Also, I'm looking forward to seeing where your WDW thread goes! I always like to imagine that our version of parks exist in the same fictional universe lol. Btw, you should check out the Phantom Manor rehab recently posted on YouTube, it might give you some inspiration when you get to Liberty Square/HM, if you haven't already. Vocal feedback, as always, is encouraged! I know I sound needy, but vocal feedback is the best reward for putting in a ton of work haha. Most of these posts take me upward of a day to make just because I'm so OCD about everything... That, and I tend to get rather busy at random hours.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think it should’ve been 1850 or 1860. I mean, for a mining company and railroad set in 1840, it sure was ahead of its time and did bring a lot of people to what was; and still is to this day; the middle of nowhere.
That wasn't me who settled on 1840 lol. Earlier in the post, I say Frontierland is set in 1870. The whole "backstory" about old Sam riding on a runaway mine train is from the writings of an actual Imagineer. I don't know which Imagineer, but it is included word for word here as it was in the book Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real. The author is, however, unlisted.
Anyhow, folks, feedback as always, is much obliged. I don't want to let this thread die! I do start a new job on Tuesday, but I fully plan on continuing my involvement in creating this alternate reality for the Disneyland Resort.
Today's update takes a big reference from Jason Surrell's The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak, and just a little from JimHillMedia. It should be noted that today's update, almost more than any other so far, really plays on the fact that this is an alternate history. Literally NOTHING talked about (other than a portion of Marc Davis-related history and resentment toward Tony Baxter) is real.
The biggest reference and inspiration, however, comes to us here: http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/wre.htm
I really need to credit the wonderful Widen Your World for even introducing Disney Fandom to Western River Expedition in the first place. I don't think we would obsess over the long-lost attraction nearly as much without that wonderful article linked above. Please read it. You will not regret it.
By early to mid 2000, Team Disney Anaheim (TDA) had determined Frontierland's Mexican restaurant, "Casa Mexicana," the former "Casa de Fritos," to be a redundant and under-performing slice of Disneyland's real estate. Walt's 215 acre Magic Kingdom had seen a spike in attendance with the addition of WESTCOT Center in the previous decade, and a desire for a new attraction to soothe the boom in attendance was prevalent. However, 2000 marked the year Paul Pressler, former head of Disney Consumer Products, was appointed Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Pressler was notorious for being big on cost-cutting and little on thematic ingenuity. Pressler's brand of "creativity" instilled reduced attraction hours, Cast Members having to wash their own uniforms, and merchandise, merchandise, merchandise. Seeing that WESTCOT had an entire area dedicated to Latin American cuisine and culture, Pressler's solution to this in-resort redundancy was a colorful band-aid, one in which remains today, an attraction built to move merchandise: Woody's Roundup.
Based on Toy Story 2, released the previous year in 1999, Woody's Roundup would be - and is today - a literal spin on the old carnival standby: the whip ride, a fast-moving turn-table ride originally designed for Coney Island, New York in 1914. Woody's Roundup, featuring a whimsical western backdrop and multitude of technicolor "toy" ponies, is hosted by Sheriff Woody and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl. Andy has set up one of his favorite playsets, a western town and stable. But when his mom told him it was time to leave for Cowboy Camp, Woody and Jessie came to life, wasting no time in letting all the toy ponies out to pasture. After hitching the ponies to carts, the wild duo began welcoming passers-by to take a tune-filled spin and "do-si-do" around Andy's backyard. A toy radio plays such finger-snapping selections as "Woody's Finest Musical Hour" and "You've Got a Friend in Me." The hoof-tappin' hoedown begins as the ponies enjoy a square dance, swinging their carts - with us inside - to the sound of the downhome, country-flavored melodies.
This "cheap" solution was not the success TDA had hoped for and, in 2002, Paul Pressler left his position as Chairman. In 2010, Tom Staggs became Chairman. Staggs was, by all accounts, the heir apparent to then-CEO Bob Iger, but remarkably left Disney in 2016. Regardless, Staggs sought to reverse the cost-cutting measures and poor management instilled on the Parks and Resorts in the previous decade. One such reversal - a complete redesign of the ugly and out-of-place Woody's Roundup attraction.
The colorful, toy-like western town in the backdrop of Woody's Roundup was swapped for a more realistic and aged appearance, similar to the rest of Frontierland. The toy ponies, Woody and Jessie remained, but all reference to the attraction being set in Andy's backyard was removed. The new story, appropriately, would reset the attraction into a romanticized vision of the Old West. The Woody and Jessie found here were merely "stylized" versions of the "real-life" Woody and Jessie. So, despite their appearance being taken directly from the films, it was now assumed that the Woody and Jessie featured in the attraction were "real western icons" in which the toys we know were based on. Woody's Roundup has since become one of Frontierland's most popular attractions.
The "Al's Toy Barn" gift shop, built at the exit of Woody's Roundup in 2000, was notorious for hosting an atrociously out-of-place meet 'n' greet with Buzz Lightyear. However, in 2010, Al's Toy Barn became just the Toy Barn and lost Buzz, strictly featuring a realistic western theme.
