The Happiest Place on Earth Book and Disneyland's Tomorrowland Concept Art

 Imagineer Herb Ryman is probably one of my favorite Disney artists when I consider concept art and others renderings. His work on EPCOT Center is stunningly sublime and also dazzling. But for the first blog post of August 2025, I wanted to highlight his incredible work for Disneyland, specifically Tomorrowland's Monorail and Submarine Voyage stations. 

It's a tribute to the creative thinkers of Walt's day that they would stack two such important attractions on top of each other. Making the most of limited space, after all, was a tradition at "Walt's park". Fantasyland used this design trick to their advantage, creating layers of charm upon charm. In Tomorrowland, the goal wasn't charm but it was to create "A World on the Move" long before the 1967 version so many theme park fans rightfully adore- and it succeeded tremendously. 

This image is from the incredible new book, "The Happiest Place on Earth" by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt. If you think you know all there is to know about the creation of Disneyland and have seen most of the concept art for it, you couldn't be more wrong. Get this book and get it now!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Sparkle of Disneyland's Tomorrowland 1967

The Submarine Voyage and the Peoplemover. What more can you say? Plenty! Add in the Carousel of Progress, the late and great Adventure Thru Inner Space and a refreshed entrance to Tomorrowland.  The year 1967 would remain one for the books in the annals of Disneyland history. 

Walt's park seemed better than ever under the guidance of those first generation Imagineers. And, boy, they were on a roll! It's a Small World was first, then Pirates of the Caribbean in the Spring of '67 and the Haunted Mansion a couple of years later. Let's not forget Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln coming hot off the World's Fair. 

Things would slow down for awhile, but as this photograph from the late and great Vintage Disneyland Tickets shows, the future was also moving at Disneyland- unless you look at Tomorrowland. That revision in 1998 was a dud- Rocket Rods aside-, and it was the last time that area of the park had even the slightest bit of cohesion. Will the Imagineering team bring a great new person of the future for the park's 75th Anniversary? Your guess is as good as mine!

(Photograph copyright Vintage Disneyland Tickets.)

The Walt Disney World Resort I Grew to Love

 No, it wasn't Disney's Polynesian Village Resort that I had to grow to love. Anyone who knows me is aware that was an instant hit. The truth is the other original Walt Disney World Resort hotel was the one that took decades to win me over- the Contemporary Resort. (And here's a piece of rare concept art: an early plan for the exterior.)

Yes, riding the monorail through the lobby still surprises with the reveal of the Grand Canyon Concourse, but that wasn't enough. Decades after my first visit to the World in 1975, it was the sum of many smaller pieces that won me over. The energy, the bright colors, the large panes of glass that provided terrific views, the lakeside setting. 

What tipped the scales? Dinner at the California Grill back in 2009! That memorable and expensive evening became one of my favorite resort experiences. What could be more spectacular than a great meal with my beloved wife high atop it all? Only a view of the Magic Kingdom while the evening fireworks were aglow. Truly magical!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

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.)

Take A Ride Around Tomorrowland at Disneyland Circa 1967

Retro Disneyland is pretty cool! You certinaly won't get this exact view, but I like the photo so much that I wanted to include it just for fun. 

Take a look at this vintage video below. It's from 1971- a great year in the park. Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion are relatively new, and the brand New Tomorrowland premiered just about the same time.

You'll take a ride on the Monorail over the Submarine Voyage Lagoon, cruise to the Disneyland Hotel and more. It's a pristine new, optimistic look at the future. And it's a world where the Imagineers were led by the greatest Imagineer, the man who started it all- Walt Disney.

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.)

THIS is What I Wanted from Disney+

Here's the big announcement directly from the Disney Parks Blog:

Go ‘Behind the Attraction’ in a New Original Series Coming to Disney+ on July 16

A new series is coming to Disney+ on July 16 that gives an exclusive peek ‘behind the curtain’ of the most beloved attractions and destinations at Disney Parks and Resorts around the world, from Jungle Cruise to “it’s a small world” to the Haunted Mansion to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. 

