{"id":40650,"date":"2015-08-04T12:00:18","date_gmt":"2015-08-04T16:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=40650"},"modified":"2022-04-12T13:40:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T17:40:54","slug":"experiencing-opening-day-disneyland-penny-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/experiencing-opening-day-disneyland-penny-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Experiencing Opening Day: A Disneyland Penny Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"60th<\/a><\/p>\n

Sixty years ago the happiest place on earth, Disneyland, opened. \u00a0By most accounts, it was a difficult day. \u00a0There were many trials (plumbing strikes, excessive heat of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a tight building timetable, a live-to-air TV show, and counterfeit tickets that took the anticipated 6,000 guests to an estimated 28,000). \u00a0This day would later be called \u2018Black Sunday\u2019 because of the media outcry. \u00a0Some may mark this as a disaster, but that opening day and its TV show propelled the Disney theme park into history and made it both a pop icon and an industry leader that many others are emulating around the world.<\/p>\n

And now, sixty years later, the world is currently celebrating their diamond anniversary. \u00a0But how can the average guest embrace a sense of history while immersed in the modern park that Disneyland has become?<\/p>\n

Sadly, long gone are the admission tickets of $1.00 for adults, $0.50 for children 12-years and under \u2013 all required taxes included. \u00a0The ticket allowed its bearer to roam the grounds of the park and enjoy the free shows in each land. \u00a0There were restaurants and shops to explore, and, of course, the grand sets of the park itself. \u00a0There was an extra charge to ride the attractions; each \u2018properly priced\u2019 and the tickets were available from ticket booths in the various lands. \u00a0All of this is reasonable, but not available to the modern park goer.<\/p>\n

So, while you await the special entertainment of your 60th anniversary visit you might like to travel back in time and visit all those attractions still found within the park\u2019s walls.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s begin our tour at the beginning\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cTo all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Dis<\/i>neyland is your land. Here, age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.<\/i>\u201d ~ Walt Disney, 17 July 1955.<\/p>\n

Passing through the tunnels under the railway tracks (and their plaques reminding you that \u2018here you leave today and enter the world of Yesterday, Tomorrow and Fantasy\u2019) you enter Main Street. \u00a0The flagpole here features the dedication plaque.<\/p>\n

\"60th<\/a><\/p>\n

Welcome to Main Street, USA:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cMain Street, U.S.A. is America at the turn of the century \u2013 the crossroads of an era. The gas lamps and the electric lamps, the horse drawn car and the auto car. Main Street is everyone’s home town … the heartline of America.<\/i>\u201d ~ Walt Disney, 17 July 1955.<\/p>\n

Here you can visit City Hall, the Fire Department, the Emporium, and any of the other buildings on Main Street. \u00a0They were all there, although many have changed their wares and their names.<\/p>\n

Take a journey on the Horse-Drawn Street Cars (morning only), or take in an original Mickey Mouse cartoon at the Main Street Cinema (say \u2018hi\u2019 to Tilly. \u00a0She is one of Walt\u2019s original employees, still doing the same job today that she did back then).<\/p>\n

The Main Street Penny Arcade has long since lost most of its penny amusements in favor of the sweets from the candy shop one door down; however, some of the old amusements still reside here. \u00a0Have a look for Esmerelda, she is always happy to tell you your future. \u00a0Here too are some of the \u2018tin men\u2019 dancing machines, music machines, and flip movie machines.<\/p>\n

And, of course, let us not forget that the train station on Main Street, USA is the beginning of a grand circle tour of the park. \u00a0If you want the most authentic tour, look to the #1 engine \u2013 the CK Holliday, or the#2 engine \u2013 the EP Ripley. \u00a0\u00a0These two engines were there, pulling guests on the first day. \u00a0The rolling stock is considerably changed from those early days. \u00a0They are far more comfortable and many have been retrofitted with inward facing seats. \u00a0The wonderful Grand Canyon Display between Tomorrowland and Main Street stations is a newer add-on.<\/p>\n

This is Adventureland<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cHere is adventure. Here is romance. Here is mystery.<\/i> Tropical rivers \u2013 silently flowing into the unknown. The unbelievable splendor of exotic flowers \u2026 the eerie sound of the jungle \u2026 with eyes that are always watching. This is Adventureland.<\/i>\u201d ~ Walt Disney, 17 July 1955.<\/p>\n

Adventureland has undergone many facelifts since opening day, but those stout of heart can still journey the great rivers of the world on the Jungle Cruise. \u00a0Okay, it\u2019s true that back on opening day the skipper\u2019s spiel was much more like a Disney\u2019s True Life documentary (with none of the groan-inducing jokes), but you can still ride Ganges Gal or Congo Queen \u2013 the two riverboats that traveled the rivers back in the day.<\/p>\n

Moving on to Frontierland<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cHere we experience the story of our country\u2019s past \u2026 the colorful drama of Frontier America in the exciting days of the covered wagon and the stage coach \u2026 the advent of the railroad \u2026 and the romantic riverboat. \u00a0Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed the trails across America.<\/i>\u201d ~ Walt Disney, 17 July 1955.<\/p>\n

