Disney Park Comparison

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Comparing every Tomorrowland

1. DISNEYLAND

TOMORROWLAND - OPENED: JULY 17, 1955

The quadrant to the right of the hub is Tomorrowland, intended to be a blueprint of the future. Of all the lands of Disneyland, this one was the most ambitious and the most difficult to conceive. It features the least relatable buildings for it is set in the future, thus there is no comparison and thereby it depends the most on the imagination of its creators. A big problem with ‘the future’ is that it becomes ‘the present’ at some point, making the land redundant. Therefore, compared to the other Disneyland realms, this one has undergone the most changes.

Initially Tomorrowland represented a utopian future in the year 1986. Due to a strict budget, it was not finished upon opening day, but did feature some interesting attractions like Rocket to the Moon, a flight to the moon ride before it actually happened. Walt Disney wanted this to be accurate and was advised by space scientists. The eyecatcher was the rocket ship TWA Moonliner at the entrance of the attraction. It was designed by John Hench and was the highest building of Disneyland. Autopia is this land’s only opening day attraction still operating today. Although intended as a futuristic view of the American highway, today it is a rather nostalgic attraction. Another attraction was Circle-Vision 360° (opened as Circarama), in which guests could see a film on a 360° continuous screen inside a circular theatre.

The biggest part of Tomorrowland featured show buildings in simple geometric shapes and unused open spaces. It lacked the detail of the other lands, although the minimalistic approach could be seen as futuristic. The earliest features were exhibits and showcases sponsored by American companies and not rides. Many attractions were added or replaced later on. In 1957 Monsanto House of the Future opened, a cruciform fiberglass structure exhibiting the possibilities of living in the future.

The first major expansion of Disneyland happened in 1959 when 3 new attractions opened simultaneously in the northern part of Tomorrowland, adjacent Fantasyland. These were: Submarine Voyage, Disneyland Monorail, and Matterhorn Bobsleds. All 3 were quite groundbreaking. Submarine Voyage was an underwater ride (although the vessels did not submerge fully). The Monorail was the first of its kind in America and a realistic futuristic transportation option. And Matterhorn Bobsleds was the first thrill ride in Disneyland and the first ever roller coaster using cylindrical rails and urethane wheels. These materials have become the standard for roller coasters afterwards.

Even after these and other additions, it became clear that the corporate fueled exhibits and overall theme was getting outdated. In 1967 a completely new Tomorrowland opened. Many of the sober show buildings were rebuilt from scratch and attractions were added to fit the new theme called World on the Move. These attractions included: PeopleMover, a ride introducing an innovative new transportation system; Carousel of Progress, a show in a rotating theater that debuted on the 1964 New York World’s Fair; and Adventures Thru Inner Space, the first Disneyland attraction to use the Omnimover ride system. This system also debuted in a prototype version at the New York World's Fair for Ford's Magic Skyway pavilion. The simple but brilliant idea: a constantly moving chain of vehicles that doesn’t stop moving forward, on which each individual vehicle is able to swivel 360 degrees. Other attractions were updated like Flight to the Moon, the new version of Rocket to the Moon and the Circle-Vision 360° theatre was remodeled and featured a new film: America the Beautiful, a Disney attraction that premiered at the Brussels World Fair of 1958. Aesthetically New Tomorrowland was more appealing with its circular buildings interconnected by the smooth PeopleMover track. The dominant color was white, making the yellow, blue, red, and green PeopleMover vehicles and the multicolored flower beds stand out. For the first time every attraction fitted the theme, and the land was finally in line with the rest of the park, maybe even superior to it.

The land stayed more or less the same for a decade. In 1977 Space Mountain opened, a down-scaled version of Magic Kingdom’s version, with a different layout using a single track rather than two. Another decade later, in 1985, Disney announced a collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd. to bring a Star Wars based attraction, called Star Tours, to Disneyland. It opened in 1987 and was the first attraction based on a non-Disney owned IP. Captain EO, another attraction produced by George Lucas (founder of Lucasfilm Ltd.) opened even earlier in 1896. This 3D film starred Michael Jackson and was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Since special effects were used in the theatre, this attraction is regarded as one of the first 4D films.

