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One last ride on...

Submarine Voyage
1959-1998

&

PeopleMover
1967-1995

     Igrew up in Los Angeles and must have been to Disneyland at least once a year for all of my 30 years...I miss it being out here on the East coast. When I was little, I loved the Submarine Voyage...the way you crawled down the curved metal staircase to board the submarine...the cool feel of the little fans in your face as you peered into the "ocean". I was the only member of my family that liked it and would have to beg someone to go with me. My sister loved the rocket rods and I remember being afraid of the ride that was there before Star Tours...I thought it really shrank people. I also remember not being too fond of the Tron portion of the Peoplemover.

     But my happy memories of Disneyland greatly out number the unhappy ones: watching the Electric Light Parade at age 5 dressed in my Minnie Mouse dress, singing the Pirate song on Pirates of the Caribbean with my mom, Country Bear Jamboree. I think I know where every restroom and trashcan is in the whole park!!! I've been to Walt Disney World and while it is a good theme park, in my opinion it hardly holds a candle to the orginal.

One last ride on...

Submarine Voyage
1959-1998

     I remember riding the submarines oh so many years ago when there were still mermaids in the lagoon. I couldn't wait to grow up so I could be a mermaid. Well, that never happened and probably a good thing since they discontinued having mermaids in the lagoon since the chlorine was so strong it harmed their skin. The only other thing I wanted to be was Tinkerbell and I guess I still have quite a few more years for that dream to come true since the first Tinkerbell was 70... :-)

One last ride on...

The Rocket Rods
1998-2001

     My favorite attraction of Disneyland's yesteryears is the Rocket Rods of Tomorrowland. I love the high speed thrill rides and the Rocket Rods was my favorite Disney thrill ride of all time. I waited in lines as long as 90 minutes to get on it. I was so upset about the Rocket Rods closing permanently because it was the only ride I looked forward to riding when I got there. I've gotten over the Rocket Rods being closed down now that there is a whole new theme park filled with thrill rides, but I still miss the unexpected twists and turns and the quick launch of the Rocket Rods, the best Disney attraction ever.

One last ride on...

The Main Street Electrical Parade
1972-1996

     I was in 6th grade and we had planned our first family vacation to Disneyland. Being 11, any sort of trip to someplace new was exciting. We chose DL for one reason, the Disneyland Electrical Parade was having its last hoorah.

     The entire experience of DL and its magic was fascinating to me. All the detail and the feeling like you were in the movies.

     As it grew closer to show time, my family and I headed over to the route early as to get a good seat. It began to get dark and more people started to gather as I proudly sat front row to the spectacle. Waiting for the parade was the slowest hour of my life up till that point. Over the speakers hidden from view an electronic voice announced the start. My stomach jumped and rumbled with excitment.

     At last the parade headed up Main Street right past. I was so close the floats could have run over my toes. I sat staring for the duration taking in ever twinkling light and note of the synthesized music.

     After that, I was sure I would never see it again and was glad I saw it only the one time.

     Its of course back now, but in California Adventure and not quite the same as the very first time I experienced it.

One last ride on...

The Rocket Rods
1998-2001

     My memory starts on December 28, 2001. Disneyland is a yearly family trip for us. My mom and I go usually every year, and we manage to drag Dad along occasionally. (He HATES crowds.) So, let's start at the beginning.

     We weren't even considering stopping by Disneyland, first of all. We were going to stop at Magic Mountain, but the crowds were going to be too much for us. So we decided to drive down to Disneyland, and stay there for a day. We got there that night, and had our last stay at the, at that time, recently rennovated Jolly Roger. It was our last stay there, because the rooms were nowhere near the quality they once were. (Our new tradition is staying in the Best Western Anaheim Inn across the street.)

     So, here we are, at Disneyland once again. I was so excited, because I was going to get to ride the Rocket Rods again. And even use the single-rider line! (I'd read about it almost a year before, and heard nothing about the ride closing in the middle of that year.) I was ecstatic, because a good friend of mine, who was as much of a Disney freak as I was, had mentioned a rumor to me that the Haunted Mansion would be getting a holiday makeover, Jack Skellington style. I thought it'd never, ever happen. (At that time, I didn't know that Touchstone was owned by Disney.)

