Walt Disney felt that no amusement park was complete without a carrousel. Therefore, on opening day, July 17, 1955, King Arthur Carrousel made its Disneyland debut. However, this carrousel actually predates Disneyland to a degree.

The core structure of the carrousel was built as part of an 1875 Dentzel Park Model Carousel which had operated at Sunnyside Amusement Park in Toronto, Ontario since 1924. Many parts of the carousel had been changed or replaced before installing it in Disneyland in 1954. The original carrousel from Ontario, called the “Derby Racer”, consisted of 40 animals in all different shapes and colors on a 22 meter diameter platform. The original rounding boards were replaced with mirrors, and the jester and princess head shields on the outer rounding boards were also extensively altered. Some of the original chariots were removed and used as cars on the “Casey Jr. Circus Train” attraction.

The carousel’s ride capacity was also increased before opening day in 1955 by 28 horses and from various other carousels around North America (mostly from Coney Island Amusement Park). Some of the horses were taken from a Stein and Goldstein carousel to add a fourth row, completely made of “jumpers” (the horses with their legs jumping) and operated by a custom-built crankshaft.

When the carrousel first opened in 1955, there was only one white horse. Aware of the competition for the “best” horse on the merry-go-round, all the horses were painted white in 1975. That way everyone who rides the carrousel can be on the “best” horse.

Since King Arthur’s Carrousel is so easily accessible and loved by all, you may find yourself riding with one of your favorite characters that often wander around Fantasyland.

 

 

Additional Trivia and Fun Facts

• Motifs from The Sword in the Stone were used in 1955 to replace elements of the carousel.
• A Wurlitzer #157 band organ is used on the carousel, but does not operate.
• The carousel’s 68 horses were carved in Germany in the late 19th century.
• All the horses are unique and repainted every two years.
• Many of the horses have names. Jingles is often considered the lead horse (she was painted gold for Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary celebration) and has bells and flowers in her hair. Other horses are named Avanti, Dante, Daisy, Flash and King.
• All the horses move up and down as the carrousel revolves. Genuine metallic leaf is used, with 22-karat gold leafing covering the carrousel spires.
• Not all the original horses were “jumpers”. The legs of those who weren’t were removed and reattached in “jumping” position.
• There are also 4 stationary benches on the carrousel.
• In 2002, an extensive one year renovation took place on the carrousel. Some of the renovations included a new canopy, new paintjob, an entirely rebuilt turntable, a new computerized operation system that stops the carrousel in the same spot every time, and the replacement of about half of the mirrors with scenes from Sleeping Beauty, although many of them had been apart of the carrousel since the 1970’s.