In the early nineties, a major makeover was announced called Tomorrowland 2055, themed as an intergalactic spaceport with ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter as one of its signature attractions. Due to the financial struggles of the Euro Disney Resort this plan was scrapped, but a less costly makeover did happen. Tomorrowland’s 3^rd incarnation opened in 1998 and used the same color palette as Discoveryland in Paris. The Astro Orbitor, now placed at the entrance of the land, was a replica of the one in Paris. 3 new attractions opened: Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, replacing Captain EO; Innoventions, based on a similar Epcot attraction; and the infamous Rocket Rods. The latter high-speed ride used the same track as the previous much slower PeopleMover. Due to the many technical problems, it was closed more often than not, resulting in its permanent closure only 16 months after opening.

In 2005 the colors were altered again, this time matching Magic Kingdom’s palette and the same year marked the introduction of Pixar based attractions with the opening of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. 2 years later, Submarine Voyage was re-themed as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. On top of that, the Star Wars franchise was taking over Tomorrowland too, with the interactive Jedi Training Academy show in 2006; an updated Star Tours in 2011; and Star Wars Launch Bay in 2015. Even the classic Space Mountain got a Star Wars overlay known as Hyperspace Mountain.

Today Tomorrowland is a mix of futuristic Disneyland nostalgia and blockbuster franchises, not really creating a coherent land of tomorrow.

2. MAGIC KINGDOM

TOMORROWLAND - OPENED: OCTOBER 1, 1971

Like in Disneyland, Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland was unfinished upon opening. It featured only 2 attractions: Grand Prix Raceway and Skyway to Fantasyland. Soon after, Flight to the Moon was added and a circle-vision 360° theatre featuring America the Beautiful. These early attractions were based on Disneyland’s versions. The initial design featured large white show buildings, eye-catching signs and tall geometric shapes including the imposing twin waterfalls at the entrance of the land. Its style was a mix of L.A.’s googie architecture, the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and Disneyland’s 1967 version of Tomorrowland.

In 1972 If I Had Wings, an Omnimover dark ride was added and in 1974 Star Jets. The beloved Carousel of Progress was relocated from Disneyland to Magic Kingdom in 1975. The same year PeopleMover and Space Mountain, a double tracked indoor roller-coaster underneath a massive white canopy, opened. Instantly the latter became Tomorrowland’s signature attraction.

After 2 decades the 1970’s scientific based theme was up for a complete makeover called New Tomorrowland - The Future That Never Was, premiering in 1994. It became an intergalactic spaceport, like Disneyland’s unbuilt Tomorrowland 2055. The design is partly influenced by Paris’ retro-futuristic Discoveryland, Art Deco architecture, and 1930’s science-fiction films and comic strips like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. The glue to keep it all together is the omnipresent use of the vibrant Factory Pomo aesthetics for the signs and logos. The result is a tongue in cheek futuristic fantasy-science world with an overall energetic metallic look and lots of bright colored neon lights, best experienced after sunset. The Star Jets attraction was changed into Astro Orbiter, fitting the theme well and a new entrance gate was built. Two attractions were added: The Timekeeper, borrowed from Paris’ Discoveryland and ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. Magic Kingdom’s New Tomorrowland was much more appealing than the 1998 Disneyland re-theme.

The ‘toonification’ began in 1998 with the opening of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Then in 2004 Stitch's Great Escape! replaced ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. Although the latter was a fantastic attraction, it was considered too scary for a family theme park. Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor was added in 2007 replacing The Timekeeper.

