• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclosure
  • PR and Advertising

Babes in Disneyland

  • Babies & toddlers at Disneyland
  • Big Kids
  • Disney at Home
    • Recipes
    • Crafts
    • Home Decorating
  • Holidays & Seasons
    • Dapper Day
    • Summer
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Other Holidays
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Attraction Tips
    • Travel Tips
    • Entertainment Tips
    • Food & Dining Tips
    • Tips for Guests with Special Needs
    • Shopping Tips
    • Ask the Disney Experts
    • Top 5 Lists
  • Disneyland Resort Information
    • Disneyland Park
    • Disney California Adventure Park
    • Downtown Disney
    • Disneyland Hotel
    • Disney’s Grand Californian
    • Paradise Pier Hotel
    • Merchandise & Shopping
    • Entertainment
    • Food & Restaurants
    • Character Dining
    • Off Property Lodging

Fanny packs, Fantasyland and faux photos: a glimpse at Disneyland in 1994 #60DaysTo60Years

June 25, 2015 in All Posts by Courtney Bautista
minnie

Enjoying a character breakfast with Minnie Mouse in the early 90s.

My first visit to Disneyland at 4 years old set the stage for my love of The Happiest Place on Earth, but it was really our family vacations in the 1990s that firmly imprinted the park on my memory and made it a place filled with familiarity and magic that would last into my adulthood. My most vivid memories of experiencing Disneyland as a youngster were made then, and I’ve carried them with me as I’ve grown to love the resort through an adult and parent’s eyes.

aladdin

My sister, Danielle, and I posing with Aladdin and Jasmine on a summer vacation. My fanny pack was both stylish and functional.

We vacationed at Disneyland at least every other summer during my pre-teen and early teen years. My sister was 7 years younger than me, so as a family we hit just about every attraction and show there was, donning such 90s theme park essentials as wide-brimmed sunhats, fanny packs, and custom puff-painted t-shirts.

unnamed

I think we forced my poor dad to take point-of-view video footage of every attraction we rode, and much of our family archives from that time consist of videos rather than still photos. One of my favorite clips is of the four of us taking a break from the summer heat in Tomorrowland and sipping frozen lemonades, and not just because of my dad’s rad aviator glasses or my sister’s epic Daisy hat. It epitomizes what Disneyland is to me–a place to take a break from everyday life and enjoy time with the people who matter most.

 

roger-rabbits-car-toon-spin-00

Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin opened one year after Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland.

In the summer of 1994, we took our first ride on Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, which had opened that January in Mickey’s Toontown. The queue winds through dark, narrow alleys, and guests can hear the weasels, Jessica Rabbit and Baby Herman talking. The queue features license plates with various Disney references. Some of my favorites are 1DRLND (Wonderland), CAP 10 HK (Captain Hook), L MERM8 (The Little Mermaid), RS2CAT (Aristocat) and ZPD2DA (Zip-a-dee-doo-dah).The Toontown Cab Company serves as the boarding area where guests enter their yellow toon taxicab. At the beginning of the attraction, guests spin out in a puddle of “The Dip” spilled by the weasels and the steering wheel of the cab becomes active so it can spin around, similar to Fantasyland’s Mad Tea Party. The attraction’s storyline focuses on the weasels’ plot to kidnap Jessica and “dip” Roger Rabbit.

DisneylandSkyway  Licensed under Public Domain via Wikipedia

The Skyway route passed right through the Matterhorn.

In November that year, an iconic Disneyland attraction closed. I admittedly have never been able to totally get over the loss of the Skyway to Tomorrowland (or Skyway to Fantasyland, depending on the route you took), and it’s at the top of my list of attractions I’d love to see return. As most long-time Disneyland-goers will remember, the Skyway was a gondola lift attraction at Disneyland that carried riders back and forth between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. The Skyway at Disneyland opened in June of 1956 and was the first aerial ropeway of its kind in the country. In 1959, a major renovation added the Submarine Voyage, the Disneyland Monorail, the Matterhorn and the Motor Boat Cruise. Without closing the Skyway, the Matterhorn was built around it. I was not exactly a thrill-seeking child, so I liked being able to pass through the Matterhorn via the Skyway without actually stepping foot in a bobsled and braving an encounter with the Abominable Snowman!

Defunct Skyway station at Magic Kingdom by Retromoderns

Here’s what remains of the Fantasyland Skyway station.

It’s been said that the Disneyland Skyway was removed after 38 years of operation due to stress cracks in the Matterhorn roller battery supports and lack of ADA compliance. The shell of the Skyway station remains in Fantasyland as an homage to the past, but it is not accessible by guests and is now largely hidden by trees. The Tomorrowland Skyway station no longer stands.

My family members were Disneyland “foodies” before the term even existed, and one of our must-do dining spots back in 1994 was the original incarnation of Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue, which was then called simply Big Thunder Barbecue. It was located in the same spot as it is today and also featured outdoor seating in a rustic ranch setting. While the format of the restaurant today is all-you-care-to-enjoy family style, the theme park guide at that time referred to it as a locale offering “Buffeteria Service” BBQ specialties. I remember pushing my tray up to what looked like a parked wagon to order my entrée of choice, which was often barbecue chicken cooking right in front of guests on large outdoor grills. Just like today, the meals were hearty, delicious and a definite departure from your typical theme park food.

unnamed

These 1990s photo souvenirs were taken in a shop on Main Street, U.S.A.

