Train and Small World, November 1972
I am still waiting for somebody to create an immersive 3D virtual train ride aboard the Disneyland Railroad. In fact, I want that more than I want a flying car. Meanwhile, I will have to be content with this photo, taken as the train had departed the station at New Orleans Square and was heading toward It's a Small World. You can just see past the tender and into the cab of the locomotive. Don't you wish you were there?
And speaking of It's a Small World, I may as well post this un-lovely picture of the façade. Everything looks so weirdly gray and oogie. But once you are inside, you will be surrounded by a rainbow of colors, and that song that I enjoy (and others seem to truly dislike)!
13 comments:
I love that first pic. I believe the area to the right was unofficially (or maybe officially) referred to as the Small World Meadow.
This was my second-favorite stretch of track as a kid (after the Grand Canyon/Primeval World section of awesomeness). You went past the Living Desert, the meadow, through the iasw facade (and if you were lucky, saw the clock chiming), and past the Disneyland Naval Base.
Love seeing iasw this way. Yes, there's a giant, blue Bank of America ad obscuring our view of the facade, but at least we don't have to navigate our way through a crowded toy store at the exit.
TokyoMagic!, is the Small World Meadow long-gone? Has it become part of the Autopia or something?
Chuck, I never mind seeing the B of A sign because it brings back memories from my childhood, but I guess it IS pretty hard to ignore. I do hate that toy store that's there now.
The Small World Meadow was filled in with Videopolis (Fantasyland Theater) and the walkway to Mickey's Toontown plus Depot.
I liked the blue BofA sign. It's sort of classic. Nice set today.
The park was less "junked up" back then.....no Small World Toy Shop (I hate that structure too!) and no Light Magic towers. As for the meadow, I know the park needed to expand, but I think sticking Videopolis/FL Theater there was a huge mistake. Back in the seventies and early eighties, there were plans to put a new land in that spot and connect it with a second new land behind Big Thunder. Just think how greatly this would have improved traffic flow through the park, instead of having a major dead end back there.
I would love to have seen Discovery bay a reality. True, portions of it made it into DLP and TDS, but it would have been nice to see it at DL.
For the record, the BoA sign doesn't really bother me, probably because it was always there when I was a kid. For some reason it just stood out to me today, maybe because of the angle or the lack of crowds.
It's a good thing there isn't a toy store there or I might be tempted to use my BankAmericard.
In the Small World meadow the themed area TokyoMagic! mentions was to be "Circus-Disney". It would've had an audio animatronic show "Dumbo's Circusland" along with the "Dumbo the Flying Elephant" attraction being relocated back there. In addition the Casey Jr. Circus Train track was to be extended with additional loops and a second station in this new area. This land would've transitioned into Discovery Bay which would've covered what is now Big Thunder Ranch, some backstage areas and Indian Village area of Rivers of America.
In a way it seems that this some of this idea survived and surfaced in the Magic Kingdom's new Fantasyland as Storybook Circus.
K. Martinez, ah, Videopolis... I never went there even once!
TokyoMagic!, I always hate it when they put in something like a stage or a theater, because it feels like they are cheaping out. It is hard to build a new land or great attraction. But a stage means that if one lame show fails, they can just use the stage for something else in a matter of months. I don't go to Disneyland to sit and watch a mini musical, though I suppose other people might....
Chuck, I always liked the Discovery Bay artwork, but what would we do there?? I never heard about any rides in association with that proposed land.
K. Martinez, I was going to mention Storybook Circus at WDW, but then saw that you beat me to it! Imagineers always say that old ideas never truly go away, they are just repurposed for something else.
Great photos...and now I'm off to youtube to fine a good video for of the Grand Canyon/Primeval World and pretend I too am playing at Disneyland instead of wondering out to escape North Texas :)
MP wrote: "Chuck, I always liked the Discovery Bay artwork, but what would we do there?? I never heard about any rides in association with that proposed land."
Among others, there was a very ambitious Island at the Top of the World Adventure attraction, the Western Balloon Ascent ride, the Fireworks Factory attraction, The Tower thrill ride and Professor Marvel's Gallery to name but five planned diversions. 'Twould have been fun, methinks!
Some more info on the Discoveryland and Dumbo's Circusland concepts are available at
http://www.theneverlandfiles.com/tnf/disneyland/discoverybay.php
and
http://www.theneverlandfiles.com/tnf/disneyland/dumboscircusland.php
Thanks Chuck! I like the Dumbo Circusland stuff.
Trish, why do you want to escape North Texas? Heat? Snakes? Chiggers? Killer Bees?
Anon, I loved "Island at the Top of the World" when I was a kid, but something tells me it doesn't hold up! My older brother says it was pretty bad. Still, I loved that airship.
Chuck, I am still not completely sold on Discovery Bay, but it's hard to know exactly what they had planned for those attractions. Maybe they would have been amazing! Dumbo's Circusland... I could swear I saw some kind of posters that matched this description... how could that be, since it was never built?
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