In 2019 Tomorrowland received a new color scheme and the somewhat eclectic entrance gate was replaced by a more purified white version, going back to the googie style and stepping away from the 1994 New Tomorrowland design. In 2023, the long-awaited TRON Lightcycle / Run from Shanghai’s Tomorrowland opened, adding another fantastic ride to a land already filled with great attractions. The modern freeform canopy blends less smoothly with its surroundings here than the original in Shanghai.

Nevertheless, Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland is more coherent than Disneyland’s counterpart. It features the least Star Wars/ Pixar based attractions of all and is the most faithful to its theme. On top of that, this version holds an impressive array of experiences.

3. TOKYO DISNEYLAND

TOMORROWLAND - OPENED: APRIL 15, 1983

Unlike the previous versions, Tokyo’s Tomorrowland opened as a full-scale land with no less than 6 attractions, including the typical Star Jets, Grand Circuit Raceway, Circle-Vision 360°, Skyway to Fantasyland, Space Mountain, and Meet the World. The latter was one of the few attractions that wasn’t a clone, but a unique ride for Tokyo Disneyland focusing on the relation of Japan towards the rest of the world. It functioned like Carousel of Progress in a rotating theatre. In fact, this attraction was originally developed for the Japan Pavilion in Epcot Center that was under construction at the same time in Florida. Because of technical problems with the building (and time and money running out), the attraction never opened there.

The overall design of the land looks a lot like Magic Kingdom’s 1975 version. It is significantly scaled down though without the PeopleMover track and with a smaller Space Mountain. The dominant colors here are white and blue. Over the years, clones from popular attractions were added like Captain EO in 1987 and Star Tours in 1989. The latter houses in a unique building with a more industrial look. The adjacent shop and restaurants have a similar design, creating a nice little sub area. Other popular attractions followed like The Timekeeper in 1993 and MicroAdventure! in 1997. The latter was known as Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in the American parks. Its title was changed to be easier understood, and conveniently the new title fits the theme better.

In the late 1990’s a complete makeover of the land called Sci-Fi City was designed by Imagineer Eddie Sotto. Its theme was based on the sitcom The Jetsons and the movie The Rocketeer as well as the aforementioned 1930’s comic strips. It looked amazing but was unfortunately scrapped due to the high costs of Tokyo DisneySea (Tokyo’s 2^nd park) that was in development at that time.

Toonification happened in every park and Tokyo was no exception with Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters opening in 2004 and Stitch Encounter, an interactive show copied from Hong Kong’s Tomorrowland in 2005. In 2009 a new and exclusive dark ride opened: Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek replacing Meet the World. The show building is based on the factory from the movie, and actually fits well next to the industrial looking Star Tours, the beige color is quite different though from the rest of Tomorrowland, making it stand out.

More recently 2 classic rides: Star Jets and Grand Circuit Raceway closed to make way for a massive makeover of the entire north-western part of the park. These attractions were replaced by a mini Beauty and the Beast land (which is considered a part of Fantasyland) and The Happy Ride With Baymax in Tomorrowland. In 2022 OLC announced a complete makeover of the classic Space Mountain, once again stepping away from the cloned attractions of the early years.

Overall, Tokyo’s Tomorrowland has a solid attraction line-up, but many are based on Disney/ Pixar movies, not fitting the theme or the nostalgic 1970’s look. It is yet to be seen how the makeover of Space Mountain, scheduled to open in 2027 will change the land.

4. DISNEYLAND PARIS

DISCOVERYLAND - OPENED: APRIL 12, 1992

To once and for all solve ‘the Tomorrowland problem’ where the future catches up with the present at some point, this version was not set in the future but in the past. Imagineers created this land as a vision of the future through the eyes of the late 1900’s storytellers like H. G. Wells and Jules Verne and visionary Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. This completely new approach was also chosen to be a European rather than an American vision of the future. It was partly inspired by Discovery Bay, a never executed realm for Disneyland, with similar elements.

