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Frontierland
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Frontierland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by Disney around the world. Themed to the American west in the 1800s, Frontierlands are home to cowboys and pioneers, saloons, red rock buttes and gold rushes. Every instance of Frontierland has a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and a stretch of riverfront. Other attractions sometimes found in this land include Splash Mountain, the Country Bear Jamboree, Tom Sawyer Island, and a steam-powered riverboat.
Disneyland
Frontierland first appeared in Disneyland as one of five original themed lands.
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Encyclopedia
Frontierland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by Disney around the world. Themed to the American west in the 1800s, Frontierlands are home to cowboys and pioneers, saloons, red rock buttes and gold rushes. Every instance of Frontierland has a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and a stretch of riverfront. Other attractions sometimes found in this land include Splash Mountain, the Country Bear Jamboree, Tom Sawyer Island, and a steam-powered riverboat.
Disneyland
Frontierland first appeared in Disneyland as one of five original themed lands. Conceived by Walt Disney, the land did not initially contain many attractions, but centered around open expanses of wilderness which could be traversed by guests via stagecoach, pack mules and walking trails. The Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland opened in 1960, consisting of a sedate train ride around various western landscape dioramas. The Mine Train closed in 1977 to make way for a new attraction; the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which opened in 1979.
The land's long shoreline along the Rivers of America is considered a prime viewing location for the nighttime Fantasmic! show. The docks to both the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Sailing Ship Columbia, (a replica of American explorer Robert Gray's 18th century ship that circumnavigated the globe) are located here, and Tom Sawyer Island in the river's center is also considered a property of Frontierland
Frontierland borders Fantasyland (via the Big Thunder Trail), New Orleans Square and Adventureland, and connects to the Central Plaza through an iconic set of fort-style gates.
Attractions
Entertainment
Dining
- The Golden Horseshoe Cafe
- Stage Door Cafe
- Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
- River Belle Terrace
- Conestoga Fries
Shopping
- Bonanza Outfitters
- Westward Ho Trading Company
- Pioneer Mercantile
The Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World opened its Magic Kingdom in 1971, complete with Frontierland. This instance began with only three attractions; the Walt Disney World Railroad station, the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes and the world debut of the Country Bear Jamboree. Tom Sawyer Island opened two years later in 1973. The northwestern end of the park was supposed to receive a massive, pavilion-style "E ticket" attraction, which was never built. (See also Western River Expedition) The area sat empty until the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad made its debut in 1980. Little change would be made to the land for the next eleven years.
In 1991, construction began on Splash Mountain, and the western end of the land (minus Big Thunder Mountain) was demolished and rebuilt from scratch, including the existing Walt Disney World Railroad station and parade access road. Splash Mountain (and the new two-story Railroad station) opened in September 1992.
Frontierland borders Adventureland, Liberty Square, and the Rivers of America.
Attractions
Entertainment
- Woody's Cowboy Camp
- Banjo Brothers and Bob
Dining
- Pecos Bill's Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
- Westward Ho!
- Golden Oak Outpost
Shopping
- Big Al's
- the Briar Patch
- Frontierland Trading Post
- Splashdown Photos
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland's instance is known as Westernland, as "frontier" does not adequately translate into the Japanese language. The Mark Twain sails this park's Rivers of America. Other than differences in placement, and minor variations in color, theming and name, the land is very similar to the Frontierland and Liberty Square areas of the Magic Kingdom.
Attractions
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Country Bear Theater
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- The Diamond Horseshoe
- Tom Sawyer Island Rafts
- Westernland Shootin' Gallery
Entertainment
- Horseshoe Roundup
- Pecos Goofy's Frontier Revue
- Super-Duper Jumpin' Time
Dining
- Slue-Foot Sue's Diamond Horseshoe
- Pecos Bill's Cafe
- Mile Long Bar
- Hungry Bear Restaurant
- Lucky Nugget Cafe
- the Canteen
- Chuck Wagon
Shopping
- Frontier Woodcraft
- Western Wear
- General Store
- Westernland Picture Parlour
- Trading Post
- Country Bear Bandwagon
Disneyland Paris
Located in the area that is traditionally occupied by Adventureland, Frontierland at Disneyland Park (Paris) opened with the park in 1992. Unlike all of the other instances, this instance has an elaborate backstory concerning the town of Thunder Mesa, founded by Henry Ravenswood to support the mining of Big Thunder Mountain. This backstory also serves as the foundation for several of the attractions, such as the Phantom Manor. The land is the largest of all of the Frontierlands thus far, containing the entire Rivers of the Far West within its borders. Two riverboats circle the river here, the Molly Brown and the Mark Twain. Critter Coral is recently closed, to make way for a 'major' new attraction , which many fanatics hope is Splash Mountain. The land is converted into 'Halloweenland' in October , with many pumpkins and other scary characters lurking around every corner.
Frontierland borders Adventureland and the Central Plaza of Main Street USA via Fort Comstock.
Attractions
Dining
- Silver Spur Steakhouse
- Last Chance Cafe
- Fuente del Oro Restaurante
- Cowboy Cookout Barbecue
- The Lucky Nugget Saloon
Shopping
- Pueblo Trading Post
- Woodcarver's Workshop
- Big Thunder Photographer
- Thunder Mesa Merchantile
- Tobias Norton & Sons - Frontier Traders
- Bonanza Outfitters
- Eureka Mining Supplies and Assay Co.
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland does not presently have a Frontierland, although it is a planned addition in an upcoming phase of construction. If built, it will probably be located around the area on which the "Festival of the Lion King" Theater in the Wild now sits. It will also be the first Frontierland in all Disneyland-style parks to be built outside of the perimeter of the tracks of the Disneyland Railroad encircling the park. As Frontierland is absent in Hong Kong Disneyland, Imagineers merged the Rivers of America with the classic Adventureland Jungle Cruise attraction. Jungle river rafts now travel around the Rivers of Adventure, encountering similar situations as in the Jungle Cruise attraction, but on a much more open river and exposed to the elements of Adventureland. In the middle of the Rivers sits Tarzan's Treehouse, which can be reached by River Rafts.
The outer edge of Adventureland has been under construction since early May 2008, next to Festival of The Lion King and Rafts to Tarzan's Treehouse. Digging is under way beneath the berm, to permit expansion beyond the railroad track perimeter. No official announcement has been made by the park as to their plans, but the expansion is most likely to be Frontierland/Westernland (a themed land found in other Disney parks), or something to a similar end.
Additional pictures
See also
See also: Magic Kingdom attraction and entertainment history
External links
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