The Charm of the Magic Kingdom's Rivers of America

When it came to color design and creating a mood, there were a few standout Imagineers of the first generation. You'd have to add artist Herb Ryman to the top side of the list! This concept art captures the simple beauty and charm of a Frontierland now long gone. The Rivers of America delivers a serene landscape of dreams as several folks sit by on land watching the world go by. The originally named Admiral Joe Fowler riverboat sails on.

This being a theme park means contrasting buildings exist. At Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, the beautiful Cinderella Castle in her glorious original color scheme is seen in the distance and the lower level buildings of Liberty Square peacefully co-exist with everything else. 

The vibe was definitely chill. While Piston Peak and the world of Cars will bring a different energy, I'll be curious if the charm factor will still exist. What do you think?

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Imagineer Dorothea Redmond's Beautiful Concept Art for Cinderella Castle

While we fans await the return of Cinderella Castle to its initial and carefully planned color scheme, we can take a glance at this genuinely lovely piece of concept art by Imagineer Dorothea Redmond. She may be best known for her atmospheric pieces for New Orleans Square at Disneyland, but the woman could pull off anything! The delicate water colored hues she uses for the courtyard of the Florida park's icon is design at its best. There's no need to scream look at me; the design detail speaks for itself. In a new Disney world where subtlety may be a truly lost art, the old school Imagineers understood the value of guests slowly discovering the rich atmospheres they created. This added to the charm of the castle parks and all others that followed.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

"Ascending by Degrees"- A Return to Greatness at Walt Disney World?

It was Disney fan extraordinaire Kevin Yee that coined the phrase "declining by degrees" to describe the persistent and continual lessening of the original standards found at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. You know, those impeccably high values for show and guest experience, and yes, value, that Walt Disney himself set forth. Perhaps it's only fair now to perhaps consider that Disney may be "ascending by degrees" at least when it comes to one aspect of change in Florida. (Let's forget the debacle of removing the Rivers of America just for one moment.)

The original concept art by Imagineer Herb Ryman for Cinderella Castle (top) was a masterclass example of elegance, restraint, and just plain good taste. The infamous "castle cake" overlay was just the beginning of a few cheap and ugly variations of the look, culminating in the horrendous rose gold layover deemed appropriate to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World. 

Thankfully that look is on its way out! The piece that debuted at this year's Destination D23 (above) shows a coming return to what it should be, a nod to the greatest Imagineering minds, those old school geniuses that brought excellence to all they did. 

It seems much like the area enhancements to Spaceship Earth at Epcot, the most successful design choices are the ones that return to the original feel when the parks were first thought out. Maybe, just maybe, a return to excellence, a full "ascending by degrees" will begin in Florida and then spread to the West Coast and "Walt's park". Here's hoping! 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

My Favorite Disney Park Photos: An Enchanted Evening at the Magic Kingdom

After using the Disney Dining Plan for a terrific meal at Cinderella's Royal Table, we gathered for a photograph in front of the Magic Kingdom's icon. It was one of those perfect Florida nights: balmy, breezy, and absolutely perfect. 

Having timed it perfectly, our reservations brought us to the table about 10 minutes before the nightly fireworks show. Just a spectacular viewing spot to go with a sweet, fun-filled, family time. Our oldest grandson was pretty non-plussed by the princess parade in the dining room... until Jasmine showed up, and he turned a nice shade of pink. These are bits of great vacations we'll remember for years. God is so good to have allowed this trip to come together!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Cinderella's Castle Should Look Like This!

It's not as bad as the birthday cake castle the Magic Kingdom had for its 25th birthday, but the current color scheme is just not right. It does look better in person, though. That said, it is not even close to the elegance and majesty of the original castle colors. Take a look at this poster from the Walt Disney Travel Company. This is the Walt Disney World castle I remember most fondly.

(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

What Cinderella Castle Should Look Like

Wouldn't it be nice to say that the new color scheme of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom was well done? I tried. I really did, but I just can't say it with any integrity. Here's what the castle looked like at night as shown on the 1972 annual report. Not only were the colors stunning, but with huge trees and twinkling lights next to each side, there really was magic in the air. The Imagineers of old knew what they were doing, but the ones in charge of the new 2020 paint scheme have made a big, big, mistake. In fact, it's a 189 foot tall mistake. 

(Photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

 

The Classic Castle Look

Such an epic piece of concept art to kick off a Friday morning! The elegance of Walt Disney World's Cinderella Castle against a backdrop of rich foliage and a bright blue Florida sky makes me want to get on a plane today. The Magic Kingdom has lost much of its regal greenery at the hub, but it is still beautiful to see. One of many pieces done for the Disney theme parks by the great late Imagineer Herb Ryman.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Villains in Vogue: Tokyo Disney's Mystery Tour

Disney villains are always in vogue. At Tokyo Disneyland, there was a tour of Cinderella Castle celebrating the dark side of the animated films: The Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour.

It wasn't quite an opening day attraction, as it debuted in 1986, but it was quite popular with the crowds that wanted to explore the heights and depths of the beautiful structure at the center of the park. In fact, it was the first castle to feature an attraction since the opening of the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk through at the original Disneyland. It's popularity may also have played a part in an expanded series of rooms designed to be explored at Disneyland Paris.

This full color attraction poster gives a pretty good hint as to what's involved. The walking tour is full of mystery as it journeys through the castle. It concludes with a terrifying encounter with the Horned King from The Black Cauldron, Disney's darkest and most sinister animated film to date. Of course, since this is Disney, a guest is chosen to defeat the monarch... to much fanfare from the crowd.

Being Disney in the new century where princesses are king, the Castle Tour was closed in 1986 and a sanitized, friendly princess focused Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall debuted soon after. 

Make sure to click on this image and blow it up in an incredibly large and beautifully articulated form! (Thanks to my friend, Len, for the gift of the image.)

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Magic Kingdom Debuts Silver Castle

At first, I wasn't so sure I would like the plan to paint Cinderella Castle's turrets the color silver. I mean, after all, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom has had its blue turrets since 1971. But when I see the end result, it is magical. The perfect final touch to the New Fantasyland.

When the Imagineers repainted Disneyland's for the 50th, and it looked great. When the brown tones were added to the bottom of the castle at Tokyo Disneyland, the dramatic look was a plus. So, we should gracefully accept the changes in Florida to make each castle park unique.

The change looks great, and it is also, unfortunately, temporary. Seems the silver is an undercoat before adding the blue. Poster Mark Twain on the WDWMagic Boards created the illusion, taking one silver turret and changing the rest just for fun. 

After All These Years

This is it. This is the photo of Cinderella's castle that convinced me Disney had grand plans for its Florida land. The elegant spires, the lacy stonework, the grandeur of it all assured me the rest of the park and the surrounding Walt Disney Resort would be just as detailed and spectacular.

I was not disappointed. Arriving at the Transportation and Ticket Center, hopping on the monorail and the ferry boats to get past the lagoon to the Magic Kingdom was a treat of its own. Dazzled by the Polynesian Village and awed by the concourse of the Contemporary Resort, I determined I'd make many trips back. 

For all the changes and in spite of all the (sometimes justified) criticism, the place still draws me in. It is still magical after almost forty years, and I believe there is more magic ahead.