Some of your Favorite Disneyland Memories...

[IndianaJones]

So I was hanging out over in some of the other threads and was getting a little bogged down by all the negativity. Now don't get me wrong…I love to slam on the suits running Disney just as much as the next archaeologist, but sometimes I need a break.

So I decided to post what I think is kind of a fun thread. The basic idea is I want to hear some of your all time favorite Disneyland Resort memories. It could be big…or it could be something small. I just think it will be cool to hear from all of you SoCal locals who do such an awesome job of keeping this board updated with all sort of knowledge and also all the other folks like myself who travel from different places to visit "the Happiest Place on Earth".

So I guess I should start.

The first would be my second trip out there. This was back in November of 2009. I was a recent college grad who had just spent a year busting my tail for a company that I thought was going to turn into a career. But I guess the people in charge didn't agree and I was let go along with a good amount of others who were on a team with me. To say I was bitter would be an understatement…and it was pretty apparent that I needed a vacation(Long story short, where I've been for the past 3 and half years has been way better then where I was. But of course you don't see that at the time). So my parents, younger siblings, and I made the trek out to DLR.

We left our local airport in florida at around 4:00 that morning and got to John Wayne Airport at around midday Cali time. We took the shuttle out to Disneyland since we were staying at the Disneyland Hotel. To say we were tired was an saying it lightly. We were exhausted. But we were also determined to stay up. We knew that if we were not going to wake up at 5:00 the next morning that we'd really have to not sleep.

Well as my dad was checking us in, the cast member at the front desk must've noticed us dragging a bit and began to talk to my dad about where we came from. And after a few minutes of talking with him decided on a whim to upgrade us from our room with 2 queens to a suite. This may not be a big thing for most people, but we were not expecting it at all. Had 2 queen beds for my folks and my sister. A pull out couch that I slept on and a love seat that my brother crashed on all week. That doesn't happen very often to a family of 5.

So we explored the grounds of the hotel and went to DTD to have some dinner(no park for us until the next day). Then we came back to the hotel and kept ourselves busy. We wanted to at least make it until about 12:00 that morning. So I started flipping through channels and I came across a channel called the "Fireworks Channel". Now none of us had any idea what that meant until all of a sudden music started playing. And my mom who was outside all of a sudden said "Oh check it out, we can see the fireworks."

We realized pretty quickly what "The fireworks Channel" was all about and enjoyed a great show from the comfort of our balcony. It was without a doubt the perfect kickoff to what I consider to be one of the best vacations I've ever had.

So this turned out to be much longer then I anticipated, sorry about that. Almost like the start of a trip report from the past…minus the pictures. I can't wait to hear about your favorite memories. Hope you all enjoy this thread.

 

[Figments Friend]

Great idea for a thread, Dr. Jones.
I am glad you were inspired to take time away from your latest archeological dig to post your memories.
I nice read.

I have only so far visited DL a few times, but i would say the most memorable by far was the most recent.
September of 2013 i took *The Fabulous Tony Baxter Tour of Disneyland* and had quite a time.
For those who missed the adventure, delight in this thread :
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-fabulous-tony-baxter-tour-of-disneyland-a-venture.872015/

Pretty much sums up most of what happened, and includes lots of stories pre-trip and photos post trip.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Actually my favorite memory is my first time walking into Disneyland in 2007. I have been to WDW so many times and could not remember my first time walking into the Magic Kingdom. So the first time I entered DL I was so excited and nervous to be there in the original park and remember seeing the train station and by the time I saw the plaque on the arch of the train station tunnel I was practically in tears of being so excited, people probably thought I was crazy. But it was so cool to me to actually now have a memory of entering a Magic Kingdom type of park for the first time, and it was Walt's park. I was so happy that DL lived up to and surpassed my expectations. So not a crazy cool upgrade but just a fun memory for me.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I've been a "child of Disneyland" since I was a baby. I remember driving on the freeway and my mom would spot the Matterhorn and tell us all to look. I always say "Permanacer sentados, por favor" was the first Spanish phrase Californians learned as children haha. I don't know how many people I've come across whose families have been visiting the parks since the 50's. I just recently found a photo of my mom as a baby, my grandfather and my aunt on the Jungle Cruise in 1963. I found other photos from a few years later of my mom (she was a little girl) and aunts and uncles at Disneyland in the 60's. Main Street looked the same in the photos. They are treasures.

