No Foolin'

Today is Friday, April 1 - April Fool's Day - a day when many a Disney website or blog runs phony stories about developments in and around the Walt Disney Company. Well... I won't be doing that. Instead, I present to you this week's final series of vintage Disney Parks photos. Each tells a story that, if not for the photographic evidence, might seem just as far fetched as an actual April Fool's Day prank. Enjoy.

Epcot replaces Disney Characters with

Larger-than-Life People of the World

When EPCOT Center opened in 1982, it was the first Disney Park designed outside the Disneyland mold. To help further differentiate the park from the Magic Kingdom, it was decided the traditional Disney characters would not appear in EPCOT Center (it was actually this decision that led to the first wide-spread use of "Hidden Mickeys"). Instead, the new park would feature a cast of characters all its own, from Dreamfinder and Figment in Future World to the People of the World in World Showcase. These oversize, doll-headed characters were adapted from America on Parade, which ran at the Magic Kingdom in the mid-70s. Brought to EPCOT Center, they were dressed in international costumes and set out to pose with guests around the World Showcase Lagoon. It wasn't long, though, before visitors to the park expressed their expectation that Mickey and friends would be on hand, and the People of the World were retired in favor of the Fab Five in "futuristic" silver jumpsuits.

"Three Little Pigs" Musical Added in Expansion

of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park

As part of an early effort to add extra offerings to the Magic Kingdom (significantly more modest than the current park expansion), the Fantasy Faire Stage was created in the back of Fantasyland to host musical performances starring popular Disney characters. Various shows telling stories ranging from "Winnie the Pooh" to the "Three Little Pigs" graced the stage over the years. Even as recently as the mid-90s, this spot was home to Disney Magic Music Days guest performers and Miss Minnie's Country Christmas during holiday events. The Fantasy Faire Stage closed for good in 1996, to be replaced by Ariel's Grotto, and the site is now being transformed once again into part of Belle's village for New Fantasyland.

Disneyland Rivers of America Run Dry

You're not seeing things. This is the dry riverbed of the Rivers of America in Frontierland at Disneyland, with the guide rail for the Columbia and Mark Twain visible on the ground. This level of refurbishment on the park's main river has only been undertaken a handful of times. This particular photograph is from early-1992, when the original infrastructure was added for a new Disneyland nighttime spectacular set to debut that spring - Fantasmic!

Goofy Seen Water Skiing on Seven Seas Lagoon

In the early years of the Walt Disney World Resort, when the Magic Kingdom was the only park to visit, guests crossing Seven Seas Lagoon were often treated to surprise appearances by the Disney characters. Favorites like Goofy and Mr. Smee could be seen water skiing alongside the ferries on their way to the park. More than just entertainment value, these stunts also served as a promotion of sorts of the resort's varied recreation offerings, something new that had never been available at Disneyland.

Replica of Mos Eisley Cantina Built at Entrance

to Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios

It's true! Full disclosure, though: The cantina structure was temporary, only built for the official grand opening ceremonies for Star Tours held on January 14, 1990. Look closely at the photo, and you can see the band playing (that's Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes for you die-hard Star Wars fans out there). Michael Eisner and George Lucas presided over the day's events. Star Wars stars Mark Hammill and Carrie Fisher were also in attendance. Even though Darth Vader and his Imperial Guard made an appearance atop the attraction building to try and stop the proceedings, everything opened according to plan. Now, twenty-one years later, we await the debut of the next chapter with Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, opening May 20.

Favorite Things: Guide Maps

Thousands of families are visiting Disney Parks this week and letting the memories begin. Trust me. It's BUSY! They'll be taking millions of pictures and snapping up tons of souvenir merchandise, but what many may not realize is one of the best souvenirs of their trip is already in their hands... and it's free!

I have a decent collection of park guide maps from my visits to Disney Parks over the years. More recently, I've also tried to pick up new ones as things change in the parks. They're always a fun way of looking back at the way things were. The examples I'm sharing today are from my first visits to each of the four parks at Walt Disney World.

