How Disneyland Celebrates the United States of America

From New Orleans Square to Abraham Lincoln, American History is woven into the fabric of Disneyland. It was there before Disney had considered development for either World Showcase or California Adventure. During Disneyland's dedication, Walt said that "Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America," and Disneyland has remained true to that dedication. In honor of America 250, let's take a look at five of the park's top patriotic tributes. 

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Was famously designed for the 1964 World's Fair in New York. The state of Illinois sponsored the pavilion with the justification that that's where Lincoln was from. Walt was always looking to expand Disneyland while getting someone else to pay for it, so he gladly took the attraction back to Anaheim after the end of the fair. As it stands now, this animatronic show has historical value because it contained the first audio animatronic of a human. While it doesn't draw the largest crowds and its capacity is similar to other theaters, it serves as an anchor to Main street's patriotic appeal. It conveys the ideals of the American country from the perspective one of the nation's turning points. The show has two counterparts at Walt Disney World: one in the Magic Kingdom and one at Epcot. But here, it provides some of the hard facts that created America as a backdrop to the imagination and optimism of the rest of the park. This show celebrates freedom and its growth in America. It also was the introduction for human animatronics, paving the way for attractions like the Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones. This attraction is a celebration of liberty, freedom, integrity.

America Sings

America Sings was built for America's 200th birthday. It was a celebration of different styles of music created in America. Not quite the futuristic offering you would expect for Tomorrowland... but it was a good use of the Carousel Theater that kept it operating after General Electric requested that it be moved to the Magic Kingdom in Florida. The attraction wasn't built around a specific moment in time or historical figure. It's built as a fun celebration of America. It's full of patriotic decor and gives you a taste of how American music has developed over the last couple centuries.

This attraction is unique because it celebrates popular culture generally - it's not about a specific event, story, or character. It spans 200 years of musical history, and was a strong tribute to America at its bicentennial in 1976. It focuses on cultural development rather than the core values themselves.

You can read more about America Sings and one version of its successor, Plectu's Intergalactic Musical Revue, here. 

Native American Village

The Native American Village has taken different forms over the years, but Disney has always known that it was an important part of the park. At opening day, it was an area on the northwestern outskirts of Frontierland. At the time, the area was designed as a showcase of cultures for various tribes. Tribal members were invited to come and share their cultures by demonstrating their crafts and traditions. That Indian Village eventually gave way to Bear Country, Critter Country, and now Bayou Country. As the rivers of America developed, this idea moved from person-to-person interactions to animatronic displays. The current village stands on the banks of the Rivers of America, and is visible from the Mark Twain, the Colombia, and the Davy Crocket Explorer Canoes. 

The native American village has been a part of Disneyland's atmosphere since the beginning. While the village is smaller than it used to be and there isn't personal interaction anymore, it still tries to share a sample of the culture and what life was like on the American frontier before colonization and the American expansion. It's a respectful way to show that America's growth began long before the United States were formed.

Main Street, USA

This is most guests first sight of the American theming and Disneyland. In addition to the housing, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, main Street is designed as a turn-of-the-(20th)-century town. It has many of the shops you would have seen downtown and I train station, which served as a transportation hub at the time. Every evening, there's a flag retreat ceremony. It is only once a day and isn't advertised as a headliner attraction. It occurs at the front of the park in the middle of business hours, so many people are deep in the park waiting in line or getting ready for dinner. So, many people will miss this even happens. But it's core to Main Street's DNA because it demonstrates that the town is built on patriotism and the respect that can lead Americans to build a community together. It reflects America's sense of togetherness, civic pride. And respect for those who have served the nation.

New Orleans Square

New Orleans Square is an interesting land. It wasn't the first place to be inspired by a real-world location, but it was the first to try to make a copy of the place. This area isn't just inspired by New Orleans; it's designed to be a miniature part of the city. From the buildings' color scheme to the wrought iron accents, the land is a recreation of the New Orleans French Quarter. It celebrates the unique design and vibrant culture of the city. In a sense, this was Disney's first attempt at a pavilion celebrating a specific location. It recreates the place, and fills it with themed shops, restaurants, and attractions. This concept would later evolve into the international pavilions at World Showcase in Epcot. Those pavilions follow the pattern set here by showcasing a country or region with architectural facades, dining, shopping, rides, and shows. New Orleans Square also stands unique in the Disney parks - despite creating two of the best loved attractions, this land has never been recreated in another Disney Park. This land demonstrates the broad diversity contained in America.

Lightning Round

This list is just a start. There are other tributes to American ideals and history, including:

• The Western scene showcases American cowboys and ranching traditions
• The Grand Canyon Diorama celebrates the natural beauty of America's wonders
• Tom Sawyer Island invites guests to explore the spirit of adventure on the American frontier
• Flight to the Moon and Mission to Mars honored the innovation and the accomplishments of the space program
• Frontierland celebrates exploration, perseverance, and the spirit of self-reliance

America Recreated

Disneyland was created against the backdrop of American History and values. The park celebrates its roots and the freedoms that allow millions of people to dream up a better future. This recreated version of America celebrates the ideals upon which the nation was founded, and reflects Walt's belief that those ideals continue to inspire optimism, creativity, and hope for the future.