It's the Little Things One Park to the Next

Thinking about the little things that make Disneyland so special. It's not just all those truly magnificent "E Ticket" attractions we know and love. For me, it's also those little things, the personal touches found all over the park, the one's that feel like Walt Disney himself put them there just waiting to be discovered. Those quiet nooks that bring in no revenue. Those charming items like the Petrified Tree or the Court of Angels in New Orleans Square or the Snow White Grotto and Wishing Well. These smaller items make the park a treat for explorers young and old.  May they continue on to be an Imagineering tradition from each kingdom to the next.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Design Detail: Snow White's Scary Adventures

Walt Disney had to make concessions to get Disneyland opened on time and within budget. Tomorrowland took a hit and was covered with banners and flags. Frontierland and Adventureland were relatively complete as was Main Street U.S.A.  

Adults and kids alike loved Fantasyland, but little did park guests know Walt really wanted a different style for the area. Instead of a medieval looking castle courtyard, his heart was really set on taking visitors into the European villages that inspired so many of his animated films. This area would find new additions, but the overall look would stay the same for over 25 years.

When Disneyland's lovely New Fantasyland eventually made its debut in 1983, everything seemed to be totally redone, It's a Small World aside. Putting the great Imagineer Tony Baxter in charge of a remodel this large was not quite a risk. I mean, the guy had totally just nailed it with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. His star was on the rise.

The re-Imagineering of Fantasyland meant the exterior buildings took on a new charm as Walt's original vision was realized. The interiors of the dark rides were changed as well. As a special incentive to visit, a new dark ride Pinocchio's Daring Adventures opened as well.

It had long been an issue for Disney and the little kids that Snow White's Adventures was scarier than what guests would grasp while waiting in line. The new exterior took care of that! With the change, the "scary" part was added to the title but the building itself communicated this attraction wasn't focused on the cute Seven Dwarfs.

Entering the queue, guests notice the evil Queen peering out through the curtains of the turret window above. The pathways takes guests deeper and deeper into the darkness until its time to board the ride vehicle. Then the real scary fun begins.

That Disney Imagineers would place this much detail into the exterior of a smaller scale attraction tells us much about the show standards of the past and what differentiated Disney from its competitors- a place that kept them the leader in themed entertainment until Harry Potter arrived at Universal that is.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Sexy Snow White

Here's a little bit of Disney sex news for you. According to this article in the U.K.'s daily Mirror, this version of Snow White was deemed too hot for general audiences by none other than Walt Disney.  Of course, the other version of her debuted with the 1937 opening of the film that made her even more famous. If you want the cel, it is up for auction.

Never heard of this one before. But as for that old rumor that Tinkerbell was based on Marilyn Monroe... I get that. Wanna be songstresses and actresses have been copying her look for decades.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Snow Job

A fairly empty Fantasyland is a great way to start a visit to Disneyland! Here, the building for Snow White's Scary Adventures creates a stunning centerpiece once guests pass into the courtyard. Visitors new to California who are used to the medieval atmosphere of Florida's Magic Kingdom, must react with glee as they're charmed by what they see in Anaheim. But, turnabout is fair play! Now, Walt Disney World's beautiful New Fantasyland sets the standard going forward- once you leave the castle courtyard, that is! 

(Photograph by Mark Taft.) 

Disney Dark Ride Series Starts Tomorrow

Do you love those smaller "C" Ticket Disney dark rides? I do! Starting tomorrow, I'll take a look at these Fantasyland mainstays. Taking them one by one- I'll begin with the undisputed favorite, Peter Pan's Flight. See you then!

Comfort Food for the Entertainment Soul

Vintage is on a comeback at the Walt Disney Company these days. It is most seen at the theme parks as classic Disney characters from the early days of the studios invade California Adventure as well as attraction posters that remind us of the old days at the oldest Disney park. Goofy and Snow White make a major appearance at Florida's new Fantasyland at the Walt Disney World complex. There's a return to classic Winnie the Pooh coming the theaters, remakes of old animated films are de rigour, and retro designed souvenirs with EPCOT Center are front and center in that Florida park.

What's it all about? My hunch is it reminds those with the most income and those longing for simpler days that Disney, not Universal or any other group, is part of our American history and our quickly lost way of life. It's comfort food for the entertainment soul. Whenever times are hard, and they are Stateside, we long for what used to be. For an entertainment company, it is not a bad strategy for the short term, but the Mouse House had better have some great new fresh and creative ideas up their sleeves soon. Nostalgia only goes so far, and then there is nothing new to be considered old and valued again.

The Fairest of Them All

Just uncovered another wonderful piece of Disneyland concept art. Here is Snow White's Scary Adventures for the Fantasyland remodel of the 1980s. As good as the artist's interpretation is, the reality is just as stunning. The Imagineers constant attention to detail and commitment to immersive atmosphere is what sets Disneyland's and Disneyland Paris' Fantasyland high above the others. When given an inspiring idea and the budget to pull it off, no one does it as well as the Walt Disney Company.
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)