Discoveryland’s design is mostly steampunk, with some googie influences. Some parts are based on drawings by Jules Verne and the visions of the future from the comic strips Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. The colors of this land are warmer than the previous versions with copper, bronze, dark red and green dominating the palette. For the first time neon lights were used, making the land ‘shine’ at nighttime. Imagineer Tim Delaney was show producer for the land.

Autopia and Orbitron (an attraction like Star Jets), were both adapted to fit the theme. Le Visionarium, was a key attraction featuring Timekeeper as narrating audio-animatronic for a new 360° film starring Jules Verne. It was the first of the 360° films with an actual narrative, and it was duplicated as The Timekeeper in Florida and Tokyo. The huge Videopolis, includes a restaurant and an auditorium. It is based on an earlier design for Discovery Bay by Tony Baxter. In the large entrance gate to Videopolis hangs a hot air balloon called Hyperion from Disney’s film The Island at the Top of the World.

2 other opening day attractions, Captain EO and Star Tours, were impossible to adapt to the 1900’s. To solve this issue, the creator George Lucas was included in the storytelling of the land. The clever design of the showbuilding is less elaborate than the rest of the land and situated in the back of the land underneath the Discoveryland Train Station.

Space Mountain did not open in 1992 and was in fact not planned at first. Instead, an even bigger canopy was envisioned called Discovery Mountain, placed in the heart of the land including among other things: a drop tower ride themed to Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth, a replica of the Nautilus, an underwater Jules Verne themed restaurant, and access to Videopolis, Star Tours, and other attractions. The huge project was scaled down and instead a Space Mountain like attraction based on Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon opened in 1995. The walkthrough attraction Nautilus got a place outside the canopy. As centerpiece weenie, the green and copper colored dome of Space Mountain, including a giant cannon called Columbiad, completed the lay-out of this unique land. A decade after its opening, Space Mountain: From the Earth to the Moon got an update called Space Mountain Mission 2, travelling beyond the moon this time.

The success of Pixar based attractions in other parks inevitably led to the closing of Le Visionarium in favor of Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, that opened in 2006. After that, it took more than a decade before any adaptations were made. Then in 2017 Space Mountain was re-themed once again, now as the Star Wars based Hyperspace Mountain and Star Tours was updated too. One year later Mickey’s PhilharMagic, a 3-D show usually found in Fantasyland, opened in the Discoveryland Theatre.

When Space Mountain: From the Earth to the Moon was added in 1995, this was probably the best themed land of all the futuristic lands. But today, Pixar, Star Wars, and even Mickey Mouse overlays are quite odd in an otherwise lavish and originally designed environment.

5. HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

TOMORROWLAND - OPENED: SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

Early artwork shows a land that is heavily inspired by Tokyo's unbuilt Sci-Fi City, but Hong Kong’s final version was designed as a Spaceport. This idea was not new either, it was going to be the theme for Anaheim's unbuilt Tomorrowland 2055, but Hong Kong's design is quite different and more small-scale. Space Mountain, an opening day attraction here, is not very different than Disneyland’s and fits the theme by nature. The new version of Orbitron is themed accordingly too, featuring a grand planet in its center with flying saucers instead of rocket jets around it. It is situated as usual in the heart of the land. The central planet is painted so that it reflects its surroundings, creating a nice dramatic effect. Its restaurants Comet Café and Starliner Diner, featuring a huge rocket ship at its entrance, are themed in a similar space-travel theme.

The land had a unique atmosphere unlike previous Tomorrowlands. The main buildings here have curved wave-like forms. Planets and spacecrafts play an important role, and the color scheme is brighter than any of the previous versions, mainly chosen to compensate for the grey Hong Kong skies. It contributes to the cartoonish vibe of this land. This and the prominence of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters as the 3^rd opening day attraction. It is a copy of Disneyland’s, but it fits Hong Kong’s theme better.

