I'm going to Disneyland in two weeks! I've been there before; my husband hasn't. We're both Disney freaks – especially anything Haunted Mansion-related. Some Disneyland attractions are classics and have been around forever – Dumbo, for instance, has been around almost since the beginning (the park opened on July 17, 1955 and Dumbo followed about a month later). Peter Pan's Flight has been around since the beginning, and so has the Mad Hatter's Tea Party (the teacups!) and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Other rides haven't really stood up to the test of time, unfortunately, and those are the ones we're going to take a look at.
Holidayland
photo from A History of Disney Theme Parks
You're probably familiar with the different sections of Disneyland these days – Tomorrowland, Frontierland and Fantasyland, to name a few. But Holidayland? Yep. It opened on June 16, 1957, and was a nine-acre picnic area that was for… well… frolicking, basically. There were playgrounds, horseshoes, a baseball field, volleyball and the "world's largest candy-striped circus tent" which stood where the Haunted Mansion is today. Pirates of the Caribbean takes up the spot where the baseball field used to be. It only lasted a few years – Holidayland closed in 1961 because it just didn't fit in with the rest of the park (among other things like lack of shade).
The Viewliner
This miniature train has the dubious honor of being one of the shortest-lived rides to ever exist at Disneyland. It opened in June of 1957 and promptly closed in September 1958 when construction started on the Matterhorn and Submarine Voyage. There were two trains – one for Fantasyland and one for Tomorrowland – and the track ran a figure-eight through both of those areas. The tiny, sleek (for that time) train was supposed to represent the future of train travel. Eventually the monorail filled the void left by the Viewliner.
Monsanto House of the Future
picture from Apartment Therapy
I love those old ads from the 1950s that show "futuristic" kitchens cooking the meals all by themselves with "space-age" technology. That's kind of what the Monsanto House of the Future was like. It was in operation from 1957 to 1967 and was a tour of a house in the year 1986. It's laughable now, but the MIT-built house featured technology such as microwaves, which obviously did end up being invented. Just about everything about the house – including the exterior – was made out of plastic. You can still see the support pillars of Monsanto's House of the Future in Neptune's Grotto – they were rated for earthquakes and proved to be so sturdy that they were just about impossible to remove. Monsanto, by the way, is an agricultural biotechnology company (meaning they make herbicides and pesticides and the like).
Captain EO
picture from AlteredDreams
In the more recent past, we have Captain EO, which I vaguely remember from EPCOT. Captain EO was a 3-D movie starring, of course, Michael Jackson. And if you're looking for more credentials than that (keep in mind MJ was HUGE at this point in time), it was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and executive produced by George Lucas. They also co-wrote the script with Rusty Lemorande.
Here's the plot: Captain EO and his team are piloting a spaceship to deliver a gift to the evil Supreme Leader (Anjelica Huston). One of his shipmates is named Hooter, which seems like a huge oversight to me. Hooter is an elephant, not an owl as you might suspect. Well, the Supreme Leader isn't exactly thrilled with the crew and orders them to be tortured. EO charms the Queen by singing her a song, but as soon as the music stops the spell breaks and she orders the crew to be captured again. EO uses his music to transform the evil guards into dancers who line up to dance behind him Thriller-zombie-style. EO eventually uses his powers to turn the Supreme Leader and her entire planet into things of beauty.
The 17-minute film cost somewhere between $17 and $30 million to make. Sounds like a lot, but when you consider than it ran for more than 10 years at Disneyland (1986 to 1997), maybe it's not so bad. Then MJ went weird and Disney decided to pull the attraction and replace it with "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience".
America Sings!
picture from Yesterland
Looking for a collection of animatronic swamp critters singing old Dixieland favorites and old folk tunes? Too bad you missed America Sings! Had you been at Disneyland sometime between June of 1974 and April of 1988, you could have witnessed geese singing "Camptown Races", a dog singing "Home on the Range" a pink singing "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey?" and a crane and a rooster singing "Shake, Rattle and Roll". A decent number of the characters appeared to be either quite intoxicated or at least trying their hardest to get there. It's one of the few Disney attractions with characters actually drinking alcohol (Pirates of the Caribbean also comes to mind… rum anyone?). The building was used for offices for a while and eventually became home to Innoventions, which I believe is still there today. The swamp creatures, however, befriended Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Brer Bear and now reside happily at Splash Mountain.
