Disneyland's Imperfect Motor Boat Cruise

Straddling the line between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, the Motor Boat Cruise at Disneyland was an interesting choice for an attraction. It certainly was not a must-do attraction, but it was situated around three very popular ones: the Autopia, the Submarine Voyage, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Arguably three must dos for any kid in the 10 year old range. Then the Monorail cruised above it all. The small water craft definitely had a second class rating, and it was not full of thrills, but that was part of its charm. Walt's park had and has plenty of smaller scale attractions that add to the whole of the park's experiences. Unlike modern day thinking from the suits, Walt and his Imagineers understood these smaller but still high quality attractions rounded out the lines and improved the overall guest experience. I love many of the new modern day marvels in the parks, but I miss the sweet and innocent days of the original Magic Kingdom.

The concept art shown is a product of its day. And what I have is not the best quality. But it is a piece that captures a moment in time. 

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland's Other Space Mountain Attraction Poster

A fitting way to end this week- a Space Mountain attraction poster for D23 highlighting the iconic experience at Disneyland. The classic Tomorrowland attractions is a rite of passage of millions of California kids. Certainly not the tallest or fastest or even best, but this Disney coaster provides a wonderful flight through outer space. I only wish the one in Florida's Magic Kingdom was as smooth! But then, we in California have the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and it is far rougher than that!

Search the site for "attraction posters" and you'll find one of the largest collection of them on the internet.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland's First Coaster- The Matterhorn Bobsleds I Never Knew

When Imagineer Herb Ryman created a piece of concept art, it was instantly identifiable. Obviously, most of his work was for Disneyland and EPCOT Center. I've seen a lot, but I have never seen this one. It is gorgeous! Filled with vibrant blues and rich greens, his work here is among his most beautiful pieces. This captures all the raw energy and excitement of the world's first tubular steel roller coaster. It could only happen at Disneyland. 

Was the attraction's home in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland? It started out in the guidebooks as being listed in the land of the future, but it moved to the happiest land of all in the early 1970's. 

Walt Disney was ahead of his time, even back in 1959 when this beloved ride first opened to the public, he knew it would be a huge hit with guests. And it was! A mere 65 years later, the Matterhorn Bobsleds satisfies riders with a longing to hit its icy slopes, bringing laughter, smiles, and ...very sore necks and backs. I totally skipped it during my last few visits to the park.

I say tear it down.

And then rebuild it in the exact same location with modern technology and the same track route. It's a classic that we love, but we shouldn't be in pain in after we take a ride. Show it the love it deserves. Show the guests some respect. Do it now, and watch the lines increase once again. Please.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Monday Morning at Disneyland, 1959.

 

Walt Disney's newest experiment, Disneyland, was a beloved success! Since its opening in 1955 millions of guests entered the gates, drawn in by television and the honest to goodness fact that Walt Disney's company produced high quality work regardless of the media they used. (Note to Robert Iger and company: Quality work results in long term profits.)

The land of tomorrow might have been shortchanged at opening with attractions that were mostly corporate exhibits, but by 1959, that was changed for good. The impact of adding the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Submarine Voyage, and the Monorail cannot be understated. Guest numbers were at one million for 1955, but by this expansion, the park was now running at 5 million. Not too shabby for something critics thought would fail.

Tomorrowland was now a destination unto itself- and a much more beautiful one with a shimmering lagoon and a snow covered mountain.

Beginning a day at Disneyland with a leisurely stroll down Main Street U.S.A., guests now had to decide whether to head straight to the beloved Jungle Cruise on one side of the park or head to the other and experience the newest and most compelling to date attractions. 

Perhaps the best plan was to go to Frontierland and explore the Old West before the crowds hit. The East vs. West debate continues to this day.  Maybe the best plan is straight through the castle to ride Peter Pan's Flight or the equally beloved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. 

From Daveland.

As you can see in the rendering above, Tomorrowland now had a wide variety of choices with attractions to suit just about anyone. Thrill ride? Check. Outer space adventure? Yes. Liquid space journey? A long time favorite. You could drive a car even if you were underage. Visit the House of the Future. Ride in a Rocket Jet. And hop aboard the transportation of the future. 

