New Orleans Square, August 1970
I've previously shared a few images from this photographer, who was clearly impressed by New Orleans Square and its many charms. It's really no wonder when you look at today's pix, it really doesn't look like an amusement park.
I believe that the Rivers of America would be behind us (a ways) as we look into one of the curving streets lined with various shops. As you know, I loved to make my own custom scent at the Parfumerie. "I want it to be musky, but to have hints of WD-40, cedar, and beef jerky". Is the Blue Bayou to our left? I admit to not knowing this area the way you experts do!
"Maybe if I sit at this table, somebody will talk to me and be my friend!". It could happen. I don't ever recall seeing an outdoor dining area in New Orleans Square, certainly nothing like this, with those amber glass "kerosene" lamps on each table. In the dark doorway to the left, a cast member (I believe) can just be seen if you look hard enough.
9 comments:
I like that multi-trunked, white-bark tree, whatever it is. I'm guessing they planted several of those trees in a circle to achieve that look?
I wonder what that light blue blob is in that pot of pink geraniums, just to the right of center?
A pleasant picture; restful on the eyes.
The shadows are what makes the second photo stand out. Especially when they're being cast at a slant, like they are here. That looks like the same planter area on the right edge, that we see in the first pic. So it looks like our photographer just swiveled to the left to snap this one.
Two nice and restful NOS photos. Thanks, Major.
Beautiful ORIGINAL NEW ORLEANS SQUARE ( before the crap renovation and reversal of theming done several years ago to give Club 33 Members larger viewing windows for CRAPTASMIC. Yeah - there ! I said it!
That gentleman is sitting in front of the facade that was intended to be the “PRALINE SHOP” but for whatever reason was never used. The pralines and nuts were regulated to a street vendor cart and for a short time , off and on , the space that was Lafitte’s Silver Shop…. And in the small shop space that sold gold and brass ( when it was not selling gold and brass)
NEW ORLEANS SQUARE was a zeniths in WED theming. It was ( mostly) duplicated for a section of Tokyo Disneyland’s Adventureland … and it remains true to Disneyland’s original version …. Sadly Disneyland’s 1966 Walt Original has Fantasmic growths and lumpy architectural warts and dreadful Imagineering alterations that scream a FACELIFT MALPRACTICE! Enjoy what’s left of what we know of Disneyland … and Walt Disney World because it’s all going away faster than you know.
The Blue Bayou is one street over (to the east), on Royal Street. These photos were taken at the northern end of Orleans St.
The built-in metal bench surrounding that tree's octagonal planter, has since been ripped out. And a new upper story section of building, which acts as a bridge, has now been built over that street. That was done when Club 33 was expanded to the space over the French Market (now Tiana's Tacky Tavern).
The French Market is just to the right of the photographer, in the first pic. And in the second pic, those tables and chairs would be sort of "overflow" seating for the restaurant, outside of the fenced in patio.
Mike, maybe they should just take out New Orleans Square, and put in a roller coaster. Kids love roller coasters. Or maybe they could build a second "log ride." Kids love log rides, too.
Here's a link to this general area, today. If you use the arrow in Google Maps to advance forward just a little past the tree, you can see the little seating area from Major's second pic:
New Orleans Square - Google Maps
I don't have much to add, except to say that when I was there a year ago the place seemed much more cluttered.
Oh, and that's not a castmember in the shadows. It's a ghost.
I’m in agreement with the above, the multi-trunk tree is still there, I think the planter has been redone and there might be new benches.
Also, the very nice drinking fountain under the arch is still there. Fortunately a location was found for an ADA fountain nearby so the excellent original could be retained.
It’s sad that the original designs and theming aren’t appreciated. I’ve done enough adaptive reuse design to know the original features could have been retained in updates, if anyone cared to do so.
Thanks Major for a good look at old NOS.
JG
JB, yeah that tree (some kind of ficus?) is pretty, I have to wonder if it’s been removed so that crowds can move around more? Maybe that light blue blog is some sort of lampshade, not sure. Our photographer definitely swiveled because he is a robot, and that’s what robots do. Besides crush, kill, and destroy.
Mike Cozart, but how do you really feel? The Praline Shop was crushed by “Big Praline”, they wouldn’t allow it because Disney wouldn’t pay their “donations”. I always loved the unusual shops in NOS, but also wondered how much they actually sold. Walt probably wouldn’t have cared, but after he was gone, the bottom line was THE THING. Did Lafitte’s Silver Shop actually sell much silver? I also hate the things they’ve done to that area all in the name of catering to more Club 33 members, but again, there’s that bottom line.
TokyoMagic!, are you sure these weren’t taken on North Corn Street? Not South Corn Street, that would be ridiculous. Corn! It’s funny! I’m glad they removed that octagonal bench, octagons are the product of the red guy in the bad place. You know who I mean! “Tiana’s Tacky Tavern”, I love it. Thank you for helping to orient me in these photos, I love the sleepy, uncrowded views today, it really shows off how beautiful NOS was. It still is, but they have made some unfortunate decisions. Kids love log rides? I’m afraid I will need to see extensive data to back up that daring statement. Thank you for that link, and HEY, the tree is still there! The trunk looks very much the same all these years later!
Stu29573, oh yeah, New Orleans Square can definitely get congested, which is why I always bring a bottle of nasal spray and a box of tissues. See what I did there?
JG, the new planter is almost “brutalist” now, maybe it was done as a tie-in to the movie of last year. Chuck sent me a great photo that he took, he put a C&H sugar packet on that drinking fountain!! It feels like creatives feel the need to constantly mess with what was already perfect (see: all the crap done to the Haunted Mansion surroundings). It’s a shame.
NO Square done right! But just about everything in the Park was so back then. August and hardly a guest in sight. It once was like this in the early mornings of "High Season". KS
KS, of course this might have been any time before August (we only know when the slides were processed), but your point is still a good one. Only a rainy day would be like this, and even then there would probably be more people!
The. Best. Disneyland. Land. Ever.
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