Not Having Fun at Disneyland
Fritz ;)
Sit back and let your eyes feast on these beautiful vintage pics of people NOT having fun at Disneyland. Ok, they WERE having fun at Disneyland except for the moments they were being photographed. Probably.
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Oh how I loved Boy Scout Days at Disneyland. I was a Boy Scout (and a Cub Scout) and lived for this one day a year. For some dumb reason I thought it was fun to wear my uniform in public at Disneyland. As if I were more important than on other non-uniformed days in the park. This is not me in the photo.
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Lady, take better care of that guide map!
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I'm sure the Color Gallery in Tomorrowland was loads and loads of fun. Secretly the lady and guy wearing a purse were loving it.
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Nice white tuxedo and Test Track hat, kid.
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Alice?
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15¢?
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I'm lovin' the double steering wheels. (Midget Autopia)
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Walt is definitely not having fun.
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For all those Guest Relation people who say "Walt hated Disneyland because he didn't get it right until he made Magic Kingdom"... you are still wrong. Despite his expression in this photo. Also, he never saw the Magic Kingdom.
For all you that say early Disneyland was no fun... you now have your proof. No, actually it was very very fun.
The funny thing about all these photos is that they came from Disneyland souvenir books. Books that Disney sold in the park. I used to photograph the parks for Disney and they were always so particular about the people in the shots. First of all, we had to introduce ourselves, ask the people to sign a waver, then ask them to pose a certain way. (Unless we hired professional models to act like they were guests). Additionally there were a million guidelines about diversity. There had to be non-white people somewhere in each shot. Age diversity was big, as was (believe it or not) weight diversity--not only skinny people in every pic. And of course smiles. That was huge with management. Occasionally it was asked of me, “can you Photoshop an even bigger smile on that person?”
I do prefer the very candid shots of the old days. Much more natural. Although it's always nice to at least look like you are not miserable.
Photos from the collections of the ImagineeringDisney.com staff. ©The Walt Disney Company.
Related posts:
EYE CANDY: National Geographic Aug '63
EYE CANDY: National Geographic Aug '63 [Part 2]
1962 Disneyland Souvenir Map - High Res
Early Tomorrowland... so beautiful.
Vintage Disneyland Home Movies- Meeting Walt Disney Himself
Disneyland 1955 Model Close-ups
Disneyland
Reader Comments (14)
In the Walt photo, it's awesome that the Autopia cars weren't yet on a fixed track. I love the all-around bumper guard. I wonder if they redesigned it after numerous crack ups?
Outstanding photo collection. If the picture of the boy scout wasn't you, is that the kid who ate you?
That tea cup picture is amazing! hahaha.
I actually started working on a post about my encounter with one of these grumpy people.
My favorite is the boy and girl in the red car. She's SO happy and he's SO upset, you just KNOW there had to be a good story behind it!
Thanks, all.
@Jon The Moonspinner- Yeah, how fun would Autopia be without railings (and restricted speeds). Sure, it's an operational nightmare but much more fun for guests. Nice name by the way.
@Donnie- I'd love to read your grumpy people post!
@Melissa- Yeah that kid is miserable. He better enjoy that Midget Autopia while he can. Before they tear it out. Not like Disneyland needs THREE Autopia rides, but still.
HAHAHA not that anyone cares, but I did make an EPCOT book picture once. I was standing at global communications wondering just what the heck I was supposed to be doing, when I was approached about the whole waiver thing. I didn't care, but the funny part is that it was just the back view of my stylish down vest and high tops. The shot makes it look like I was the only who did understand the situation, of course under the rigid knowing attention of the cast member.
Did anyone else notice that the pole holding up the roof of the popcorn wagon appears to be broken and cover in black tape?
Ewww - someone go back in time and tell the dad in the first shot to put his shoes back on!
These were GREAT!!!!
I'm thinking the guy in the first picture is probably waiting for his wife to come out of the bathroom. Or to get off of a ride that the little one beside him just isn't tall enough to go on. Or maybe the little kid was having a tantrum (missed his mid day nap perhaps) and dad just needed to get him to a place where they could chill out for a little bit without going back to the hotel.
And the mom pushing the double stroller is thinking, "why the heck did i wear these shoes!?" lol
Isn't that the guy who cleans up horse shit giving popcorn to those children?!
It's like my grandpa use to say:
Grandpa: Well! there's something you don't see anymore.
Kids: What grandpa?
Grandpa: Horse shit in the garage.....
In the world of color picture, it's not a purse, it's a satchel
The boyscout looks like the kid from Up!