WDW AnswerGuide.com: Frontierland Landing

		The transition begins around the Pecos Bill Café.
		Notice the roof line begin to change gradually right on the corner. It's often overlooked (as it should be) but a testament to the amazing work the folks at Imagineering do to transition lands.

Time and Place

Southern Mississippi (Tom Sawyer Island,

		Gold Rush era 1850's (Big Thunder Mountain
		Railroad),

Southwestern region (Pecod Bill Cafe),

		Wild West (circa 1860

Creating the Setting

		Both lands were designed together. Liberty Square's
		setting is on the East Coast. When there, walking towards Frontierland symbolically creates the westward expansion from the colonies. Major design contributions came from Imagineers Bill Martin and Sam McKim.

Mississippi River

		Near the Diamond Horseshoe Review you can find a
		"river" that serves as a feed to the Rivers of America. Symbolically speaking, it's supposed to be the Mississippi and once you've crossed it, your officially in the West. Notice how the pavement changes too. This makes Frontierland west of the "Mississippi" and Liberty Square, east.

Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain

Big Thunder Mtn. Railroad and Splash Mtn.
represent two different geographical
settings but are blended to co-exist side by
side.

Frontierland Fries (McDonalds)

		Notice the theming around this wagon as you enter
		Frontierland from Adventureland and you'll see that there is more than just frontier propping, there's also a story...

"It all started back in 1849 when the Gold Rush drew minors
to Big Thunder Mountain. This particular minor, who now
owns the fry wagon, tried his hand at panning for gold up on
Big Thunder. Soon after reaching the cursed mountain he
was met with misfortune and decided mining wasn't for him.
After selling his tools to the others, he quickly found that
there was money to be made in selling supplies to minors
and he set up a supply cart near the mountain. The great
earthquake (believed to have resulted from the mountain's
curse on minors) rocked his supply cart all the way down hill,
crashing through the fence to where it is today. Being and
honest man, he changed his sign from "Same location since
1853" by crossing it off and adding '55."

The McDonald's Fry Wagon in Frontierland has a
rather 'moving' story.

The broken fence shows where the wagon
rolled through during the great earthquake
in 1855.

The updated sign after the wagon came
crashing down the hill.

The transition from Adventureland to
Frontierland is completed just after the
Pecos Bill Café seen here.

The symbolic Mississippi river is under this
bridge near the Frontierland Shootin' Arcade

Liberty Square/Frontierland Transition

		Notice the dates cleverly placed on signs and
		buildings in both Liberty Sq. and Frontierland. They tell the story of America's westward movement. In Liberty Sq. we see dates in the 1700's and as guest literally walk west toward Splash Mountain, the dates become more recent. Look carefully because dates are found throughout these two lands. Below are some examples.

Cleverly hidden in this sign for Trail Creek
Traders we see that at this moment, we are
in the year 1771

In Frontierland, guests are a full 100 years
into the future from when they were at the
Hall of Presidents, the year there is 1776.

Another reminder of the setting guests are in
discreetly placed by Imagineers.

Dietz Lanturns

		This sign serves as a credit to R.E. Dietz who
		started a successful oil lantern manufacturing business in 1840 and produced lanterns for homes and for street use (as seen in Frontierland). Dietz lanterns can be found throughout Disney property as well as those from other manufacturers. This is not a reference to Disney animator Frank Dietz.