There is a simple attraction to this part of the park. The Plaza is a circular area in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle providing a gathering place, a central location at the end of Main Street, and access to the lands of the Magic Kingdom.

Walt once acknowledged, “Well, a lot of people come back and just like to sit and listen to the band, see the horses going around.” It seems as if Central Plaza was designed for this sort of attraction! In addition, light snackers found that Popcorn Cretors were stationed in the Central Plaza, and old-fashioned ice cream pushcarts often parked here for guest’s accommodation and refreshment. Guests who were searching for a dining destination at Disneyland, could look no further than three major restaurants aptly placed “on the Plaza.”

This is (and has always been) the “hub” of Disneyland, with its central spokes leading through five cardinal lands - Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street U.S.A. Disneyland was so designed that an actual walking distance of one-and-one-quarter (1 1/4) miles takes you through the park. Those central spokes of Disneyland’s (5) realms converge here, at the veritable cross roads - the Central Plaza!

The very idea of a “hub and spoke” layout isn’t new - having been around for at least 200 years in Paris, France.

It’s also worth mentioning that during the 1960s, one major U.S. artery - the U.S. 70 (or, “the hospitality route”) - was once advertised as “the road to Disneyland” because it carried residents of North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California “coast to coast,” all the way to Walt Disney’s Disneyland and Disneyland Hotel! The surrounding Anaheim area developed the nickname “America’s Hub of Happiness” for its convenient, leisurely location at the convergence of two major freeways (the Riverside and Santa Ana Freeways) in addition to major roads. These led to an abundance of Southland attractions and adventures like Knott’s Berry Farm and Ghost Town, the Alligator Farm, the Wax Museum, Marineland, Capistrano Mission, and Newport Dunes.

It’s clear that “cross roads” and “hubs” were marvels of urban planning, controlling (or dividing) crowd traffic volume, and we are not surprised to see them wisely utilized at Disneyland! Step this way please, to the north end of Main Street, as we set foot in the Central Plaza of Disneyland!

Though Walt’s longtime friend and architect Welton Becket would suggest that “the best people to design the Park were his own animators and directors,” there are many original aspects of Disneyland that would be attributed to the designs and work of outside firms, laborers, and individuals. That is why for a time, Walt retained the Pereira and Luckman architectural firm, with recently hired former Walt Disney Studio employee and Art Director Richard Irvine (away from his recent position with Twentieth Century Fox) to act as a liaison. Still, many more Walt Disney“Studio employees were taken out of their old jobs of cartooning and set to work on their boss’ latest endeavor. Architects, engineers, and designers were hired. Bill Martin, an art director from Twentieth Century Fox came in on the early stages of planning and was amazed at Disney’s attention to detail: ‘He went over my plans with a fine toothed comb. I’d drawn sidewalks on the blueprints with square corners and Walt said: ‘Bill, people aren’t soldiers! They don’t turn at sharp angles! Curve the sidewalks! Make the corners round!’” [“Insights” by Steven Hulett ; “Disneyland 25 - Happy Birthday to a Dream” Supplement.]

After Disneyland Incorporated was founded in 1952 (and changed to WED Enterprises, Inc. in 1953), Disneyland development (designs and engineering) really progressed. Richard Irvine’s fellow artists from 20th Century Fox (like Marvin Davis and Bill Martin) came to work for the corporation. Soon, the earliest of plot master-plans - the “Proposed Diagramatic Layout of Disneyland” (Marvin A. Davis’ plot plan), was prepared for WED Enterprises, by September 12, 1953.

Herb Ryman recalled Walt’s recollections of the layout of a famous theme park: “‘You know,’ he said, ‘When I was in Europe, where I've been studying this thing, one of the great problems about amusement parks, any kind of park, is that people get exhausted walking. Now,’ he said, ‘I want to have these radiating spokes from the hub. So that people who are tired, or sick, or old could say, ‘Well, you kids go on ahead, we'll meet you here in forty-five minutes.’” And there again was the secret of Walt's amazing concept of entertainment. He knew that people had to be comfortable.’” —HERB RYMAN, artist. Herb’s concept would depict the Central Plaza area (which was simply labelled “Park”). The drawing had eight “spokes” originating from the “hub”, leading to eight cardinal lands : (1) “Main Street”, (2) “Holiday Land”, (3) Frontier Land”, (4) Recreation Park”, (5) “Fantasy Land”, (6) Lilliputian Land, (7) “Land of Tomorrow”, and (8) “True Life Adventure” Land.

“Marvin Davis’ Plot Plan of Disneyland”

Marvin Davis’ Plot Plan (produced early as September 12, 1953) also featured the “Plaza” with several wide and inviting paths flanked by “greenscaped” landscape areas. These lead in the direction of detailed and un-detailed areas (like the small pocket in front of the “Root Beer Garden,” seen upper left). Over the next two years, developments would reduce the number of timeless realms (and “spokes”) to the five. “Marvin Davis who did something like seventeen different master plans before Walt finally signed off. Nobody had ever built a theme park like Walt was planning. It was a first… the genesis of that kind of park,” according to “Creating the Disney Landscape - An Interview with Bill Evans,” published in The “E” Ticket, Spring 1966.

