October 22, 2009: Disneyland Then and Now: Frontierland

[Werner Weiss]

Four weeks ago, I ran Then and Now: Main Street and the Castle, part of a series comparing Disneyland photos from the 1950s to similar photos in 2009. Here's the next installment.

Link to Disneyland Then and Now: Frontierland

Please discuss it here.

[a-net-fan]

AWESOME shots. TSI sure is a fraction of its former self. It looks like it used to be such an amazing island. Now..... not so much.......

[sir clinksalot]

I LOVE these Then and Now updates.

[danyoung]

I really enjoy the Then & Now comparisons. It's surprising how similar some of the lands look to their early counterparts!

[aduecey]

too bad no interior shots of the davy crockett arcade.
i miss the old timey arcade offerings

[ttrocc7007]

I love these 'Then and Now' comparisons, though I do find it awfully disheartening to see the Tom Sawyer then and now with its Fantasmic crud in place.
Likewise I would probably come close to tears to see the New Orleans area then and now at night with the Fantasmic gear. No area of Disneyland has been so thoroughly trashed in the name of contemprary 'entertainment' as has the once beautiful and serene Rivers of America.

[Dizzey]

Great job, Werner. I'm wearing out my arrow keys toggling up and down to make the comparisons! Must have been a challenge to get the framing so close with all the changes to the various landmarks.

For sure there are some things to miss from the old days, but I really love the way the landscaping has grown in to make the place a little less stark and more park-like. Disneyland Paris is awesome in this regard.

Anyway, thanks for all the effort. This is one of my favorite places to check during lunchtime...

[danyoung]

No area of Disneyland has been so thoroughly trashed in the name of contemprary 'entertainment' as has the once beautiful and serene Rivers of America.

I couldn't disagree more. I think they did an incredible job of incorporating a major function like Fantasmic! while still preserving the atmosphere of Frontierland as it was before. Sure, you can't walk around in a totally empty land like before, unless you go on an off-F! night. Small price to pay for the single greatest mixed media outdoor spectacular on the planet!

[MickeyMaxx]

Thanks, Werner. I love when you do these comparisons!

[Jesser-pie]

This is one of the best disney websites in my opinion! I am really loving the now and then articles (I jumped up and down inside my head a few times when I saw this one posted).
Just out of curiousity who prefers the now over the then (at least in visual terms)?

For some reason, I think the now photo's showcase more details.

[cellarhound]

Amazing how trees grow up, huh? It is the first thing I notice, how little we can see from a distance...

[Athlonacon]

I really love these comparisons, please keep them coming! They are so fascinating, not so much for what has changed, but for what has NOT changed. It's incredible how similar some things still look and how they haven't strayed too far, even after 50 years. What's really amazing is how you find almost the exact spot someone was standing 50 years ago to take the same shot. The framing is practically identical.

Excellent work Werner, as usual!


On a totally side note, the "Subtle Changes" link should be http://www.yesterland.com/changes.html and not "change.html"... the link is currently broken.

[danyoung]

Just out of curiousity who prefers the now over the then (at least in visual terms)?

Most of the time I'll prefer the current versions, just because DL has had over 50 years to grow some of those trees and shrubs and plants. Most areas look much more filled in than in the olden days.

[Werner Weiss]

On a totally side note, the "Subtle Changes" link should be Yesterland presents Disneyland Then and Now: Subtle Changes and not "change.html"... the link is currently broken.

Thank you for catching that. I just fixed it.

[Bob Weaver]

Thanks! Do you have "then and now" shots of the Nature's Wonderland area?