     So, we get our passes, and step up to the gate. I get my map, and start looking at it immediately. My eyes were probably as big as headlights when I saw Jack Skellington as Sandy Claws on the front of the map. I was thinking, "Maybe it's an anniversary, or something.. It can't be.." So, I look at my mom and say, "Let's do Haunted Mansion first!", and we made our way out there. When we got within viewing distance, I think all three of us stared at Haunted Mansion Holiday. We were stunned.

     The mansion was beautiful. Covered in candles and christmas decorations, as well as Jack's list hanging off the side of it. We immediately stood in line and just took it all in. We laughed at the Ghost Host and the holiday "Scream-Along". The inside cracked us up, with all of the new decorations and holiday flare. We loved it. Even the new Ghost Host, who many of the hardcore fans hated until the most recent year of the HMH.

     We probably rode that three times in a row. At least. After that, we decided to spit up, my parents and I, because they wanted to ride Thunder Mountain, and I wanted to ride the Rocket Rods. So, our interests conflicted, and as such, we parted ways.

     I made my way to Tomorrowland eagerly. I'd wanted to ride the 'Rods again ever since I got to ride them once in 1999. We hadn't been to Disneyland since then, because of financial problems, but we were back. I practically ran to the attraction... only to find the doors locked and the signs removed. I was stunned; and I almost panicked. What happened? Why the heck? Where is it? How can they get away with this?! I asked nearby Cast Members at Star Tours and Space Mountain, and they didn't even know what I was talking about.

     I had a brilliant idea, after that. Innoventions! Yes! They have computers with the internet! I rushed inside, and waited rather impatiently as Tom Morrow went through his spiel. I did a little bit of tough searching, as many of the websites that could have given me an answer on the Rocket Rods were being blocked by Disney's firewall system. I finally found one, after about twenty minutes of searching; "Yesterland". I read the whole page, and a tear streamed down my cheek afterward. My favorite ride had closed, and I'd only been able to ride it once. For me, it wasn't the ride itself, but the queue line itself. Those great old films with Walt Disney, the blueprints and old ride vehicles displayed, and the song that played in between the CircleVision and the 'Rods themselves, "Magic Highways" (Some say it's called "World of Creativity". I use both, so people know what I'm talking about.).

     The Rocket Rods were wonderful. I'll miss them. I still wear my Rocket Rods pin whenever I go to Disneyland, in honor of my favorite attraction.

One last ride on...

The Main Street Electrical Parade
1972-1996

     My "One last ride" memory wasn't one from a ride. Mine is of the Main Street Electrical Parade. We went in October of its final run year (1996, I believe). We specifically went to Disneyland that year to say our goodbyes to the wonderful parade that we had grown up watching. We bought the "special" tickets that were sold that year that, when connecting two tickets together, made up the entire parade.

     As a child, my parents used to take us almost every summer to Disneyland, and as long as I can remember, we always saw the parade. It was one of my most favorite things to see. We wanted to experience it one last time, and even took my niece with us so she, too, could enjoy it like we did as children. She was about 3 and 1/2 at the time. It was special because it was her first time watching it, and our last. As the Salute to America float passed, I couldn't help from getting emotional. A few tears swelled in my eyes, but I didn't want anyone to see, so I quickly wiped them away. It was a sad moment, but at the same time, a very happy one because I was able to see it just one last time.

     Although the parade is back (in DCA), it is no longer "The Main Street Electrical Parade," but it will never be (to me) what it used to be.

One last ride on...