The Magic Kingdom guide book from Summer 1978 featured separate page spreads on each land, with information about all the attractions, shops and restaurants. There's also a map and information inside about the rest of the Vacation Kingdom. If you look closely, you can see where my dad checked off each attraction we visited and the alphabetical ticket required for admission. For a better look at this guide book, check out this article.

My family first visited EPCOT Center in June 1983, less than a year after the park opened. The guide map at that time was truly unique to differentiate the Epcot experience from that of the Magic Kingdom. It was a cardboard tri-fold that opened on a map of the overall park, followed by spreads on Future World and World Showcase. For even more information, the back panel of the guide included a rotating disc that could be used to "dial in" details about specific pavilions. Later in the '80s, Epcot would adopt a style of guide book more consistent with the Magic Kingdom's. For an example of a page from that, visit this previous post on the CommuniCore attraction.

I was fortunate to be a guest on May 1, 1989, the opening day of Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney's Hollywood Studios). The guide I have from that day is a real treasure, since there's probably no other park that has changed quite as much as the Studios over the years. Take a look at the original map of the park in this article I wrote celebrating the 20th anniversary of Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The final example I have for you today is the very first guide map produced for Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's from the Cast Preview Days, held in March 1998, more than a month before the park opened to the general public. A quick glance shows you not everything was ready. A couple attractions are labeled "Coming in April," and the entire land of Asia is depicted as a construction zone (Asia opened in 1999).

Click to enlarge the image, and you'll discover all sorts of things that have changed since the early days of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Dinosaur! and the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail are listed under their original names, Countdown to Extinction and Gorilla Falls. Countdown to Extinction states a minimum height requirement of 46 inches (the ride was toned down a bit so the height could be reduced to 40 inches, making it more accessible to a wider audience). There are also listings for several extinct attractions, like the Dinosaur Jubilee and Journey Into Jungle Book show.

This collection of guide maps is definitely one of my favorite things. Every time I crack one open, it's like hopping into a time machine to the Disney Parks of my memories.

Figment's Place

For a short time, Guests visiting Epcot actually had the chance to meet Figment in larger-than-life fashion. The former Kodak film shop at the Imagination pavilion (on the upper lever between the entrance and exit to the Magic Eye Theater) was transformed into Figment's Place, a rainbow-hued home base for everyone's favorite purple dragon.

A handful of interactive elements kept Guests entertained as they passed through the short queue, and then... voila! Just around a corner, Figment is there waiting for a hug.

In spite of Figment's popularity in the Journey Into Imagination attraction and related merchandise, few Guests ever managed to make their way back to Figment's Place. As a result, he has since moved on to "imagine new things" with Dr. Channing at the adjacent Imagination Institute.

Sounds & Sights Along the Way

In the early years of Walt Disney World, that trip up World Drive to the Magic Kingdom offered little to see but trees and the occasional sign. Even the Auto Plaza was fairly nondescript. The fancy pink and purple Welcome statement that's there today only dates back to the 20th anniversary in 1991 (Interesting side fact: the arch across the top that holds the words "Magic Kingdom" was once part of the marquee for the Wonders of Life pavilion at Epcot).

Keeping Guests entertained and informed during the drive was a limited-range radio station (broadcast from a space inside Cinderella Castle that's now part of the Castle Suite). One of the first signs encountered on Disney property invited you to tune your AM dial to the station, where you could hear information on park hours, show times and special events, along with a selection of popular Disney tunes. Until it was discontinued in the mid-90s, the Walt Disney World radio station was a key element in creating that sense of "arrival."

While the '90s silenced the radio station, other forms of Disney promotion found their voice. With rare exception, Walt Disney World never used to directly advertise itself, opting instead to rely on word of mouth and the "free advertising" that resulted from regular press events. Today, those are still key to Disney's marketing strategy, but the company has also entered into television and outdoor advertising in a big way.

Billboards touting Disney Parks and attractions have become part of the landscape along Interstate 4, International Drive and other Central Florida roadways, but the most special examples are found within the borders of the actual resort. The entire entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios is a giant Streamline Moderne and film strip statement, promoting some of the newest and most popular elements of the park.

