1958 Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Visit-Home Movies

Join our adventurous group of guests as they unpack their 1950s Ford Ranch Wagon for a stay at the Disneyland Hotel and then a trip to the Magic Kingdom. Vintage scans of the Disneyland Hotel grounds followed by a tram ride (pre-Monorail days) over to Disneyland where they venture into many areas including a trip on the Jungle Cruise as well as many other attractions. Catch many vintage 1950s automobiles in the Hotel's parking lot.

[@racerx6]

The pool scene in the beginning is awesome!!! No fat, gelatinous slobs lounging around.

[@KeenaKindragon]

This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen! My mom went there in 1958, she would’ve been 22 years old, just like these ladies, I think. I can’t believe how much of it looks the same. I worked there in 1986. Fascinating to see the changes through the years and what has remained the same. Thank you so much for posting!

[@nefasventures]

Cast Member smoking on Main St while operating a Main St vehicle..... Now thats a classic for sure.:)

[@Terry-navvet1974]

Wow, those ladies were sporting the recent fashions. Those times, I wish to return just for the cleanliness and moral character. Nice video, those days are sorely missed. Thank you for sharing.

[@sabrinashelton1997]

They sure are!

[@char7945]

"Moral character" so you want racism and sexism back, why don’t you move to one of those modest countries where you can openly be a bigot without repercussions?

[@maryhirsch2909]

They all looked so nice. Not huge crowd's. When things were fun.

[@RvingtoDisney]

I can't even imagine what those days felt like. What a beautiful time capsule.

[@KC-df8lc]

Those days felt great...optimism was everywhere, I remember fondly. Today pessimism drives the world..sad really.

[@JimmyRussle]

@@KC-df8lc Yeah if you were white and male. Wonderful time.

[@skunyon6195]

@jimmierussell, need a safe place to go suck your thumb?

[@sabrinashelton1997]

@@JimmyRussle Where do you people get that from? My mother and grandmother both speak very fondly of that time. Why are you even on a video like this just to leave nonsense comments like that?

[@char7945]

@@sabrinashelton1997 because during this time my family was being discriminated against and acid poured into the pools because black people swam in them lol…women were made to "stay in the kitchen" act a certain way and did not have the freedom in business they do today. gays were sent to conversion camps. I’m sure your family thought fondly of those times cause they were able to say the n word and be openly sexist racist and homophobic. THATS where this "comes from"

[@priscillawitwer3140]

All the station wagons and Chevrolets! The ladies were dressed so nice. I often wish the fashion styles were still like that. They looked like they were having a wonderful time!

[@donaldwballard]

I am going to be posting more footage, please hit subscribe when you get a chance so you can be made aware of future posts.

[@robertkeefer1552]

Load up the 1957 Ford Ranch Wagon and off to the House of Mouse we go!!!

[@kirkwilson5900]

​@@robertkeefer1552 I had a 56 2 door also, fun wagon

[@char7945]

No ones stopping you from dressing like that

[@priscillawitwer3140]

@@char7945 very true!

[@jeffearle8172]

This was the world of my childhood. Thanks for allowing me to visit again for a brief moment.

[@4leafclover0519]

The beauty of yesterday allows you to see things as Walt did!

[@HeartNDagger18]

All hail Walt 🙌🏼

[@junbug1029]

Whoever filmed this did a wonderful job! I was 4 in 1958 and only dreamed of going to Disneyland. How things have changed.

[@Yosemite25]

No crowds, properly dressed people, no tattoos,… Love it… go there now, and the spectacle is the people that go there!

[@markmccue1767]

Right? And anybody can use any water fountain.

[@chrishintz1077]

Just what I needed Don. Thanks! That tractor: hang on everybody. ;)

[@CONS98]

To me it was crazy to see how close up to the actual entrance they used to be able to park.

[@darrenhill3514]

Was like that when I was a kid back in late 80's/90's. Was a blast parking and walking right up to the main entrance. Now it's a pain in the ass lol

[@TrustySteeringWheelTray]

It was like that up until 97 or 98

[@emfunTravel]

Wow amazing how many things that have not changed!

[@shadowfilm7980]

All those great cars! OMG! I was born a year later. I ended up working for Disney. Animation. I was lucky to have worked at the original Animation studio in Burbank. In the original old Animation building. Where Walt was. His office was up on the third floor. I was on the first floor. Was such a treat. My boyhood dream came true. I knew an executive that worked at Disneyland. Mary Jones. She was great. When I would visit her at the park she would allow me to sneak into the park from the gates. It was great. She was so nice. The good ole days. Now I’m retired. How the years fly by! Thanks for posting this video.

