Letters: Magical memories on Disneyland's 60th anniversary

July 26, 2015 6:30 AM PT

Happy memories of Magic Kingdom

I read with much pleasure all of the articles in the Travel section on July 12 regarding Walt Disney and the development of Disneyland [“Walt’s World”]. My family migrated from Michigan to Whittier in summer 1957. I was a boy of 13, and at the top of my want list was a visit to Disneyland.

I have made numerous visits in the many years since. Some in my youth, some as an adult with my children and grandchildren. Some especially fond times were in my late teens when several friends and I would get off from our part-time jobs on a Saturday night, freshen up and rush down to the park to go see the Clara Ward Singers.

My visits to the Magic Kingdom have been touched with sadness too. On Oct. 28, 1979, while treating his granddaughter, my niece, to a birthday celebration, my father, Robert R. Robinson, suffered a fatal heart attack at the park.

Since that day, Disneyland has been the happiest place but also the saddest place on Earth to me. I have found comfort in the knowledge that my father was doing one of the things that brought him the most joy in his life: doing something special for and with one of his grandchildren.

James Robinson

Hemet

As a lifelong fan of Disneyland, you certainly made my day with the wonderful Travel section commemorating its 60th anniversary.

When I was a child, we would watch “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” (on our black-and-white TV) every Sunday night.

When a new ride was opening, the series would show just enough detail that you couldn’t wait to experience it.

Even now that I am a year older than the park and have traveled to many interesting places around the world, I still feel it is the happiest place on Earth.

Cheryl Crawford

Fallbrook

In 1955, my parents, grandmother, my brother and I visited Disneyland for the first time. It really was magical for us kids.

I recall my grandmother, in her broken English, referring to Disneyland as “Dizzyland,” and my father complaining that he spent $20, which included admission, rides and food, for all of us. Imagine that.

Diana Cauble

Torrance

As a 5-year-old boy, the opening day of Disneyland was wonderful. I am glad that 60 years later, The Times could tell me how everything was a disaster.

But please don’t tell me that Peter Pan used cables to fly. I never saw them when I saw the play at ages 6, 21, 31 or 62.

Maybe Walt was right when he welcomed kids of all ages.

Barry Nichols

Los Angeles

Regarding fact No. 41, which frankly should have held the No. 33 spot [“Mousekefacts,” by Brady MacDonald and Christopher Reynolds, July 12]. I mean, really … they failed to mention that Club 33 was designed for the 33 original lessees that operated the Sunkist Citrus House, Coke Corner, the Pendleton shop, etc. Yes, they were sponsors, but they did business in the park before Disney bought back their shops.

I know, because from 1971 to 1977, I worked at the Citrus House. Because there was alcohol allowed at Club 33, my fresh-orange-juice boss left for lunch with a quart of OJ and came back happy.

I used to take my 10-minute breaks sitting in the jungle cruise boats, whose backstage was behind our shop.

Judy Silk

Pacific Palisades

I shall never forget walking up Main Street at Disneyland, all the windows lighted up, but only silence. It was dark, I was attending Fullerton College, majoring in English literature, and my class was attending a play at the theater. Eerie, not another soul on the street except my son, Douglas, and I, the only sound the sound of our footsteps. None of the rides operating. We were alone until we entered the theater.

My son was attending Harbor College after his four-year tour of duty in Vietnam.

So wonderful being there with him. He was later to die of cancer of the esophagus. He was exposed to Agent Orange. But we had that moment to share at Disneyland.

Doris Estus Gill

Phelan

The write-ups on Walt Disney and Disneyland that included such topics as 60 things you didn’t know, the story of opening day and how magic is made could not have covered the Disney phenomenon any better than a complete encyclopedia on the subject.

The looks at its start, changes through the years and current Disneyland attractions, along with its inner workings, left nothing to the imagination, so to speak.

Some interesting and fascinating facts were revealed, such as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. being among the first drivers on the Autopia ride on opening day in 1955, more than 750 million people passing through the entry gates since opening day and the personal habit of Walt Disney walking around Disneyland, standing in line with other people and actually riding on some of the rides.

I can personally attest to Disney’s riding on some of his rides as evidenced by a photo I took of him on the Mad Tea Party after the opening of the park.

He must have had pretty strict dress codes in those days; he was wearing a suit and tie.

Bill Spitalnick

Newport Beach

Flight rules

I just read Catharine Hamm’s article in The Times regarding one-way tickets [“Can Miles and Cash Mix?,” On the Spot, July 5]. What about people who don’t plan to return?

I can’t understand why the government doesn’t step in. We’re held hostage by the unreasonable demands of the airlines. Even if we can purchase two one-way fares instead of a round trip, we still have to commit to a return date, whether or not we know when we’re returning, assuming we’re buying a nonrefundable ticket.

And what about $25 for checking one piece of luggage? What about selling stale sandwiches at inflated rates? What about no blankets or pillows? What about selling earphones that don’t fit in human ears?

That’s off my chest. Thanks for the article.

Sharon Noble

North Hollywood

How ironic and timely that Hamm’s comments on mixing miles and money for air travel hit on July 5.

Just three days before, I was trying to use American Airlines’ reduced mileage awards offer for AAdvantage card members to get to Raleigh/Durham, N.C.

This perk gives card holders a code to use for mileage travel with 5,000 to 7,500 miles off a supersaver ticket, if there are seats.

I could either spend about $480 or more or 50,000 miles to get there in August, so I made sure there were mileage seats available and called (required to get the reduced perk).

The friendly AA customer service rep said she did show a seat available for the reduced fair returning from Raleigh, but nothing going out of Santa Ana. She suggested I use the reduced mileage award to get home and purchase a one-way ticket to Raleigh.

She checked for me and said that the flight I wanted from John Wayne was only $208 one way.

I was surprised, as I had always assumed one-way tickets were as much or more than round trip.

Bottom line, the rep at AA booked my returning flight for 10,000 miles, and I went on the AA site and booked my outgoing flight for $208, as she said.

I know miles may be worth more than the $275 I “saved,” but a trip to see a friend for $208 plus only 10,000 miles? I’ll take it.

Bette Hagerty

Laguna Niguel