With only 3 attractions, it was quite a small land, and during the first summer season 3 additional attractions opened: Autopia, Stitch Encounter and UFO Zone, all in the same Spaceport theme. UFO Zone was the only unique attraction. It was a water playground, with big bright colored robots.

In 2016, the land received a small Star Wars overlay resulting in a Space Mountain redesign as Hyperspace Mountain and the adjacent Stitch Encounter transformed to a meet and greet area called Star Wars Command Post. Finally, UFO Zone made way for the interactive show Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. Autopia also closed the same year. This large area will be used for a future attraction based on the Avengers franchise, set to open in 2024.

The latter will be part of a new land known as Stark Expo, a Marvel themed land similar to the Avengers Campus lands in Disney California Adventure and Walt Disney Studios, in Anaheim and Paris respectively. The Marvel franchise was already introduced in Hong Kong in 2017 with the opening of Iron Man Experience, a flight simulator like Star Tours. 2 years later, the adjacent Buzz Lightyear attraction received an overlay too and became Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! Both will become part of Stark Expo once the new attraction opens, inevitably making Tomorrowland even smaller than on its opening day, featuring only the Spaceport themed restaurants, Orbitron, and the Star Wars based section with Hyperspace Mountain as main attraction.

Currently the whole comes across as a joyful and colorful land, incongruously mixed with 2 big franchises: Star Wars and Marvel.

6. SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND

TOMORROWLAND - OPENED: JUNE 16, 2016

Of all Shanghai’s realms, Tomorrowland has probably the most drastically unique design. Imagineer Scot Drake was Lead Designer for this land, which comes across as the High-Tech version of Tomorrowland using modern materials like ETFE (a fluorine-based plastic). This new approach features a multi-leveled land without the iconic Space Mountain dome (present in all previous lands). Instead, the landscape is dominated by a wavy freeform canopy designed by Britain-based Grimshaw Architects for the attraction: TRON Lightcycle Power Run. This roller-coaster takes guests on an adventure into the futuristic world of Tron.

The other attractions are rather uninspired Disney/ Pixar based copies of previous attractions like Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue, using an updated technique though, and Stitch Encounter. The ‘classic’ Tomorrowland attraction Astro Orbitor is called Jet Packs here. It features new floorless 2-person vehicles but looks rather simplistic. Finally, adjacent to the roller-coaster sits TRON Realm, an interactive experience expanding the Tron universe. The attractions are found on different levels which are interconnected by curved ramps and stairways.

The overall design, including the impressive canopy and the different levels definitely create a new vision of Tomorrowland. The attractions on the other hand are all franchise-based, lacking interconnection. Visually this is the most innovative land but thematically it’s the least immersive.

(click image to enlarge)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Disneyland’s original Tomorrowland had undergone many drastic changes. The current version features some great attractions but lacks an overall vision.

Hong Kong’s has some unique attractions within a colorful and playful setting. There is little interconnection between the themes: Spaceport, Marvel, and Star Wars though.

Currently Tokyo’s 1970’s retro look has a nostalgic rather than a futuristic vibe. This land will receive a future update that will make it more unique than it is today.

Magic Kingdom’s attraction line-up stands out. This version has the most coherent overall design, faithful to the vision of Tomorrowland.

The retro approach of Paris was probably near perfection in 1995, today it misses an overall story and comes across as a mishmash.

The impressive architecture of Shanghai’s version is unique and overwhelming. Thematically it is less interesting, with only IP driven attractions.

BEST TOMORROWLAND: Magic Kingdom

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Comparing every Frontierland

1. DISNEYLAND

FRONTIERLAND - OPENED: JULY 17, 1955

Frontierland is one of the five original lands of Disneyland. It is a romanticized version to the Old West or the American Expansion from the 1770’s to the 1880’s.

