Look at me going to Disneyland. This was a somewhat extension to my documentary project, and another part finding the roots of Disney World and seeing how they stack up. Disneyland opened in 1955, and Walt Disney World (aka The Florida Project) opened in 1971.
I’ll make a one-liner. If Disneyland were the urban beginnings, Disney World is the suburban ideal.
I can continue to make that comparison throughout the two parks. Disneyland is much more close together in attractions and people, the corridors and queue lanes are narrower, the entire area is smaller in acreage, and it’s all in the middle of everything else in downtown Anaheim. Thus, Walt Disney World by design, is massive in it’s acreage, much more spacious in it’s avenues, lanes, and shops, has more attractions that you can see more easily (photo spots, anyone?), and is the ideal dream of Walt Disney. You have to drive into it as if it is it’s own town – a planned development in the suburbs. Disney World is suburban Disney – neat, clean, friendly, and almost perfect.
That aside, it was fun to see Disney’s roots. There were noticeable differences in many of the attractions, namely in Pirates of the Caribbean that is bases in New Orleans Square, rather than Adventureland.
The queue was more close together, obviously being extended from when it was first built. When you first get into the building, you’re greeted by the attraction boats on the water – they’re right next to you. You then go around the corner and get on the ride.
It starts in the Louisiana bayou – a good transition from New Orleans square into the Caribbean. Go down, and into the Pirates typical animatronic show. It was mostly the same with a few additional scenes, making it a bit longer than WDW’s.
Enough of a review…
Here’s a street view of New Orleans Square.
The Haunted Mansion exterior was vastly different, as they’re based off different haunted houses. The attraction itself was pretty similar, though.
And of course, the Matterhorn. Since Sleeping Beauty’s castle isn’t quite the focal point of the park as Cinderella’s Castle is (it’s only 77ft tall as opposed to WDW’s 189ft), the Matterhorn Bobsled ride, being the tallest and grandest, becomes the feature attraction.
I’ll leave you with just one more touristy picture. We all do it, right? Because if you don’t have pics of you in the place, you weren’t really there!
