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King Arthur Carrousel is the carousel in Fantasyland at Disneyland. It was featured in the telecast of the park's opening day in 1955.

History[]

Inspired by the Griffith Park carousel, Walt Disney wanted something similar for his new theme park: a carousel consisting of all jumpers. A park model Menagerie Carousel was purchased and moved to Disneyland in 1954. The carousel was built by William Dentzel in 1875 and had been operated at Sunnyside Beach Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada since 1922, it had three courses of horses and other animals on a platform 22 meters in diameter.

Preparation[]

The carousel was refurbished and significantly altered in preparation for opening day. It was widened to four courses to increase guest capacity. Of its 71 horses and one mule, most were carved in the Dentzel factory in the late 19th and early 20th century. To add the outermost course, several carved wooden horses were acquired from a Stein and Goldstein carousel, others from Coney Island's Looff carousel, and more carved horses from various other carousels from around North America. Many arrived with crude repairs, such as newspaper-stuffed papier-mâché legs. Standers on the original three rows were converted to jumpers by removing the legs and carving new ones. Custom-built crankshafts were installed overhead to operate each horse as a jumper in motion. The original, ornately hand-carved, wooden chariots were removed, and their woodwork was repurposed to decorate the "calliope" tenders and passenger cars of the Casey Jr. Circus Train. A Wurlitzer #157 Band Organ face decorates the carousel, but does not operate. Motifs from Sleeping Beauty were added to the carousel and the princess and the jester head motifs have been refinished in 18k gold leaf.

Refurbishment[]

In preparation for Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration, the Happiest Homecoming on Earth, the carousel was closed for extensive renovations and reopened in February 2003. These included an entirely rebuilt turntable platform, a new computerized operating console and system which halts the carousel each time at the same spot, removal of a row of four horses to accommodate a four-course-wide chariot and wheelchair clamps with an access ramp for ADA compliance, which reduced the count of horses to 68. In January 2010, the stirrups of each outer-course horse were replaced to include additional lower loops, increasing accessibility.

Horses[]

Because of the overwhelming popularity of the carousel's single white horse, since 1975 all horses have been painted white. Each one has a name; a complete list is available at City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A.

Jingles is the lead horse, and Walt's favorite, named for its very ornate carvings which include beautiful straps of jingle bells hanging from her saddle and cantle. For Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration, she was repainted gold from nose to tail, trimmed in 18k gold leaf and set apart as a photo opportunity near the Dumbo Flying Elephants queue. When she was reinstalled as lead horse after the Year of a Million Dreams campaign, major portions of her were painted over, except where the gold bells and trim are showing through, with exceptionally striking translucent treatment of the rosettes on her head. Decoration detail was painted on her saddle blanket representing the talking parrot-handled umbrella from Mary Poppins, and in four quarters as a crest upon her kneepad - the monogram "JA", a robin perched upon high button shoes, the silhouette of Mary in flight and a number 50 representing the 50 Magical Years anniversary of the carousel - all showing through in gold with blue outline. She was then ceremoniously dedicated to Julie Andrews on April 8, 2008.

Sword in the Stone Ceremony[]

Inspired by the legend of Excalibur from The Sword in the Stone, Merlin hosts a ceremony nearby to determine which guest can pull the sword from the stone to become king for a day.

"By proclamation of Arthur, the right and true king, and lord of all the land, it is time to select a temporary ruler of the realm...to safeguard and protect the kingdom while good King Arthur is on vacation."

Gallery[]

See also[]


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Main Street, U.S.A.
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Seasonal: Haunted Mansion Holiday

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Former Attractions and Entertainment
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Media
Films: The Sword in the Stone (video/soundtrack) • Live action filmMerlin

Games: Kingdom HeartsDisney Magic KingdomsDisney Emoji Blitz Disney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Sorcerer's Arena

Disney Parks
King Arthur CarrouselLe Pays des Contes de FéesPLAY!Sorcerers of the Magic KingdomSword in the Stone

Entertainment: Disney's BelieveMickey's Magical Celebration
Parades: Disney Magic on ParadeMagic Happens
Fireworks: Wonderful World of AnimationWondrous Journeys
Restaurants: Merlin's Magic Recipe
Shops: Merlin's Magic PortraitsMerlin l'Enchanteur

Characters
ArthurMerlinArchimedesMadam MimSir EctorSir KaySir PellinoreScullery MaidSir BartWolfGirl SquirrelGranny SquirrelMerlin's sugar bowl
Songs
The Sword in the StoneHigitus FigitusThat's What Makes the World Go RoundMost Befuddling ThingMad Madame MimBlue Oak TreeThe Magic Key
See also
Merlin's CottageMadam Mim's CottageSword in the Stone


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Media
Films: Sleeping Beauty (video/soundtrack/The Legacy Collection) • Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your DreamsMaleficent (video/soundtrack) • Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (video/soundtrack) • Maleficent 3

Shows: House of MouseOnce Upon a TimeOnce Upon a Time in WonderlandSofia the FirstChibi Tiny Tales
Video Games: Kingdom Hearts: Birth by SleepDisney InfinityMaleficent Free FallDisney Infinity: 2.0 EditionDisney Heroes: Battle Mode
Books: My Side of the Story: Sleeping Beauty/MaleficentThe Curse of Maleficent: The Tale of a Sleeping BeautyOnce Upon a Dream: From Perrault's Sleeping Beauty to Disney's MaleficentMistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark FairyDisney Princess BeginningsPrince of Thorns & Nightmares

Disney Parks
Castle of Magical DreamsCinderella Castle Mystery TourClub VillainDisney Animation BuildingKing Arthur CarrouselLe Château de la Belle au Bois DormantLa Tanière du DragonPrincess PavilionSleeping Beauty CastleSorcerers of the Magic KingdomMidship Detective AgencySleeping Beauty Castle WalkthroughDisney Heroes: Battle Mode

Entertainment: "A Whole New World" A Magical Disney SongbookAnimagiqueCinderellabration: Lights of RomanceDisney's BelieveFantasmic!Feel the MagicMickey's Gift of DreamsMickey's Magical CelebrationOnce Upon a MouseOne Man's Dream II: The Magic Lives On!Soryo KobuThe Golden MickeysThe Starlit Princess WaltzVillains Tonight!
Restaurants: King Stefan's Banquet Hall
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Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeRoyal Christmas BallRoyal Christmas Wishes

Characters
Sleeping Beauty: AuroraPrince PhillipFlora, Fauna, and MerryweatherMaleficentDiabloKing StefanQueen LeahKing HubertForest AnimalsSamsonGoonsMinstrel

Maleficent: Forest ArmyKing HenryKing Henry's ArmyFairiesQueen IngrithConallBorraGerdaDark FeyLickspittle
See also: Vulture (deleted character) • The Duke

Locations
King Stefan's CastleForbidden MountainAurora's CottageForestMoorsUlsteadCavernous Nest
Songs
Sleeping Beauty: Hail to the Princess AuroraThe Gifts of Beauty and SongI WonderOnce Upon a DreamSkumpsSleeping Beauty

Deleted Songs: Sing a Smiling SongIt Happens I Have a PictureRiddle DiddleGo to SleepEvil - Evil
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil: You Can't Stop The Girl

See also
1951 versionSpinning WheelMaleficent's Staff
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