Design Detail: Disneyland's Omnibus Attraction Posters

For lovers of attraction posters, the ads that used to be displayed on the Disneyland omnibus are almost as equally appealing to collect. Here's a cool looking one for Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland. Or just Storybook Land. 

From Dizavenue.com

                                                                               

These eye catching pieces traveled up and down good old Main Street U.S.A. providing a bit of charm and promotion of what could be found in lands beyond the hub. Quaint, charming, and unique. 

It's these little touches of detail that make Disneyland that great place it is- a place where the feel of Walt Disney can be found at every turn. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

High in the Sky Over Disneyland

Imagineer Herb Ryman remains one of the favorite Disney artists, and this piece of concept art for Disneyland's long gone Skyway shows off his brilliance. While the landscape first looks serene, there's actually much movement to be found: the slight tilt of the bucket and the discreetly placed Casey Jr. Circus Train coming through the tunnel of the Storybookland Canal Boats. Riders got to see all this and a trip through the Matterhorn as well! 

The attraction poster for the Skyway in Tomorrowland captures this same freedom of movement. The limited color palette plays up the sense of adventure. (Do you love Disney attraction posters? My whole collection- the largest on the web- can be found here.)

Once the Skyway was removed- and what a big mistake that was!- Fantasyland didn't have quite as much energy as before. But that's nothing compared to how poor Tomorrowland fared. With the Peoplemover gone and the Rocket Jets moved to the front, the entire feel of the world of the future was much less inviting. It's a shame really. What once was one of the most interesting places in the park is now my least visited. One ride on Space Mountain and maybe a trip to Endor, and I'm done. Well, there's always Florida I guess!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Casey Jr. in the USA and France

In the early years of Imagineering Disneyland, gifted artist Bruce Bushman was one of Walt Disney's "go to" guys. Bruce could be counted on for getting just the right look for an attraction. Much of his concept art centered on Fantasyland. This great little piece shows the wonderful Casey Jr. Circus Train station, looking much like it still does today 60+ years later. 

The little train is still a guest favorite! Unknown to many American park fans, little Casey Jr. is actually a family friendly rollercoaster at Disneyland Paris. Instead of an unthemed Goofy's Barnstormer or an elaborate but brief Seven Dwarf's Mine Train, Casey is a fun little ride through the French version of Storybookland. 

Unfortunately, in Walt Disney World, where it would fit perfectly in the Magic Kingdom's newish Storybook Circus, Casey sits as kind of a watering hole / play and splash area. What wasted potential for the sweet little family favorite!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Redesigned for Little Kids?

In the planning stages for Disneyland Paris, then EuroDisney, Imagineers designed a smaller, kid-friendly version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The cuter-than-cute named Lil Thunder never was built, but it sure would have been fun!

Just imagine a runaway train for the littlest of varmints, traveling on rickety rails, heading off for a journey they would never forget. Of course, this was a Disney attraction, so the theming would be top notch. At least back in the late 80's when it was first imagined.

Cacti, critters, and a landscape similar to that of  Disneyland's famous Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland. It was all there. Just like that long lost gem, the ride would have concluded with a journey into the stunning Rainbow Caverns. Hopefully complete with the beautiful soundtrack, at once ethereal and melodic.

As many tales go, this attraction also never made it past the drawing boards. A replacement was found in Fantasyland's Casey Jr. ride, where young guests zoomed along the French version of the Storybookland Canal Boats, miniature houses and landscapes from fairy tales replacing the Wild West of Frontierland. (Guess that also means the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train won't ever come to Paris!)

Even though the park is rightly criticized for its lack up upkeep, Disneyland Paris does have the most incredible of Frontierlands. It's unfortunate that the land doesn't include the adult version of the mine train, the pack mules, the canoes, and everything else that made Walt Disney's plans iconic. All that would make it the ultimate take on the West... unless Marc Davis' Western River Expedition would ever get built. But don't count on it.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Casey Jr. Rounds the Bend Again

Long after the attraction's debut at Disneyland in Anaheim, Casey Jr. appeared across the Atlantic as a new addition to EuroDisney ie. Disneyland Paris. While a bit more tame in California, in France, Casey Jr. - Le Petit Train du Cirque is a full blown child sized roller coaster with all the thrills you'd expect and some great scenery to boot. (The concept art for the Paris version is above.) As it travels through Le Pays de Contes de Fées - Story Book Land Canal Boats guests get terrific scenery just as in Anaheim, with a few new locations thrown in.

The Magic Kingdom is Florida is not yet a home for the little train. At least not yet. Depending on which concept art you gaze upon, Casey has a place in the new Fantasyland expansion as the centerpiece of a water play area or he is frozen in time as a vending location for snacks. Either way, it is a loss for Walt Disney World. While not a groundbreaking attraction, riding in the animal cars behind the cages is a fun little excursion no one should miss. 

Besides, even though I love children, I always find a few kids I'd like to put behind bars, don't you?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)