Nearby, a billboard for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror looms over World Drive, bringing the excitement of the attraction to life with animation and lighting effects. This particular billboard, one of the first to land on Disney property, has been in place for nearly fifteen years. It debuted shortly after the Tower of Terror's 1994 opening and has even been altered slightly over the years with the introduction of each variation to the attraction.

Elsewhere, dimensional billboards promote Disney Vacation Club, Mission: Space at Epcot (with glowing rocket flare) and "It's Tough to be a Bug" at Disney's Animal Kingdom (complete with a smoke effect emanating from the rear of stinkbug Claire de Room).

On-property advertising has certainly come a long way from that quaint little AM station, and it just goes to show that even when it comes to something as everyday as highway billboards, nobody does it quite like Disney.

The Site of Future Sights

On the blog this week, I'm featuring segments from articles on the new DisneyShawn.com, currently showcasing the attractions of early Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. Be sure to follow the link for more.

The plywood fence at the northeast corner of Town Square was really only intended to be a temporary screen to hide construction activity. It hung on for years, though, teasing Disneyland Guests with the promise of all sorts of attractions which would never come to pass. The first sign on the fence advertised “International Street Grand Opening 1956”. There were even holes in the fence, through which you could see realistic 3-D images of the International Street model, with its facades representing Italy, Japan, France, and other romantic places. After a couple years of construction delays (and having to change the date on that sign), the International Street idea was finally retired.

A new sign soon took its place, however, touting “Liberty Street Grand Opening 1959.” Once again there were peep holes revealing artist sketches of the new attractions to come. And once again, the sign was removed and work on the project cancelled. The site may have gone undeveloped, but the ideas lived on. International Street was ultimately realized in the form of World Showcase at Epcot, while Liberty Street moved to Walt Disney World in the form of Liberty Square, along with its marquee show, The Hall of Presidents.

As for that fence? It's still there 55 years later...

Top photo courtesy of Davelandweb.com, used with permission.

Liberty Street photo from "Disneyland: The Nickel Tour" - ©Disney.

Donkey Italiano

Guests strolling the World Showcase promenade at Epcot are likely to notice this colorful cart just outside the Italy pavilion, if only as a stop for a refreshing Italian ice or gelato on a steamy Florida afternoon. It's here for a reason, though, to represent part of the cultural heritage of Italy.

This is a traditional Sicilian donkey cart, or carrettu Sicilianu, much like those typically used in the early 20th century on the island of Sicily (the roughly-triangular bit of land just off the "boot" of Italy). Carts like these were often used to carry everything from produce and wine to passengers into the village market. The most colorful examples also found their way into local parades and other festive occasions.

The dominant reds and yellows come from the Sicilian flag, while the ornate carvings and colorful painted scenes depict historical figures and events. For the Sicilian people, it was a way of celebrating and passing down their history. In modern Sicily, the donkeys have been replaced by motorized vehicles, but they're still painted in the traditional way, keeping that heritage alive for generations to come.

Mission: Hidden Disney

Mission: Space at Epcot is a thrilling attraction with lots to see and discover. Apart from the obvious story details and astronaut training information, it also features quite a bit of Hidden Disney.

At the center of the Mission: Space Cargo Bay shop is this statue of Mickey Mouse. Look up at the sky above him, and you'll notice a familiar silhouette formed by the nebula:

Hidden Mickey shapes also show up in this bank of control boxes along one wall of the shop:

This mural behind the register presents us with an un-hidden Mickey, along with his pals, rendered in a comic book style (note the X-2 Space Shuttle from the attraction):

But it's below the mural, on the front of the register counter, where you'll find this - a graphic representation of the symbol for the former Horizons pavilion which once stood on this spot.

The Horizons logo can also be seen in the Mission: Space queue, placed at the center of the large, rotating gravity wheel.

There's something else to look for while you're waiting for your training session. When you're in the corridor alongside Mission Control, watch the small monitors on the workstation behind the glass. You may spot footage of an albatross coming in for a rough landing. It's a clip once used for comic effect during the pre-show of the Mission to Mars attraction in the Magic Kingdom (1975-1993).

