A few thoughts, and some odds and ends...
First off, thank you so much for posting these great pictures !
It's funny, but I only remember the grey "Navy" style subs at Disneyland. Perhaps my young mind did not process when the Nautilus subs were running. This is probably just my memory, or lack there of. I do remember riding the subs. First, stepping onto a black rubber non slip mat, then into the open hatch on the sub's top. Down the steps, and taking a seat in the sub. There were rows of windows down the sides. Then, we were underway. They would blow out some bubbles to simulate the sub diving.You could look out the windows, and see fish. Then, a mermaid ! A credible simulation of a sub voyage.
About live steam: with the limited knowledge I have of live steam operation, I was surprised at the way he operated this engine. He did not " hook up" the engine ! He kept the Johnson bar in a preset notch, and just cracked the throttle a little to leave "Main Street Station" . This was sufficient to start the train, and bring it to a nice chuffing progress. Perhaps this section of the line is nearly level. In the photo section of a "Trains" magazine many years back, it showed the engine crew hand sanding the track prior to departing "Tomorrowland" station. There may be a gentle gradient departing that station. Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad is also signaled.
Shops, and strategies :
The shops at Disneyland had some unique stuff, you couldn't seem to find anywhere else. Main Street was the place! Our day would normally end with two tired and happy young boys, and their father being asked by my mom to "wait just a minute while I go in and look" . My mom is a purveyor of knic knacks of all sorts, and that minute would stretch almost beyond the tolerance of the men in the family. She either came out with something, or we would hear that we needed to go back to Disneyland to go back to that store . In all fairness, I am not without guilt. There was a great magic shop that I always loved. I purchased a wooden chest with many secret compartments.It had a picture of the " Haunted Mansion" on it. Where else do you find stuff like that ?
When we were young, we enjoyed Disneyland with our parents. As we got into pre teen, and teenage years, it became " meet back here at lunchtime " ,or " meet back at dinner time" . My brother and I developed some strategies to cram in as many rides as time would allow. Back then, it was the ticket books, with tickets A through E. They only gave you 5 " E" tickets, which were the best rides. You always ended up with no " E" tickets left, and a boat load of unwanted "A" tickets. That's just how it was.
So, anyway, our strategy was to get to Disneyland when it first opened, agree on our meeting place and time. Then my brother and I would bolt to all the "E" ticket rides and try to squeeze them all in early, before the mid afternoon crowds. We were very productive that way. A good day was one we hit almost everything.
The Tiki Room.
The Enchanted Tiki Room, as it was called.This place was my mom's favorite. I can remember as a small child, and the last time I was at Disneyland, it was still there. Although, the last time I went in there, as an adult, I found the need to fight off the compelling urge to bust out laughing, like a raving lunatic. Somehow, that song tickled my funny bone ! Sorry, mom.
" The birds all sing, and the flowers bloom, in the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki room." ( imagine birds singing this song, a few hundred times, over, and over again) . 