Native American Dancers at Disneyland 1959

Native American Dancers, 1959

At one time there were a number of different shows and exhibits for Native Americans at Disneyland.  This is from 1959 as part of a show that featured several traditional dances.

Disneyland's the Jungle Cruise

The Jungle Cruise

For the next 2 days and 4 nights.......
/640, f/2.8, ISO 100, 80mm

Fowlers Inn and Harbor from 1956

Fowlers Inn & Harbor

Fowlers Inn and Harbor on the Rivers of America from 1956.  This would be where the Harbour Galley is now.  So right behind it would be where Critter Country would end up.

Minnie Mouse at the Hub in Disneyland

Minnie Mouse

How cute can she be?  Minnie Mouse in the Hub at Disneyland.
1/2500, f/2.0, ISO 200, 35mm

King Arthur's Carrousel an "A" Coupon ride

An "A" Coupon

We hear about the use of Coupons at Disneyland so it is nice to actually see a sign that tells you which coupon you need for a ride.  An "A" coupon was the least expensive and an "E" was the most and used only for the very top rides.

Splash Mountain River Boat

Splash Mountain

You can only get this shot from the Train as you are passing through the tunnel that is by the Splash Mountain ride.  You can get a similar one while you are on the ride but looking down on it you have to take it as you go pass the window in the tunnel.
1/320, f/1.4, ISO 1250 with a 35mm lens

It's A Small World from the Monorail

Monorail looking out towards It's A Small World

This is an interesting shot.  It was taken from inside the Monorail looking out towards It's a Small World.  On the right you can see the Autopia and on the left is the Motor Boat Cruise.  I do not have a date on this one, anyone have an idea?

Disneyland Train at the Main Street Station

Train at the Main Street Station

This is an older shot taken back during the 50th Anniversary.  The settings are 1/350, f/11, ISO 800 (I have no idea why, it should have been 100 to 200.  My guess is that I had it set from the night before and this was my first shot of the day, but it still turned out fine) 60mm

Burning Cabin along the Rivers of America

Burning Cabin 

As you sail along the Rivers of America (many years ago) you will come upon a cabin in full blaze.  For years it was said that the Indians were at fault and then later it was the settler who caused all the damage, now the cabin is there and the fire has gone away.

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin Ride

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Ride

This is a fun and fast ride in Toontown.  The issue in taking pictures on this ride is not just that it is so dark but also that the cars are going in crazy direction and you have very little control of where you are going to be pointed towards.
This was taken with a Nikon D600, 1/320, f/1.4, ISO 3200 with a 35mm lens.

Disneyland Stage Coach in 1957

The Stage Coach into the Painted Desert

This is from 1957 showing the Stage Coach that is getting ready to take the guests on a trip through the Painted Desert.

It's A Small World

It's A Small World

This is a picture of one of the dolls in the It's A Small World ride at Disneyland.  This was taken with a Nikon D7000, 1/100, f/2.8, ISO 800, 116mm

A fair amount of work was done in Lightroom to bring out the details.

Casey Jr. and Cinderella's Castle

Casey Jr and Cinderella's Castle

This is a vintage picture of Story Book Land and Casey Jr. train ride.

Sleeping Beauty Rabbit

Rabbit in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle

This is a rabbit from the Sleeping Beauty movie.  It was taken with a Nikon D7000, 1/500, f/2.8, ISO 125 with a lens set at 70mm.

Two Horse Drawn Surrey in Town Square

Horse drawn surrey

This is a two horse drawn surrey in the Town Square area about to make a slight turn to head up Main Street.  If you look in the back of the picture you can see the souvenir booth.

The Redhead from the Pirates of the Caribbean

Bring on the Redhead!!!

Bring on the Redhead!!  She does not look to worried, I sure she can handle those pirates.
This picture was taken with a Nikon D800, 1/200, f/1.4, ISO 2000 using an 85mm lens

The Disneyland Desert, Jungle Cruise

The Desert Cruise, I mean the Jungle Cruise

This is a picture of the Disneyland Desert  Jungle Cruise. The difference 60 years can make with the trees is amazing.
 

Winnie the Pooh's Birthday Party

Winnie the Pooh's Birthday Party

This is at the very end of the Winnie the Pooh ride at Disneyland.  This was taken with a Nikon D800, 1/125, f/1.4, ISO 800 with an 85mm lens.

Performers in the Coke Corner

Singers in Coke Corner

Performers throughout the Park have always been around but years ago people really got a lot more excited about them then they do today.
I am not sure what year.

Stream Boat Mickey in Fantasmic!

Steam Boat Mickey

This is from Fantasmic.  I changed it to black and white since it was a black and white cartoon.
This was taken with a Nikon D600, 1/500, f/2.8, ISO 2500 set at 200mm lens.