The Sound of (Mexican) Music

The live entertainment offerings throughout the Walt Disney World Resort have changed constantly over the years, always offering Guests something new to discover and enjoy during their day in a Disney Park. While many performers have come and gone, a few have managed to stand the test of time.

Mariachi Cobre was formed in Tucson, Arizona, in 1971 by founding member Randy Carrillo. Randy and his brother brought their traditional 12-piece Mexican Mariachi band to Florida in 1982 to perform for the opening of Epcot, and they've been there ever since.

Mariachi is a form of Mexican folk music which originated in Jalisco, in Western Mexico. The Mariachi Cobre features three musicians on guitar, two on trumpet and seven on violin.

The next time you're passing the Mexico pavilion in World Showcase or visiting the Plaza de los Amigos inside, be sure to take time to stop and enjoy one of Epcot's original cultural treasures, Mariachi Cobre.

Gateway to Scandinavia

Throughout this "Disney Under Construction" series, we've followed the building of some of the icons of Walt Disney World (primarily the mountains, since those happen to be the pictures I have). Well, I thought we were done, when I happened upon this little gem. It's a scan of a picture I took on a family trip back in the summer of 1987.

The steel structure may not be the most easily recognizable, but take a look at the construction fence, promising:

"Set sail on a thrilling voyage through time and experience the myths, majesty and modern wonders of Norway - Gateway to Scandinavia - Opening Summer 1988"

Norway was the 2nd (and as it turns out, last) major addition to the World Showcase at Epcot. During the early years of the park, billboards around the promenade touted such future pavilions as Israel, Spain and Equatorial Africa. Each of these failed to materialize for one reason or another, often a sponsorship issue since all the World Showcase pavilions are presented in whole or in part by an entity from the host country.

Over the years, though, World Showcase has managed to feature more than just the eleven nations represented by the major pavilions. During the Millennium Celebration in 2000, Millennium Village (now World Showplace) played host to a couple dozen smaller exhibits from countries as diverse as Sweden, Brazil, Scotland and Eritrea.

Each year during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, even more countries come to the park by way of kiosks placed around the promenade. Guests have the opportunity to sample cuisine from the host nations, as well as Australia, Greece, Thailand, Poland and more. The Food & Wine Festival each fall is one of my favorite times to visit Epcot, not just for the food, but for the truly international experience it offers.

Characters of Disney Past

Over the years, many different characters have made appearances in the Disney Parks. Some have gone on to become regulars, while others have drifted off into obscurity. Today, we take a look at just a few of these characters of Disney past.

The photo above is a promotional shot from 1990, touting the newly-renamed Mickey's Starland in the Magic Kingdom. The Starland show and character greetings in the area drew heavily from the block of animated TV series known as The Disney Afternoon. From "DuckTales," Scrooge McDuck, Huey, Dewey, Louie and Launchpad McQuack can still be seen in the occasional parade or special event. When the mood strikes, Chip and Dale even sport their "Rescue Rangers" garb at times when they pop up in Adventureland. Fellow Ranger Gadget, however, hasn't been seen in these parts for quite a while (although she does live on in name and spirit with Gadget's Go Coaster at Mickey's Toontown in Disneyland). Other character appearances at the time included stars from "Gummi Bears," "Tale Spin" and "Darkwing Duck." (photos above and below ©Disney)

Hot on the heels of the hit film Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), the movie's star toon could be seen throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, most prominently at Disney's Hollywood Studios. In 1991, Roger became the face of the Florida property's 20th anniversary celebration. A large Roger Rabbit balloon float led the Surprise Celebration Parade through the Magic Kingdom, and Roger himself made surprise appearances in shows from Starland to the Diamond Horseshoe, awarding prizes to lucky Guests. Today, Roger resides exclusively in the Toontowns of Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland, where he helps guide his Guests through Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.

Some characters lend themselves better than others to appearances in the parks. Take Nemo, for example. Before the heartwarming theatrical interpretation of the little clown fish debuted in Finding Nemo: The Musical at Disney's Animal Kingdom, this larger-than-life Nemo regularly swam amongst Guests outside The Living Seas pavilion at Epcot.

The Muppets have taken a similar path. For years, starting with this early-90s appearance alongside Jim Henson, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy greeted their fans in larger-than-life fashion.

