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.)

More of Tomorrowland's Past

Continuing this year's seeming emphasis on the future... Imagineer Herb Ryman's work on Walt Disney's projects continues to be among my favorite pieces of concept art. From Disneyland to EPCOT Center, there's an elegance that is distinctively his. Even so, this piece for the Carousel of Progress  / Progressland at Disneyland is pretty impressive. 

Look closer and you'll see an extended queue into Tomorrowland next to the greenery on the lower levels. Due to crowd flow and minimal space, I'd guess this was removed in the final version. Will the building survive the next incarnation of the land? Who knows? I can't imagine that Disney themselves has even settled on what it all looks like.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The 1960's: The True Disney Decade at Disneyland

Disneyland's Tomorrowland 1967 was a world on the move, and this very rare and stunning piece of concept art for the Peoplemover shows exactly what the Imagineers planned. Noticeably missing is the Rocket Jets, but the rendering was meant to highlight the new mode of transportation. Even if the Peoplemover train was once only two cars long.

It's difficult to admit as a Disney theme park fan, but the 1960's were the ultimate peak decade for Walt Disney's original Magic Kingdom. That's 50 plus years ago! There were projects both small such as adding Snow White's grotto to those groundbreaking new technologies such as Audio-Animatronics first debuting in Adventureland's The Enchanted Tiki Room. This was only the beginning of a wonderfully fruitful and innovative season!

Then toss in It's a Small World into Fantasyland straight from the 1964 World's Fair, a fan favorite that's still delighting kids of all ages. Next up was New Orleans Square, quickly followed by what park fans still refer to as the best example of Disney Imagineering: Pirates of the Caribbean. 

A brand new Tomorrowland followed, updating the land and bringing it into the future: Adventure Thru Inner Space took us into the atom while the legendary Carousel of Progress gave us a humorous look backward and forward. The Monorail and Skyway had new competition with the super popular Wedway Peoplemover providing yet another way for guests to get an overview of the land and its attractions.

The Real Disney Decade ended in 1969 with the long awaited Haunted Mansion on the banks of the Rivers of America. So many iconic attractions first came into being during the real Disney Decade. All under Walt's direction and leadership- when giving guests more than they expected was the mantra. 

Never again would Disney leadership give guests such an amazing decade for Disneyland Park. As good as it will be, I sincerely doubt the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is the beginning of another amazing decade, even 50 years later.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)