When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, guests were astonished at the omission of Pirates of the Caribbean. The Imagineers, in particular Marc Davis, had no interest in repeating their former success, and had planned to outdo Pirates with Western River Expedition, an Audio-Animatronics extravaganza that would out-dazzle the Caribbean boat ride in every respect. The water ride was to be the centerpiece of Thunder Mesa, an expansive show complex that would also house hiking trails and pack-mule rides, and a runaway mine train down its hills and through its valleys. "Western River" would be a wild and woolly musical adventure starring cowboys and Indians, masked banditos, and high-kicking cancan dancers, culminating with a raging forest fire and a final, dizzying plunge down a waterfall and into the Rivers of America. Marc Davis's theme park magnum opus would be complete by 1976, just in time for the resort's fifth anniversary and the nation's Bicentennial.
However, Roy O. Disney, Marc's biggest cheerleader for the project, had passed away in late 1971. Roy's replacement, Card Walker, made it his top priority to bring a smaller version of Pirates to the Florida Park. The Imagineers tried to sell him on what they considered would be the next generation of "E-Ticket" attraction, but the new CEO would hear none of it. Pirates opened in Walt Disney World's Adventureland in 1973. Western River would now seem redundant with the addition of Pirates. Even worse, the Thunder Mesa complex would have cost an astronomical $60 million to build. The energy crisis of the 1970s had wreaked havoc on the travel industry, especially at Walt Disney World. Further complicating matters, concern was expressed over Marc's portrayal of Native Americans, which were decidedly cartoonish and not at all politically correct, even for the far-more-politically-incorrect 1970s. Western River was, in Disney World at least, abandoned - dead in the water.
The December 1974 issue of The Disneyland News listed a number of new attractions that were under consideration for construction in "The Happiest Place on Earth," including Space Mountain, a Disneyland version of the then-still-under-construction Walt Disney World thrill ride, and Mission to Mars, a rehash of the Opening Day "Flight to the Moon" attraction. Marc's Western River Expedition was among the possible additions listed, a suited replacement for the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland.
Sadly, Western River remained unbuilt at Disneyland well throughout the remainder of the 1970s and '80s. Marc Davis retired from WED in 1978, and in 1989, Splash Mountain opened, preceded a decade earlier by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It seemed as if the spectacular voyage through a comical Wild West would never come into fruition, let alone be featured in a massive show building conjoint to a runaway mine train. The real estate once planned for the attraction became Big Thunder Ranch, an outdoor barbecue restaurant and festival arena. Davis was reportedly furious that his beloved Audio-Animatronics figures from America Sings had been ripped out and thrown into Splash Mountain. To Marc, Tony Baxter was to blame. From the day America Sings closed in April 1988 until the day Davis died in January 2000, Davis resented Baxter.
Test Track, a high-speed "giant slot car" attraction, opened at EPCOT at the Walt Disney World Resort officially on March 17, 1999. The highlight of the Future World attraction was (and still is) a speed trial on a track around the exterior of the show building at a top speed of 64.9 miles per hour, making it the fastest Disney Attraction ever built. The innovative ride system was a huge "win" for the Imagineers. Their spectacular invention would allow a number of attractions to be built that were previously thought impossible, including "Journey to the Center of the Earth," a Jules Verne-inspired thrill ride later built at Tokyo DisneySea in 2001. One Imagineer, however, felt as if now, more than ever, would be the perfect opportunity to make amends with an old friend and mentor. Tony Baxter, wishing to right a wrong, successfully found means to introduce Western River Expedition to Walt's Disneyland.
On July 4, 2005, the same month and year of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, Frontierland and its Rivers of America fell under the shadow of an immense rock-wall, something like Big Thunder Mountain, but much taller, wider and more dense, a panoramic backdrop for the whole of Frontierland. This is, of course, the soaring silhouette of Thunder Mesa. Guests on that hot day in 2005 and well into today approach Thunder Mesa from the south and enter the maw of an abandoned mine shaft labeled "Thunder Mesa Expedition," the new title of Marc Davis's magnum opus.
Tony Baxter and his team carefully looked into Marc's original drawings and concepts for the legendary attraction. In fact, the attraction, built in celebration of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, would be as close to Marc's vision as possible, save for a few additions and required edits. First, the boat ride and climactic waterfall were eliminated, deemed redundant with the existing Splash Mountain and Pirates. Instead, the ride would utilize rustic "wagons" in emulation of the Conestoga wagons once used by American settlers. The wagons operate on a ride system borrowed from Test Track - a "giant slot car" of sorts.
Second, the Thunder Mesa complex would be sized down and would only feature Thunder Mesa Expedition and no other attractions.
Third, the negative portrayal of Native Americans was almost entirely eliminated. Marc's "Rain Dance" scene was replaced with a dramatic and supernatural earthquake that occurred while riders traveled through Boot Hill, a western cemetery. In a moment of pure fantasy, skeletal cowpoke would arise from their crypts and give chase, sending the wagons flying off their course and into a roaring forest fire. Masked banditos would see to a climactic finale in which riders would be sent outside careening down the slope of Thunder Mesa and through a series of narrow canyons and buttes, all too similar with Tokyo's Journey to the Center of the Earth. The ride's finale would also see to a fantastic new scene not designed by Marc Davis. Surely, Marc's beloved - but revised - Western River Expedition would go on to become one of Disneyland's most beloved and time-honored attractions.
