DISNEYLAND Week: Tomorrowland Under Construction

The final land that began to take shape was Tomorrowland. Walt Disney was having a hard time trying to decide what Tomorrowland should look like and considered opening the park without it. At practically the last minute, he chose to go forward with a Tomorrowland that would evoke Buck Rogers and visits to the moon.

The interesting thing was, while it was difficult to find sponsors for other attractions and areas around the park (the big corporations had trouble grasping what DISNEYLAND would look like) they lined up to sponsor Tomorrowland. Bell Systems, Monsanto, TWA and others saw Tomorrowland as being similar to a World's Fair. And they fully understood what that would be like.

With sponsor cash and a compressed schedule, Tomorrowland quickly took shape. At a pace not often seen, a futuristic world sprang up on the east side of the park.

The future would be ready. Everything would be ready by opening day- July 17, 1955.

DISNEYLAND Week: Fantasyland Under Construction

The heart of DISNEYLAND has truly always been Fantasyland. When Walt Disney began planning out this part of the park, he knew he had to make some budgetary decisions. Scaling down the park's centerpiece- Sleeping Beauty Castle- was NOT an option. The castle had to be the building of Walt's dreams- so rather than build a substandard castle, Mr. Disney chose to leave the inside unfinished. The European influenced village behind the castle would have to wait; instead, the Fantasyland village itself would look like a medieval circus.

The buildings began taking shape behind the castle. While the exteriors were getting framed and built, the magical interiors were taking shape in Burbank, being personally supervised by Walt Disney. Imagineers knew they'd pleased him when he jumped off the test attractions with a childlike giggle.

While the carousel horses that would take their places on King Arthur's Carousel were vintage carvings, the carousel itself would be an entirely new construction, a beautiful, dazzling creation.

As the castle began taking shape, it was obvious that this magical place would be something special. A labor of love that would put smiles on the faces of millions.

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #3: 1990

In 1990, DISNEYLAND decided to go all out for its 35th year. The streets of the park became Party Gras time at the Magic Kingdom, featuring massive balloons that towered over guests.

A gift giving machine handed out prizes such as ice cream, tickets, collectibles and cars to randomly chosen guests. Strangely enough, a large number of cars went to very lucky children. (Or, most likely, their parents.)

Just like Mr. Disney had wished, the park had grown and become more beautiful and exciting. It was exactly what he had dreamed about when he opened the gates 35 years before.

DISNEYLAND Week: Adventureland & Frontierland Under Construction

Since both Adventureland and Frontierland were supposed to represent the untamed jungle and the Wild West, one might have thought they'd be the easiest lands to build. Due to the sandy soil and a color blind bulldozer operator, however, both lands proved to be a challenge. When contractors began filling both the jungle river and the Rivers of America, the water seeped into the sandy soil. A clay lining had to be laid down in both river beds. The color blind bulldozer operator couldn't tell the difference between trees marked for removal and trees marked to stay, which led to the park having to "reforest" its jungle and frontier woods.

The animatronic creatures that populated the jungles of the Magic Kingdom often proved to be persnickety, missing their marks once they entered their Anaheim home.

Mr. Disney eventually had to settle for partially operable animals, though the very nature of DISNEYLAND's operations allowed him to keep working on the animals to get them working as planned.

Frontierland was to be a home for the biggest star at Disney Studios- Davy Crockett. Mr. Disney personally oversaw construction over Frontierland, taking architectural plans home to pore over them and make his own changes.

Wooden stockades and riverboats hadn't been built in years, so age-old artisanry had to be revived to complete Frontierland.

As opening day drew near and the riverside took shape, this former orange grove really was beginning to look like the old west.

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #4: 1980

As DISNEYLAND entered the 1980's, it was ready to celebrate its 25th Anniversary in high gear. The Space Mountain of Walt Disney's dreams was still packing in crowds as one of the park's newest adventures and DISNEYLAND was beginning a project to remodel Fantasyland to match Mr. Disney's original plans from 1953.

The park celebrated in traditional form by mounting a lavish parade and a year long party that attracted some of DISNEYLAND's famous friends.

Even Michael Jackson joined the party, performing in the park's television special.

Its founder may have passed away 14 years earlier, but the park was as vibrant as ever, living up to Walt Disney's dreams and expectations. 25 years after its opening, Mr. Disney's dream was alive and well.

DISNEYLAND Week: Main Street Under Construction

60 years ago this week, the finishing touches were being placed on Walt Disney's greatest dream. In just a few days, the world was finally going to see the amazing place that Mr. Disney had built.

Construction was still going at a feverish pace. While construction was slow going at first, it had been going at an efficient clip and was nearing the end.

As one of the easier projects to undertake, Main Street USA was one of the first themed areas to take shape. Train tracks were laid on Main Street to guide the horsedrawn street trolley. The tracks would be mostly covered up by the asphalt that would be poured.

One of the first buildings constructed on Main Street was the Main Street Opera House. At this time, the Opera House was just a facade; the building covered the park's wood shop, which had to be built first to accommodate construction. The wood shop would eventually be replaced by a real opera house, which now hosts Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

Main Street U.S.A's construction was completed first. As the opening scene to Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom, it is only proper that it would be finished first.

With Main Street's construction well in hand, there were four other magical realms to complete before this amazing dream would be ready for the world.

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #5: 1965

DISNEYLAND's Tencennial Celebration in 1965 was not just the first major anniversary celebrated at the theme park, it was also the only one Walt Disney would personally oversee.

Mr. Disney had not only seen his greatest dream come true, he had also defied the skeptics proving that the world would come to his Magic Kingdom. The message below, which was included on many items given away at the park, is from Walt Disney himself and illustrates his hopes and dreams for his Magic Kingdom; a Magic Kingdom that has lived on another fifty years.

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #6: A Magical Magazine

Vacationland Magazine was a familiar sight in Anaheim motels and hotels throughout the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. Produced by DISNEYLAND Park, the magazine gave guests a preview of the wonders to be found inside the Magic Kingdom.

For the full story, click here:

http://www.retlawyensid.com/2015/04/disneyland-vacationland-magazine.html

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #7: A Digital Kingdom

The success of DISNEYLAND led to much ancillary merchandise, including video games! One such item was Matterhorn Screamer, a successful computer game produced for early Apple computer systems. Visitors to Tomorrowland could test out these futuristic games by stopping by the Premiere Shop, where guests could try and buy the games.

For the full story, click here:

http://www.retlawyensid.com/2015/03/matterhorn-screamer.html

60 Days of DISNEYLAND #8: Jack Wrather's Little Hotel

Jack Wrather was the only friend of Walt Disney's who would invest in his dream of DISNEYLAND by building out the DISNEYLAND Hotel. As DISNEYLAND became a huge success, Mr. Disney's other friends could only look on with envy as Jack Wrather's investment in DISNEYLAND made him extremely wealthy.

For the full story, click here:

http://www.retlawyensid.com/2015/03/a-friend-of-disneyland-jack-wrather.html