True-Life Adventureland
Trees in the Magic Kingdom
Trees in the Magic Kingdom
Posted Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 8:29a Pacific Time
I found this photo on Flickr, and besides being a photo of a very cute kid, it reminded me of something I miss at the Magic Kingdom whenever I visit now: trees. Specifically, trees at the Hub.
The Hub trees back in 1975 were big, beautiful, and made the place feel very park-like, a little destination unto its own. When I'm there now, it feels desolate: a place to walk through, but not particularly a place to hang out and relax.
Where did the trees go? Perhaps they simply died; I'm guessing the more likely reason is that they were victim to the fireworks shows that came to dominate the Magic Kingdom's evening agenda in the '80s and '90s. Back in 1975, when this photo was taken, fireworks shows were relatively rare occurrences; management hadn't stumbled onto the fact that fireworks were key to getting people to stay in the park all evening, and spend extra dollars on food and sweatshirts needed to withstand the chiller night air. Trees make it hard to see fireworks; as a result, today we have shrubs.
Not a complaint, exactly...if my hypothesis is correct, the loss of the trees probably makes sense (at least, for those people that enjoy fireworks shows more than I do.) But I miss the way it looked back then.
UPDATE: Not long after posting this, it occurred to me that the tree removal might have as much to do with the stage in front of Cinderella Castle as the fireworks show. Now that, I have to say, I do have a problem with. Ignoring the question of whether the shows are ever any good, not only would it be a travesty to have knocked down some beautiful trees for a show that only a small percentage of visitors actually want to see (the shows are inevitably geared to six-year-olds), it's not appropriate to ever close off the primary entrance to Fantasyland, let alone do so four times a day. (Walking through the castle is one of the defining experiences at a Disney park.) Okay...end rant.
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Comments
I don't really have the memory of the big trees in the hub at the MK. A little bit, but not much. I do remember that they were beautiful at night with the beautiful twinkling lights. But other than that I have nothing to reallt compare the change to. All I know is that watching shows and parades during the day at the hub can get really HOT!!! They need more shade there. Town Square too. I think they need to find a good balance between tree shade and Wishes sightlines. I also agree with the comments about how big trees add a sense of prestige to parks. It's true. That's one thing where Disneyland wins. Disneyland looks so much more dignified with it's lush, mature landscaping.
Posted By bobbelee9 Monday, April 14, 2008 at 3:51p Pacific Time
"about" not out, sorry
Posted By bobbelee9 Monday, April 14, 2008 at 3:51p Pacific Time
I still grumble out them trading the topiary Mickey for Partners.
Posted By Spirit of 74 Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:59p Pacific Time
^^The Hub trees were indeed removed for the abomination known as Cinderellabration, BUT all of the other trees on both sides of the Hub waterways were removed to help improve sightlines for Wishes since they were very large.
Posted By FerretAfros Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:50p Pacific Time
Another thing that strikes me about that photo is the lack of railing around the garden. It seems these days that just about every place in any Disney park (though I believe there are a couple spots in Epcot and DAK) with plants is fenced off. It gives a very manicured look to the planters, which can be nice, but it also really restricts what they plant in them without looking too rediculous. I kind of like the "free range" look, but I totally understand why they have added fencing.
I really don't think there is any way to compare the hubs in DL and any of the other parks (except HKDL), since they are on such a different scale. Even TDL, with its several rings of planters through the hub, can't really compare to the intamacy of the trees and park areas. They are just too big for that to work, without adding a ton of trees around the edges too, and those would get in the way of so many carefully crafted vistas through the area.
And for what it's worth, they redid the hub in WDW in spring 2005. When I was there in March, the right half was done, but the left half was still behind walls. That's when they took out the curbs, and the last of the big trees. Given the timing, I would say the official reason was for Cinderellabration, not Wishes. I believe that they had already scaled down the size of the plants there before the big modifications.
"Weren't they removed in California as well?"
The trees in the hub in DL were also taken out just before the 50th, in anticipation of crowds for Remember. However, they were replaced with the exact same type of tree, just years younger. Apparently they had always planned on keeping the trees small and in scale, but they never got around to replacing the originals. When they took them out in early 2005, two of them made their way to Tony Baxter's home, and the rest were relocated to various places around the edge of the hub and garden areas.
Posted By Spirit of 74 Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:28p Pacific Time
The removal of trees at the MK has really been sickening. And it's also very bad for guests in a park located in CENTRAL FLORIDA!
The utilidors are always a great excuse, but that's all they are.
Main Street saw all its mature trees removed from 2002-04. The excuse was to improve sightlines for Wishes ... all to see a lame projection of the magic mirror.
I just keep hearing Walt's quote about DL and 'even the trees will be growing and it'll more beautiful every year' ... and I contrast that to what's been happening.
The MK should have (at age 36) a mature feel and greenery is an important part of that ... but there really isn't a canopy at all. And they recently removed mature trees from the Fantasyland planters too.
The sad reality is the folks running these parks just don't know what they're doing ... much like management at almost every other American company today.
BTW, loved your trip report and comments Randy ... it's very telling that you noticed and pointed out many little things I've commented on for years. Like those lights on the roofs of YC and BC resorts ... they've been like that for YEARS now ... and there's no thought that 'we're a major 4-star resort ... we need to replace the strands of WalMart lighting around the edge.'
Posted By RandySavage Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:19p Pacific Time
I too was dismayed at the number of mature shade trees that WDW has removed, particularly at the Magic Kingdom (the Hub, Town Square and Central Plaza).
Large trees provide parks with a feeling of dignified age and comfort. Compare a new city park with little 10 foot trees baking in the sun against the amazing canopy of NYC's Central Park or the Boston Public Garden. Theme parks are no different. What took decades to grow, some "landscape engineer" with not enough to do,decided could destroyed in 20 minutes.
Large trees at the parks need to be preserved.
Posted By mickeyboy43 Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:15p Pacific Time
I will agree with the statement about the primary FL entrance. Walking through the castle is huge, and I havent been able to do so at 2 of my past trips due to the low rate shows they have in front of the castle these days.
The trees in that pic make the whole thing look cramped.
Posted By mickeyboy43 Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:13p Pacific Time
The utilidor excuse is lame, because the concrete there is several feet thick, and able to withstand alot of weight, and should be able to withstand a probing root or two.
I dont think the tree problem is that bad though now since they replaced them with trees that were already large enough.
Posted By ChiMike Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 8:02p Pacific Time
What was told to me by MK ops was that they were removed in anticipation for Cinderbrellation or whatever that show was called. I'm sure the overall reconfiguration of the plaza also had to do with the fireworks, but unlike DL there were plenty of areas to watch Wishes without being too worried about the trees. As the trend has proven, they did believe another entertainment offering would be packing the guests in and because of that got rid of the trees, tore out the very cool brick, and basically cleared out the hub. Now the show is gone and we're still stuck with a meager hub, imo.
After the trees were ripped out the excuse went from Cinderbrellation to that the roots were impacting the utilidors. An excuse that is not plauisible in my mind.
Posted By Doobie Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 7:36p Pacific Time
I've always thought (and perhaps heard, I'm not sure) that the tree removal was related to the fireworks, not the Castle show. Weren't they removed in California as well?
Doobie.
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