Discovery Bay

Story Background:

Along the Rivers of America in the northern portion of Frontierland, lies Discovery Bay. Having as its roots a "San Francisco of the 1850-1880's," the theme area would bring to life a time and place that climaxed an age of discovery and expansion.

Discovery Bay would reflect the influx of opportunists, dreamers, and adventurers that poured into this cultural melting pot after the discovery of gold. The railroad link with the East had brought with it the beginning of culture and luxury, and the area was now earning its reputation as "city of myths and eccentricities."

[Discovery Bay concept art by Tony Baxter]

[Tony Baxter Interview Snippet Regarding Discovery Bay: MP3 - 316kb]


With these parameters established, a Western port city would be a logical and exciting addition to Frontierland. Such a debarkation point would be a natural for many of our existing show concepts, as well as some exciting new ones. The flexibility of this once-only-place in time can best be demonstrated through brief sketches of some attraction possibilities. The area would fan out around a bay inlet from the Rivers of America. Standing on a rock outcropping, the old lighthouse keynotes the styling for this age of mechanical marvels. Here the Columbia could dock, as well as several "set piece" crafts, giving a feeling of international adventure to this frontier port. Along the docks would be the traditional Chinatown. This version would recreate a Chinese settlement in the days of the Western Frontier, with it's exotic food dishes, merchandise, and an unusual attraction called The Firework Factory. Here guests could test their marksmanship -- bursting skyrockets, pinwheels, and various firecrackers as they move through a whimsical assembly line.		[Tony Baxter in 1984]

[Tony Baxter presenting his concept art of Discovery Bay]		In another corner, a group of opportunists have set up shop. Among the promises and allures offered are those of a French aerial explorer. He promises brave adventurers a trip aboard a fantastic flying machine to an Island of paradise located at the Top of the World. With this setup, we could effectively integrate a very exciting show that has been difficult to fit into the park's existing realms. This Island at the Top of the World adventure and several others are not really fairy tales for Fantasyland, nor backwoods frontier adventures. But they do date from the late 19th Century, and could use the "Discovery Bay" location as a debarkation point for adventure.

Another example, the motion picture 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has it's beginning in EXACTLY this type of place. perhaps a new version of the old Disneyland attraction could be developed. Guests might view the workings of the Nautilus and Nemo's secrets, before dining in an undersea Grand Salon. A time machine or "dimensional" adventure also works nicely with this 19th Century port so often the period of time depicted in the writings of Verne and Wells.		[The concept art for a nautilus themed restuarant]

[Tony pointing to the area of land where Discovery Bay would have been built]		Returning now to the streets of Discovery Bay, the facades might include elaborate gaming halls with crystal chandeliers and plush interiors, while the shop windows could reflect the runaway inflation of the golden economy (eggs - 18 dollars per dozen, Room and Board, 100 dollars per day) -- a parody on today's economic situation. Actual shops might include "The Model Works" featuring Disney oriented scale reproductions, and a scientific supplies office.


[The Unused Big Thunder Trail]

At the other end of town would be the Railroad Station, and the site of Discovery Bay's most unusual attractions. Dominating this area is The Tower, a wild structure that takes guests down a dizzy spiral and into a giant magnetic structure where the forces of magnetism are demonstrated in a most exciting manner.

Also, a part of this sector is the great Western Balloon Ascent and Professor Marvel's Gallery, a fascinating visit with the foremost collector of the exotic, weird and whimsical, from all over the world.

The cornerstone of this development would be the completion of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This will allow access to the new area and provide a glimpse of the gold rush fever that paved the way to the land of adventurers and dreamers -- Discovery Bay, Frontierland.