What a beautiful world Tomorrowland was! At least for another 15 or so years. Until it wasn't. But for now, just imagine a glorious day in the Land of the Future in 1959. It's all there waiting for you!

The Hand of Walt Disney Created a Park the World Loves

It may be rougher than rough these days, but for my eldest son, few attractions say "Disneyland" more than the Matterhorn Bobsleds. This mock up of a proposed attraction poster is really quite nice! It's not in the cool blues and icy whites of what was finally chosen, but the Imagineer captured the pure joy of what it meant to ride the world's first steel tubed roller coaster. 

Even back then, Walt Disney preferred to be on the cutting edge of technology to tell the stories he wanted to tell. Under Walt's leadership, what he wanted was often completed. This is what gives his original Magic Kingdom such a different feel. You can almost sense him walking down Main Street U.S.A., sailing on the Jungle River Cruise, the Storybookland Canal Boats, or aboard the Mark Twain Steamboat. 

The man did it out of love- not corporate greed- and the world loved him and the park that was created. If only that would be the case today. I wish someone beyond fans and the handful of now mostly retired Imagineers had such a passion for the love of the art. If only.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Comnpany.)

Vintage Disneyland: A World on the Move

We take it for granted now, but only several decades ago, Disneyland was a marvelous new idea, an amazing place that filled the dreams of kids and adults. Walt Disney gambled all he had to pull it off. It was his baby, and the desire to keep adding to it was always on his mind. Tomorrowland may be the best example of constant change. Here's a great old school shot of the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Skyway, and the Submarine Voyage. The Monorail is not in the shot, and we can just make out the Peoplemover, but the place was a world on the move! Off inn the distant are the spires of It's A Small World. 

As decades come and go, each Disneyland Resort president and Disney corporate CEO will make their mark, but masses of guests will continue to come and experience "Walt's park"... which can still be found if you know where to look.

(Photograph copyright Getty Images.)

The Disneyland Attraction Poster Collection

The magnificent attraction posters of Disneyland have been a fan favorite for almost seven decades! Fans also create their own, but none compare to those that are officially designed by the geniuses at Disney Imagineering. 

I've amassed quite a collection of them! There's a couple hanging on my wall (Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds and Disneyland Paris' Pirates of the Caribbean). They are among my most loved pieces in my extensive collection of Disney park artifacts, along with my piece of original artwork for the Indiana Jones Adventure that I acquired at the attraction's opening. 

Here are the links to the posts where I share attraction posters land by land.  I have started Florida's Magic Kingdom series, but for now, enjoy the ones made for "Walt's park".

Disneyland Collection
Main Street USA
Adventureland 
Frontierland 
New Orleans Square
Critter Country
Fantasyland
Tomorrowland

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Monday Morning at Disneyland- in 1961!

It may not have had Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and its unreliable E Ticket, Rise of the Resistance, but to guests in 1961,  Walt's Disneyland was still an unbelievable place! Racing down the slopes of the mighty Matterhorn to a voyage 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Walt's park was filled with breathtaking adventures that were only found in California. Want to try your hand at the Flying Saucers? This was the place. Cruise down dangerous rivers in exotic lands? Yes, ma'am, you could get about a boat for the world famous Jungle Cruise. Ride a Pack Mule, fly off to Neverland, board the Sailing Ship Columbia. It was all here, and the plans were pouring out of Imagineering- and Walt's brain- for years to come. Looking at this map, Liberty Street and Edison Square were on the horizon, providing further tastes of history that early park guests loved. And the best was yet to appear, the Enchanted Tiki Room, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and It's a Small World... a brand New Tomorrowland. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Fantasyland Without It's A Small World

Can you even imagine a Fantasyland without It's A Small World? No, I can't- at least not anymore. And yet, here's a 1965 Disneyland guidebook map showing a big, open area where the attraction now stands. I do see the Motor Boat Cruise, Midget Autopia, and Snow White's Adventures. I also see the Welch's Grape Juice bar and the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship. 

You now have to go to Disneyland Paris to see the pirate ship as the Anaheim original was, very sadly, unintentionally damaged beyond repair during the New Fantasyland makeover of 1983.

