FindingMickey.com

Enamored with the classic Griffith Park Carousel, Walt Disney wanted something similar for his new theme park. A Dentzel Menagerie Carousel built in 1875 was purchased from the Sunnyside Amusement Park in Toronto, Ontario. It had operated there since 1922. In 1954 the classic wooden carousel was purchased and moved to Orange County, California for Walt's new Disneyland theme park.

Originally outfitted with three rows, Disney craftsmen created a fourth row to accommodate more riders. Designers were also asked to make each horse a jumper - so stationary horses were altered and repositioned in active poses. Walt Disney also had the benches and other menagerie animals removed, creating a true carousel (only jumping horses). Additional horses were acquired from Coney Island (formerly Ward's Carousel) and from a defunct carousel in San Francisco, giving Disneyland an estimated 92 antique carousel horses.

There are currently 68 horses on The King Arthur Carrousel. Prior to 2003, there were 72 horses. During a lengthy remodel, four were removed to accommodate a bench & ramp, which were added in order to meet ADA requirements. The extra horses are kept backstage, as they are periodically switched out for maintenance or repair. Every carousel horse is hand carved and no two are identical. The majority of Disneyland's carousel horses have distinct names, as Disney designers named horses to fit their individual personalities.