Frontierland
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| Frontierland | |
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| Locations and openings | |
| Disneyland July 17, 1955 | |
| Magic Kingdom October 1, 1971 | |
| Tokyo Disneyland 1983 | |
| Disneyland Park (Paris) 1992 | |
| Hong Kong Disneyland | |
| Planning phase |
Frontierland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by Disney around the world. At Tokyo Disneyland, this area is named Westernland. Themed to the American west in the 1800's, Frontierlands are home to cowboys and pioneers, ghost towns, plateaus and gold rushes. Every instance of Frontierland has a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and some stretch of riverfront. Other attractions sometimes found in this land include Splash Mountain, the Country Bear Jamboree, the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, Tom Sawyer Island, Mike Fink Keelboats, Fantasmic! and a sternwheeler riverboat.
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[edit] History
Frontierland started in Disneyland as one of the original themed lands. An idea of Walt Disney himself, the land did not originally contain many attractions, but centered around wide open, wilderness lands which could be traversed by guests via stagecoach, pack mules and walking trails. The Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland opened there in 1961, consisting of a sedate train ride around various western landscape dioramas. Perhaps the most notorious Frontierland ex-attraction, the Mine Train closed in 1977.
Walt Disney World opened its Magic Kingdom in 1971, complete with Frontierland. This instance opened with only three attractions; the Walt Disney World Railroad station, Tom Sawyer Island and the world debut of the Country Bear Jamboree. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was the next attraction to debut, first in California in 1979, then in Florida in 1980. (See also Western River Expedition) In 1983, Tokyo Disneyland opened its doors with its own Westernland, nearly identical to the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland.
Disneyland Paris opened as EuroDisneyland in 1992, complete with Frontierland, the biggest and most elaborately themed yet. It was home to standard Frontierland fare, such as Big Thunder Mountain, but also the park's Haunted Mansion, named Phantom Manor. 1992 also saw change for the Walt Disney World Frontierland with the addition and opening of Splash Mountain.
[edit] Disneyland
The original, Disneyland's Frontierland has more history than the other instances. It saw the grand opening of the first Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in 1979. It is also a prime viewing location along the Rivers of America for the nighttime Fantasmic! show. It is home to the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Sailing Ship Columbia, a replica of American explorer Robert Gray's 18th century ship that circumnavigated the globe. Frontierland borders Fantasyland (via the Big Thunder Trail), New Orleans Square and Adventureland. The Rivers of America border nearby Critter Country.
[edit] Attractions
- Frontierland Shootin' Exposition
- Tom Sawyer Island
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- Sailing Ship Columbia
[edit] Entertainment
- Fantasmic!
- Golden Horseshoe Saloon
[edit] The Magic Kingdom
See also: List of current Magic Kingdom attractions
Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom is very similar to the one at Disneyland. It borders Adventureland, Liberty Square, and Rivers of America (upon which the Liberty Belle sails).
[edit] Attractions
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Frontierland Shootin' Arcade
- Splash Mountain
- Tom Sawyer Island
- Walt Disney World Railroad
[edit] Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland offers a smaller Frontierland known as Westernland, as frontiers and cowboys are not as closely related in Japanese popular culture. The Mark Twain sails this park's Rivers of America.
[edit] Attractions
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Country Bear Theater
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- The Diamond Horseshoe
- Tom Sawyer Island Rafts
- Westernland Shootin' Gallery
[edit] Disneyland Park, Paris
Located in the area that is traditionally occupied by Adventureland, Frontierland at Disneyland Park (Paris) has an elaborate backstory and is by far the largest Frontierland in any Disney park worldwide. The land is a mining village known as Thunder Mesa, with the mighty Big Thunder Mountain standing at the heart of the land, entirely cut-off from the mainland by the Rivers of the Far West. The Haunted Mansion's cousin, Phantom Manor, sits on the banks of the river, which is frequented by the Mark Twain and Molly Brown riverboats.
[edit] Attractions
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Phantom Manor
- Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing (Mark Twain and Molly Brown riverboats)
- Rustler Roundup Shootin' Gallery
- Legends of the Wild West (walk-through fort)
- River Rogue Keelboats (Coyote and Raccoon, closed)
- Pocahontas Indiana Village (children's play area)
- Critter Corral (petting farm)
- Disneyland Railroad Station
[edit] Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland does not presently have a Frontierland, although it is a planned addition in an upcoming phase of construction.
[edit] Links
| The themed lands of a Magic Kingdom-style park: |
| Main Street, U.S.A. | Fantasyland | Tomorrowland | Frontierland | Adventureland |
| New Orleans Square | Liberty Square | Mickey's Toontown | Critter Country |
