On Saturday, September 27, Disneyland’s role-playing event, “Legends of Frontierland,” ended its run. The game allowed guests to take on the role of settlers of either Frontierland or Rainbow Ridge (Disney historians will recognize that name from Frontierland’s past) and perform “jobs,” like delivering telegrams to some the community’s colorful citizens, to earn in-game currency in hopes of buying land. Despite Saturday being the event’s conclusion, there were many people trying out the game for the first time.
The majority of those in attendance were those that frequented the game. Many came dressed in western attire and some, like the young lady pictured with paper fortune-tellers, brought props to share with other enthusiasts. Everyone seemed to know each other, regardless of whether they were cast member or guest. One of the cast members, Willum, was celebrating his birthday and a few of the regular players surprised him a triple-tiered cake, complete with candle, out of paper and masking tape.
There were several mini-events in front of The Golden Horshoe, honoring different people or groups of players. All of them had received the highest title in the game, “Legend,” and were gifted with a special bandanna.
The main events were really spectacular and showed how invested Disney was in the story of these two towns. During the event, Frontierland and Rainbow Ridge were in competition and didn’t see eye-to-eye. But for the finale, the characters announced that the two groups would join together for a better future. Miss Lilly and Billy lead both communities’ citizens and players around Frontierland and up to the dock of the Lilly Belle in a parade march, while chanting “Unity!” The group then boarded the steamboat for a personal cruise along the Rivers of America.
Later in the day, there was a festive hoedown with live music. Shortly after the dance had finished and everyone had caught their breath, a speech was made from atop the balcony of The Golden Horseshoe. Citizens of both Frontierland and Rainbow Ridge revealed a plaque bearing both towns’ insignia. They asked that those in attendance continue to work to make Frontierland “your land,” echoing Walt Disney’s speech at the opening of Disneyland.
