Certainly, there are many pieces of Disney Imagineering concept art that I haven't seen before- and here's one of them! Herb Ryman's sketch for the Sailing Ship Columbia.
Walt Disney was always looking at ways to enhance the guest experience. He was not thinking like the executives today who just want to milk more money out of their theme park guests. One day, Walt was visiting Disneyland and considering what else could be done. Seeing the Rivers of America and the activity on the water, he made the decision that another ship needed to be added.
Given that the Columbia sailed around the globe at the end of the 18th Century, it would certainly be more at home in Florida's Magic Kingdom's. The lovely Liberty Square makes more sense from a history perspective than Disneyland's Frontierland.
Take notice of the Columbia in the back.
Did you remember a version of Liberty Square was once conceived for Disneyland? (Click on this image for a huge size, but more about it here.) But no matter. Being on board is a very different experience that cruising on the Mark Twain.
I've always thought it was too bad that the dock for the Mark Twain wasn't at a newly created "end" of New Orleans Square. Fan of us Disney park fans have the idea of recreating the perfect Disneyland from scratch. Not that we'll ever see another American Disneyland or World, but we can dream. In the meantime, the Sailing Ship Columbia remains a Disneyland original.
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
Did you know that the Columbia almost made it to Liberty Square. In some of the original pre-opening, Magic Kingdom artwork, a sailing ship shares the Rivers of America with a paddle-wheeler. After the MK opened, when funds were released to start construction of a second ship for the RoA, MK management opted for a second steam ship. It seems that after operating the park for two summers, they'd learned a whole heck of a lot, including the idea that an open decked sailing ship, without cover for the hot Florida sun as well as torrential afternoon downpours, would not make much sense. The same set of circumstances also contributed to the demise of the Canoe ride being discontinued. Imagine paddling a canoe on one of those 90 degree/100% humidity days around the RoA, then getting caught in the deluge that you know is going to happen. Guest satisfaction numbers, on those days, I'm sure were quite low. Anyhow, thought you'd enjoy that trinket about the Columbia Sailing Ship!
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