I have to wonder how he got his gloves all dirty.  I do not remember that in the cartoon.

The Fort Wilderness on Tom Sawyer's Island (1957)

Fort on Tom's Island in 1957

Back in the late 50's and even into the early 70's this was a great place to go.  You could climb up into the lookout posts and see everything.  Slowly over the years they started to close it down and now you can not even get into the Fort.

Parrot in Pirates of the Caribbean

From Pirates of the Caribbean

This little guy is in the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean.  Years ago when he was first added he would actual say things, but now he just moves up and down a little.  
This was taken a number of years ago using a Nikon D7000, 1/60, f/2.8, ISO 1250 at 150mm

The Columbia with Sails

The Columbia with Sails

Where did those sails go? It would be great if they brought them back, it really adds to the look and feel of the ship.

Mike from the Monsters Inc ride at Disney's California Adventure

Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc.

This is Mike from the Monsters Inc ride at Disney's California Adventure.  This was taken with a Nikon D600 with the following settings: 1/320, f/1.4, ISO 1600 using a 35mm lens.  Some color correction using the white balanced that was about it.  They use some very harsh lights in this ride (as they do in most of the dark rides) so those needed to be pulled out.  The colors here are green and blue in most of the scenes.  It is hard to pull those colors out and still have some color for Mike and Sulley since they are green and blue!?

The Mark Twain

The Mark Twain

Here is the Mark Twain, it has not changed much at all over the years.  To get it into Disneyland it was built in pieces, assembled in the workshop, taken apart, moved to the Park and finally put back together.
Although the Mark Twain has not changed much the Rivers of America have.  Of course, the biggest change is the landscaping and in this picture the dock area as well.

Tinker Bell in a Disneyland Parade!

Tinker Bell

There is nothing like a Parade at Disneyland.  The whole area gets crowded with people.  It is hard at times to know where the best place is to take pictures of the Parade.  I have tried several different locations and I have found that some are better then others and it all depends on how long you want to wait.  Of course even if you do wait there will always be those people that come in at the last minute and work their way into your spot, so get your tripod out and camp out for awhile.
Here we have Tinker Bell.  She is always a crowd favorite!

Early Autopia

Early Autopia

I am not sure what year this was but as you can see there are no rails in the center to keep cars on the track.  However, the area that they can drive on was narrow enough to keep the cars from getting to far off.

Pete's Dragon in the Electrical Light Parade

Pete's Dragon in the Electrical Light Parade 

This picture was actually taken several years ago when the Electrical Light Parade (or actually a shorten version of the Parade) was at Disney's California Adventure.  This was back in 2005 and it was a way to get people to come over to the other Park.  Well, it worked for us.
This was taken with a Nikon D200, 1/10, f/5.0, ISO 800 at 75mm

Bears watching the Mine Train go by

Bears watching the Mine Train go by

Back when the mine train was running through Frontierland there were bears that would be watching everything go by.  They would scratch their backs against the trees.  Nothing seemed to bother them, until they were removed?!

Dinosaurs on the Disneyland train ride

On the Disneyland Train Ride

This picture was taken with a Nikon D800 1/400, f/1.4, ISO 3200 with 35mm lens
They put a lot of harsh lights into these scenes so it can be difficult to know what the final picture should really look like.

House of the Future, 1958

House of the Future

This is from 1958 at Disneyland, The House of the Future.  Funny I do not see any of these around my neighborhood, but maybe it is not enough into the future.

Skeleton from Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean

This is a shot from the Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland.  The picture was taken with a Nikon D800, 1/100, f/2.8, ISO 3200, 200mm.

There was a fair amount of clean up in Lightroom due to the strong lights that flood the area.

Skyway in Tomorrowland in the 60's, not much there!

Just hanging around

So 1) where are all the people?, 2) where are all the trees and bushes, 3) where are all the rides?  Well, in the early years of Disneyland there was not a lot of any of those things.  But as they years went on more people came, the trees and bushes all grew out and more rides were added.  And yes, we are very thankful for all of that (well, except for all the people)

Tea anyone? Alice in Wonderland ride at Disneyland

Tea anyone?

This is from the Alice in Wonderland ride at Disneyland.
This was taken with a Nikon D800, 1/100, f/1.4, ISO 1600 with a 35mm lens.  It had a little noise in it, next time I will try an slightly lower ISO and maybe a faster shutter speed as well.  But all in all, not bad.

Tomorrowland in the early 70's

Tomorrowland in the early 70's

I like this shot because it shows that the rocket ride was several stories up.  You went up an escalator and when you actually were on the ride it was high enough in the air where you really felt that you were flying.  You also boarded the Peoplemover on a second level.
 

Disneyland's Dragon in Fantasmic

Dragon in Fantasmic

The battle begins for Mickey's imagination.  Who will win?
This picture was taken with a Nikon D600, 1/500, f/2.8, ISO 2500 at 70mm.
There was some noise; of course due to the higher ISO setting, but it was easy enough to take some of it out in Lightroom.