I tried to clean this up a bit so things could be more easily seen and read. Varying success, but no matter. Even back then without the voyage around the world, Walt's Fantasyland was full of Disney magic thanks to the great old school Imagineers!

(Copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Entirely Different Tomorrowland Entrance for Disneyland

Full confession mode: I used to love Disneyland's incredible Tomorrowland. Not so much anymore. Now, it's nice to look at (the Matterhorn Bobsleds against the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Lagoon), but aside from Space Mountain, I just kind of move on. My favorite era was the 1967 version of the land, fresh with Adventure Thru Inner Space, PeopleMover, and the Carousel of Progress. 

At opening, Imagineer Herb Ryman created several different pieces of concept art for the entrance to the Land of the Future. The one above was not chosen, but it still has value as a piece representing a Disney History when looking to the future was still in vogue. 

Now that Epcot Center is fully abandoning its origins of a forward thinking Future World, and the castle parks' Tomorrowland has become an excuse for attractions based on animated movies which took place in the future, these renderings provide a look back to what once was. A time when Disneyland was more than just a theme park, when it also highlighted a hopeful future for mankind and a world where we would truly see progress. Unfortunately, as politics and human nature proves, this hopeful future on earth is a thing of the past. We are selfish and broken at our core (this author included), and we need a savior- one to forgive us, set us free from an awful eternity apart from God, and one to give us hope.  Even Walt Disney couldn't create that!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Two Looks at Space Mountain

Consider it another stroke of Imagineering genius that Space Mountain was created at all! Placing a roller coaster inside a building? That was a first for the theme park industry. Theming a coaster? Yes, another Disney first when they Matterhorn Bobsleds roared into Walt's original kingdom.

When it came time to place a version of the beloved attraction into the Jules Verne themed Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris, Tim Delaney came up with a brand new retro look at the future, and he placed it all in a version of the mountain that would soon be recognized as the most beautiful of all. The top piece of concept art shows a more "rocky" environment. The piece above reflects a design much closer to what we got today. And the ride inside is as different from the others as the exterior is from the iconic white cone look.

This attraction has an interesting history! Riding it has become a rite of passage for kids all over the world. Want to dig deeper and discover even more? Take a look here at this extended article which talks about every Disney park with a Space Mountain in intricate detail.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Stunning New Retro-Tomorrowland Desktop

Disneyland concept art and attractions posters are some of my favorite pieces to collect! I love it for all the resorts, actually, but there's something special about those for California as it is my "home park". 

Above is a beautiful piece with a retro-inspired flair by Imagineer Eric Robinson to honor another Imagineer (and one of my favorite artists), Herb Ryman. This piece has it all- the majestic Matterhorn and its bobsleds, the classic monorail cruising by, Sleeping Beauty Castle, the long missed skyway buckets, and the iconic date palm with its multiple trunks. Look even closer, and you'll find the sign for the Submarine Voyage, the spires of It's A Small World and a Peoplemover car. Back then, Tomorrowland was certainly a world on the move!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Meeting A Disney Legend

My niece is a Disneyland lover just like her uncle- and here she is meeting a Disney Legend, Imagineering genius Bob Gurr. We know that Disneyland would not be the same without him!

New Old Tomorrowland Fun Map

Here's a fun little graphic that captures the heart and spirit of Walt Disney's Tomorrowland. The look of the piece is fun and retro, with a vintage vibe in color and design. Certainly a map of Disneyland to enjoy. Not much more to say here, but I think it will give us something to look at as we ponder the future of California's land of the future.

(Map from Disneycartography.com)

Snow on Main Street U.S.A.