Some of my favorite memories include trips taken when my siblings and I were kids. I'll never forget those trips. I have a few of my favorite memories.

I remember doing the College Program and when we finally got our badges, aka, our tickets, we, meaning myself, my roommates and one other CP, all went to the park together. That entire evening was so much fun, but the highlight came when we rode Indy. Two of my roommates were from California and one was from Arizona, so we were experts. The fifth roommate was from Chicago and had never been to any of the Disney parks, and our other friend had only gone as a child. My fifth roommate screamed throughout the entire ride, and our other friend had been making all sorts of comments lol. When we got off Indy, neither could stop talking about the ride. The rest of us just smiled and laughed. It was fun.

Another time I'll never forget is when Fantasyland (where I worked) hosted a ball for its CMs. The men came in nice tuxes and suits, and the ladies came in gowns and dresses; I had on a nice jumpsuit. The park had closed, except Fantasyland, of course. There was food, music and a few of the rides had stayed open, but they had been tweaked. Peter Pan and King Arthur's Carousel were the same, but we rode Toad with the lights on and no sound, Snow White's lights had been completely off and had no sound (it was terrifying) and we walked through Pinocchio. Also some of the princes and princesses were there, as well as Mickey and Minnie. It was like going to the prom again, but WAY better. One of the best nights of my life, easily.

I remember the 50th celebration, very clearly. The park was decked out in decorations. There were hidden "50 Mickeys", the floral Mickey was different, the gold ride vehicles, SBC's makeover, I remember it all. Everyone was really happy to be there and everyone was excited. I'll never forget when I first saw Remember... Dreams Come True. I was huddled in the enormous crowd in front of the castle on Main Street. People were crying when Walt's speech came up. The surprise came when the Disneyland Railroad spiel came booming through those speakers. I was so confused, as well as everyone else LOL! We were all looking around the park, trying to figure out what was going on. Then a segment from Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade came on, then the Tiki Birds, and I finally understood; it was a tour around the park. Man, oh man, when the room "stretched" during Mansion's segment and that "cannon" came flying from the Matterhorn, I was speechless. My mouth was open during the entire duration of that firework show. I remember hearing the crowd yelling out the spiels. When the show concluded, the audience, including myself, erupted in claps and cheers. We were beyond impressed. It's still my favorite firework show, to this day.

Found a video from opening night:



Last October, my sister, my cousin and I took my brother's girlfriend, who's from Oregon, to Disneyland for her first time. We went and got food at Pizza Port and just started talking and laughing uncontrollably about the most random things. We still laugh at that trip today. Our last ride was Autopia, and it was the best. The park was pretty much closed and we were basically the only ones on the ride. It was a nice, peaceful ride. It was just a really nice moment. My brother's girlfriend loved the parks, too.

I met up with Cosmic Commando and his family, both this year and last year and spent time in the parks. I'll never forget those times, either.

Good times, good times!

 

[IndianaJones]

Great idea for a thread, Dr. Jones.
I am glad you were inspired to take time away from your latest archeological dig to post your memories.
I nice read.

I have only so far visited DL a few times, but i would say the most memorable by far was the most recent.
September of 2013 i took *The Fabulous Tony Baxter Tour of Disneyland* and had quite a time.
For those who missed the adventure, delight in this thread :
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-fabulous-tony-baxter-tour-of-disneyland-a-venture.872015/

Pretty much sums up most of what happened, and includes lots of stories pre-trip and photos post trip.

Thanks @Figments Friend! I really loved that thread when you posted it and I might have to go back and revisit in one sitting now that we've brought it up again.

Actually my favorite memory is my first time walking into Disneyland in 2007. I have been to WDW so many times and could not remember my first time walking into the Magic Kingdom. So the first time I entered DL I was so excited and nervous to be there in the original park and remember seeing the train station and by the time I saw the plaque on the arch of the train station tunnel I was practically in tears of being so excited, people probably thought I was crazy. But it was so cool to me to actually now have a memory of entering a Magic Kingdom type of park for the first time, and it was Walt's park. I was so happy that DL lived up to and surpassed my expectations. So not a crazy cool upgrade but just a fun memory for me.

I wish I remembered more of my first trip. We're going on 11 years and I don't have the photo's that I have for the recent two that I went on. Thanks for your input!