“Herb Ryman’s Arial Over Disneyland”

At this time, Walt Disney continually required some visual element to show potential Disneyland investors what the realized Park would be. One particular piece was more massed produced than any other (more than 140 times) - the “Aerial View Over Disneyland” drawings, first produced over September 26 & 27, 1953, by the hand of Herb Ryman. A large Plaza or “Hub” of Main Street can readily be seen in his concept sketches. According to his own words (as recorded in “A Brush with Disney”): “Walt had the wise conception that there was going to be a hub, everything should radiate, as the spokes from a wagon wheel.” And so the spokes of the “crossroads of the world of Disneyland” would branch off into the different realms of Disneyland - the Main Street, Frontierland, Holidayland (a sort of recreational park), Fantasyland (a huge complex, entered by way of a castle), and Adventureland (with its exotic jungle river, and entrance through a solarium off the Plaza).

A few years prior (in 1952), Jack and Bill Evans owned a nursery and catered to Hollywood clients like Walt Disney. In fact the duo had previously helped landscape Walt’s Carolwood Drive property. Bill once remembered: “‘We started on Disneyland in 1954, just a year before it opened… We got an aerial photograph, and a transparency of the master plan, showing Main Street and the hub, and the Town Square and everything. We overlayed the aerial with the orange trees, with the master plan in the same scale. We identified the trees that were not in the middle of the street,… and decided to try to work around some of them… We also saved a dozen trees around the hub,” according to “Creating the Disney Landscape - An Interview with Bill Evans,” published in The “E” Ticket, Spring 1966. A little later (in 1955) Herb continued to make suggestions toward beautifying the Hub, even creating at least one gouache and chalk drawing “suggestion for lighting of the Hub” featuring small lights in the trees of the Hub and illumination of the Castle.

Some of these viable project Concepts (as seen above), were supported by a well-developed business case and built expectation.

Female architect and landscaper Ruth Shellhorn was brought in to help with Disneyland planning related to pedestrian (or, guest) circulation (during March of 1955), but she also subsequently ended up making contributions to the surveying, grading, and engineering of the Park. Ruth was most instrumental in the paths as well as the disciplined, Victorian, formal “planting schemes” of the Central Plaza [according to “Ruth Shellhorn” by Kelly Comras]. Her schemes for Disneyland (including the Hub) were then effected by the 15-20 person staff of Bill & Jack Evans’ Evans and Reeves Landscaping, Inc. of Los Angeles - all within 11 months.

Everywhere you looked around Disneyland, there was attention to people comfort and crowd flow. The layout of Disneyland was likely impressive to the members of the “National Associating of Amusement Parks, Pools, and Beaches” from September 18-20 (Tuesday through Thursday), of 1956. Owning to this innovative design, “one of the biggest tributes to WED was given by James W. Rouse, developer of the new town of Columbia in Maryland, who opened the 1963 Urban Design Conference at Harvard University with these words, ‘Disneyland is the greatest piece of urban design in the United States today. I find more to learn in the standards that have been achieved in the development of Disneyland than in any other single piece of development in the country’”, according to Disney News (published Winter 1967-1968).

This design was so innovative, that it was utilized in EPCOT Center’s original designs, more than a decade-and-a-half later, and even improved upon and utilized to make the utilities of EPCOT accessible without interruption of audience traffic.

This illustration (produced for an early licensed Disneyland product), granted a glimpse of the “Hub (Center of Disneyland)”! This early artwork goes so far as to depict shade trees, floral beds, and lawns in the Plaza at the end of Main Street U.S.A. The following two excerpts (from a c. 1954 Dell Giant Comic) briefly depict the Central Plaza twice before Disneyland’s big Opening Day, with Mickey Mouse (and the gang) scurrying off into the four realms!

As of June 2, 1955, C.V. Wood Jr. sent an Inter-Office Memorandum to Walt Disney regarding the best estimates that could be obtained at the time regarding the completion status of individual sections of the Park and Opening Day. C.V. wrote: “Plaza and Hub Landscaping: If all goes according to plan, I think we can be fairly certain that both will be green for opening.”

“Where One Magical Land Leads To Another!”

Main Street, U.S.A. was “America at the turn of the century, at the crossroads of an era.“ Soon maps depicted the spokes (or roads) branching off toward Disneyland’s true-life five cardinal lands - Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland! You’ll also notice that the entrance to Adventureland has moved to the western side of the Plaza (since Disneyland’s conceptual “brownline” drawings were made). Holidayland isn’t gone, but its entrance is accessible from another area in Disneyland. In its place, Magnolia Park will temporarily hold the Bandstand, where Disneyland Marching Band concerts (including the annual Christmas Bowl) are held. Still, the Plaza has always been reckoned as a compass rose (of sorts), leading to all manner of adventures at Disneyland!

“This cool and shady plaza is the heart and hub of Disneyland. From here, you can enter all the different realms,” according to the narrator of “An Adventure in the Magic Kingdom” episode of Walt Disney’s “Disneyland” television series (airing in 1958)! ”A Complete Guide To Disneyland” (published 1957) divulged, “Disneyland is so designed that an actual walking distance of 1 1/4 miles takes you through the Park.” This short walk through Disneyland is easily navigable (by even first time guests) due to this one major design element, which we will now explore. We’ll take a stroll to the end of Main Street U.S.A., during an early morning in 1955. The popcorn creators don’t even appear to be open yet. Usually we find a lot of moisture on the ground, because Main Street U.S.A.’s buildings and streets were hosed down before guests arrive. However, this appears to be a true-life damp morning in Disneyland. The smell of damp soil and precipitation-soaked oak bark lingers fresh in the air as we near the Plaza.

