REMEMBER... OPENING OCT. 1971
We conclude this week's countdown of Walt Disney World anniversary milestones with... a countdown. This time, it's the ticking clock for construction crews and Imagineers putting the finishing touches on the Magic Kingdom park for its grand opening, a date emblazoned on the face of Cinderella Castle for all to see. (All photos ©Disney)
Although an initial groundbreaking ceremony had taken place in 1967, quite a bit of preparation had to be done to the land before actual work could begin. Construction started in earnest on May 27, 1969, with just over two years to go before the big day. The pictures you see here represent the final weeks and months leading up to the opening.
In the photo above, City Hall is nearly complete, and the Victorian woodwork is being added to the front of the Emporium. Below, the towering pylons at the entrance to Tomorrowland await their final paint and tile. Trees have been planted along the waterway, fresh sod is being laid and a wooden mock-up of a Plaza Swan Boat is placed in the canal to test for clearances (although the actual attraction wouldn't be ready to open until May 1973).
In this next shot, we see the famed Liberty Tree. This 100+ year old southern live oak was identified on the south end of Walt Disney World Resort property, and then transplanted to Liberty Square. Steel rods were drilled through the center of the tree, allowing it to be lifted onto the truck by crane, driven slowly to the Magic Kingdom and lowered into place. The holes left by the rods were then sealed, allowing the tree to survive and thrive.
Our last shot today offers a peak into Fantasyland, where Dumbo is almost ready to fly. This is the original 10-arm Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction, which was replaced by the current 16-arm version in the early-90s. Look closely at the photo, and you can also spot one of the Skyway towers and the palm trees surrounding the lagoon for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
As we prepare to embark upon the celebration of Walt Disney World's 40th year, Dumbo the Flying Elephant is under construction once again... this time as part of Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland. The circus big top is already going vertical, and Dumbo will soon fly east to his new home, set to debut in 2012.
Where in Disney's World - Thursday 11/25 Answer
Today's clue was a detail from one of the heraldic flags hanging above the main dining room at Cinderella's Royal Table inFantasyland at the Magic Kingdom Park. Many of the family crests decorating the chamber are actually those of the Imagineers and others who contributed to the design and construction of Cinderella Castle and the Magic Kingdom.
For more on some of the details of Cinderella Castle, click back to this article posted on the blog back in January.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
The Royal Princess Cinderella and our noble Prince Charming are hosting a ball this evening in honor of you, the loyal subjects of the Magic Kingdom. They humbly request the pleasure of your company at this magical event.
Of course, you can't go to the ball looking like that! So step inside, my dears, to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and let one of our Fairy Godmothers-in-Training transform you into the perfect picture of princess-dom.
The Boutique, located in chambers just off the main thoroughfare of the Castle, is a beautifully appointed space complete with candle chandeliers, velvet drapes, tapestries and frescoes. These paintings depict scenes of idyllic spots around the Kingdom, from the wishing well to the bench under the weeping willow where Cinderella first met her Fairy Godmother.
The room is bustling with activity, as everyone wants to look their very best for the ball. Some clients have already visited the Royal Dressmaker at Castle Couture (or plan a fitting later), while others come prepared in their finery.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is also home to the crown jewels of some of the most prominent Royals from Disney Kingdoms around the world. Here, the Fairy Godmother's magic keeps the crowns safe until the lovely ladies need them for a special occasion. Can you guess which crown belongs to which princess?
Click on Comments for the answers...
Stitch's Great Arrival
Earlier on the blog, we explored the construction sites of some of our favorite Disney Parks attractions. Often just as interesting are the construction walls, used to hide the work being done and tease the upcoming additions to the park.
In 2004, the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter closed at the Magic Kingdom, to make way for Stitch's Great Escape. Anyone visiting Tomorrowland during that time was treated to an intriguing blue wall covered in a star field. Newspaper clippings posted on the wall offered clues to the story being prepped inside.
I especially enjoy the details, especially the newspaper mastheads. There's the Galactic Gazette, Tri-Planet Tribune and Planet Turo Times (Turo is the home planet of Jumba, Pleakleyand Co. from the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch). It's difficult to see in this picture, but even things like the date of publication and organizational slogans helped reinforce the story.
On November 16, 2004, the walls came down, and new recruits were invited for the first time into Tomorrowland's PrisonerTeleportation Center to contend with the arrival of a Level 3 captive. To anyone else there that day, it was clear things had not gone according to plan. Someone... or some thing... had TP'ed and spray-painted the castle.
