Small World & Pirate Ship, July 1972
Normally I save some pretty lame stuff for sleepy Sundays, but I'd say that today's examples (circa 1972) aren't too bad!
Here's a fun view of the wonderful "It's a Small World" building, along with the very large walkway leading back to it - they must have anticipated large crowds for this attraction! It was also used as part of the parade route, so that is another good reason to have lots of room.
As always, the little details are the best part. The popcorn wagon to the right, the sign for the Motor Boat Cruise, and the mysterious fenced-off seating area (with tables) to the left. I'm not aware of a restaurant in that general area... maybe it was just a nice place for people to relax. They could watch the Storybook Land canal boats as they passed by.
And here's a nice view of Captain Hook's Pirate Ship (Chicken of the Sea had ended its sponsorship just a few years before). The colorful bas-relief sculpture was altered slightly so that the mermaid was more of a generic version (can there be such thing as a generic mermaid?!), but it still looks pretty swell. Skull Rock and Monstro are also visible from this angle.
15 comments:
Major-
The IASW image gives the impression that area of Disneyland had boundless room; but not quite as it turns out. And the Captain Hook's Pirate Ship image is a real winner. We can even spy the Storybook Land lighthouse, Monorail beamway and Peoplemover tracks in the distance. Ahhhh... No 'snoozer' Sunday, this one.
Thanks, Major.
Major, the umbrellas in the lower left corner of that first pic, are part of the seating area for the Fantasyland Character Food Stand (Fan II). The mysterious fenced off area of tables and chairs was pretty much just overflow seating for the Character Food Stand. It was also a great spot to watch the parades from, because it was slightly elevated. There was also a built-in concrete bench that ran the length of the fence, facing the parade route. Most of it is hidden by people sitting on it, but you can see a small section of it that's unoccupied.
I love these, perfect for a lazy Sunday. I miss The Pirate Ship, and Skull Rock. But Monstro is still swallowing guests every day. You know I kinda like the new paint job on Small World better. Thanks Major.
If only a few trees weren't there so I could see my favorite Ice Cream Train left of the entrance to Motor Boat Cruise. Or maybe it wasn't there until later. Nice Fantasyland pics today. Thanks, Major.
Light, airy, breezy, and sunny. Let me just align my tele-porto device at the monitor... See you guys later!
And not only PeopleMover tracks, Nanook, three PM trains are bustling about back there. When I win the lottery, I'm just going to give Disney the cash to get that attraction back up and running...
@Patrick Here here I'll gladly help them build it.
Skull Rock and Monstrous, my favorite comedy team! "Take my blowhole - please!"
That perspective on the it's a small world building makes it look even more grand and imposing, like the Taj Mahal or something. They really knew how to stage things.
I love me some transom windows that tilt inward. Such a neat detail that wasn't at all necessary, but adds to the effect.
Major, this made my Sunday. I've finished my paperwork and now i can just admire these pics.
Agreeing with TM, the dining area in the lower left with umbrellas seems to be a free-standing area but is only few steps from Fan 2. It's a weird twilight zone area of old Fantasyland that is hard to see in photos since most viewpoints are angled past it. Always on the periphery, so to speak, which makes it more fascinating, at least to me.
@SteveD, windows like that are impossible to wash... Which may not be a concern at sea.
I wish the mural relief on the stern were clearer, she looks like Ariel, only about 25 years too early.
JG
The unintentional trees are still on the roof behind the small world facade.
Rolly Crump tells the story starting at 21:00
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jacqdgqVgFU
Very nice views today! Hi, everyone. Its good to be back :)
Nanook, given the limited real estate in Anaheim, it does kind of surprise me that they devoted SO much space to IASW and the large plaza in front of it.
TokyoMagic!, well gosh, I didn’t think that “Fan II” would have been that close to that area, but I believe you! I need to look at a map or aerial photo. Is that little area long-gone now?
Jonathan, doesn’t the current paint job look pretty much like the one in this 1972 photo?
K. Martinez, you can see traces of something colorful over there, but it is impossible to say if it is the “Ice Cream Train”. Impossible for me, anyway…
Patrick Devlin, Disney has the money, they just don’t want to spend it on the Peoplemover!
Jonathan, oh make no mistake, I want the Peoplemover back. They’ve made it very clear that it isn’t gonna happen, though.
Melissa, those old vaudeville guys could get pretty “blue” at times…
Steve DeGaetano, I never noticed that detail. Thanks for pointing it out!
JG, I guess in my mind I always think of that area as being further away from the “old” Fantasyland than it actually is. Again, time to find a nice aerial photo to help my brain out (it needs all the help it can get). It sure doesn’t look like they changed that mermaid too much, other than altering her hair and a few other minor details…
Graffer, I had heard that story, but it was cool to see a video of Rolly telling it! Thanks.
Nancy, welcome back! Where have you been??
While it's somewhat of a pity that we never received an outdoor Small World show building in WDW, at least the indoor queue makes it easier to ride and board during rainy weather, which is what I'd assume their intention was.
Dudebro, Not a pity at all in my book. I like the way they did IASW in the Magic Kingdom. I think it's good to do things differently. Nothing more boring than the cloning of attractions. Variation is good.
The last time I was at WDW, I remember thinking but that as nice as the design is, the load area could use some sprucing up. The painted plywood looked exactly like painted plywood, and a bit shopworn, and the lighting doesn't do much for it. The pretty fountains I remember from the 1980s are gone. And I've always thought that the clock would be better with no figures if they can only fit two. Of all the changes they've made over the years, I'm always puzzled that they don't do more to make the first thing guests see a little more special.
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