“In the Plaza Hub, visitors sat beneath the shade of seventy-five-year-old olive trees and paused to admire the object of their journey,” according to “Ruth Shellhorn” by Kelly Comras. These trees were carefully placed in their positions under the direction of Landscape Architect Ruth Shellhorn. Subsequent designs of the “Terrace Dining” area on “the Hub” created by artists like Herb Ryman featured details of “geraniums” and “tall slender trees with high foliage” granting an “unobstructed view of castle.” During the construction of Disneyland, the trees were likely personally selected by Jack Evans.

That very year, Herb Ryman would soon create suggestions for lighting for the trees of the hub during the Christmas season of 1955, in gouache and chalk on colored board.

Now, we’ll turn our attention to particularly sunny afternoon in the Plaza, when those shady olives may somewhat fulfill one of their main purposes - to shade guests from the heat.

Main Street trees were selected to blend with the theme of a typical turn-of-the-century Main Street, as is the case with other areas and attractions.

As for those massive trees in the Plaza, Disneyland World of Flowers (published 1965) shares : “Disneyland's Plaza at the end of Main Street is a formal little park from which radiates paths to Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland and Adventureland. The principal trees here are gnarled olives, about 75 years old, and representative of a vanishing California industry. Olives were among the first trees in cultivation, dating back to early Mesopotamia. They came to California via South America and Mexico. The Franciscan monks brought seed and planted groves around the missions; later commercial orchards covered between thirty and forty thousand acres in California. The olive industry began to decline many years ago, however, and the huge groves have fallen before residential land developers.

Unlike many other California crop trees, the olive can be easily transplanted at any age; one group of trees has been moved in Disneyland no less than six times. We pick them up with a skip-loader, hose off the roots to remove excess soil, and relocate them in a different area-it's that simple.“

“Thousands upon thousands of olives are now cast in the role of ornamental shade trees, and Disneyland has some particularly fine examples. The purpose of commercial growers, when the industry was thriving, was obviously to produce a large crop of olives - the bigger the better. In landscape use, productivity has become a liability, particularly if the trees shade a patio or path ; the ripe black fruit is slippery under foot and leaves an unsightly stain on the pavement. The raw material for several tons of pickled olives could become a real problem at Disneyland.” If left unchecked, the olives would become problematic to clean up and disastrous to the clothing of guests.

“We use a special spray on the olive flowers to prevent production of fruit. As a result, though we have many large trees in the Park, it would be hard to find an Olive in the ground in harvest season. Olive trees are evergreen, affording year-round shade and enjoy normal garden culture. Their graceful overall contour, and pleasing open structure is maintained by yearly pruning. In the Plaza you will see some of our finest olives interspersed with fern pines, India laurels and evergreen pears from China.”

As we look at these massive trees we are reminded of the words of Walt Disney (published in Wisdom magazine, December, 1959) : “The way I see it, my park, Disneyland, will never be finished. It’s something I can keep developing and adding to. A movie is different. Once I’ve wrapped it up and turned it over to Technicolor to be processed, I’m through with it. As far as I’m concerned, the picture I’ve finished a few weeks ago is done. There may be things in it that I don’t like, but if there are I can’t do anything about them. I’ve always wanted to work on something alive, something that keeps growing. I’ve got that in Disneyland. Even the trees will grow and be more beautiful every year.”

You may notice that the lampposts in the Central Plaza look different from those that run down Main Street U.S.A. That’s because the lamps on Main Street were purchased in Baltimore, Boston and Philadelphia, while the lamps in the Plaza come distinctly from Chicago. All but the Chicago lamps, were once lit by a lamp lighter. According to “Did You Know” documents (prepared c.1990), “The type of gas lighting used at the turn of the century would be unsafe to use today so, the gas lamps have been converted to electricity.”

The lampposts running down Main Street U.S.A. (all the way to the Central Plaza Hub) come from Baltimore, Maryland and were purchased at 3 cents per pound.

Beyond the magnolia, olive, pine, oak, and rubber trees of Disneyland Plaza, Main Street Horse-Drawn Cars made regular trips from Town Square, down Main Street before arriving at Disneyland Plaza.

Speaking of horses, Horse Head Stanchion Hitching Posts line parts of Main Street to tether the reins of Horses, though we don’t recollect ever seeing them utilized for any of the equine Disneylanders and Cast Members.

By September of 1965 and then 1970, drawings of Horse Head Stanchion Mounts were created by T.M. Marsden.

As newer, spectacular adventures would rise above Disneyland’s skyline, some of them could be previewed from Disneyland’s Central Plaza! In fact Matterhorn Climbers could often be seen from benches in this comfortable Park setting.

Now, there were many things that one could enjoy at Central Plaza, but most of all, - the view! Why, for the Opening Day telecast, one 60-foot-high “tower was rigged in the hub looking down Main Street.” The cameramen would also be afforded a panoramic view of Disneyland’s realms (with its respective visual “wienie”) from that awesome vantage!