The Skyway
1956-1994

     i took my last ride on the skyway the day it closed, november 9,1994. i spent most of that afternoon at the park taking pictures from the soon to be extinct (though we didnt know at the time) peoplemover, from the ground, and a "slideshow" series of pictures on the ride itself.

     the park closed at 6pm that night and it was getting close to that time when i decided to wait by the fantasyland entrance and try to be at least ONE OF the last people to ride. knowing that those riding in from tomorrowland had to get off, i figured hanging out in fantasyland was my best bet. when i got there i saw a lot of other people had the same idea. folks were hanging around in front of the entrance, but not going in. the official announcement of the parks closing came on and people started slowly getting in line[,] everyone trying to let as many people go ahead of them as possible. then the "line closing" cast member came up and the last stragglers (yes, i was one) dashed to get in line. i think i had about 8 to 10 people behind me when i finally got in line. good enough i thought. at least i was that close to being the last rider.

     the ride was very quiet because everything else was closed. the most you would hear would be people on the ride passing each other in their buckets saying "hi" and i heard someone yell "i love you skyway!!" then i glided into the tomorrowland station and my last ride was over. when i got to the ground i saw people were milling about waiting for the last bucket to return from fantasyland. so i stuck around too. we clapped as the last riders came floating down from the sky and walked out the exit. then something i knew nothing about happened. after the last bucket was docked, mickey and minnie came out from backstage. they boarded a single skyway bucket and it alone took off for a final round trip on the beloved attraction. we all watched it disappear from sight into the matterhorn, and waited patiently for its return. soon it came into view, and before long we were cheering as they decended toward us waving and throwing kisses. mickey and minnie were the last to ride the skyway. as it should be.

One last ride on...

The Rocket Jets
1967-1997

     I remember a year before they closed down Tomorrowland before the big 1998 redo, My family and I, along with my friend, went to Disneyland for my Big 13th birthday. Well that day on the ride to Disneyland my friend and I would not stop bugging our mothers into letting us sep[a]rate from them at Disneyland. You know teens, you don[']t wanna be with your parents at Disneyland. Anyway after bugging the heck out of both our mothers they finally said yes and to meet them after the Main street Electrical Parade. Anyway, we went to Tomorrowland and rode the Space Ships three or four times before they closed. It was so much fun. We would wait in the line for about a half an hour each time and would talk to other families and picking up girls. Our first time, i was in front because i was the shortest and you had to go from shortest to tallest. Anyway, we went on the rockets and we were just having a blast, imagining we were going into space and acting like we were shooting at the other rockets. Well, we made friends with a dad and his son and we acted like we were in the army or something and acted like we were shooting at each other. It was so cool! Another time we went on that day, i let my friend be in the front even though he was tallest and wasn't allowed but we got away with it. It was also very fun. This time we were just taking in the views from the very high rockets of disneyland and especailly Tomorrowland. We went on it one more time after that just for fun knowing this would be our last ride before disney closed it down for the 1998 redo. It was very fun!!!

One last ride on...

The Submarine Voyage
1959-1998

     The one memory I always have of Disneyland happens when I walk through Tomorrowland. I am walking past Autopia when I see a shimmer of light and I turn to see the pond. Undersea Voyage or UV was a memorable experiance for all ages. I remember going on for one time in my life before it closed down. I walked into the submarine and it took me into I world I have always been fond of. Because of the mix between beauty and evil I was entranced. I will always miss it and I will never forget it.

One last ride on...

Adventure Through Inner Space
1967-1985

     My memories of the old Adventure Through Inner Space ride are faded now. After all, I was a mere seven years old the last time I visited the attraction. However, it holds a nostalgic place in my mind because it seemed so fantastic to a small child even though it must have been almost laughable to anyone older. Of course, the most striking thing about the old ride was the giant microscope that greeted you as you entered the building. You could see the Atomobiles at once lifesize at your left entering the telescope and then shrunken as they passed through into the world of the atom. The actual ride itself was a sometimes surreal journey through "inner space" (a term that always seemed so mysterious and evocative). Some of my more memorable moments in inner space were the giant eyeball that peered at you through the microscope, the snowflakes that swirled around the Atomobiles, and the booming, authorial voice of the narrator as you gradually shrank to the size of an atom. Although the ride in actuality was little more than a three-dimensional advertisement for the Monsanto Chemical Company, it holds a special place in many Disney fans' memories because it was offbeat and unique. Adventure Through Inner Space was admittedly cheesy with its big styrofoam molecules but had an oddly engrossing effect as if by the magic of Disney you really could become the size of an atom and explore the wonders of the molecular world.