[@davidis7]

Cool story. What did you work on?

[@SusanGK1]

What an awesome movie. When Ladies were Ladies and men wore suits. Love the old Disneyland.

[@shannonschneeberger2613]

Girl Trip 1958! I just love this!

[@jasminespencer3992]

Wow. I agree with a lot of the other commenters such an amazing time capsule and the detail the hairstyles, the sunglass styles their shoes the amount of women who are wearing pants, just such a document of that time. Thank you

[@sabrinashelton1997]

The world had class back then. Class and Panache. How I wish time machines existed.

[@susanmcallister4912]

Agreed. No urban folk in sight. Was a good time

[@xuclarockerx]

@@susanmcallister4912 “urban folk”?

[@susanmcallister4912]

@@xuclarockerx don’t make me spell it out

[@mst3kpimp]

@@susanmcallister4912 It's ok, we know you cant spell.

[@susanmcallister4912]

@@mst3kpimp exactly. I would get the boot from this trivial video application

[@hiridavidfeign]

Extraordinary. This is like the holy grail of vintage Disneyland footage.

[@ericlindenmuth7517]

This video makes me think of my Mom and Dad. In 58 they just moved into their brand new house. They went to Disneyland for the first time only a month after it opened. My Dad said he didn't even think of bringing a camera. I wish he had!!! They went many times, but I only have one picture from that era.

[@azjoe_6310]

Look how classy everyone looked.

[@gannman2001]

Good times, good memories, thanks for posting that ! Watching that video is the next best thing to having a time machine. I was born in late 62 in So Cal, lived only about 8 miles from Disneyland, so my family visited the Magic Kingdom many times when I was a kid. I remember being able to just walk into Disneyland without paying admission, getting the ticket books (A through E, with the special 'Mr Lincoln speaks' ticket at the front), and my favorite as a kid was Monsanto's 'Voyage thru Inner Space'. Those were truly the good old days ! You should watch some of the old corporate videos from this era (late 50's, early 60's) that were produced by the big American corporations of the day; AT&T, GM, General Electric, etc.........those are really cool to watch also.

[@DiogenesOfCa]

I was born in 63 and I remember going to Disneyland and it being almost empty at night.

[@danmyers9372]

Yep, I was born in ‘55 and totally remember those ticket books and how we tried to be so careful how we used the tickets. Always wishing we had more E tickets!

[@deanpreising4631]

This brings back a lot of memories. Disneyland was much better back then. Thank you.

[@bonwatcher]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful video of a much forgotten past of Disneyland. Amazing how different things were back then. I was mesmerized by the Ford Ranch Wagon and the flip up rear window and how it opened. This time period is before my own time, but I love seeing old classic vehicles in these throwback videos. 👏

[@ytzpilot]

Wow this is back before the existence of sound, back when people used to just smile and wave all the time

[@ChatGPT1111]

Those ladies are on a mission. Ain't nobody gonna get in their way!

[@tomsimpson5317]

Wish we could go back there

[@Done832]

I loved those days. I'm not sure my parents would have dressed up like that to go to an amusement park though. Maybe these ladies were on some sort of business/personal trip. Women especially used to go to a lot more trouble to get ready than they do today especially going to work, out to eat, or church. Anything seems to go these days. I love looking back at old pictures and videos.

[@arleenmorlino4019]

Maybe they went to a Tupperware Convention.😊

[@rosaspanjol673]

Those women dress 👗 so elegant 😘!… all those days are gone forever 😢

[@DavidinSLO]

thanks for posting, 3:22 amazing how quickly the Jungle Cruise's jungle filled in after just three years

[@danmyers9372]

Really cool video. I was born in 1955, the same year Disneyland opened. My first visit there was around 1962-63 so only a few years after this video was recorded.

[@lanceglassgow3761]

Absolutely beautiful

[@carolinamoonslilenglishgar8580]

I wonder if Walt was there that day. The ladies look so glamorous- thanks for sharing

[@donaldwballard]

I am going to be posting more footage, please hit subscribe when you get a chance so you can be made aware of future posts.

[@williamking8033]

Thank you for uploading this!

[@moosefactory133]

This is a pretty cool video. I give it a thumbs up.

[@hmcdude1027]

Love those old cars.

[@codireed988]

So neat to see what Disneyland was like for my grandparents generation! Seeing the way the ladies dress and those beautiful old cars is so evocative it's almost like having a time machine. Thank you so much for sharing!!