I have to say the Disneyland photography souvenir options have vastly improved in the last 21 years, evidenced by these green screen creations that were, I’m sure, quite cutting edge at the time. Although much has changed since then, much has stayed the same, as well. You can still get a hand-painted parasol made or your caricature drawn in New Orleans Square, and having silhouettes cut by the talented artists on Main Street, U.S.A. has become a tradition I’ve continued with my son. As we celebrate Disneyland’s Diamond Anniversary this year, it’s my hope that a couple decades from now my kids will have a childhood of Disneyland memories to draw upon like I do and are busy making new ones with their own families in that magical place that has proven itself truly timeless.

unnamed

A caricature drawn of my sister and me in New Orleans Square, 1994.

silhouette

My silhouette made in 1994 is on the right, and my son’s from 2014 is on the left.

This post is part of a special Disney community countdown to Disneyland’s 60th anniversary called 60 Days to 60 Years.

An InLinkz Link-up


(Visited 1,154 times, 9 visits today)
  • Tweet
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

0
3 Comments
Previous Downloadable Packing Lists and Tips for Disneyland Resort Trips by Plane and Car
Next Disney Gif App – Disney just made your texts a lot more magical

About Courtney Bautista

Courtney is a Disney pin trader and collector, a Disney Vacation Club member, an Annual Passholder, and in constant pursuit of the next delicious thing at the Disneyland Resort. Courtney is a member of the 2013-2014 Disney Parks Moms Panel, and you can also find her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. DIStherapy says

    June 27, 2015 at 6:24 am

    What trailblazers the Roque Family members were! Point-of-view attraction videos in 1994? My family is lucky to have a few grainy photos from our trip to Walt Disney World that same year and that was our “first” with kids. I would kill to have some unscripted lemonade moments from that vacation! I DO, however, have a final photo of my two boys below the Orlando Skyway in 1999. They still talk about how they miss their “buckets!” As you mention, for every new addition, there is still a sentimental tradition that ties us to the past. No one does homage better than Disneyland and I can’t wait to see the nods to Walt and its past during the Disneyland 60 celebration. Thank you so much for sharing your personal Disneyland footage, Courtney!! (And thank your dad for us. :D)

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Disneyland History | 2006 Debuts Jedi Training AcademyPlugged In Family says:
    July 8, 2015 at 12:25 am

    […] | Parasols, Caricatures & Timeless Family Traditions by Courtney […]

    Reply
  2. 60 Years of Disneyland History in a Nutshell! - Budget Fairy Tale says:
    July 20, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    […] 1994 – Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin opens in Toontown, a fun combination of a dark ride and the Teacups. Disney closes the Skyway after nearly 40 years of operation. (Babes in Disneyland) […]

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

About

About

Babes In Disneyland combines the best of everything the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney Company has to offer families with young children and Disney fans alike, in addition to providing reviews and information on the latest travel products, Southern California destinations and lodging options and much more for families.

Popular Categories

  • Disneyland Resort Information
  • Tips & Tricks for Families
  • Holidays, Season & Special Events
  • Babies & Toddlers at Disneyland
  • Disney At Home
  • Character Dining
  • Ask the Disney Experts

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 3,508 other subscribers

Pregnant at the Parks Series

  • Pregnant at Disneyland: Which Attractions Can...

    All Posts, disney california adventure, disneyland, disneyland resort, pregnant, top posts
  • Pregnant at Disneyland: Our Dream Baby Regis...

    All Posts, babies & toddlers, pregnant
  • Pregnant at Disneyland: My Disney-themed Baby...

    All Posts, disney at home, pregnant
  • Pregnant at Disneyland: What’s In Your...

    All Posts, disneyland resort, pregnant
  • Pregnant at Disneyland: Our Favorite Resting...

    All Posts, pregnant, top posts
  • Pregnant at Disneyland: Counting Steps &...

    All Posts, disneyland resort, pregnant

Archives

Popular Posts

  • Disney at Home: Disneyland's Banyan Beef Skewer Recipe
    Disney at Home: Disneyland's Banyan Beef Skewer Recipe
  • Pregnant at Disneyland: Which Attractions Can I Ride?
    Pregnant at Disneyland: Which Attractions Can I Ride?
  • Personalized Leather Bracelets - A Disneyland Resort Must-Have
    Personalized Leather Bracelets - A Disneyland Resort Must-Have
  • How to Keep Your Stroller Safe at Disneyland + Free Disney Stroller Signs
    How to Keep Your Stroller Safe at Disneyland + Free Disney Stroller Signs
  • Fun Fact Friday: Red Car Trolley on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park
    Fun Fact Friday: Red Car Trolley on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park
  • Pregnant at Disneyland: Snacks in the Parks
    Pregnant at Disneyland: Snacks in the Parks
  • "Doc McStuffins: Time for Your Check Up" DVD Review & Giveaway
    "Doc McStuffins: Time for Your Check Up" DVD Review & Giveaway
  • Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Space Adventure to premiere September 12
    Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Space Adventure to premiere September 12
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Don't miss out on the magic

Subscribe now and receive an email every time we publish a new blog post.

Archives

Our Preferred Travel Partner

Click here to get your free Disneyland vacation quote today!

Fun Recipes

  • Disney at Home: Dole’s Right Note Smoot...

    All Posts, disney at home, recipes
  • Disney At Home: Carnation Cafe Fried Pickles...

    All Posts, disney at home, recipes
  • Disney at Home: Jack-Jack’s Num Num Coo...

    All Posts, disney at home, disney california adventure, disneyland resort, recipes
  • S'mores Bake

    Disneyland S’mores Bake Recipe: Disney...

    All Posts, disney at home, disneyland resort, recipes
  • Disney at Home: M&M Holiday Cookies Made...

    All Posts, disney at home, disneyland resort, Jessica, recipes
Copyright © 2025 Babes in Disneyland
  • Other So Cal Attractions
  • Other Disney Destinations
  • Privacy Policy
Theme by SheShoppes
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d