Winding tunnels and abandoned mines of the Thunder Mesa Mining Operation open into a surreal canyon under the veil of twilight. From aboard our Conestoga wagon, we embark on a spellbinding adventure beneath the stars, where clouds and constellations in the shape of western icons float past. Hoot Gibson, a nosy owl, is our narrator as we drift through a cowboy encampment after sunset. Singing cattle, cacti and cowpoke transition into a stagecoach robbery at high noon, where masked banditos and their masked horses (their leader rides a grizzly bear) take aim at their horrified hostages. Our wagon then rolls into the little mining town of Dry Gulch at dusk, where boisterous cowboys, dancing showgirls, disapproving townsfolk, and vile outlaws take the west by storm.
A tour of Boot Hill, the local cemetery, goes awry when our wagon relives the fateful earthquake of 1861, bizarrely awakening the deceased of Dry Gulch from their coffins. The undead subsequently give pursuit. A deadly wildfire engulfs a surrounding pine forest, sending our wagon uphill and into further danger - the banditos have returned, and this time we're their hostages. Amid the crackle of lightning and gargantuan flames, we narrowly escape via Thunder Mesa's immense slope - an 80-foot drop and race through dangerous canyons and caves.
The adventure concludes as we see to the arrest of the banditos at the hands of the Dry Gulch sheriff. The criminals are shipped off via steam engine to parts unknown while all the townsfolk gather in joyous song, a fitting finale to our western expedition.
Big Thunder Ranch, which remained open alongside Thunder Mesa Expedition, closed in early 2016. By 2019, both Folktale Forest and Thunder Mesa would have a lot more traffic in their proximity. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge had opened just behind Frontierland, and fortunately, Thunder Mesa Expedition remained untouched, though, less could be said for a beautiful redesign of the Rivers of America. The modern classic attraction would go on to welcome even more passengers than it ever had before, and Disneyland remains the only Disney Park today to feature Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion and Thunder Mesa Expedition all under one roof - the Marc Davis Trifecta.
As the Summer Season dawns on the Disneyland Resort, the Rivers of America are magically transformed into an amazing celebration of imagination, hopes and dreams. The incredible world of Mickey Mouse's imagination comes to life in Fantasmic!, an extravagant nighttime pageant as viewed from the streets of Frontierland and New Orleans Square. Tom Sawyer Island is the thematic stage for this timeless clash of good and evil, which uses state-of-the-art lasers, projection mapping, mist-screens, pyrotechnics, and extraordinary projection mapping to make the story come to life.
In Mickey's dream, we witness the forces of good and evil engaged in conflict, where Pink Elephants, Heffalumps & Woozles, singing Genies, swashbuckling pirates, and Disney Princesses more surprisingly appear on and around the Rivers of America. When Mickey is kidnapped and pulled into the Magic Mirror, the forces of evil are awakened as the Evil Queen of Snow White calls upon some of Disney's most dastardly Villains - Ursula, Oogie Boogie, Dr. Facilier, Chernabog, and Maleficent, the latter who transforms herself into a 45-foot, fire-breathing dragon!
"Welcome to Fantasmic! Tonight, our friend and host, Mickey Mouse, uses his vivid imagination to create magical imagery for all to enjoy. Nothing is more wonderful than the imagination—for in a moment, you can experience a beautiful fantasy or an exciting adventure! But beware… nothing is more powerful than the imagination—for it can also expand your greatest fears into an overwhelming nightmare. Are the powers of Mickey’s incredible imagination strong enough and bright enough to withstand the evil forces that invade Mickey’s dream? You are about to find out. For we now invite you to join Mickey and experience Fantasmic!—a journey beyond your wildest imagination."Frontierland is done! Thoughts?
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I never said it was you. After all, you rarely, if ever, make such minor imperfections.
(I still hate these new emoji designs)
The usual references and sources are all the same: The Art of Disneyland, Disneyland: The First Thirty Years and DisneyChris.com. Ironically, Wikipedia and the official websites of several Disney Parks have really helped with this update. Please read all previous updates before, if you have not already. This might be the last update until Wednesday or Thursday! I start my new job tomorrow night! 
I had to go for some realism.
FrontierlandANYWAY, I should note that, for now, I'll be skipping over an overview for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. It just doesn't make sense for me to focus energy on a land that has yet to open to the public. I'm going to wait till the land opens later this month to even remotely consider beginning work on revisions or additions. Just know that, even in this Disneyland, Galaxy's Edge is located north of Frontierland. Even with Disneyland being a larger size in this reality, a reroute of the Rivers of America was required, complete with the addition of the beautiful Columbia Gorge and relocated Indian Village.
