Curious Constance
Well-Known Member
Yup, that is Midget Autopia.
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Can we talk about Autopia?
- Thread starter Kramerica
- Start date
Stevek
Well-Known Member
I think people's nostalgic side sometimes clouds their actual memories. While I enjoyed the ride, it became quite cheesy as I got older. I will always think it's kinda cool but it outlived it's shelf life by a few years. Now the peoplemover, that's one that should have never gone away.
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Deleted member 107043
I totally get this, believe me, but unlike The HM or Pirates, every theme park has this ride or one similar. Why does the "rite of passage" have to happen at DL?
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Deleted member 107043
Personally I thought Rocket Rods was pretty cool and more fun than the Peoplemover.
dweezil78
Well-Known Member
I think, in the case of ATIS, it's actually coming more from people like me who never actually got the chance to ride it. All the photos, artwork, and the soundtrack (Paul Frees AND a catchy Sherman Bros song!?!?) add up to something really great so it gets built up into being this amazing attraction. It also happened to be very poorly documented when it was around, so there's very little for us to go on. What does exist is basically some queue footage (awesome) and basically dark, unviewable footage of the ride itself.
dweezil78
Well-Known Member
I think most people just don't know better. FYI, this Youtuber has THE BEST low light videos I have ever seen. It's too the point where some of them are maybe even too well lit and you can see more detail than when you are actually on the rides. Don't know how he does it but it's impressive.
https://www.youtube.com/user/SocalAttractions360/videos
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
No, you're right, it's Midget Autopia. There were a few versions of the ride.
Stevek
Well-Known Member
Disneyland's seems to be a bit more unique but I could be wrong. The stuff I've seen at Six Flags or Knott's really doesn't hold a candle. I think that with Disneyland, it's the history of the ride, the fact that it's been an institution for 60 years heavily contributes to why it's so much more special of an experience that at other places. It was my first experience, my kids first experience and perhaps by grandchildren's first experience.
Stevek
Well-Known Member
I only rode it once, it thankfully didn't break down. It was ok but the PM is still one of my favorites. All 3 trips to WDW it was the first thing we rode and last thing we rode.
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Deleted member 107043
Did you see the ride-through video I posted?
dweezil78
Well-Known Member
Sure did! I ride it regularly in my Oculus Rift on a giant simulated dome screen. As close as I will ever get to being there. I have a feeling the animated version is far less cheesy than the real thing though. I dig the abstracty/trippyness of it.
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Deleted member 107043
Other than the cars being unique and the setting at Disneyland they're all pretty much the same thing. The Skyway was another one of those attractions that was a staple at theme parks in 70s and 80s. There's really nothing special about these types of rides.
Stevek
Well-Known Member
I think that's probably true for alot of folks. I never rode Horizons, World of Motion or the original JIA, but I'm fascinated by them probably in a manner similar to you with ATIS. Yes, the music and the narration are still up there with my favorites, classics IMO. I will tell you that if you watch the CG simulation that someone posted earlier (I have the DVD), it's pretty darn accurate. Nothing quite captures what it was like in real life but sans someone unearthing a HQ video version of it, it's about the best you'll get.
Stevek
Well-Known Member
Which is what I think makes it special for folks. At least that's how it's been for our family and me & my brothers when we were kids. We rode similar ride at Knott's but Autopia was always the best for us.
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Deleted member 107043
It's bit less cheesy, and you can't see the hand-prints from people reaching out and touching the giant prop snowflakes, but it's still uncannily accurate.
Stevek
Well-Known Member
Yep, fantastic quality low light videos.
dweezil78
Well-Known Member
Believe the hype -- Horizons and World of Motion were as good as they say (assuming slow moving omni-movers are your thing.) Horizons more than WOM, but both were really special attractions.
Stevek
Well-Known Member
Tomorrowland, Fantasyland & Midget if I remember correctly. I believe the latter was in the park until the mid 60's before heading out to Marceline, MO
Stevek
Well-Known Member
The Martin Smith documentaries as well as a couple of other DVD's I have of ride thrus have sold me on both rides. I'm not sure why WOM isn't held in as high reverence as Horizons...I think they are just about on par. Only wish I would have visited WDW earlier than 2005 but as a kid, my parents saw zero need for us to fly across the country with Disneyland in our backyard.