Article: Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California conceived by Walt Disney. This is a list of attractions – rides, shows, shops and parades – that have appeared at the park but have permanently closed. Character meets and atmosphere entertainment (e.g., roving musicians) are not listed. Also not listed are permanently closed attractions from Disney California Adventure.
Main Street, U.S.A.
1955–56 Hollywood-Maxwell's Intimate Apparel Shop Featuring the "Wizard of Bras"
1955–57, Maxwell House Coffee House
1955–62, Main Street Shooting Gallery A shooting gallery themed to the 1920s
1955–unknown, Main Street Flower Mart A large display of plastic flowers: "The world's finest natural flowers not grown by nature"
1955–93, Disneyland Branch of Bank of America A Bank of America with three ATMs to use
1955–95, Story Book Shop A book shop operated by Western Publishing
1961–63, Babes in Toyland Exhibit Utilizing the sets from the movie of the same name, this walk-through attraction occupied the Opera House near the park's entrance.
1970–73, Legacy of Walt Disney A museum showing exhibits on how Walt Disney changed the world
1973–89, Disneyland Presents a Preview of Coming Attractions A preview center for up-coming attractions
1993–2005, Bank of Main Street U.S.A.
2005–09, Annual Passholder Center
Main Street Opera House shows
The Main Street Opera House has housed the following shows:
1965–73, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln Theater presentation featuring an Audio-Animatronic Abraham Lincoln, and a replica of a similar attraction at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Elements of the original show were incorporated into later versions of the attraction from 1975–2004 and from 2009–present.
1973–75, The Walt Disney Story Biographical film about Walt Disney, which originally appeared at Walt Disney World in 1972.
1975–2004, The Walt Disney Story featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln A combination of the two previous shows. Disneyland had been criticized for replacing the Lincoln tribute with a tribute to Walt Disney, and combined elements of the two shows in response. From 2001–2004 the Disney tribute was removed, and the entire show was given more of a focus on the American Civil War.
2005–09, Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years An exhibition on the history of Disneyland, including a film narrated by Steve Martin.
2009–present, The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln A combination of Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years and an updated version of the original Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
Tomorrowland
1955–1997, Circarama, U.S.A., renamed Circle-Vision 360° in 1967 Film presentation showing scenes from around the United States and later China. Guests stood in a large circular room and watched a film projected on nine large, contiguous screens that surrounded them. During its run, the attraction was hosted by American Motors, Bell System, AT&T Corporation, Pacific Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. In 1998, the theater became the queue for the short-lived Rocket Rods attraction. The building now houses Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Shows were:
1955–59, "A Tour of the West"
1960–84, "America the Beautiful"
1984–89, "All Because Man Wanted to Fly" (lobby pre-show)
1984–96, "American Journeys"
1984–96, "Wonders of China"
1996–97, "America the Beautiful"
1955–66, Clock of the World A clock tower in the center of Tomorrowland
1955–66, Monsanto Hall of Chemistry A hands-on museum-like attraction teaching guests about chemistry
1965–66, Monsanto's Fashions and Fabrics through the Ages An exhibition on the evolution of women's attire from the stone age to the space age
1955–60, Space Station X-1, renamed Satellite View of America in 1958 A circular screen showed America from space
1955–66, Rocket to the Moon Inside a building under a tall futuristic-looking rocket ship, the audience sat in seats around central viewing screens (top and bottom of the center of the room) so that they could see where they were going as they headed away from Earth and towards other worlds. As actual flight to the Moon became more likely, the ride was refurbished as:
1967–75, Flight to the Moon: A refurbished version of Rocket to the Moon with a mission control pre-show. The ride became obsolete as the United States sent actual manned flights to the Moon between 1969 and 1972, and it was refurbished as:
1975–92, Mission to Mars: An updated version of Flight to the Moon, simulating a spaceflight to Mars instead of the Moon.
The attraction building is now the site of Redd Rockett's Pizza Port, a space-themed restaurant.
1955–56, Tomorrowland Boats, renamed Phantom Boats in 1956 The boat engines were unreliable, and this became the first permanent attraction to be removed from Disneyland. Later became the site of Submarine Voyage, now Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
1955–60, The World Beneath Us
A fast-paced film about man's quest for energy
1955–66, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit
A walk-through with sets from the 1954 film
1955–66, Flight Circle
A show about planes, cars and boats
1955–66, Hobbyland 1955–66, Art Corner
1955–60, Aluminum Hall of Fame
1955–63, Dutch Boy Color Gallery
1956–64, Astro Jets A rocket-spinner ride originally located between Submarine Voyage and Flight to the Moon. Astro Jets has undergone the following name and location changes:
1964–66, Tomorrowland Jets: New name for the original attraction after corporate sponsor disagreements. After its closure the original attraction was dismantled and the Carousel of Progress theater was built on the site. The building now houses Star Wars Launch Bay and Super Hero HQ.
1967–97, Rocket Jets: A new version of the same ride, in a new location above the PeopleMover loading platform. The ride's mechanical components are now part of the Observatron, a sculpture on the same site that plays music and spins at regular intervals.
The ride's present incarnation is known as Astro Orbitor, located at the entrance to Tomorrowland from Main Street, and debuted in 1998.
1956–60, Crane Company Bathroom of Tomorrow
1956–94, Skyway to Fantasyland Aerial lift ride; see Skyway to Tomorrowland in Fantasyland, below. The Tomorrowland station was adjacent to the north side of the Carousel of Progress/America Sings (present-day Innoventions) building and has been demolished.
1957–58, The Viewliner "The fastest miniature train in the world" ran alongside the Disneyland Railroad for just over a year, and therefore has the distinction of being the shortest-lived ride in the park's history.
1957–67, Monsanto House of the Future A walk-through tour of a plastic house with plastic furnishings and interior and modern appliances such as dishwashers. The house was designed in roughly the shape of a plus sign with high-tech rounded exterior contours, all made from white plastic with large windows. It was outdated almost as soon as it was built. It was anchored to a solid concrete foundation that proved to be so indestructible that, when it was dismantled, the work crew gave up and left some of the support pilings in place and they can still be seen in King Triton's Grotto between the Tomorrowland entrance and Fantasyland.
1959–98, Submarine Voyage Riders entered the half-submerged miniature submarines by descending through access hatches at either end of the submarine, sat on tiny fold-down seats, and leaned forward to peer out through portholes on either side of the submarine. The submarines moved around a track in the mermaid lagoon and simulated diving by having bubbles rise around it with the purported captain intoning commands over the loudspeaker (they never really submerged). On the trip, riders saw real-looking and imaginary sea life fastened to rocks or floating in the water, a treasure chest of gold, mermaids and a sea serpent, and passed under icebergs at the "North Pole". The submarines were originally military gray and named after US Navy nuclear-powered submarines but were repainted high-visibility yellow in the 1980s. The attraction returned as "Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage" in 2007.
