Walt's Disneyland Dreams Make a Model Debut
28|04|10 22:16 Filed in: Disneyland
Walt's Disneyland Dreams Make a Model Debut
Located at San Francisco's Presidio, the Walt Disney Family Museum's 10 chronological galleries honor the life and legacy of a visionary American icon – Walter Elias Disney – with memorabilia, videos, and an extra-special surprise. Even die-hard Disney Fans are astonished when they step into Gallery Nine and discover the 1/200th-scale model that represents one of Walt's most impressive achievements, "The Disneyland of Walt's Imagination." The story behind its creation is quite a thrill ride in itself.
Though Disney is synonymous with animation, Walt diversified into television, live-action films, Audio-Animatronics®, and World's Fair attractions during the '40s, '50s, and '60s. Perhaps the most notable bookmark of this era was his growing fascination with trains and other types of transportation. Walt's lifelong passion for fantasy and innovation ultimately resulted in the development of Disneyland, the world's very first theme Park where kids of all ages could experience life the way Walt envisioned it – nothing short of sheer perfection. How would the Museum best portray such a significant cultural phenomenon?
Imagineer Tony Baxter came up with the idea of creating a fun map-style model and presented it to Diane Disney Miller, Ron Miller, and Walter Miller during early meetings with the family. Fun maps depict the Park as a collection of exciting destinations, highlighting each without regard to size or scale. Everyone agreed that the model, now permanently on display, would include Park attractions that existed between 1955 and 1968, primarily during Walt's lifetime.
Richard Benefield, the Museum's Executive Director, explains why Kerner Optical (once the model shop for Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic) was selected for the project. "Their talent pool and experience with high-profile films like 'Star Wars' fit perfectly. Producer Brian Gernand took the creative lead with supervisors Mark Walas and Carol Bauman ... they determined the importance of each attraction in relation to the Park and its visible interest from various angles. Out of respect for Walt, they knew when to exercise restraint so the project didn't go over the top." A team of 13 people, all chosen for their artistic skills and ability to sculpt on a small scale, worked on the intricately detailed model for over a year.
Kerner Optical's designers looked to the charcoal drawings of Nina Rae Vaughn for inspiration. Nina, the former Director of Concept Design and Illustration for Walt Disney Imagineering, was responsible for many Disneyland fun maps and created original artwork specifically for the model. Historic photographs, vintage paintings, sketches, plan drawings, and Imagineer Herbert Ryman's illustrations of Tomorrowland were also incredibly valuable reference materials. One team member even brought in his childhood GAF Viewmaster with Disneyland film reels featuring great period photos of different rides.
"To build a model that looked like the Disneyland Walt imagined, the designers eliminated as much extraneous landscape and utilitarian objects as possible and focused on parts of the Park that visitors remember best. They tried to put themselves in Walt's shoes and think of the details the way he did to create an immersive experience ... it was all about invoking personal memories," Richard says.
Using materials like Plexiglas, sheet brass, styrene, urethane resin, and ground urethane foam, the hand-built model was constructed in easy-to-assemble sections that represent Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Adventureland. Imagineers created Sleeping Beauty Castle (the only piece that wasn't fabricated at Kerner Optical) using 3D computer printing.
Hundreds of buildings, rides, props, and miniature Guests populate the model, which is approximately 13 feet in diameter. Fantasyland's "Spaceport" is the only featured attraction that was never actually in the Park, although its real-world counterpart is Space Mountain. Several original attractions have since been removed, such as the Mine Train and the Flying Saucer Ride. Many have moving or light-up components, including It's a Small World, the General Electric Carousel of Progress, Main Street, U.S.A.'s lampposts, and the train that runs around the Park. Video monitors are timed with a light show so visitors can hear Walt describe each section of the Park as it illuminates.
Flickering light in the window of Walt's apartment above the firehouse is lovingly called the "Spirit of Walt" by Disneyland Cast Members, but a closer look will reveal one of two Walts hidden within the model. Need clues as to where he might be? Look for his famous suit in the area surrounding the Castle and Autopia!
The exhibition also includes the Autopia car he gave to grandson Chris and his steam engine locomotive, the "Lilly Belle," complete with train cars and the caboose he fabricated himself. Photos, videos, and accompanying text panels show Walt working on and riding the train and describe how his interest in transportation led to Disneyland. In January 2012, the Museum will host a special exhibit on the making of "The Disneyland of Walt's Imagination," featuring interviews with the model-makers themselves.
Richard adds, "Guests react to the model with hushed awe ... it marries Walt's love of amusement parks with his love of trains. As a model-maker himself, Walt would have loved this part of the Museum."