What sort of entertainment and attractions were in sight of the Plaza? Since Disneyland’s first year, Popcorn Cretors were stationed here (you can read all about their story HERE), and striped old-fashioned ice cream pushcarts often parked here for guest’s accommodation and refreshment. For those interested in “dining at Disneyland”, there were (and continue to be) two restaurants located just “off the Plaza” - the Red Wagon Inn and the Plaza Pavilion. In the beginning, these were described: “Two distinctive types of restaurant facilities are located here to serve your needs-a buffeteria, a completely new conception in high quality, low cost food service and a re-creation of early century elegance of the Delmonico-style restaurant, where complete meals are served at moderate cost.” Today, these restaurants are known as the Jolly Holiday and the Plaza Inn! In addition, the Ice Cream Cart, the Churro Cart, and the Hot Dog Wagon (since their institution) have also been favorite places for guests to find a snack for several decades.

You may recall visiting Walt Disney’s Disneyland, thinking of a friend, and wanting to convey that you wish they were here with you! To this end, the Central Plaza also had three Public Mail Boxes (the contents of which were collected by Disneylanders and delivered to the local designated U.S. Post Office in Anaheim). These were placed for Guest’s convenience (in case they would like to send a Souvenir Postcard to a friend or family member). One was located near each restaurant (on both the east and west sides of the Central Plaza), and one south of Central Plaza.

While guests rested and refreshed themselves (and perhaps wrote a message to a friend on the back of a postcard), the Central Plaza often offered entertainment. The Disneyland Band’s route often brought the sound of the marching band right through the middle of the Plaza, during the construction of Plaza Gardens and Magnolia Park. Even after the Opening Day telecast, Disneyland Central Plaza Hub was still the site of ceremonies, radio broadcasts (like KFB Radio Show Djs during 1960’s Grad Nite at Disneyland), and even utilized as a film location for a motion picture.

The final product looked very similar to Bruce Bushman's designs for the "Main Street Ice Cream Cart" with its "stock wagon side wheels". The Ice Cream Carts were operated by UPT Concessions, offering popcorn, peanuts, and Ice Cream Bars during peak seasons.

If you look behind these guests, you’ll see quite a few Hudson automobiles (like the 1955 Hudson Hornet, furnished by Hudson Dealers of Southern California). These were on display in various parts of Disneyland during this brief era.

By September 28, 1958, some $71,934 of land improvements had been made to the Hub. While improvements were added to Carnation Plaza Gardens, the Disneyland Band performs a concert in the park, right atop their band stand (which has been placed over the floral bed) in the middle of Central Plaza!

Since the beginning, Atmosphere Entertainment complimenting the theme of areas was staged to entertain Disneyland Guests on an immediate and personal level. Organ Grinders and Monkeys were still commonplace at some amusement centers (like neighboring Knott’s Berry Farm), as well as parks and gardens during the 1950’s. In addition to the Disneyland Band (and breakaway sets), the sounds of the Organ Grinder (with his Molinari & Sons Music Box) and his Monkey friend entertained guests of all ages (from about 1956 to 1959) in various locations around the Central Plaza. One of my friends recalled meeting Josephine on his first trip to Disneyland, when she leapt into his stroller. “55er” Marion Schawacha also recalled: “There used to be an organ grinder and he had a monkey named Josie. All the little kids would crowd around and throw him pennies and Josie would jump around picking them up.”

The organ grinder yielded much happiness but little revenue for Disneyland Inc. - $49 for the fiscal year ending September 29, 1957. Eventually, the monkeys did “go home,” and when the “Organ Grinder and Monkey” finally disappeared from Disneyland, the sight of non-human primates at Disneyland was a rare occurrence indeed - limited to a few circus-themed events, some seasonal parades, and (of course) the occasional chimpanzee seaman aboard the Columbia.

The Organ Grinder and Monkey can still be seen at Disneyland today, in a framed print on the wall of Carnation Cafe!

The Plaza was host to occasional special events. In 1962, a “squirrel cage” (a round ticket drawing box with a handle on it) was set up on the Plaza Platform for an event.

One comedic sequence written and shot for “40 Pounds of Trouble” starring Tony Curtis featured characters meant to portray Disneyland Security Hosts. These actors (dressed in Constable Uniforms similar to the silent film-era Keystone Kops) chased Tony Curtis’ character around Disneyland Plaza.

In addition to the scene in this film, there were several commercials which made use of the Central Plaza stage. According to Ron Yeakley (Disneyland Advertising Department Manager), a number of toys (as well as other props) and production equipment were assembled in the Central Plaza Hub (on August 3, 1966, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.), for a “Toys For Tots” commercial shoot involving Walt Disney and possibly actress Greer Garson.

Central Plaza was the stage for all sorts of unusual exhibits at Disneyland. One particular Old Fashioned Easter event even attracted the hot air ballon that was featured in “Around the World in 80 Days” !

