Source: Mickey Mouse Park
July 1955 – July 1957
LOCATION
Frontierland – The Miniature Horse Corral faced Frontierland’s central plaza, overlooking the Rivers of America. To find the animals, guests entering Frontierland took an immediate right, passing the trading post’s porch. Today, this space is used for the Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition and part of the walkway by Rancho del Zocalo.
BACKGROUND
1950s Frontierland would be almost unrecognizable to a 21st century visitor. Before Thunder Mountain, the rock work leading to Galaxy’s Edge, and the Pirate’s Lair, this area moved at a much slower pace. The attractions in early Frontierland focused on animals: wagon rides, donkey rides, and fishing on the pier. Therefore, it made total sense for a rancher world to include a space for visitors to get up close and meet some of those animals. Frontierland opened the corral on Opening Day, alongside various other horse and pony themed attractions.
EXPERIENCE
The Miniature Horse Corral showcased more than horses. Here, visitors could get up close with ponies and donkeys too. Basically, this was Frontierland’s petting zoo. Signs around the pens displayed facts about the various animals, and a limited number of visitors at a time were welcomed in to interact with them.
Source: Daveland Web
CLOSURE
This attraction was never going to stand the test of time. The low-capacity, slow-moving set up meant not many visitors had the chance to interact with the animals. The heat and noise tired the animals, leaving them to hide in the shade and avoid visitors for much of the day. And the more exciting nearby attractions drew the interest of passers-by, so few visitors even bothered to stop in and participate. The corral closed for good in the summer of 1957, to make way more a more exciting and interactive arcade.
TRIVIA
The corral was the second Frontierland attraction to close permanently, after the Davy Crockett Frontier Museum.
Disneyland Paris remains the only other park to feature a petting zoo in its Frontierland area, operating the “Critter Corral” from 1992 through 2006.
Source: Gorillas Don’t Blog