Walt Disney on the It's A Small World Construction Site

Walt Disney was certainly a visionary, but he was also very hands-on! When it came to building the Disneyland version of It's a Small World,  he relied on two of his most distinctive Imagineers to bring it all together: Mary Blair and Rolly Crump. Mary was chiefly responsible for the style and color palette of the interior, while Rolly contributed to the attractions iconic exterior. 

Walt directed the ship- and the park was better for it- but he also knew what it took to "sell" his projects. Not only did he get Pepsi to invest in the attractions creation when it came to the New York World's Fair, he got the rights to bring it home to Anaheim's Fantasyland, and his team brought in yet another sponsor there. Smart guy! In the photo above, he's shown with sponsor Bank of America's head honcho as the attraction's exterior was being completed. 

Walt was savvy! He wanted to best for his guests, and he creatively found ways to enhance the park. The focus on excellence resulted in happy investors in the company. It's certainly a strategy that paid off. Something that future CEO's did at times understand and sometimes not at all. Where would you rank the three most recent: Michael Eisner, Robert Iger, and Bob Chapek? I'd say it was most definitely a mixed bag. Truth is, there is still no one like Walt!

Vintage Disneyland Map

Freebies at Walt Disney's new Magic Kingdom were not unheard of. And sometimes, they yielded some great treasures. In 1956,  Bank of America, one of Disneyland's proud sponsors, offered this map to any guest at request. A stylized look to the map, now retro but then very consistent with the times, gave visitors a quick look at the attractions, shops, and eateries to be enjoyed.

A quick look finds some now long gone favorites: the Conestoga Wagon Ride, Stagecoach Rides, the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant, and more. Miss the Welch's Grape Juice Bar? I do, but here it is, right on the map. 

Back then as now, even bathrooms were marketed, hence the Bathroom of the Future in Tomorrowland. (Take that, Tangled restrooms at Florida's New Fantasyland!)

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)