Announcing Walt Disney World: Three Retro/VintageTravel Posters

Ah, the earliest beginnings of Walt Disney World! The thrill of anticipation! That first visit. Going from the Transportation and Ticket Center to the Magic Kingdom! Should we take the monorail or the ferry boat? Watching the horizon along the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon and daydreaming of staying at the Polynesian Village Resort. 

It was just as enchanting entering the Magic Kingdom, wasn't it? Seeing Cinderella Castle at the end of Main Street U.S.A. for the first time. Exploring a whole new world with Florida exclusives like the playful Country Bear Jamboree, the nostalgic and sentimental Mickey Mouse Revue, and the inspiring Hall of Presidents- in its brand new land, Liberty Square. 

It was a BIG deal for Disney to come to Florida! We forget sometimes, just how big this was. Imagine a whole new world built from scratch in the swamplands where there was once nothing at all. Real magic was created through hard work, dedication, and ultimately, imagination.

Let's take a look at these retro / vintage Disney World and Florida travel posters used to promote this new place of wonder and fun!  

The Delta Airlines poster at top is one that has found its place in my office. It's just iconic, isn't it? Love the original colors of the castle, and I'm thrilled they are returning. 

 

The generic "Orlando" poster from National Airlines (may it rest in peace) gets their castle from Disneyland, not the Florida one. Perhaps it is unofficial and therefore, they had to do it this way. While this one is nice as well, it's definitely third place among this trio.

The winner is clearly this one! Eastern Air Lines, being the official airline of the resort focused on the entire Vacation Kingdom. The sunset red poster did not feature its sponsored attraction, If You Had Wings, because it wouldn't open until a couple of years later. Mickey gets trips billing but so do some birds from the Tropical Serenade (aka Enchanted Tiki Room), the Haunted Mansion, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and the Contemporary Resort. 

October 1971 brought a whole new world into existence. The future plans of the suits and Imagineers made sure the future looked bright. And it was, wasn't it? 

(Art copyright the Walt Disney Company and National,Delta, and Eastern airlines.)

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride 2.0

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is a Disneyland classic and a much beloved and missed attraction at Walt Disney World. But did you know there was once plans for a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Tokyo Disneysea? Yes, it was once on the drawing boards- but in a fresh way, different than what riders would expect. As I looked at Miceage's Yesterland article written by the always terrific Werner Weiss, I remembered that I had in my files a great piece of concept art for this attraction.

Before you get too excited about another unbuilt ride and get very disappointed, TDS' proposed Manhattan Motor Mania was actually more a tribute to sorts to the beloved Disneyland attraction in Fantasyland. (May the Magic Kingdom's double tracked, two separate adventure version Rest In Peace.) The artwork for Tokyo Disneysea's proposed tribute ride is the black and white piece of concept art at the top.

Toad in a new way... for a totally different park- The Magic Kingdom.

The plan was to have it sit in the American Waterfront in a subsection that looked like a bit of Little Italy. The basic plot line was the same but swapping out London and its countryside for New York City at the turn of the century. 

Like some good things, ideas are passed on. But Eric Scales did a great job working up a brand new version of Toad's adventure just in case Disney opens their eyes and hearts for a new journey. Take a look at his plans for an attraction at the Magic Kingdom or look here.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The King of Disney's Fright-Filled Attractions

Vintage Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. (And I bet you expected something about the Haunted Mansion today, right?) It's a Disneyland favorite, and now the only ride with this theme in the Disney park empire. With the double tracked version of the ride in Florida's Magic Kingdom now long gone (R.I.P.), Mr. Toad also makes his home in Disneyland Paris, but only as the master of Fantasyland's fish and chips restaurant. 

From the GREAT Yesterland site.

This vintage photograph shows Disneyland's Fantasyland in its early charm. Even though the top photo's black, we know and can see the colorful buildings, and tournament banners, and pennants created a fun medieval environment to celebrate the joys of childhood.  Like large swaths of the park, the land has gone through so many changes and additions over time. The entire revamp of this fantasy world debuted in 1983, replacing the original theme into the European village we all know and love.

While a ride that ends in Hell is a very odd choice for a Fantasyland favorite, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride creates fun and thrills as it sends its riders on a crash course to the devil's final home of eternal torment. Unlike the ride, in reality when Jesus returns to rule and reign, the devil is not the master but instead the prisoner- and there is not an ounce of fun to be had. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, Chapter 20 tells us:

 "...and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

Disneyland's Toad poster

is a bit of false advertising!

