To Mickey and the gang: Thanks for the memories

Many Sacramento Bee readers shared in those playful early days with Mickey Mouse and the gang in Walt Disney's grand amusement park. Several readers even met Disney, or "Walt," as he liked to be called. Disney enjoyed mixing with the crowds, helping take family pictures and generally making sure everyone had a good time. Some Bee readers worked at the park as characters and ticket takers, and others were lucky enough to have been invited to be first-day participants.

Here are their happy memories in the land of Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck.

Disney encounter

As I was exiting, a ride attendant came to me and handed me the camera. The attendant said, "Mr. Disney loves to help the people visiting his park. He hopes the pictures come out good and hopes you had a happy time here." It was only then that my parents and I realized the person who used my camera was Walt Disney. The attendant said in parting, "Mr. Disney spends hours a day here helping people have fun!" What a memory to have had all these years.

- Charles Warren Wickman
Cameron Park

Excuse me, Mr. Disney!

Having just returned from a trip to the Magic Kingdom during spring vacation, I remembered my time at the main gate and one event in particular. If you have been to Disneyland, you might remember that at the front turnstiles, as you give up your tickets and enter the park, there is an access gate between the two turnstiles to allow for baby strollers and wheelchairs. Sometimes guests would mistake this for an exit and try to pass between the two ticket takers. But we were always on guard, ready to direct the wayward person over to the exit gates.

On this particular day I was working the left side of the booth, tearing entrance tickets out of the huge paper ticket books with my left hand. I felt a person come up behind me and expected him or her to try to pass through the gate used for strollers. Since my left hand was occupied, I gently swung my right arm out from my side and to the rear, pointing at the exit gate across the way and saying, "Excuse me, but the exit is...." At that moment, as my elbow pushed into someone's stomach, I looked up to see that it was Walt Disney. "Oh! Excuse me, Mr. Disney!"

He said, "Call me Walt!"

He always ran a first-name company. And I will never forget the day I punched Walt Disney in the stomach.

- David Africa
Rocklin

Jungle Cruise surprise

All of a sudden we heard a commotion that didn't sound like it had anything to do with the jungle. As I turned my head to follow the noise, a redheaded woman with a young boy was getting on board the boat.

Oh my gosh, it was Lucille Ball and Little Ricky. I remember how her brilliant hair mesmerized me and how I couldn't look away from watching her care tenderly for her crying son.

I recall very little about the actual ride after that. When the ride ended, Desi Arnaz was waiting for them, and I was impressed, as an 11-year-old would be, by how large he seemed. I will never forget that day. How I did love Disneyland and Lucy!

- Sandy Lewis
Folsom

Reagan in Crockett's shadow

When Disneyland had its grand opening, we were only allowed to wait in the Main Street area until they dropped the big red rope at the end of the street. While we were waiting, my dad wanted me to go with him to meet some actor named Ronald Reagan! I really didn't want to go since I had never heard of him. Just as we were to meet him, the opening was announced, and my folks and I were off to meet someone that really meant something to me, Davy Crockett (Fess Parker)!

My parents and I visited the park annually for the next eight years, but this was the best of any of our trips.

- Steve Wolfe
Citrus Heights

M-I-C-K-E-Y memories

My family watched the celebration on television. I still have the name badge I wore that day. Now that the park turns 50, that long-ago day is even more special to me.

My husband, Ron, and I are going to visit Disneyland during the 50th celebrations. It will be a very special day for me - to get to go through the castle gates again and ride the carousel.

- Pat Vandenberg Hemig
Truckee

Dumbo ride

We lived in Southern California so we went to Disneyland almost every year. Growing up did not dim my enthusiasm; my husband and I went the year the California Adventure opened, and I'm planning a trip this year.

- Colleen Wilson
Sacramento

Worked in Fantasyland

Because of the crowds, I knew I couldn't ride everything, but I knew I would come back. In fact, I worked at Disneyland in the 1960s as a ride operator in Fantasyland. I loved every minute.

- Ken Krome
Folsom

'57 art

My favorite ride was Peter Pan - and it still is!

- Meredith Johanson
Sacramento

A tour guide remembers

Those were the opening lines of my 14-page typewritten script I was given to memorize when I was hired as a tour guide at Disneyland in 1961. What a wonderful experience it was to work summers and school holidays when I was a full-time college student.

The two-hour tour consisted of two to 40 people from all over the world. Typically we did two, sometimes three tours per day. Disneyland provided our costumes; all we had to buy was our shoes. We were paid $1.60 per hour.