Attractions & Entertainment
1. Golden Horseshoe Revue
2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
3. Mark Twain Riverboat
4. Sailing Ship Columbia
5. Tom Sawyer Island
(Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island are in Folktale Forest)
6. Woody's Roundup
7. Thunder Mesa Expedition
8. Fantasmic!
Shopping & Dining
1. General Store
2. Westward Ho! Clothing Co.
3. Assay Office
4. Golden Horseshoe Saloon
5. Silver Banjo Barbecue
6. Toy Barn
7. Ship to Shore Marketplace
(Ship to Shore was NOT mentioned in the overview. It's an outdoor turkey leg, corn, fruit, chips, and chimichanga location.)
As always, feedback is appreciated! I really hope I'm not doing all this work for nothing.
Fantasyland was always portrayed as Walt's favorite, although much like children, no doubt he'd be hard pressed to pick a favored land in his Park.
Fantasyland, however, was the realm of his already-famous and most-beloved canon and characters, a land that Snow White, Peter Pan, Mr. Toad, and Alice (of Wonderland) might call home. Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald were also perfectly at home in the regal fairy tale and comfy storybook settings - created for this new entertainment experience by many of the same men and women who had brought them to the movie screen.
"When we were planning Fantasyland," Walt Disney said, "we recalled the lyrics of the song 'When You Wish Upon a Star.' The words of the melody, from our picture 'Pinocchio,' inspired us to create this land. What youngster, listening to parents or grandparents read aloud, has not dreamed of flying with Peter Pan over moonlit London, or tumbling into Alice's nonsensical Wonderland? In Fantasyland, these classic stories of everyone''s youth have become realities for youngsters - of all ages - to participate in."
The magical symbol of the Magic Kingdom is the majestic and enchanted Sleeping Beauty Castle, as we previously explored on our tour of the Central Plaza. Sleeping Beauty Castle represents all that makes Disneyland the "Happiest Place on Earth." The beautifully decorated 77-foot tall medieval castle serves as the gateway to a world of dreams and hopes. The drawbridge has only been lowered twice - once at the opening of the Park in 1955 and again in 1983 at the re-dedication of Fantasyland.
Eyvind Earle, the influential production designer of the 1959 animated feature Sleeping Beauty personally created several tableaux of the film's pivotal scenes for use in the original Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough that opened in April of 1957. The attraction was closed on October 7, 2001. On July 17, 2008, it was announced that the attraction would reopen in the style of the original Earle dioramas, enhanced with technology previously unavailable in 1957. The renovation reopened officially on November 27, 2008. The iconic attraction features three-dimensional displays, sound and stunning special effects, and a final climactic scene where Maleficent transforms into a fire-breathing dragon.
When Disneyland opened in 1955, Fantasyland had just six attractions. For reasons of budget, schedule, and creative intent, the initial decor for the Fantasyland courtyard was that of a simple medieval tournament, with brightly colored (sheet metal) awnings, tents and banners. In 1982 - 1983, the Fantasyland area was remodeled inside and out, and new exteriors reflecting the locale and era of the attractions were built. On May 25, 1983, after a year and a half of reconstruction, the Land that best reflects the spirit of the classic Disney animated films reopened, with well over sixteen attractions in an all-new, Alpine-themed setting. Cobblestone pathways and colorful Alpine foliage reminiscent of the Black Forest put the finishing touches to Fantasyland's new Bavarian Village. Each attraction today sports a detailed, three-dimensional facade, while technological advances and stunning special effects combine for truly memorable fantasy adventures. Fantasyland will always be a magical land of make-believe, where wishes really come true.
When the New Fantasyland premiered in 1983, a medieval court-inspired troupe known as the Make-Believe Brass began daily performances in the Castle Courtyard, and have remained a staple well into today. The Make-Believe Brass hosts the royal Sword in the Stone Ceremony alongside the comical sorcerer Merlin. The final resting place of the legendary Excalibur, a literal "Sword in the Stone," is located in the heart of the courtyard. An inscription reads “WHOSO PULLETH OUT THIS SWORD OF THIS STONE AND ANVIL IS RIGHTWISE RULER BORN OF ENGLAND.” King Arthur, off on holiday in Bermuda, has sought the clumsy counsel of Merlin in his search for a substitute King or Queen of England. Of course, the end result is often unexpected - or hilarious.
One of the original Opening Day attractions at Disneyland Park, the King Arthur Carrousel is nestled in the idyllic heart of Fantasyland, a nod to the inspiration for Walt’s Disneyland, the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. Its prancing white steeds hearken back to the great charge of the legendary Knights of the Round Table and the heroic King Arthur of Camelot, whose famous Sword in the Stone is conspicuously positioned in the carousel foreground. The historic attraction is surrounded by sculpted greenery, vibrant flowers and a mythological soundtrack from its antique fairground organ, all in which set the stage for a cavalry of 68 ornately carved, hand-painted horses and chariots. From the surrounding statues of a “Dance of the Hours” (Fantasia) to the nine painted vignettes of Sleeping Beauty, every detail of the carousel is imbued with the spirit of Walt Disney's living masterpiece: Disneyland.
The King Arthur Carrousel and most of its horses date back more than 90 years. This regal masterpiece was handcrafted by the Dentzel Carousel Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and eventually found its way to Sunnyside Beach Park in Toronto, Canada in 1922. When Walt Disney first purchased the revolving menagerie from its location, it featured horses, giraffes, deer and other animals. He wanted everyone to ride a galloping horse like King Arthur, so additional antique horses were located and incorporated into the renovation.