Town Square was utilized for a number of special events and ceremonies, however it also made history when (on August 6, 1970) an unsanctioned anti-war protest was organized by a radical antiestablishment group known as the Youth International Party (or, “Yippies”). Walt had always intended that his Park keep out the sights and sounds of the rest of the world, with the cares and troubles of the daily world dissolving the instant guests entered Disneyland. Disneyland Security Hosts were previously instructed: “Any actions which interfere with the guest's enjoyment of Disneyland will be dealt with strictly.“ On August 6, 1970, undesirable and problematic people attempted to take advantage of the magic atmosphere. Notice the “long haired youths forming a human [chain]…to demonstrate in the Town Square at Disneyland yesterday, shortly before officials closed the Park.” Sadly, the melee resulted in 23 arrests, and these unpleasant, unauthorized demonstrations in Town Square and other areas of the park forced Disneyland to unexpectedly close for the day.

For a sidelight: Now, Disneyland was not against holding hands in the Park, for a cause. More than a decade later, a Park-sanctioned event “Hands Across America” (a project of the USA for Africa Foundation) would appropriately sponsor 1,320 Disneyland Cast Members to join hands with a total of six million Americans standing in a line from coast to coast on Memorial Day Weekend (Sunday, May 25th, 1986). The proceeds would go toward “helping the hungry and homeless in the U.S. through emergency relief, existing programs, and long-term development projects” related to the “USA For Africa Foundation,” according to Disneyland LINE (Vol.18, No.4 ; April 3, 1986).

In Disneyland Central Plaza, the dazzling “Dream Machine” gave away millions of dollars in prizes. The giveaway was in celebration of the biggest party in Disneyland’s 35-year history!

In the present, there is still a red wagon in the Plaza Hub of Disneyland. In fact this particular “Little Red Wagon” is one of the veritable “weenies” at the north end of Main Street. If you don’t believe me, then try one of their incredible Hand Dipped Corn Dogs!

In a Pre-Opening Day interview with Bob Thomas (of Associated Press) Walt once divulged “one of the biggest attractions will be the people themselves. It will be a show just to watch their faces.” There was even a portion of the short film “Disneyland - The Park” (a Disneyland anthology television series short film, originally aired in 1957), which was dedicated to the people of those so-called pedestrian arteries (including Characters, parades, marching bands, and other entertainers) to be found in the Central Plaza Hub. If you agree with Walt, you may also feel that Disneyland Central Plaza is still one of the best locations to watch Very Important People - both Guests in the Audience and Disneyland Cast Members (especially while enjoying a box of Disneyland Popcorn)! Now, I invite you to relax your feet for a moment, and join me as we take it in the “everyday magic.”

A couple of young guests don their Zorro masks and hats for a memorable photograph in Disneyland Plaza during Disneyland’s Zorro Days! Zorro Days were first held at Disneyland, during April (and then November) of 1958.

By 1969, Disneyland had about 52,000 square feet of lawn, which was replaced in one to three years depending on how the Guests treated it. This was in addition to the grasses which covered the berm and other large areas.

The families that pass remind me much of Walt’s initial musings over “something built where the parents and the children could have fun together,” as he himself sat on a bench during “Daddy’s Day” in Griffith Park. As Walt also said: “You can't live on things made for children-or for critics. I've never made films for either of them. Disneyland is not just for children. I don't play down.”

The Disneyland Janitorial Staff dressed like the “white wing” (with the occasional receptacle and shovel in hand) kept the Plaza Hub clean, picking up refuse, emptying trash bins, and even performing service with the help of the “Honey Wagon.” Above, is one of the most photographed characters - Trinidad and an unidentified Cast Member.

By 1969, Disneyland Building and Grounds Department would regularly wash 700 benches (including those in the Plaza). Every morning, chipped paint was touched up, the dew was wiped off the benches, and other minute details were looked after before the day's first guests come through the turnstiles.

Parade units march right down Monorail Road toward the Plaza Hub.

With our eyes, we take snapshots of the Guest experience in action. We look on as Cast Members observe the Four Keys to Guest Service.

“Adults Are Only Kids Grown Up, Anyway”

Disneyland opened as a fresh, new concept in family entertainment. For Grandparents and Grandchildren - for Mom and Dad, Disneyland was designed for the enjoyment of every individual and family member. Walt Disney wisely spoke the words of this subheading: “Adults Are Only Kids Grown Up, Anyway”. Proof of this is a quote published in “The Disneyland Story”: “In the winter time you can go out there during the week and you won't see any children. You'll see the oldsters out there riding all these rides and having fun.” One of the best places to watch “oldsters” (or, “young at heart”) having fun is the Central Plaza.

Walt’s wishes were that Disneyland look as if it were in perpetual Springtime! A fantastic example of this philosophy in motion continues to lay at the center of Disneyland Central Plaza, where a floral centerpiece offers a colorful backdrop for photographs over the decades. When Disneyland was being developed, Ruth Shellhorn was responsible for master planning the tree and plant placement around the lands of the Park (including here in the “hub”).

Ten years later, Vacationland magazine (published for Winter/Spring of 1965) described the delightful free attraction of “year-round blooming flowers.” Disneyland World of Flowers comments on the seasonal arrangements within the centerpiece of the Central Plaza Hub : “The Plaza also delights our guests with showy flower beds of seasonal color. Here we endeavor to maintain a continuous floral display, and depending upon the season you may find Iceland poppies, begonias, zinnias, pansies, petunias, or poinsettias in bloom.” While Disneyland is always changing, some of Ruth’s original selections guided by the Disney tradition of “perpetual springtime” have continued to endure for decades.

