Disneyland Parade — 1979

Here Comes

Mickey & Minnie

and Friends

Disneyland’s first parade was held on Sunday, July 17, 1955. The Opening Day was dedicated  at an “International Press Preview” event which was open only to invited guests and the media. 

The dedication and other special events of the opening were televised nationwide and anchored by three of Walt Disney’s friends from Hollywood: Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings, and Ronald Reagan. It was broadcast live by ABC. Even though the Special Event was by invitation only, many people succeeded in sneaking into the park soaring the number of attendees to an astounding 28,000 people.

Disneyland has been having parades at the amusement park since that very first day except during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 when the park was closed. The theme of the parades change periodically with the seasons and significant historical events of the times. The Characters Parade occurred most years, as well as an annual Christmas parade and were popular among the tourists visiting the park.

In 1979, the Dumbo Circus Parade theme featured the same basic “Character Parade” floats with added circus decor. This particular theme parade only ran in 1979.

Although none of the floats were captured by my dad on this particular visit to Disneyland, many of the Characters were captured by his 35 mm camera. I am so glad that I am able to digitize his slides for preservation and am able to share them with all y’all.

Lens-Artist Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Tourist Attractions

Cosmic Photo Challenge-Motion

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: ©️1979 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35 mm

Location: Disneyland; Anaheim, California, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and watching the parade with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Moving Forward on a Mine Train

Disneyland’s Mine Train

Through Nature’s Wonderland

Going back to our Disneyland adventure let’s take. Look at another attraction we rode. We are taking a look at our ride on Disneyland’s Mine Train through Nature’s Wonderland.

The Disneyland Mine Train was an attraction through Nature’s Wonderland in Frontierland that ran from May 28, 1960 until January 2, 1977. It was previously called Rainbow Caverns Mine Train and later became Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Nature’s Wonderland Railroad

The Mine Train rode past the mining town of Rainbow Ridge where you could observe what a mining town would have looked like with a hardware store, the El Dorado Hotel. It allowed you to feel like you were in the old west. The train would take you through a tunnel and into Beaver Valley, where you could witness beavers at work chomping their wood, squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, foxes and other forest animals.

After Beaver Valley the train moved forward going across a bridge by Cascade Peak, where you could feel the mist coming from the waterfall on your skin. At this point you could see jumping fish, mountain goats, and swimming bears.

The narrator would announce where you were coming to and what you would see at each destination. From Beaver Valley the train moved forward into Bear Country where you could see 2 large elk with their antlers intertwined, fighting each other.

From there the Mine Train would continue moving forward taking you in a circular shape around the Living Desert, with the other half being a forest filled with desert cottontails, rattlesnakes, waterholes, tortoises, badgers, and armadillos. The displays made everything seem so realistic and lifelike.

The last portion of the ride took you through Rainbow Caverns. In the Caverns you could see giant stalagmites, stalactites, and colorful falls on every side.And if you looked real carefully, you’d see geyser grotto, and the witch’s cauldron.

Thanks for climbing aboard and joining us for our ride on Disneyland’s Mine Train through Nature’s Wonderland adventure.

Ludwig’s Monday Window

Becky’s #SquareRenew – Moving Forward

Pull up a Seat-Week 20

Photo Credit: ©️1965 Nornal H. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Frontierland; Disneyland; Anaheim, California, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CWWC: Traveling Around Disneyland in 1965

Traveling back in time to December 1965, to a family day trip. Packed and loaded in our 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 with a cooler of drinks, snacks, and sandwiches; we began our approximately hour and fifty-one (1hr 51min) drive north moving forward through the city streets until turning onto CA-94 and eventually onto the recently constructed I-5.

Upon arriving at the Disneyland entrance, my parents purchased our admission and ride tickets. General Admission prices for adults at that time was $2.60 per adult and included a ticket for the Monorail. Junior prices were $1.80 and Children’s admission prices were $1.10. Tickets for the rides cost extra. A book of 10 tickets ranged from $3.00 to $5.00.

1965 Disneyland Ride Tickets A-E
Selection of E Ticket Rides

In 1965, the cost of admission was considered a lot of money. However, people considered visiting Disneyland was a worthwhile family adventure.

After our tickets were purchased and we entered the park, we selected what rides we wanted to ride. We went to each ride or attraction as a family unit, not venturing off individually. Our first ride of choice was the Monorail.

Disneyland Monorail

The Monorail was considered as a mid-century marvel and captured the hearts and imaginations of the theme park and Disney fans. The Monorail was a Highway in the Sky which allowed for a unique experience viewing the park from above.

Our next selection was to ride the submarine adventure. The attraction features vehicles that were designed to look like submarines. It required the E ticket was in the Tomorrowland area of the park.

Early Disneyland Submarine

The submarines took us on an adventure under the sea simulating fish and other sea creatures allowing us to imagine we were really being submerged and viewing the undersea life of a tropical lagoon.

Next up was the Autopia adventure. This was where we could get in cars and race around an enclosed track. We could imagine we were actually racing the other drivers.

My mom getting out
of the Race Car.

After a full day of adventures Moving Forward around the park, we selected a spot on the side of Disneyland’s Main Street to watch the Parade. The waiting was a time of excitement as we looked forward to the parade starting.

Mickey Mouse riding
in a Vintage Car
with Goofy
1965 Disneyland
Santa Claus Float

Well folks, that’s all for today. We had fun, but now it’s time to head home.

Cee’s Which Way Challenge-AnyWay

Throwback Thursday

Becky’s #Square Renew/Reconstruct/Moving Forward

Photo Credit:©️1965 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Disneyland; Anaheim, California, USA

Photos were reconstructed from my dad’s slides using a Wolverine digital converter.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting Vintage Disneyland with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2023 CFFC: NIKE – Just Do It

For this week’s challenge I dug into my archives to share some throwback photos of things one might choose to “Just Do It.”

Just Ride a Monorail 🚝
Throwback Photo –
Mid 70’s
Just Fly an Elephant
Disneyland
Mid 70’s
Just Fly an Airplane
Camp Snoopy
Carowinds
May 2018
Just take a Drive
Along the
Blue Ridge Parkway
October 2017

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge:Nike-Just Do It

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.