Bidders have a chance to purchase a rare piece of Walt Disney history. An archive of Carolwood Pacific Railroad items is on the auction block. The Carolwood Pacific Railroad was Walt’s personal backyard railroad. It served as the inspiration for the Disneyland Railroad and locomotives at all future Disney theme parks.
Heritage Auctions is offering the lot as part of its The Art of the Disney Theme Park / Disney Storybook Art Collection Signature Auction. The auction runs April 8 – 10. We’ll be showcasing a number of Disney Parks items from the auction in great detail here on the site over the next few weeks.
According to the Heritage Auctions press release, the archive is “comprised of the actual plans for Walt Disney’s Carolwood Pacific Railroad and an original set of cyanotype blueprints for the Lilly Belle steam locomotive.” The Lilly Belle, a 1/8 scale coal-fueled steam engine, provided the power to the Carolwood Pacific.
The Carolwood Pacific Railroad first operated in the backyard of Walt Disney’s Holmby Hills, California home. The Carolwood Pacific ran on a half-mile of 7-1/4″ gauge track. It began operating in 1950, five years before Disneyland opened.
Master Backyard Layout, including extensive hand-written notes and “Use this for layout. 6/1/51 Walt”
Additional blueprints, including locomotive, rolling stock, bridge, and track layout drawings
Printed plans for Walt Disney’s residence itself and a timber trestle
A topographical map of Carolwood Drive
In total, the lot is comprised of approximately 60 pieces. No price estimation has been published. The auction includes numerous Disney artifacts, but none tied so closely to Walt Disney himself.
The Chapeau will be closing at the Magic Kingdom on March 27 for an extended refurbishment through sometime this summer. This refurbishment happens alongside the Main Street Confectionery which closes on March 29 for nearly two months. The Main Street Cinema will be the temporary home to pre-packaged confectionery sweets during this construction period, while the fine art offerings of the Main Street Cinema will temporarily be available at Bonjour! Village Gifts. We don’t yet know the extent of the refurbishment of The Chapeau.
The Chapeau can be found to the right of Town Square when entering Main Street U.S.A. The shop is known for hosting a large assortment of hats, as well as providing iconic embroidery on the back of Mickey Mouse ears. While The Chapeau is not operating, embroidery will still be available at the Magic Kingdom at Fantasy Fare in Fantasyland.
After being closed for more than one year, magic is back at Disneyland Resort theme parks. More than 10,000 Cast Members are returning to work. Guests will be welcomed back to explore new magic and favorite experiences – from iconic attractions and character sightings to shopping, dining and hotel stays. Enhanced health and safety measures will be in place.
Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park are planning to officially reopen to the public on April 30, with limited capacity.
You’ll soon be welcomed back to enjoy unforgettable attractions, see beloved Disney friends, shop for the latest merchandise, savor the world-famous food and drinks, capture fun photos and cherish special magical moments.
Get ready to once again experience favorite attractions at both parks, from thrilling adventures like the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the Incredicoaster to family-friendly experiences like Peter Pan’s Flight and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. New magic will be unveiled, too, as the reimagined Snow White’s Enchanted Wish opens to guests for the very first time.
From surprise appearances along Main Street, U.S.A., and Pixar Pier to playful interactions, characters from favorite Disney stories will entertain and delight. Beloved characters will pop up in new ways and sometimes in unexpected places as they remain mindful of physical distancing. Certain experiences that draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date.
Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with governmental requirements and promote physical distancing, the Disneyland Resort will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system that requires all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for guests ages 3 and up. Theme park reservations will be limited and subject to availability and, until further notice, only California residents may visit the parks in line with current state guidelines. More details about this new reservation system will be available soon.
In the days leading up to the public opening on April 30, Disneyland Resort will invite cast members and members of the local community to be the first theme park guests after more than a year of closure. A Touch of Disney, the limited-time ticketed experience which has sold out, will go on as planned from March 18 through April 19.