America on Parade in 1976

America on Parade

1776 to 1976  Disneyland is celebrating with America on Parade.  I think these three fit right into the theme for that year.  Donald looks like he just came back from the fighting.  Mickey; of course, looks perfect!

Mickey at the start of Fantasmic with fireworks, also a close up of the same shot

These are the same picture, the bottom one is a close up.  From a distance you can see some of the detail in the shot but once you look at the close up the sparks and smoke really come alive.
This was taken with a Nikon D600, 1/320 to try and freeze some of the smoke and flares, f2.8 to let in as much light as possible and to focus in on Mickey, ISO 2500, again to get some more light in without having to much "noise" and using a 200mm lens set at 190mm to be able to get all of the fireworks coming from his fingers.

Make sure that you click on the picture to get a better look.  It is to bad that the web degrades pictures so much to cut back on the file size, but you will get an idea.

Tomorrowland in the ever early 60's

Tomorrowland in the early 60's

This is not a very good picture as far as the quality goes but it is amazing how much things have changed.  Now it is hard to see anything outside the borders of Disneyland but back in the 50's and 60's the trees and bushes that have grown so much were still very small and they did not cover much up at that point.

Indian waving to the passing Train

Indian Chief

As you go on the train around Disneyland you will see the Indian Chief.  He will wave to you and then the turns and waves to the Mark Twain as it goes by.  He is letting you know that they are friendly indians and you have nothing to worry about.  Indians have always been a big part of Disneyland from the day it first opened.
This was taken with a Nikon D800, 1/250, f/2.8, ISO 2500, using a 200mm lens.  It was early evening when I took this shot.  Still I could have lowered the ISO setting and pushed the f-stop to 8 or so and it would have been a better picture.

Pluto riding the Dumbo ride at Disneyland in the early 60's

Pluto on Dumbo, early 60's

It is not often where you see a dog riding an elephant, but here we have Pluto riding Dumbo from the early 60's.  This was before the remolding of Fantasyland where the Dumbo ride was moved to it's current location.

The Tiger from the Jungle Cruise

Tiger from the Jungle Cruise Ride

I think the saying is that he can jump more than 10 feet, so do not worry he will just jump right over the boat.
This was taken with a Nikon D800, 1/500, f/2.5 (I should have used an f-stop of around 8 to get more of the area right by him in focus) ISO 400 (might have been able to have lowered that a little to 200 as it looks like there was a lot of light) with an 85mm lens.
One of the big considerations on all of the rides is the change in the light conditions as you go from one scene to another.  Here the light is fairly bright but if you have been on the ride you know that just around the corner it becomes a lot darker due to all of the trees.  It was not always that way with the Jungle Cruise, when it first opened it was more like the Desert Cruise due to the lack of any major vegetation.  But now there are a lot of areas where the trees are blocking out the sun so you have to be able to make the adjustments on your camera quickly.  Again, you are moving on a boat and most of the animals are also moving so you will need to use a fast shutter speed.

Tomorrowland in the 60's

Tomorrowland in the 60's

Daily Vintage Disneyland: Tomorrowland from the 60's,

In the background is the Rocket Ride, it was a lot like what the Astro Blaster ride is now.  The main difference is that you started up higher so you had a better view of things.
The Peoplemover can be seen as well up front. It would go through a lot of the Tomorrowland rides and shops so you could get an over view of the whole Land.  

Tiki Room bird at Disneyland

Tiki Room bird

 The Tiki Room.  This was taken with a Nikon D800 at 1/250, f/2.8, ISO 2500 using a 200mm lens.
Very sharp and clear.  This was taken during the show itself.

Anyone know his name?

Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore in the America on Parade in 1972

Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore in America on Parade

This is from the 1972 America on Parade.  I am not sure what they are doing in a big TV, maybe they had a TV show back then.  I sure hope Pooh does not lose that honey pot on top of his head.

The Singing Busts from the Haunted Mansion

Singing Busts from the Haunted Mansion

These guys just keep on singing.  Day after day after day.  This was taken with a Nikon D800, 1/80, f/1.4, ISO 4000, 35mm lens.  No flash.
A lot of work in Lightroom.  Not sure how it should look really, but I rather enjoy this.

The Matterhorn!

The Matterhorn

I know, there are thousands of pictures of the Matterhorn, but it is so beautiful I just could help but to post this one!
This was taken with a Nikon D800, 1/500, f/11, ISO 250 with an 85mm lens.

Donald Duck with Minnie Mouse from the 60's

Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse

Hey, what is Donald doing with Mickey's girl?
Here they are on Main Street USA in the 60's.  Let's hope it all worked out OK for everyone.