The guided tour was $5.50, which included admission and six rides. At the end of the tour, one ticket was left over for any ride in the park.

I knew I couldn't remember everyone's name as people assembled waiting for the tour to begin so I'd ask them where they were from and introduced them by state or country. One tour in particular I remember everyone was from Texas, although no one knew one another. By the end of the tour I also sounded like a Texan. It was great fun.

- Janice Franklin
Sacramento

Train conductor

My husband "drove" a jungle boat as "Crocodile Charlie." We were both schoolteachers at the time, and Disneyland provided very nice summer jobs.

- Judy and Chuck Enos
Auburn

Romancing with Mickey

We are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary this September. It's been a great 50 years for us and for Disneyland.

- John and Kay Tolle
Chico

Maneuvering curves

A dream trip on my first plane ride took me from Denver, Colo., to the land of enchantment, Los Angeles. True magic began when we arrived at the gates to Disneyland. The parade opening the park filled me with pride. Rides like the submarine were delightful, but it was driving my own car that did it for me. I stepped on the pedal and skillfully maneuvered around the curves safely, avoiding any risk of accident. It was a thrill repeated several times as I got back in line to the annoyance of my companions, who were ready to move on.

- Anna Lee Braunstein
Rocklin

Goofy salute

- Louis Damerval
Rescue

Hats off to the duck

I remember very well the Donald Duck hats that my sister and I wore. My mom said that there were only two kinds of hats available, Mickey and Donald. Of course, we chose the mischievous Donald!

Disneyland wasn't very crowded, and we were able to go on all the rides at least two times.

I have visited Disneyland dozens of times over the years, and it is still a magical place to me. We recently surprised our youngest daughter with a trip to Disneyland for her 15th birthday and a reunion with her older brother and sister who are in college in Southern California. Some of our best family vacations have been at Disneyland.

- Chris Nordstrom Evans
Roseville

Acting for tickets

We met Mickey Mouse as we entered the park and took pictures with him. Then we started out to Frontierland. A girl from Disney approached us and said it was closed because they were filming for the Mickey Mouse Club series. She asked if we would let our children be in the filming. Of course we said yes. They put our children in a canoe with costumed Indians and started rowing away. Our youngest boy got scared as the canoes rocked and wanted out. They rowed back and he stayed with us while they filmed the scene.

When they finished, we were given four books of tickets. They told us the day it would appear on TV, but it was not shown in our area. (We never saw it.) Our children did get to ride many of rides because of all the tickets we had.

- Frances L. Alarcon
Sacramento

Special Mouseketeer

To this date I still draw the "Mouse" as she taught me. I drew it for my children and now draw it for my grandchildren. That simple encounter with a girl named Doreen has brought joy and laughter to many children over the years. To a Mouseketeer named Doreen, thank you!

- Richard Bennecke
Sacramento

Generations of tickets

We did it all: Strolled Main Street, went to a hysterically funny show at the Golden Horseshoe cafe in Frontierland, marveled at the GE Home of the Future in Tomorrowland and couldn't get enough of driving on the Autopia freeways. I wasn't old enough to have my driver's license, so this was the next best thing.

We came home to tell Dad that he absolutely had to go. Off we went for a return visit that Christmas vacation.

The best part of Disneyland is that our family is on the fourth generation of Magic Kingdom visitors. Mom and Dad's great-grandchildren find it the "Happiest Place on Earth," just as we did 50 years ago.

- Carol Nies
Woodland

Screaming with Toad

The lines were long to buy a book of colored tickets for different rides, and (we) used an "A" ticket to ride the horse-drawn trolley down Main Street. I remember loving the Matterhorn ride, which was an "E" ticket, and there was only 1 in the booklet. It was well worth the ride! In Fantasyland, I screamed and covered my eyes during most of the Toad Ride. The fake "alligators" in Adventureland seemed all too real to me.

In Tomorrowland, we journeyed through the house of the future, where we saw electric toothbrushes, secret doors and maybe even a microwave oven. This exhibit has since been torn down because what was to be - has become.

As a child, I visited Disneyland at least once each year and even attended my high school grad night there.