1960–66, The Art of Animation
1961–66, Flying Saucers Guests rode in single-rider cars on a cushion of air that were steered by shifting body weight. The air cushion was supplied from below through holes in the floor that opened when the cars passed over. The ride's site later became the site of the Tomorrowland Stage, and is now the site of Magic Eye Theater. Luigi's Flying Tires at Disney California Adventure is a modern-day version of the Flying Saucers.
1965–66, Fashion and Fabrics Through the Ages
1967–77, Tomorrowland Stage Performance venue for concerts and other stage shows, built on the site of the Flying Saucers. The stage was demolished due to the construction of Space Mountain, and was replaced by:
1977–85, Space Stage: Performance venue that served a similar purpose to the Tomorrowland Stage
The stage's location is now the site of the Magic Eye Theater.
1967–73, General Electric Carousel of Progress A sit-down show in which the building rotated the audience around a series of stages. The stages had audioanimatronic humans and household appliances showing how appliances and electronics advanced about every 20 years from the turn of the century to the "modern" era of the early 1960s. The audience stopped in front of each stage while the characters joked with each other, described life at the time in history, and demonstrated their kitchen. This ride originated at the 1964 New York World's Fair and was installed at Disneyland after the fair closed. In 1974, Carousel of Progress was moved to Florida's Walt Disney World, and the show building was used for America Sings and Innoventions.
1967–95, PeopleMover A scenic, slow-moving ride high-above Tomorrowland that was intended to demonstrate how people could be shuttled around a central urban area without rushing to board individual trains or drive individual cars. It consisted of many dozens of small open-air cars seating up to eight riders, all running continuously on a track above and through the various attractions in Tomorrowland. After the ride was closed, the track sat vacant for two-and-a-half years until the opening of the ill-fated Rocket Rods. The Walt Disney World version is still active in the Magic Kingdom under the name of Tomorrowland Transit Authority.
1967–85, Adventure Thru Inner Space A dark ride that pretended to shrink the rider gradually down to microscopic size within a snowflake, then further to view a water molecule in the flake, then finally to the point where one could see the throbbing nucleus of a single oxygen atom, with electrons zooming all around. The attraction was replaced by Star Tours in 1986 and is now the site of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.
1974–88, America Sings A sit-down show in the same building using the same stages as Carousel of Progress. Audio-Animatronic animals sang American tunes from different eras. It was described as a "lighthearted journey to Musicland, U.S.A". After the attraction closed in spring of 1988, most of the singing, dancing animals were recycled into the current "Splash Mountain" attraction. Earlier in 1987, two geese were removed and their outer skins peeled and used in the Star Tours queue as droids. The building sat empty from 1988–1998, except for seats, the old stages and some offices. Innoventions occupied the same building until its closure on March 31, 2015.
1986–present, Magic Eye Theater Theater which shows 3-D films. The theater has shown the following films:
1984–86, Magic Journeys: Film about children's imaginations, originally shown at Space Stage, then Magic Eye Theater
1986–97, 2010–15, Captain EO: Film starring Michael Jackson about a spaceship captain and his misfit crew battling against an evil queen. The show closed in 1997 due to certain problems with Jackson's image, but less than a year after Jackson's death in 2009 it was brought back as the "Captain EO Tribute" for a "limited engagement".
1998–2010, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience : A film that serves as a sequel to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, starring Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman, Eric Idle, and Robert Oliveri.
The 3-D technology used in the Magic Eye Theater is also used in multiple theaters at Disney's California Adventure
1955–99, Tomorrowland Autopia The original Autopia attraction. At least one other Autopia had existed in some form in Fantasyland since 1956. In 1999, the tracks of the Tomorrowland Autopia and the last version of the Fantasyland Autopia were combined to create the present-day Autopia, which opened in 2000.
1995-2003, ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (often abbreviated Alien Encounter) was a "theater-in-the-round" attraction. It was a darkly humorous science-fiction experience that used binaural sound to achieve many of its effects. A warning outside the attraction's entrance alerted guests that it was intense and unintended for children under the age of 12. Due is small part to complaints and port ridership from its scary and intense nature, It closed permanently on October 12, 2003. The attraction was replaced by Stitch's Great Escape!, which uses much of the same technology and set pieces.
1996–97, Toy Story Funhouse Temporary stage show and exhibit themed to the 1995 film Toy Story
1998–2000, Rocket Rods A high-speed ride high above Tomorrowland along the former PeopleMover track. The ride's queue, which went through the old Circle-Vision theater, showed early Disney films about transportation combined with more recent footage. Rocket Rods was plagued with technical problems that frequently caused the ride to shut down. Its track and station remain standing and unused, and its queue area is now part of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.
1998–2003, The American Space Experience An exhibit highlighting space exploration in conjunction with NASA's 40th anniversary. It occupied the former Premiere Shop location outside of the Circle-Vision 360 theater. Now the site of the Disney's Fastpass distribution center for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue and part of the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride.
1986–2010, Star Tours Built at the original site for Adventure Through Inner Space, this was Disney's first attempt at a motion simulator ride, based on the Star Wars film series. It was closed in late July 2010 to allow the area to be remodeled to a new attraction, Star Tours—The Adventures Continue which features all new simulators, along with a new story line and other changes, including the film being shown in high-definition 3-D film
1998–2015, Innoventions Built inside the Carousel Theater, its focus was to show near-futuristic technologies. The attraction closed on March 31, 2015, once again leaving the Carousel Theater empty.
Fantasyland
1955–64 Mickey Mouse Club Theater Walk-in theater continuously showing animated Disney films and shorts, similar to the Main Street Cinema.
1964–82, Renamed Fantasyland Theater (not to be confused with the present-day theater)
Now the site of Pinocchio's Daring Journey
1955–56, Mickey Mouse Club Circus
A circus arts show featuring actual cast members of the Mickey Mouse Club, live animals with Professor George J. Keller's Jungle Killers, Bob-O the Disneyland Clown and the talking equine, The Wonder Horse!
1956, Keller's Jungle Killers
1955–83, Merlin's Magic Shop The original magic shop in the park. A second one on Main Street, U.S.A. opened in 1957 and continues to this day. Steve Martin worked at the store for three years beginning in August 1960. "I knew every nook and cranny of the shop," he recalled in later years, and credited working there as helping hone his performing skills.
1956–94, Skyway to Tomorrowland This ride, a typical aerial lift ride seen in many parks, traveled from a chalet on the west side of Fantasyland, through the Matterhorn, to a station in Tomorrowland. Cabins hung from cables and ran constantly back and forth between the two lands. The Fantasyland station still stands – closed to public access – adjacent to the Casey Jr. Circus Train, and is concealed by trees. Its support towers were removed and the holes in the Matterhorn through which the ride passed were filled in.