[@kmm129]

We had a "Jungle Gym" in our backyard (60's- early 70's) with real iron from the ride. My dad was an iron-worker. Not sure how the material made it's way to our backyard. Coolest backyard in town.

[@rm7023]

my grandmother grew up near disneyland and she told me her and her friend would ride their bikes there and stop for fresh orange juice from the fields on the way. its so strange to really understand how much a place can and has changed with time

[@larryaldrich4351]

Nothing we loved more than a day at Disneyland. Now I couldn't be paid to go there.

[@kirnpu]

Isn't that the truth. I remember when a family on the block would be going and all the other families would give them their unused tickets to take along. Naturally no E tickets were given. :)

[@Terrann67]

It looks so peaceful

[@okeesmokee6658]

Loved the old cars.

[@kliddleable]

I never saw the turtle on the rock, on the Jungle cruise before. Great movie!

[@USCfan03]

Wow this is fantastic. I love how the women wore dresses back then, they were soo feminine.

[@highoctaneadventure]

This is fantastic! Only thing that could make it even better is adding the sound of the projector playing the video :)

[@papageoffsamerica]

Awesome - Brings back great memories. Times were certainly different then 💗

[@sabrinashelton1997]

Better

[@papageoffsamerica]

@@sabrinashelton1997 - Yes indeed; much better 👍

[@ArabKatib]

Back then when peoole were genuine!! :^)0- Their smiles brighten the day!! Heck, brighten the universe!! :^)

[@1234dvarela]

That was wonderful!

[@sylvia4425]

LOVED THIS!!!!! Thank you for sharing! 🥰 Time travel to the best of times!!!!!!!

[@Tinrebel]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful time, born in 58, living in San Diego the family made many trips up, couldn’t wait to see the orange groves then we knew we were close! Things have sure changed, clothing, cars and I’m sure manners and diet (if you know what I mean) I honestly don’t like Disneyland anymore, too crowded and too expensive! But oh what great memories made there! Was the happiest place on earth!

[@claudiareyes4403]

Thanks for sharing!!! 🙏🏻💞

[@jukio02]

Wow, Disneyland back then was the equivalent as going to small amusement park today. It's SOO MUCH different today. Can't imagine what Disneyland will look like by 2050, or 2100.

[@DiogenesOfCa]

Not really, it was just as big but it had a lot open spaces between the rides.

[@flipperpitstudio]

What an awesome film/video! 👏😃 Thank you so much for posting! I'm not old enough to remember a visit in 1958, but I DO remember that tram! At least, I remember the cars with the outside-facing seats! That metal got super hot for legs in shorts! lol What a fabulous display of the park and the guests, and the purely Dapper outfits! 🤩 It's like watching a period movie of the 1950s! Thanks again!

[@kellycoleman715]

That’s neat. We took a family vacation to Disneyland three years later when I was four, about to turn five. I remember it well.

[@kirnpu]

Wow does this take me back! Thank you so much for this.

[@wilrohan2985]

Brings back a lot of memories.

[@donaldwballard]

I am going to be posting more footage, please hit subscribe when you get a chance so you can be made aware of future posts.

[@TrustySteeringWheelTray]

Back then Disneyland was surrounded by farmland on all sides. Then in the early 60s suburban infill happened and the park got surrounded. Had they known back then what we know today about how popular Disney has become, they would've built it wayyy bigger back then.

[@FrugalFamilyFliesAgain]

Fantastic!! Thank you for sharing! ❤

[@MrBillyRayJoeBob]

Great footage! I cant imagine getting all dressed up to go for a car ride, crazy.

[@Pandabaire3540]

this is so cool!!

[@jeffmiller9208]

I nominate this for Academy Award, Short Documentary. This is amazing! It's like traveling back in time. The lack of crowds, people dressed in NOT their junkiest clothes. so much of the park recognizable even from over 60 years ago. The Central Ticket Booth, WHAT?! The long lost sky ride. Love the old station wagons! 1 or 2 people in the pool?! Wow, you made my day!

[@danmyers9372]

I still remember some kids getting kicked out of the park in 1973 on my high school senior night for dropping cherry bombs from the sky tram. Back then high school seniors from all over CA were bused in after the park closed and got to spend all night and early morning at the park.

[@jeffmiller9208]

@@danmyers9372 That's great! Dropping cherry bombs from the sky ride. As if spending the night inside Disneyland isn't enough, they had to step up the fun by 5 or 6 more levels and add in cherry bombs!

