Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Disney’s Beautiful Landscaping and Gardens
When Walt Disney set out to built Disneyland, his intention was to create a completely immersive setting where guests are part of an amazing show. In trying to pull this off, Walt Disney knew that it was all about the details. That’s why he had landscape architects working in conjunction with builders and maintenance crews to create a believable, beautiful and authentic experience!
As we talked a lot about with the construction of Disney’s Riviera Resort, Walt drew a lot of inspiration from his forays abroad. One such location, which still has an influence on the Disney aesthetic today are the great Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Walt visited Tivoli Gardens in 1951 along with Disney Legend Ark Linkletter and was immediately impressed with how clean and organized the park was. It was a massive departure from the slightly seedier carnival-style amusement parks in the US. During his visit Walt paid careful attention to detail, writing down notes on everything from the gardens themselves to the food and even seating. When Disneyland opened it’s doors to the public a mere 4 years later (1955) many of the elements incorporated into the park had a striking resemblance to the Tivoli Gardens. These details can still be seen today in the perfectly manicured landscaping, waterways and even the lighting.
In order to bring this magic to life, Walt relied on a team of experts to create incredible landscaping. Notable contributors were Ruth Patricia Shellhorn who came up with the formal Victorian plan for Main Street, Town Square and The Plaza. The trees and shrubs she selected all the way back in 1955 are still used today!
Another key figure when it comes to bringing Disney’s incredible landscapes to life is Morgan “Bill Evans” and his brother Jack. Prior to coming on board to help with Disneyland, they had landscaped Walt’s Holmby Hills home. Under his guidance, all of Disneyland was landscaped in under a year. Evans was a perfect match when it came to bringing Walt Disney’s vision to life as he had an uncanny knack when it came to telling stories through landscaping. After Disneyland opened, Evans went on to work for the company for nearly another half-century!
For those interesting in reading more on the topic of the important role landscaping plays in creating a wonderful sense of environment, check out Melody Malmber’s book “The Making of Animal Kingdom Theme Park.” She highlights a three-part philosophy when it comes to using landscaping to create a cohesive vision at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The first consideration is to provide shade and shelter for guests. The second is to use plants to screen out things you don’t want the guests to see. The third part is telling a story through landscaping. This can encompass everything from the broadleaf forest surrounding the Mississippi River to the magnificent gardens of the Japan Pavilion
We hope you’ve enjoyed this quick look at the key role plants and flowers play in magically transporting you while at the theme parks. Next time you’re visiting Disneyland or Disney World be sure to take some time away from the hustle and bustle to stop and smell (or at least look at) the roses!
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