Today marks the last entry into this series featuring black and white images from when Disneyland was only a few months old.
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: back when Fantasyland dark rides featured Medieval Fair exteriors that were necessitated by time...and most importantly money.
Mr. Toad now resides in a more appropriate Tudor-style structure.
Peter Pan in September 1955:
and flashing forward to May 2011:
A wacky-over/double exposed shot of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship:
...and what it was replaced with:
Don't ask Dumbo for a Tuna Boat!
See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Fantasyland photos at my main website.
While there is a simplistic beauty to the 1955 version of Fantasyland's facade; I will admit that money has been well spent in 'plus-ing' this part of the park. I THINK, (IMHO) that Walt would be happy with how it has turned out so far.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Thufer! It was fun pulling out the magnifying glass to look at the people in the background...looking for my folks!
ReplyDeleteI agree. The new facades are much better and more appropriate to the "look", but the COS Pirate ship and the little grotto behind were such masterpieces, it's a shame to lose them just for Dumbo.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to compare plan views to see what actually moved around to push Dumbo so far north that the ship had to move.
Didn't Alice expand and Mr. Toad push northeast? Village Haus was added then too, the twin "pavilion" hot dog stands were much smaller...
JG
Whats funny is that Small World and Pan over here at Walt Disney World still look the 1955 version of Fantasyland lol.
ReplyDeleteI agree with JG when he refers to the COS Pirate Ship and Skull Rock area as masterpieces.....good word for them both!
ReplyDeleteTokyo Disneyland's Fantasyland still has the "tournament tent" look for their dark rides too (with the exception of Pinocchio for some reason.)