Two From January 1974
Here are two scenes from Disneyland from the first month of 1974. The old Fantasyland Skyway chalet was yet another example of the creativity and artistry of the Imagineers. This could have been completely utilitarian, and it would have been fine, but... what if it looked like a charming Swiss chalet? With carved beams, homey flower boxes, and folksy painted details? Here we see it as two guests walk down the steps to ground level; a turquoise gondola (empty!) is entering the station, but otherwise there are not many signs of activity. It looks great surrounded by those beautiful trees, though I admit that they do obscure the chalet to a degree.
Over in Adventureland, you'll find Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Before the main show, guests are treated to a pre-show in the outside courtyard, which includes a variety of tiki idols who represent things like the sea, the wind, the Earth, and so on. Before us is Pele, who tells us: I am Pele, goddess of fire and volcanoes. Some say I torment poor Ngendi, the earth balancer, for when my violent temper rises, the earth trembles at its foundation!
10 comments:
Yes, the mature trees do obscure the Chalet somewhat. But that makes it all the more alluring! Such an authentic (to my eyes anyway) and natural setting. A Swiss-type person would think that they are back in the Old Country! This is an excellent photo that shows the Chalet in all its glory. I'm saving this one!
I'm sure somebody here will recognize the pattern on that man's shopping bag, because I sure don't. The bag looks awfully big and heavy!
The Tiki Room courtyard is also a nice photo. Ngendi must be the statue that rotates upside down when the "earth trembles"? Sounds like Pele should attend a few anger management classes. Looks like one of those little Tikis is hanging from the edge of the roof above Ngendi.
Really nice photos today, Major. Thanks.
The Swiss Chalet was beautiful just because they wanted it to be, and that's what set Disney apart. It is still missed, even if people don't think about it much while wandering the modern park. A detail lost to time and lessor imaginations.
One of the highlights of my trip last year was catching up with ol' Pele in the Tiki room. Unfortunately, she got angry again. Figgers.
First glance at the thumbnails of these photos is the almost baroque detail in both, in spite of the unrelated subjects. Carved wood, dense vegetation, contrasting paint, unusual geometry, all combining to tell the story.
The Original Imagineers knew their stuff and guests were richer for it.
Now the details are ordered from Temu and the Dollar Store.
Thanks for these pics, Major.
JG
JB, I know what you mean, having the trees obscure a little bit of the Chalet does make it more mysterious, and it also makes it feel like it is a part of the landscape, and not just dropped in from outer space. I’ve seen those shopping bags before, but don’t have one in my collection - 1973 is “too new” (though I do have many items from after that date!). Yes, Ngendi trembles, or at least wobbles. Pele needs a chill pill!
Stu29573, I’m sad that they couldn’t come up with a use for the Chalet, and instead tore it down eventually; being up on that hill made it difficult to access for people with disabilities (and people who don’t like going up stairs). I’m glad you saw the Tiki Room, you never know how long things like that will be around.
JG, baroque detail is what the new Haunted Mansion merch shop needs, it is severely lacking in detail or charm. I saw one YouTuber praise it for containing merchandise that paid tribute to Walt’s original artists, but, come on! That doesn’t excuse an ugly building. Seeing the new HM queue, you aren’t far off re: Temu and the Dollar Store.
The reason for the Fantasyland Skyway Chalet not being utilized for guests is the exact same reason the Skyway attraction was removed altogether; WHEELCHAIR ACESS.
There were some proposals to keep it and have a glockenspiel clock show element , but it was decided it was really too far away for guests to view. The structure would have been left as a background static structure with several “NEW - NEW” fantasyland plans … but GALAXYS EDGE necessitated its removal. Another thing WDI has to deal with is while Glendale dreams up amazing things and solutions , management at the parks have trouble making long term decisions and let’s things get neglected or ignored so long areas become unsalvageable or too expensive to repair and things get torn down or The Rivers of America gets paved over …. 2025 makes the 30th year of the loss of the DL PeopleMover … that attraction has been gone longer than it existed.
Recently I heard about a DL attraction study … and how shockingly few Disneyland guests go on the NEW Adventureland Treehouse ( Disneyland did spend so much money to keep it too for a change) , Main Street Cinema and Tom Sawyers Island … you can expect those to go away . Most guests won’t notice as their heads with be buried on their phone securing their Mobile food order and their lightning lane AP ticket.
I've always loved those flowerpots on the Fantasyland Skyway chalet.
I also like how it's an illusion that the chalet is on a hill. It really is no higher in elevation than the Tomorrowland Skyway terminal, but with the dirt filled in it looks higher than it is.
Thanks, Major.
The Chalet was one of my most favorite locations as a young guest. Walking up the stairs, hearing the yodeling music and seeing the original Fantasyland unfold in motion below transported me to the Swiss Alps in my imagination. KS
Dean Finder, there are enough differences in the prefab structure and the one at HM for me to rule out the use of a prefab (or at least the one Touuringplans linked to) at the Park. Yes, the basic shape is similar, but everything from window and door placement, window shapes, door details, upper loft windows on the prefab and beam detailing are all different. The one at the Park also has a section that juts out on the left side. Sure, details can be changed, but the beam detail above the four posts is not just for looks. Even the vertical vs. horizontal siding is different.
This was a common design for barns, and it doesn't seem unusual to me that they share a basic layout. But I am very doubtful that the structure in the Park is the same prefab Touringplans linked to.
Dean Finder, interesting! I’m not surprised that it is a prefab, somehow the one at the park looks even worse to me. Maybe because it is next to the beautiful Mansion?
Mike Cozart, I know that access was one of the main problems with reusing the Chalet - it just seems to me that there could have been solutions. perhaps they were too expensive? A Whole Foods store near me has an interesting moving sidewalk down into the parking garage that you can put your shopping cart on as you stand. I understand that this might not work in an outdoors situation, and could be prone to maintenance problems. But my point is that they didn’t even seem to try. Because they didn’t care, ultimately. Maybe they knew years ahead of time that it would be razed? As for the new Treehouse, it’s OK, but has some of the same problems as the HM queue. TOO MUCH crazy stuff going on. Glowing lights, an automated music gizmo… I guess they were going for “big fun”, but it feels so cartoony and (to me) lame. The only feature I truly enjoyed was the little jumping lizards. I worry about Tom Sawyer Island, and better make a point of going there for my next visit. Just in case.
K. Martinez, I assume they did some forced perspective tricks as well? It really does appear to be high up on that hill!
KS, I liked the Chalet too, even if I wasn’t going to hop on the Skyway. It was a feature that added “value” to the area just by being so beautiful.
Steve DeGaetano, I suppose you are right, but the mere fact that the “carriage house” looks so much like a prefab is a problem all by itself. Add some wrought iron details, or something. Every time I see it, I am disappointed all over again. The Imagineers should be ashamed of themselves for settling for that uninspired design.
Major, I couldn’t agree more. What is a western barn doing masquerading as an antebellum coach house?
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