1961 was a dynamic year for the Disneyland Hotel. In the next few postings, I will discuss more in-depth the additions to the Hotel during this year and how they helped to create a model for the resort industry in the way of amenities for future resort locations, including Walt Disney World.
Always thought the addition of the Monorail to the Hotel was pretty spectacular - looking forward to more of your posts...
ReplyDeleteSo did Walt Disney. Now he had a working model of his transportaion solution for LA County and beyond. I used to love checking in to the Hotel, leaving my baggage at the bell desk and catching the Monorail into the Park. They almost never let you check in early at the Disneyland Hotel so you would always have a few hours at the Park. Staying at certain two story Garden Villas was always close to the Monorail Station and not a long walk.
ReplyDeleteExciting stuff Don, thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteIn '61, my eyes and those of every kid in Thousand Oaks, California would get wide as saucers whenever we came down the 101 Freeway into Calabasas, just before entering the San Fernando Valley, and saw The Sign: that big billboard with the cutout of the Monorail soaring above it. "Now! Ride the Monorail to the Disneyland Hotel!"
The billboard was removed years ago, and an auto dealership stands there now, but the memories remain.
That's what I hoped would be a result of this blog.....happy memories. Your's is a really nice one and I can almost see that billboard myself.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of memories, the mini golf course figures prominently in my own personal greatest Disneyland story ever (too long to share here). Its so rare seeing pics of that thing; like the hotel and the motels, it made the area outside the park part of the fantasy too.
ReplyDeleteThe Monorail is such a lovely way to get that much needed nap in the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI have memories of riding it at night back to our room. The day was long but totally memorable, and it was so peaceful and relaxing to just sit back, listen to the spiel in that darkness, and watch Disneyland and Anaheim glide by, knowing that we had a nice warm bed to look forward to back at the hotel, and an exciting day at the park tomorrow.