Disneyland Story by Sam Gennawey

Author:Sam Gennawey
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781628090130
Publisher: Keen Communications
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

DISNEY REALISM

“DISNEYLAND HAS ALWAYS had a big river and a Mississippi stern-wheeler,” Walt said. “It seemed appropriate to create a new attraction at the bend of the river. And so, New Orleans Square came into being—a New Orleans of a century ago when she was the ‘Gay Paree’ of the American frontier.”122 New Orleans Square opened along the banks of the Rivers of America on July 24, 1966, at a cost of $15 million. It was the first new land since the park opened and the first time that the Imagineers were challenged with creating an environment that was a representation of a specific place at a specific time: romantic, pre–Civil War New Orleans in 1850, when it was the most cosmopolitan and diverse city in America.

In an early press release, the Imagineers proclaimed that the Disneyland New Orleans was “a city of contrasts. Magnificently gowned ladies, genteel and gracious, strolled past benign Indian squaws selling sassafras root. Iron-lace balconies seemed even more delicate when compared with stretches of ashed walls. Intimate courtyards were lazy counterpoints to crowded markets.” This new section of the park would “be as exciting as a pirate treasure hunt, as colorful as a Mardi Gras ball, as memorable as a visit to the French Quarter.” 123

John Hench described New Orleans Square as “Disney Realism, sort of Utopian in nature, where we carefully program out all the negative, unwanted elements and program in the positive elements. In fact, we even go beyond realism in some cases to make a better show. The streets were much cleaner than New Orleans had ever experienced.” He noted, “Frankly, if we created a totally perfect, authentic themed experience where we had complete realism, it would probably be ghastly for contemporary people.”124

Guests could easily spend an entire day at New Orleans Square. The French Market Restaurant offered buffet-style dining and a terrace with live Dixieland music. It was the largest restaurant in New Orleans Square and was decorated in old brick with accents of core and green, black iron furnishings, and a quarry-tile floor all under an antique pressed-tin ceiling. The domed “skylight” had two tile murals portraying the ceremonies for the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.125 For a quick drink, the Mint Julep Bar offered nonalcoholic mint juleps, lemonade, and fritters. For those in need of an ice cream or coffee, there was the Sara Lee Cafe Orleans, complete with a 19th-century espresso machine acquired by Walt during a trip to Milan.126

At Crystal D’Orleans, guests could watch the glass blower at work and purchase fine Spanish crystal and decorative glassware. The silversmith at Leaflet’s Silver Shop made jewelry to order and performed minor repairs. Guest could purchase a hat or film at Le Chapeau Hat Shop and kitchen accessories and spices from Le Gourmet.127 Custom stained glass and wrought iron could be found at Le Forgeron. Over at Mlle. Antoinette’s Parfumerie, guests could blend custom fragrances. The shop kept records so that guests could return and reorder the exact fragrance they had previously selected.

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