Flying Saucers
Picture from Yesterland
High school physics students who participated in Hovercraft competitions, this one is for you. Basically, the Flying Saucers ride was Disney's answer to bumper cars. When the ride starts, air would shoot up under the saucer and lift it up off the floor (just a little… we're not talking feet here). Riders would have to tilt their bodies the way they wanted the saucer to go and were encouraged to bump into other guests. Alas, the saucers only lasted about five years in the mid 60s. Those are just a few of the rides that are now defunct – things at all of the Disney parks are always changing. Even the old favorites get little updates every now and then. Do you have a favorite ride that is no longer in operation? I know a lot of people were upset when the Magic Kingdom's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea met its maker.
every time i went to disneyland (at least once a year, during xmas time) i would drop in and watch that, it was really fun. i haven't gone to check out the replacement.
http://www.yesterland.com/submarine.html
its back now, but its not the same, its something about finding nemo now.
I'm not sure if I'm delighted or grossed out by my neural misfire, there... Rusty Lemonade might be a hilarious name, but it doesn't sound like a particularly tasty beverage. ;)
My mom said there was a ride/show that featured the presidents or something when I was much younger & she had to ride it 3 times in a row because it was the only time I would sleep :D Does anyone remember the name of it?
I also miss the old submarine ride (haven't tried the new one, yet). And I was partial to ADVENTURE THROUGH INNER SPACE, too.
By far my favorite attraction when I was young, though, was America Sings. That's the probably the one you're thinking of, Lauren. It was very patriotic. I really miss that ride.
I miss Disneyland all together. We're not too far away, but it's always so packed that it's just not worth dealing with the crowds. I think I'll wait to go back until we have a kid.
In the meantime, Knott's Berry Farm on a non-summer midweek day is where it's at! I've never waited in line on a non-summer midweek day. In fact, there's been whole sections of the park where we've wandered around and not seen a soul. I love Knotts.
That damn Pooh killed COUNTRY BEAR JAMBOREE at Disneyland. Grrr!
I remember Captain EO. And America Sings. I liked the first. I can barely remember the second. Oh, well.
I leave for WDW in the AM! YAY!!
Having grown up in Florida, I've seen quite a bit come and go through those gates... I'm currently mourning the loss of Tarzan Rocks! (taken over by a dumb Broadway inspired Nemo show) and the original concepts of The Living Seas (Again, warped by Nemo) I know Tarzan seems silly, but it was an awesome rock and roll style show with live musicians and singers and aeroacrobatics that were just unbelieveable!!
I miss the sky way too.. what a great way to avoid the crowds.. of course teenagers threw things and ruined the fun for everyone!
What about If You Had Wings (where Buzz Lightyear is now) -- all about if you could fly. Great imagery!!
I only went on 20,000 Leagues once or twice, but even as a child, it annoyed me because i could see the strings on the "fish" and the glue holding the shells on things!
Carousel of Progress has seasonal hours now, it's not open all the time... and they've updated the final scene with Grandma playing a virtual reality game and a voice controlled oven.. but all the rest is the same.. except the song.. they changed the song.. I was sad. I doubt they'll ever take that one out as it was one of the attractions featured at the World's Fair.
I heard that they may show it at the horror house now ;)
@Alex - I think they took Swiss Family Robinson down about a decade ago when they put in the Indiana Jones ride
Yes, pesticides such as Canola Oil:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ingredients/tech_docs/tech_011332.htm
I like the Pooh ride, and I'm glad that Disney decided to change different rides in different parks for the Pooh ride. I would miss Mr Toad's ride too much. It's my favorite 'storybook' ride.
Of course, I do miss the Country Bear Jamboree, especially at Christmas-time.
I used to go to Disneyland five to seven times a year (between the months of October and May) when it was less busy. And, I love the park during Christmas...
I also loved the Magic Journeys movie they had before the made Captain EO.
Last time I went to EPCOT, I became upset that it was no longer named EPCOT and that most of my favorite rides had been changed.
Very disappointed I was.