From the hub, you enter Frontierland through a Fort-styled gate to find yourself in the heart of the Old West Town with all the Hollywood Western ingredients: the typical wooden façades of the shops and restaurants, including a saloon. Imagineers used the same forced perspective technique as for Main Street. On the right sits Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, adding a touch of Spanish colonial architecture to Frontierland.

On opening day, Frontierland was bigger than today, with more open spaces and a range of small-scale transportation attractions like a Conestoga wagon, a stagecoach, and pack mules. The weenie in Frontierland was Mark Twain Riverboat sailing the Rivers of America, the only opening day attraction of this land still operating. It is a replica of an actual stern-wheeler built on a smaller scale and named after Mark Twain since his writings are the inspiration for modern day river boat cruises. Since 1958 a second vessel sails the rivers of America: Sailing Ship Columbia, a full-scale replica of the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. This attraction is found only at Disneyland. The rivers reflect: the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Missouri, and the Rio Grande.

The adventurous Tom Sawyer’s Island is found in the middle of the rivers. It got a Pirate re-theming in 2007. Although thematically inconsistent with the Old West, given the huge popularity of the Pirate franchise and since there is no space available in the more Pirate-like zones of the park, it is an understandable choice since it is hidden from the rest of the land.

On the right side, the landscape is dominated by one of Disney’s most iconic rides: Big Thunder Mountain (BTM) Railroad. It opened in 1979 as Frontierland’s first blockbuster ride. The idea came from a never-built Magic Kingdom complex, including many attractions (see further). This huge pavilion was scrapped but Imagineer Tony Baxter proposed to use the mine train part of it as a single ride. And so BTM was born, opening one year prior to Magic Kingdom’s version. The rock work is based on the tent rocks from Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. This is one of Disney’s first rides to use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software.

The dinner show restaurant The Golden Horseshoe Saloon’s interior is designed by Imagineer Harper Goff, who also worked on Main Street and the Western movie Calamity Jane. The white painted interior is themed after typical New York theatres. John De Cuir painted the scenic backdrop in the style of Toulouse-Lautrec including circus artists and can-can girls.

During the early years of Disneyland, an Indian Village was located on the west side of the Rivers of America. The still operating attraction Indian War Canoes was part of this section. And although the canoes were renamed Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes after the ‘King of the Wild Frontier’ Davy Crockett, they became a part of a different land: Critter Country (see separate comparison). The boisterous Davy Crockett was the star of Frontierland during the early decades due to the hugely popular Disney mini-series. Thus, this attraction feels more at home in Frontierland rather than in Critter Country.

The borders of Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Critter Country are unclear, luckily these lands blend well around the Rivers of America.

2. MAGIC KINGDOM

FRONTIERLAND - OPENED: OCTOBER 1, 1971

The overall look and theme of Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland is very similar to Disneyland’s. It opened together with the grand opening of Magic Kingdom. Frontierland shares the Rivers of America with a second land: Liberty Square (see separate comparison).

On opening day Frontierland had only 3 attractions: Frontierland Station, Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes and one new attraction: the Country Bear Jamboree. This attraction, designed by Disney legend Marc Davis, came from an earlier idea for a never built recreation park in Mineral King. Its show building, named Grizzly Hall is designed as a Northwoods union hall. Further to the west sits the restaurant Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café. The main façade is styled as a typical Old West Saloon. The back of the large restaurant features different Pueblo-styled façades, as seen in the Southwestern States. Thereby it forms a smooth transition towards the somewhat similar Caribbean Plaza in Adventureland.

The part to the west of Rivers of America was preserved for a massive expansion called Thunder Mesa, including a runaway mine train, a canoe ride and a large-scale flume ride known as Western River Expedition. This would be the Old West counterpart to the Pirates of the Caribbean flume ride that Magic Kingdom did not have. Since the Pirates ride was so popular in Disneyland, guests were surprised to find out Magic Kingdom did not feature it, so it was built anyway. Another flume ride seemed redundant and so the Western River Expedition, along with the whole project, was scrapped.

