Man, I really appreciate all of those home videos from the 80’s and 90’s. We had a camcorder back in the day, and they were the size of a news cast camera!! I remember my dad lugging around our huge camera when we’d go on trips to disney
I think the videos were earlier.. Fifties? I clearly remember Daddy “driving” one of those boats around the lake . I was 7 years old in ‘59. Same year he passed.
I’m glad I found your channel and this video. I tried telling my kids that Disneyland used to have boats you could drive and they looked at me like I was going crazy. They might have taken away the boats but they can’t take away the memories!
Looked awesome seeing all the layers of transportation going at once. Boats, Cars, Trains and a monorail, what a sight. One of my autopia highlights was seeing the monorail glide above me while driving.
Thank yiu. For bringing back a child hood memory. I my self now at 64 y.o. and my 2nd. And my baby brother remember. I wish. My grandkids could experience the joy I had with her two uncles long ago with kids
I still have fond memories of this ride, especially at night when you couldn't see the other boats/obstacles and you actually felt you where in control of where you might be going lol. Thanks for the memories of this ride that hardly anyone still remembers anymore lol.
I did that ride as a kid. I think that it was the "three wheel" era, since it was about 1962 and we had some steering authority. I remember that we could steer somewhat, and could feel the tracks as we banged against them. It is a good thing we did not know that the boats could become wedged and stuck if you tried to pass the boat ahead of you. We probably would have tried it!
Alex, this was another great watch. You improve with every video you make, narration is spot on. I rode those boats many times, they weren't fast but fun. Like your new "logo." You may have changed your name but your skill still shines. Thanks again for your HOURS of work you put into your videos.......
Grew up with the Anaheim park as my mom’s second husband worked there from the early 80s till retirement around 2010. Me and my brother used to go several times a year. Got to see a lot behind the scenes (boring as kid) and skipped a lot of lines because he knew everyone. Not interested anymore since my own kids aged out and it’s lost a lot of what made it special for me. Love to see all the videos people share of the rides that are no longer around.
I rode this in 1971 and loved it as a 1st timer at Disneyland at age 10! I thought I was driving the boat. Thanks so much for posting!!! Brings back very fond memories.
Mr. Alex I cannot thank you enough for your new videos that you're posting when it comes to the history of disland and not just Disneyland but other attractions all around I appreciate your hard work and keep it going my brother.
Thanks for another great video. To this day when I’m at the park with my little Grandaughter we sit on the dock for her to rest and I tell her when I was a little boy I used to drive a motor boat around the waterways here. It was very peaceful and fun under the bridges of the autopia.
I always love riding this after dinner, it was so serene and relaxing. The inside story I heard about its removal was that the old gas engines were putting the park over it’s combined EPA limits. To keep them they would have had to take out something else in its place.
You're exactly correct when you said there were better more exciting attractions in Disneyland, so guests would skip the boats. We rode them as kids, maybe twice. In later visits a second or third ride on the Matterhorn was my priority. 😎
I miss the one at WDW too. Yes, they had one there in the early 90s. It was at a dock on Pleasure island. And unlike the last version of the WDL boats, these were 100% real. You were free to drive them anywhere around the island. I was shocked by how far I was allowed to go. So how did they get you back? There was a real harbor master in a pilot boat who would drive out and tell everyone it was time to go home.
I remember the Motor Boat Cruise. It is no great loss, it always seemed like a bit of a dud ride that took up way too much real estate. Regarding serene seating spots at the park, my favorite one was behind the Tuna Clipper. The Clipper was a good place to get a tuna sandwitch for lunch which we always did and would sit at the tables around Skull Rock. Even at peak times it seemed that it was not very crowded-- which may be why they re-did that area-- any area that's not in big demand seems like will be targeted for re-design.
I remember my mom & i first went on these boats, she thought it was free driven ( not on a track) while i was driving the boat she would get mad at me for not going around the slow pokes ahead of me lol. I remember the boat behind us telling my mom that the boats were in fact on a track lol. Poor mom felt embarrassed. Great memories !!
IDK If I rode it as a kid. I know I did Autopia. I remember the 1970's paper guide book and it said either race the (tricky or treacherous) rapids! It sounded sooooo COOL!
