Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I have a question, what is still in DL from Walt's original park? The Castle and Main Street USA? I know DL has undergone some major changes over the past 52 years. I am just curious as to what still remains from the original park.
Originally Posted By DlandDug From 1955: Steam Trains Mark Twain Steam Boat Fire House Main Street Cinema Golden Horseshoe Frontierland stockade From 1958: Sailing Ship Columbia From 1959: Matterhorn There are a lot of other things that have had minor changes. But the above would be familiar to Walt.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Thanks Doug! Your right, I forgot about the trains. I didn't realize the Mark Twain Steam Boat was original to the park. Now I feel like I truely was walking in Walt's footsteps.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Wasn't the Mark Twain extensively rebuilt a couple of times? I think about the only original part is the hull, yes? In that same vein, aren't the Jungle Cruise boats mostly original? I know the ride itself has changed, and cosmetically the JC boats are different, but they are largely original AFAIK.
Originally Posted By karlg From <a href="http://www.disneylandtoday.com/openingday.htm" target="_blank">http://www.disneylandtoday.com /openingday.htm</a> With some comments by them and me about the opening day attractions : Adventure or Attraction Land Comment The Santa Fe / Disneyland Railroad Main Street U.S.A (added trains and eliminated they original bypass systems and may changes to the layout at the park expanded) Main Street Cinema Main Street U.S.A (technology has changed) Horse-Drawn Street Cars Main Street U.S.A Horse-Drawn Fire Wagon Main Street U.S.A - Closed in 1960 Horse-Drawn Surreys Main Street U.S.A Taken over by motorized vehicles (motor vehicles started being added a year or so after the park opened) Main Street Penny Arcade Main Street U.S.A (today it is almost all gone inside) The Jungle Cruise Adventureland (modified through the years) The Mark Twain Steamboat Frontierland (this was up and running before opening day for Walt's wedding anniversary) Stage Coaches Frontierland - Closed February 1, 1956 The Golden Horseshoe Review (the building is still there but the original show closed October 12, 1986) Mule Pack Frontierland Closed February 1, 1956 King Arthur Carrousel (exact same attraction and horses except for adding disability seating, the horses have been repainted different colors several times, the location was moved and the building had to be rebuilt a few years ago) Peter Pan's Flight (heavily modified) Snow White's Scary Adventures (heavily modified) Mad Tea Party (moved and the tea cups don't spin as easily) Canal Boats of the World (Became Storybook Land Canal Boats a few years after the park opened) Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Fantasyland Space Station X-1 Tomorrowland Closed February 17, 1960 Autopia Tomorrowland (extremely heavily modified and moved) Dumbo (the concept is the same but today's is a totally new and improved version) -- for some reason this was not listed on the site I've referenced. Circarama Tomorrowland Became America the Beautiful (now gone) Additionally, I believe that many of the buildings in adventureland and frontierland are original. Alice in Wonderland opened a year or so after the rest of the park. Most of Main Street throug the hub is the same but the paint and signage has changed along with, of course, the content of the shops. The Castle is mostly the same, but I've read they had to change it a little (raise one section) to add the Sleeping Beauty walk through. Of course Fantasyland was majorly remodeled in 1983. In some ways there is a surprising number of things that are still there (although maybe reincarnated).
Originally Posted By karlg Sorry for the confusion in the first couple of lines. It is so hard to tell what will happen when you cut and paste things together since there is no preview/edit feature on this site.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<The Santa Fe / Disneyland Railroad Main Street U.S.A (added trains and eliminated they original bypass systems and may changes to the layout at the park expanded)>> The Main Street Station is original to the park, as are engines #1 and #2. But the three other engines and all the rolling stock was not there; the original passenger and freight cars were retired long ago.