[@EduardoLopez-uw9me]

This is awesome! I love this kind of videos.

[@Christopher070]

I was hoping to get a peek at the size of that motel room because it seemed like they were all bunking in there together. And I also wanted to see what the decor looked like in there because motels back then were much classier than motels today. I bet it looked nice inside.

[@CraigRoccanova]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@Zlopez671]

Crazy to think that when this home movie was filmed, Disneyland was only 3 years old give or take!!!

[@2NDCBT]

I bet there was no one fighting in Disneyland back then!

[@mariangarcia706]

Glad to see you on YT, Donny! I am following.

[@donaldwballard]

Hi MG, miss you

[@GoGo-qi1yr]

The B-u-tah-fuL Ladies of Dapper Days 1958‼️✨️🧉😎✨️

[@manp1039]

i wish they filmed the various tickets used to get on rides. and the ticket books used.

[@lisapetersen8347]

They remind me of School Sisters. They had a Dress Code.A more Contemporary Order.

[@ToddB987]

Very cool!!! Look how everyone is dressed nice. Pant, belts shirt. I since of pride on how they looked. Now, your luck to people even dressed. Lounge pants. Shorty t shirts .😢

[@retrovideobuzz]

AMAZING!!!!!!

[@donaldwballard]

I am going to be posting more footage, please hit subscribe when you get a chance so you can be made aware of future posts.

[@retrovideobuzz]

@@donaldwballard I'm subscribed, :)

[@chrishintz1077]

The year before the big three opened: monorail , the subs and the Matterhorn!

[@dkuiv]

Disneyland was only 3 years old…as was I!

[@sunnyscott4876]

In 1955 we lived 14 miles from Disneyland. never once went anywhere the Disneyland Hotel and never understood what all the hubbub was about.

[@DisneyFan-eg3oz]

Wow thanks for sharing! I have been a Disneyland fan 😢collector for over fifty years and have not seen such different movies of Disneyland! Do you have any back story on the ladies? I got the impression they were there for some kind of convention they all head round tags on chords. Thanks again 😊

[@ChaChingDream]

I thought I had old footage in VHS and 8mm of Disney World. This is surprisingly clear and colors are not bad. do you know what this was filmed with? Thanks!

[@RideTheTeacups]

This is REMARKABLE!!! Absolutely entrancing! I have so many questions, if you don’t mind please! 1. Weird, but I’ve gotta ask: is the video real? Or is it somehow AI generated? 2. Did you use any tools to enhance the color? I assume it was a color camera; maybe I’m wrong there. 3. Did the original person filming have professional training? The walk around the tram and a distant shot of boarding the Jungle Cruise especially suggest some existing filmography skill, especially for the 50’s. 4. What was the motivation to record so many aspects of the Disneyland trip itself? I understand the fun parts; my dad made several videos of our Disneyland trips growing up in the 80’s. But even loading & unloading the car? Curious if the camera was a new toy, or if the filmmakers simply really enjoyed documenting all aspects of the trip. Thank you so much for sharing! I love this!!!

[@gannman2001]

I cannot speak for the author of the video, but speaking just for myself, we did have film enthusiasts back in the day........people who had the extra $$ to buy a nice Super 8 camera and color film (which was very expensive, compared to Black & White film). Cameras back then, especially movie cameras, were either made in America, Europe, or Japan. There were many people back then who truly enjoyed filming as much as they could afford to (there was the price of film, and the price of developing the film.......plus you needed a projector and a screen !). This video definitely strikes me as being shot by an amateur film enthusiast who simply enjoyed using their movie camera. As for filming the loading and unloading of the car, I am certain that the real goal there was to capture those lovely ladies on film. (notice they loaded their own suitcases, by the way !)

[@RideTheTeacups]

@@gannman2001 Good insights! Thanks so much.

[@orion7763]

Apart from all the attractions that didn't exist yet, the immature trees in 1958 really stands out. The Jungle Cruise is hardly a jungle.

[@chrishintz1077]

Yes! You can see through to main street. Fun video.

[@chrishintz1077]

Wow. Looks like Sierra tower was not even built yet. Don’t forget your hat, gloves for the ride home. ;). So cool. Thanks Don for the video.

[@toshibavoodoo]

great

[@natomblin]

The Monorail was there on opening day.

[@alison2649]

So I’m thinking they came into town & checked into a smaller motel and spent the day at the park. But the next day they actually had reservations for the Disneyland Hotel. I wonder if they went to the park again? Or swam? So many questions!