After reading this, the Bible's very famous words about Jesus make sense- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16-17)

In a sense, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride may be the most frightful of Disney Imagineering's scary attractions. It rightfully takes its place among the Haunted Mansion, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Phantom Manor, and the defunct Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour in Tokyo, and equally dead and missed Alien Encounter. You can find out more about each of these on the Insights blog- if you dare.

(Art and photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland Attraction Posters: The Fantasyland Collection

The reImagineering of Disneyland's Snow White's Scary Adventure into Snow White's Enchanted Wish comes with a brand new attraction poster. It's certainly not as well done as what came before it, but doesn't that seem to be on par with recent park transitions? (look for the original poster father down in this article.) Never the less, it is what it is. The park has always had charming posters to advertise what was found inside "Walt's park". 

Surprisingly, Mr. Toad and his Wild Ride never had its only poster until the last decade. Kind of an amazing thought but it is true. One of the few opening day attractions to be left out. Does this capture the energy and fun of the attraction? Not really. Maybe the next version will. The ride, however, is still a classic made even better by the refreshing it got in 1983. In fact, the whole of the castle courtyard attractions were made new then.

Click on all these posters to get the largest size.

Walt Disney and his Imagineers ran out of the cash needed to build Fantasyland in the way Walt first envisioned it. In place of the elaborate European village Walt desired, one that eventually came to fruition under Tony Baxter's leadership in 1983, a smaller tournament tent setting was created. Using colorful banners covering flat sided buildings, Fantasyland was still something park guests could not find elsewhere in 1955.

One of the original Fantasyland dark rides, Snow White's Adventures was probably the scariest of the bunch, (although Mr. Toad's Wild Ride through Hell probably gave it a run for its money for the ending alone). As far as I can tell, the original attraction never had a poster of its own. There one above is just a new poster circa 1983, when the attraction name now included the word "Scary" to give parents and small children reason to think twice before boarding. 

The 60th Anniversary King Arthur Carousel poster.

Peter Pan's Flight. Just the name conjures up magical journeys over Neverland- and an extremely long wait for any guest who chooses to queue half an hour after the park opens. The poster below effectively captures the viewer, driving attendance to the ride, and making it one of the most sought after experiences to be found bar none. The simple tournament tent facade didn't do much to set the flavor for the delights inside, but no matter. The poster stands as one of the best pieces of art to be found in this genre. (If you want to read a bit more on the history and creation of this particular attraction, my "Disney Dark Ride Series" begins with Peter Pan's Flight and can be found here.)  Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom fans up in arms about the closure of Snow White's Scary Adventures or Mr. Toad's Wild Ride would have a heyday should Pan ever close, and the media attention would be enormous. It's as much as classic as Pirates of the Caribbean, 20K Leagues Under the Sea, or Journey into Imagination.

We'll come back to a few other dark ride posters, but now it's time for a promotional poster for the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

Where is this attraction located? At different times throughout the history of Disneyland, it was conceptually moved back and forth between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. No matter. Racing down the icy slopes of the peak is as much a Disneyland tradition as any other. This alpine inspired poster captures all the thrills, providing everything but snowflakes and chills for the full effect. I love this poster! Everytime I look at it, I am tempted to jump aboard the fastest plane to Anaheim or put on my CD collection celebrating 50 Years of the park (A Musical History of Disneyland) just to hear the yodelers . In fact, this poster is one of the few that I own. (The other is Adventure Isle from Disneyland Paris.)

A charming little spinner with the kid-friendliest face long before Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo Flying Elephants continues to be a source of frustration for parents as the queue remains as intense as those for a flight with Peter Pan. Who can resist this rite of passage for their pre-school children? We couldn't. In fact, my last trip on the little elephant was probably 25 years ago. Yet, what a delightful piece of eye candy in the old school Disney vein. I'd hate to see the attraction go. And I'm glad to see Florida is getting its double spinner to move the crowds to the farthest corner of the Magic Kingdom. 

"Canal Boast of the World", yes, when the park first opened, that was the name of the now beloved Fantasyland classic, Storybookland Canal Boats. Thankfully, Disney designers waited until the new name arrived (and the foliage grew in!), before creating a poster for the attraction. But where is an attraction poster for the equally terrific Casey Jr. Circus Train? Maybe it will come in another decade as more changes sweep through the land. As I said at the beginning, Fantasyland is the land with more evolution in execution than any other one in the park. You'd think that award would go to the once futuristic Tomorrowland, but Disney has clearly given up on the concept...for now.

Auction houses often provide great scans of attraction posters!