Only recently have they come back down to Earth, appearing in the parks as themselves. Kermit and Piggy can now be seen leading off the "Disney's Honorary VoluntEARs Cavalcade" each day ahead of the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade at the Magic Kingdom.

Oh, Canada

Canada is one of the largest and most diverse countries on Earth. Depicting that scope and breadth within the limits of a World Showcase pavilion was a huge challenge for the Imagineering design team. The result is a delicious sampler platter of cultural and geographic influences. Let's take a look, eh?

The totems toward the front of the pavilion pay tribute to the native peoples who called this land home for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. The totems to the right of the steps have been there since the pavilion opened in 1982. The large totem on the left (below) is a more recent addition.

In 1998, artist David Boxley was brought to Florida to carve this totem onstage while interacting with Epcot Guests. During carving, the log was laid on its side on a raised platform (what is now the stage for performances of Off Kilter). The final piece tells three traditional stories of the Raven.

Nearby is the Northwest Mercantile, representing the explorers and adventurers - not to mention trappers, prospectors, loggers and traders - who helped forge the great Canadian frontier. The shop is dressed as an outpost, a last stop for supplies before heading into the wilderness, and is filled to the roof with props that help tell the story.

Lining the street that leads back to the Circle-Vision theater are structures that call up the British and French heritage of Canada. The stone cottages on the left, a common sight in English-speaking Canada, were once home to a Tourism Information Center. The French Gothic Hotel du Canada on the right is patterned after the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa and at one time housed the collectibles shop La Boutique des Provinces. The architecture remains, although the locations have since closed due to a lack of foot traffic (the pavilion's retail was shifted to locations closer to the promenade).

In the base of the hotel can still be found Le Cellier Steakhouse, one of the most popular restaurants in the entire Walt Disney World Resort.

Another remnant of the past is the Canadian National Hotels plaque affixed to the side of the structure. Chateau Laurier was originally part of the Canadian National chain, a group of hotels built by Canadian National Railways in the early 20th century to accommodate cross-country travelers. Canadian National sold off their hotel properties in the late-80s. Today, Chateau Laurier is operated by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

Returning to the World Showcase promenade from a satisfying meal or a visit with Martin Short-in-the-round, we pass through Victoria Gardens, inspired by the famous Butchart Gardens near Victoria, British Columbia. The gardens are breathtaking, and they're backed by a stand of maple trees, the national symbol of Canada.

Eat, Drink & be Mary

Cheers! The United Kingdom pavilion at World Showcase is bursting with treats for all the senses, from the sight of a variety of merchandise to the sounds of the British Invasion, but don't forget about the tastes that can be enjoyed here.

Along the promenade is the Yorkshire County Fish Shop, featuring Harry Ramsden's famous fish and chips. Ramsden's, an Operating Participant in this location, is perhaps the best known fish and chips brand in the world. The details on the sign pay tribute to where it all began. Ramsden opened his first shop in Guiseley, Yorkshire in 1928. (In this case, that year is not used to refer to the beginnings of Mickey Mouse. It turns out there were lots of other things happening in the world at the time. Go figure!)

Nearby is the Rose & Crown Pub. As you walk around and through the Rose & Crown, you might notice the design style of the building changes. That's because it's actually an amalgam of four different pub styles from across the U.K. - Dickensian, City Street, Waterfront and Provincial.

By the way, the Latin on the pub's marquee below translates as "Leisure with Dignity." (Although, I'm sure the dignity part is inversely proportional to the number of pints imbibed within.)

For the teetotalers in the group, there's the Tea Caddy. This quaint shop is housed in a structure inspired by Anne Hathaway's family cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon. (That's the William Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway, not the Princess Diaries Anne Hathaway.) Inside is a wide selection of teas and tea paraphernalia from sponsor Twinings Tea. The 1706 date on the sign refers to the opening of the original Twinings tea room in London.

Overlooking Britannia Square at the rear of the pavilion are residential structures, including these row houses inspired by set designs for Mary Poppins. A bit of Cherry Tree Lane at Epcot, perhaps?