[@beckychristiansen8954]

I spotted some signs for airlines at the hotel. Was this a prototype for magical express? ❤️😁👍

[@hanschristianbrando5588]

People dressed better to go to Disneyland in those days than people dress to go to church or the office today.

[@ronniek4478]

Wonderful footage!! Was I seeing things or were there pueblo style mini buildings on top of some of the rockwork in Natures Valley? Have never seen that before!

[@smsstuart]

You are NOT seeing things. While the tracks run through the shadows of desert canyons (like Horse Thief Canyon), Hopi dwellings can be seen high above the wind-swept cliffs. These stand “in silent tribute to the artistry of an ancient people”. The forced perspective was a bit of a challenge.

[@ronniek4478]

@Nanook thanks! I have seen many photos and videos but never from that perspective so had no idea those were part of the attraction at one point.

[@CharMinsky]

Those pueblos are compelling I’m sure I haven’t seen them. The ride changed by my first visit in 1963. I’m guessing because this film is the first look. It’s utterly charming. Spirit village.

[@Patricia-vm9ys]

I don’t think my mother owned a pair of pants until 1970. 😅

[@omidfilms]

The 50’s were the 90s of that time

[@clintcollins7366]

Is there no volume to this, or am I blasting some other Bluetooth device in another room?

[@rsls101]

Wow Disneyland was emptier and cleaner

[@mst3kpimp]

and boring

[@SKT_T4R]

@@mst3kpimp yeah, nothing more fun than 3 hour wait for a log ride and a $20 soda to wash down a $20 churro!

[@sabrinashelton1997]

Now people's heads are emptier.

[@travisjohnson6676]

Lots of women (an no men) in dresses. Very nice!

[@imnotuploading512]

Fun fact: 1958 was the year where the Alice in Wonderland ride first opened to the public

[@donaldwballard]

Please subscribe to my channel so you can be alerted when new footage is posted.

[@edward88881]

Why does the park seem so uncrowded in this footage? A few shots of park employees interacting with guests made it look like a much more personal experience. What changed over the years that there are now crowds and lines? (Easy air travel?)

[@rickyrydell]

A Super 8 color camera was quite pricey back then!

[@donaldwballard]

16 mm not Super 8

[@carlycruise]

basically every adult in this is probably gone

[@chrishintz1077]

Yes. I was pondering the same thing. They were probably in their 30s, so born in the late 1920s. Glad they seemed to have a good time. Rolling into the dh in an epic station wagon. Parking very close to your room. Wearing cute outfits like capris or pedal pushers with sneakers. Crossing the vast parking lot in a vintage tractor-pulled tram. They had their moments. Luckily for us recorded to see or relive. The passing parade.

[@SantaRosaStormtrooperCraig]

I still don't get why we can't get a tram ride for the room rates to and from the Disney Hotels; half the time the monorail isn't working or is too packed.

[@alison2649]

I don’t know how they made it through the day in those shoes? I bet they had no idea how large the park was

[@PlayHouse-us8hk]

Did the tram not have doors?!?!? That’s wild. How many kids fell off before it got doors? 😅

[@skunyon6195]

None, Common sense was a thing back then.

[@sabrinashelton1997]

@@skunyon6195 Right?

[@gannman2001]

Skunyon, that's exactly what I was going to say ! Back then, we weren't stupid enough to jump from the Tram. We had the manners, upbringing, and common sense that we knew to sit our butts down, and wait for the Tram to come to a complete stop. Kids jumping on and off the Tram just didn't happen back then.......their parents would have given them a good spanking !

[@thehapagirl92]

Always thought it was weird how women wore dresses on occasions where they would be walking for hours and men wore suits. Thankfully people have changed and you’re not getting your suit and dress dirty. But I’m a millennial so this fancy dressing is a weird concept to me. My grandma had pictures of herself dressed up super fancy for a party and I’m like “Why?! It wasn’t even a nice party. It was just a casual get together!”

[@claymate58]

I grew up during this period. It was a big deal to go out to an event, so people always dressed nice. People had so much respect for their selves and others back then. Life wasn't a whirlwind full of electronics. Television only had 3 channels. Life was so simple and enjoyable then. We would ride our bikes for miles and miles and go discovering in the woods all day only coming home to get a drink and quick bite to eat then back outside. If you lived it you would understand. I miss those days so much.

[@brandonhallmagic6162]

Interesting group of “sporty gals” (isn’t that the proper euphemism?)