3D People! Such a cool idea! HAHA
A couple people mentioned the little orange winged creature that flew around and perched on Jackson's shoulder. I also bought the stuffed animal of it, as a gift for my sister.
Does anyone remember Rocket Rods at Disneyland (probably around 2003)? There were little silver "buggies" that went really fast along a track. I remember that they were a lot of fun but they also seemed to break down a lot.
But now it's Nemo :(
http://www.livescience.com/technology/080213-ap-disney-home.html
I went to Disneyland again in the early/mid '80s and could finally enter the Haunted Mansion. When I was a kid the mansion had a small plaque on its lawn saying it would open in 8 years. Talk about disappointed. Also I saw a 3D film that was there before they started Captain EO. It was about underwater life and was very entertaining.
But, they didn't have the Tiki Room any more, nor the Swiss Family Robinson tree, or the Jungle Boat River ride (maybe was closed for service at the time), or the Sky ride, or the ever boring People Mover, or the Rocket to the Moon, or the Auto track, or the Frontierland Tom Sawyer whistling caves. And Tinkerbell and Mary Poppins didn't cross the sky during the fireworks.
My favorites rides are Peter Pan, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mr. Toad, and Alice Tea Cups.
Well, that bumper alternative was really cool! Could still be a great success...
I heard the Disney Ceos tore Horizons down because it wasn't future enough.
But then again there wouldn't be anything like the Horizons attraction again in the furture.
It seemed like a ride not put together fast from the inside and out.
I say leave Misson Space attraction at Nasa, if people want a space simulation.
That's just what i think,just me.
Epcot was more visonary than just pictureing Space and that showed thru also in the now gone attractions.
It seems it's slowly conforming and I haven't seen a new change I liked.
The new things seem rushed somehow and not carefully thought thru and more like it came out of a factory without the fine thinking craftsmanship.
I hope the rides are the future aren't all fast and don't become more like an amusement park.
That's been done, that's not furistic.
If it does why bother going there at all again?
There's nothing to see it's all in a blur, if only fast rides exist in the furture.
Epcot was unique among the other amusement parks and you learned something and got inspired.
It had to do with more what you see, than having a jerked around sensation.
But this is just what I've observed I don't know everything but it's just from my experince.
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Basically, the Flying Saucers ride was Disney’s answer to bumper cars. When the ride starts, air would shoot up under the saucer and lift it up off the floor
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Loved loved LOVED the Swiss Family Robinson tree.
Lauren - you asked about the presidents. As I recall, at Disneyland, there was just an animatronic President Lincoln, but at Disneyworld, there was a hall of most or all of them at the time. The Lincoln one kind of freaked me out when I was really little.
People Mover: they had Tron and, later, Star Wars elements to it.
Old Rocket Ships: nothing like being on a rickety old death trap high above Tomorrow Land.
Mission to Mars: the animatronics while waiting in line were so old and cheesey all it was missing was a shag rug in the Mission Control room.
Tomorrow Land's Arcade: what's up with that? There use to be a 2nd level and all the new games available, like Michael Jackson's Moonwalker!
Country Bear Jamboree: best place to fall sleep... something about the soothing voices of drunk bears.
Sky Lift from Tomorrow land to Fantasy Land: so what if it was dangerous, ride at own risk.
Videorama!: it was a rave before there were raves... the Pocahantas show replacement makes my blood boil.
Penny Arcade: use to be fun when it mixed turn of the century penny eating games with Area 51 and Street Fighter.
Disneylands orginal parking lot: we use to walk to the front gates! Now we get an overpriced theme park (California Disney) themed after the state we live in!? How stupid is that?
I grow up a mile from Disneyland. Back in the late 50's and early 60's Disneyland would shoot off fireworks every night at 9pm. This was the signal that all the kids from our neighborhood were to be in the house. And being good kids we went.
sillysuzieq
Why is it I loved going to hell :)
I MISS THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON TREE HOUSE TOO!!!
My favorite ride was the Mansonto....where you were shrunk and a huge eyeball looked at you through a telescope. Anyone else remember that one?
Oh that was great!!
But on topic: I do miss the Submarine Ride. I only went on it once because I was like 5 the time they took it out, but I remember it and it was really awesome. Who else could get away with a ride that goes underwater? I wouldn't trust going underwater anywhere else besides Disneyland...