WDW Topiaries - What happened to them?

[Boost]

This may be a trivial topic, but I have always wondered what happened to all of the really artistic Disney topiaries at the front of the park. Just from my memory when I was a kid, I recall that there were some topiaries in the shapes of animals and maybe characters near the front of the park, just after you came in and paid for parking.

I also recall seeing them from the monorail, mainly between Contemporary and TTC.

[Kim Possible]

OMG! I remember those! I can try to find out when I am there next week if no one has cleared this mystery up yet

[faline]

I think folks lost interest in them. They used to be along the walkway between the Contemporary and the Magic Kingdom and even on the land across the way from the Contemporary. These days, I only see them inside the parks - particularly in Ecpot during the Flower and Garden festival in the spring.

I even remember old postcards with pics of the topiaries!

[Briansmom]

I remember those from when I was a kid....that was one of the 'really cool' things about Disney World!

[Tekneek]

A lot of the pictures from when I went as a kid contain them. Now they seem to only exist for special events. Far from "people" losing interest, it would seem that Disney lost interest in the maintenance involved.

[BrerGnat]

This is another thing that Disneyland has on WDW. There are still topiaries around the DLR, particularly in Fantasyland and at the DL Hotel, as well as at DCA.

I used to love seeing them at WDW too! We were there during this years F&GF and it was so cool to see so many all at once!

[Renfairwedding]

I could not place what was missing. If I remember right they had them along the route on the monorail to MK.

[Ian]

Yeah, there's no mystery. These were eliminated because they were fairly expensive to maintain.

Cost cutting, plain and simple.

[Ms. Mode]

We saw some at the entrance to Epcot at New Year's...first time seeing them. The were really cool, we had to take several pictures.

[wantthreewishes]

When I went there in February there were several really good ones at MGM. My favorites were the brooms from the sorcerers apprentice complete with buckets and water being thrown!

[Imagineer1981]

We even bought mini ones that they sold in the stores because they were such a big hit for WDW, and you could grow your own at home

[Sammyjo]

I love the topiaries. One of my favorite display is at dhs to the right of the hat. It is based on Sorcerer's Apprentice from Fantasia. It is awesome!

[KylesMom]

I've been searching my Disney e-mail archives, but I haven't found what I was looking for. A few years back, this was a featured story in the Disney Insider, or one of those similar publications (maybe Mickey Monitor?). The story went on to say that the topiaries did not flourish due to the various elements (namely, vehicle exhaust fumes) at & around the the TTC and that the few remaining topiaries were relocated inside the MK. I remember two - the serpent which can be seen as you enter the walkway into tomorrowland along the water - and a circus elephant which is located along the walkway from the Contemporary to MK.

[mainemajor]

When I went there in February there were several really good ones at MGM. My favorites were the brooms from the sorcerers apprentice complete with buckets and water being thrown!

I always stop by these because they remind me of Days long gone.

[Gator]

This is another thing that Disneyland has on WDW. There are still topiaries around the DLR, particularly in Fantasyland and at the DL Hotel, as well as at DCA.

What? I've got great pictures of topiaries at MK and Grand Floridian. At Disneyland, the only place I remember them being at was IASW.

Other than Pirates and Space, what does DL have on WDW? Florida has a better Thunder, Splash, Matterhorn (renamed Everest), Tower, Screamin' (RnRC), HM, Castle, Country Bears (still there), Tiki Room, TreeHouse.....not to mention affordable hotels. I know it's off topic, but DL being the better resort has not been my experience.

[CandleontheWater]

I used to LOVE the topiaries! When I was a kid I went on a nature tour of Disney property, and as part of the tour we went to where they grew the topiaries, I was just in heaven!