- Bonnie S. Bell
Elk Grove

It's hard to believe that Disneyland is turning 50 years old. I just turned 51 and grew up watching the MICKEY MOUSE CLUB on television along with the occasional visits to Disneyland. My parent's took me to Disneyland in 1955 or 56. Somewhere in my parent's home is a photograph of me with my Dad taken in the parking lot of Disneyland with the castle in the background. Unfortunately, I could not locate that picture. I don't remember anything from that particular trip so asked my parents if they had any memories of it. They did not. I guess that raising four kids blasted it from their memory. What I did find was three photographs taken during a family vacation to Disneyland in 1971. I was 17; my brother Lou was 14, brother Jim 12, sister Gail 8. One photo is of Jim and Lou with 'Treasure Island' in the background. The other photo is of my Mom with Donald Duck (from left to right: Gail, Jim, Donald, Mom, and Lou). What I remember about the Donald Duck photo is that we were trying to get Gail to pose with Donald. You see her smiling in the picture, but she was really annoyed...note the arms crossed and the 'smile' is more of a grimace. I recently sent her a copy of that image and asked her if she remembered. She did and told me she had to go back into therapy over it. Turns out when she was a kid, she was afraid of clowns. Donald kind of fit in that category, so she freaked out when she saw him and the other 'characters' walking around Disneyland.

My sister loved the ride; 'It's a Small World'. She figures she went on it 7-10 times during that trip. We all remember it with not so fond memories because we had to take turns taking her back on that ride. Occasionally the theme, 'it's a small world after all.......'music and song goes through my head. It really can make you crazy after awhile.

As I mentioned, I grew up with Mickey Mouse. My mom remembers that when I was learning to talk I would say or sing "K-E-Y". That was coming from watching the mouseketeers on the Mickey Mouse Club. They would sing 'M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E'. I did not say MA MA or DA DA, but kept repeating 'K-E-Y'. My parents thought it would never end!

Barbara Bravos
Sacramento

Growing up in the Santa Barbara area our family managed to go to Disneyland every few years. The upcoming visit was always something we knew was going to happen and as children we looked forward to our visit as we counted down the days.

One of my most favorite childhood memories is a Saturday morning, sometime in the 1970's, when us kids were down in the playroom watching Saturday cartoons. Suddenly my dad's voice came booming from upstairs asking "does anyone want to go to Disneyland today?" The thrill of a spontaneous trip to one of our most favorite places in all the world was very exciting for a child. Thirty some years later I may not remember all the details of that particular visit yet I will never forget the moments of pure excitement when our whole day changed because we were piling into the car to go to DISNEYLAND!

Karen Strong
Sacramento

Anticipating the spaceship in the distance

My parents strolled Main Street - but all I saw was the castle. The first ride was Snow White. Gail, four, and I entered the car.

The dwarfs and jewels were acceptable, but by the moving trees and witch's offer to bite the apple, my sister had had enough. After the boulder dropped and last cackle - she determined there would be NO more rides!

Next - Peter Pan. The problem was which parent had to stay behind with Gail and await the next trip to see what they missed. ...

My scrapbook boasts a "license" to ride the Autopia. My favorite ride was the Mining Train past the dental office and through Rainbow caverns.

Anticipating a ride on the big pirate ship - I recall the smell of fish and my disappointment. My parents failed to coax me into eating later at a plantation restaurant - the fare that day not to my liking. The Railroad's dinosaur tunnel, Jungle Cruise, Cups brought joy again and again. ...

Linda Frick
Sacramento

The summer of 1985 was truly magic for our family. My husband was attending a conference in Anaheim at the Disneyland Hotel, so we brought our five-year-old son for a few days' vacation. To our surprise, we were provided a special invitation to Disneyland's 30th Birthday Party that evening. Such opportunities are not to be missed, but we wondered how our young son would do at a party from midnight to 10 am! It was a five-hour nap that saved the day, and we disembarked the Monorail to enter the Magic Kingdom just in time for the Electric Parade. What a magical start to a wonderful night. The park was uncrowded as we rode the Matterhorn, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted House with NO LINES WHATSOEVER. By 10 am it was time for breakfast as we watched the crowds form to enter the Park for the day. I will always remember that wonderful night each time I see the framed souvenir poster of Mickey and Minnie celebrating in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle hanging in my home office.

Judee Fusselman
Sacramento

When I was in grade school in the 1960's, our family used to watch the fantastic "Wonderful World of Disney" shows that aired on Sunday evenings.

One day, I received what I thought was a real photo of Tinkerbell from my aunt. So, on the school bus the next day, I professed to my school mates that Tinkerbell was real, starting arguments with the kids. I let them argue for a while and then, I took out the photo. Alas, everyone was in awe and convinced, including myself, that Tinkerbell was real. It wasn't until years later I figured out it was only a postcard and not a true photo. But even so, I never stopped believing.

