Did you know there were 4 Autopia attractions? Do you remember Superstar Limo? This week we’re reminiscing on the Lost Attractions of Disneyland. Those we miss, those we don’t remember and those we can’t believe lasted as long as they did. Also, happy anniversary to Fantasmic!, a Disney Park is reopening, new merch in honor of Star Wars day and what to watch on Disney+ this week.
Show Description
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Topic 1 - This Week in Disneyland history
- 1956:
- The Main Street Horseless Carriage begins operating at Disneyland.
- 1992:
- Disneyland's Fantasmic! - a new night-time fireworks and visual hydrotechnic show - is officially dedicated in Frontierland. The 22-minute presentation, featuring fireworks, live actors, water effects, fire, music, boats, decorated rafts and projections onto large mist screens, takes place over the Rivers of America.
- 2011:
- A "black carpet" premiere for Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides takes place at Disneyland.
- 2012:
- Disney costume designer Alice Davis is honored with a window (next to her late husband Marc's window) at Disneyland. The 83-year-old Disney Legend designed park costumes, including many of the 150 or so dolls in the "it’s a small world" ride and those of the animatronic characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Her window sits above the Disneyana shop along Main Street, U.S.A.
- 2013:
- Walt Disney World officially crowns Merida from Disney/Pixar’s "Brave" as the 11th Disney Princess. Her coronation ceremony fittingly takes place in front of Cinderella Castle, just steps away from her own Magic Kingdom meet-and-greet spot. Just after the theme park opening, Princess Merida is joined for the first time by all ten of her fellow royals, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine, Belle, Mulan, Pocahontas, Tiana, and Rapunzel, welcoming her to the group.
- 2016:
- Shanghai Disneyland Park begins its soft openings. The new theme park, located in Pudong, Shanghai, China, will officially open June 16.
Topic 2 - News
- Closures
- Shanghai Disneyland is reopening! May 11th is the lucky day. There are multiple new protocols in place to keep everyone safe, limited capacity and cancellations for theater shows, fireworks and parades. Close up character interactions are also not going to be available at this time. During the initial reopening phase, a special Disney character procession, Mickey and Friends Express, will take place several times daily, and the Enchanted Storybook Castle will come to life with light and music at dusk each day with Evening Magical Moments. They’ve added multiple requirements for getting tickets and registering your info for admittance so if you plan on heading to Shanghai, which you shouldn’t be planning to go right now unless you live in Shanghai….please, be sure to read up on all their new guidelines.
- Disneyland announced they will begin accepting reservations for travel dates starting July 1st and later. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE PARKS WILL BE OPEN. Previously they were taking reservations starting June 1st, so all this means is that it has been pushed back. Again, there is NO confirmed opening date so do not get your hopes up!
- If you have the time, go check out the plans and considerations for reopening that Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer Pam Hymel released. It talks all about the plans for phased reopenings for many disney parks, distancing and capacity requirements, cleanliness and sanitation measures, screening and cast member training. Definitely info you want to have for the coming months.
Topic 3 - Merch
- Disney released some free “merch” last week in the form of free photopass wallpaper downloads of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Pixar Pier, the Partner’s Statue, The Haunted Mansion, Cars Land, Mickey balloons and Mickey in his newsboy outfit in the red car trolley. All are high quality and super cute. They expire June 15th so make sure you download them asap!
- Multiple items from Disneyland’s history, spanning from the 1950’s to 2010’s are being featured in the Van Eaton Galleries “Popular Culture and Disneyland Auction” that will take place Saturday May 9th. Things like old park signage and vintage publications will be available to lucky winners. Some key items on the list were a Disneyland Opening Day Press Ticket, Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station Mickey Flag, the old Bugs Land entrance sign posters and props from Star Wars, and memorabilia from the earliest years of Club 33. Visit vegalleries.com and click on the “Popular Culture and Disneyland” tab to get all of the details on how to bid and see everything they have to offer. They also have a buy it now section on their site if you don’t feel like getting into a bidding war!
- A Minnie Mouse polka dot purse collection was just added to the Loungefly website! The collection includes a red crossbody and red wallet both with white polka dots and a large gold Disney “D” on the front. The prices aren’t too bad at 65 and 25 for each.
- Speaking of Loungefly, they are trying to bankrupt us. Multiple Star Wars themed bags were released for May the 4th. The new POP by LF X Star Wars collection includes a Wicket POP Head Wristlet, an Ewok crossbody/handbag, a darth vader POP head crossbody, and an Empire Strikes Back 40th anniversary Han Solo Hoth Canvas backpack that I NEEED. All are still available on the LF website as of right now.
