Fantastic Friday: WDW Adventureland Concept Art

Happy Friday, everyone. Today is the day where we get to drool over some of the concept art used to shape the Adventureland that Disney World guests would see in 1971.


1. THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER

This Herb Ryman sketch of the planned covered bridge over the Main Hub's waterway into Adventureland dates back to the early design stage in mid-late 1967. There are three noticeable features: the milepost with distances to a handful of exotic locations on the left, a covered bridge crossing, and the Adventureland Veranda. One last thing you might spot is not as noticeable, but there is a house in the side of a tree, which indicates that the Swiss Family Robinson might be home.

2. THE ADVENTURELAND VERANDA

Part of what makes the Adventureland Veranda (known now as the Skipper's Canteen) building unique is the use of various architectural styles, including Spanish-Caribbean, British Indian, French Colonial, and more. Foxxy Furr, of Passport2Dreams fame and a loyal friend, wrote extensively about the theming and the aesthetics of the parks, including an essay on the influences of the Veranda's architecture. The following pictures are from their collection and they were all done by famed artist Dorothea Redmond.

This September 1967 elevation of the Adventureland Veranda is very, very similar to what was built. She listed the references she consulted for this brownline at the bottom. Personally, I appreciate it because I try to decipher what the designers used for inspiration.

Close up of the left side of the elevation.

Close up of the center of the elevation.

Close up of the right side of the elevation.

This 1967/1968 concept art of the interior of the Veranda was also done by Redmond and this is pretty much how it looked in October 1971.

Another interior shot of the Veranda, but this was of a separate room. Also done by Redmond, presumably in the late 1960's.

This is another view of the main dining room of the Veranda done by Redmond in the late 1960's.

3. THE SWISS FAMILY TREE HOUSE

This concept rendering of the Swiss Family Tree House was featured in early-WED literature concerning the Tree House, particularly in the 1969 Preview Guide given to stockholders. 

4. THE SUNSHINE PAVILION (THE TROPICAL SERENADE)

There are a few pieces of concept art from the time the Sunshine Pavilion was designed. In 1967, the Florida Citrus Commission met with the Walt Disney Company to negotiate the sponsorship of an attraction at the Magic Kingdom. The deal included the creation of a character/mascot to be the public face of the FCC at the Park. The attraction was a copy of the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland with a nearby refreshment stand conveniently located near the exit (also sponsored by the FCC), but it also meant that the Tiki bar aesthetic of the original would be enhanced to resemble the cross between an actual Polynesian longhouse and a Balinese temple. The result is the Sunshine Pavilion, but the concept art for the structure dates back to before Disney reached a deal with the FCC. As assumed, the Enchanted Tiki Room would be making a second appearance as the Tropical Serenade in the Sunshine Pavilion. In fact, the name Sunshine Pavilion referred to the infrastructure that the FCC sponsored, including the Great Ceremonial House that held the Tropical Serenade.

This 1968 painting done by Dorothea Redmond is perhaps one of the earliest-known depictions of the Sunshine Pavilion. According to Foxxy Furr, this very rendering is implied on a 1968 site map.

This 1967 painting of the Sunshine Pavilion closely resembles the miniature used in the models around 1968. Notice the mid-century design of the building to the right of the pagoda. Now that's what I call Tiki!

This 1969/1970 elevation of the Sunshine Pavilion was the finalized version. Notice how the only discrepancy with the rendering is the placement of palm trees swaying behind the Sunshine Tree Terrace, which backs up to the Frontierland Mercantile. 

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All images belong to Disney.