Guests will also have the opportunity to stay in the middle of the magic as the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort plan to welcome guests once again, with a phased reopening. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa plans to reopen on April 29, with limited capacity. Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will plan to reopen May 2. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel will reopen at a later date.
The health and well-being of guests and cast members remain a top priority. Just as the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort reopened with enhanced health and safety measures, operational changes will be in place at the theme parks and hotels to align with guidance from health authorities and learnings from our parks around the world to promote physical distancing, enhanced cleanliness and reduced contact. This guidance is fluid and applicable at any given time as community situations change. With that guidance, many factors will determine the timing of when offerings may be available. Cast members will be available to explain our new procedures and answer questions you may have.
Visit Disneyland.com often for the most current information, including future details about ticket sales and reservations, and which experiences are currently available or will be offered.*
Interesting news coming out of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the study of COVID-19 continues. It is being reported that the CDC is considering changing the physical distancing guidelines from 6 feet to 3 feet which would be a big game changer regarding capacity at Walt Disney World if physical distancing guidelines are changed. The report from the CDC is coming from recent studies within Massachusetts public schools.
As reported by CNN: “The official pointed to a study published last week that showed “no significant difference” in rates of Covid-19 at Massachusetts public schools that had implemented social distancing rules of more than 3 feet apart compared to those with rules to stay more than 6 feet apart.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked about the study stating: “The CDC is very well aware that data are accumulating making it look more like 3 feet are okay, under certain circumstances. They’re analyzing that and I can assure you within a reasonable period of time – quite reasonable – they will be giving guidelines according to the data that they have. It won’t be very long,” Fauci said.
Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, recently spoke on park capacity announcing that it will remain at 35% and rise depending on the COVID-19 vaccination rate. With vaccinations on the rise and talks of possible physical distancing guideline changes, we wouldn’t be surprise to see an influx in park capacity in the near future. In the meantime, we’ll keep you posted as we learn more about what the CDC decides.
Are you planning your most magical trip yet to Walt Disney World this April? Whether you’re coming for Spring Break, Easter, or simply to spend a little time surround by Pixie Dust, Disney is ready to invite you home. There are however a few refurbishments you’ll want to take note of as you prepare your days in the parks.
There are currently five closures listed beginning April 1, 2021 on the Walt Disney World refurbishment calendar.
1. Walt Disney World Railroad (Magic Kingdom):
Sorry Disney fans, this one has been closed for a LONG time now, and we are missing it dearly. The railroad closed temporarily way back on December 3, 2018 and has remained closed since. The extended closure is due to the construction of the new attraction, Tron Lightcycle Run. Our best guess is that we won’t have a chance to take a ride on the railroad until Tron opens… which has yet to be announced.
PeopleMover is listed on the refurbishment calendar through April 3, and then removed from the list beginning April 4. Unfortunately, we would say that while we hope it reopens on April 4, Disney has pushed this closure back time and time again as they continue to work on an unconfirmed maintenance issue.
3. The Hall of Presidents (Magic Kingdom):
No surprise here as Disney is hard at work preparing Hall of Presidents for the 46th President, Joe Biden. For Trump’s Presidency, the attraction closed in January 2017 for refurbishment and reopened in December 2017. If history repeats itself, we are hoping to see Hall of Presidents reopen in December 2021.
4. Main Street Confectionery (Magic Kingdom):
Yes, this tasty shop filled with delightful treats is scheduled to close on March 29, 2021 for a lengthy refurbishment. Currently, the refurbishment calendar has the Confectionery listed as under refurbishment through May 22, 2021.
5. Kali River Rapids (Disney’s Animal Kingdom):
Kali River Rapids closed on January 3 and has remained closed for refurbishment since. We are excited however as while Kali is removed from the closure list on April 2! Fingers crossed the refurbishment doesn’t get pushed back so we can once again enjoy a ride on the rapids.
Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are currently listed as being free from refurbishment closures. Keep in mind, refurbishments are listed to help us plan but it is not set in stone. Disney has been known to extend refurbishments, shorten them, and even close attractions and/or shops suddenly for refurb.