Ever wonder why there's no poster for Disneyland's iconic castle? So did I. Seems there actually was one. First found in 1966, this little gem was sold at Disneyland's Emporium on Main Street U.S.A. for exactly one summer before it disappeared forever. I love how the creviced hillside was to be seen here- decades before it would appear in person at Disneyland Paris. And look at the colors!

The candy colors of these old attraction posters were quite in vogue back when they were first designed, in direct contrast to the newer "Old Europe" look of the dark ride poster for Snow White that debuted with the construction of the new Fantasyland. I much prefer the old styling. The simple graphics and colors create a mood of escapism that doesn't seem to exist in the newer more in-your-face sensibilities. The Mr. Toad's Wild Ride poster being the prime example of a design mismatch for a classic dark ride.

And speaking again of dark rides, with the debut of the new Fantasyland in 1983 came a new dark ride- Pinocchio's Daring Journey. Although it had its debut in Tokyo, this new dark ride brought some interesting changes to the land of fantasy. Gone was the Welch's Grape Juice Bar and the wonderfully empty and cool respite in the summer, the Fantasyland Theater. (I know I have a poster for the theater attraction somewhere.) Also gone was Skull Rock and its nearby Chicken of the Sea pirate ship restaurant. Effectively, these changes updated the land and set its course for the future. The crowd flow was easier due to a move of all the spinner attractions, but it was the end of the Walt Disney era in a way that almost felt physical when you walked into the castle courtyard.  Fair trade off, I'd say, for the beautifully rich environment and magical far away feel of the place.

"The Happiest Cruise that ever Sailed 'Round the World" needs no introduction. It is probably the most beloved, tolerated, or ridiculed attraction in Disney park history. Love it or hate it, It's a Small World was an instant classic, and I count four different versions of the attraction poster used to promote it. Just like the attraction it promotes, there have been sutler and no so subtle changes. The last one shows the original, with the ride's sponsor of Bank of America shown above the Fantasyland designation. The second, once the sponsorship ended, and the top the newest of all. The bottom one may be the "cleanest" copy of all.

I've saved Alice in Wonderland for last. In many ways, it is the most original of all the dark rides in the park. The combination of indoor and outdoor sections of track and its ride length made it a crowd pleaser. Plus it provided great views of Fantasyland and the right next door Matterhorn Bobsleds! The psychedelic theme and characters make for a delightful, magical trip.  I never could understand why this attraction was not duplicated elsewhere, but I am glad it remains a Disneyland exclusive. Certainly in the beautifully themed Alice section of Disneyland Paris I would have expected a dark ride for the namesake star, but it was not to be.

Whichever color scheme is the right one for the original attraction poster, I do not know. Either one captures the imagination, and the attraction itself is a much better experience than the movie from which it was taken! 

Like Fantasyland itself and Disneyland at large, Wonderland is the perfect ending to this segment of the Disneyland Attraction Poster Series.  The whimsical environment of Alice's story is much like the land in which it is contained: charming and constantly changing.  

Here's the land by land collection at your fingertips:

Main Street USA
Adventureland 
Frontierland 
New Orleans Square
Critter Country
Fantasyland
Tomorrowland

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Darkest of Disney Rides

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride this is not! It's even much more evil than Walt Disney World's infamous (and missed) Alien Encounter. You think you might know what it is. Not the Haunted Mansion or even the more sinister Phantom Manor. No, it's not even a very, very, dark proposed meet and greet with Chernabog from an unbuilt attraction based on Fantasia. It's even more sinister! (And thanks to Alain Littaye at Disney and More for first showing us the above piece of concept art. May you Rest In Peace, Alain.)

The crown, the title, the clear winner, for the most evil, more terrifying, most certain-to-have-parents-complaining-to-management dark ride goes to Disneyland's the unbuilt Black Cauldron attraction. Hands down. No question.

The unbuilt Black Cauldron boat ride

As you can see, this boat ride into the pits of Hell itself would be terrifying at best. It'd be a perfect attraction for times like these when it's every man for himself, rebellion and destruction abound, and when it's easy to fight, argue, and destroy than it is to peaceably work together, discuss, and even protest. Proverbs 17 tells us "An evil man seeks rebellion". (Hell, itself, is the ultimate destination for the real devil, his demons, and those who choose to reject God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was the payment for my sins and yours- and his resurrection from the dead proves he is who he says he is. God made man. You can read about the end of time and the judgment to come for yourself in chapter 20 of the Bible.) Anyway, I digress. The state of this world has me looking at what's to come, both good and bad, while I pray and ask God to show His mercy to us all.

