbies.



This carefree family (they look like they might be a bit of fun) are exiting the Fantasyland Skyway Station (visible on the hill on the upper left). Yes, newbies…another piece of Disneyland history that is gonzo.



This November 1967 image gives a better view of the beautiful structure:



Also from November 1967, you can see one of the buckets entering the station:



Below is an undated 1960s image, back when you didn’t have to worry about guests throwing/spitting things from the bucket (for the most part!).



In the “don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today” department, the historic Hollywood Center Motel on Sunset Boulevard has burned to the ground. So glad I took the time last March to snap a few shots.



Edited from Empty Los Angeles:

The Hollywood Center Motel - consisting of a 1905-ish house surrounded by bungalows built a few decades later - caught on fire early this morning. The motel, which was originally housing, was recently nominated for landmark status. Victorian houses are very, very rare in Hollywood. LAFD reports that it was a knockdown fire. Citizen reports it was a two-story structure, and a few of the posted videos show fire damage to the original house, El Nido. The motel had a known issue with squatters (a vacate order was posted last month). At least two people were trapped inside the burning house, and one of them had to be taken to a hospital in unknown condition. I was afraid of this. I’ve mentioned previously that we have a demolition-by-neglect problem in Los Angeles, and the motel has had previous fires. Now LAFD’s arson unit is investigating. I also mentioned in an earlier post that the owner of the motel had previously applied for demolition permits, despite not having a replacement project lined up for the site. Because of this fire, they may not need one - at least for poor El Nido.



A fire due to squatters in California? Shocking.

See more Disneyland Skyway photos at my main website.

Rain in Tomorrowland, 1958

If you’re an old-timer like me, you know this song is bull:

Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California, but girl, don't they warn ya?
It pours, man, it pours

This August 1958 image of the Tomorrowland Depot at Disneyland is all the proof you need!



Just look at those yellow slickers the cast members are wearing! Despite the rain, it must have still been pretty warm, judging by the shorts most of the guests are wearing.



Note the Autopia Richfield Eagle and the Skyway pylon; both long gone.



In case that song is stuck in your head, might as well watch it on youtube!



See more Disneyland DLRR Tomorrowland Depot photos at my main website.

The Tomorrowland Skyway Station

I have somewhat scary memories of the Tomorrowland Skyway station, where the buckets continually moved. That’s right...even when you were entering exiting the buckets, they kept moving. Somehow...it worked. Today, with morons who jump up and down on the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse bridge’s wooden slats to see if they will break or not...well, I’m sure some idiot would get hurt. But not back in the 1960’s. People were smarter back then! First image is a newbie, from May 1963. Image #2 (previously posted) is from July 1960:



1962:



And an oldie but goodie, also showing the original round Skyway Bucket design, circa October 1963:



See more vintage Disneyland Skyway photos at my main website.

Movement on a Monday

This overhead view taken from the long-gone Disneyland Skyway attraction was snapped by a guest on February 21, 1958. At least that's what they wrote on the slide. For all we know it could have been February 12.



SOOOOO much great movement going on here with the Autopia attraction, the Viewliner train, and the Skyway buckets floating above.



If you’re new to Disneyland history and don’t know what the Viewliner is, it has the distinction of being one of the shortest-lived attractions at the Park, running from June 26, 1957–Sept. 15, 1958. The Monorail took over less than one year later and guests didn’t shed a tear about this tiny little train biting the dust.



See more Disneyland Autopia photos at my main website.

Cleaning Up The Lagoon, 1964

In early 1964, the Submarine Voyage attraction at Disneyland turned 5; apparently it was time to clean out the lagoon and give things a tuneup. This February 1964 image gives us three stand-alone detail shots to enjoy, with the first one being the Skyway Buckets with the Tomorrowland Station in the background.



Here we see three different modes of Disneyland transportation: the Red Monorail, the Autopia, and the Disneyland Railroad. All three are still in operation today. Wow!



The last view shows the subs themselves in dry dock with the lagoon completely drained.



This other image, most likely taken from the Skyway too, gives a different vantage point of the drained lagoon.



A detailed view of the equipment for all of you vintage mechanical geeks out there!



See more vintage Disneyland Submarine Voyage photos at my main website.

Skyway

Today I present to you a few vintage Skyway shots as many of you return to work after a three day weekend. This June 1960 shot shows the Tomorrowland Skyway Station.

I believe the train seen here in Tomorrowland visible in this detailed view is the Fred Gurley.



Look at those cast members wearing ties. What a different time it was.



This February 1965 view shows the Matterhorn and was shot from a bucket departing the Tomorrowland station…or about to enter it! I am sure there is a Disneyland geek out there who can tell.



A detailed view of the buckets:



More Skyway photos at my main website.

1950s Disneyland Skyway

Today you can go from one end of the Skyway to the other, beginning with this 1950s Tomorrowland Station shot. Although the attraction and station no longer exist, guests who were able to ride it still have many fond memories of the scenic overhead views that it provided.



Over in Fantasyland, the Swiss Chalet structure still stands, although its fate of demolition is most likely going to occur soon.



A closeup of another satisfied guest in this July 1959 image, attempting to snap a photograph of her own:



Float on over to my main website for more Disneyland Skyway magic.