MAPPING DISNEYLAND'S CHANGES
Below you will find many of the drawings I created to help tell the history of Disneyland through the years. While I actually created 41 images (1955-1995) I am only including the most significant 15 below, ones that really help tell the story of change and growth through the years.
This project was done nearly a decade ago, so some of the graphic elements are at a design level lower than I'd normally present publicly, and the series actually ends with 1995, the year with the last major change (the addition of the Indiana Jones Adventure), but in the years since working on this, I have collected maps, photos, and architectural drawings in order to work on an improved version 2.0 sometime in the future (which may include DCA, Downtown Disney, the hotels, and Mickey and Friends parking).
This project was done nearly a decade ago, so some of the graphic elements are at a design level lower than I'd normally present publicly, and the series actually ends with 1995, the year with the last major change (the addition of the Indiana Jones Adventure), but in the years since working on this, I have collected maps, photos, and architectural drawings in order to work on an improved version 2.0 sometime in the future (which may include DCA, Downtown Disney, the hotels, and Mickey and Friends parking).
1955: Park Opening
Disneyland's first year, at first glance doesn't seem to be all that different than today's park. However there have been quite a few changes over the decades which I will point out on this page, but there are also subtle things that remain the same, which I will also point out.
(Clockwise from Main Street's Town Square)
(Clockwise from Main Street's Town Square)
- The Jungle Cruise "river" will be extended a couple times over the coming years.
- The green "dot" west of the Jungle Cruise boarding area is the Dominguez Palm, a tree that existed elsewhere on the property (when owned by the Dominguez family) prior to the construction Disneyland, but was relocated here in 1955 and still thrives at this location today.
- The Disneyland Railroad originally had two individual trains that each ran independent of one another, and only had one stop each. A passenger rail boarded at Main Street Station and a cattlecar rail boarded at Frontierland Station for a complete trip around the park, and both stations had a passing lane for the other train to use. Also note that all three long sections of track are relatively strait, because as Disneyland grows, each of these will be pushed out to gain more park space "within the berm".
- The current Big Thunder area, previously had two different versions of a mine train attraction, but during this first year that area played host to just the unthemed stage coach and mule train attractions.
- Half of the Fantasyland we know today, including the Matterhorn, was unused space during the first year.
- This version of the map is best to describe the water system that still exists (albeit hidden) today. To keep the water from stagnating, and entire park acts as a slowly flowing river. First, the water flows along the railroad tracks near the undeveloped Fantasyland and fills the Tomorrowland lagoon (today the Motor Boat Cruise waterways are still included, but the clear water of the Submarine Voyage are no longer part of this loop). The water then flows underground to the hub, past Sleeping Beauty Castle and Frontierland into Rivers of the World of the Jungle Cruise. Next, the water flows into the Rivers of America (originally openly, but currently underground). Near the Indian Village along the shores of Rivers of America, there in a water intake area that processes the water and sends it around for another trip.
- Everything you see here in Tomorrowland will eventually be removed and improved upon (except the "round" buildings, that act as the gateway to Tomorrowland, however even they have had significant additions)
1956: Second Summer
Changes for that Second Summer (Clockwise from Main Street's Town Square)
- The Railroad tracks along the west side were moved out slightly to add additional attractions, including rafts to Tom Sawyer Island. This required moving the Station slightly as well, and added space for a walkway past Fowler's Harbor.
- A new area, Indian Village was added. The former railroad route became a tunnel into the new area. Also, the Indian Trading Post was built and remains a part of Disneyland today as The Briar Patch.
- The first themed set of attractions in the "Big Thunder" region were the Nature's Wonderland rides: Mule Train, Stagecoach and Mine Train. It should be noted that the two large rock formations built at this time, in which both the Stagecoach and Mine Train pass between, are the same two rock formations that exist along the Big Thunder trail today, between the two access ways into the Big Thunder Ranch.
