Mary Poppins and Bert enjoy a spin about the King Arthur Carrousel. “I felt there should be something built,” he later explained, “Some kind of an amusement enterprise.where the parents and the children could have fun together.” 4 It was this evening, this moment of parental affection, that would be the spark to bring forth adventurous lands and magical kingdoms into existence. As he watched his daughters on the carrousel, I think Walt realized that he had had just as much fun seeing them happily riding as they had actually riding the painted steeds. But there was something special about Griffith Park, more than just swings and slides you see, for it had a fanciful carrousel. Like any good parent, Walt had taken his girls to the park to play. ![]() It was a Saturday evening in Los Angeles. For him, the wonder of the carousel beamed from the faces of his small daughters. However, the wonder for Walt Disney was not in the speed, artisanal design, or even the knightly history. When the rides went from mule-powered to steam-powered, early reporters in 1863 were amazed “the daring riders are not shot off like cannon-ball, and driven half into the middle of next month!” 3 2įrom “little war” practice, carrousels eventually evolved into fun turntables of beautifully decorated inanimate horses, sometimes with a “catch the brass ring” side quest. Le Grande Carrousel was the equivalent of a “little war” Super Bowl, so participants devised a way to practice before participating: they jousted from the backs of wooden horses which rotated around a pole, trying to nab a hanging ring with a lance. When the Italians witnessed the game, they called the spectacle carosella, or “little war.” The “little war” game became a big deal, spreading all across Europe and reaching its peak in 1662 when King Louis XIV of France (who was pretty extra) turned it into a royal affair: Le Grande Carrousel. (And if I had to guess, we’re probably not talking about a Bath & Body Works fragrance.) They would toss around a clay, perfumed ball, and whoever dropped the ball not only lost the game but also shattered the ball, dousing themselves in its scent. In the 12th century, Arabian warriors played a game on horseback to increase their riding and coordination skills. While Disney’s Carousel of Progress is meant to spin you into the future, the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is an experience from the past. When sitting on the back of a lacquered stallion, watching the world go by, you begin to understand why Walt Disney himself held the carrousel so dear. Each generation has come in their turn to experience the simple pleasure and profound wonder of this magical carrousel. It represents an unbroken circle of familial love and cherished memories. The Prince Charming Regal Carrousel in Walt Disney World is more than just a circle of wooden horses. They have carried their riders with timeless reliability for over a century, traveling in an endless circle as time marches on. Their varnished eyes shine as if there is a soul within the wood, hearts beating beneath their painted chests. Their manes are forever windblown, even when the air is peaceful and still. ![]() Carved horses gallop endlessly without lifting a hoof.
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