1956–58, Junior Autopia A version of the original Autopia geared towards children. The Junior Autopia featured a guide rail, which the original version of Autopia did not have at the time. The site of the Junior Autopia reopened a year later as the Fantasyland Autopia and is now part of the present-day Autopia.
1957–66, Midget Autopia A version of the original Autopia geared towards young children. After the Midget Autopia closed, the ride was dismantled and sent to Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Missouri, where it operated for a few years. The site of the Midget Autopia is now the main walkway between It's a Small World and the rest of Fantasyland.
1959–99, Fantasyland Autopia A version of the original Autopia, built on the site of the former Junior Autopia. The Fantasyland Autopia was known as the "Rescue Ranger Raceway" and themed to the Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers television series from 1991–1993. Its name reverted to "Fantasyland Autopia" afterwards, and operated part-time until it permanently closed in 1999. Its track was combined with the track of the Tomorrowland Autopia to create the present-day Autopia.
1961–82, Skull Rock and Pirate's Cove A dining experience themed to Captain Hook's pirate ship. Dumbo the Flying Elephant was relocated to the former location of Skull Rock and Pirate's Cove and reopened there in 1983.
1957–91, Motor Boat Cruise Simulated experience of navigating waterways in a motor boat
1991–93, Renamed Motor Boat Cruise to Gummi Glen, based on the Gummi Bears television show.
1985–95, Videopolis A nighttime dance club targeted at young adults. Videopolis featured television monitors playing modern music videos and also hosted live musical acts. It also featured its very own snack bar, "Yumz". Videopolis was converted into an amphitheatre in 1990 and was renamed Fantasyland Theatre in 1995.
Videopolis/Fantasyland Theatre shows
"One Man's Dream" Stage show about Walt Disney
"Dick Tracy: Diamond Double-Cross" Based on the 1990 film Dick Tracy
"Beauty and the Beast" Stage version of the 1991 Disney adaptation of Beauty and the Beast
"Plane Crazy" Original show featuring characters from The Disney Afternoon television shows
"The Spirit of Pocahontas" Based on the 1995 film Pocahontas
"Animazement—The Musical" Musical featuring characters from several Disney masterpieces
"Snow White—An Enchanting Musical" Based on the 1937 film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Frontierland
1955–present, Golden Horseshoe Saloon
1955–86, Golden Horseshoe Revue : An old-west show featuring singing, dancing, joke-telling, banjo playing, and general fun and rowdiness, starring Slue-foot Sue and a gang of cowpunches. An extremely popular show, it ran in the Golden Horseshoe Saloon nearly unchanged for about three decades.
1986–2003, Golden Horseshoe Variety Show: A similar show.
1999–2000, All-New Woody's Roundup: A live-action show featuring characters from Toy Story. This shared the Golden Horseshoe Saloon with Billy Hill and the Hillbillies .
1992–2014, "'Billy Hill and the Hillbillies"'A live action show featuring singing and comedy. In 2012 it moved to Big Thunder Ranch, until they were fired in early 2014, afterward they were hired by Knott's Berry Farm as Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies.
1955–56, Davy Crockett Museum Mostly given over to retail space, with a few exhibits detailing scenes from the television series of the same name
1955–56, Pack Mules Real mules in a line upon which were ridden to view simulated frontierlands and deserts. After renovations and upgrades, the ride was renamed:
1956–59, Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules
1960–73, Pack Mules Through Nature's Wonderland; in 1973, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Big Thunder Ranch replaced Nature's Wonderland.
1955–56, Stage Coach A real stagecoach drawn by real horses. After new scenic landscaping, it became:
1956–60, Rainbow Mountain Stage Coaches
1955–60, Conestoga Wagons A real Conestoga wagon drawn by real animals.
1956–59, Rainbow Caverns Mine Train A narrow gauge mine train ride through the new Living Desert. After the scenery was again redone in 1960, it was also upgraded and became:
1960–77, Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland. The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction replaced this sedate train ride with a roller coaster version. The only attraction that remained from the scenic vistas was the mighty waterfall tumbling from Cascade Peak into the Rivers of America, visible only from various boat rides around the Rivers. The structure that formed Cascade Peak and its waterfalls was demolished in 1998 after it was found to be suffering structurally from the decades of water that flowed over it. Only one of the four Locomotives and two cars from the ride remain on a stretch of track where Cascade peak once stood, as a staged wreck scene. The train, however, was removed in early 2010 during the Rivers of America refurbishment. The cacti that were a part of the Living Desert section were mostly relocated to the Magic Kingdom version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Other remnants from Nature's Wonderland include the tunnel from Bear Country, the buttes from the Living Desert, the tunnel into Rainbow Caverns (though half buried in concrete), and the jumping fish seen in Bear Country, all visible on Big Thunder Trail. The animals, however, were buried in concrete as the Imagineers didn't know where to place them.
1956–63, Mineral Hall Mineral Hall was a shop located next door to the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train/Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland ride. Operated by Ultra-Violet Products, the Mineral Hall featured a free exhibit, which included a mineral display lit by black-light. The shop also sold related gifts and mineral samples. Selling anywhere between 10 & 50 cents, the Disneyland-themed mineral samples were labeled Walt Disney's Mineral Land – Rocks & Minerals.
1956–71, Indian War Canoes Now Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes, and part of Critter Country.
1955–71, Indian Village Now Critter Country.
1986–96, Big Thunder Ranch A western-themed casual area for seeing shows, viewing Disneyland's horses on their breaks and days off, and dining at Big Thunder Barbecue which served ribs, chicken, potatoes, beans, and such. The Barbecue remained open for a few more years after the Ranch area became the Festival of Fools stage for The Hunchback of Notre Dame show. The area is still referred to today as Big Thunder Ranch and is used for special events, a petting Zoo, and seasonal attractions.
1956–94 and 1996–97, Mike Fink Keel Boats Shut down due to an accident in 1997 when the Gullywhumper boat began rocking side-to-side on a trip on the Rivers of America. The boat capsized shortly after it was rocking side-to-side. The attraction never returned. The Gullywhumper's sister boat, the Bertha Mae, was sold on Disney's auctions site. In 2003, the Gullywhumper returned to the Rivers of America as a prop and is moored on Tom Sawyer Island where it is visible from the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Sailing Ship Columbia, and the Explorer Canoes.
2004–05 Little Patch of Heaven Petting Farm Petting zoo located at Big Thunder Ranch to promote the film Home on the Range.
Adventureland
1962–93, Tahitian Terrace Dinner show with various Polynesian entertainment. Replaced by:
1993–95 and 1997–present, Aladdin's Oasis: Dinner show based on the 1992 film Aladdin. The dinner show ended in 1995 and the stage show was brought back in 1997–2008.
1962–82, Big Game Safari Shooting Gallery A jungle-themed shooting gallery with images of wild animals as the targets.
1962–99, Swiss Family Treehouse Treehouse based on the film Swiss Family Robinson. Rethemed as Tarzan's Treehouse in 1999 and still open under that name.