 

[Figments Friend]

I will share a few memories from my very first visit to DL.

It was late May of 2007.
I went out to CA for another happening and took a detour with friends to hit DL.
One of said friends had a Silver Pass, and so my first visit to DL was *on the Mouse*....
It was for a two day jaunt...with a small group in tow....which meant both some positive aspects and a few negatives.
Turned out to be the big weekend that *POTC: At Worlds End* had it*s big Premiere at DL.
You should have heard the hullabaloo that erupted around 11PM ...when the finale fireworks went off after the conclusion of the films showing in the Park.
I was not at the Premiere...at least, not officially as in, IN the Park.
I was cowering in my tiny, dingy hotel room on Ball Rd a few paces away..trying to get some sleep.
Motel was more like it..but eh, it served it*s brief purpose.

It was a thrill for me to finally set foot in *Walt*s Park*.
After years and years of reading about it, hearing people (fans) talk about it...and of course seeing it on tv...i could not believe i was finally at that place.
I remember being really buzzed about that aspect , on the day.

I am so overly familiar with WDW on such a ridiculous level that finally being in a *different version* of the Park was interesting.
Even though it was my first visit, i instinctively knew were many places and attractions were..which was both neat and strange.
I had two people mistake me for a CM...something that often happens to me at WDW, but i never expected it happen at DL.
I found that strange as i was with a group of people this time, and not on my own as i usually am.

Other memories...
Like every other WDW Worldphille/Longtime Vet i was amused with the size of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
After the initial *whoa...it really is quaint* moment, it really grew on me.
Now i look at it with better eyes.

I remember that during that first visit, i was too chicken to try the Matterhorn. The first ride i had was this past September after taking a *test ride* via YouTube.

I remember the Subs were not open yet , which was a little disappointing for me at the time. The Nemo overlay was still in progress, but i remember secretly hoping there would be a soft opening for it the day i was there.
I SO wanted to ride as i miss *our* Subs at WDW a lot.

I remember my first ride on the original Splash Mountain too.
Rattled me a bit..as it seemed so much faster and steeper then the version i was so overly familiar with at WDW.
I was so freaked by the difference in the drop ( or perceived differences in speed ) that i did not ride again until this past September, and that was primarily for the themed photo op in tribute to Tony Baxter.
See my *TBToDL thread* for details on that gem....


I remember that first flight out to CA.
6 hours..non stop...Boston to LAX. Yeah....long ride.
First time ever on the West Coast.
Man it was great being in a *Golden State of mind*, as i call it.
I remember first seeing those beautiful looking mountains after crossing Nevada...and coming in to land at LAX.
Still enjoy looking for those when i fly out that way to this day.

CA blew me away.
I was instantly in love.

Did a massive road trip that first visit too..before even getting down to DL.
Went from the Bay Area to San Jose, then hit many points of interest along the coast on the way down to Anaheim.
Just a great experience...very scenic...and epic in scale.
A nice way to be *introduced* to the State.

DL was like the *grand finale*....and when i left i swore i would return.
I did in 2012, again with friends....although the DL visit was short ( one full day, part of another ).
It was then i decided i need to come out alone..and *do the Parks* on my own terms.
Thus, my *pilgrimage* this past September.

Coming back in May.
Cannot WAIT to be back in Orange County again.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Too many in just the last year.

Riding Haunted Mansion over and over again on the last night before it closed in August. Toward the end of the night, the doom buggy slowed to a crawl at pivotal points to take in details, like the ballroom and graveyard. Not sure if it was intentional or luck, but I've never experienced the ride like that and I was geeking out.

That night I had abandoned friends because they didn't want to say goodbye to Haunted Mansion like I did, so I was alone for the last rides. One my favorite things to do is let everyone go after the stretching room and have the changing portrait hallway to myself. It's a feeling like no other at Disney and one of the coolest experiences you can have. I've done that many times.

Just last night I was hanging out with friends along the river at Hungry Bear. We had the entire restaurant to ourselves. The crowds were ridiculously manageable. The fireworks were going off in the distance and the Mark Twain went by on a rare nighttime cruise while Fantasmic is down. Great company and atmosphere...something I'll remember forever. Here's a video I took:

 

[IndianaJones]

Too many in just the last year.

