Disneyland
Walt Disney once said:
"What this country really needs is an amusement park that families
can take their children to. They've gotten so honky tonk with a lot of questionable
characters running around, and they're not to safe. They're not well kept.
I want to have a place that's as clean as anything could ever be, and all
the people in it [his park] are first-class citizens, and treated like guests."
Years before Disneyland was constructed, Walt was thinking, generating, and
creating everything in his mind. He traveled the United States, and visited
buildings of Americas most prolific inventors and creators, such as Thomas
Edison's Workshop, the Wright Brothers Bicycle shop, and the home of the Dictionary
magnate Noah Webster. While visiting these places, he was formulating and
dreaming of a "Mickey Mouse Park" with a western village, Main Street,
and more, these ideas would eventually form Disneyland.
Walt had planed out all the lands, to every detail. Main Street, U.S.A.,
the very front of the park, was where Walt wanted to relive the typical turn
of the century city Main Street. He said:
"For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street
will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in
turning back the calendar to the days of grandfather's youth."
Walt made Main Street U.S.A the entrance to a "weenie," as he called
it. He said:
"What you need is a weenie, which says to people 'come this way.' People
won't go down a long corridor unless there's something promising at the end.
You have to have something the beckons them to 'walk this way.'"
Walt also had planed for an "exotic tropical place" in a "far-off region of the world." Called Adventureland. Walt said, "To create a land that would make this dream reality, we pictured ourselves far from civilization, in the remote jungles of Asia and Africa."
Frontierland was made to relive the pioneer days of the American frontier.
Walt said:
"All of us have a cause to be proud of our country's history, shaped
by the pioneering spirit of our forefathers. . .Our adventures are designed
to give you the feeling of having lived, even for a short while, during our
country's pioneer days."
Fantasyland was created with the goal to "make dreams come true"
from the lyrics of "When You Wish Upon a Star." Walt said:
"What youngster. . .has not dreamed of flying with Peter Pan over moonlit
London, or tumbling into Alice's nonsensical Wonderland? In Fantasyland, these
classic stories of everyone's youth have become realities for youngsters-of
all ages-to participate in."
Fantasyland would feature a large Sleeping Beauty Castle, and a Fantasy Village.
Tomorrowland was created as a look at the "marvels of the future."
Walt said:
"Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the
doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and
generations to come. . .The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to
give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint
of our future."
Now truly a place of magic ... Disneyland has become a place where may all share our most treasured childhood fantasies. From the moment you walk through the gate, to the time Cinderella gives you her infamous wave from the castle ... you can be certain, that the magic will be nipping at your heels.