Anyway... Parkeology has one of the best articles on the Tokyo Disneyland's now defunct Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour, the first ever attraction to feature the Horned King. Go here to read it. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

To Hell With Toad

Definitely a very odd choice for a Fantasyland favorite, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride sends its riders on a crash course to Hell. The attraction did go the way of Pooh at Walt Disney World, but the love for the ride remains- and it looks like there's no plans to remove it at Disneyland. Sure has made me think...

"You may ask how people wind up in hell if God is a loving God. People wind up in hell by trampling the love of God instead of treasuring it. They ignore it, spurn it, yawn over it, close their hearts to it, keep saying "someday, someday, someday."

The Bible says there will be a day of reckoning. To those who have spurned His love, God will say in effect, "I loved you every day of your life. I loved you with a perfect love. I extended Myself to you.  I made My wisdom available to you. I made My comfort and My strength and My Spirit available to you. I made My offer of salvation to you. But you trampled and spurned My love. You had it your way on earth, so now you can have it your way in eternity."

Are you facing that scenario? Will you continue to trample the love of God? That's the question of the ages, and it is one you yourself must answer."

Bill Hybels

Vintage Fantasyland from the Sky

Some days, you just have to take it all in. We Disney fans can get so focused on debating each other that we can forget how amazing Walt Disney's original Magic Kingdom was in its early years. Or maybe it's because we remember that we are so passionate about the place we love. Disneyland's Fantasyland shines in this vintage photograph. Was it taken from the Matterhorn Bobsleds? Seems to be. During an unexpected recent visit to Disneyland (report on Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge coming soon), I was talking to my son about the Skyway as we waited in line for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. It was quite a view but certainly worth seeing the buildings which dotted the land and temporarily ruined the fantasy. 

Before the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland...

Yes, the sparkling waters of the Fantasyland lagoon hosted the iconic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Right across from it was the beloved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Clearly, worlds apart, but still a draw. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World continues to change and grow, but what a wonder to explore upon opening! 

It wasn't until 1975 that I first got to see the place for myself, but I loved discovering all the changes that made Walt's second kingdom unique. Some, like the Crystal Palace and the Country Bear Jamboree, are still there today. Others, like the two rides mentioned above- along with If You Had Wings and The Mickey Mouse Musical Revue- have been long gone. Now only a memory in theme park history books and old photographs from long ago.

Much to the delight of many fans, the brand new Tron Light Cycles Power Run is coming from Shanghai Disneyland.  It will forever change the vista of Tomorrowland  as it's built next to Space Mountain. Smaller projects come and go. That land is slowly reverting to its 1971 look and leaving the 90's Sci-Fi future feel behind it. Stitch is thankfully disappearing and something new this ways comes. Glad to see it gone, but I do miss the creepy humor of the defunct Alien Encounter. I guess change is always a constant.

(Photograph found on Imagineer Tom Morris' twitter account.)

Tale of Three Mr. Toads

Do you recognize the painter's self-portrait? It's Mr. Toad himself in the style of Van Gogh! His legendary Wild Ride at Disneyland remains a fan favorite. So much so that it was one of the opening day attractions in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom as well.

Eventually, that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, with its two distinctively different but interconnected routes, was replaced by an adventure with Winnie the Pooh- but not before he was transplanted over to EuroDisney aka Disneyland Paris. Where is that ride, you say?

No. not a ride. Mr. Toad made the journey to Paris but instead of an attraction, Toad Hall is home to a pretty good fish and chips restaurant. Exploring each of the rooms, you can discover interesting tributes to the master of the house. Three portraits done in the style of Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and (in the middle of this post) Toad as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Clever, huh? 

Imagineer Tom Morris was the creative director for Fantasyland until the leadership of Tony Baxter, who oversaw the development of the parc. The whole place is full of eye candy, and it remains the ultimate version of the Magic Kingdom. 

These portraits are just one of many reasons you should see Disneyland Paris for yourself. But that's a whole different article for another day.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Retro Magic Kingdom- 20, 000 Leagues Under The Sea

A charming photograph for a lazy Sunday afternoon! On occasion we post photographs that show a retro or vintage Disneyland. These help preserve the past and remind us of all the changes the park has endured as well as its rich history. 

But as you can tell by looking at the photo above, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom offers retro photographs all its own. That park has changed as well! Here's a great skyway show showing Dumbo right next to 20000 Leagues Under the Sea Submarine Voyage. The bright red cabins contrast nicely to the blues of the sparkling lagoon where, just across the way, the two tracked Mr. Toad's Wild Ride made its home. 

(Photograph copyright FUNaticsTV!)