New Orleans Square
1987–2007, The Disney Gallery A gallery of Disney-related art. The Disney Gallery was the only area listed on Disneyland maps as both an attraction and a retail location. The Gallery sometimes featured preliminary artwork and sketches from certain attractions or movies, sometimes (as in the 100 Mickeys exhibit) the displayed art was associated only with Disney and not with any specific attraction, film, or event. Often, prints from the exhibit were available for purchase via the print-on-demand system, and the Gallery always featured items such as books about Disney artwork. The Gallery used to sell prints of the ride posters featured in the tunnels leading to and from Main Street. The former gallery is now the site of the Disney Dreams Suite. In October 2009 the gallery re-opened, but now it resides on Main Street, U.S.A..
Bear Country/Critter Country
Bear Country opened in 1972 and was renamed Critter Country in 1988.
1972–2001, Country Bear Jamboree An audio-animatronic show featuring traditional American folk songs sung by a variety of bears and their friends, including Henry the host and Big Al, Shaker (aka Terrence), The Sun Bonnets (Bunny, Bubbles, and Beulah), Liver Lips McGrowl, Wendell, Ernest, Gomer, Trixie, Teddi Barra, The Five Bear Rugs (Zeke, Zeb, Ted, Fred and Tennessee), and Zeke's son Oscar. The content of the show was replaced by:
1986–2001, Country Bear Vacation Hoedown at the Country Bear Playhouse: Used the same animated figures as Country Bear Jamboree, redecorated.
Now the site of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
1972–88, The Mile-Long Bar A snack bar fashioned like an old-west wooden bar with brass footrail and featuring wall-sized mirrors at either end so that it appeared that the bar went on forever. Later became Brer Bar and is now the site of the expanded Pooh Corner store (formerly Crocodile Mercantile).
1972–2003, Teddi Barra's Swinging Arcade
Video arcade, now the site of the expanded Pooh Corner store.
Mickey's Toontown
1993–2003, Jolly Trolley Trolley providing transportation from one end of Toontown to the other. Closed due to crowded walkways presenting major safety hazards, meaning the trolleys could only operate on days with sparse crowds. The Jolly Trolley's track is still present in the main walkway of Toontown, and one car stands stationary in the middle of Toontown.
Holidayland
1957–61, Holidayland Holidayland, the "lost" land of Disneyland, was a recreation area with a separate entrance before being replaced by New Orleans Square. Holidayland featured a baseball diamond, a circus and a picnic area and more resembled a park than a themed land.
Parades
1960–64, Mickey at the Movies
1965–76, 1980–1985, Fantasy on Parade
1972–75, 1977–1983, 1985–1996, Main Street Electrical Parade
1975–76, America on Parade
1980, Disneyland's 25th Anniversary Parade
1983, Flights of Fantasy
1984, Donald's 50th Birthday
1985, Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Parade
1986, Totally Minnie
1986–88, Circus on Parade
1987, Snow White's 50th Anniversary
1987–88, State Fair
1988–89, Blast To The Past
1988–89, Mickey's 60th Birthday
1989–90, Hooray For Disney Stars Parade
1990, Disney's Party Gras Parade
1991, Celebration, U.S.A.
1992, The World According to Goofy
1993–94, Aladdin's Royal Caravan
1994–97, The Lion King Celebration
1996–97, Cruisin' The Kingdom
1997, Light Magic
1997–98, Hercules' Victory Parade
1998 – October 1999, Mulan Parade
Late 1999–2005, Parade of the Stars
2005–08, Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams
2009–10, Celebrate! A Street Party
Fireworks
1958 – October 1999 and 2015, Fantasy in the Sky
Late 1999–2004, Believe... There's Magic in the Stars
2004–05, Imagine... A Fantasy in the Sky
2005–14, Remember... Dreams Come True
See also
List of current Disneyland attractions
List of former Disney California Adventure attractions
Rail transport in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
References External links
Yesterland: With photos of bygone attractions.
General Electric Carousel of Progress at the NY World's fair and beyond, several pages of information
Disneyland Maps: All past Disneyland large poster-sized wall maps sold in the park.
Overview of Disneyland Publications from its history
Walt's Magic Kingdom: List of Disneyland attractions, shops, shows and restaurants since 1955.
Crane Bathroom of Tomorrow
Disneyland branch of Bank of America 1955 tri-fold brochure cover and money orders |
Source: skip to main | skip to sidebar
Mztressofallevil's Disney of Yesteryear Blog
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Disney of Yesteryear: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
One of the most innovative attractions ever created for the Disney theme parks was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. A Walt Disney World "E-Ticket" attraction since its opening day on October 14, 1971 (back when WDW used individual coupons instead of pay-one-price tickets), this Fantasyland ride closed exactly 23 years to the day after it opened, making it the only E-Ticket attraction to ever be removed from the park.
The 38 passenger (39 with the Cast Member "Captain") subs used in the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction based on the Disney film of the same name were distinguished by their Roman numeral markings on the outside. They were built in a shipyard in nearby Tampa, and then brought over on flatbed trucks to Walt Disney World. In fact, when "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" was open, the 24 subs that operated at Walt Disney World and Disneyland gave the Walt Disney Company the 5th largest naval fleet in the world!
Guests boarded Captain Nemo's submarine and traveled under the sea through coral reefs, dark caverns, and into unexpected danger below deadly ice caps. Sadly, the ride closed in 1994 with almost no notice to guests, not due to lack of popularity, but because of constant ride breakdowns, loading difficulties (the subs were not handicapped-accessible), long lines, and the difficulty and high costs of maintenance (including keeping 11.5 million gallons of water clear enough for guests to see through).
For some time after the attraction had closed, the subs remained "docked" in the lagoon, leaving futile hope that the ride would be refurbished and reopened. However, the subs were soon removed and the lagoon drained. They were later stored for some time in backstage maintenance areas, but have long since been removed to whereabouts unknown… well, for the most part, anyway. While rumors persist that many of the old subs have been either dismantled or buried on the property somewhere, two of the subs were brought to Castaway Cay, Disney's private island, for exploration by Disney Cruise Line passengers.
Posted by Mztressofallevil at 1:45 PM 1 comment:
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Timekeeper (also known as "From Time to Time" and "De Temps en Temps") was a 1992 Circle-Vision 360° film that was presented at three Disney parks around the world. Unlike previous films, it was the first show that was arranged and filmed with an actual plot and not just visions of landscapes, and the first to utilize Audio-Animatronics. The film features a cast of European film actors of France, Italy, Belgium, and England. The film was shown in highly stylized circular theaters, and featured historic and futuristic details both on the interior and exterior.
