[CaptainSilver]

1969, Disneyland - Anaheim, California

I was very young, but remember going very well.
The park was closed one day to the public and open to just the employees and family of the Company my Mother worked for. I thought it was all great and I took it all in, but there were two rides that stuck out in my memory;

One was the Haunted Mansion. It was just after it first opened to the public.
I remember that because people were talking about how the previous week or so earlier, what a big deal it was - How people were crowding to get in, and that it was in the news.

So, I can say; I rode the famous Haunted Mansion, with no crowd or waiting to get in, when it was brand new.
However, being very young, I hid my eyes in fear (The sounds were scary enough) and missed out. LOL .
Of course, it latter became one of my favorite rides.

On the other hand...

The other ride that had an impact on my Disney Experience was the still fairly new, "Pirates of the Caribbean" - I braved it out, eyes opened all the way! I think it was about one year since it's release at that time.

When the ride got to the skeletons and the ghostly voice over the speakers, I wasn't going to miss out again. I thought it was all cool. Once we were at the audio-animatronics characters, with the pirates moving and talking, the scenes and action, and the "Pirates Life for me" song, I loved every moment!

It was my first memory of just being Thrilled! No exaggeration; I was excited and Thrilled!
I think today for most, it's a fun ride and maybe nostalgic, but back then it was all new technology. You just didn't see things like that anywhere. It was all very 'on the edge' stuff and it flipped people out.

Anyway, I've been a Disney Pirate fan ever since.