Looking at the Past and the Future of Disneyland's Fantasyland

The very heart of Disneyland rests right behind the castle at the endow Main Street U.S.A. One of the original areas at opening, Fantasyland draws in the young and young at heart since the beginning. Certainly, we think this area of the park is timeless. There's a warmth and charm that feels quaint, authentic, and there through the ages. That said, this section of the park has seen many changes. This 1957 park map shows what it looked like in its earliest incarnation. Definitely from another era, another budget, and another design process.

Peter Pan and his flight to Neverland was the instant breakout attraction in Fantasyland from the beginning. Snow White and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride were also enduring hits, but 60 years later, Pan continues to be the one must-see attraction in the castle courtyard.

When Imagineer Tony Baxter was given the green light to create the Fantasyland Walt Disney always wanted but couldn't afford, he and very talented team did an amazing job of redesigning the area to feel fresh but also timeless. The colorful tournament tent-like facades gave way to stylized versions of European villages. The Imagineers also debuted a new attraction for the California park, bringing a sparkling new Pinocchio dark ride to the line up of rides. 

Attractions were moved, enhanced, added or even deleted. The Fantasyland Theater was gone, the Mad Tea Party was moved to a much better location, and Skull Rock was gone forever- except at Disneyland Paris. The beautiful kid-friendly Storybookland Canal Boats survived the changes as did Casey Jr.'s Circus Train, but eventually the skyway was closed. 


So successful was the revitalization of the land under Baxter, that his Fantasyland became the model for those Magic Kingdom styled parks that followed. Florida's New Fantasyland may make the rethinking of the concept however, as the suits seem intent on cramming in Harry Potter styled lands into the parks, making Fantasyland a prime place to hold several different mini-lands vs. a mix of stories sitting side by side.

Changes are the way of the park. Prior to the transition of the 80's, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and It's a Small World earned their place on the list of beloved attractions. Coming soon in the next decade, a Frozen themed land and rumors (wishful thinking?) of something Beauty and the Beast related coming to a slice of Fantasyland and a bigger slice taken from Mickey's Toontown. 

Imagineers and suits come and go. Though I doubt we will ever see the free reign given to the creatives as was given to the first and second generation of Imagineers, there are signs the suits can give them room to stretch to stunning results. Time will tell.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Design Detail: Toad Hall

In some ways, Imagineer Tom Morris was in a bind. He was given the difficult task by Lead Imagineer Tony Baxter to design a brand new Fantasyland for EuroDisneyland aka Disneyland Paris. How should he go about it? Design a brand new area with a totally new look? Or should he rely on the past? How could he effectively share stories with guest who spoke multiple languages and came from several different countries? This was a much more challenging job than doing the cut and paste Fantasyland that initially opened at Tokyo Disneyland.

Bringing about a shimmering new area for a park built in a city already beautiful beyond belief was tough. Adding to the difficulty was tackling the most iconic of Disney lands. Presented with a challenge none would envy (but most armchair Imagineers would die for), I believe Tom succeeded quite well!

When it came to the adventures of Mr. Toad, Tom chose to turn this classic attraction into a charming restaurant. The exterior may mirror the building found in Anaheim, but the interior is a totally original creation. And the above piece of concept art is pretty nice, wouldn't you say? 

Sprinkled throughout the majestic dining hall are portraits of the owner himself in various sporting gear. This is in addition to one particular piece of art where J. Thaddeus Toad is captured by some very famous artists. (You've got to check out this link to see his amazing changing portrait.) It's quite the place to eat those fish and chips!

But it's more much than what I can show you. If you've ever had a desire to see one overseas Magic Kingdom, I'd bypass all the others and head over to Paris. After finally completing a few years of very extsensive refurbishment, the French park easily outshines those found in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and yes, Shanghai. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photo copyright Mark Taft.)

A Wild Ride With Mr. Toad

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. What a kick! I love this vintage photograph, showing Disneyland's Fantasyland in its early charm.  Even though its black and white here, we know the colorful buildings, banners, and pennants created a fun medieval environment to celebrate the joys of childhood. Really the simple joy of family and friends. The land itself has gone through so many changes and additions over time- most noticeably the entire revamp in 1983, but Fantasyland still remains the heart of the park. Just as Star Wars Land will soon represent its business mind.

The DaVinci Toad

Take one classic Disney dark ride, throw in an opportunity to cast a new light on it, and add a dash of Imagineering creativity. What do you get?  

