Dixieland at Disneyland

The first nighttime Disneyland event on the Rivers of America was not Fantasmic! Instead, it was Dixieland at Disneyland, debuting in 1960. There was no New Orleans Square yet, but it was such a very popular event, that they did it again. Imagine riding all the beloved attractions of a young Disneyland and getting to see a living legend perform- Louis Armstrong. Live jazz from a master, a cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat at night, and all of this for one very affordable price! I'd give up Fantasmic! in its current state in a heartbeat to cruise the river at night again. But any way you look at it, Walt's park was the place to be. What a Wonderful World indeed!

All Aboard the Mark Twain Steamboat! Got your Ticket?

Yes, the ticket says "Steamboat Mark Twain", not the more familiar Mark Twain Riverboat we are all accustomed to. When this beautiful ship premiered on the Rivers of America, special tickets were sold. They are beautiful!

Frontierland and Disneyland as a whole was a celebration of the ideals of America. In this land, it was a look at life in the Wild West. Sure, it was a fairly sanitized version. But it had to be. No one wants to go to a theme park that celebrates difficulties. Perhaps that's one reason why Disney's America had limited appeal. But I digress.

For many years an evening cruise about the Mark Twain was the perfect was to end a day at the park. It became even more magical when New Orleans Square opened up. (I'd always hoped New Orleans Square would be built at another park where the docks for the steamboat would be on the river in that land- with a mint julep bar next door!) 

Most nights you could hear the Dixieland music from the ship as you sailed by. The cruise was long enough to be immersed in a different world as she sailed into the darkness. Imagine being blessed by being selected to be aboard when the late great Louis Armstrong and his band played on her decks! That's the kind of magic that can't be duplicated by an Imagineer!

(Image from Vintage Disneyland Tickets.)