Displaying some of the same irreverence used in marketing theLilo & Stitch film, Stitch's arrival in the Magic Kingdom was heralded in a uniquely "626" way. Of course, the Fairy Godmother had Cinderella's Castle back to normal by the next morning, but Stitch could still be found weeks later, hitching rides on the Walt Disney World monorail.
A Royal Foundation
We begin our look at Disney under construction with the central icon of the Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Castle. Since opening day in 1971, the castle has looked pretty much the same, an easily recognized symbol of the joy and magic of Walt Disney World (first 3 photos ©Disney).
It didn't start that way, though. Before topping out at 189 feet, Cinderella Castle started below what is now ground level. The "first floor" of the Magic Kingdom is comprised of a series of facilities connected by passages known as Utilidors. The central corridor of the Utilidor system can be seen in the following image, along with the first signs of vertical construction on the castle walls. Much of this would soon be covered with earth claimed from the formation of Seven Seas Lagoon out in front of the park.
Once the superstructure was complete, detail work began on the castle exterior and interior spaces. Cinderella Castle was finished ahead of much of the rest of the park, so that promotional photos and film could be shot in advance of opening day. The castle stood as a reminder of the ultimate goal for the rest of the crews working on the Magic Kingdom. Take a close look at the clock face on the front of the castle, and you'll see it's a placeholder, stating "Remember Opening Oct. 1971."
Today, all that concrete, steel, Fiberglas and Imagineering artistry blend together seamlessly in the form of a sparkling jewel at the heart of a fairytale kingdom. It's as if Cinderella Castle just appeared here... like magic.
A Castle Fit for a Princess
This week, we return to the Magic Kingdom for an exploration ofFantasyland. Our journey begins where it ought to... with Cinderella Castle. The design of the castle is a blend of many different European styles, from 13th-century French chateaux like those at Ussé and Chenonceau to medieval castle keeps and ornate late-Rennaisance palaces.
The lower walls of the castle are more like a fortress, designed to protect the village beyond. Note the moat surrounding the structure and the battlements and arrow slits for defense. The upper reaches of the castle are more refined and detailed, befitting the elegance of the Princess who lives here. The gargoyles on the towers may seem imposing, but are actually typical of Frenchgothic architecture. They serve as water spouts, helping with drainage and protecting the castle from a buildup of rainwater.
Regal details abound on Cinderella Castle, from heraldic tapestries to finely carved stonework on the bridge.
The family crest cast in stone above each entrance to the castle is actually the Disney family coat of arms. Whether this is the crest historically associated with the Disney name or just one that Walt Disney picked out is a matter for debate. In any case, this bit of Hidden Disney is appropriate here, since lions as charges on coats of arms were common among ruling families of several European states.
The clock on the castle is an important symbol from the Cinderella story, but it's also full of details representative of the period. The Roman numeral for "4" is shown as IIII (the use of IV is more modern in nature), and the arms of the clock include astronomical symbols used to indicate such things as the relative position of the sun, moon and zodiacal constellations.
Of course, while there are elements here that come from the story of Cinderella, you might notice that this castle looks nothing like the one seen in Disney's 1950 animated classic Cinderella. That's because that was the King's castle. The castle in the Magic Kingdom is truly Cinderella's castle, the home built by the King as a wedding present for his son, Prince Charming, and his new daughter-in-law.
Inside the castle are carved columns, beautiful tapestries and other commissioned works of art that tell the story of Cinderella and how she and the Prince came to meet. Decorative tile story murals like those found in the castle breezeway were highly popular in ancient Rome and Egypt, but during the Middle Ages, they were created almost exclusively for the wealthiest landowners and members of the nobility.
The panel pictured above has some particularly fun details about it. Notice the stepsisters who are depicted as "red with rage" and "green with envy" over Cinderella's foot fitting the glass slipper. Also, the images of the Footman and Grand Duke bear the likenesses of Imagineering legends (and key designers of Cinderella Castle) Herb Ryman and John Hench.
Out back is the beautiful La Fontaine de Cendrillon, depicting our Lady's humble beginnings as a scullery maid in the Tremaine household. (Remember, her actual name is Ella Tremaine. "Cinder Ella" is a nickname given her by those wicked stepsisters.) View the fountain from the proper angle, though, and a golden crown rests down upon her head.
Stepping inside the castle walls, we're greeted with the most beautiful view yet of Cinderella Castle. This is the view enjoyed by the Princess's loyal subjects who live and play in this magical land of fantasy.
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