The Plaza’s floral centerpiece as well as nearby Sleeping Beauty Castle created a dynamic backdrop for photographs (even when there were few angiosperm in bloom within the flower beds).

It was also during the 1960’s, that the Central Plaza floral bed was given a higher bench-like berm.

During the late 1950s or early 1960s, “a recent innovation, an idea imported from British Columbia, is the Hanging Baskets, displayed from the light post at Disneyland’s Central Plaza. Annual and perennial flowering plants such as pansies, ageratum, and lobelia (Winter) and begonias, petunias and succulents (Summer) bloom in the baskets,” according to Vacationland, (Winter 1961-1962). The idea of utilizing these accenting baskets has endured on Main Street, in Town Square, and around Central Plaza to the present! Notice them hanging around a few of the Vintage views below.

The next time you visit Disneyland, stop and notice the Hanging Baskets’ colorful arrangements of Chrysanthemums, Petunias, and edging Lobelia!

According to “Walt Disney Disneyland World of Flowers” by Morgan Evans, page 18: “During the Christmas season, the Plaza glows with especially grown, short-stemmed poinsettias.”

When did the Plaza ever have a water fountain for a centerpiece? The answer is, “Never.” But, this 1960s map excerpt gives the idea that a fountain may have still been part of the grand landscaping plans for a “future attraction” during that era.

Perhaps the Plaza fountain in Sam McKim’s c.1960 map was not creative liberty. Two years earlier (by September 28, 1958), Disneyland Inc. job number 4062-050 was opened for what was described as a “Hub Fountain,” with $2,602 currently allocated toward the project. Four years later, the Original Map Art from “Walt Disney’s Guide to Disneyland” (published 1962; above) also featured a fountain in the Central Plaza.

It seems that the idea of some grand non-floral centerpiece (like a fountain) was done away with (at least on Fun Maps) during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. In the years that followed, Disneyland Operations and Walt Disney Imagineering had many ideas for a Plaza centerpiece, and one of the most iconic was to come.

Over the years, new flowering plants and trees have been added to enhance this part of the Disneyland show (like the Pink Trumpet Tree, or Pau 'D Arco pictured above). In 1986 (concurrent with the contributions of Disneyland Landscape Superintendent Ken Inouye), “Disney News” (published spring of 1986) described the flora of the paradisiac Central Plaza Hub in the following way:

“Seventy-five year-old California olive trees spread graceful branches amongst neighboring fern pines, India laurels and evergreen pear trees from China. Only yards away, carefully pruned Siberian elms and a few Brazilian pepper trees cast their welcome shade from the noonday sun. While beneath them, a bed of red begonias ringed by sweet alyssum and golden feather completes the scene with a dazzling splash of color. The above description only sounds like a horticulturist's dream spot in the midst of some lush arboretum or botanical garden. In actuality, it is a landscaping account of the Main Street Plaza in Disneyland, a place where spring is a special event for ‘things that go bloom’.”

Around 1987 to 1988, and unrepeated site occurred when a ferris wheel was positioned in the center of the Plaza for Disneyland State Fair.

“The Partners Statue”

Today, it may seem natural to see Walt brought to life through “Walt Disney - A Magical Life”. However, was it Walt’s intention to be the subject of a monument, especially in his own Magic Kingdom? 

First of all, Walt did not want monuments around Disneyland and this is emphasized by a later account recorded by one of his Imagineers, within “The Spirit of Disneyland”. In a section titled “No Monuments,” where we read: “Walt rejected a design for a building with the comment… ‘I think the fellow is attempting a monument to himself rather than designing something that is for people.’ He would allow no monuments in Disneyland.” 

Did Walt ever desire a monument to himself anywhere - especially inside Disneyland? Herb Ryman recalled : “Back in 1955, I had been commissioned to do a mural at Forest Lawn… Walt wanted to see that mural and the Great Hall at Forest Lawn. As we were driving over, we were talking about death and cemeteries and such things. Somebody said, ‘I don’t like Forest Lawn. I think it’s a commercial cemetery.’ Walt said, ‘Well, now, don’t say that. I used to bring my father and mother over here. I’d let them off on a Sunday and they’d walk around inside and then I’d come back and pick them up. I remember how much it meant to them. It means a lot to a lot of people.’ Then somebody said a thing that I was very shocked to hear, ‘Walt, what’s going to happen to you when you die?’ I thought, ‘Boy, what a question.’ Walt was sitting next to me. He took both of his hands and BANG he hit the back of my front seat. He said, ‘Well, for one thing, when I go I don’t want anything left around. Now this means monuments.’” [Working With Walt - Interviews With Disney Artists” by Don Peri]

This does not mean that artwork of Walt was never created within his lifetime. In fact, the first bust of Walt Disney was realized in clay, by Blaine Gibson, during the 60's, while Walt was still alive. Blaine was unhappy with the foundry work and it was nearly destroyed.

“I had sculpted this earlier bust of Walt a long time ago. It was done while he was still alive, and I was never satisfied with it. In fact, I was in the process of destroying this first head when they asked me to do another bust. i intended to discard the bronze that I gave to Walt, and replace it at cost, but Retlaw had it and they never agreed to destroy it. This is the clay original and you can photograph it. I had started to break it up but I couldn't bring myself to put a hammer to it. Dick Irvine talked me into doing it in 1962. Iwas working overnight, I was tired and I felt that it didn't do Walt justice. Also, the foundry work wasn't very good and back then I couldn't control their work like I can now. I do think this first one looks like Walt. When he first saw it he said, ‘What am I gonna do with it?’ and then they kept it over at WED.”

