What? Liberty Square's Skyway Station?

You might think this is some kind of April Fool's joke or a Halloween prank, but I can assure you it is not. Once on the drawing boards at Imagineering, there was a plan to place the Magic Kingdom's skyway station in Liberty Square and not in Fantasyland. Here's the proof: a piece if concept art from 1967 done by Imagineer Ted Rich. Of course, as we know, this windmill inspired version never materialized next to the Haunted Mansion. Instead, wiser heads prevailed. Proving once again that any idea can and should be considered, the original Walt Disney World skyliner almost ended up in another themed land.    

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

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.)

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.)

High in the Sky Over Disneyland

Imagineer Herb Ryman remains one of the favorite Disney artists, and this piece of concept art for Disneyland's long gone Skyway shows off his brilliance. While the landscape first looks serene, there's actually much movement to be found: the slight tilt of the bucket and the discreetly placed Casey Jr. Circus Train coming through the tunnel of the Storybookland Canal Boats. Riders got to see all this and a trip through the Matterhorn as well! 

The attraction poster for the Skyway in Tomorrowland captures this same freedom of movement. The limited color palette plays up the sense of adventure. (Do you love Disney attraction posters? My whole collection- the largest on the web- can be found here.)

Once the Skyway was removed- and what a big mistake that was!- Fantasyland didn't have quite as much energy as before. But that's nothing compared to how poor Tomorrowland fared. With the Peoplemover gone and the Rocket Jets moved to the front, the entire feel of the world of the future was much less inviting. It's a shame really. What once was one of the most interesting places in the park is now my least visited. One ride on Space Mountain and maybe a trip to Endor, and I'm done. Well, there's always Florida I guess!

(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.)

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. 

Walt Rides the Skyway

A great old photo here! Walt Disney takes a ride on the Skyway- the first rider on a brand new Disneyland transportation system. These multi-colored cars traveled between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland for almost four decades, providing guests with a birds eye view of the park.

Could you see rooftops and backstage areas? Yes. Did it ruin the experience? No way! There was a type of magic seeing it all from above, and as for me, it was an attraction I loved, much like the Railroad and the Peoplemover. Plus, how could you not love going into the Matterhorn and seeing riders on the Bobsled run? 

Each Magic Kingdom that had a skyway has since removed it. (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland). However, next year's grand opening of Walt Disney World's new Skyliner begins a new era. This alternative transportation system will help alleviate the crowded bus system and perhaps even offer a more enticing reason to stay at a connected on property resort than those on the monorail circuit. (Trust me, after seeing the horribly long lines to board the monorail at the iconic Contemporary Resort, we will never stay there. Disgraceful for a deluxe property!)

Looking Back at a New Tomorrowland

If you nose around the internet a bit, it seems that Walt Disney World's fairly refreshed Tomorrowland may be in for a bit of an Imagineering remake. New shades of paint are appearing just about everywhere, from the space styled rocks at the entrance to the Carousel of Progress building an it's striking new sign.

The great folks at WDWMagic share in some speculation that so much of the land is due to change, but Space Mountain won't be touched. (You'll have to go there yourself to pick up on the rumors gaining steam.) It may get a new neighbor, but the iconic building will remain. It's a good thing, too! Not only is it one of my favorite attractions in the World, it's one kids of all ages look forward to conquering! I've got tons of Imagineering concept art on it (and a piece on Space Mountains all over the world that may need some updates). Now for some art.

Disney Imagineer Clem Hall was the man responsible for some of the earliest concept paintings of Space Mountain. There's not much known about he guy, but you can see he was a forward thinker and some of his concepts had a profound affect on the design of Florida's Tomorrowland. On the piece above and below, you can see the Grand Prix Raceway to the left, and the Skyway building to the right.

This nighttime look at Space Mountain intrigues me even more- as most dark skied bright light pieces do. In fact, so does nighttime at any Disney park. The lighting designers are incredibly talented, making even the most mundane lands feel special.

Here's one last piece for this post. By an (unknown to me) Imagineer, showing yet another different potential design for the world's first coaster in the dark. I'm partial to the final result however- and I bet many others share that opinion. Hopefully the changes to come honor the genius of the past artists.

(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.)

More Rare Space Mountain Art

Another look at rare Space Mountain art by Imagineer Clem Hall. This time a nighttime view. A much more streamlined approach versus John Hench's iconic one. Nonetheless, with the Skyway behind it and the Grand Prix Raceway next door, any version of the park's premier thrill attraction is a great thing. Too bad Shanghai Disneyland's Tron Lightcycles isn't nearby as well.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Rare Space Mountain Art- Another Look

Not much is known about Disney Imagineer Clem Hall, but he was responsible for one of the earliest concept paintings of Space Mountain for Walt Disney World.  With the Grand Prix Raceway to the left, and the Skyway building to the right, Tomorrowland was planned to hold many exciting attractions above ground, on it, and in outer space! As you can tell, the completed version of the Magic Kingdom's first roller coaster attraction shares only a bit of the look shown above. I've got a few more of these around...somewhere.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Where Florida's Magic Kingdom Surpasses California's Disneyland

Florida's Magic Kingdom does beat California's Disneyland in three  specific attractions- all found in Tomorrowland and depicted in this piece of Imagineering concept art. 

1- The originally named WEDway Peoplemover leads the way in differentiating itself from all other Lands of the Future. At Walt Disney World, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority is one of my must-do attractions. An all time favorite, the breezy ride around the land provides a great view and a chance to relax as it dashes inside popular destinations. Riding silently along was always a great way to people watch. Unfortunately, the attraction is now just an abandoned, empty track in Anaheim. The gap it leaves means Tomorrowland is no longer a "World on the Move", instead a hodge podge mess of attractions without a unifying element. Further, no other versions exist in any Disney castle park anywhere.

2- Space Mountain is one huge building and wisely placed beyond the railroad that circles the Magic Kingdom. The dual tracks inside are only part of the appeal: It is also one of the many pieces of eye candy seen as you approach the park from the Seven Seas Lagoon or while riding the Monorail. Extra bonus- it looks phenomenal at night when viewed from the terrace of the California Grill over at the Contemporary Resort. The "blessing of size" plays to its strengths in this case.

3- The ability to actually race against other drivers on the Grand Prix Raceway puts Florida ahead of California. Isn't that part of the fun of being in a race car? Besides, driving the California Freeways is no longer something anyone in the state seems to enjoy. 

One extra:

4- The long gone Skyway. Man, I miss this attraction. I absolutely loved gliding over the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea lagoon when in Florida, and through the Matterhorn when in Walt's original kingdom. Whether it was Disney's legal eagles or the budgeteers that succeeded in getting these closed down, either way, it was a clear mistake.  

Even though Florida now contains a few toon attractions in their Tomorrowland, I find it a much more compelling and enjoyable part of the park than what can be found out West. Score one for the younger sibling.

Could there be more areas Florida's park is superior? Stay tuned...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Shag-a-delic Fantasyland

It's so terrific! That's my first response to this new piece by artist  Josh Agle aka Shag. His Haunted Mansion and Tiki Room pieces are terrific, and there's something just as charming about this Fantasyland piece. Love the inclusion of the Skyway and the Chicken of the Sea Pirates Ship! Retro Disneyland was so cool!

(Art copyright Josh Agle.)