- An Amazon Exclusive Empire Strikes Back 40th anniversary “battle at Echo Base” funko pop is available for preorder. The pop depicts the scene where Han uses a saber to cut open a tauntaun to save Luke. Since it is a deluxe pop its a little more expensive than the others at 24.99 which still isn't bad.
- New Wishables blind bags are available on shopdisney featuring the country bears! They are limited release so if you collect them make sure you hop to it!
- Last for merch but certainly not least, a sneak peak of the Minnie Main Attraction for June was released….its amazing. The theme for June is Peter Pan’s Flight and it will be available June 20th. Everything is in a super vibrant blue color. The ears depict a starry sky with the second star to the right in sequins and a gold tinker bell in the middle of the lighter blue bow. AMAZING.
Topic 4 - Hidden Mickey
Topic 5 - Food
- We’re making beignets this week...sometime. Stay tuned!
Topic 6 - Events/Entertainment
- Disney Family Singalong Volume 2 airs this Sunday May 10th at 7 pm. The line up consists of Josh Gad, Shakira, multiple Disney on Broadway stars, Rebel Wilson, Halsey and many more!
- Clone wars finale
- Disney Gallery SW: Mandalorian
MAIN - The lost attractions of Disneyland part 1
- Over 150 lost attractions, restaurants, shops, parades and fireworks shows
- The Flying Saucers
- 1961 - 1966
- Space mountain queue/Theater
- Fly
- Luigi’s Flying Tires
- 2012 -
- Paid homage to the Flying Saucers
- Even Bob Iger disliked the attraction - said it should be faster
- Added music & Beach Balls
- Added 45 seconds to the end
- Lawsuits for injuries from beach balls
- Lawsuits from injuries from falling out - bulky design
- Closed to make way for RR
- Captain EO, Disneyland (1986—1997, 2010—2014)
- Captain EO was a 1986 American 3D science fiction film that was shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 through 1998. The movie stars Michael Jackson, was written by George Lucas and directed by Francis Ford Coppola (who came up with the name "Captain EO" from the Greek, cf. Eos, the Greek goddess of dawn). The film was shown as part of an attraction with in-theater effects. The attraction returned to the Disney Parks in 2010 as a tribute after Jackson's death.
- Captain EO is regarded as one of the first "4D" films (4D being the name given to a 3D film that incorporates in-theater effects, such as lasers, smoke, etc., synchronized to the film)
- The film tells the story of Captain EO (Michael Jackson) and the ragtag crew of his spaceship on a mission to deliver a gift to "The Supreme Leader" (Anjelica Huston), who lives on a 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 Idey (Debbie Lee Carrington) and Ody (Cindy Sorenson), robotic security officer Major Domo (Gary Depew), 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 upset the crew's missions. Dick Shawn plays Captain EO's boss, Commander Bog.
- Autopia
- Junior Autopia (1956–1958):
- 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.
- Midget Autopia (1957–1966):
- 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.
- Fantasyland Autopia (1959–1999):
- 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.
- Skull Rock and Pirate's Cove (1961–1982):
- 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.
- Motor Boat Cruise (1957–1991):
- Simulated experience of navigating waterways in a motor boat. Renamed Motor Boat Cruise to Gummi Glen (1991–1993), based on the Gummi Bears television show.
- Billy Hill and the Hillbillies (1994–2014):
- A live-action show featuring singing and comedy. In 2012 the musical/variety group moved to Big Thunder Ranch until their show was retired in early 2014. Afterward, they were hired by Knott's Berry Farm as Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies.
- Big Thunder Ranch (1986–2016):
- 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. Up until its closing, the area was used for special events, a Petting Zoo, and seasonal attractions. It closed in early 2016 for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
- Country Bear Jamboree (1972–2001):
- 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 (a.k.a. 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 Country Bear Vacation Hoedown at the Country Bear Playhouse (1986–2001): Used the same animated figures as Country Bear Jamboree, redecorated. This is now the site of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
- Superstar Limo
- Opened 2001 opening day closed in less than a year
- Weird puppet agent
- Caricature style animatronics
- DCA didn’t have a warm reception
- Original concept was a wild ride away from paparazzi
- Didn’t want a Princess Di connection
- Very un-disney
- Monsters Inc
Quote of the Week
"It’s a mistake not to give people a chance to learn to depend on themselves while they are young." - Walt Disney
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