Channel Frederator Blog

As the park grew, and the public needed more and more in the park to keep them coming back, Walt Disney turned to the artists who he had trusted with his films to help create new experiences for the park. Marc Davis (pictured above) and John Hench are just two of the many artists who started in animation and then found themselves helping Walt with Disneyland. Park staples, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Haunted Mansion all feature work from former animators.

These artists weren’t just creating content for inside these attractions, but helping to design the entire thing, like in this concept piece by John Hench. Did you notice the external, boat like elevators in the drawing? They were most likely cut due to budget concerns.

There is a lot more to Disneyland than just rides. There are some great art pieces in the park, if you know where to look.

-Floyd Bishop