Oh how I wish we could be in the days of Walt's Disneyland

[Rich T]

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I dunno... I'm generally a fan of 21st century cancer treatments, the EPA, instantaneous communication with friends and family members anywhere in the world, GPSs, etc.

I'm probably OK missing out on some old Disneyland stuff in return for that.

Something about the "golden age" fallacy?

In a perfect universe, we could have a Disneyland as imaginative, innovative and guest-focused as it was in 1977 while still enjoying modern day advancements.

As someone who was there from 1958 onward, I can tell you it was never perfect-- But it always made you feel you were getting 3x your money's worth. At night, there was big band music for my parents, wonderful cheeserock in Tomorrowland for my older siblings, and a couple of hours of solo walk-on rides on Pirates and HM for a kid like me.

Old Disneyland felt generous. Today's Disneyland feels like it's being whipped to death by the greediest stewards it's ever been saddled with.

 

[truecoat]

I'd like to see stuff like this on Disney+ but I'm not sure how soon they'll do this.

 

[shambolicdefending]

Old Disneyland felt generous.

Probably the best single-sentence description I've seen. I think you're exactly right. Nobody in their right mind could call Disneyland a "generous" value today.

 

[jbradway]

I was fortunate enough to see Disneyland in the late 60s. It's the place that captivated me. But if you look back at it through the today's eyes, more than a few fans would call it cheap looking.

 

[truecoat]

I was fortunate enough to see Disneyland in the late 60s. It's the place that captivated me. But if you look back at it through the today's eyes, more than a few fans would call it cheap looking.

Or say it looks like WDW.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Looks better today.

 

[PiratesMansion]

 

[mickEblu]

Although it would be fascinating to see Disneyland in its first 10 years I think my favorite time to visit would have been between the late 60s to late 80s. Trees started growing in. Rides worked. Operations got the hang of things and the place wasn’t packed. I did get to experience Disneyland in the late 80s but I was young and only have vague memories.

 

[D.Silentu]

I feel very much the same, especially because to me Disneyland is inextricably tied to Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion.

 

[mickEblu]

I feel very much the same, especially because to me Disneyland is inextricably tied to Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion.

Exactly. Then TL 67 too.

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

As soon as I perfect the flux capacitor, I plan to visit Disneyland throughout the years. It's always an interesting thought experiment to think about what it would be like to visit things like Disneyland and MK throughout their respective history.



Tokyo is on my bucket list, but having seen pictures of it and from my trip last year to DLP, I wholeheartedly endorse this - Visit the non-US Disney theme parks if you can. You will experience some old-school Disney charm, unique rides and experiences, plus some better versions of US-based classics. Well, except for Shanghai, that's Iger's brain-child and thus should be avoided due to lack of soul. (I kid, I kid. But it's probably the last non-US-based Disney theme park I'd want to visit.)

don't forget to gun it to 88 mph

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

Just imagine what it was like. No engines, no computers. Just the wind and the sea...and the stars to guide you.

Bad food, brutal discipline. No women.

They say time is the fire in which we burn...

 

[SuddenStorm]

I'd wanna go in the few months in '95 that Indy was open and Peoplemover hadn't closed.

I'd argue that summer was the peak of Disneyland.

 

[Sailor310]

I totally agree with all the nostalgia, I really miss swing dancing to a big band Saturday nights, etc.... but the grass isn't always greener on the other side...

"rides worked"...I got in line for Space Mountain at Grad Nite 77. Just after it opened. We had to leave at 6AM. Got in line 2:30, waited in line till 5:30 then the ride broke down. Thus ended my grad Nite.

When Indy opened, the line reached down Main Street.

 

[TROR]

Disneyland peaked in 95. We all know this.

 

[Communicora]

I'd wanna go in the few months in '95 that Indy was open and Peoplemover hadn't closed.

I'd argue that summer was the peak of Disneyland.

That was when I visited for the first time. It was an amazing day, but I didn't get to ride Indy until I went back in 2015. The line was too long in '95!

 

[Miru]

Looking back, basically every addition through '95 was of higher quality then what was there before.

It's not until the last 25 years that things have regressed.

Such a shame.

There have been occasional good ideas here and there (Soarin’, Incredicoaster, etc), many of which were taken from other parks, but overall it’s been a downturn, especially the Pressler era and 2017-onwards.

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

There have been occasional good ideas here and there (Soarin’, Incredicoaster, etc), many of which were taken from other parks, but overall it’s been a downturn, especially the Pressler era and 2017-onwards.

Incredicoaster was NOT a good idea

 

[Miru]

Incredicoaster was NOT a good idea

Compared to CS, it was. And a good idea can be executed rather badly.

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

Compared to CS, it was. And a good idea can be executed rather badly.

No, it wasn't.