Mickey Mouse Park was Walt Disney’s unbuilt idea for a theme park that pre-dates Disneyland. It was a compact park envisioned for the vacant lot across the street from Disney Studios in Burbank. Back in the ’30s, as Disney movies became more popular fans would send letters asking to meet characters and tour the studios like at nearby Universal Studios. Mickey Mouse Park was Walt’s idea to satisfy people who wanted to visit the studios.
On this small plot of land they managed to fit a narrow-gauge railway, a lake and an island, a Main St and Town Square, a farm, a Western-themed town, a carnival, a railroad station, shops, restaurants, and some small rides. Ultimately, Disney’s ambition outgrew the small site, and, along with opposition from Burbank, led to abandoning the idea. Instead he built the Disneyland that we all know today. As for the Burbank land, they built office buildings instead and it can still be seen on Google Maps today (image below). It looks like they built the 134 freeway across the bottom part of the land.
I really like the small-scale of the concept, it seems quaint and relaxing and good for spontaneous spur-of-the-moment visits, unlike modern Disney resorts where you’re encouraged to plan everything weeks or months ahead. Mickey Mouse Park seems more like your neighborhood park (with a $100 million budget.)
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