The Timekeeper and its original French counterpart Le Visionarium, formerly at Disneyland Paris, marked the first time that the Circle-Vision film process was used to deliver a narrative story line. This required a concept to explain the unusual visual characteristics of the theater, hence the character 9-Eye. 9-Eye is sent through time by The Timekeeper, so that she can send back the surrounding images as she records them in whichever era she finds herself in.
The French attraction was also known by its film name as: "De Temps en Temps", while the Japanese attraction was simply "Visionarium", with the caption "From Time to Time" on the poster, respectively. The American film theater was known as "Transportarium" for a period of six months after it debuted, but the name was later dropped in lieu of "Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center", or formally "The Timekeeper".
"Le Visionarium" (the original title) was not just an ordinary Circle-Vision 360°Film, but was important in the fact that for the first time in a Circle-Vision film, that creators at Walt Disney Imagineering wanted to tell an immersive story and attempt a light-hearted dialog without just switching between scenes of landscapes, as had been done in all of the previous Circle-Vision films.
The original concept for the film had included Jules Verne and the culture of past and present European history and events, and new inventions. Along with the previous elements, the story had to do with the idea of time travel with one concept including a child that explored the story of the great European scientists of the past on a computer. However to keep the audience focused and use imagination to depict situations and places that do not cater to the average person, the number of visions of the past and extreme situations of the plot kept increasing all the time for the project.
The film first premiered in Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris on April 12, 1992 as Le Visionarium. It was an extravagant attraction and was touted by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner as the showcase of the land at the time. However, TIME Magazine derided the film as a "flop" of a "wan drama" in its review of Disneyland Paris.The next year, the third incarnation of the ride opened at Tokyo Disneyland, as part of that park's 10th Anniversary Celebration.
The attraction had long been on the 'Discoveryland USA' proposal for the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort. However when financial difficulties arose because of the EuroDisney Project, the Discoveryland Project was canceled. At one point, the attraction was to be extended into a restaurant featured next door to the attraction. The Plaza Pavilion was to receive a makeover as the "Astronomer's Club" where a stage would have been located and actors portraying famed scientists such as Da Vinci and Galileo would appear in the restaurant only to be called back to the past by either 9-Eye or Timekeeper.
However, the film was named "From Time to Time" and opened in the Magic Kingdom's Circle-Vision theater rechristened "Transportarium" on November 21, 1994 as part of the New Tomorrowland expansion. Six months later the attraction under went some name changes. The theater was called "Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center" and the film was formally known as The Timekeeper, which is the most known and remembered name.
In 2001, the attraction was moved to the seasonal list of attractions along with Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. In February 2006, the Walt Disney World Resort reported that The Timekeeper was to be closed on February 26, 2006. Walt Disney World's version was the last version of the attraction to be closed. Both the Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris "Visionarium" films had closed in 2002 and 2004, respectively.
Before the actual show, we are introduced to the invention of the show, "Circumvisual PhotoDroid", more commonly known as "9-Eye". The nine eyes she has represents the nine cameras used in filming the show in the round, thus showing the view from one of her "eyes" on each of the nine movie screens. She is the latest development from The Timekeeper, the keeper of the time machine. Guests are invited to be witnesses of the first ever use of the newly invented Time Machine.
After guests enter the theater, Timekeeper comes to life and has "9-Eye" prepare for the journey through time. Timekeeper then turns on the Machine for its first use, then watches from his control panel as 9-Eye is thrust back to the Jurassic age period in Earth's history. She narrowly escapes hungry dinosaurs as Timekeeper sends her to the last great ice age about 12,000 years ago. As she starts to freeze up Timekeeper sends her to 1450, for what is to be demonstration of Johannes Gutenberg's printing press.
However, Timekeeper has yet again messed up and sent her to a Scottish battle field in which one warrior comes after her, but is saved by Timekeeper. Finally working the kinks out of the time machine, Timekeeper sends 9-Eye to the year 1503, at the height of the Renaissance. The machine has placed right in the middle of Leonardo da Vinci's workshop where he is painting the Mona Lisa. 9-Eye, being curious starts to pick up some of the painting supplies and is noticed by Leonardo, who becomes fascinated by the strange machine. However the meeting between 9-Eye and DaVinci is cut short as her next stop in time is 1763, where Mozart is giving a performance to a crowd, which includes Louis XVI. However the meeting is again short as she is noticed by the people who begin to chase her through a house. Timekeeper decides to send her to the Exposition Universelle (1878) but the machine is stuck on fast forward with a skyline of Paris in such a motion that the progress of the Eiffel Tower, symbol of the Exposition Universelle (1889), is shown in the background. Finally Timekeeper has the machine stop in 1900, just in time for the Exposition Universelle (1900).
Timekeeper announces that guests are in time for a meeting between H. G. Wells and Jules Verne. 9-Eye hides from the fair-goers but not so that Verne and Wells are hidden. After a brief meeting, Wells walks away leaving with Verne a model of his time machine, which Verne had just criticized to him as impossible. After a sarcastic comment about time travel from Verne, 9-Eye rebuts his claim, and Verne notices her. Jules Verne decides to take a closer look at 9-Eye and tries to grab her. Timekeeper seeing this tries to bring her back to the present but brings not only her back but Verne.
Timekeeper and 9-Eye realizing their mistake try to send him back, but he refuses after discovering he is finally in the future and begs for them to show him the world of today in 10 minutes or less, so he can return to 1900 and deliver his speech. They agree and Timekeeper sets the machine for today. He sends Verne and 9-Eye to a dark tunnel, which Verne believes to be a dark future, however they are unaware they are standing in a railroad tunnel. The next thing to happen is a collision between Jules Verne and a French TGV train, and Verne becomes a new hood ornament.
From the train, Jules Verne and 9-Eye explore the modern roads of Paris with cars, which leads Verne, curious, to try driving. However Timekeeper puts him in the front seat of a race car, and Verne takes off, albeit in the wrong direction. From race car driving, Verne then enjoys a bobsled run. After the bobsled run, Timekeeper sends Verne and 9-Eye to the bottom of the sea, to show Verne how his novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea has come to life.
The scene changes and going from under water to flying. The screen now shows a flight through the air above the European countrysides featuring castles and mountains. Verne is shown in a helicopter, sitting dangerously close to its open door. After a view of English countrysides and New York skylines, Verne requests to go even higher. They take him to space to show that another one of his ideas, space travel, has come true from his books, this time, From the Earth to the Moon.
Time is running out so Timekeeper and 9-Eye return Verne to the site of the Grand Palais of Exposition Universelle (1900); however, Timekeeper makes one mistake in the wrong year, and Verne is in the right place, but at the wrong time. When they finally return Verne to his right place, H.G. Wells happens to return to the site of his discussion with Verne and sees all that is going on with the Timekeeper.. Wells is flabbergasted, and Verne and 9-Eye exchange goodbyes as Wells tries to understand what is happening. 9-Eye returns to the present time, and now that the guests have witnessed a "flawless" demonstration of his time machine, Timekeeper decides he wants to see the future. Timekeeper sends 9-Eye to 2189, 300 years after Exposition Universelle of 1889 and the completion of the Eiffel Tower. As they explore a futuristic Paris, they see many flying cars. Jules Verne and H.G. Wells appear in what looks like a model of Wells' time machine from 1900. After they jet off the show ends, and Timekeeper wishes everyone well. As guests leave, Timekeeper makes plans to see other important events during history and in the future with his machine and 9-Eye.