Riding Haunted Mansion over and over again on the last night before it closed in August. Toward the end of the night, the doom buggy slowed to a crawl at pivotal points to take in details, like the ballroom and graveyard. Not sure if it was intentional or luck, but I've never experienced the ride like that and I was geeking out.

That night I had abandoned friends because they didn't want to say goodbye to Haunted Mansion like I did, so I was alone for the last rides. One my favorite things to do is let everyone go after the stretching room and have the changing portrait hallway to myself. It's a feeling like no other at Disney and one of the coolest experiences you can have. I've done that many times.

Just last night I was hanging out with friends along the river at Hungry Bear. We had the entire restaurant to ourselves. The crowds were ridiculously manageable. The fireworks were going off in the distance and the Mark Twain went by on a rare nighttime cruise while Fantasmic is down. Great company and atmosphere...something I'll remember forever. Here's a video I took:

That Haunted Mansion story is really cool. I imagine being in the stretching room by yourself would be actually very creepy. Totally cool.

Keep them coming folks. I'll let a few more people answer and I might put some more of my own.

 

[Figments Friend]

I need to break out my keepsakes from my second DL visit to jog more memories.
Off the top of my head, i cannot recall anything really standing out in my mind about the short 2012 visit...except that i felt it really WAS *too short*..for me, at least.

Not sure about others, but i keep a complete paper record of EVERY Park visit...WDW and DLR.
Every printed item, brochure, travel document, luggage tags, marketing paraphernalia, tickets, Park Map samples, receipts, interesting napkins or wrappings...you name it.
Have been doing this for ages...well, since 1983 at least.
I visited WDW in the late 70s but nothing survived until EPCOT Center arrived.
THAT visit...in April 1983...blew my mind and i KEPT stuff. Still have it all today.

After all the multiple visits over the years ( mostly WDW ) i have amassed quite a collection.
If i ever had to recycle the stuff, the planet would be set for paper products for the next 30 years methinks..!

It is fun to get that box out once in a while...and go through those envelopes.
Even a tiny, seemingly insignificant scrap of paper can fire off a long forgotten memory.

Don*t you just love those fine little moments of reflection...when they happen..?

 

[teacherlady19]

Favorite memories...wow. Like others here, I have quite a few.

Favorite memory of my first visit: my dad wanted to go on IASW twice. On E-tickets, no less! (1967).

Second visit: showing a HS friend around on HER first visit, and I hadn't been there in 6 years! Still, I could read a map better than she could, and knew what rides were cool. That was my first experience with the HM....fun!

Next visit: showing my almost-fiance' around on HIS first visit.

Not sure when this came in the list, but hubby and I were in the military service, who offered really special tickets good for December. That was the experience with the Candlelight Processional. The speaker that evening was none other than Michael Landon, who was then starring in Little House on the Prairie as Pa Ingalls. LOVED being there for the Christmas stuff.

Taking my in-laws around on THEIR first visit, also in the early 80s, and getting to try out the new universal passes when others were still on the tickets.

On this latest trip, getting to see my niece's excitement at being there. It was her first trip to DLR, though she'd been to WDW a few years before that.



Donna

 

[IndianaJones]

Guys, thanks so much for these memories. Excited to see what others post.

I figure I might as well post another one. This one comes from my third trip and my wife's first. So this will be a memory that involves her and her first experience on a ride that I happen to really enjoy...

The only Disney she has ever known is WDW. So when we were dating, I was always telling her about the how amazing DLR was. I'm not sure she completely believed me to be honest. But a little bit after we got married, my folks presented us with an opportunity to vacation with them and my little sister out to California. It was to see my kid brother who lives in LA, but to also spend 3 days at DLR.

I immediately wanted to go and went into full blown salesman mode on my wife...and well wanting to vacation again since our honeymoon seemed so far away, it wasn't hard to convince her.

So we packed up and flew from Orlando to Orange County again. No early flight for us this time, we flew out late and got there late. But the next day we were at the park! Disneyland first, we'd hit DCA the next day.

So we went in and immediately booked it to out to Indy. Every time I go to DLR, I have to start there. It's just my little tradition.Try to start and finish on my all time favorite attraction. Now she had obviously never been on it. And when she doesn't know what's coming she gets a little freaked out. But being the awesome husband I am, I assured her that nothing would go wrong. Well as long as she doesn't look into the eye of Mara...

