Disneyland Then, Now, and Forever

Pros: lots of historical color photos documenting Disneyland’s history, exhaustiveCons: none.Disneyland and Walt Disney World alike used to release an annual hardcover souvenir book with about 200 pages, colorful pictures of everything in the parks. The theme would change slightly each year, as well as the content to commemorate each magical year of theme park progress. I would gladly allow Walt Disney World to squeeze an extra $25 plus tax to own this book every year. I have quite a collection that goes back to the early 1980s, and even earlier. This very attractive hardcover book is very similar in size and content. This book was released in 2005 to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of California's Disneyland, and like most things released at this time, the amazing rich history of how Walt came up with the idea for his first theme park, and how it's progressed along with him, and even posthumously after his death in 1966.The book begins with proposed layouts of how the park would flow, as well as the area in California where the park would reside. Initially, Walt thought that the park would somehow fit on the eight acres of land next to his Burbank office Disney Studios. As the ideas began to grow, he knew he needed much more land, and so he bought a larger lot of land in Anaheim, this coming in at about 160 acres. It's amazing to actually witness the progress come along, which actually coincide with Walt's ideas, even years after he left us.As the book goes on we witness the fabulous ideas that may look great on paper, but actually failed when put into practice. Take the Flying Saucer attraction for instance only lasted nearly five years. There is a picture of Walt sitting in one of the saucers with a very dismayed look on his face as the saucer's constant malfunctions, which plagued the attraction were now plaguing him. The book goes on to say that the Tomorrowland stage replaced this attraction, and then after that Space Mountain.Some of the stories that I found fascinating include a place called Holidayland. This area now is dedicated to New Orleans Square, but back in 1957, this area premiered and remained for four years. You couldn't access this park from Disneyland, it had a separate entrance and admission which ran about sixty cents for a child to enter. From the pictures, this was surely no Disneyland, but it had slides and monkey bars for the kids. It contained a large picnic area, horseshoes, a baseball diamond, volleyball and sometimes even the Mouseketeers would show up and perform at the candystriped tent.Another place insdie Disneyland was an area called Holiday Hill. This is where the Matterhorn sits today. From the pictures it's a place that looks sort of secluded, with just a park bench sitting amidst of a grassy area with some trees and shade. It looks like it would have been one of my favorite places inside Disneyland, yet it didn't last too long as the Matterhorn was built in 1959, only four years after Disneyland opened its gates.I also found the section of unused attractions very interesting, in how no idea really goes to waste. They had a small attraction called the "duck bump" which was a water version of bumper cars inside of a wave pool. These days they used the wave pool idea in both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. There were plans for a China Town section off of Main Street which would have shows, of course the China Pavillion on EPCOT has realized this old idea. There was going to be an area called Dumbo's Circusland which would have a Big Top along with the Dumbo ride, and in 2013 there are plans to open just this in Walt Disney World's new expanded Fantasyland.Any Disney enthusiast is going to absolutely love this book and the wealth of information. Even from the early fifties, it almost feels like a first-hand account instead of research done fifty years later. The historical photographs are clean and mostly in color, and the information is matter-of-fact and accurate. I'm not sure how people that aren't too obsessed with Disney would feel about this book, though I feel with the overall historical value this book projects would appeal to the casual reader as well. If you're able to find this book, pick one up as it's bound to become more and more scarce and the book will soon be available only at $150 and up on eBay..Disneyland Then Now and Forever: Remember the Moments - A Magical SouvenirISBN: 0-7868-5442-1Disney EditionsAuthor: Bruce Gordon & Tim O'DayHardcover184 Pages04/06/2005Rating: 5 stars

I absolutely love Disneyland and this was a must have! It is just as good as I thought it would be and the seller was great, quick and very professional throughout my experience with this purchase.

Man of the classic Disneyland "lands" & rides are long gone. This helps to bring them back to life for a few minutes.

This book is a treasure. You can tell the authors spent a lot of time and effort in picture selection. I have read quite a few histories of Disneyland and they mention many of these pictures in the book. Walt sitting in the prototype of the Autopia car is an example. I highly recommend this book to any Disneyland fan.

Item as described or better. Quick shipping. Thanks!

I looked at getting this while at Disneyland. I regretted not buying it and then bought it on line.It is a Great book on the history of Disneyland. We all thoroughly enjoyed it.You can buy it in the park for $24. It is definitely worth $24. I paid $35 on line.If you go to Disneyland definitely buy it there, or ask someone going there to buy it for you. I would not spend the 80 to 120 that some are asking.

The book is brand new.

It’s not in as good of condition as I had hoped