Just Released: New Park Map for Disney Adventure World in Paris

It didn't take a genius to figure out Walt Disney Studios Paris was going to be an absolute bomb at opening. And I don't mean that in a good way. Disney California Adventure 1.0 looks like an Imagineering masterpiece in comparison. But that's all about to change! The new Disney Adventure World continues to come to life. The Parisian crew released this brand new map showing the layout and the compelling attractions that will part of the re-envisioning. 

Frozen Ever After will put Epcot's version to shame. The Lion King river adventure in the model of Splash Mountain is set to have ground break by the end of the year. Perhaps most importantly, the entire park is getting refreshed and given a new lake, beautiful gardens and dining spots, and a full on night time show. It should be beautiful!

(Map copyright The Walt Disney Company, courtesy the Main Street News.)

The SHAG Piece That Started It All

While visiting Disneyland during its 50th anniversary year in 2009, I fell in love with a piece by artist Josh Agle aka Shag. I bit the bullet, and although money was a little tight, I purchased this very fun, retro, vintage, just plain COOL little map. I sat on the benches on Main Street U.S.A., and I watched merchandise fly off the shelves. 

Sitting there watching it all got me to thinking of all the terrific pieces of Disney art, attraction posters, concept art that I had. I wanted to share it all and my love for music, family, friends, travel, and of course, my love for God who makes all things possible. There was this "one little spark of inspiration", and the blog was born!

(Art copyright Josh Agle.)

1967 Disneyland Map

Want to see a Disneyland map with the Peoplemover, the Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland, the Skyway, and the Mike Fink Keelboats? Well, here it is! These long gone gems of Disneyland are right here on this 1967 map. Or is it "Fun map"? I never can remember. Regardless, the vintage, retro, very cool image is just the very bright and charming piece I wanted to show this Monday morning. With all the doom and gloom in the world, a little fun never hurt anyone. 

(Image copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Rare 1967 Disneyland Painted Map

Here's a fresh and bright and charming 1967 map of Disneyland. It seemingly wasn't used much if at all as there are no labels or text, but it is full of vintage goodness. Used shortly after the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean that same year, the graphic design of the icons sparkle with life. 

It was during a season when Audio-Animatronics were new and exciting. Take a look at the prominence of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln right at the hub, the Enchanted Tiki Room makes its splash on the map, and the beautiful clock tower of It's A Small World stands proudly behind the castle. Beyond those highlights, the beloved and iconic New Tomorrowland shows off the Peoplemover while older school attractions still have a place. From the Swiss Family Treehouse to the Matterhorn Bobsleds and the Jungle Cruise, Disney knew their market and that variety is the spice of life.

For all its many changes over the decades, "Walt's park" certainly remains just as astonishing as ever!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Does Evermore Succeed Where Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Failed?

Utah's Evermore Park promises times of exploration and interaction with all of the residents. There's not a ride to be found aside from the Evermore Express, a train that circles and bisects the park. What it does promise is an adventure of your own choice. Does it live up to its lofty goals?

Think if the park as a live action, always there, Renaissance Festival of sorts mixed with theming learned from Disney Imagineering. Separate lands, themed eating and drinking and shopping: and street performers in character. All set in a lovely and lively English village of years past.

They say it best on their own introduction page on the website:  "Greetings to you, brave explorers! Or as we refer to you here at Evermore, "World Walkers". Our land is filled with beauty and discovery. This ancient township was built eras ago upon a body of mysterious energy. Tales of old spoke of heroes, warriors, royalty, elves, goblins, dragons and more coming to this hamlet through magical gateways. Doorways to other lands, worlds, and/or dimensional planes.

Then... those gateways were sealed shut. Centuries passed by and Evermore became stuck in time without a place. Eventually, the common ways of life in this wondrous land gave way to only the belief in tall tales, myths and legends.

Recently, the keys to unlocking the magic of these gateways were rediscovered, and the locks placed on the portals were lifted. The places and personalities once again began to step forth into Evermore. To them, Evermore was also regarded as lost for all those years. The reuniting of vanished cultures has been reason to celebrate. Though all have to wonder exactly why those gateways had at one point... been closed?

