Disneyland Museum

[BigThunder]

Would you visit a museum dedicated to Disneyland's past?

With each decade that passes Walt's original Magic Kingdom becomes more and more of a cultural icon and, some would even argue, a national treasure. As the 50th approaches, discussions rage over what should stay and what should go to make way for something new. One look around these boards and any imagineer worth his ears would know that anytime you try to change or "improve" an aspect of the park that some folks consider classic or timeless you're going to be in for a whole lot of trouble. But of course the park must continue to change and improve or else become stagnant. So, what to do?

Perhaps the answer might lie in a Disneyland Museum. A place for old attractions to go when they are retired. Rather than selling off all of that history on ebay, perhaps the Disney company should set aside a special place for it where those of us who loved those old rides could visit and reminisce.

Such a place would have to be fairly big, kind of like a "Smithsonian of Disney" but just think of the merchandising opportunities!

Would you pay to get in? I would. In fact I would rather see that in the old parking lot than DCA.

Your thoughts?

[sorceress1986]

I love that idea....!!! Like the Disney Gallery on a much larger scale!!! The idea of just getting to relive some of those old feelings is extremely valuable to many people and is possibly quite viable in the financial depertment.

[Tom Chaney]

I'm surprised that Disney hasn't already done it! Locate it near the park but across the street. Charge a separate admission. Not quite a "third gate" but another revenue stream. Why throw stuff away when people will pay good money to see it. Sadly, I'm afraid, a lot of the old stuff is gone or destroyed. Replicas could be made, however. I'd love to sit in a Flying Saucer one more time... even it was just a static display. Or hear "Blood On The Saddle" again... or ride the "New People Mover" that would transport you from Downtown Disney to the museum. :bow:

[BigThunder]

I was thinking about the Mark Twain. Even though referb'd, she aint as young as she used to be. Where will she go when they eventually have to build a replacement? Or the old steam engines from the DLRR? They won't last forever either. Disney has a clear choice here. They can auction off their history or they can choose to preserve it in a place where it may be enjoyed for generations to come.

[DznyVan]

After we have a meal at Goofy's Kitchen we walk over to the wall display next to the Grand Ballroom. You could spend hours there looking at each item. The kids make a game out of finding Walt's namebadge first. There are cool old photo's around the corner next to the restrooms as well.

I guess that you could kind of call that the start of a museum???

[ksejr1]

I would love to visit a disneyland museum

[JiminyCricketFan]

It Is A Good Idea!

I certainly would go. I miss much that has gone by. But I do want to raise a concern. I remember a long time ago going to a section of Main Street which featured what was planned for the future of Disneyland. Believe it or not, there was a time in which there were rides on the drawing board and were featured and displayed before they were built. The anticipation was great as a kid. I know that this is dating me, but I remember as a small child seeing pictures of Space Mountains on maps and in displays and wondering, "When are they going to get that built? I want to ride it!!"

I am only concerned that now we are thinking about looking back at the past, looking longingly to what has gone by. When I was young we looked eagerly to the future, about what would come next. I find it an interesting shift. :confused:

[creamcityleo79]

I am only concerned that now we are thinking about looking back at the past, looking longingly to what has gone by. When I was young we looked eagerly to the future, about what would come next. I find it an interesting shift. :confused:

Perhaps an indication that the past really wasn't all that bad and the future isn't all it was cracked up to be :confused:

[Dustysage]

Disneyland Press Release

[BigThunder]

I certainly would go. I miss much that has gone by. But I do want to raise a concern. I remember a long time ago going to a section of Main Street which featured what was planned for the future of Disneyland. Believe it or not, there was a time in which there were rides on the drawing board and were featured and displayed before they were built. The anticipation was great as a kid. I know that this is dating me, but I remember as a small child seeing pictures of Space Mountains on maps and in displays and wondering, "When are they going to get that built? I want to ride it!!"