The immediate courtyard area behind the castle, pictured above, contains some of the only Fantasyland architecture that has remained untouched since Opening Day. Here we find a number of charming gift boutiques that specialize in what else, but Disney merchandise. One of these shops, the beloved "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique," offers, with the wave of a wand, head-to-toe pampering for budding bluebloods suitable for even the most castle-worthy celebration, a royal transformation for everyday kids to turn into elegant princesses and shining knights. The Castle Heraldry Shoppe is Fantasyland's most "historic" establishment, a chance for us to research our family name and crest, and subsequently order an item with the crest on it, or simply purchase medieval merchandise - re-creation daggers, shields, swords and armor.
The stories of the Castle Courtyard are all of films (or shorts) released in the time of Walt himself. The nostalgia and detail of "Old" Fantasyland is reborn in this venerable celebration of Classic Disney, the heart of a "Fairytale Renaissance." Four classic dark rides, two original, each of the six in representation of a different childhood emotion. In fact...
Strong villains have always been important in Disney storytelling. Walt Disney often said that a strong villain was the key reason a hero was interesting. "Until a character becomes personality, it cannot be believed. And without personality, a story cannot ring true to an audience." The Evil Queen peers down through the curtains of her ominous Gothic Tower, the foreboding, spine-tingling entrance to Snow White's Scary Adventures. The eerie manor still holds inside the frightening dungeon and laboratory of the Evil Queen.
A breathtaking, three-dimensional mural and diorama of the Seven Dwarfs' Cottage and the "Enchanted Forest" prelude the beauty, grandeur and magic of Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. We next board a mine car, named for one of the Seven Dwarfs, for a harrowing adventure through the film's darkest and scariest moments. Fortunately, Snow White does receive her "Happily Ever After," though the same could not be said for the fate of the Wicked Witch... Snow White's Scary Adventures represents fear, a childhood staple.
One of Disneyland's great resources was the ability of artists to bring to life the films they had actually worked on. Ken Anderson came to the Disney Studio in 1934 and had worked on several Silly Symphonies before contributing to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and later, the original "Snow White and Her Adventures" attraction. Imagineer Claude Coats and Tony Baxter redesigned and renamed the Opening Day Attraction at Walt Disney World in 1971, and later at Disneyland in 1983. The current iteration, Snow White's Scary Adventures, is a tasteful blend of fantasy and horror, most similar with the Tokyo Disneyland version of the attraction.
The stately English home of the Banks Family at No. 17, Cherry Tree Lane is intertwined with a soaring "Big Ben" and the mismatched (but iconic) "rooftops" of London. Tony Baxter's Jolly Holiday with Mary Poppins was introduced in 1983, a suited replacement for the former Fantasyland Theater. The unique dark ride brings us aboard a miniature carousel of sorts, one in which transports us inside one of Bert's chalk paintings and into the colorful, albeit peculiar world he has unintentionally designed. Our horse magically pulls off from the rest of the carousel and has us caught in the midst a wild horse race alongside barnyard animals, dancing penguins, and, of course, the Pearly Band with their beloved "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." An unexpected thunderstorm brings us to the rooftops of London ("Step in Time") and finally into a flock of soaring kites on a brilliant, windy day ("Let's Go Fly a Kite"). Jolly Holiday with Mary Poppins was the first Disney attraction based on Mary Poppins, and certainly wouldn't be the last. Jolly Holiday with Mary Poppins represents the music of our childhood.
A Swiss Chalet, across from the former Fantasyland Theater and later Mary Poppins, was built for the Fantasyland terminus of a ride through the middle of a hollow Matterhorn and into the adjacent Tomorrowland. The old Skyway Buckets gave passengers a bird's eye view of the Park, soaring high above Fantasyland, through the cavity of the Matterhorn and over Tomorrowland. The Skyway closed on November 9, 1994. The reason for the closure was attributed to metal fatigue. There the old chalet sat empty for many years, until one day, in 2003, something new opened inside... Although Winnie the Pooh had been a popular character in literature since the publication of Winnie the Pooh in 1926, and a Disney stalwart since the debut of Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree in 1966, he didn't make his debut in his own Disneyland attraction until the opening of Pooh's Hunny Hunt in 2003.
The incredible and unique attraction, the world's "first trackless dark ride," had previously premiered in Tokyo Disneyland on September 4, 2000. The tremendous success led WED to push Park Management to rehash the old Skyway Station and transform it into something spectacular, a West Coast version of the Japanese Pooh's Hunny Hunt. Remarkably, Team Disney Anaheim agreed, and with a budget of over $130 million, Pooh's Hunny Hunt opened in the northwest "hills" of Fantasyland in the summer of 2003.