- The undeveloped area in Fantasyland added the Mickey Mouse Club Circus Tent, the Junior Autopia, and a new accessway (that eventually becomes known aa Matterhorn Way)
- The Skyway opened, with stations in both Fantasyland and Frontierland, and passed over Holiday Hill (soon to become the Matterhorn).
1957: Third Summer
Five new additions for Summer 1957
- The outside "land", Holidayland, was created to host corporate picnics. It had its own entry gate and its own access into the park via a railroad crossing near the Frontierland Station.
- A third Autopia, Midget Autopia was added next to the Storybookland boat launch.
- The Viewliner, an early version of the Monorail, was introduced with two stations and two trains, each only stopped at their one and only designated stop. This created The Fantasyland Viewliner and the separate, Tomorrowland Viewliner attractions.
- The earliest version of the Motor Boat Cruise was also introduced this year.
- Just outside of Tomorrowland, (between today's Buzz Lightyear and Sleeping Beauty Castle), is the location of the House of the Future. Today, you can still see signs of this attraction below the Pixie Hollow meet-n-greet, as the square concrete pads that are part of the path, formerly known as Ariel's Grotto.
1959: First Major Addition - Matterhorn, Subs & Monorail
1959 Had a major impact on Disneyland, as they promoted six new attractions, located in the unused (or underutilized portion of Fantasyland, adjacent to Tomorrowland.
- Three of the new attractions were not entirely new... The original Autopia was reconfigured and became the Tomorrowland Autopia, and also added a spin off, the similar Fantasyland Autopia. The Motor Boat Cruise also reconfigured at this time.
- The Tomorrowland Lagoon was entirely rebuilt and the Submarine Voyage was added to that space (as well as the underground portions that were constructed under the Autopia highways. The Submarine Lagoon was removed from the original waterway system because the attraction needed to maintain crystal clear water in order to be successful.
- The improved version of the Viewliner was built on tracks above Tomorrowland and became the Monorail. This first version only glided above Tomorrowland (and Fantasyland) and never left the park, never travel across the parking lot, never stopped at the hotel and never returned via the front gate.
- The jewel of this expansion was the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Built on the former Holiday Hill, this is a scale version of the actual Matterhorn mountain, except with holes for the skyway to pass through. This roller coaster made history as the first steel roller coaster ever built and became the attraction most closely responsible for the addition of the E-ticket into Disneyland history and beyond.
- Less noticeable, the railroad tracks on the east side, through Tomorrowland and the backstage areas, were pushed out and the Grand Canyon diorama was added to hide the new corporate building.
1960 - 1961: More Monorail and Flying Saucers
1960 saw the change of the Frontierland Nature's Wonderland attractions into the new and improved Rainbow Ridge (Caverns) versions of the same Pack Mules and Mine Trains.
However, in 1961...
However, in 1961...
- The Holidayland area had discontinued
- The Monorail route had added the familiar addition to the hotel region (Downtown Disney) we know today.
- The area that would someday become home to Space Mountain added a new attraction, the Flying Saucers. This attraction became the inspiration for DCA's Luigi's Flying Tires.
1962 -1966: New Orleans, Tiki Birds, and a Small World
In 1962...
- Railroad tracks through Frontierland were pushed out, adding space to Indian Village. (Note: the new accessway to Indian Village utilized the former railway location tunnels as access points.)
- The building that serves as the icon for the Haunted Mansion was constructed. It remained visible, yet unacceptable until it opened in 1969.
- The railroad station moved to its present location, a significant distance from it former location.
- The Jungle Cruise added show scenes, as it now had additional space in which to grow.
- The Tiki Room and Tahitian Terrace were opened for the first time. The Tiki Room included the first animatronic characters ever.
- Walt spent most of his time developing new idea with other corporation's money via the 1964-65 World's Fair in New York. Though there were no additions during these two years, the World's Fair ventures did provide future additions to the Park.
- The northern leg of the Disneyland Railroad was pushed further North, in order to add the World's Fair Attraction, "its a small world" to Fantasyland. It is notable to recognize that the big backstage doors between the Fantasyland Stage and Storybookland attraction are actually the former railroad location. With that, a new railroad roundhouse and monorail service center.
