Construction of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Disneyland, circa late 1954 |

I almost didn’t want to post this photo because a part of me wants to think that magic fairy dust built Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland in one sparkling cinematic moment. But no. Real men sitting on real scaffolding put it together, one real brick at a time. Disneyland opened in the summer of 1955, so I’m guessing this photo was taken late 1954. But exactly how was it taken? By balloon, maybe? Light aircraft flying very low over Disneyland? Or was it Tinker Bell…?

UPDATE

Yuma said: “According to the OC Register “Kilpatrick took flight in an airplane upon occasion to photographer Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom from the air, both while under construction and in later years, as Disney allowed him access to the park, more than other outside photographers in those days.”

Kevin said: “Walt had several towers standing around the park that time lapse photographed the entire construction.” https://youtu.be/rItAd9FuIDo

Gordon Pattison says:

September 24, 2019 at 7:29 am

Look at the citrus (orange) groves in the background. I remember, after much anticipation, finally getting to visit Disneyland for the first time in 1955. The parking lot was where California Adventure is now. It was surrounded by citrus groves.

fame says:

September 24, 2019 at 7:34 am

Autopia or the TWA Mooliner? Just ask ’em, in Anaheim

Rich says:

September 27, 2019 at 8:20 pm

Fantastic. I wish I could have experienced what you did as the boy that you were back then.

J Yuma says:

September 24, 2019 at 9:23 pm

According to the OC Register “Kilpatrick also took flight in an airplane upon occasion to photographer Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom from the air, both while under construction and in later years, as Disney allowed him access to the park, more than other outside photographers in those days.”

https://www.ocregister.com/2015/10/28/a-book-looks-back-in-time-at-images-of-disneyland-under-construction/