In 1980, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was built on this vacant land. The theme is slightly different than the previous version. The overall structure is bigger, and the rock work is based on the brighter colored mountains of Monument Valley in Arizona.

Splash Mountain, a second large-scale attraction opened in 1992 next to BTM. This attraction was also built first in Disneyland, but in a different land. In Magic Kingdom the setting and the theming of the now closed ride was a bit odd and didn’t blend smoothly with the overall Old West theming. Now, this ride is getting a makeover and will be themed to The Princess and the Frog. It will likely remain inconsistent thematically, but it is too early to judge this just yet.

Tom Sawyer Island, similar to the original version of Disneyland, opened here in 1973. Liberty Belle Riverboat, resembling the Mark Twain Riverboat circumnavigates the island, but is considered a part of Liberty Square.

Although the overall experience is quite appealing, the presence of the Country Bear Jamboree, Pecos Bill, and Splash Mountain, make this version of Frontierland a bit less realistic, but quite appealing towards children.

3. TOKYO DISNEYLAND

WESTERNLAND - OPENED: APRIL 15, 1983

In Japanese history nothing resembles the American frontier, making the term ‘frontier’ unknown. Therefore, the land is called Westernland here, easily understandable as Hollywood’s version of the Wild West.

This land resembles Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland most with copies of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Country Bear Theater, and the Diamond Horseshoe Revue. Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes was an opening day attraction in this land but like in Disneyland it became part of Critter Country once Splash Mountain opened.

The building for the riverboat landing is a copy of Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square version. Tokyo Disneyland features even more Liberty Square influences like the Haunted Mansion, located in Fantasyland here, but envisioned as a part of Westernland in the earlier presentations. The mansion is actually situated at almost the same spot as in Magic Kingdom. With this, Tokyo has a little Liberty Square area between Westernland and Fantasyland, just like the little New Orleans Square area between World Bazaar and Adventureland.

Although it is a decent land, it lacks originality, featuring only copies of the American counterparts. Here, the open spaces are quite noticeable and create odd transitions between the lands. The Diamond Horseshoe is very close to the hub and is also just in front of Snow White’s Grotto. The restaurant Captain Hook’s Galley at the back of Fantasyland is visually a part of Westernland.

4. DISNEYLAND PARIS

FRONTIERLAND - OPENED: APRIL 12, 1992

The Far West, with its Cowboys, Indians, and the thrilling gold rush, is a universe that Europeans dream of and know through hugely popular Western films and television series. Davy Crockett and Zorro were still very popular in Europe in the 1990’s. This version of Frontierland needed to be vivid, right into the action, more Wild West than Old West. This is the first version to have an elaborate backstory, creating a link between every aspect of the land. Although the name Westernland appeared in earlier plans, the name Frontierland was chosen eventually.

Jeff Burke, artistic director for the land explains that Big Thunder Mountain was to be the centerpiece of this land, placed on the island in the in the middle of the Rivers of the Far West, as they are called here. Tom Sawyer is a lesser-known figure, and so his island was scrapped. The rivers here reflect different rivers namely the Rio Grande, the Colorado, and the Sacramento. Mark Twain is just one of the two riverboats. The second is named Molly Brown, named after the Titanic survivor. This is the only sidewheeler present in a Disney park.

Early on, the plans to include New Orleans Square in Europe were scrapped, and so the Haunted Mansion got a home in Frontierland. It was renamed Phantom Manor because this would be better understood in multiple European languages. Another key change was its exterior. Walt Disney insisted on a ‘clean’ version on the outside for Disneyland, but this version on the other hand was made dirty and spooky, simply to be recognizable beyond the language barrier. The façade is a ruined version of a Second Empire Mansion, partly inspired by the Fourth Ward School in Virginia, but also resembling an original 1950s Harper Goff drawing for an unrealized residential expansion to Main Street. The ride itself is adapted to fit the Wild West theme and even includes some scenes inspired by the unbuilt Magic Kingdom’s Western River Expedition.