“Behind the Attraction” is a 10-part series narrated by Paget Brewster that  delves into Disney Parks’ rich, amazing history using archival and never-before-seen footage and photographs to unveil how the attractions came to be and how they’ve been refined over the years as new ideas surface and technology evolves.

Hear the unique story behind each Castle at the Parks and learn how Disney Imagineers designed and built them and discover the intricacies of the transportation systems at each park, and how the iconic Disneyland Hotel came to be.

Including rare interviews with Walt Disney, each episode also features exclusive interviews with Disney Legends and dozens of past and present Imagineers, including Bob Weis, Jeanette Lomboy, Kim Irvine, Scott Trowbridge, Tom Fitzgerald, Scot Drake, Carmen Smith, Joe Rohde, and others who divulge insider secrets of the parks and how iconic Disney attractions were brought to life.

Disneyland's Highway in the Sky

Today is the day! Can't wait for this book on the Disneyland monorail! “The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky,” by Jeff Kurtti, Vanessa Hunt, and Paul Wolski. 

(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.)

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)

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.)

Is Disney Embarrassed Enough Yet?

How much embarrassment does it take before the management of the Walt Disney World monorail system presses the executives for a new fleet of trains? There have been a few malfunctions lately, and even further back, the more unfortunate case of a cast member being killed due to problems with the age and maintenance of their fleet. What must happen next in order the get the suits' attention?

Even Walt's original Kingdom, Disneyland, got an upgrade with some new trains fairly recently. Pretty nice, right?

And let's not get started on what you can find at the Tokyo Disney Resort! The sleek exteriors give only a small look at the themed experience found inside.

Once again, other resorts hold the lead in providing first class service and amenities compared to Walt Disney World. If I were staying at the Polynesian Resort, the Contemporary, or the Grand Floridian, I would expect more given the rates charged for the rooms! Problem is, even before the room rates skyrocketed, Disney gave its day guests a wonderfully modern and maintained Highway in the Sky. The time for new trains is now.

The Whys of Walt Disney World

When I look at what's happening at Walt Disney World, I'm often left with more questions than answers. Sure, it's still a great place to visit, but you'd have to close your eyes not to have some pretty serious questions about its future.

Limiting my "Whys" to three per park, let's start with what once was my favorite American theme park: the woefully neglected and underdeveloped Epcot.

Cheap, cheap, cheap!

• Why didn't the Imagineers use the amazing original ride system from Universe of Energy to lead to a loading dock for the new Guardians of the Galaxy coaster? Certainly, they could have created an incredible experience that would have made good use of one of the most innovative transportation systems ever. Two rides for one. No brainer.
• Why has World Showcase lay dormant for so long? Aside from a few new restaurants and the Frozen overlay, practically nothing (let alone perfect) has been done. Ratatouille should be only the beginning of growth. We need new countries added. Brazil. India. Russia. Just about anything.
• Why has Imagination been left in its sad state? Can't anyone with some clout turn this once beloved ride and exhibit hall into something stunning again? (Oops, that's another question.) Letting the park's beloved mascot be represented by this mess is a crime worthy of punishment. Call in Fuji Film and the Japanese. They seem to know how to do things right

My Magic Kingdom questions are limited to ones I'll share for now. 

Could be so much more!

• Why hasn't Space Mountain's track been fixed or replaced? The iconic adventure sports a ride so rough that it feels like something from an old sidewalk carnival versus the cutting edge ride it was at opening.
• Why didn't the suits allow Imagineering to build the major "E Ticket" attraction Japan is getting based on Beauty and the Beast? It should have been part of the whole New Fantasyland complex. As it stands now, Belle's meet and greet is very sweet, but there's not enough meat for the rest of us to get a satisfying experience. Gaston's turkey legs are not enough.
• Why hasn't Frontierland been expanded with some smaller attractions that round out the time spent in that land? There needs to be more to explore. Bring Nature's Wonderland and the covered wagons back from the dead and to the East Coast.