Now, after Walt’s passing on December 15, 1966, there was much talk about how to honor the man who through such a rich show business legacy, brought so much joy to the people of the world! Artists around the world made tributes to the memory of Walt (like the c.1967 bust pictured above). According to Disney News (published Winter 1967-1968), the first honor came when “In an announcement on July 15, 1967, Governor Reagan declared July 17 as Walt Disney Appreciation Day and then asked the state legislature to make the observance an annual event.” The second honor…[was] in the form of a bill, which authorized “the President of the United States to present a gold medal to Mrs. Walt Disney in recognition of her husband’s services to the nation…unanimously passed into resolution by both Houses of Congress. It was announced [during September of 1967]…that the United States Post Office would issue a 1968 stamp in commemoration of Walt Disney.”

Still, much recognition and honor of Walt Disney (the man) as well as his contributions to society would follow in subsequent years.

Two years later, Disneyland unveiled “Walt Disney - A Legacy for the Future” - a “multi-screen show and display presenting Walt Disney’s endeavors in the fields of art and education. Included are plans for his cherished dream, California Institute for the Arts, and the first public display of all 29 Academy Awards received during his lifetime.” After the exhibit ran its course (from 1970, to the summer of 1972) ideas and discussion about some permanent tribute persisted.

All the while, quite a few artists (like Charles Boyer) imagined what may have been an influential reference for what would come.

According to “Disneyland - I Have An Idea” published August 21, 1986, in Disneyland LINE (Vol.18, No.34), there were many suggestions to avoid (for one reason or another) including “construct a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics attraction. Disneyland itself is a memorial to Walt’s creativity in a way that could never be captured in an animated figure.”

A three-dimensional tribute was viewed differently outside the Company. In 1991, Blaine Gibson (prior Director of Sculpting for WED Creative Development, who had retired in 1983) was commissioned to create a bust of Walt Disney for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Garden in North Hollywood, California. This project likely prepared Blaine for what would come next.

Walt once said : "I hope we never lose sight of one thing, that it was all started by a mouse." In the spirit of those very words, the Partners Statue was designed as a tribute to “the founding fathers of Disneyland” - Mickey Mouse & Walt Disney. “The Partners Statue” was designed by legendary Disney artist John Hench (who began work for Walt Disney Studios in 1939) and sculptor Blaine Gibson.

Reflecting on his Partners Statue, Blaine once shared : “I chose to depict Walt as he was in 1954. I think that was when Walt was in his prime. It was tough trying to match the media image of Walt Disney, the one the public knows, to the real Walt, the one we knew. I think Walt is admiring the Park and saying to Mickey, ‘Look what we’ve accomplished together,’ because truly they were very much a team through it all. ‘Look at all the happy people who have come to visit today.’”

Among the details of the sculpt were Walt’s Smoke Tree Ranch tie and his Claddagh ring (purchased as set for he and Lillian, while on a 1948 holiday in Ireland). There were challenges to producing a permanent tribute. For instance (according to Blaine’s own account): “we had some trouble with the patina as there was always an element of the unpredictable.”

Walt once said : "I hope we never lose sight of one thing, that it was all started by a mouse." In the spirit of those very words, the “Partners Statue” was also unveiled in 1993 (in honor of Mickey’s 65th birthday). Yes, on November 18, 1993, Jack Lindquist lead the ceremonies where the bronze Partners Statue of the founding fathers of Disneyland was unveiled in the Plaza by Walt’s nephew, Roy E. Disney.

Surrounding (and enhancing) this central showpiece is the (aforementioned) “continuous floral display, and depending upon the season you may find Iceland poppies, begonias, zinnias, pansies, petunias, or poinsettias in bloom.” In our final Vintage Views, note the color and variety of the flowers, just a sampling of some 40,000 shrubs and perennials at Disneyland.

As a tribute to Walt and his life-long pal Mickey, this bronze statue represents the partnership that built the Walt Disney Company.

These statues were entitled “Dreams never End” and were created in bronze, in an edition size of 275 (25 Artist Proofs and an edition size of 250). The original molds used in the creation of the statues were destroyed at the end of production and the statues were limitedly issued throughout the 1990s.

Before long, the statue was incorporated into the “Partners in Excellence” Award issued to Cast Members of Walt Disney World.

The very name of the Partners in Excellence Program and lifetime-achievement Award (a pin featuring the Partners Statue) designed to inspire and recognize excellent Cast Members was directly inspired by the work.

In the years that followed the dedication of the Partners Statue, many artists have interpreted their view of Blaine’s work onto canvas. Perhaps you’ve had the pleasure of viewing or purchasing limited edition giclees of “Partners In A Dream” (by Maggie Parr), “Disneyland Is Your Land” (by Tim Rogerson) and many others. These incorporate one of the most iconic aspects of the Central Plaza into their work.

You may recall the old marble fountains placed in Town Square and the Central Plaza. Guests once enjoyed refreshing drinks of water from these modern plumbing to the facilities. Each facility was maintained by the Plumbing Department.