I understand why this ride was taken out. For today's over-stimulated youth, this ride would be slow and boring. For the slower paced youth of yesteryear, myself included, this ride was the perfect place to sit, relax, and make a Disney memory with a friend. I wish I could go back in time to the 1960's and ride those boats again. Thanks for sparking a fond memory.
As a thought, at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, I hope if Fantasyland expands, they could bring back the Motor Boat Cruise. That was in Tomorrowland from 1957 to Monday, January 11, 1993.
We used to go to the motor boats 1st when we got to Disneyland. Every birthday that me and my brother had. Those were the good ol days when it was cheap prices and not so many thousands upon thousands of people like they have today.
Legoland has something called "Skippers Yacht Cruise" that is not on a track. Similar to the early versions of this. My eyes started to sweat a bit when I took my 6 year old son on it, and had 'flash backs' to riding this with my dad...
I remember this ride and riding it. I was sorry they took it out. They took it out just about the time I would’ve been able to “drive the boat by myself“. One of the few pictures we have of our Disneyland trips as a kid includes pictures of us on the boats.
This ride is my earliest memory, I was less than one year old. When we went back when later at 10, something felt like it was missing in that spot. I looked at that peer and said i remember a boat ride being there. There was no Google in 1994. Hardly anyone believed me the ride was ever there. My dad has an old wall poster size map of the park that shows the ride. That was my only proof for a long time. My childhood maps were made after, and kids my age had never experienced the ride. It's unfortunate that the area isn't really used now. They could have modernized that ride again and had it weave around the same areas Autotopia under the monorail.
I remember the last time I rode this is was pitch dark. My cousin's and I had our own boats and we're waving to my mom while she records and you hear my aunt in the background saying there's no lights. It was kinda scary. Fun, but scary.
Dear Alex, you changed the name on your channel or am I imagining things? Sorry for being a bad viewer the last months so I ask instead. Love the name anyway🙌💖
Yeah I had to change the name because it was causing a lot of unnecessary animosity from people who thought I was trying to gain notoriety from pretending to be a "historian".
@@AlextheHistorian I’m sorry about people being complete idiots when it comes to trash and try to destroy other RUclipsrs. We see enough of that hate and destruction in all areas of our lives. Keep doing what I’ve watched you do so well over the past three years! You are an awesome RUclipsr who has faced so many challenges in life and you still manage to do what you do with great research and amazing results!! I have the outmost respect for your work. From one of your original viewers👏🙌💞
I remember this ride well. I road on it in the early 90's. A fantastic ride that I wish had lasted longer. I remember returning many years later very disappointed they had been removed.
Fun fact, they tried to bring this back to WDW in the very early 1990s. There was a dock at Pleasure Island where you could drive similar motorboats. Unlike the last version of the Disneyland attraction, the ones at WDW were genuine boats and you were free to drive them anywhere around Pleasure Island. Maybe that's why people give me a funny look when asking about the motorboats and I react by saying "Oh, the ones at Disney WORLD?" 😁
Alex great video I remember rideing this ride and haveing a smile on my face when rideing it your Naration is spot on I really do enjoy watching your videos
QE2 is also important as Queen Mary because When the transatlantic planes were introduced people started traveling in planes leaving ocean liners. QE2 was built by Cunard line quickly because the industry was declining rapidly, she built with every type of distraction and it worked people started loving QE2 as she was modern, beautiful, fast and stylish without QE2 there want be Queen Mary 2. She has retired and docked in Dubai.
Yes I'll eventually make a video about the QE2, but I'm still doing research on it. Making these videos aren't a quick process, it takes months of research, not just to read up on it, but to cross-reference my sources and to understand the technology of these ships. I'm also in the beginning process of moving to a new apartment so bare with me. Eventually I will have several videos about the QE2.
Lol nowadays if u were that lady tryna splash u would prob get kicked out. Ughhhh what id do to go back to the old days when bullfrogs roamed the lands
Most people won’t like this comment but back in the 70s early 80s it was a great ride to take a toke or have a smoke or just make out with your girlfriend. Another words the good ole days.I just turned 53 and I’ll never return to this amusement park it’s gotten too liberal and political it’s just not fun anymore and way overpriced.I have found much more joy in the outdoors and nature and it’s a lot more affordable. Don’t get me wrong I used to love Disneyland up till about three years ago.