Based on the stories of A.A. Milne and the timeless music written by the Sherman Bros., Pooh's Hunny Hunt has riders swept up in a gust of wind on a Blustery Day, bouncing alongside a boisterous Tigger, and caught in the midst of a colorful nightmare swarmed with mischievous Heffalumps and Woozles. Pooh's Hunny Hunt uses a state-of-the-art trackless ride system developed by WED. A custom local positioning system (LPS) is used to manage an array of sensors as opposed to a dedicated wire or track embedded in the floor. The patented control system works by directional data being relayed from a master control computer directly to the vehicles which are fashioned to resemble honey pots. This data is then used to move an individual honey pot car through a complicated matrix embedded within the actual floor tiles. Every few seconds, the master computer generates a random path and "steers" the honey pot in real-time, so as the cars roll through the ride the vehicles are, in fact, being told where to go. Because this system is in real-time, they can maneuver accordingly in just fractions of a second. This also allows for spontaneous yet synchronized "honey pot choreography" with groups of honey pots (as many as 8 in a single show scene) appearing to "dance" with the others, often timed with beats in the music. Due to limitless variations possible, each journey through the attraction is unique.
Pooh Corner sits at the exit to Pooh's Hunny Hunt, a fitting merchandise cornucopia for all things Winnie the Pooh...and Tigger, too.
It's bedtime in the Darling children's nursery, but Wendy, Michael and John have some unexpected visitors! Timbered Tudor and a soaring clock tower mark the entrance to Peter Pan's Flight. Weather vanes reference the story of Peter Pan - a crocodile, and an airborne golden sailing ship. A Peter Pan statue, meant to evoke the famous Kensington Gardens statue, stands outside the entrance. This Opening Day attraction is based on Walt Disney's 1953 animated classic, Peter Pan, which in turn was based on J.M. Barrie's play and book of the same name about a 12-year-old boy who refuses to grow up.
Our adventure begins in London, where we learn to fly with the Darling children, courtesy of their bedtime heroes - Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. Next, we head off into the night sky as Peter leads the way to Pixie Hollow, the Lost Boys' hideout, Mermaid Lagoon and Skull Rock, where he finally comes dagger to cutlass with Captain Hook. It's a swordfight to the finish as the two face-off in a dastardly duel that leaves Hook cooked in the jaws of a grinning Tick-Tock Croc! Peter Pan's Flight, of course, represents the beauty of childhood.
There were three original dark rides featured in Fantasyland. Walt Disney specifically selected these in order to represent the three base emotions of childhood fantasy, a tradition that continued later with the addition of Mary Poppins, Alice and Pooh. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride represents fun. Guests embark on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride from Toad Hall, the country estate of J. Thaddeus Toad, Esq.
To travel the road with Mr. Toad is a wild ride few could ever forget. The attraction takes us on a wild speed race through the English countryside, wreaking havoc on the town along the way. Approaching the grand manor known as Toad Hall, the English influence is unmistakable. A 19th Century-inspired weather-vane in the shape of a motorcar tops one of the gables, and just above the entrance stands a stone statue of a dapper Mr. Toad himself. The antique motorcars featured in the attraction are named for one of the various characters from The Wind in the Willows segment of the 1949 Disney feature film that inspired the attraction, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.
Our wild ride has us skid past teetering stacks of books and tumbling through a fireplace, before hurtling into a formal dining room and out a wall-sized window. We race alongside a riverbank and barnyard, just narrowly missing a flock of sheep. While avoiding a platoon of policemen, a disheveled gypsy camp, we crash through scaffolding, splatter a stack of pies, smash crates and ignite a fiery explosion - and come bumper-to-bumper with a runaway train! Shall we escape trial for our trail of destruction? Or is something even more devilish in store?
More to come!
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Guess who had a little bit of extra time before going to work?
All of my references are shared with Fantasyland's first update, seen on Page 3. Please read before you do with this.
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The Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant was, and still is, a Disneyland landmark found north of the Castle Courtyard, although the name changed to the current Captain Hook’s Galley when Chicken of the Sea dropped its sponsorship in 1969. The boat sits docked within a sandy lagoon amidst steep coral cliffs, tropical settings and an imposing Skull Rock, a replication of scenes from the 1953 animated classic, Peter Pan. The ship was rebuilt entirely in late 1982, reopening with New Fantasyland as an ominous galleon made from concrete and fiberglass rather than timber and wood. Skull Rock became a part of Disneyland in 1960, and has remained ever since. Pizza is, oddly enough, the main attraction of the modern Hook’s Galley restaurant.
Canal Boats of the World opened with the rest of the Park on July 17, 1955. The cruise offered little more than a view of earthen embankments and undeveloped landscaping. The addition of miniature scenes from Disney animated movies transformed the attraction to Storybook Land Canal Boats, which opened on June 16, 1956. One of the most delicate, picturesque realms in Disneyland - Storybook Land - was introduced in Fantasyland as one of Walt’s personal favorites.
The Spring 1958 issue of The Disneyland News described the finished product in vivid detail: “A kingdom in miniature, Storybook Land presents life-like re-creations of villages, castles, houses and other buildings from the pages of fabled stories—scene after scene of painstakingly detailed settings. If you’ve ever wanted to actually see, from close up, Geppetto’s Village high in the snow covered Alps; Kensington Gardens from the story of Peter Pan; the straw, stick and brick houses of the Three Little Pigs; and the Crazy Quilt Country from ‘Wynken, Blinken and Nod,’ they’re all there—along with many more—in Storybook Land. Gaily painted, picturesque European canal boats take visitors through the mouth of Monstro the Whale into this wonderful world.”
