Great shots! My first year working at the Park was 1984 and I spent many shifts sweeping through the "New" Fantasyland. It was only a year old then! I still consider it a grand achievement (and one of the last projects from the "Old Guard" before Eisner and Wells stepped into the picture). It actually improved upon the "old" Fantasyland tremendously---with the possible exception of taking out the Fantasyland Theater and replacing it with the skinny hamburgers at Village Haus. Nevertheless, the commitment to detail and the faithfulness to the original animated features and theming which inspired its attractions were things that were not repeated very often (with the grand exception of Indiana Jones) in the many subsequent "improvements" made to the Park since 1984 (think "Winne the Pooh," the "new" Tomorrowland, "Innoventions," the "Festival of Fools" (aptly named), the pillaging "America Sings" to populate "Splash Mountain," the "Mall-ification" of Main Street, "Rocket Rods" instead of the "Peoplemover," "Toon Town," and "Disney's California Adventure" to get a sense of where I'm coming from).
I have to say, in our recent visits, it appears the folks at Disneyland (ahem, "The Disneyland Resort") have done an excellent job of maintaining the Park---it is VERY clean these days. Looks like a return to quality (as opposed to pure profit) is in swing. Bravo! Oh yeah, they are reopening the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk through attraction (sorely missed!)---way to go!
Actually, Dave, the second photo was taken from the roof of the Fantasyland East building! I have a few more from this date. It must have been very strange to walk through a construction site like this!
I have to agree with Mike completely on this one. The Fantasyland rehab is a masterpiece of immersive environment. Although I've always had kind words to say about the old "tournament tent" building facades, the old version really doesn't hold a candle to the new.
Proving that when changes are made for the better, those changes are welcomed.
Yup, this is one land that has really stood the test of time. There's still almost no way to improve the bulk of Fantasyland- the design and function were just perfect. How very strange that the simple waist high barriers were all that they put between guests and this construction though.
These are great; to see the progress of "new" Fantasyland is amazing. The Skyway overhead is a bonus, too.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! My first year working at the Park was 1984 and I spent many shifts sweeping through the "New" Fantasyland. It was only a year old then! I still consider it a grand achievement (and one of the last projects from the "Old Guard" before Eisner and Wells stepped into the picture). It actually improved upon the "old" Fantasyland tremendously---with the possible exception of taking out the Fantasyland Theater and replacing it with the skinny hamburgers at Village Haus. Nevertheless, the commitment to detail and the faithfulness to the original animated features and theming which inspired its attractions were things that were not repeated very often (with the grand exception of Indiana Jones) in the many subsequent "improvements" made to the Park since 1984 (think "Winne the Pooh," the "new" Tomorrowland, "Innoventions," the "Festival of Fools" (aptly named), the pillaging "America Sings" to populate "Splash Mountain," the "Mall-ification" of Main Street, "Rocket Rods" instead of the "Peoplemover," "Toon Town," and "Disney's California Adventure" to get a sense of where I'm coming from).
ReplyDeleteI have to say, in our recent visits, it appears the folks at Disneyland (ahem, "The Disneyland Resort") have done an excellent job of maintaining the Park---it is VERY clean these days. Looks like a return to quality (as opposed to pure profit) is in swing. Bravo! Oh yeah, they are reopening the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk through attraction (sorely missed!)---way to go!
Actually, Dave, the second photo was taken from the roof of the Fantasyland East building! I have a few more from this date. It must have been very strange to walk through a construction site like this!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Mike completely on this one. The Fantasyland rehab is a masterpiece of immersive environment. Although I've always had kind words to say about the old "tournament tent" building facades, the old version really doesn't hold a candle to the new.
ReplyDeleteProving that when changes are made for the better, those changes are welcomed.
Yup, this is one land that has really stood the test of time. There's still almost no way to improve the bulk of Fantasyland- the design and function were just perfect. How very strange that the simple waist high barriers were all that they put between guests and this construction though.
ReplyDeleteJason - i was referring to the Skyway itself in the photo, not the vantage point.
ReplyDelete