Originals Disneyland Maps... and The Walt Disney Picture You Never Thought You'll See !

You all know the famous Peter Ellenshaw Disneyland Artwork that he did at the request of Walt. And he did it in two versions, one on "day light" which magically transformed in a "night" version when seen under dark light.

Now, the picture above showing Peter Ellenshaw is very known but the next picture below is amazing as it it one that probably you never thought you'll see: it shows Walt Disney inside Peter Ellenshaw painter's studio at the very moment he was painting this legendary artwork. And Walt and Peter are not alone as a third person is here too. Although you can't see his face i'm ready to bet that it was Marc Davis. And it seems they had some fun when the picture was shot!

As we talk about Disneyland maps i suggest we have a look at some others vintage ones and we'll start of course by the famous Herb Ryman artwork that Herb drew in one week-end with Walt over his shoulder. The legendary masterpiece includes small details such as a cowboy on a wild horse, squids in lagoons, and a church that was proposed to be for all religious denominations and is shown here in its rarely seen color version.

Artist and imagineer Sam McKim was the master of Disney's theme parks "fun maps" and here is the one he did for Disneyland back in 1958.

This last map below was done 42 years later by Nina Rae Vaughn, in 2000.  As you can see on these two pictures and the one of the Peter Ellensaw map, the prints were signed by two artists each time. It's because these were limited editions by the Disney Gallery and were available at the Gallery above Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square on the 45th anniversary of the opening of Disneyland—July 17, 2000. On that day six six key Disney Imagineers were present and signed the prints, Peter Ellenshaw, John Hench, Sam McKim, Blaine Gibson, Nina Rae Vaughn, and Tony W. Baxter. 

Pictures: copyright Disney