May 24 Then and Now

Originally Posted By Doobie

This topic is for discussion of the May 24th Then and Now at: <a href="News-ID505940.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID505940.asp</a>.

 

Originally Posted By Disneyexpert

This was a fun article. It is interesting to see the changes that have happened to the resort in the past few years. Thanks for sharing.

The other night, I watched a copy of my "A Day at Disneyland" video and was amazed at how much the park has changed in the 8 or 9 years since the video was produced. Below are some of the highlights of things that appeared in the video that aren't currently at the park ...

*Disneyland Marquee (now owned by John Stamos)
*Old Parking Lot (now DCA)
*Town Square Cafe
*Tahitian Terrace with Polynesian dancers
*Old boats and dock of Jungle Cruise
*Swiss Family Treehouse
*Politically Incorrect version of Pirates of the Caribbean
*Cabin is still burning on the Rivers of America
*Mike Fink Keelboats
*Country Bear Jamboree
*Big Thunder Ranch and Barbecue
*King Arthur Carrousel going strong
*Skyway
*Small World is still painted blue and white
*Submarine Voyage
*Old Autopia
*People Mover
*Rocket Jets
*Space Mountain is still white and has loading ramp in front
*One-of-a-Kind Shop
*Golden Horseshoe dance show
*Old Madame Leota effect on Haunted Mansion
*Main Street Electrical Parade
*Fantasy in the Sky fireworks

There were lots of lesser changes and a lot that is still the same. It just surprised me how much "A Day at Disneyland" is different today than it was a few years ago. I guess Disneyland will never be complete afterall ...

Matt
<a href="http://www.StartedByAMouse.com" target="_blank">http://www.StartedByAMouse.com</a>

 

Originally Posted By dizzdis

Wow, it is amazing the differences you see!It would be fun to have a , Then, then, then, and now too!Like the different generations of a family!Maybe I'm obsessive but, it's like watching your children grow.You see it constantly, think you know every inch, and then when you look back at pictures, you are floored.

 

Originally Posted By Santa Monica

I really enjoyed the pictures.

 

Originally Posted By cmpaley

Wow! What a difference a few years make!

I like what they did with the parking lot and over at the DLH. On a purely aethetic level, parking lots are pretty unattractive, but I don't like what they did to Tomorrowland. Space Mountain looked much better gleaming white.

 

Originally Posted By cmpaley

aesthetic*

 

Originally Posted By Mop-Boy

Wow. I had thought they moved the entire Monorail from the Disneyland Hotel. I never even noticed how close I was. Things have changed sooo much in a short period of time.

 

Originally Posted By jonvn

Great feature! I really enjoyed it.

 

Originally Posted By Jim in Pasadena CA

Really shows just how much the area has been improved -- superb reminder.

 

Originally Posted By ckturtle

After looking at the pictures of Disney, old and new, I seem to prefer the archetecture and style and feel of the older Disney. It felt more inviting and pleasant then. it created a truer feeling of anticipation, enthusiasim, excitement, pleasure and contentment.
The newer Disney appears to be too artificial. It's seems more to do with artistic colors and styling instead of true atmosphere creating. In the older Disney days, it was not only how things looked, but also, how it felt. I definitely miss those days of Disney.

 

Originally Posted By jonvn

I think it has to do with what you're used to...the place looks a million times better now to me, but it is different.

 

Originally Posted By DMarsh

Hi! This is Doug, the photographer. It was a lot of fun to go on a "Disneyland Now" tour to match up old photos. I should note that almost every one was taken from EXACTLY the same spot--even though some appear quite different. The parking lot/DCA photo "now" was taken just slightly to the West. Otherwise, all we would see is the side of the Pacific Wharf. That is why the Anaheim Hilton seems to "disappear" in the "Now" photo.

By the way, the Disneyland Marquee is not entirely owned by John Stamos. He bought one side of the lettering only. One of the castles from the top was sold to another collector. So there's still more to sell out there, somewhere.

 

Originally Posted By Westsider

It's amazing how ugly the old parking lot actually was. And the old ticket booths and entrance plaza had all the charm of a drive-in movie theater. The area around the old Disneyland Hotel monorail station has been vastly improved as well. West Street, now Disneyland Drive, used to be ugly and lifeless.

I'm not a huge fan of DCA itself (mainly the lackluster attractions), but the improvements made in and around the Resort area have improved the place immensely.

It really was becoming very ugly by the early and mid 1990's, wasn't it?!

 

Originally Posted By Disneyland55

That was so fun! Thank you for doing that, even though some of the before and after pics weren't the same exact spot. Wow, Disneyland has become much prettier. The ground looks so much nicer these days. There used to be a lot more palm trees in disneyland Park. I hope to see more before and after "articles."

 

Originally Posted By everybody polka

Wow, that's really incredible!

Now I see why I was so shocked/disoriented last year. I mean, I knew things had changed a lot, but yeah.. Wow. It's amazing what a billion and a half dollars will buy these days.

Great feature.

 

Originally Posted By Sir_Clinksalot

It's amazing that the picture's are from the exact same spot. Sometimes it is hard to remember the way things used to be. Great article.

 

Originally Posted By LVCajun

I must say I got a little teary eyed when I saw the picture of the Submarine Lagoon looking over to Old Tomorrowland. I miss it. I'd have to say the last two trips I have made to DL I haven't even gone there.

 

Originally Posted By WEDWAY100

Thanks for taking the time to do this article! As a regular at WDW, I still haven't been back to DL since 1995. The old pictures are just as I remember it. It now looks much more like a complete resort, rather than a collection of unrelated things (DL Hotel, Pan Pacific, DL Parking lot, etc).

The only negative I saw was TL. The entire central facility that had rocket jets and peoplemover looks useless. That was strange.

I'll have to start saving for a trip to go see it for myself!

 

Originally Posted By teri

Those were lovely, Doug! Thank you very much. Amazing how the old asphalt expanses of the parking lots and streetscape have transfomed into a visual treat.

 

Originally Posted By Santa Monica

<<It's amazing that the picture's are from the exact same spot. Sometimes it is hard to remember the way things used to be. Great article. >>

Yeah, it's great. Like that shot with the monorail station. They both had Monorail Blue's coming in. Awesome.