Would you lock Disneyland in its 1989 state?

[Brer Oswald]

1995 would be a no brainer if not for the fact that we’d be stuck with the Debney score in Small World. ‘89 it is I guess.

 

[Phroobar]

I'd say the period right before the DCA expansion. You had a new Toon Town with daily broadcasts (advertising) on Disney Afternoon. They had the temporary Toy Story Funhouse over in TL. Indy was brand new. Michael Eisner started the Disney Decade of growth. There was always a new parade for each new movie. Disneyland had a parking lot!

There are things that are bad though. Adults without kids or relatives where frond upon. No special fan made up meet ups or merch. Teenagers thought the place was for babies even though Videopolis, Captain EO and Star Tours was build to bring them back.

 

[WaluigiTime]

Absolutely not, Indiana Jones is just that good.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

This is a great question, and I would say YES! Most definitely! The homogenization of the Disney Parks these days makes this an easy choice. In 1989 you've got everything worthwhile about Disneyland that can't be found elsewhere, plus some things that can't be found anywhere now.

 

[Parteecia]

I'm confused. If we're time traveling can't we have any and all Disneylands? Or is this a Star Wars Hotel type situation where you enter a world but here it's of a theme park a long long time ago? And you have to go by the mores of the time? And you have to destroy the current Disneyland to have it?

 

[Disney Irish]

I'm confused. If we're time traveling can't we have any and all Disneylands? Or is this a Star Wars Hotel type situation where you enter a world but here it's of a theme park a long long time ago? And you have to go by the mores of the time? And you have to destroy the current Disneyland to have it?

Exactly the locked in time forever thing just makes it an easy no. If we're time traveling why not go back to July 17th 1955 and experience opening day with Walt, or any time with Walt during that first decade. Or go back to see the first expansions and land refurbs with NOS or TL67. Seems like a waste to lock it to a specific time.

You open it up to traveling to any time period in DL history and I think you'd get a resounding yes from everyone.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Just the attraction lineup in working order

This is an odd thing to want while also wanting to go back to the days of Pressler.

 

[britain]

Clarifying question:

Are you asking would we prefer to GO BACK to 1989 rather than visit the resort today?

Or are you saying that even a park that has AGED since 1989 with only basic maintenance invested might be better than the resort today?

I’m actually in HoJo right now, musing upon how old it feels, even though it’s technically being maintained. (The arcade has been replaced with an office! Sniff… RIP Spy Hunter…)

 

[flynnibus]

I’m curious for some of the people voting No - if you are old enough to have experienced Disneyland in 1989?

And what was your 1989 personal experience? and frequency?

 

[chadwpalm]

And what was your 1989 personal experience? and frequency?

For me, I went in the summer of 1990 which was between my freshman and sophomore years in high school. It was part of my church youth group and we stopped for a day at Disneyland on our way back from a mission trip in Ensenada.

Honestly, I only remember three things from that trip:

1. Following cute girls around Disneyland with my friends.
2. Getting caught by our youth leaders for smuggling some fireworks over the border in our suitcases.
3. My friend cutting open the end of a glow-tube necklace in the hotel room, swinging it around, and when we turned off the lights the walls were glowing.