Well, when it came time to build the brand new version of Fantasyland for the gorgeous Disneyland Paris, creative lead on the project Imagineer Tony Baxter pulled off an all star team. Tom Morris must have given quite  bit of thought in translating a Disneyland original into a restaurant, but Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was the absolute right vehicle to complete the transition.

Yes, that is the Pirates of the Caribbean fortress

 blended into the Fantasyland scenery. 

Toad Hall would itself remain, becoming a very welcoming pub type environment open for a course of British fish and chips and other delights. 

Inside the elegant doors, if guests waited long enough while exploring the place, they would find a painting of the master in three distinct styles: Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and finally, DaVinci- with the Toad man  transformed into Mona Lisa. All in one portrait that changes every few moments. It takes patience to see them all, but it's worth the wait. Like all of Disneyland Paris, the amount of details are worth looking for.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photo copyright Mark Taft.)

Top Ten Things I Miss From Disneyland

There's so much excitement about Shanghai Disneyland and all its stunning concept art! Deservedly so! It's been years since Disney suits have allowed it skilled Imagineers such free reign to design anything that incredible for Walt Disney World. And unfortunately, it's even true in regards for Walt's original park.

California Adventure's Cars Land is stunning, and the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland are certainly beautiful to look at. Cars Land delivers what it promises, but the recent Florida addition, is woefully lacking in the substance department. The Magic Kingdom parks have always been the focal point of each resort. Each park holds its charms. Absolutely none compare, however, when it comes to the devotion of fans, care by employees, and attention to detail by Imagineering that's lavished on the grandaddy of them all- Disneyland.

Thinking about Disneyland, especially in its 60th year when I cannot visit, I have been thinking about what I miss and what makes it so special. So, in contemporary manner, as I did with Disneyland Paris a few years ago, here are the Top Ten Things I Miss From Disneyland. I'll start with Number Ten and work my way to Number One.

Number Ten- A real live working submarine attraction. No, it's not the defunct 20k Leagues Under the Sea with its beautiful crafts and emerald lagoon, but the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage does provide a stunning backdrop against the Matterhorn Bobsleds as well as being the only submarine ride in any Disney park that actually goes under water.

Number Nine-  Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. A clear "C Ticket", not a blockbuster must see, but one of the minor attractions that give Fantasyland a unique flavor and tons of charm. Toad Hall is built with care reserved for attractions with much more clout. Only proving that sometimes great things come in smaller packages. Ex-Imagineer Tony Baxter was one of few contemporary artists for the company that really understood this. So sad that he's gone.

Number Eight-  The warmth and tiny size of Main Street U.S.A. Honestly, there's something so heartwarming about a walk down this street. It's something I've done so many times and with so many different people through the years, it's become a tradition that means the day ahead is going to be full of memories. Be it the clip-clop of the Horse-drawn trolleys or the toot-toot of the Omnibus horns, there's a special sense of coming home as you travel down the boulevard past the Emporium and the Main Street Cinema- which still shows films, by the way.

I love Big Thunder, but I miss Nature's Wonderland too!

Number Seven- A Frontierland that still evokes an authenticity to representing the Old West. The land is much smaller and less fleshed out than the perfect execution found in Paris, and there are not as many incredible attractions as when it first opened. The stagecoach is gone, the pack mules have been sent packing, and Nature's Wonderland is now but a memory. In deference to  Americans now too jaded against our own history to really appreciate what the men and women of the century did at the time, the land continues to shrink. But it's still there and still waiting to be expanded one day. Yes, even after Star Wars Land is built, there's still much that can be done to bring the Old West back to life.

Charming!

Number Six- That mini- Alice in Wonderland area comprised of the ride through attraction, the Mad Tea Party and the Mad Hatter Shop. There are certainly more beautiful Fantasylands, but probably none of them have this much charm (and beautiful mature vegetation) packed into such a small area. This is something Walt's original park does so well: cramming different elements together in perfect harmony in such a clever way that the guest is awash with intriguing photo worthy opportunities wherever they look.

Number Five- The Jungle Cruise. It's so retro. It's so campy. It's so quintessentially Disneyland. No need to say more.

Number Four- Walking onto the castle drawbridge late at night from the courtyard of Fantasyland. What is it about "When You Wish Upon a Star" that seems to be the perfect song for just the perfect Disney park moment? Particularly as its close to the end of the park's operating hours, and you feel like you are almost left to yourself. The sentimental value of this is powerful in its innocence and simplicity.

45 Years of the Haunted Mansion.

Number Three-  Cruising The Disney Gallery. I know other parks have something similar, but here, there's something real honest about the intent and purpose. The Gallery celebrates the richness of the park and doesn't just exploit it for financial gain. I don't feel that sense of honest integrity in other locations which sell merchandise connected to the parks.