I am only concerned that now we are thinking about looking back at the past, looking longingly to what has gone by. When I was young we looked eagerly to the future, about what would come next. I find it an interesting shift. :confused:

I remember that place on Main Street too. Wasn't it right next to the Opera House? Anyway, I think looking back is a function of getting older. All of us baby boomers who grew up around DL get a little nostalgic when we look back at what we used to know and love. The park itself is also a "baby boom baby" and the older it gets the more memories it creates. It must look to the future in order to continue, but it must also honor those memories.

[creamcityleo79]

Now, how can we make this a permanent addition somewhere? There's always that big useless plot of land on the other side of the Main Entry Plaza.

[Metal God]

yes

[BigThunder]

[QUOTE=Dustysage][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=2]

Very cool. But I agree that they should find a way to expand it and make it permanent.
:bow:

[Circarama]

Thanks Dusty!

Thanks Dusty, I knew that an exhibit was going into the Opera House, but I had no idea how comprehensive it was going to be. Kudos for the scoop

[Tom Chaney]

Thanks, Dusty. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Cousin Orville]

Would you visit a museum dedicated to Disneyland's past?

With each decade that passes Walt's original Magic Kingdom becomes more and more of a cultural icon and, some would even argue, a national treasure. As the 50th approaches, discussions rage over what should stay and what should go to make way for something new. One look around these boards and any imagineer worth his ears would know that anytime you try to change or "improve" an aspect of the park that some folks consider classic or timeless you're going to be in for a whole lot of trouble. But of course the park must continue to change and improve or else become stagnant. So, what to do?

Perhaps the answer might lie in a Disneyland Museum. A place for old attractions to go when they are retired. Rather than selling off all of that history on ebay, perhaps the Disney company should set aside a special place for it where those of us who loved those old rides could visit and reminisce.

Such a place would have to be fairly big, kind of like a "Smithsonian of Disney" but just think of the merchandising opportunities!

Would you pay to get in? I would. In fact I would rather see that in the old parking lot than DCA.

Your thoughts?

see my post on DL in 12030

[DarylF]

Disneyland in many ways already has a museum like this.... you just need to know where to look. Max, Buff and Melvin have a cameo in WTP. You can hear Brer Bear snoring on Splash Mounting in pretty much the same spot that Rufus was snoring in back in Bear Country. Are the Keel Boats still docked by the burning cabin? America Sings' AA actors got new life in Splash Mountain.
Did you know that the cafeteria at Imagineering has Peoplemovers (with tables!!) to sit in? The warehouses at WDI are chock full of history... ready to make a new appearance, because history never dies.

Still, the Disney Gallery IS one of my favorite parts of the park. Disneyland history is FUN history.

[ni_teach]

http://cca.qc.ca/pages/Niveau3.asp?page=disney&lang=eng

http://www.themodern.org/disneypr.html

[Dustysage]

This cracks me up (from the press release above):

Remind me why I "love" Disneyland? Or why I "loved" it? How about I remind Barry! It certainly isn't because of Paradise Pier or the new Pooh ride, and so many other substandard attractions and clones that team Barry has been pushing on us this decade. I LOVE Disneyland for the little bits of magic that he hasn't managed to trash and replace with cartoons. Give us more Mansion! More Pirates! More Indy! Less Superstar Limo and other Pooh!

We'll see what happens in the next ten years. I can only hope that Imagineering gets the same loving rehaul that the parks have gotten in the past year, so we don't need to go to a museum to experience the Disney magic again.

For goodness sakes, put Tony Baxter in charge of Imagineering - Where he belongs. At least he understands what the Disney magic really is! (Subs, Indy, Splash, Rehabs rather than replacement of the Autopia and tree house to save old classics, etc.)

-Dusty steps off the soap box

[Steve DeGaetano]

Or the old steam engines from the DLRR? They won't last forever either.

Why not? Every single component can be either replaced or re-built. For instance, the Ward Kimball even had brand new drive wheels cast recently. The Ripley has a new boiler and cab; The Holliday and the Ripley have new tenders.