Views From a Hotel, November 1979
Hey folks, I just found out that I'm going to be away for most of this weekend (starting today) - sort of an unexpected thing. It's likely that I won't be able to respond to comments until Sunday, but I hope that won't stop you from adding your thoughts! I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say.
I have two nice scans for you today, both featuring distant views of Disneyland (and its parking lot) circa 1979. Both photos were taken from an upper story of a hotel - perhaps the Grand Hotel (formerly Wilbur Clark's Crest Hotel), which stood until March of 1998? It's too far south to be from the Howard Johnson's hotel.
As you can see, various smaller motels are spread out before us, with Disneyland in the distance. The larger landmarks are plainly visible... Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, the "hoodoos" of Big Thunder, and even the spires of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Zooming in, we can see tiny hints of some of the fanciful themed motels, as well as the "Twin Dragon" restaurant. To the left, at about the level of the Monorail track, we can see a tiny "minaret" from the Mecca Motel. That's the only one that I can positively ID. Notice to the right there is what appears to be a faux "hut" themed building, but I have no idea what that was. Chime in if you know!
Next is this photo showing more of Disneyland's massive parking lot (taken on a cloudier day).
It's funny how Disneyland basically looks like a sea of trees with the occasional building sticking above the tops - it sure doesn't feel that way when you're in the park!
There's plenty of room in the parking lot! I wonder if the cars parked closest to us are employee vehicles?
I'm sure that there are MANY details that I have missed, so please comment if you see something of interest!
14 comments:
Major-
I can't imagine any other fixed structure, other than the [then] Grand Hotel where these images could be taken from. The hotel was indeed 'imploded' on Sunday, March 22, 1998.
Thanks, Major.
We can even see the cupola on the Haunted Mansion in both photos. And that first one is so clear, we can see two of the Skyway support towers, and a blue gondola exiting the Matterhorn and a yellow gondola hanging over Fantasyland.
In the cloudy view, I was going to say that maybe the park wasn't open that day, just because there are so few cars, even in the employee section. But there does appear to be a few buses parked over yonder. And it does look like there might be a couple people milling around in front of the ticket booths. Maybe the park had just opened, or was about to, and maybe it was a slow weekday. November would have been the off season back then, with the only exception being Thanksgiving Weekend.
In that last shot, I'm pretty sure the building with the slanted roof is Denny's. The sign is just positioned so we are only seeing the edge of it. And it looks like there was a truck parked in the back, making a delivery of some moons.....or maybe some hammy.
I just realized that we can see the Disneyland sign on Harbor Blvd., in that last shot. Again, we can only see the edge of it and the tiniest bit of the large letters. It's just to the left of that blue Volkswagen Bug on Harbor Blvd., and above that strip of dirt in the middle of the road. Where is the grass? Where are the flowers? That's not a very pretty view for guests, as they approach the park!
Major, I think these photos were taken from a Keelboat. (I'm gonna keep saying that 'til, one day, I'll get it right... like a broken clock.)
1) Excellent photo! I love these distant shots that show a wide swath of the Park. The excitement it generates is palpable. Besides the things you mentioned, there's also the Rocket Jets, City Hall(?) on the left, and (as TM! notes) a blue Skyway gondola stuck in the Matterhorn's nostril like a strange alien booger.
In the parking lot pic, wow, it's almost empty! They didn't still have days when the Park was closed, in 1979, did they? Maybe Major is right about these being employee cars. I'm gonna be staying at the Chinese Food Motel. ;-)
Thanks for the expansive views, Major.
No question: THE GRAND HOTEL.
That filled parking lot closest to us is the employee lot known as HARBOR GATE ( lot). The office people had the row of spaces facing the Primeval World show building …. In fact during the day you could hear the dinosaur sounds and fxs from the lot as trains triggered the animation cycles . I miss this Disneyland … some of those hotels look a bit tired -almost dumpy.
On days off if I went to the park I would drive into Harbor Gate … drive to the last employee row where there was a old Diamond mesh steel fence ( like a older version of a chain link fence) it was low .. maybe only 4 feet high . But there was a space between the vip cast parking row and the end of the fence and I could easily drive my car through … by that time of day the DL guests who were parked up front with a colored strip of paper that directed them that close … the parking lot crew was no longer out checking for the colored strips so I would park there and walk into Disneyland a few dozen feet away !!
