The New Orleans Square You've Never Seen

It's no secret that the Disney Imagineers always have something brewing, some tricks up their sleeve, or some special unannounced project that they are working on. That is true today, and it was true in the days of Walt Disney as well. Take a closer look at this 1958 map of Disneyland. Do you see what I see?  Yes, the elegant New Orleans Square is clearly on the map, but the positioning of the attractions, buildings and streets is very different than the end result.

The once planned Pirates of the Caribbean themed Wax Museum walk through is there as is a Haunted House aka Haunted Mansion. 

Disneyland map circa 1958- More detail up close.

By the time the land opened in 1966 and Pirates opened in Spring of 1967, the finalization of all the efforts brought something different than what we know today. 

The original entrance to perhaps Imagineering's most perfect attraction.

Hidden behind this understated but beautiful facade, lies one of the most unique, atmospheric, and thrilling attractions ever to be created by Walt Disney and his team at Imagineering.

The much shorter interior queue had enough space for everyone as this high capacity ride looks hoards of guests by the boatload into the bayou and beyond. And they came by the thousands every day! 

A classic attraction poster for a groundbreaking attraction.

In the years when there were few additions to the park but crowds continued to come, the line spilled into the nearby area. Guests were routed next to the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. Eventually, Fast Pass meant standby lines became unbearable. There was always a mob making it impossible to move easily. Those in charge of Walt's park decided to build a bridge between Adventureland and New Orleans Square to let the line for Pirates snake under it. 

New Orleans Square today.

The move was a design blunder that removed the classic feel of the area. Yet, you can't blame them for attempting to improve crowd flow and guest satisfaction. No one likes to be part of gridlock. There's enough of that on Southern California's freeways!

Want a closer look at the history of this swashbuckling attraction? You can find a mega-post here and take a look at Pirates of the Caribbean as it's found at the Magic Kingdom in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and even in the Jack Sparrow inspired adventure in Shanghai Disneyland. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)