My head hurts! (trying to find answer to Disneyland question)

[Mr Wiggins]

I'm thinking that these photos of the bandstand from Yesterland.com pretty much rule it out as a candidate for a dancing location. It's too small, and not in a location where there's now a ride.

[Datameister]

Originally Posted by yoyoflamingo

Where was the Magnolia Park bandstand located in relation to the Plantation? Could that be the mystery dance location?

It's visible near the bottom right of the animated overlay I posted:



It's due east of the baseball diamond, near the Jungle Cruise, in a spot that's now occupied by the Indiana Jones queue.

[HBG2]

The best picture I've ever seen for getting a handle on the Plantation House and Magnolia Park area can be found....right here at MiceChat. You can see that the Magnolia bandstand area is about where Indiana Jones is today.




Since y'all have stumbled onto one of my favorite quirky things (Plantation House), I'll give y'all a bit more info.

When they originally planned NOS, they thought at first they would keep both the PH and the river inlet. Here's a early Sam McKim concept map of NOS:



But they quickly realized the NOS was going to be much larger than that, and so the PH came down (sniff) early in 1962 (I'm talking January or February). That's probably when they filled in the inlet as well, Tech.

The Blue Bayou restaurant is indeed a tribute to the old PH. With apologies to Daveland, Tim Devine, Stuff from the Park, and Gorillas Don't Blog, here's an educational montage that should put to rest any possible doubt about the tribute:




The PH got its own postcard, did you know that? It's quite rare, I guess:




Lastly, I have to agree with Wiggins. The PH was something for the pleasure of adults, not kids. View. Atmosphere. Charm. That sort of thing. Here's a favorite:



You have to wonder what the view looked like from that upper balcony of the PH. Well, wonder no longer:



Best shot of the inlet and footbridge I've seen:

[thmar]

Wow!! All you guys are amazing!! I was there during that time, but can't remember????

[techskip]

Originally Posted by HBG2

early in 1962 (I'm talking January or February). That's probably when they filled in the inlet as well, Tech...

... Best shot of the inlet and footbridge I've seen:

Thank You. I have read a lot about the bridge on a variety of blogs but until now I never found a firm date.

[yoyoflamingo]

Excellent summary HBG2! An outstanding job, which solidifies why I read this website, with experts like all you guys who've posted on here!

[startours1]

It looks like the plantation was removed to make way for the pirates que

[Steve DeGaetano]

Originally Posted by startours1

It looks like the plantation was removed to make way for the pirates que

But...it wasn't even close to the queue.

Nice job Data.

[Datameister]

Originally Posted by startours1

It looks like the plantation was removed to make way for the pirates que

Mmm, not quite, David. The queue starts a little further east.

[mcow1]

Originally Posted by Steve DeGaetano

But...it wasn't even close to the queue.

Nice job Data.

Right. Look at HBG2's first picture. You'll see the Frontierland Station in the foreground. To the left is the Plantation right about in front of where the rafts load, now. To the right is the bandstand. Right where the French Market restaurant is now.

[Datameister]

Originally Posted by mcow1

To the left is the Plantation right about in front of where the rafts load, now.

Nope - as mentioned previously, and as illustrated in the animation I posted, the raft dock was moved further northwest along the river.

To the right is the bandstand. Right where the French Market restaurant is now.

This would be true if the dock hadn't been moved, but that's not the case. The plantation house was located further southeast than you think it was, which also makes the bandstand further southeast than you think. It was located where the beginning of the Indy queue's "bamboo canyon" is now. Actually, it may have been right next to that, in the exit path. This is a shot looking backwards in the exit, toward the spot where the bandstand would have been.

[Steve DeGaetano]

Originally Posted by mcow1

Right. Look at HBG2's first picture. You'll see the Frontierland Station in the foreground.

Frontierland Station as shown in HBG2's first photo stands pretty much where the Blue Bayou entrance is today. In 1962 it was moved due west--and in the process gained five feet in elevation.