After being placed on a seasonal schedule in April of 2001, The Timekeeper at Walt Disney World was open on a sporadic schedule during the busy seasons. Some attribute it to the following criticisms, which the overseas versions of the attraction had not been faced with:
* Obese or elderly guests may have found it hard to stand or strainful on the eyes
* The lack of familiar Disney characters
* The building's entrance was very inconspicuous and did not feature a large rotating globe icon or full title.
After the events of September 11, 2001 the attraction faced even harder times. With a decrease in tourism due to the terrorist acts in the United States and the fact the film featured a scene of New York that still included the now-destroyed World Trade Center Towers, the attraction's demise was only certain. To preserve the memory of those events, the Timekeeper's clock registered the current year as 2000, placing him in a time prior to the attacks.
However, it managed to last five more years. During the time when construction was occurring on Stitch's Great Escape!, it was open more frequently along with Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. On days when the show was not opened, the queue was a meet-and-greet for such Disney characters as Stitch and Pixar characters Buzz Lightyear and The Incredibles.
Until December 2005, the Timekeeper attraction in Walt Disney World Resort was the last Timekeeper still entertaining guests, as the Tokyo Disneyland version closed in 2002 and was replaced with Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters in 2004 and the Disneyland Paris version closed in 2004 and was replaced by Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast in 2006, respectively although the Disneyland Paris version closed mainly because they lost their sponsor, Renault.
In early 2007 the former location of the Timekeeper became home to Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. The attraction building still retains most of the elements of the previous tenant, including the water columns in the queue and the basic Circle-Vision theater, however, the theater floor has been modified to include seating and several of the screens are now covered by other elements. The building, theoretically, is still able to revert to a Circle-Vision theater, however, the likelihood of this occurring is low.
While many guests may had not appreciated Timekeeper, in addition to some Disney fans seeing the American version straying away from the original film's point of view, the attraction kept an uplifting and optimistic spirit about science and the future.
During the early 1990s, former Disney-Executive, Michael Eisner released ambitious plans for changes to the parks. "Tomorrowland 2055" was plan for a remake of Tomorrowland and the Disneyland Resort in California. The Timekeeper, along with ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter and Plectu's Fantastic Intergalactic Revue, was to be a showcase attraction. One promotional brochure had Delta Air Lines[8] sponsoring the film. But the plans were later scrapped due to financial difficulties within the Parks & Resorts division, most stemming from the billion dollar losses incurred with the EuroDisney project.
Other information placed "Visionarium" as an opening day attraction at the unbuilt park next to Disneyland, WestCOT. The show would have been housed in a European Renaissance building in a European section of the WestCOT version of World Showcase. However, like the New Tomorrowland plan, this also did not occur.
* The futuristic scenes of 2189 were created by Rhythm and Hues Studios.[12]
* The first and only Circle-Vision film to utilize Audio-Animatronics.
* The three planes featured in the scene at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris are an Air France Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde and a Boeing 747 and DC-10, both operated by Union des Transports Aériens, respectively.
o Because UTA was absorbed by Air France in 1990, the film must have begun filming in 1990.
* The Arctic scene in the film was taken from an old Circle-Vision film, "Magic Carpet ‘Round the World", and shadows from helicopters were digitally removed.
* The Mickey Mouse hot air balloon "Ear Force One" can be seen during the Red Square scene.
* During the scene of a conversation between Verne and Wells at the Exposition Universal 1900, a man stands between the two men. In the French Version, he acts as a translator between the two men, however when the film was dubbed into English his lines were dubbed over, and left with one line of dialog.
* The submarine in the film is called the Johnson-Sea Link and is a research submarine at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Ft. Pierce, Florida.
* The only new Circle-Vision film of the 1990s. The last new Circle-Vision film was "American Journeys" in 1984 and the next new film would be "Reflections of China" in 2002.
* During the 'The Anglo-Scot Wars' scene a camera man could be seen crouching atop a wooden ram.
* Both the Paris and Tokyo attractions featured a metal-globe with the title "(Le) Visionarium" rotating around the globe. The Orlando version featured a large poster and LED ticker bar held from the entrance rotunda was the outside element.
* Following the tradition of hiding a trace of the past within a new attraction, the Parisian version's audio-animatronic of Nine-Eye can be seen in Buzz Lightyear's Laser Blast.
* The film's Executive Producer, John Badham, also directed Saturday Night Fever, WarGames and Short Circuit.
Posted by Mztressofallevil at 10:36 AM No comments:
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Captain EO Captain EO Captain EO (alternately, Captain Eo
) is a 3- D formerly shown at EPCOT. I was 12 at the time of it's release, and as many girls of the 1980's- I was CRAZY aboput Micheal Jackson. I HAD to see it, and see it I did. I was lucky to visit EPCOT during it's inaugural year of 1982 and remember well how I sat on the floor to view the movie (nope- no seating at all! You sat or stood.) and how I had these crazy purple glasses that we all had to wear. LOL!
The film stars Michael Jackson. It was directed by
Francis Ford Coppola , executive-produced by George Lucas , choreographed by Jeffrey Hornaday , photographed by Vittorio Storaro
, produced by Rusty Lemorande, and written by Lemorande, Lucas and Coppola. The score was written by
James Horner
, and featured two songs ("We Are Here to Change the World" and "
Another Part of Me
") by Michael Jackson. The Supreme Leader was played by
Anjelica Huston .
The movie tells the story of Captain EO and the ragtag crew of his spaceship on a mission to deliver a gift to a wicked alien queen, the Supreme Leader, on her home world of rotting, twisted metal and steaming vents. Captain EO's alien crew consists of his small flying sidekick Fuzzball, the double-headed navigator and pilot Idee and Odee, robotic security officer Major Domo, a small robot Minor Domo (who fits like a module into Major Domo), and the clumsy elephant-like shipmate Hooter (
Tony Cox
) who always manages to blunder the crew's missions.
Upon arriving on the planet, the crew is captured and sentenced to be tortured. Before being sent away, EO tells the Queen that he sees the beauty hidden within her, and that he brings her the key to unlock it: his song.
The two robot members of the crew transform into music instruments and the crew members begin to play the various instruments. As Hooter runs toward his instrument, he trips over EO's cape and breaks his instrument, stopping the music. The spell broken, the Queen orders her guards to capture Captain EO and his crew.
