Removal of former Nature's Wonderland rocks?

[TFN5459]

Saw this mentioned elsewhere, but has anyone realized that the construction of Star Wars Land might completely eliminate the rock structures outside of Big Thunder Ranch that were formerly part of the Living Desert? I know that these rocks have been repainted to match the deeper red color scheme of Big Thunder but from old photos of the Living Desert they seem pretty much untouched though in new surroundings. Would anyone miss what is essentially the last remaining part of the Living Desert?

[Locoboy5150]

Also, don't forget the complete removal of the last remaining tunnel entrance from Nature's Wonderland located at the back of Big Thunder Ranch. It's to the right of the stage. (From the audience's perspective.) That piece of Disneyland history was halfway buried already when they built Big Thunder Ranch though so not too many non-train buffs know about it or notice it today.

If you're a Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland, you better take photos and video of all this stuff before it's gone forever!

[IDMT129]

Disneyland is about change. I am ok with it. The rocks of Big Thunder can actually be used for the rocky cliffs of the Junland wastes of Tatooine if they are smart, which will merge into the space port of Rishi. As much as I loved the Mine Train, it is gone, it will never return in my lifetime, and it is ok. There are so many rides and attractions which have gone just in my time, but Disneyland continues on. I am looking forward to see how this new land interacts with what they have. The fit may be a bit rocky, since they are building in Frontierland instead of Tomorrowland as was originally planned. I still think Tomorrowland would have worked as a Corruscant backdrop.

[TFN5459]

Also, don't forget the complete removal of the last remaining tunnel entrance from Nature's Wonderland located at the back of Big Thunder Ranch. It's to the right of the stage. (From the audience's perspective.) That piece of Disneyland history was halfway buried already when they built Big Thunder Ranch though so not too many non-train buffs know about it or notice it today.

If you're a Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland, you better take photos and video of all this stuff before it's gone forever!

Wait which tunnel is this?! I only know about the two out on Big Thunder Trail (Adjacent to the now Fantasmic! FastPass distribution) that connected Cascade Peak with Rainbow Ridge and Bear Country.

[S. Towler]

It's the mine tunnel that was near the geysers. Half buried in concrete when Big Thunder Ranch was built.





It's still there (for now) to the right of the stage. It's just beyond an onstage/backstage entrance. Use to walk by it all the time to and from.

[TFN5459]

It's the mine tunnel that was near the geysers. Half buried in concrete when Big Thunder Ranch was built.





It's still there (for now) to the right of the stage. It's just beyond an onstage/backstage entrance. Use to walk by it all the time to and from.

Oh okay, so that was the tunnel for the spur. Hopefully Disney opens up the area for Halloween or Christmas things on that stage so I can go have a look in person. Certainly makes me wonder if perhaps those geysers and paint pots are right under the Big Thunder barbecue area if I'm looking at it correctly.

[S. Towler]

The spur was actually in the Rainbow Caverns; train storage was along side the show building. That tunnel pictured was mainly for show.

[Locoboy5150]

The spur was actually in the Rainbow Caverns; train storage was along side the show building. That tunnel pictured was mainly for show.

There also is nothing inside the tunnel except dirt. There is no track in it and the rear wall of the tunnel is only back maybe 6 feet from the entrance. I peeked through the wooden slats with a flashlight once just to see if anything interesting was in there - nope!

[ktulu]

Disneyland is about change. I am ok with it. The rocks of Big Thunder can actually be used for the rocky cliffs of the Junland wastes of Tatooine if they are smart, which will merge into the space port of Rishi. As much as I loved the Mine Train, it is gone, it will never return in my lifetime, and it is ok. There are so many rides and attractions which have gone just in my time, but Disneyland continues on. I am looking forward to see how this new land interacts with what they have. The fit may be a bit rocky, since they are building in Frontierland instead of Tomorrowland as was originally planned. I still think Tomorrowland would have worked as a Corruscant backdrop.

The Star Wars land is supposed to be a planet we've never seen before. Based on the artwork they unveiled at D23, it's not a desert planet.

[TFN5459]

Disneyland is about change. I am ok with it. The rocks of Big Thunder can actually be used for the rocky cliffs of the Junland wastes of Tatooine if they are smart, which will merge into the space port of Rishi. As much as I loved the Mine Train, it is gone, it will never return in my lifetime, and it is ok. There are so many rides and attractions which have gone just in my time, but Disneyland continues on. I am looking forward to see how this new land interacts with what they have. The fit may be a bit rocky, since they are building in Frontierland instead of Tomorrowland as was originally planned. I still think Tomorrowland would have worked as a Corruscant backdrop.

The Star Wars land is supposed to be a planet we've never seen before. Based on the artwork they unveiled at D23, it's not a desert planet.

Speaking with a Cast Member at Big Thunder Ranch, they said that its possible that the Imagineers go with a planet like setting that very closely matches the existing "forest/river" theme that is going on in that back portion of the Ranch and Rivers of America so as to make the transition less jarring, which they said in that case that the rocks may stay to serve as a transition albeit with a new color scheme on the rear side facing Star Wars Land. Though typically CM "news and ideas" should be taken with a grain of salt, this does seem very plausible but only time and the Imagineers will tell.