Model makers at the Disney Studio labored six months turning artists’ visualizations of Pinocchio’s Village, the straw-stick-brick homes of the Three Little Pigs, and other fabled favorites into detailed buildings. On a scale of one inch to a foot, they fashioned lead hinges so six-inch doors would actually open for electricians to change light bulbs. Tiny toys were carved for the window of Geppetto’s shop, and “stained glass” and leaded windows were handcrafted and installed.
When the miniature dwellings were complete, landscapers brought the village to life by the ingenious use of plants and flowers. After selecting plants whose leaf size was but little more than a quarter inch, they further restricted growth by planting them in containers. A three-foot tall Japanese Boxwood, with gnarled trunk, was shaped and pruned to represent the oak tree where Alice entered the Rabbit Hole. A 100-year old grapevine was uprooted and turned upside down to appear like the “terribly tortured old snag” in front of Ratty’s home from Wind in the Willows. Finally, a “magical” growth retardant was added to all the little trees and shrubs to further restrict growth to no more than one inch per year.
The charming Alice Wonderland is an attraction that won’t be found anywhere else. This unique dark ride was one of two new attractions that opened at Disneyland on June 14, 1958, the other being the Sailing Ship Columbia in Frontierland. The mischievous White Rabbit who led Alice astray made amends by presenting the fairy-tale blonde with the key to Fantasyland’s then-newest adventure in a colorful Opening Ceremony. In 1984, a year after the rest of New Fantasyland opened, the painted cut-outs of the original attraction were replaced with three-dimensional characters and set pieces. New lighting and state-of-the-art special effects were later added in 2014.
“It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not. But common sense doesn’t really work here. You’re mad, I’m mad. We’re all MAD here.”
Alice in Wonderland is our curious voyage down, down, down the Rabbit Hole and into the nonsensical world of Alice’s Wonderland. Here we discover an upside down world of wonder, mystery and danger. Tulgey Wood and the Queen of Hearts’ Castle await amidst a peculiar labyrinth of magical creatures, conflicting signage, glowering flowers, and a grinning Cheshire Cat. A chatty Doorknob welcomes us: “Looking for the White Rabbit? Well, see for yourself!” Alice in Wonderland represents the adventure of childhood.
A Caucus Race leads astray and into a crop of beautiful, singing flowers - standing six to eight feet in height! Hungry dandelions and a snarling tiger lily lie in wait… The Caterpillar enjoys his favorite pipe from atop a technicolor toadstool. “W - H - O - are you?” Conflicting directions, bizarre birds and a sinister Cheshire Cat welcome us to the labyrinth of Tulgey Wood. Alice, having grown to an extraordinary size, bursts through the walls of a disgruntled White Rabbit’s cottage. Card Soldiers frantically “paint the roses red” in fear of their evil mistress: The Queen of Hearts. After we defeat the Queen in a game of croquet, we are forced to escape our undesired fate - pursued by the Queen of Hearts and her Card Soldiers - through an outdoor “slide” of spiraling high and low hedges and hills. One wrong turn aboard our sour Caterpillar-shaped car might lead right back to the Castle; one right turn might lead to our safe and sound return to Fantasyland.
Finally, we come upon Alice, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare and the Dormouse whilst they enjoy a spot of tea for a very merry unbirthday party. Whistling teapots, spinning cakes and precariously stacked cups set the scene, followed by a very terrified White Rabbit and a VERY explosive unbirthday cake.
Fantasyland’s iconic spinning teacup ride has been dizzying Disneyland guests ever since Opening Day. Inspired by the Mad Hatter’s tea party from Walt Disney’s animated classic Alice in Wonderland, this timeless attraction features the same resplendent colors and objects of disproportionate size. Madcap music fills the air as we rotate beneath a canopy of colored lanterns. A wheel in the center of the teacup lets us control the direction and speed of our spin.
The wildly popular Mad Tea Party was originally located where the King Arthur Carrousel sits today. The carousel was originally squeezed into the tight real estate between the Mad Tea Party and Sleeping Beauty Castle for some odd, unbeknownst reason. As part of New Fantasyland, Disneyland built an all-new Mad Tea Party near the entrance to the Alice in Wonderland attraction.
In the early months of 1959, a new form slowly emerged on the Orange County horizon. Residents could hardly believe that a mountain was actually “growing” in full view of the Santa Ana Freeway: Disneyland’s own “Bit O’ Switzerland.”
“Bit O’ Switzerland” sounds a little Irish, but what the heck. Matterhorn Mountain grew from two origins: Walt Disney’s trip to Switzerland to visit the set of Third Man on the Mountain, and his desire to eliminate the central support pylon of the Skyway attraction, which looked too industrial for his taste. Soon, Walt was making plans for a speeding bobsled run that picked up where Third Man of the Mountain left off, a chance for the audience to experience firsthand the icy slopes of a Disneyland Matterhorn.