Patty Pluim
Rocklin

June, 1963. On our honeymoon, we went to Disneyland. As we entered the park facility, we were amazed that you could actually park within a hundred yards of the ticket booths. Tram drivers picked up customers in the lot and dropped them off to pay entrance fees. Seventeen dollars for both of us. You got a booklet. Rides were rated: A to E. A being for small children and up to the coveted E ticket for the more exhilarating rides. Some of the attractions available then, are no longer there now. The "House of the future" sponsored by Monsanto looked like a series of marshmallows jammed together. Thank god that didn't happen. The flying saucer ride was a blast. Your vehicle or saucer was supported on a cushion of air and by leaning one way or another that was the direction you took. Kind of like bumper cars with out wheels. Another neat ride was the Autopia, a mini elevated highway ! (one lane) that wound around a parklike setting. Concrete sides kept the wayward auto, a sporty roadster made for the pre-teen set from going off of the road. The main attractions for that year was: the Matterhorn, E ticket of course, the jungle boat ride, another E ticket, the enchanted tiki house, and if my memory serves me correctly, the pirates of the Caribbean. Lines for the rides were short, the grounds were immaculate. Food was great, and reasonably priced. I have returned time and time again. Both here in California and in Florida. Truly a magical place.

Donald Beech
Folsom

April 1985 my youngest daughter and I (Tamara and Mom Ella) went to Disneyland during the 30th anniversary celebration. (Spring break) This was her first airplane ride at age 10, and first trip to Disneyland. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. We enjoyed the conveniences of catching the monorail from the hotel to the park. We enjoyed the various stores and restaurants on the hotel grounds. It was a great time of bonding, and my daughter seeing her Mom screaming on the many rides. April 9, 1985, when we went through the turnstile, whistles and sirens went off; I had won a complimentary ticket to Disneyland. I still have the ticket, and it has no expiration date on it.

Ella Lewis
Sacramento

January 1959 I, being 12, and my cousin, 9, departed with his parents in their 1958 DeSoto from Susanville for the Magic Kingdom.

From a cold and snowing mountain area to a warm and exciting week was almost time travel across the universe.

Lodging was a Travel Lodge on the corner of Katella and Harbor. From our room the rocket that dominated Tomorrowland was visible and the Matterhorn a magnificent hint of what was to come.

Motels with space age themes, plants trimmed to look like animals, Monsanto's House of the future, Enchanted Tiki House, a ride across the park in an elevated tram, a real submarine, pancakes that looked like Mickey Mouse, the still amazing Jungle Boat Ride, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln brought history to life.

What to do with A tickets, never enough E tickets. Wonderful memories! I think I still have some of those A tickets somewhere; always saved them for the next trip.

The only one from my school to have been there, truly the "Happiest Place on Earth," made me the happiest kid in my town.

I have attended often in 46 years but sharing December 31st-Jan 1st 2000 with my wife, two sons, daughter-in-law, son's girl friend and two grandchildren, brought almost the same excitement, but not quite.

Thanks for asking the question, few memories generate more pleasure than those of the "first trip".

Disneyland, and now California Adventure -can't wait for the next big change.

Edmund C. Smith
Yuba City

In the early 70s, decades before Disney bought the team, the California Angels and Disneyland had a joint promotion called "Angels/Disneyland Fun Day." A ticket would get you in to see a Saturday afternoon Angels game at the "Big A," Anaheim Stadium.

Then, immediately after the game fans would drive the short distance over to Disneyland and get in for free until the park closed. I went with my friend's family many years in a row and it was always one of the best days of the year for me. Even though the Angels were not very good back then, the losses were tempered with the excitement of going to Disneyland.

While at Disneyland we'd see other guests wearing Angels baseball caps and talk to them about the game while waiting in lines. As a young child it seemed like belonging to a special club who knew all the details of that day's game. Right before closing I would always buy a bag of cherry candy for my parents and then end up eating half of it on the ride home.

Robert Payne
Herald, Calif.

What child of the '50s doesn't have fond memories of Disneyland?! I was born in January of 1955, and I'm just sure that Walt Disney had me in mind when he started using his magic.

Our family trips to Disneyland came about when I was about five and I can still remember most of them. My dad was in the Navy and stationed in San Diego at the time. He went TDY quite often, but when he came home, how excited I was! Not only was I happy to see him, but it always meant a trip to my very favorite place. He always surprised me upon his return by showing up in my classroom and pulling me out to go to Disneyland. No excuses back then just a simple "I'm taking Debbie to Disneyland!" was all the teacher needed. The jungle ride, the mule ride, teacups, cotton candy, the penny arcade and even some very young Osmond Brothers, I remember it all!