One of the last times I entered Harbor Gate before DCA construction was underway , I was going to Partners Federal Credit Union ( the Disney credit Union) then to company D - the employee store ( back then they still sold of park used things there sometimes .. there was almost always a supply of lampost event placards and even the massive ones from
Harbor Blvd: but you had to transport anything you bought ! Anyway , I was walking back to my car ( all white ) and saw mud all over the side , wheels and fenders … I actually remembered seeing the large wet spot pulling in and thought it was water … I guess it was mud. So I drove to a drive thru car wash …. Nothing … it was still there … I drive thru again … still mud on my car …. And again … when I realized it was BROWN PAINT!!!!
Major, these are real gems, def. the Grand Hotel.
The Twin Dragon was once Chao’s Chinese, or maybe still was at that time. Lots of back story there, including Star Trek.
I’ll come back later with more.
JG
We stayed at the Grand Hotel in 1992 (I think). This was my first trip back since 1978(?), and my first with my wife and young kids. Money was tight and we found a package trip with lodging at the Grand. This hotel was always in the background of my childhood trips and I imagined it to be an upgrade from the lowrise plaster box motels around it. Disappointed to find it very run-down, with stained carpets and clanky elevators. I guess that why the package trip was so inexpensive.
We arrived late in the evening and everyone was tired and hungry, the kids were too small to take out to a restaurant that late, so I went to Chao's for takeaway. Only a short walk, should be good right? Even as hungry as we were, the food was almost inedible, absolutely the worst Chinese takeaway I ever had. Later, after reading CMs comments here at GDB, I learned no one goes there for the food. Also, Rosalind Chao, the daughter of the owner's, went on to an acting career, including Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Mulan Live Action.
Later Chaos became IHOP, the building is still there.
We went into the Park the next morning to discover the height of the Pressler era. Hands down, the worst trip to Disneyland I ever had. Didn't go back for over 10 years.
Major, thank you for these pictures, lots of memories here, and with the perspective of age, even the bad experiences are worth remembering now.
I have to go now, there's something in my eye.
JG
I was familiar with Chao’s but it was in a location further down harbor Blvd next to the Pit Carin tiki motel and across the street from Toys R Us . I got pictures of that whole block the week before the demolished it … it was a row of Themed buildings … Tiki … Asian( Chao’s ) .. Western … a bbq restaurant with a circular dinning room .. the exterior was a giant cowboy hat or an Indian tee pee ( I can’t recall - I’ll need to see the pictures. Inside the booths had covered wagon covers over them! I guess I wasn’t aware that this was Chao’s second location …. Whatever Chao’s replaced had to have been Chinese / oriental as well because the design of the restaurant was definitely built that way. All the Anaheim themed architecture was considered gaudy , but now I kinda miss it.
Distant memories of thick AAA guidebooks full of motel ads. The Anaheim ones often had the best names (Stovall's Astro-Magic Royal Motor Lodge) and always a Complimentary Shuttle to Disneyland. In the previous century I stayed once as the Jolly Roger, chosen because their Complimentary Shuttle would pick me up at the then-humble Amtrak station. Nice enough, with a decent coffee shop attached, but no piratical theming in the rooms.
Somebody missed a bet by not taking one of the run-down places and leaning into its decrepitude, naming it the Haunted Manor.
‘Gems’ was just the word coming to me too. Even in old photos, a charm of that era comes thru somehow, something in the light itself. John Hench was right about preferring the parking lot. DCA has grown on most of us by now, but there was something different about pulling onto that expanse of asphalt…and not just the fabulous sign and fun trams; It contrasted the park so utterly, it was wonderful, and easier. And framed Disneyland far better…seems odd to say tar was nicer than flowers, but it worked well.
On the far side…the Emerald hotel tower in already there? Such consternation around sight-lines then. The tower looks different than the soon-to-be Pixar Hotel tower does. Did it also get expanded at some point?
So many great sights in #1. The butterfly tiki roof in the foreground adds a whiff of Adventureland for us.
My eyes most appreciate the proper, asymmetrical profile of Space Mountain in its correct shape. This is the thing that cemented my fascination for Disneyland… the whole complex was incredibly clever.
Travel safe and well Major.
MS
The cloudy shots bring a dreariness to the surrounds more than I ever experienced at the time. It just makes things look...so old! It would not have been unusual at the time for the park to have had a 10-6 schedule. If that was the case, then these shots may be been taken around 9 or so. The employee lot is rather filled for being an 'off' Monday or Tuesday. And there are busses parked in the guest lot as well as a few rows of early arrivals for the day. KS
Safe travels, Maj!
WOW, Major, these are great! Fun angle to view everything.
Mike, did you ever match up that brown paint to anything that was freshly painted in the area??
Major, thanks for leaving us some great pictures, and lots of snacks in the fridge.
Fun comments, today, thanks all!
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