To the editor: In studying this text, I really feel compelled to solid my vote for Disneyland’s first decade as the very best of instances for these of us who have been in a position to get pleasure from it (“What was the best Disneyland period? We glance again on 70 years on the happiest place on Earth,” July 17).
Shortly after I turned 5, my mother and father took the household to Disneyland simply two weeks after its opening in 1955. Even in its early days, it match the definition of “magic kingdom” to a T. Whereas I used to be watching a parade, Zorro himself (Man Williams) stopped his horse proper in entrance of me and scrolled a well-known “Z” within the air along with his well-known saber. He then dismounted and signed my autograph e book after having his merry band of characters do exactly the identical.
The icing on the cake got here when Walt Disney himself abruptly appeared, patted me on the top and advised my mother and father “good child.” I suppose it helped that I used to be carrying an official Davy Crockett coonskin hat. To today, I really feel like Disney royalty on account of his form phrases. These of us who bear in mind what an “E” ticket is are a dwindling horde, however even in spite of everything these years, I nonetheless do not forget that day and the sort pat on the top from the person himself.
Stephen Lash, Carlsbad
..
To the editor: Thanks for this glorious overview of the 70-year historical past of Disneyland. Seventy years in the past, once I was 8, my sister was 12 and my brother was 6, my mother and father determined to take us on a five-week drive throughout the nation from the Boston suburbs to Los Angeles to be a part of the grand opening of Disneyland. We drove with out GPS, however with the outdated AAA booklets, to see our stunning nation. Alongside the way in which, we stopped at Yellowstone, Bryce, Zion and Yosemite nationwide parks. However what was most memorable was our fantastic time at Disneyland’s grand opening.
All our neighbors got here out to say goodbye as we began our journey, and we drove in an outdated DeSoto with out air con. However we didn’t care as a result of we acquired to see a lot. We collected small pendants from every state and realized to understand this nice nation’s magnificence and pure wonders. Due to this expertise, I’m nonetheless an energetic traveler all around the world, and it began with my mother and father’ want to imbue in us a love of seeing this nation and the world — and naturally, Disneyland.
Fran Lyons, Encino
..
To the editor: My dad started working at Walt Disney Studios in 1956 simply after the opening of Disneyland. He would inform us that the Disney motto was “By no means cease creating.” All Disney workers got free tickets to the park yearly. Whereas driving from Hollywood to Anaheim took about two hours for the reason that 5 Freeway was simply being constructed, my mother would pack a lunch to eat within the automotive throughout the lengthy journeys. Very particular reminiscences.
Cheryl Ortega, Los Feliz
..
To the editor: Disney could have created “70 years of magic” however, elsewhere in the identical version of the paper, the Los Angeles Instances famous that Disney pledged $15 million for President Trump’s library to resolve a defamation lawsuit (“After CBS and ABC’s Trump settlements, Democrats need to curb presidential library items,” July 16). That just about cancels out Disney magic in my e book.
Mary Montes, West Hills