Frontierland too has gone through many changes since those first days. \u00a0Long gone are the stage coaches and pack mules; even the Golden Horseshoe Saloon no longer runs its brand of good old Wild West entertainment. \u00a0You can, however, stroll the wooden walkways of the old Davy Crockett Arcade (now Bonanza Outfitters), Frontier Trading Post, and the Golden Horseshoe Saloon.<\/p>\n

You can partake in one attraction from opening day: the Mark Twain Steamboat. \u00a0A steamboat has featured in Walt\u2019s very early drawings of Disneyland. \u00a0He even privately financed the steamboat when the bank refused to extend finance for it and held his wedding anniversary party on the boat just days before the park opened. \u00a0Back on opening day, there was very little to see from the steamboat; this has been improved substantially over the years.<\/p>\n

\"60th<\/a><\/p>\n

The drawbridge to Fantasyland<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cHere is the world of imagination, hopes and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, the age of chivalry, magic and make-believe are reborn and fairy tales come true. Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart \u2014 to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.<\/i>\u201d ~ Walt Disney, 17 July 1955.<\/p>\n

The drawbridge did lower on opening day. \u00a0Through the arched portcullis the painted ponies of King Arthur Carrousel drew the children in. \u00a0Here is a mixture of the old and new. \u00a0Originally, the facade of the inner castle courtyard was decked out in medieval faire style (unlike today) and several of the attractions have been moved from their original locations.<\/p>\n

The first attraction, as noted above, was the King Arthur Carrousel. \u00a0The beautiful white horses that adorn the deck today were once rows of bay, black, tawny, grey, and chestnut steeds \u2013 their coats given the eye attracting white in the 1980\u2019s remodel. \u00a0Spinning nearby was the whirling Mad Tea Party. \u00a0The Storybook Canal Boats were known as the Canal Boats of the World. \u00a0Mr Toad and his Wild Ride were there to greet the children of 1955; as was, Snow White\u2019s Adventures (now called Snow White\u2019s Scary Adventures). \u00a0Changes to Snow White\u2019s ride to include Snow herself. \u00a0Originally, the guest lived the adventures as the princess.<\/p>\n

The last original attraction in Fantasyland was Peter Pan\u2019s Flight. \u00a0Like the other attractions, Peter has had a few facelifts. \u00a0His last has just recently opened, included with amazing effects, pixie dust, and an entirely (well, mostly) new London. The ride is as innovative and special as it was on opening day. \u00a0For those of you looking for the original in the attraction, make sure to wave at Nana in the nursery. \u00a0This amazing, wonder dog is the same animatronic as opening day. \u00a0Also, the \u2018stone\u2019 statue in London park has been keeping sentinel the full sixty years.<\/p>\n

Alas, some of our old time favorites \u2013 such as Dumbo the flying elephant \u2013 were not included in the opening day extravaganza. \u00a0But if you are happy to include later opening 1955 attractions, considering they will also celebrate their sixtieth birthdays through the year, then you could ride Casey Jr Circus Train (opened July\u00a0 31, 1955) and Dumbo (opened August 16, 1955).<\/p>\n

The ever elusive Tomorrowland<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cA vista into a world of wondrous ideas, signifying man\u2019s achievements \u2026 a step into the future, with predictions of constructive things to come. Tomorrow offers new frontiers in science, adventure and ideals: the Atomic Age, the challenge of outer space and the hope for a peaceful, unified world.<\/i>\u201d ~ Walt Disney, 17 July 1955.<\/p>\n

A land based on the technology and knowledge of tomorrow was a colossal undertaking. \u00a0How do you keep it fresh and current when advancements in science happen every day? \u00a0This is still a challenge for the Imagineers today and this land has been gutted and re-imagined more than any other in the park.<\/p>\n

History buffs can look for the only other \u2018opening day plaque\u2019 at the entry to Tomorrowland. \u00a0Then head to the far end of the land and take a ride on Autopia. \u00a0Make no mistakes, the drive has changed substantially from those first days, but the excitement of being a kid and able to drive your own car still entices children of all ages.<\/p>\n

As with the beginning, so is the end<\/b><\/p>\n

There are so many little things still around in the park today. \u00a0Several of the guided tours delve into this history. \u00a0For those of us who have decided to do the penny tour above, make your last stop for the night at the Fire Department. \u00a0Here, on the second floor, is Walt\u2019s apartment. \u00a0Look up into the window and you will see a light burning brightly (during Christmas season the light is swapped with a small twinkling Christmas tree). \u00a0Some believe that Walt still resides here, so make sure to thank Uncle Walt for sharing his dream and then say \u2018goodnight\u2019.<\/p>\n

What are your favorite memories of some of Disneyland’s original attractions?<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sixty years ago the happiest place on earth, Disneyland, opened. \u00a0By most accounts, it was a difficult day. \u00a0There were many trials (plumbing strikes, excessive heat of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a tight building timetable, a live-to-air TV show, and counterfeit tickets that took the anticipated 6,000 guests to an estimated 28,000). \u00a0This day would…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":40652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1685],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disneyland-parks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40650"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40963,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40650\/revisions\/40963"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}