Though it lacks the flash and innovation of many Disney Parks rides, many agree that Fantasyland’s King Arthur Carrousel is a vital part of Disneyland and its history. As the story goes, Walt Disney came up with the idea of building what would eventually become Disneyland while sitting on a bench watching his daughters riding the Merry-Go-Round at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. He wanted to create a park that both children and adults could enjoy together.
Disneyland’s King Arthur Carrousel was originally made by a company in Canada and then shipped to California in 1954. Disney’s Imagineers had to do major refurbishments to the ride to meet Walt’s vision, eventually replacing all of the animals on it, which included zebras, giraffes, and lions. Of the 72 galloping horses that ended up on the carousel on opening day, only one was painted white. By 1975, all the other brown, gray, and tan colored horses were repainted white with different color schemes. All of the horses were also then given names. To this day, you can still head to City Hall on Main Street and get a copy of all of their names.
Walt‘s favorite horse, however, was named Jingles. As the Lead Horse, she’s located on the outer row of the carousel and was named after all the jingle bells that decorate her saddle. After going through a number of refreshes over the years, Jingles was given a more luxurious makeover in 2008 getting accented with gold leaf paint and given Mary Poppins theming after being dedicated to the film’s lead, Julie Andrews.
Special elements to look for on the horse are the image of a flying Mary Poppins, the initials JA (for Julie Andrews), and the character’s umbrella on the saddle blanket of the horse. There’s also a Hidden Mickey comprised of three jewels to be found.
Hear about the renovation of Jingles and the beautiful replica created for Julie Andrews:
Let’s take a few memorable rounds on King Arthur Carrousel . . . shall we . . .
Belle and the Pearly Band take a twirl:
And, yes, that’s Legendary Disney songwriter Richard Sherman riding Jingles below.
So the next time you make a mad dash to one of the newer more exciting rides at Disneyland, make some time to enjoy King Arthur Carrousel. And remember to give Jingles a little love as a tribute to Walt and his dream of creating a place for all to enjoy.
Let Us Help
Theme parks are reopening, and whether you are ready to travel yet or not, there’s no better time to lock in low rates on future travel. But waiting on hold and not knowing what questions to ask isn’t the magical part of a vacation. That’s why MiceChat has partnered with Get Away Today to handle all the difficult stuff for you . . . all for no extra cost. That’s right, they do all the work and it doesn’t cost you extra.
Our travel partners at Get Away Today are here to help you with your theme park booking and rescheduling plans. We know you’re as uncertain about the future as we are. That’s why Get Away Today is offering the most flexible Disney travel options available. Ask about:
Price Protection – If a better special comes out after you have booked, you’ll get the better deal.
Peace of Mind – Make hotel changes, reschedule dates, drop nights, change ticket vouchers and more, as many times as you’d like for a small, one-time fee.
Layaway Plan – Lock in your 2020 or 2021 Walt Disney World Resort vacation for just $175 down. By booking early, you secure your availability and have the flexibility to pay as you go. Make as many interest-free payments as you’d like, whenever you’d like, with final payment due just seven days prior to travel.
Give your family something to look forward to:
- Visit Get Away Today HERE
- We are expecting high call volume as Disney resumes hotel bookings and tickets sales. So, please fill out our request form and a vacation advisor will call you back: Vacation Information Request Form HERE
Let’s Hear From You
Do you have a favorite horse on the Carrousel? Did you know about Jingles, the lead horse? Although it is one of the simplest attractions in the park, King Arthur Carrousel is one of the ingredients that makes Disneyland special. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
You must be logged in to post a comment.