We welcome you at Evermore and encourage you to Enter the Story!"

Does this all sound familiar? It should. Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge promise a similar interactive experience albeit in a vastly different setting. 

My two visits to Galaxy's Edge (one on each coast) did not deliver on the promise of interactivity. Perhaps that has changed, but my hunch is that COVID-19 has put an even further damper on those plans. Was my time there enjoyable? Absolutely! From the standpoint of themed design, it's hard to argue anything less than Disney accomplishing a home run. But with the Disney hype machine in full operation prior to opening, I expected to interact with droids and not just have them available for purchase. Most of those interactions are available but with an additional and hefty fee. The same could be said for the classic cantina experience every Star Wars fan wants.

My plans to visit Evermore Park have never materialized. I'd love to hear from those of you who have gone! Please fill us in on what you discovered.

(Map images copyright Evermore Park.)

Saturday Morning at EPCOT Center

Would you like to go to EPCOT Center today? I sure would! The original incarnation of this park proved Walt Disney Imagineering was at the top of their craft. The plans were grand, the execution just incredible, and the guest reaction very strong. 

Don't listen to those who are happy about the Intellectual Property infestation and are satisfied with anything Disney does. In addition to an almost perfect opening day line-up, the park continued with great additions: Horizons, The Living Seas and plans for Equatorial Africa. Both Future World and World Showcase were designed to expand, making the park an easy two-day excursion for those who wished to see it all. Walt Disney World would never be the same. The Magic Kingdom had a sister park worthy of the Disney name!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland Without Space Mountain?

Disneyland without Space Mountain? Don't be so sure it could not happen. Shanghai Disneyland opened with Tron Lightcycle Run in its place- and not a single person seems to have expressed outrage they did not get to ride one of Imagineering's iconic attractions. But that is exactly what happened in 1967. The plans were clearly in the works to add Space Mountain to the brand New Tomorrowland, and you can see it in this page from the Disneyland Guide book. The concept art is right there front and center. When the revision of the land did open, Adventure Thru Inner Space made its debut and Carousel of Progress opened up on the West Coast after a great response to the show at the World's Fair. The Peoplemover covered the land in style. There was excitement everywhere! Except Space Mountain would not make its debut. That had to come later. Much later. A decade in fact.

Love Space Mountain and want to learn more about its history? Check out this mega-post with all the history and concept art you could want!

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.)

Rarest of All Disneyland Maps

Who doesn't love vintage maps of Disneyland? And the photo above, shows the rarest of them all! Back when planning the park, Imagineer Marvin Davis, with a middle name of "Abbrey", as seen below, created this plot plan for Walt Disney's beloved kingdom. (Just a reminder, you can click on the images for a larger version.)

This incredible vintage "brownline"plan was dated February 14, 1955, reveals previously unknown details of the park. Who would ever have guessed an archery range was once on the table? What about the proposed heliport that was to be constructed right next to Tomorrowland? 

When this ultra rare map was offered up at an auction house years ago, the starting price was $12,000 USD. A mere bargain for the privileged few- a ransom for us ordinary men.

(Images copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

D23's Fantastic World's Gift Map

What an odd little gift subscribers get when they join D23! This gift map is a fun bit of a mash up, mixing Spaceship Earth from Epcot with Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and other locations. Is it enough to make me subscribe? Hmmm...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

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)

Design Detail: Disneyland Paris' Main Street U.S.A.

Great design detail is often realized by what you don't see at first but notice upon closer inspection. When this occurs, the impact on the guest experience is subtle and richly rewarding. Disney Imagineers, when given the time and money to rightly work, are masters of the craft. Disneyland is California is chock full of these details, but newer parks such as Tokyo Disneysea and Disneyland Paris are also excellent examples. 

My photograph below may not be a wonderful shot defining the art of photography, but it does make a great example of how a myriad of details make an overall impression. (Make the image larger to see all of it.)

