A few obscure Tomorrowland timeline questions

[marni1971]

I`m hoping one of our Tomorrowland CMs here can - or knows someone who can - answer these opening dates for me. No one at guest relations can;

1) When the original entrance Fountains and Waterfalls on the entrance pylons were switched off? I`m guessing 1981-2. And were they deactivated at the same time?

2) After they were switched off, when were the mosaic tiles fitted over the plain blue slopes?

3) When did the Plaza Pavilion (now Tomorrowland Terrace) open - I`m guessing mid to late 1973, maybe early 1974?

4) And when did the Tomorrowland Theatre (now Galaxy Palace Theatre) open? I know it was up and running for October 1981.

Any help would be gratefully received!

 

[vonpluto]

I`m hoping one of our Tomorrowland CMs here can - or knows someone who can - answer these opening dates for me. No one at guest relations can;
3) When did the Plaza Pavilion (now Tomorrowland Terrace) open - I`m guessing mid to late 1973, maybe early 1974?

4) And when did the Tomorrowland Theatre (now Galaxy Palace Theatre) open? I know it was up and running for October 1981.

Any help would be gratefully received!

#3 - This comes from a WDW Info Guide dated ©1972, used on a vacation in May 1972: Tomorrowland Terrace listed as a MK eatery, sponsored by Coca Cola.

This is what I've compiled about the TT:
Cosmic Rays Starlite Cafe (Coke 1971-85, 1989-94, 95 -)
Tomorrowland Terrace 10/71? - 1994
Cosmic Rays Starlite Cafe 1995 -

Starlite Cafe Stage
Tomorrowland Terrace Stage 10/71? - 1994
Dallas Sound Track 10/71 - ?
1972 - 81 Kids Next Door Show
Tomorrowland Terrace Rock Band 10/71 - ?
Nick Russo & Gabriel’s Brass 1972 - 1982?
Michael Iceberg 7/76 - 1982?
Tabasco 1987-89

Starlite Cafe Stage 1995 -
Sonny Eclipse & the Space Angels 1995 -


#4 - The earliest reference to the Tomorrowland Theater I have is in the Guide to the MK for the TenCennial, dated 10/81.

Info I have on the theater:
Galaxy Palace Theatre
Tomorrowland Stage 1981 - 86
Tomorrowland Theatre 1987 - 94
Tomorrowland Stage at RocketTower Plaza 1994 - 96
Galaxy Palace Theatre 1996 -

10/81 - 1984 DisneyWorld Is Your World (Kids of the Kingdom)
7/ 84 - 9/ 85 Show Bis Is (Kids of the Kingdom)
1985 - ? DisneyWorld Is Your World (Kids of the Kingdom)
1983 - Mickeys ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (Kids of the Kingdom)
1986 - 1991? Disney Mania (Kids of the Kingdom)
1996 - 99 Galaxy Search


HTH

 

[marni1971]

Thanks very much!

Around May 72 for the Plaza Pavilion (now Tland Terrace) could be about right. It was missing during 1971/into 1972 but was built as part of Tomorrowlands first expansion phase that also involved extended the south building for If You Had Wings (opened June 1972) and finishing the Utilidor loop. Certainly for WDWs opening and the rest of 1971 it was just a parking lot.

I had an idea the Tomorrowland Theatre (now Galaxy Palace) was built for the tencennial - thanks again!

 

[marni1971]

Just had a thought; when I say Plaza Pavilion, your not thinking of where Cosmic Ray is now are you? I`m reffering to the original Plaza pavilion, situated on the water next to the hub and Main St (serves Sushi or something now) - the names changed in 1994.

 

[joel_maxwell]

sorry martin, i cant help you here... but i do have a question: Is Sonny Eclispe original to Cosmic Rays? If not, what year did he go in.

 

[marni1971]

Yep, Sonny went in Cosmic Rays in `94 with New Tomorrowland. He still uses the original 1971 hydraulic platform that used to being performing bands up into Tomorrowland Terrace (the original `Terrace, not where it is now!)

 

[unkadug]

Thanks very much!

Around May 72 for the Plaza Pavilion (now Tland Terrace) could be about right. It was missing during 1971/into 1972 but was built as part of Tomorrowlands first expansion phase that also involved extended the south building for If You Had Wings (opened June 1972) and finishing the Utilidor loop. Certainly for WDWs opening and the rest of 1971 it was just a parking lot.

I had an idea the Tomorrowland Theatre (now Galaxy Palace) was built for the tencennial - thanks again!

:veryconfu How .. I mean what???
The utilidors weren't finished when MK opened? How could they continue construction work underground? I'm SO confused.:lookaroun

 

[marni1971]

^ The original utilidor layout didn`t make a complete link to the south east; it stopped dead where today the car park behind Buzz is. Its other end stopped dead just beyond East Center St. I imagine this was with Space Port / Mountains location still in the air.

As part of Tomorrowland phase "one and a half" when the showbuilding to house If You Had Wings was extended in late `71, plans were pretty much finalised for Tomorrowland, and the tunnel gap was linked up - running under the Plaza Pavilion kitchen (todays Tomorrowland Terrace) - indeed a lot of the kitchen space was designated to be in the Utilidor. The tunnel wasn`t too deep here; more cut and cover - they just dug a trench, built the tunnel in it, and paved over the top of it. Indeed, as we know, the majority of the Utilidors are at true ground level anyhow - the only real `below ground level` section is the main corridor dip under the hub and moat.

If you look at a Utilidor map, the tunnels used to end just south of stairway 27, and just east of stairway 22. Do any CMs know if the original kitchen area I mentioned above is still used? Or the one in what is now Cosmic Rays?

 

[unkadug]

Thanks, Martin.

I guess it's really true.. you DO learn something new everyday! :wave:

 

[vonpluto]

Just had a thought; when I say Plaza Pavilion, your not thinking of where Cosmic Ray is now are you? I`m reffering to the original Plaza pavilion, situated on the water next to the hub and Main St (serves Sushi or something now) - the names changed in 1994.

Good catch! The info in my previous post was for the original TT/Cosmic Ray's.:hammer:

I have a WDW Info Guide dated ©1973, used on a vacation in 1974, that lists the Plaza Pavilion as a Main Street eatery.

Here's what I have on the PP:
Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station (listed as a Main St eatery from 1973-80)
Plaza Pavillion 1973 - 1/05
Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station 3/05 -

Are you saying the PP had a name change in 1994? A quick check of my MK park maps show it listed as the PP until it became the TT Noodle station in 2005. Birnbaums does have a minor name change beginning in 1994. listing it as "Plaza Pavilion Terrace Dining". :veryconfu

 

[marni1971]

You`re right; I automatically thought the name change came about with New Tomorrowland. It was indeed still the Plaza Pavilion in 2002 (from what I can confirm - even better you can say 2005).

So I`ll go with 1973/4 for the original opening. That makes sense with the info I have. Thank you very much