Well unfortunately she did...or maybe I did...I don't remember.

But it was so awesome to hear how much fun she was having on Indy. We got off and immediately she wanted to go on again. Which we did quite a few times that trip!

She ended up having a truly lovely time and ever since we got back(over a year ago) we want to go back and this time take some folks(my sister in law and her brand new husband) who have never been! Hopefully that happens this year...

Last thing I'll share is probably my favorite photo from the trip. We had all just eaten at Carthay Circle and came out and saw the Storytellers statue, which I fell in love with.

So here is our family photo...minus my brother who was working at the time and couldn't come and meet us...

Keep the responses coming guys!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Other times I'll never forget were when I got to tour the Dream Suite and Walt's apartment on Main Street. The Dream Suite was amazing and very elaborate, but Walt's apartment beat it by miles, simply because of all the history involved. We got to see every inch of that apartment. My favorite was probably the kitchenette because all of the Disneys' belongings were still there. It was like stepping back in time. We went in the little outdoor patio area and we could hear the skippers on the Jungle Cruise. It was awesome, experiences I hope I never forget.

 

[IndianaJones]

Other times I'll never forget were when I got to tour the Dream Suite and Walt's apartment on Main Street. The Dream Suite was amazing and very elaborate, but Walt's apartment beat it by miles, simply because of all the history involved. We got to see every inch of that apartment. My favorite was probably the kitchenette because all of the Disneys' belongings were still there. It was like stepping back in time. We went in the little outdoor patio area and we could hear the skippers on the Jungle Cruise. It was awesome, experiences I hope I never forget.

Did you get to see them because of the CP? Or was it a tour you took?

 

[Californian Elitist]

Did you get to see them because of the CP? Or was it a tour you took?

It was because I was a CP. I've heard Walt and Lilian's bed space is roped off to the tour, but we got to sit on the beds. I guess they don't want too many guests sitting on the beds.

 

[IndianaJones]

It was because I was a CP. I've heard Walt and Lilian's bed space is roped off to the tour, but we got to sit on the beds. I guess they don't want too many guests sitting on the beds.

Ha. That's awesome. Would love to see both the apartment and the Dream Suite. Someday soon I hope.

 

[IndianaJones]

Hey @Cosmic Commando, no pressure or anything...but there's been a lot of liking posts...but no writing...but once again, no pressure...

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Hey @Cosmic Commando, no pressure or anything...but there's been a lot of liking posts...but no writing...but once again, no pressure...

I don't think I've had anything really crazy out of the ordinary happen to me, so I've had to work at compiling some smaller memories.

Here's a starter: the first time I saw World of Color. I was right on the water, right in the middle of the fountains. The way the show towers over you and surrounds you, the amazing colors... it was an incredible experience.

LOTS of carousel rides with this guy back in 2007/2008:

My daughter's first time being 40"... she LOVED all of the "big" rides!

 

[Cosmic Commando]

This one is actually pretty funny. In the Christmas Fantasy parade, they have Pooh, Tigger, maybe Piglet ride around on these neat little one person sled vehicles. The joke is that Eeyore's sled broke/overturned (poor Eeyore) and he actually goes down the parade route pulling his "sled" after the other Pooh characters with other floats in between them. Now, on this night, Eeyore was actually having problems with his sled, but it was my first time seeing the parade so I didn't know that part of the weirdness was planned. So part of the humor was him stalling for time while they try to fix his sled, and part of the humor was me being like "What? They're making him drag his broken sled down the parade route?!?".

This is my video:

 

[coachwnh]

Other times I'll never forget were when I got to tour the Dream Suite and Walt's apartment on Main Street. The Dream Suite was amazing and very elaborate, but Walt's apartment beat it by miles, simply because of all the history involved. We got to see every inch of that apartment. My favorite was probably the kitchenette because all of the Disneys' belongings were still there. It was like stepping back in time. We went in the little outdoor patio area and we could hear the skippers on the Jungle Cruise. It was awesome, experiences I hope I never forget.

It was because I was a CP. I've heard Walt and Lilian's bed space is roped off to the tour, but we got to sit on the beds. I guess they don't want too many guests sitting on the beds.

That's awesome!

 

[Californian Elitist]

That's awesome!

If you do the Walk in Walt's footsteps tour, you'll be able to see the apartment!