This October I will celebrate my 30th anniversary at Disneyland. Disneyland and I will both be 50, a big party for both of us. ...and what an "E" ticket

Debbie Bond
Roseville

I was a teenager the summer the gates opened at Disneyland. My dad was permitted to walk the stage coach ride area and take movies of the coach and the scenery. I enjoyed the Main Street shops that sold upscale works of art. Dad and I steered a motor boat that was not on a track.

The birds sang and the flowers crooned to mostly adults in the Tiki Room. I was told I could not ride side saddle on a horse if my legs faced the outside of the carousel. The dancing at the only bandstand was ballroom type. I remember finding pools or waterfalls near the Monsanto house and pirate ship for a quiet rest stop.

We sat and ate fried chicken while watching the paddle wheel boat go past. We would often sit on a rock to watch the mermaids in the submarine pool or concentrate on the Matterhorn mountain climbers. At night the twinkling lights out numbered the visitors. Tinker Bell, on her invisible wire, could be seen in the sky from anywhere near the castle. Our day always ended with something delicious from the Carnation ice cream parlor on Main Street.......and there was no waiting!

Margo Bystrom
Fair Oaks

In the summer of 1956 my father was killed in an accident. I was eight. The next summer, 1957, my uncle, sent a gasoline credit card for Mother to use. She packed up her six small children and drove to southern California. Dad's oldest sister, Aunt June, took us to the greatest theme park in the world. With Adventureland and Frontierland it seemed perfect for a boy. I thrilled at the underwater submarine ride, the teacups spinning, the Main Street cotton candy, Mickey and Minnie moving about the park, and we even lunched in a corner pavilion and listened to the band playing favorite songs. There seemed like a million things to do for kids. It was the biggest county fair we'd ever seen! It was clean. It was beautiful. It was funtastic. It was Disneyland - the happiest place on earth.

- Jon B. Fish
Orangevale

Romantic proposal

Memories include:

• Dancing with the Indians in the Indian Village

• Riding donkeys round the water's edge of Tom Sawyer's Island

• Bobby Sherman performing there

• Seeing Olivia Newton-John perform when our high school went to grad night

• Working there two summers as a tour guide in the little red pleated skirt and black hat

• Fainting during a hot summer day as a kid while waiting to get on the Autopia, then being wheelchaired through the back and seeing all the props, horses stables and gardens they have back there.

- Denise Shaw,
Citrus Heights

Mom flying solo

One day, they all went over to the Tom Sawyer's Island. Not having a ticket myself, I just watched them go all over the Island and enjoy themselves for several hours. When it came time to go home, I tried and tried to call and get their attention, to no avail. So I finally had to buy myself a ticket to go over and get them to return.

Disneyland has a soft spot in my heart because it often eased the burden of being a mother of three without Daddy.

Ruthie Langstaff
Sacramento

You might say I grew up with Disneyland. At two months old, my mother held me while watching the opening ceremonies on TV. Later, the sounds of the Mickey Mouse Club filled our home and I was hooked.

On Sunday evenings, Walt Disney visited our living room on the Wonderful World of Disney to tell about every new addition to the park. Finally, around 1963 it was time for our first family pilgrimage to Disneyland. Disneyland was everything I expected. Even Tinkerbell made an appearance on a zip line from the Matterhorn during the fireworks.

With fascination we enjoyed every new attraction on our repeat visits during the 1960s and 70s. We would carefully plan our day based on the "E" ticket rides. However, some of my favorites were the free attractions like the Carousel of Progress, America the Beautiful in CircleVision, and Adventure through Inner Space. We were amazed by Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Walking onto Main Street is like Christmas morning to me. My old mouse ears are too small now, but my memories hold true today. Turning 50 isn't so bad after all.

Donna Bonne,
Granite Bay

Exhausted and exhilarated

I remember being very disappointed that Disneyland's merry-go-round did not have animals other than horses, since we'd seen a variety of animals on the merry-go-round at Knott's Berry Farm the day before. I still recall how scary Mr. Toad's ride seemed to all of us, and that my cousins cried. The Jungle Ride was frightening as hippos rose out of the water near our boat. I wanted to drive one of the Atlantic Richfield cars, but my dad said I was too young to drive, and the boys were too short. Our fathers drove as we sat as passengers alongside them. I think they had more fun on that ride than we did. We spent the day running from one site to another and left totally exhausted and exhilarated.

Sue Mellow,
Rancho Cordova