Number Two-  Mint Juleps in New Orleans Square. Sitting in a sidewalk cafe, listening to jazz and drinking a green tinted gem, soaking it all in. The Mark Twain Steamboat glistening as it rounds the bend, all the while knowing Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion are right there waiting to be explored. What more could a theme park fan ever want?

Imagine having Walt as your granddad!

Number One-  The very fact that Walt Disney walked this park. Granting its place in history for theme park enthusiasts. His hand in design and his personal care in giving guests more for their money can be found all over the place. Nothing was too good for his Disneyland- and Walt made sure that remained true during his lifetime. There's more to a visit to Disneyland than rushing from attraction to attraction. There's a sense of history to be found, an inspiring elegance and rhythm to the park unmatched by others that came after it. If visitors look for it, they will find Walt's touch everywhere. That single fact gives the Anaheim park an appealing aspect that none other will ever have. 

(Most Photos copyright Mark Taft.)

Magic Kingdom Opening Day Map

Disney park maps, especially "Castle Park" maps, have always been a favorite souvenir item. There have been many, many great and detailed maps for Disneyland but not really too many for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Here's the opening day souvenir map.

How different the park was then compared to now. Long gone are opening day attractions such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White's Adventures and the Mickey Mouse Revue. 

It's also hard to believe what wasn't there on opening day. Not a single mountain existed: no Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, or Splash Mountain. The legendary Pirates of the Caribbean was not even built. Nor was it on the drawing boards because the Imagineering legend Marc Davis was busy cooking up a Cowboy and Indian musical journey in the grand Pirates tradition: the unbuilt Western River Expedition. 

Regardless of the smaller number of attractions compared to Disneyland in California, guests couldn't wait to experience Walt Disney's Florida Kingdom. It was then and remains now, the heart of Walt Disney World.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland Attraction Posters: The Fantasyland Collection

You might wonder why I have chosen to begin this continuation of my Disneyland Attraction Posters series with a newer specimen versus one of the original classics like the poster for Peter Pan Flight. Well, it seems the eternal Mr. Toad and his Wild Ride may once again be making an appearance in a new Disney movie. My decision also goes to underscore the evolution of the concept and execution of Fantasyland, most recently at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom but also at Shanghai Disneyland. And what a story it is.

Click on all these posters to get the largest size.

To make a very long story much shorter and stick to the point of the Attraction Posters series, Walt Disney and his Imagineers ran out of the cash needed to build Fantasyland in the way Walt first envisioned it. In place of the elaborate European village Walt desired, one that eventually came to fruition under Tony Baxter's leadership in 1983, a smaller tournament tent setting was created. Using colorful banners covering flat sided buildings, Fantasyland was still something park guests could not find elsewhere in 1955.

One of the original Fantasyland dark rides, Snow White's Adventures was probably the scariest of the bunch, (although Mr. Toad's Wild Ride through Hell probably gave it a run for its money for the ending alone). As far as I can tell, the original attraction never had a poster of its own. There one above is just a new poster circa 1983, when the attraction name now included the word "Scary" to give parents and small children reason to think twice before boarding. 

The 60th Anniversary King Arthur Carousel poster.

Peter Pan's Flight. Just the name conjures up magical journeys over Neverland- and an extremely long wait for any guest who chooses to queue half an hour after the park opens. The poster below effectively captures the viewer, driving attendance to the ride, and making it one of the most sought after experiences to be found bar none. The simple tournament tent facade didn't do much to set the flavor for the delights inside, but no matter. The poster stands as one of the best pieces of art to be found in this genre. (If you want to read a bit more on the history and creation of this particular attraction, my "Disney Dark Ride Series" begins with Peter Pan's Flight and can be found here.)  Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom fans up in arms about the closure of Snow White's Scary Adventures or Mr. Toad's Wild Ride would have a heyday should Pan ever close, and the media attention would be enormous. It's as much as classic as Pirates of the Caribbean, 20K Leagues Under the Sea, or Journey into Imagination.

We'll come back to a few other dark ride posters, but now it's time for a promotional poster for the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

Where is this attraction located? At different times throughout the history of Disneyland, it was conceptually moved back and forth between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. No matter. Racing down the icy slopes of the peak is as much a Disneyland tradition as any other. This alpine inspired poster captures all the thrills, providing everything but snowflakes and chills for the full effect. I love this poster! Everytime I look at it, I am tempted to jump aboard the fastest plane to Anaheim or put on my CD collection celebrating 50 Years of the park (A Musical History of Disneyland) just to hear the yodelers . In fact, this poster is one of the few that I own. (The other is Adventure Isle from Disneyland Paris.)

