Literally thousands of Disneyland visitors walk right over it every day. While many stop to get that perfect shot of the castle for which it is named, few focus their cameras on the spot at their feet. What is it? It’s a small bronze plaque, located right in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Lying beneath is a Disneyland secret, hiding in plain sight.
While the plaque has been on display for thirty years now, the object below was seen just once, and briefly, in a lavish ceremony conducted on July 17, 1995. This was the official birthday commemoration during Disneyland’s Forty Years of Adventures promotion.
There had been another “kick-off” ceremony a few months earlier, in which an artist’s conception of a fancifully designed time capsule was revealed. Mickey Mouse and Resort President Paul Pressler were on hand for the unveiling. Roy E. Disney described it with an equally fanciful name: The Disneyland Time Castle.
The actual Time Castle, prominently displayed for the July 17th ceremony, was even better than the artist’s rendering. It was finished in tones of gold and had a hinged top that made it possible to place a series of objects inside.
There were a number of Disney dignitaries on hand for this event. Performer Fess Parker (Davy Crockett) was joined by Irene Bedard and Russell Means (Pocahontas and Powhatan). Disney Archivist Dave Smith was also on hand.
Participating in the ceremony were Disney executives Michael Eisner, Paul Pressler, Roy E. Disney, Marty Sklar, Judson Green, Dick Nunis, and John Hench. (Nunis and Hench can be seen in the photos above.) They each placed memorabilia in the capsule, with the admonition that they would next be seen by the children of the 21st century.
Among the items was a framed photograph that had been taken that same morning at 7 am. Thousands of Disneyland cast members, past and present, joined together on Main Street USA for a special family photo. Other items included early Disneyland photos, merchandise carrying the 1995 logo, memorabilia related to Disneyland’s newest attraction, the Indiana Jones Adventure, as well as a scroll of thoughts and quotes from each of the participants.
Once everything was safely sealed inside, a small crane picked up the Time Castle and gently lowered it into a small vault, located in the Sleeping Beauty Castle forecourt. The vault was lined in scarlet fabric, offering a vivid contrast to the golden artifact it now contained.
The cover, finished in salmon colored terrazzo to match the pavement, carried a bronze plaque. On the plaque, these words are inscribed: “A ‘Time Castle,’ containing Disneyland memories, messages and milestones, lie beneath this spot. The Disneyland Time Castle’s dedicated to the children of the 21st century, who may unlock its contents on the 80th Anniversary of Disneyland: July 17, 2035.”
If you are even only moderately good at math, you have figured out that it is now just ten years until the Time Castle will be unearthed. While I am there, I will be taking photos and collecting memories, ready to share them in 2065 when the events of that day will be thirty years ago at Disneyland.