The original site of the Matterhorn was occupied by a large pile of dirt, known as Holiday Hill. Numerous photographs of the Swiss peak were carefully studied to create the most accurate replica possible. Scale models led to blueprints, which eventually unfolded into lath, plaster, rebar and cement. The final result is a perfect 1/100th scale re-creation of the famous Swiss peak. Matterhorn Bobsleds was the first roller-coaster-style attraction at Disneyland Park- and the very first tubular steel coaster in the world. The iconic attraction is also one-of-a-kind - no other Disney Park can claim a Matterhorn mountain.
Matterhorn Bobsleds opened on June 14, 1959, along with the Submarine Voyage and the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System, with a live, ninety-minute television broadcast. Vice President Richard Nixon was on hand to dedicate the attraction with Walt by his side. Other distinguished guests included the Swiss Consul General and members of The Sierra Club whom Walt recruited to climb his mountain for the TV cameras. Matterhorn Bobsleds was an instant hit and remains one of the Park’s most popular attractions. Walt had always intended the show to be just as compelling within the dark tunnels and icy caverns as it was on the snow-covered slopes and ridges outside. But, the Matterhorn’s “second phase” was postponed when Walt and his Imagineers were sidetracked by the New York World’s Fair.
The original intent was for the mythical Abominable Snowman to haunt the Matterhorn on opening day, but there just wasn’t enough time or money to accomplish everything Walt wanted to do by then. Imagineer Harriet Burns had gone a long way toward finishing a full-size, fiberglass-and-fur cloth mock-up of the abominable snowman by the attraction’s busy first year or two of operation.
In 1978, a total of fifty new tandem bobsleds were built, some from scratch and others from existing vehicles. The lift tunnel was completely enclosed to “keep in the cold," with a decidedly effective special effects snowstorm, and later, in 2015, an “uphill encounter” with a digital abominable snowman, adding to the chilly atmosphere. Then, as the bobsleds reached the top of the lift hill and began to pick up speed, a pair of angry red eyes glowed brightly in the darkness, our first encounter with a “mysterious, lurking snow monster,” as Imagineers referred to the show’s new star. The sleds then passed through an eerie fog bank and ice caverns filled with glowing crystals and wrecked “mountain climbing” equipment, before beginning a high-speed trek down and around the mountain.
The highlight of the new show was of course the Abominable Snowman, “Harold.” A total of three snowmen were built for the attraction, one for the “A” side, a second for the “B” side, and a third that was visible from both ride tracks. The original snowmen were swapped for more realistic, "lunging" Audio-Animatronics snowmen in 2015 as part of Disneyland's 60th Anniversary.
One of Disneyland’s most renowned and best-loved attractions, “it’s a small world,” really has proved to be the “happiest cruise that ever sailed” - the most musical, lyrical, magical attraction at Disneyland. A salute to the children of the world, this delightful attraction speaks the international language of goodwill. Its impressive exterior playfully represents landmarks from around the world including France’s Eiffel Tower, Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa, and India’s famed Taj Mahal.
One of the four Disney-designed shows at the New York World’s Fair, the attraction features more than 300 “singing and dancing” dolls representing children the world over, all spotlighted as they serenade boat-borne guests with their meaningful song, “It’s a Small World (After All).” At the dedication ceremonies, Walt was surrounded by appropriately dressed children from around the world. Surrounded by whimsical topiary gardens, the kinetic facade of “it’s a small world” has in its center a thirty-foot animated Clock Tower. Every 15 minutes the clock wildly springs into motion as a parade of 24 internationally-themed children march around its base.
Imagineer Mary Blair designed much of the original attraction. Mary Blair’s career with Disney spanned more than forty years. Yet it is possible that she will best be remembered for the vivid color styling and design of “it’s a small world.” Imagineer Rolly Crump recalled of Mary Blair’s assignment to “it’s a small world,” “I think it hit her at the right time. It was a powerful package for her. It was about children, the freedom of color, and that Walt had asked her to do it. Like she’d died and gone to heaven. It had to be the crescendo for her because I’ve never seen anything as powerful as her work. She just whipped this stuff out.”
In a way, “it’s a small world” is a summation of all that was unique in Mary’s work. Her drawings were simple and crisp, the colors flat and bold. Walt Disney regarded her color styles and good taste as nearly infallible. The ride might have opened in 1966 at Disneyland, but additional characters debuted in 2009 - thoughtfully placed and designed for the appropriate nations.
During our cruise on the Seven Seaways Canal, we must keep an eye out for Peter Pan and Tinker Bell in England, Cinderella in her native France, Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket in Italy, Hercules and Pegasus in Greece, Aladdin and Jasmine in the Middle East, The Three Caballeros in Mexico, Ariel and Flounder under the sea, and many, many more familiar Disney Friends the world over.
The “happiest cruise that ever sailed” exits into Small World Imports, a one-of-a-kind shop in showcase of unique toys, dolls and clothing exclusive to the design and color of "it's a small world."
Part Three coming soon! Next time, we'll visit the unfortunate fate for a Marc Davis dark ride and then peruse Fantasyland's one and only "Sub-Land." Tune in Wednesday, Thursday or Friday for the next exciting episode of Mirror Disneyland!
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