Disney's BoardWalk Miniature Carousel: A Century-Old Marvel Revived

A miniature carousel at Disney's BoardWalk Inn has a rich history dating back to the 1920s when it was built by renowned carousel maker M.C. Illions as a sales model.

The carousel, originally created for prospective buyers to see the craftsmanship and design of full-sized carousels, was later auctioned and acquired by The Walt Disney Company.

When Disney's BoardWalk Inn opened in 1996, the miniature carousel became the centerpiece of the lobby. To bring it to life, former Disney Imagineer Justin Jorgensen spent nearly two years working on the project at Walt Disney Imagineering.

Jorgensen recalled that the entire restoration was a labor-intensive process, involving more than just repainting the carousel. 'The whole thing was conceived as one whole unit,' he said. 'It wasn't just restoring a carousel and putting it on a little poof.'