If you’ve been a reader of this blog for any amount of time, you know New Orleans Square is my absolute favorite land at the resort. I love exploring the different streets, listening for the sounds coming from the windows and admiring all the little details. And when you take a look at the land’s concept art from the Walt Disney Archives, you can see just how important these storytelling elements were from the very beginning.
Let’s take a look at some of New Orleans Square’s concept art, and see how the land took shape.
In this amazing wide view, you immediately recognize the vantage point. You’re looking down Royal Street, with the multi-level walkway on your right, facing the water. What I find fascinating here are the elements that didn’t make the final cut, including some of the towers above the rooftops – and most notably, what looks like Saint Louis Cathedral in the background.
In this alley view, you’ll probably recognize the bold red storefront to Le Bat en Rouge.
In the final product, these two buildings seem to be flipped; there’s no exact match to that iron work, but the balconies above the Blue Bayou entrance come close. Too bad we can’t go up on the balcony like in the concept art!
This alleyway looks closest to the space between Port Royal and Pieces of Eight.
Jack Skellington, Sally, and Pirate Redd love to do meet and greets here. You won’t see hanging laundry in the final version, but you will see beautiful plants and some awesome decor during the Halloween season.
And finally, this concept art shows off what would become the magnificent Court of Angels.
Source: Tom Bricker
Of all the concept art I could find, this one comes closest to the final product. That grand staircase is so spectacular, and I absolutely love the strung lights. I’m still heartbroken this space became private for Club 33 members.
And finally, this piece of concept art cracked me up. Enjoy the very first sketch of the Haunted Mansion.
Source: D23
I’m sure you’ll agree it doesn’t bear much resemblance to the final product.
Concept art has little value when it serves as a guide or map of a land. The intent is not to create a literal document of the space. Instead, concept art conveys ideas, stories, themes…it’s like peeking inside the brain of an Imagineer. For that reason, I can’t get enough of it.