Originally Posted By jonvn "The Mark Twain Steamboat Frontierland " Used to have a bar on board, it's been removed. The fence on main street next to the hat shop by the lincoln show, that's original. The trains around the park don't operate as they originally did. There were two trains and two stations. You got on at either Frontierland or Main Street, and rode in a circle back to that starting point. That is why there is a passing track at Main Street, and room for one in Frontierland. People don't notice the one in Frontierland, though, because they moved the old ticket booth on top of where the track was. But notice how wide the area is. there is room for a second track. Basically practically nothing original is there as it was first built.
Originally Posted By smd4 "the original passenger and freight cars were retired long ago." Half true. The freight train most certainly exists, and is used often. Known as the Holiday Red, it's been modified and added-to, but the first five cars and the caboose are 1955 originals. Oh, and don't forget, the Lilly Belle is originally from the passenger train, too, although much altered. BTW, the tenders and cabs of both engines 1 and 2 are not original, and neither is the Ripley's boiler--they've all been replaced as the years have taken their toll.
Originally Posted By dresswhites cannons on main street, main street flag pole base, main street gas lamps, and other lamps are pretty the same and have been there since the beginning. many of the plantings are original. the euctalypsis(sp?) behind main street and adventureland are from the beginning. the Dominguez palm still is in place (next to indy fastpass). The golden horseshoe has recieved some paint and a few cosmetic changes on the inside, but basically the same building that has been there since 1955. has the frontierland entrance fort ever been rebuilt?, if not that has been in place since 1955. oh casey jr is an original.
Originally Posted By iamgoofy Here is a site that lists attractions of disneyland by year along with other interesting facts. <a href="http://users.sisna.com/matkinson/Pages/1955.html" target="_blank">http://users.sisna.com/matkins on/Pages/1955.html</a>
Originally Posted By jonvn I am pretty sure the frontierland entrance has been rebuilt. I tihnk it was last done in the 1980s.
Originally Posted By DlandDug If one really wants to quibble, nothing exists from Disneyland's opening day. In fact, on July 19, 1955, every stick of the place was, technically different. Incidently, the "bar" on the Mark Twain is still in place. It was and is used only during special events. As for the rest of the Twain, it has, indeed, been replaced or refurbished, bit by bit, over the years. But it has not been substantially altered. The same is true for the Frontierland stockade. As for Sleeping Beauty Castle, I purposely left that off my list, as it was altered dramatically (courtyard side) with the addition of the enclosed stairs and corridors for the walk through. The pavement out front (the compass) was also completely replaced and redesigned several years ago. There was, at the same time, some significant cosmetic alterations made to the decorations.
Originally Posted By smd4 >>>As for the rest of the Twain, it has, indeed, been replaced or refurbished, bit by bit, over the years. But it has not been substantially altered.<<< It's been substantialy altered. If you count the location of the companionways (staircases). They've been moved quite a bit. To me, that's substantial. However--it's basic "outline" has remained the vey much the same.
Originally Posted By jonvn "Incidently, the "bar" on the Mark Twain is still in place" Is it? Last time I was there, I thought it had been removed.
Originally Posted By dresswhites some of the trees have been there since opening day. but i agree that most of the structures and have been rebuilt over time.
Originally Posted By 9oldmen As for attractions that were there on opening day, in some form, couldn't you just list the one's which received the gold vehicles for the 50th? Also, to me, "Walt's Disneyland" would include everything from day one through the end of Walt's life, and even slightly beyond. (i.e., he didn't live to see "Pirates" finished, but he pretty much knew exactly what it would have been like, and lived long enough to approve the final design).
Originally Posted By avromark See If I could invent one thing it would be a time machine that would allow me to set a pre-determined interval and see how things mature throughout the year. Imagine visiting Disneyland for 52 days, each day a different year... It would be cool seeing how it changed (and remained the same).
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>As for attractions that were there on opening day, in some form, couldn't you just list the one's which received the gold vehicles for the 50th?<< Not really. Autopia is completely different, for example, even though it was honored with a gold vehicle. >>Also, to me, "Walt's Disneyland" would include everything from day one through the end of Walt's life...<< Good point! That adds it's a small world to the list.