Not just an ordinary forgotten side street!

The trash cans in the foreground, the building architecture of the individual shops in the background, and everything in between (signage, seating areas, lamp posts, and even those seasonal Christmas decorations) work together to enhance and complete the overall experience. 

Imagineer Tony Baxter built a team of first class, experienced Imagineers to make this park a work of art. Eddie Sotto is to be commended for making the requisite Main Street U.S.A. as something more than just the gateway to the other themed lands. 

Love Herb Ryman's work!

I decided to add two "bonus" pieces to this article as they further strengthen my points. Directly above is a piece of concept art by Herb Ryman, and at the very top, the new Disneyland Paris "Fun Map" that was released several weeks ago. Each display the incredible amount of care to design detail in two very different styles. 

In an era where true Disney works of theme park art (Pandora, Cars Land, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge) are intermingled with cheap disasters of design (Pixar Pier, the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster building in Epcot), it's good to be reminded of great design that can still take place when viewed from any angle. It's in rich abundance in Disney's first French theme park. Go see it for yourself!

( Art copyright the Walt Disney Company.)

Everyone Needs a Little Yesterland

With changes to the Disney theme parks coming faster than you can say "Another Marvel / Star Wars movie?", there's one resource all park fans need to know about. Yesterland by Werner Weiss. He has documented most all the changes to each theme park. From Walt's original park on, with a keen eye and a great sense of humor to go along with official images from promotional items, Werner's site is a must read. 

Carefree at Disneyland

For almost 20 years, the INA (Insurance Company of North America) sponsored Carefree Corner was the place to go to sign the guest registration book at Disneyland. After the sponsorship ended, the location was host to a variety of other functions.

The above photo from the Gorillas Don't Blog website reveals the elegance of the shops and restaurants found on Main Street U.S.A., where even the most utilitarian services were housed in lovely surroundings.

Free of charge, INA also provided a nice guidebook of Disneyland, listing attractions, services, shops and restaurants for each land. 

From the Mouse Museum.

There was a list of attractions by ticket, individual maps of each land, and quite the variety of information you never thought you needed to know... until you did.  

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Beautiful Black and White Disneyland

The year:1956 The place: Fantasyland at Disneyland in Anaheim California. The map: A piece of artwork designed by someone- most likely in Imagineering- to give a feel of what Walt Disney's magical little kingdom would look like. These pieces were created to spark the imagination of kids and forever kids all over the United States. Flying elephants, spinning tea cups, a pirate ship, and a chance to ride into Monstro the Whale from Pinocchio. Who wouldn't love that? It worked like a charm! 

Millions visited this "Happiest Place on Earth", opening the door to Walt Disney World and then outside the country: Tokyo Disneyland, EuroDisney (now Disneyland Paris), Hong Kong Disneyland, and now Shanghai Disneyland. Where will the next Magic Kingdom unveil itself? My bet is India. We shall see.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Space Mountainless Tomorrowland

Much like what happened at the grand opening of Disneyland, when Florida's Magic Kingdom arrived, this Tomorrowland was also a bit incomplete. The iconic white Space Mountain wasn't on the horizon and the WEDWAY Peoplemover was not making its grand tour around the land of the future.

That's not to say there wasn't fun to be found! Guests could still blast off on Flight to the Moon, view the Circle-Vision 360 film, or take the much beloved (and now defunct) If You Had Wings (...had wings, had wings, had wings). Of course, getting behind the wheel of a race car was possible to the delight of kids of all ages. 

Thanks to the Imagineers, new adventures in the world of the future were on the way. Soon enough, Space Mountain grew into the must-do attraction everyone had to experience. Now, the ride is harsh and jerky, but back then, it was smooth as could be. The screams came from flying in the darkness instead of from the pain inflicted on the body of the riders because of the attraction in its current state.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Courtesy Vintage Disneyland Tickets.)

Old Frontierland Map

Ever since my recent visit to Disneyland, I've been on quite the kick of how wonderful Frontierland is! (Yes, I'm still working on that trip report. Almost done- it's worth the wait.) 

