Grand Canyon Diorama & Primeval World
(March 21, 1958—Present) BACKSTORY: Inspired by the Disney short “Grand Canyon.” A 96-year-old Hopi Indian chief, Chief Nevangnewa, blessed the trains on the diorama’s opening day. Walt Disney and Fred Gurley, Santa Fe Railroad chairman, wore railroad caps and proudly smiled by a sign proclaiming the entrance to the attraction.
The addition of the Grand Canyon diorama in the area that was once a long tunnel through a backstage service area required the train cars to face right instead of forward so that the passengers could view the diorama. Painted on a single piece of seamless, handwoven canvas and representing the view from the canyon's south rim, the rear of the diorama measures 306' long, 34' high, 45' wide and is covered with 300 gallons of paint. The cost was $367,000 and took more than 80,000 labor hours to construct.
Real taxidermied animals are on display without the aid of audio animatronics: a mountain lion, porcupines, skunks, a golden eagle, rattlesnakes, rabbits, deer, crows, wild turkeys, and sheep, surrounded by aspens and pine. The scenery changes from a snow-capped canyon through a storm and rainbow, a sunset, and a desert to the music of Ferdé Grofe’s “On The Trail” segment from his “Grand Canyon Suite.”
Imagineer Marvin Davis had suggested a diorama featuring all the National Parks; Walt was adamant that it should be just the Grand Canyon. Walt was also firm that a grand finale was needed before the return to the Main Street Train Station, despite the fact that some Imagineers said it made no sense to have a train leave Tomorrowland and then go into the Grand Canyon.
The Primeval World dinosaurs that follow the Grand Canyon diorama were added in 1966. They originated from the 1964 New York World’s Fair Ford Magic Skyway Pavilion. Although the narration says that the dinosaurs are part of what the Grand Canyon was like millions of years ago, they were actually inspired by the “Fantasia” (1940) dinosaurs. 46 Audio-Animatronic dinosaurs were installed for this attraction.
Most photos available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below.
click above for original attraction poster
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