A charming little spinner with the kid-friendliest face long before Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo Flying Elephants continues to be a source of frustration for parents as the queue remains as intense as those for a flight with Peter Pan. Who can resist this rite of passage for their pre-school children? We couldn't. In fact, my last trip on the little elephant was probably 25 years ago. Yet, what a delightful piece of eye candy in the old school Disney vein. I'd hate to see the attraction go. And I'm glad to see Florida is getting its double spinner to move the crowds to the farthest corner of the Magic Kingdom. 

"Canal Boast of the World", yes, when the park first opened, that was the name of the now beloved Fantasyland classic, Storybookland Canal Boats. Thankfully, Disney designers waited until the new name arrived (and the foliage grew in!), before creating a poster for the attraction. But where is an attraction poster for the equally terrific Casey Jr. Circus Train? Maybe it will come in another decade as more changes sweep through the land. As I said at the beginning, Fantasyland is the land with more evolution in execution than any other one in the park. You'd think that award would go to the once futuristic Tomorrowland, but Disney has clearly given up on the concept...for now.

Auction houses often provide great scans of attraction posters!

Ever wonder why there's no poster for Disneyland's iconic castle? So did I. Seems there actually was one. First found in 1966, this little gem was sold at Disneyland's Emporium on Main Street U.S.A. for exactly one summer before it disappeared forever. I love how the creviced hillside was to be seen here- decades before it would appear in person at Disneyland Paris. And look at the colors!

The candy colors of these old attraction posters were quite in vogue back when they were first designed, in direct contrast to the newer "Old Europe" look of the dark ride poster for Snow White that debuted with the construction of the new Fantasyland. I much prefer the old styling. The simple graphics and colors create a mood of escapism that doesn't seem to exist in the newer more in-your-face sensibilities. The Mr. Toad's Wild Ride poster being the prime example of a design mismatch for a classic dark ride.

And speaking again of dark rides, with the debut of the new Fantasyland in 1983 came a new dark ride- Pinocchio's Daring Journey. Although it had its debut in Tokyo, this new dark ride brought some interesting changes to the land of fantasy. Gone was the Welch's Grape Juice Bar and the wonderfully empty and cool respite in the summer, the Fantasyland Theater. (I know I have a poster for the theater attraction somewhere.) Also gone was Skull Rock and its nearby Chicken of the Sea pirate ship restaurant. Effectively, these changes updated the land and set its course for the future. The crowd flow was easier due to a move of all the spinner attractions, but it was the end of the Walt Disney era in a way that almost felt physical when you walked into the castle courtyard.  Fair trade off, I'd say, for the beautifully rich environment and magical far away feel of the place.

"The Happiest Cruise that ever Sailed 'Round the World" needs no introduction. It is probably the most beloved, tolerated, or ridiculed attraction in Disney park history. Love it or hate it, It's a Small World was an instant classic, and I count four different versions of the attraction poster used to promote it. Just like the attraction it promotes, there have been sutler and no so subtle changes. The last one shows the original, with the ride's sponsor of Bank of America shown above the Fantasyland designation. The second, once the sponsorship ended, and the top the newest of all. The bottom one may be the "cleanest" copy of all.

I've saved Alice in Wonderland for last. In many ways, it is the most original of all the dark rides in the park. The combination of indoor and outdoor sections of track and its ride length made it a crowd pleaser. Plus it provided great views of Fantasyland and the right next door Matterhorn Bobsleds! The psychedelic theme and characters make for a delightful, magical trip.  I never could understand why this attraction was not duplicated elsewhere, but I am glad it remains a Disneyland exclusive. Certainly in the beautifully themed Alice section of Disneyland Paris I would have expected a dark ride for the namesake star, but it was not to be.

Whichever color scheme is the right one for the original attraction poster, I do not know. Either one captures the imagination, and the attraction itself is a much better experience than the movie from which it was taken! 

Like Fantasyland itself and Disneyland at large, Wonderland is the perfect ending to this segment of the Disneyland Attraction Poster Series.  The whimsical environment of Alice's story is much like the land in which it is contained: charming and constantly changing. I am positive there will be additional attraction posters designed as new rides are built. Walt Disney World's New Fantasyland Forest and Shanghai Disneyland's entirely new concept for the area will provide inspiration for new designs and styles of these posters. But that is an article for another time.

I guess that leaves the posters of Tomorrowland for the conclusion of the Disneyland poster series. Keep an eye out for it!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)