The town is named Thunder Mesa, another homage to the previously mentioned flume ride. It is bigger and more detailed than the American counterparts. From the hub, you enter the town through a fort like in Disneyland. Here the fort is elaborated into a walkthrough attraction, named Fort Comstock. The Lucky Nugget Saloon is a copy of Disneyland’s saloon, but rather than the white paint, it has a warmer, more natural patina.

On the hub, to the right in front of the fort, the story already begins with a Native American encampment showcasing many artefacts and portraying them as peaceful traders.

To the right sits a unique Spanish/ Mexican section including Casa de Coco - Restaurante de la Familia, a restaurant built as a traditional four-sided hacienda and themed after the film Coco.

The whole northwest section of Frontierland is dedicated to the country life of the farmers and their families living peacefully out of town. They meet in the impressive Cottonwood Creek Ranch. The windmill next to it is an authentic artefact, used some 150 years ago. It was gathered, along with every single prop on display in Frontierland by legendary Disney Imagineer Pat Burke. He collected all the props for the previous versions too, but never before so many as for Europe, contributing to the realism of the whole.

In 1995 Frontierland received its only additional experience to date, namely the Chaparral Theater. Right behind the theater land is preserved for a Wild West version of Splash Mountain. Due to budget reasons and because of the cold winter season, this never happened. Frontierland, like the rest of Disneyland Paris, could use some new attractions.

That said, this is the most immersive version of Frontierland. And since Europeans apparently love the Wild West so much, it does not end here. In Disney Village the dinner-show spectacle Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show ran for 28 years, and 3 of the resort’s hotels further expand the theme. Hotel Cheyenne is themed as an Old West Town, Hotel Santa Fe features pueblo styled Southwestern architecture, and the campground is named Davy Crockett Ranch, after the ‘King of the Wild Frontier’.

5. HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

GRIZZLY GULCH - OPENED: JULY 12, 2012

Hong Kong’s version of Frontierland is called Grizzly Gulch. Contrary to the others, this land dit not open with the resort in 2005. It opened seven years later, on the outside border west of Adventureland. Although Frontierland was once announced as one of the opening day lands, this did not happen.

Grizzly Gulch is a booming Californian town founded on August 8, 1888, the luckiest day of the luckiest month of the luckiest year. (The number 8 is considered lucky according to Feng Shui.) Set during the gold rush, keeping some typical Frontierland styled buildings like the Lucky Nugget Saloon, but with an ursine twist to the whole.

The land is shaped around its one key attraction: Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, a multidirectional coaster, using the same rides system Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The mountain is inspired by the Vasquez Rocks in California and this ride is Hong Kong’s counterpart to Big Thunder Mountain. With an updated system, the overall experience is more exhilarating.

Adjacent Big Grizzly Mountain is Geyser Gulch, a small play area where guests can get wet. The rest of the town resembles a mini version of Frontierland with a Lucky Nugget Saloon as a quick service restaurant. This version is a cleaner version, using brighter colors than the previous Frontierlands. Less realistic, but probably more appealing this way to the local visitors.

6. SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND

Shanghai Disneyland does not have a Frontierland but features the unique Treasure Cove instead (see separate comparison).

(click image to enlarge)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Hong Kong has the most unique, but also the smallest version, and has thereby little to offer apart from it’s one signature attraction.

Tokyo, Anaheim and Florida feature Frontierlands that are quite similar, all featuring a nice range of well themed attractions and restaurants. Anaheim and Florida both have a unique Spanish influenced restaurant, but only Anaheim has the Sailing Ship Columbia as a plus.

Paris has the largest as well as the most immersive version of Frontierland. It has the best version of Big Thunder Mountain, and it is the only one to include Phantom Manor and the large country life section.

BEST FRONTIERLAND: Disneyland Paris