A magazine just for employees of Disneyland, the Cast(le) View takes look at Main Street U.S.A. under a blanket of ice and snow. Of course, to complete the wintery wonderland, the Matterhorn and its Bobsled run are moved next door to Sleeping Beauty Castle. The horses now pull a sled, and all is calm and bright. A beautiful sight for sunny California, but pretty commonplace for those of us in other parts of the country!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

A Vintage Look Back at Disneyland

Illustrations aren't Imagineering concept art, but that doesn't mean that can't offer a charming look at the Disney Parks. Here, artist Ralph Hulett gives us a vintage look at Disneyland and it's brand new attractions. The Matterhorn Bobsleds and the sleek Monorail make its debut next to Sleeping Beauty Castle as the Horse Drawn Streetcars pass by. For decades, this one and only Disney kingdom thrilled guests from all over the world, and it constantly added a steady stream of new attractions, making it a place that required repeated visits- and all at very affordable prices. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

A Colorful House of the Future at Disneyland

Ah, the plastic wonder that was Monsanto's House of the Future. If you look at this image up close, you can see a bit of the castle off to the left, and this should give you an idea of where it was placed. The small sliver of land between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, is most recently the home to Pixie Hollow.

Walt Disney was an innovator in most every area of his life, and his "magical little park", Disneyland, reflected its creator. This piece of concept art is pretty rare. Think about it. Blogs, books, websites and even the Disney Gallery, have only shown photographs of this one of a kind attraction. But the piece above is rarely seen. Here's another artistic look at the home of the future, this one from InvisibleThemePark.com:

From InvisibleThemePark.com

And now the full page magazine article from which it came:

From Expo67Lounge.com

Monsanto was not tossed aside when the house was removed and the New Tomorrowland made it's debut in 1967. It was the sponsor for the much loved, brand new, Adventure Thru Inner Space. The trip through the Mighty Microscope was even more popular than the House of the Future. In shiny new Atommobiles, guests were able to ride two by two through inky darkness while entering the world of a melting snowflake. It was the perfect place for deeper "exploration".

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Walt Rides the Skyway

A great old photo here! Walt Disney takes a ride on the Skyway- the first rider on a brand new Disneyland transportation system. These multi-colored cars traveled between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland for almost four decades, providing guests with a birds eye view of the park.

Could you see rooftops and backstage areas? Yes. Did it ruin the experience? No way! There was a type of magic seeing it all from above, and as for me, it was an attraction I loved, much like the Railroad and the Peoplemover. Plus, how could you not love going into the Matterhorn and seeing riders on the Bobsled run? 

Each Magic Kingdom that had a skyway has since removed it. (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland). However, next year's grand opening of Walt Disney World's new Skyliner begins a new era. This alternative transportation system will help alleviate the crowded bus system and perhaps even offer a more enticing reason to stay at a connected on property resort than those on the monorail circuit. (Trust me, after seeing the horribly long lines to board the monorail at the iconic Contemporary Resort, we will never stay there. Disgraceful for a deluxe property!)

Vintage 1960 Disneyland Matterhorn Ad

A very fun find for a midweek post! Here's a Disneyland ad for the relatively new Matterhorn Bobsleds! The vintage look, the retro feel- it's all there, capturing a thrilling bobsled run on the Mighty Matterhorn. Nowadays, it's a rough journey, and the entire track needs to be replaced to make it as smooth as ice. Back in the day, it was a cutting edge attraction found in Tomorrowland and then Fantasyland and back and forth. First found on Kevin Kidney's blog.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Disneyland Attraction Poster Collection

The magnificent attraction posters of Disneyland have been a fan favorite for six decades, and it doesn't seem like there's a chance that passion will fade away! Fans create their own as well as loving the ones that are officially designed by the geniuses at Disney Imagineering. 

I've amassed quite a collection of them! There's a couple hanging on my wall (Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds and Disneyland Paris' Pirates of the Caribbean). They are among my most treasured pieces in my extensive collection of Disney park artifacts, along with my piece of original artwork for the Indiana Jones Adventure that I acquired at the attraction's opening.

The re-Imagining of California Adventure and the addition of Buena Vista Street brought an entirely new group of posters for fans to admire. 

Here now for the first time are links to the posts where I share attraction posters land by land.  One day, I'll get around to doing the same for the other Disney resorts, (there are odds and ends and favorites from each of the parks on the blog), but for now, please enjoy the ones made for the original Magic Kingdom.

Disneyland Collection
Main Street USA
Adventureland 
Frontierland 
New Orleans Square
Critter Country
Fantasyland
Tomorrowland

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)