Visit the Walt Disney Family Museum to see "The Disneyland of Walt's Imagination" ... we're sure you'll agree!
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Though Disney is synonymous with animation, Walt diversified into television, live-action films, Audio-Animatronics®, and World's Fair attractions during the '40s, '50s, and '60s. Perhaps the most notable bookmark of this era was his growing fascination with trains and other types of transportation. Walt's lifelong passion for fantasy and innovation ultimately resulted in the development of Disneyland, the world's very first theme Park where kids of all ages could experience life the way Walt envisioned it – nothing short of sheer perfection. How would the Museum best portray such a significant cultural phenomenon?
Imagineer Tony Baxter came up with the idea of creating a fun map-style model and presented it to Diane Disney Miller, Ron Miller, and Walter Miller during early meetings with the family. Fun maps depict the Park as a collection of exciting destinations, highlighting each without regard to size or scale. Everyone agreed that the model, now permanently on display, would include Park attractions that existed between 1955 and 1968, primarily during Walt's lifetime.
Richard Benefield, the Museum's Executive Director, explains why Kerner Optical (once the model shop for Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic) was selected for the project. "Their talent pool and experience with high-profile films like 'Star Wars' fit perfectly. Producer Brian Gernand took the creative lead with supervisors Mark Walas and Carol Bauman ... they determined the importance of each attraction in relation to the Park and its visible interest from various angles. Out of respect for Walt, they knew when to exercise restraint so the project didn't go over the top." A team of 13 people, all chosen for their artistic skills and ability to sculpt on a small scale, worked on the intricately detailed model for over a year.
Kerner Optical's designers looked to the charcoal drawings of Nina Rae Vaughn for inspiration. Nina, the former Director of Concept Design and Illustration for Walt Disney Imagineering, was responsible for many Disneyland fun maps and created original artwork specifically for the model. Historic photographs, vintage paintings, sketches, plan drawings, and Imagineer Herbert Ryman's illustrations of Tomorrowland were also incredibly valuable reference materials. One team member even brought in his childhood GAF Viewmaster with Disneyland film reels featuring great period photos of different rides.
"To build a model that looked like the Disneyland Walt imagined, the designers eliminated as much extraneous landscape and utilitarian objects as possible and focused on parts of the Park that visitors remember best. They tried to put themselves in Walt's shoes and think of the details the way he did to create an immersive experience ... it was all about invoking personal memories," Richard says.
Using materials like Plexiglas, sheet brass, styrene, urethane resin, and ground urethane foam, the hand-built model was constructed in easy-to-assemble sections that represent Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Adventureland. Imagineers created Sleeping Beauty Castle (the only piece that wasn't fabricated at Kerner Optical) using 3D computer printing.
Hundreds of buildings, rides, props, and miniature Guests populate the model, which is approximately 13 feet in diameter. Fantasyland's "Spaceport" is the only featured attraction that was never actually in the Park, although its real-world counterpart is Space Mountain. Several original attractions have since been removed, such as the Mine Train and the Flying Saucer Ride. Many have moving or light-up components, including It's a Small World, the General Electric Carousel of Progress, Main Street, U.S.A.'s lampposts, and the train that runs around the Park. Video monitors are timed with a light show so visitors can hear Walt describe each section of the Park as it illuminates.
Flickering light in the window of Walt's apartment above the firehouse is lovingly called the "Spirit of Walt" by Disneyland Cast Members, but a closer look will reveal one of two Walts hidden within the model. Need clues as to where he might be? Look for his famous suit in the area surrounding the Castle and Autopia!
The exhibition also includes the Autopia car he gave to grandson Chris and his steam engine locomotive, the "Lilly Belle," complete with train cars and the caboose he fabricated himself. Photos, videos, and accompanying text panels show Walt working on and riding the train and describe how his interest in transportation led to Disneyland. In January 2012, the Museum will host a special exhibit on the making of "The Disneyland of Walt's Imagination," featuring interviews with the model-makers themselves.
Richard adds, "Guests react to the model with hushed awe ... it marries Walt's love of amusement parks with his love of trains. As a model-maker himself, Walt would have loved this part of the Museum."
Visit the Walt Disney Family Museum to see "The Disneyland of Walt's Imagination" ... we're sure you'll agree!
SOURCE
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Contribute to Disney By The Numb3ers
If you would like to contribute and write about Disney please complete the quick writing form, and you are on your way. We can use writers for our blog and monthly newsletter. You can contribute trip reports, updates and more.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Sign up for the Disney By The Numbers Newsletter-
http://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=1018222r
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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