If you ever saw the advertisement campaign (which utilized the marble fountains as pedestals) to herald the “No. 1 Sugar on Main Street in Disneyland” - C and H Pure Cane Sugar from Hawaii! Once the fountains were retired, they were just too beautiful to dispose of.

In 2008, WDI master plans involved “reactivating the geographic heart of Disneyland.” Other statues were soon added, in honor of some of Walt’s character creations!

“Disney Character Bronzes”

In recent decades, a magical opportunity involved some of the taller fountains being repurposed as pedestals presenting Mickey Mouse’s Disney Character co-stars.

Valerie Edwards joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 1988, where she soon became chief sculptor. She was a second-generation Disney artist. (Her father worked in Feature Animation during the early years of the Studio.) Currently, as director of sculpture, Valerie watched over sculpture in all theme parks and Imagineering venues. This included everything from architectural ornamentation and robotics to traditional bronzes and character sculpture. Valerie created the sculptures of these characters. The fine craftsmanship of Bill Toma’s foundry may have also contributed to the project. If their work looks familiar to Cast Members, its because Valerie and Bill were the same artistic craftspeople behind the distinguished Disney Parks Character-themed statues that accented the Cast Member Service Awards.

The idea of character statutes in Walt’s Park isn’t new, in fact the very idea predates Disneyland by some twenty years. According to “Walt Disney Disneyland” (published c.1964; with forward by Marty Sklar), “Rough drawings for a park had been found at the Disney Studio dating back to the early 1930’s. His close associates recall that Walt often talked of building a small, intimate park adjacent to his new studio in Burbank - a studio the Disney team moved into in 1940. It was to be a magical little park, about two acres in size, with trains and pony rides. One long-time staff member recalls mention of singing fountains. Another remembers plans for statues of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and all the other beloved cartoon characters. But the magical little park never materialized.”

Snow White Grotto (near the Disneyland Plaza Hub) would receive marbles of Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs, and woodland creatures, in 1967. However, it would be more than 49 years after Walt’s passing, that statues of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck would appear at the heart of Walt Disney’s Disneyland.

On Friday, February 7th, 2015, similar statues were unveiled at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom (only with Br’er Rabbit swapped for the White Rabbit).

“Plaza Hub Tradition and Legacy”

The tradition of the Plaza Hub has a legacy in other Disney Parks worldwide. When the 111-acre Tokyo Disneyland opened near the city of Urasu, in Chiba Prefecture on April 15, 1983, its five themed lands (World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland) surrounded a central “hub,” called the Plaza. The Plaza Terrace even hosted daily concerts by the Tokyo Disneyland Band, the Dapper Dans, Main Street Maniacs, and Sax Five. Other Disney Parks also carried these Disney traditions, following suit.

When certain design principles of the Central Plaza Hub (wide pathways and visual “wienies”) were ignored, audience confusion and pedestrian traffic ensued. One example are some original pathways of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. On this topic, Marty Sklar once quoted Joe Rohde who said: “‘When we designed Animal Kingdom we were working to a high concept based on adventure. We wanted the park to feel adventurous. One of our techniques was to obscure the destination at the end of a pathway so that you’d have to walk forward to reveal the destination. A mini-adventure. Often we would curve the pathway just enough so that you couldn’t see the other end, but just barely. Now of this worked. People just woudnt’t walk in a direction where they couldn’t see the destination. It wasn’t everyone, but from an industrial engineering point of view, it was enough to clog the pathways as crowds backed up behind people who were confused. They need more reassurance that the pathway led somewhere. So we widened pathways just enough so you could see through, and straightened out those that were too twisty, and people began to move.’… Once the pathways were clear to Harambe Village, DinoLand, the Festival of the Lion King live show, Kali River Rapids, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Kilimanjaro Safaris,… Expedition Everest, and the park’s visual and spiritual icon - the 145-foot-tall Tree of Life - Animal Kingdom took its place among the elite Disney Parks experiences.” Clearly, the Central Plaza Hub was a wise, time-tested engineering marvel, exhibiting fundamental principles which have the ability to contribute to each guest’s happy experiences.

As for our own Plaza Hub, Walt Disney Imagineers have continued to seek “new magical opportunities” to reactivate the Hub of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. You may recall that in 2008 (in an effort to “reactivate the geographic heart of Disneyland”), WDI master planners entertained the concept of a “Fantasy Faire franchise collaborative opportunity for all Disneyland business units” under the “Disney’s Princesses initiative.” This resulted in a maximization of resources and enhancement of show components in the Plaza Gardens Area in addition to the nearby expansion of Fantasyland. The Hub also became the site of an Information Board where guests can inquire about wait times for major attractions and scheduled times for shows and parades. In the present, the Plaza Hub is the site of attractions, shops, restaurants, landscaping, lighting, props, and dressings between facilities. Considering all of these added magical opportunities and efficient additions, we optimistically look toward what the future holds for the Area Developement of this essential area of Disneyland!

Before we depart for adventures at Disneyland, I would like to thank you for joining me on this tour of Disneyland Central Plaza. I am hopeful that you have received a newly gained perspective on the purpose of the Hub, as well as many of its elements, ready to enjoy the surrounding scenery, sounds, and other “TBD” attractions at the heart of the Disneyland Resort Show.