Hooter manages to repair his instrument and sends out a blast of music, providing EO with the power to throw off the guards. He uses his power to transform the dark hulking guards into agile dancers who fall into step behind him for a dance number. As EO presses forward toward the Supreme Leader she unleashes her Whip Warriors, two cybernetic defenders each with a whip and shield that can deflect EO's power.
The others all run away leaving Captain EO to fight the whip warriors alone. EO is trapped by a closing gate and is preparing for a last stand as both the whip warriors draw their whips back for a final blow. Fuzzball drops his instrument and speedily flies over to tie the two whips together, causing the whip warriors to be thrown off balance giving EO an opportunity to transform them as well. With no further obstacles, EO uses his power to transform the Queen into a beautiful woman, her lair into a peaceful Greek temple and the planet into a verdant paradise.
A celebration breaks out as EO and his crew triumphantly exit and fly off into space.
Captain EO
made full use of its
3-D effects
. The action on the screen extended into the audience, including lasers, laser impacts, smoke effects, and starfields that filled the theater. These effects resulted in the seventeen-minute film costing an estimated $17 to $30 million dollars to produce. At the time it was the most expensive film ever produced on a per-minute basis.
Two new songs appeared in the film. The first, "
Another Part of Me
", later appeared on Jackson's hugely successful
Bad album.
"We Are Here To Change The World", which was not officially released until 2004 as part of
Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection
. Soul / R&B singer Deniece Williams
covered the song on her
As Good As It Gets
album ( 1988 ). [1]
In the movie we see the blue elephantine creature Hooter play the keyboard. This is very reminiscent of George Lucas'
Star Wars character Max Rebo
who plays keyboard in
Jabba 's Palace.
It has been rumored that there might be a limited return of Captain EO to the Disney Theme parks as part of a "retro" look into the history of the parks. As well, rumors have circulated for some time of a home DVD release of Captain EO. Both seem very unlikely as there have been disputes in the past between Jackson and Disney over the use of his likeness (according to Disney staff at the theme parks) as well as contractual agreements that would have to take place between Disney and
LucasFilm
. Such a return would undoubtably be successful and draw massive attendance numbers, but also controversial considering Jackson's past legal problems. Bootleg DVD's taken from a BETA transfer as well as a direct transfer from the right projector film (3D requires two projectors) can also be found for sale online. Much of the effect of the film is lost however, as the movie is intended for 3D viewing in the custom theatres that housed the special effects.
Now- experience it for yourself and tell me what YOU think:
Posted by Mztressofallevil at 11:18 AM 2 comments: Labels: Captain EO
Sunday, August 3, 2008
ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter!
The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (often abbreviated Alien Encounter) is a former Tomorrowland "theater-in-the-round" attraction in the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. It was one of my favorite attractions! It was a darkly humorous science-fiction experience that used binaural sound to achieve many of its effects- and yes, it scared the pee out of most kids (and some adults!).
A warning outside the attraction's entrance alerted guests that it was very intense; parents were recommended to not bring small children into the attraction. They were
WARNED !!!!!!
It opened briefly for previews on December 16, 1994 on the site of the former Mission to Mars attraction, but was ordered closed for retooling by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner in January 1995. It opened officially on June 20, 1995 as part of the New Tomorrowland and closed permanently on October 12, 2003. It was replaced by Stitch's Great Escape!, which uses much of the same technology and set pieces.
While the attraction was short-lived, it developed a cult following among Disney fans. Some praised it for its sophisticated tone, a sharp contrast to a lot of the attractions at Disney's theme parks. It was like an adult escape within the attraction. Many people who love Disneyquest also know that there is an Alien Encounter interactive attraction in that building that opened at the same time. If you have not played that- it is fun!
The Ride Went Like This:
Guests are ushered into the "Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center" for a demonstration of new technology from an alien corporation known as X-S Tech. The company's chairman, L.C. Clench (Jeffrey Jones), sets the attraction's subtly sinister tone with a welcome that includes his corporate philosophy — If something can't be done with X-S [excess], then it shouldn't be done at all.
Next, guests proceed into a second area where an X-S robot known as the Simulated Intelligence Robotics (Tim Curry), or S.I.R. for short, demonstrates the company's "practically painless" teleportation technology using a cute little alien named Skippy. The creature's charred and disoriented appearance after being teleported a short distance across the room suggests that the technology is flawed.
Finally, guests are seated in harnesses within a circular chamber surrounding a teleportation tube. Clench and two X-S Tech employees, Spinlok (Kevin Pollak) and Dr. Femus (Kathy Najimy), communicate "live" from across the galaxy via video screens. Initially, a single guest is to be teleported out of the chamber for a meeting with Clench. Instead, Clench is "seized" by inspiration and decides to have himself teleported into the chamber to meet the entire group.
Clench's impatience and the change of plans cause the teleportation signal to be diverted through an unknown planet. As a result, a towering winged, carnivorous alien is beamed into the tube by mistake and quickly escapes. A power outage plunges the chamber into total darkness as guests sit helplessly restrained by their seat harnesses.
During the portions of the attraction that take place in darkness, binaural sound effects suggest that the alien is moving through the chamber, menacing the guests and even devours a maintenance man. In-seat effects contribute to the illusion, with the alien appearing to be breathing and at one point licking the guests. Spatters of blood were simulated by the spraying of water.
With assistance from the two X-S Tech technicians, the ravenous alien is ultimately driven back into the broken teleportation device and destroyed. Guests are then released from their seats.
I bet you didn't know:
* The attraction's binaural sound effects were developed by Walt Disney Imagineering in collaboration with George Lucas.
* Tyra Banks played the female alien who greets guests in the first preshow video, although her lines were voiced by another actress.
* Tim Curry voiced the Audio-Animatronic robot S.I.R. (Simulated Intelligence Robotics) in the second preshow area. In the original version, the character was voiced by Phil Hartman.
* Some of the other events in pre-show included a "Mission to Mars: History or Hoax", Championship Pet Show, and The Walt Disney Company Pan Galactic Stock Holders Meeting with a holographic transmission from Lunar Disneyland - The Happiest Place Off Earth.
* According to Internet reports, the attraction was originally going to feature the title creature from the 1979 movie Alien, but it was decided that the character was too scary.However, the creature is featured in a scene from Alien as part of The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
* A game within the DisneyQuest indoor interactive theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort called Invasion! An ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter features some of the X-S Tech mythology, although its game play bears no resemblance to the Tomorrowland attraction.
* In honor of co-creator George Lucas, a brief image of Darth Vader could be seen while the guests were being "scanned".
* Although the attraction closed down on October 12, 2003, the small alien Skippy (who was used in the first demonstration) still resides in the preshow chamber of Stitch's Great Escape.
* The term X-S in the ride is a pun. (Living your life with excess.)
* The audio-animatronic robot S.I.R in the preshow uses the same animatronic body that was Mr Johnson / Tom Morrow in the former Flight To The Moon / Mission to Mars attraction.
