Walt Disney was a perfectionist and wanted only the best of the best for Disneyland.   Back in 1955, while building his dream amusement park, Walt Disney spent $22,000 for a derelict merry-go-round in Sunnyside Park in Toronto Canada that became King Arthur Carrousel.

Just finding the perfect antique carrousel wasn’t enough from Mr. Disney, he only wanted jumping–not the other animals that were part of the original.  He bought the rest of the horse from other old carrousels, including one at Coney Island.  Most of the horses on the attraction are German-made antiques that date back to the 1800s.   Most are Dentzels, the most-prized of carrousel horses because of the intricacy and workmanship.

Maintaing a piece of history doesn’t come cheap. The horses are checked daily for chips, cracks and loose bolts. Overnight, a painter touches up any paint that may have been nicked. Almost every year, each horse also comes off the ride for a complete refurbishment.  Restoration of one horse takes about 40 hours and a number of skilled craftsmen.  Disneyland carpenters undertake the major repairs. Broken legs are split open and reinforced with steel rods. Steel plates are used to strengthen stress points like leg joints.  Horses suffering from bad cracks or holes are turned over to the staff shop for patching. The detailing of each horse is re-accentuated by careful routing of the edges that inevitably wear down during the year. Next, the first of many coats of paint is applied by hand. Sanding follows, and then as many as a dozen undercoats—each separated by more sanding—to achieve the glossy finish that belies the wood underneath.

It is estimated that one in every five Disneyland visitors takes a spin on King Arthur Carrousel.  In a world that is every changing, it’s refreshing to be able to ride a piece of history thanks to a theme park visionary and teams of craftsman dating back 200 years.