The revised Rivers of America made me take a fresh look. But it also made me think about the past when the Wild West really lived up to its Disneyland opening day experience. So, take a look at this souvenir book map from my 1957 Disneyland guide. 

This early Frontierland looks like Davy Crockett's world come to life. What a great place to explore! I couldn't have been the only one as I bet young future Imagineers and cartoonists were inspired by the old The Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland and its Rainbow Caverns. Think about the design of Carsland's Radiator Springs Racers. (If you've ridden it, you know what I'm referring to. If not, I won't spoil it.)

Exploring caves, the authentic Indian village, the fort on Tom Sawyer Island or the whole western landscape by mule or train made for quite a day of adventures! I loved paddling a canoe or taking a cruise on the river. (Still do!)

I'll quote myself from an earlier post here: "There was something very hands on about the place, be it shooting rifles, searching for the perfect coonskin hat, or hanging on to the ropes while crossing those pesky barrel and suspension bridges of Tom Sawyer Island. Nowadays, hands on tends to mean "hands on the controller" as Toy Story Midway Mania and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin take prominence at the Disney parks. Sure, those rides are fun, and the parks need this kind of variety, but the simple pleasures of simpler times also have their place. Yet, these kind of smaller attractions are no longer built. With their absence, we are also missing a part of homespun Americana and the opportunity to embrace our own imagination."

Other parks beyond the castle ones should think about what these old school attractions could bring. Tokyo Disney Sea has its fortress explorations, and it is well beloved. Animal Kingdom's Pandora would have been a perfect place for an island to explore. Maybe the next expansion to the area will do just that. Here's hoping!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Friday Morning at Disneyland, 1955

It's 1955, and Walt Disney's new playground, Disneyland, has just opened in Anaheim, California. What a groundbreaking park it is!

Take a stroll down Main Street U.S.A., and enjoy the sights and sounds from fifty years back. A quaint and charming slice of hometown America now disappeared due to the hustle and bustle of the postwar baby boom. Better yet, hop aboard one of those horse drawn carriages to get to the end of the street. But don't forget to stop by the Main Street Cinema and watch those Mickey Mouse cartoons!

Imagine going on a real Jungle River Cruise into the wilds of Asia, Africa, and other exotic locations. A bit closer to home but back in time, you can venture into Frontierland and relive the days of the Wild West. Be on the lookout for Davy Crockett and other heroes of the frontier. Mosey up to the Golden Horseshoe saloon for their outstanding stage show complete with cancan dancers. If you hang around Disneyland when it gets dark, there's nothing like an event cruise around the Rivers of America aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat. (Note: Still nothing like it- but now next to impossible since Fantasmic! came about.)

On the other side of the park is the world of Tomorrow. Going aboard Space Station X-1 will give you a view of earth from outer space as will the Rocket to the Moon. On land, things can be just as treacherous if you decide to drive an Autopia car. Watch out for young inexperienced drivers!

Last but not least, there's Fantasyland. It might seem like an excuse for Walt to push his older and upcoming animated film projects, but the place is filled with things you can't do anywhere else. Where else can you fly with Peter Pan off to Neverland, go on a scary adventure with Snow White, or ride into Hell itself with Mr. Toad? 

Yes, ma'am, yes, sir, Disneyland is a full day's worth of fun- all for one dollar and rides cost about 30 cents each. What a bargain!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.) 

An Early Promotional Map of EuroDisneyland

Announcing EuroDisneyland! Here's the theme park map from an early promotional brochure. Make sure you enlarge it to get a picture of what the great Imagineering team led by Tony Baxter had in mind. 

There are marked differences between what was initially proposed and what came to fruition years later. Do you see a new route for the railroad? A Roaring 20's themed Main Street U.S.A.? A new elevated transportation system within the park? How about a French version of the famous Jungle Cruise? Yes, it's all there and more. Even with the cuts from the Board and Michael Eisner, it's still the most beautiful Magic Kingdom ever!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)