Now Experience It for Yourself in this Video!
Posted by Mztressofallevil at 5:56 PM 1 comment: Labels:
ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter Walt Disney World
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Disney of Yesteryear Part Two: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Florida was one of the Magic Kingdom's opening day
attractions on October 1, 1971. Although it was modeled after the Disneyland attraction, it had some uniqu
e characteristics that set it apart from its California counterpart. The most obvious was that the Florida incarnation had two separate boarding areas. The vehicles (in the form
of jalopies) in each boarding
area were on sep
arate tracks that followed different paths, so riders would get a slightly
different ride, dep
ending on where they boarded. I was fortunate in that I did get to ride both.
It was not a thrill ride, but it was not slow and quiet like most dark rides. It made sudden turns and often the vehicle would move at full speed towards an obstacle, which would move out of the way at the last second.
At one point the vehicles on different tracks would head directly towards each other, giving the sense of an oncoming collision. It was a very stylized attraction and rese
mbled a cartoon more than any oth
er Disney ride.
It contained highly ornate plywood characters and sets that were very reminiscent of the multiplane camerawork featured in many Disney films. It was FUN, hilarity, and Toad was he** on wheels!
I can recall how it felt to me as a 12 year old, and I shrieked at every turn. The devil I found particularly frightening, but in a good, Disney kind of scary. I loved it!
Despite the ride's popularity and many protests, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed on September 7, 1998 and was subsequently
replaced with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Many have disputed the reason for Toad's departure,
but some including Save Mr. Toad's Wild Ride believe that money was the deciding facto
r. While minor tributes to the ride can be found in Disney World, including paintings of Mr. Toad and Moley within The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
and a statue of Toad in a pet cemetery outside of Haunted Mansion,
traces of "The Wind in the Willows" characters within Walt Disney World are minimal. Efforts have already been made to reconstruct the ride, including a 3D virtual recreation that I love!
CLICK HERE FOR VIRTUAL TOAD!
After you are done playing with the Virtual Toad, check out this video:
Now don't get me wrong- I love going on Winnie the Pooh and have nothing against that ride, but I have often been saddened that they could not keep Mr. Toad intact and add Pooh elsewhere.
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was the only attraction in history to entice riders with the prospect of donning the persona of a crazed amphibian. That alone deserves respect.
Posted by Mztressofallevil at 9:26 PM 4 comments:
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Disney of Yesteryear...Part One
This is the first in a series of Blogs in which I will show you some of the most famous Disney attractions that are no longer with us. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy putting them tog
ether!
You can comment here or join us at
www.waltsbasement.com
for more Disney magic!
Attraction # 1: Horizons
H
orizons was large. I mean it- really beautiful and a large building. Horizons was an Epcot pavilion and dark ride based on an Omnimover
ride system. It would take guests to see how the past saw the future and the future. Some believe that the ride was a follow up to the
Carousel of Progress
. Horizons was the only Epcot pavilion to show all the '
Future World
' elements in one pavilion. It was meant to show us all what technological advances were in store for our society.
Looking Back at Tomorrow was a section of the ride that showed how the past viewed the future from the time of Jules Verne to the 1950s.
Next, guests would move past two large
OMNIMAX
screens showing modern technologies and ideas for how we can build the world of tomorrow.
Other sections include visions of futuristic life in deserts, undersea, and space.
Horizons allowed guests to select their ending to the ride as they go back to the
FuturePort
. These choices were 31 second videos that were shown to riders in individual cars. To create the videos, Imagineers created some of the largest scale models of the time. It took 30 model makers over a year to build and take the endings. The endings were:
Brava Centauri - A space station showing space colonization.
Mesa Verde - A desert farm showing arid agriculture.
Sea Castle - An underwater research base and colonization
Can you imagine taking over a year to build a model? I can't! (Bowing to the model builders!)
The ride concept came from Reginald Jones (CEO of GE) and Jack Welch (future CEO of GE). Their idea was to have the pavilion focus on Thomas Edison and his work and the origin of GE. The idea was then re-worked to focus on the future of America. It's building was built to resemble a spaceship while giving the impression of an infinite horizon. It's diamond shape was very unique for the time it was built. It was a grand building and people that worked on the project took pride in it.
Horizons was scheduled to open a year after the opening of
Epcot
during Phase II. Prior to construction, the budget for the attraction was cut by $10 million and the building size was reduced. Because of this reduction, the ride was shortened by 600 feet, or 35% of the ride. Wow- do you realize that the $10 million would be $30 million by today's standards?
As with all Disney attractions, there was music. The main theme song was an homage to Walt Disney himself and is one of my favorite quotes from him:
New Horizons written by George Wilkins.
If we can dream it, then we can do it, yes we can, (yes we can.)
If we can dream it, then we can do it, yes we can, (yes we can.)
Have you ever looked beyond today, into the future? Picturing a world, we've yet to see. The wonder of finding new ways, that lead to the promise of brighter days.
Have you ever dreamed the dreams of the children? Just imagine the magic, their minds can see. (if we can dream it). Horizons, all shining and new, (shining and new). Horizons, where dreams do come true (they do come true).
And it will be, a future filled with care. For you and me, a world we all can share. For today holds the challenge to make this world a better place to be. New Horizons, for you and for me.
Horizons became Seasonal in
1994
when General Electric ended it's sponsorship. In
1995
it was opened temporarily while
Universe of Energy
was under rehabilitation. It would occasionally open again during periods of heavy attendance. It's last seasonally open time was while the
World of Motion
was being changed to
Test Track in 1999
. In 1999, the attraction was officially closed when it's demolition started to make way for
Mission: SPACE .
After its change to being seasonal, there were plans to convert the pavilion theming to space. The building would be remodeled and allowing guests to control the pitch and yaw of their space vehicle while viewing outer space and its many space stations in the future. This idea became
Mission: SPACE
which replaced Horizons. Disney decided to totally tear down the building instead of re-theme or re-model as had been done previously on other attractions; this was a first.
No reason was given for the closing of Horizons in 1999 besides the lack of sponsorship since GE left. Some unofficial reasons that were later discovered were major structural problems with the building because of a sink-hole below the building. There are several known sink-holes around Epcot.
Mission: SPACE
offers tribute to Horizons where the gravity wheel in the ride queue has the Horizons logo. (Check it out!)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW HORIZONS ON YOUTUBE
Posted by Mztressofallevil at 6:00 PM 4 comments: Home Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Subscribe To Mztressofallevil's Blog!
Posts Atom Posts All Comments Atom All Comments C'est Moi! Mztressofallevil
Administrator waltsbasement.com and avid Disney fan!
View my complete profile
Blog Archive ▼ 2009 (1) ▼ April (1)
Disney of Yesteryear: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
► 2008 (5) ► November (1) ► August (2) ► July (2)
Visit Walt's Basement- Disney Magic on the Web!
Walt's Basement |