Lost Blueprints of the Magic Kingdom: Disneyland's Wildest Ideas That Never Were
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
IGN unearthed some fascinating early Disneyland concepts, including a Wizard of Oz area and an Edison-themed land, proving that even the Magic Kingdom has a wild 'what if?' history. Turns out, a lot of brilliant (and bonkers) ideas landed on the cutting room floor before the park became the icon it is today.
Right, so IGN just dropped a fascinating peek behind the curtain of Disneyland's creation, and bloody hell, it's a ride. Turns out, the 'Happiest Place on Earth' almost went down some seriously bonkers alternate timelines. We're talking Oz characters throwing birthday bashes, Thomas Edison getting his own futuristic square, and a Haunted Mansion that started out as something... completely different.
According to IGN, all this juicy stuff comes from a new illustrated history book called *The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney's Disneyland*. It's packed with over 750 images, concept drawings, and documents, giving us a glimpse into the mad genius (and occasional chaos) that went into building the park. Penned by Don Hahn (the bloke behind *The Lion King* and *Beauty and the Beast*) and Christopher Merritt (a Disney Imagineer with over 25 years under his belt), it's got a forward from Bob Iger himself. So, you know, it's legit.
Now, let's get to the good stuff. What madcap ideas were bubbling in Walt's brain? Well, one early concept involved Edison Square, a tribute to the inventor, envisioned as an offshoot of Main Street, U.S.A. Imagine a cul-de-sac showcasing architecture from different American cities, with a show inside sponsored by General Electric demonstrating the marvels of electricity. Sounds a bit like a world fair exhibit, doesn't it? And you'd be right - it eventually morphed into the Carousel of Progress, which did the rounds at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and then eventually settled in Orlando's Magic Kingdom, where it still spins today.
But the real kicker? A Wizard of Oz-themed area in Fantasyland. Apparently, Walt wanted a 'Magic Land of Oz treatment' inside the Storybook Land canal boat ride, featuring animated figures having a birthday party for Dorothy. Joe Rinaldi, Bob Gurr, and Blaine Gibson (names you should know, Disney nerds) all tinkered with the idea, envisioning about 100 doll-sized figures singing and dancing. Why didn't it happen? Well, the 1964 New York Fair came calling, and all hands were needed for 'it's a small world.' A fair trade? I reckon it's pretty close.
Then there's the evolution of New Orleans Square. Early ideas included a 'Thieves Market', a pirate-themed wax museum, and a walk-through Haunted House. But, thanks to the 1964 World's Fair experiments with moving large crowds, the wax museum and haunted house got a vehicular makeover, turning into the ride-based attractions we know and love. Speaking of Pirates, the original concept was a wax museum, with an underground building built to house the attraction. Thankfully, a boat ride became the more appealing option.
And the Haunted Mansion? Oh, that's a saga in itself. Initially conceived as a walk-through experience designed by Ken Anderson, it got shelved for a bit before animator Marc Davis (the master of 'clear read' – making sure the audience *gets* the joke) got his hands on it. Davis brought the humor, the stretching portraits, and those darn Hitchhiking Ghosts into the mix. And that Hatbox Ghost? All him. What a legend.
It's a fair dinkum reminder that even the most iconic places are built on a foundation of experimentation, failed ideas, and the occasional burst of pure, unadulterated creative madness. And honestly, isn't that half the fun? Who knows what wild concepts are brewing in Imagineering's labs *right now*? Maybe we'll get a *Fortnite* themed land, or something equally crazy. Stranger things have happened, mate, stranger things have happened.
Tags: Disneyland, Disney Imagineering, Theme Park, Walt Disney, Behind the Scenes
Original article: IGN South Africa