Man, I really appreciate all of those home videos from the 80’s and 90’s. We had a camcorder back in the day, and they were the size of a news cast camera!! I remember my dad lugging around our huge camera when we’d go on trips to disney
I think the videos were earlier.. Fifties? I clearly remember Daddy “driving” one of those boats around the lake . I was 7 years old in ‘59. Same year he passed.
I used a lot of home videos from the 80s and 90s in the video
I don't remember ever going on that ride.
I’m glad I found your channel and this video. I tried telling my kids that Disneyland used to have boats you could drive and they looked at me like I was going crazy. They might have taken away the boats but they can’t take away the memories!
I remember that ride as a kid. Hate that they took it out.
Looked awesome seeing all the layers of transportation going at once.
Boats, Cars, Trains and a monorail, what a sight.
One of my autopia highlights was seeing the monorail glide above me while driving.
I never expected to learn this much about boats of varying sizes when I started following this channel, but I'm not complaining :)
Thank yiu. For bringing back a child hood memory. I my self now at 64 y.o. and my 2nd. And my baby brother remember. I wish. My grandkids could experience the joy I had with her two uncles long ago with kids
Was always an evening ride for me, just something about the water and greenery in the low light that was fun.
I still have fond memories of this ride, especially at night when you couldn't see the other boats/obstacles and you actually felt you where in control of where you might be going lol. Thanks for the memories of this ride that hardly anyone still remembers anymore lol.
I did that ride as a kid. I think that it was the "three wheel" era, since it was about 1962 and we had some steering authority. I remember that we could steer somewhat, and could feel the tracks as we banged against them. It is a good thing we did not know that the boats could become wedged and stuck if you tried to pass the boat ahead of you. We probably would have tried it!
Alex, this was another great watch. You improve with every video you make, narration is spot on. I rode those boats many times, they weren't fast but fun. Like your new "logo." You may have changed your name but your skill still shines. Thanks again for your HOURS of work you put into your videos.......
You're welcome!
I love the attention to detail in this documentary. I'm a Disneyland fanatic and I learned some new things here. Thank you!
Grew up with the Anaheim park as my mom’s second husband worked there from the early 80s till retirement around 2010. Me and my brother used to go several times a year. Got to see a lot behind the scenes (boring as kid) and skipped a lot of lines because he knew everyone. Not interested anymore since my own kids aged out and it’s lost a lot of what made it special for me. Love to see all the videos people share of the rides that are no longer around.
Thank you! And I'm glad you included the video of the bad kid standing up and splashing.
He could have fallen in and become a permanent part of the rides history.
I rode this in 1971 and loved it as a 1st timer at Disneyland at age 10! I thought I was driving the boat. Thanks so much for posting!!! Brings back very fond memories.
The boats, autopia, submarines, rockets, and other rides of the old days were really great. I miss the old Disney rides before 2000.
I remember this ride! Was so fun! Thank you for this good memory and the history! 😃
Another great video Alex, happy memories of this attraction
Mr. Alex I cannot thank you enough for your new videos that you're posting when it comes to the history of disland and not just Disneyland but other attractions all around I appreciate your hard work and keep it going my brother.
Thank you!
Thanks for another great video. To this day when I’m at the park with my little Grandaughter we sit on the dock for her to rest and I tell her when I was a little boy I used to drive a motor boat around the waterways here. It was very peaceful and fun under the bridges of the autopia.
Very nicely done. Nostalgic and informative. Good work.
Thanks!
I always love riding this after dinner, it was so serene and relaxing. The inside story I heard about its removal was that the old gas engines were putting the park over it’s combined EPA limits. To keep them they would have had to take out something else in its place.
I miss the old profile pic, but I understand the direction the channel is going. Keep up the amazing work!
A very well-done video. You brought back a lot of memories for me.
Thanks Alex! I've heard about the motorboats and had a lot of question. Your video answered them all!
You're exactly correct when you said there were better more exciting attractions in Disneyland, so guests would skip the boats. We rode them as kids, maybe twice. In later visits a second or third ride on the Matterhorn was my priority. 😎
Well done as always! I still enjoyed the boats even though I knew I wasn’t in total control.