1967: Pirates and New Tomorrowland
The first new land added to Disneyland, New Orleans Square, actually opened in 1966, but the Pirates of the Caribbean didn't open until 1967, so you will definitely see the show building added to the map in '67. (Interesting to note: If you Google map any of the future Pirate attractions around the world, you will see they all have they similar building shape, based on this version, which required taking into account the Monorail tracks that limited the expansion space available for this ride.)
Also in 1967...
Also in 1967...
- An all new Tomorrowland removed most of the former attractions, and added Adventure Through Inner Space, Peoplemover, Mission to the Moon (and later, Mars), Carousel of Progress, the Tomorrow land Terrace, and the Primeval World addition to the Disneyland railroad. (Peoplemover, Carousel of Progress and Primeval World, along with Small Wold ['66] were from the 1964-65 World;s Fair Projects)
1968 - 1972: Haunted Mansion and Bear Country
In 1969...
- After the facade had been visible for nearly seven years, the Haunted Mansion opened in August of 1969 to record crowds. The attraction, while appearing to be located within the plantation style building we enter, is actually located in a show building just outside the berm, identified by the railroad tracks above.
- Bear Country opened in the location of the former Indian Village. The Country Bear Jamboree, the Davy Crockett Canoes, the Hungry Bear Restaurant and the Mile-Long Bar opened for the first time. (This area is now called Critter Country)
1977: Tomorrowland Spaceport
In 1977...
- Space Mountain opened along with the entire Spaceport concept including the Space Stage, expanded Peoplemover track, and Spaceport restaurant.
1979: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
In 1979, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad replaced the former Rainbow Ridge/Caverns attractions.
1983: New Fantasyland
In 1983, an all new Fantasyland premiered within the Castle courtyard. Dumbo moved, the Carousel moved, the Mad Tea Party moved next to Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio was added, and Skull Rock & the Chicken of the Sea restaurant (aboard Captain Hook's ship) were removed.
Also, the shortcut to Frontierland, via Big Thunder Trail, was added.
Also, the shortcut to Frontierland, via Big Thunder Trail, was added.
1985: Videopolis
In 1985, a stage later called the Fantasyland Stage, Videopolis premiered as a new stage venue and at nights, a modern dance club.
1986 - 1989: Big Thunder Ranch and Splash Mountain
In 1986...
in 1989...
- Big Thunder Ranch opened along Big Thunder Trail.
- The Space Stage was enclosed to accommodate 3-D films all day and night, the first one being "Magic Journeys" and later "Captain Eo"
in 1989...
- Splash Mountain opened in the former Bear Country, now named Critter Country.
1992 - 1993: Fantasmic! and Mickey's ToonTown
In 1992...
In 1993...
- The Rivers of America became host to Fantasmic!, with a new stage area built on the southern tip of Tom Sawyer's Island.
In 1993...
- A new land, Mickey's Toontown, was added to the north end of the park, adjacent to Small World.
1995: The Indiana Jones Adventure
In 1995...
The Indiana Jones Adventure opened, with the main show building outside the berm. The Monorail tracks required rerouting at this time to accommodate the new building structure.
The Indiana Jones Adventure opened, with the main show building outside the berm. The Monorail tracks required rerouting at this time to accommodate the new building structure.
Later, yet-to-be-mapped changes
In 1998...
The Rocket Jets were moved to the entrance of Tomorrowland and were renamed Orbitron. Peoplemover was discontinued at that time in favor of Rocket Rods, that only lasted a couple years.
In 1999...
Both Autopia tracks were combined into a singular route, boarded at the former Tomorrowland Autopia location.
The Rocket Jets were moved to the entrance of Tomorrowland and were renamed Orbitron. Peoplemover was discontinued at that time in favor of Rocket Rods, that only lasted a couple years.
In 1999...
Both Autopia tracks were combined into a singular route, boarded at the former Tomorrowland Autopia location.