I have been counting down the 11 rides that were at Disneyland on Day 1 and are still running. The list includes 2 more that I think have changed too much to be counted.
DISNEYLAND RAILROAD
Since opening day, the Disneyland Railroad has transported guests around the theme park. It originally had two steam engines named C.K. Holliday (after Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway founder Cyrus Kurtz Holliday) and E.P. Ripley (after the same railway’s first president, Edward Payson Ripley). The design was inspired by the ridable miniature railroad Walt Disney maintained in his backyard.
When the Park first opened (1955) to when I worked there (1977) the ride was owned by the Disney Family - WED Enterprises (Walter Elias Disney - later the Disney Family). It was a gesture of respect to to Walt because it was based on his miniature home railroad.
KING ARTHUR’S CAROUSEL
This elaborate carousel has been a fixture of Disneyland since the park’s grand opening. After acquiring a vintage merry-go-round from the Sunnyside Amusement Park in Toronto, Walt Disney and his team updated it to consist solely of "galloping" horses. The ride is meant to make guests feel like the Knights of the Round Table charging on their steeds.
I think (don't fully remember) going on this when I was young. I probably had 1 of 2 reactions (knowing my youth), either crying and demanding to get off, OR being to cool for this at 5 years old. I don't remember which, but I am sure my mother will remember well.
MAIN STREET CINEMA
Okay, this doesn't count to me. When the Park first opened, the Main Street Cinema showed old Disney cartoons (usually the black and white, Mickey Mouse ones). Sometime in the 1980s / 1990s it switched to more current cartoons and feature film clips. Finally, in 2019, theMain Street Cinema was just a facade for the Cartoon Collection, a shop focussed on Mickey and the Gang merchandize.
Here are some pictures from the old Cinema, which kids did not love - but for parents it was a short respite from screaming children and the heat (it was air-conditioned),
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| Typical Size crowds in the 1990s |
I loved the train ride. Our tradition was to pick it up at the end of the day/evening and have it be the last ride to Main Street and the parking lot. I also loved watching the vintage Mickey cartoons. Such great memories.
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