I miss Moterboat Cruise so so much
I miss the one at WDW too. Yes, they had one there in the early 90s. It was at a dock on Pleasure island. And unlike the last version of the WDL boats, these were 100% real. You were free to drive them anywhere around the island. I was shocked by how far I was allowed to go. So how did they get you back? There was a real harbor master in a pilot boat who would drive out and tell everyone it was time to go home.
I remember the Motor Boat Cruise. It is no great loss, it always seemed like a bit of a dud ride that took up way too much real estate. Regarding serene seating spots at the park, my favorite one was behind the Tuna Clipper. The Clipper was a good place to get a tuna sandwitch for lunch which we always did and would sit at the tables around Skull Rock. Even at peak times it seemed that it was not very crowded-- which may be why they re-did that area-- any area that's not in big demand seems like will be targeted for re-design.
I've always wondered about this ride! Thank you for making these Disneyland history videos. They really are amazing!
I remember my mom & i first went on these boats, she thought it was free driven ( not on a track) while i was driving the boat she would get mad at me for not going around the slow pokes ahead of me lol. I remember the boat behind us telling my mom that the boats were in fact on a track lol. Poor mom felt embarrassed. Great memories !!
IDK If I rode it as a kid. I know I did Autopia. I remember the 1970's paper guide book and it said either race the (tricky or treacherous) rapids! It sounded sooooo COOL!
Thanks Alex for this amazing content!
Hey Alex. Nice to see you.
There’s something so comforting about your videos. 💙💙
Thank you for bringing back memories of when i was a kid with my parents and my brother. 💜💜
Thank you so much for making this!!!
One of my earliest Disneyland memories is getting stuck on this during the "Gummi Glenn" era. I couldn't have been more than 6.
I understand why this ride was taken out. For today's over-stimulated youth, this ride would be slow and boring. For the slower paced youth of yesteryear, myself included, this ride was the perfect place to sit, relax, and make a Disney memory with a friend. I wish I could go back in time to the 1960's and ride those boats again. Thanks for sparking a fond memory.
Yes, that is the only boat I have driven! I thought the pedal worked! Hope I can find my Dad's Polaroid of the boats!
First in-depth history of this ride I've seen. Could you do the swan boats at Disney World, too?
As a thought, at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, I hope if Fantasyland expands, they could bring back the Motor Boat Cruise. That was in Tomorrowland from 1957 to Monday, January 11, 1993.
fascinating, always love abandoned rides!
We used to go to the motor boats 1st when we got to Disneyland. Every birthday that me and my brother had. Those were the good ol days when it was cheap prices and not so many thousands upon thousands of people like they have today.
Legoland has something called "Skippers Yacht Cruise" that is not on a track. Similar to the early versions of this. My eyes started to sweat a bit when I took my 6 year old son on it, and had 'flash backs' to riding this with my dad...
I have fond memories of this ride, even from the year I was a cast member in 1990
I remember this ride and riding it. I was sorry they took it out. They took it out just about the time I would’ve been able to “drive the boat by myself“. One of the few pictures we have of our Disneyland trips as a kid includes pictures of us on the boats.
That was beautiful, you get a like and a sub!
I rode these little boats many times back in the 70s and 80s. The kids I brought with me loved to steer them. 😊
It was a great ride for very small kids. The boats were so slow but still you got the "motorboat" experience
I was a ride operator on the motor boats in 1968-69. My first job out of high-school.
I worked the motorboat cruise in the 80’s!
This ride is my earliest memory, I was less than one year old. When we went back when later at 10, something felt like it was missing in that spot. I looked at that peer and said i remember a boat ride being there. There was no Google in 1994. Hardly anyone believed me the ride was ever there. My dad has an old wall poster size map of the park that shows the ride. That was my only proof for a long time. My childhood maps were made after, and kids my age had never experienced the ride. It's unfortunate that the area isn't really used now. They could have modernized that ride again and had it weave around the same areas Autotopia under the monorail.
Alex, was the lagoon ever use as a remote control boat area wear you purchased time by feeding quarters to the ships wheel controller?
No that was at Disneyland Hotel.
I remember the last time I rode this is was pitch dark. My cousin's and I had our own boats and we're waving to my mom while she records and you hear my aunt in the background saying there's no lights. It was kinda scary. Fun, but scary.
I remember riding this when I was 4 or 5
I miss this attraction, one of my favorites.
