One of Walt Disney's favorite cities to visit was New Orleans. Whenever he was in the area, he made sure to stop by. He would enjoy the sights, sounds and food of this very special place.
When DISNEYLAND first opened, Frontierland had a tiny New Orleans district as part of the main area. On subsequent trips to the real New Orleans, Mr. Disney would collect new antiques and assorted treasures for inclusion in this area. When it came time to expand the park in this area, it was a no brainer to create a new land that would reflect Walt's love of the French Quarter- New Orleans Square.
Walt was able to bring a slice of his favorite city to his guests in his most favorite place in the world. It's one of the reasons why DISNEYLAND remains such a special place; it truly reflects the spirit and passion of its founder.