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Disneyland Drive

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Disneyland Drive is an approximately 1.3-mile-long north/south road within the city of Anaheim, California.  Disneyland Drive serves as the western frontage road to the Disneyland theme park.  The signage of Disneyland Drive does not conform to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control devices.  This blog will explore the history of Disneyland Drive and off-color signage.   


Part 1; the history of Disneyland Drive

Prior to the creation of the Disneyland theme park what was to become Disneyland Drive was part of West Street in the city of Anaheim.  West Street can be seen extending north of Katella Avenue to Ball Road on the 1935 Division of Highways Map of Orange County.  

The original concept of Disneyland first appeared in draft documents sent by Walt Disney to production designer Dick Kelsey during August 1948.  Conceptually known as "Mickey Mouse Park" the original site desired by Walk Disney was near the Walk Disney Studios in Burbank.   The park envisioned by Walt Disney soon became too large to construct near Burbank which led to Walt Disney Studios purchasing 160-acres of land in Anaheim.  Construction of Disneyland would begin on July 16, 1954 and would open to public on July 18, 1955.  

The location of Disneyland was further driven by the connectivity it would have to the Santa Ana Freeway (then US Route 101).  The September 1955 California Highways & Public Works refenced the eventual site of Disneyland in Anaheim was suggested by the Stanford Research Institute on August 28, 1953.  The recommendation of Anaheim was made due to the close proximity to the planned Santa Ana Freeway.  Harbor Boulevard was noted to the initial primary connecting road from the Santa Ana Freeway to Disneyland parking area.  













Disneyland can be seen on the 1965 United States Geological Survey Map of Anaheim primarily served by Harbor Boulevard directing traffic from the Santa Ana Freeway (now Interstate 5) to the main parking lot.  West Street can be seen serving as the western frontage of the Disneyland park in addition to the adjacent hotel facilities.  


Construction of the California Adventure annex of Disneyland would begin on January 22, 1998 and would open on February 8, 2001.  California Adventure was constructed over the original Disneyland parking lot.  The parking areas of Disneyland were moved to the west of the park and West Street was rebuilt as Disneyland Drive.  Exit 110B from southbound Interstate 5 was constructed to connect to Disneyland Drive.  Disneyland Drive can be seen on the 2012 United State Geological Survey Map of Anaheim.  




Part 2; a drive along Disneyland Drive

Southbound Disneyland Drive can be accessed from Interstate 5 Exit 110B.  







As southbound Disneyland Drive approaches Ball Road magenta signage directs traffic towards Mickey and Friends Parking Garage.  Downtown Disney and Convention Center traffic are directed to stay right on Disneyland Drive.  The magenta signage does not conform to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.  



As Disneyland Drive passes south of Ball Road traffic can access the Mickey and Friends Parking Garage again via a second overpass.  Through traffic on Disneyland Drive is directed to stay to the right.  





Southbound Disneyland Drive crosses over the entrance to the Mickey and Friends Parking Garage towards an intersection with Magic Way.  The Pixar and Pals Parking Garage and other Disneyland parking areas can be accessed from Magic Way.  




Disneyland Drive continues south of Magic Way where it eventually terminates at Katella Avenue.  



Part 3; road stuff at Disneyland

Given Disneyland features a Cars Radiator Springs area in California Adventure it has some US Route 66 related items to offer.  


Disney's attempt at a button-copy adorned US Route 66 shield.


Another US Route 66 shield can be found next to Flo's V8 Cafe along with a painted shield emulating that of the Californian Mojave Desert.





Lighting McQueen at "Not Jack Rabbit Trade Post."


Surprisingly "Not Hackberry General Store" had several Crossroad Signs US Route 66 replicas as decoration.  These are actually very high-quality reproduction shields which are sixteen-gauge steel embossed stamping with porcelain.  I purchased numerous of these shields before Crossroad Signs went out of business.  The other replica signage is a fairly decent representation of the actual Hackberry General Store.  



Definitely not Burma Shave signs.  


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