I remember the overhead sky ride, the yellow submarines, and the people mover, but I don't remember this one.
4.32 is a good picture where can i find it and more like it..
Just Google "Disneyland Aerial View 1955" and search the images tab, you'll find lots of high quality images.
Once they took away steering, the boats became boring. No surprise it failed after that.
I wish they would bring back a ride like this !
Dear Alex, you changed the name on your channel or am I imagining things? Sorry for being a bad viewer the last months so I ask instead. Love the name anyway🙌💖
Yeah I had to change the name because it was causing a lot of unnecessary animosity from people who thought I was trying to gain notoriety from pretending to be a "historian".
@@AlextheHistorian I’m sorry about people being complete idiots when it comes to trash and try to destroy other RUclipsrs. We see enough of that hate and destruction in all areas of our lives. Keep doing what I’ve watched you do so well over the past three years! You are an awesome RUclipsr who has faced so many challenges in life and you still manage to do what you do with great research and amazing results!! I have the outmost respect for your work. From one of your original viewers👏🙌💞
Thank you! That means so much to me ❤
Very Interesting..👍👍👍
I remember this ride well. I road on it in the early 90's. A fantastic ride that I wish had lasted longer. I remember returning many years later very disappointed they had been removed.
Fun fact, they tried to bring this back to WDW in the very early 1990s. There was a dock at Pleasure Island where you could drive similar motorboats. Unlike the last version of the Disneyland attraction, the ones at WDW were genuine boats and you were free to drive them anywhere around Pleasure Island. Maybe that's why people give me a funny look when asking about the motorboats and I react by saying "Oh, the ones at Disney WORLD?" 😁
Alex great video I remember rideing this ride and haveing a smile on my face when rideing it your Naration is spot on I really do enjoy watching your videos
Thank you!
The loading dock area is a great candy trail during the Halloween party. 😊
Wonder if that track is still there under the water
No the entire thing has been completely torn out and repaved in the early 2000s.
thanks!!
I remember riding them often in the 60's and it seems you had a very small throttle control, in that you floored it and it would make some noise(?)
I remember they named each boat after a Disney character (mostly princesses.)
Bring em back lol. When we’re they taken out again? Why don’t I remember them? I remember the sky way.
Alex could you also make a video of QE2
QE2 is also important as Queen Mary because When the transatlantic planes were introduced people started traveling in planes leaving ocean liners. QE2 was built by Cunard line
quickly because the industry was declining rapidly, she built with every type of distraction and it worked people started loving QE2 as she was modern, beautiful, fast and stylish without
QE2 there want be Queen Mary 2.
She has retired and docked in Dubai.
Yes I'll eventually make a video about the QE2, but I'm still doing research on it. Making these videos aren't a quick process, it takes months of research, not just to read up on it, but to cross-reference my sources and to understand the technology of these ships. I'm also in the beginning process of moving to a new apartment so bare with me. Eventually I will have several videos about the QE2.
@@AlextheHistorian Sure take your time.
You should do one on the Swan Boats at WDW Magic Kingdom
Such a great ride. They could have upgraded and added a fake shark.
Disneyland should add more B attractions including the motorboats just to reduce foot traffic in the park. 😊
Gummybears - bouncing here and there and everywhere
It’s the ‘Booger Bog’! Oh wait, wrong boat ride and amusement venue….
Chagrin?
It means he was reluctant and embarrassed.
Justin Scarred already did this video like 7 years ago.
Nah this video was made 100% by myself.
Was such a cool ride...now that area water smells like rotten eggs !
Oh yeah its terrible
"NOT THE BOATS!!!!" ~Freakazoid
dawg said shaaagoon
I’m fan Diensy past .
The smoking section
Lol nowadays if u were that lady tryna splash u would prob get kicked out. Ughhhh what id do to go back to the old days when bullfrogs roamed the lands
Freakazoid brought me here. 🤣
😪😪😪😪
Most people won’t like this comment but back in the 70s early 80s it was a great ride to take a toke or have a smoke or just make out with your girlfriend. Another words the good ole days.I just turned 53 and I’ll never return to this amusement park it’s gotten too liberal and political it’s just not fun anymore and way overpriced.I have found much more joy in the outdoors and nature and it’s a lot more affordable. Don’t get me wrong I used to love Disneyland up till about three years ago.