As it stands now, Disney's Hollywood Studios needs so much more than I can say. But I'll honor my three questions promise for this park as well.

Love Mickey but this should not be his new home.

• Why kill The Great Movie Ride? This is probably the one that most bothers me. Yes, they should and could have updated it over time with better Audio-Animatronics and newer film choices that would have honored the classics but kept it fresh. I chalk this up to laziness and lack of vision for the larger picture.
• Why have they not placed Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway into an enhanced Animation area?  Animated films, be they Disney or Pixar, computer rendered or hand drawn are the backbone of Disney's film division. Animation should be honored and celebrated. No one should know this better than the suits. 
• Last one is a toss up. Do I ask what took so long to bring an Indiana Jones area (including a blockbuster ride) to the park or why it's taken so long to get tired old theater shows replaced with something new? Like I said, the park's a mess, and the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will only make the shortcomings more obvious.

I'll leave Animal Kingdom alone for now, but in exchange I'll throw in a few for the resort at large:

• Why is Disney building generic looking resorts at the expense of theme? Premium prices for lesser quality experiences. 
• Why have they allowed the disaster of Fast Pass and on line booking requirements remove the laid back feeling of visiting the resort? It was much more fun in years past when not everything had to be decided months in advance.
• Why are the nicest restaurants in the parks now only premium character dining locations? The Crystal Palace, the Land Grill Room (aka The Good Turn) and others are now reserved only for the elite with cash to burn. It already costs a wallet full of money to go to Disney. Just rubbing our noses in it, I'd say. 

There's my "Whys" for Walt Disney Walt. Disneyland is next.
(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Gateway to the Magic Kingdom

On Walt Disney World's opening day, the real gateway to the Magic Kingdom in Florida was a boat ride or a monorail trip across or over the Seven Seas Lagoon. Back then in 1971, there were no over crowded busses - just dreams waiting to be built. Anything was possible.

For this California kid, being so used to the congested area around Disneyland in Anaheim, a visit to the World was eye opening from the moment we crossed onto the property. I just couldn't believe the Walt Disney Company had all this land!  

Hitting the parking lot was a bit of a tease. We could see the huge and beautiful Cinderella's castle above the treetops and across the water. But nothing could compare to walking down Main Street U.S.A. for that very first visit! Seeing it in real life was a treat that took four years from seeing it in magazines and on television to seeing it in person. The reality was actually better than what the hype machine built. And in many ways, it still is.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Vintage Tomorrowland- Late 1950's Edition

Sometimes an image captivates me- and such is this one, a vintage view of Disneyland right after the big expansion at the end of the 1950's. The majestic Matterhorn and its bobsled run was a out of the box hit, the first tubular steel coaster ever built. The monorail and skyway buckets sail over the world of Tomorrowland on the way to Fantasyland, while guests take a voyage through liquid space on the classic Submarine Voyage. Nearby, the Autopia lets drivers young and old test  their motoring skills on a freeway of the future. Want more retro Disneyland? Come back tomorrow for some vintage concept art.

The great folks on the WDWMagic boards have posted photos of the day on the Disneyland forums. If you want to see some great pics old and new, it's the place to go. And of course, the always excellent Daveland is full of retro goodness!

(Photograph copyright phruby on WDWMagic.)

Trio of Coming Attractions

The year was 1959, and it was a very exciting time to be going to Disneyland! Under Walt Disney's leadership - where the guest was thought of in the highest terms possible - the park kept expanding and expanding. By treating the customers well, the park not only grew, but the Company turned great profit.

Three new iconic attractions were to debut that year, attractions that would make that half of the park shine: The Disneyland Monorail system, the Motor Boat Cruise, and the very popular Submarine Voyage. And the best was yet to come.

Just imagine not one but two "E Tickets" coming on line in one park in one year. You'd never see that happening today. What an incredible time to be a Disney park fan!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)