Cool MK Attraction History Bits

[Heppenheimer]

The only fact I can add is that Splash Mountain opened in 1992, and it necessitated making the MK Railroad change to riding thru/over it.
However, I do have a few questions-
1. Does anyone know what year the Buzz Lightyear attraction opened?
2. Is the Buzz Lightyear attraction in the same place as Timekeeper, the one with Robin Williams and Rhea Perlman and the "lean rails" was?
3. Is there any history to the paddle wheel boat in the Splash Mountain "Zip a dee do Dah" scene?

2. No, it fills the former location of If You Had Wings/Delta Dreamflight. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor occupies the former Timekeeper building.

3. I don't know about the Magic Kingdom version, but for the Disneyland, the paddle steamer may have been recycled from America Sings, since that's where most of the Audioanimatronics came from. That's just a guess about the boat, though.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

That’s what I live for it seems sometimes

I wouldn't trust anybody else.......

I was sold once I saw your "If You Had Wings" video.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

For Main Street...Le Chapeau used to put names on hats using two old industrial sewing machines. They only offered one color thread, and it was yellow/gold. The sewing/name writing was all done by hand, thus the only available font was basic cursive. Because of how the names were sewn, they had to connect all the letters. It was a skilled craft! If you ever had an opportunity to watch them work, they were amazingly fast! You probably already know about the old hand crank phone. It was supposed to be like the old-fashioned experience of a 'party-line' phone, which meant you shared a line with your neighbor. Sharing lines was done to get a phone line for less money. Sharing a line meant you had to take turns making calls, and if you happened to pick up your receiver while your neighbor was on the phone, you'd hear their call. So the one in the gift shop featured a stranger's conversation if you picked up the receiver. Party lines were still available as late as the 1980's!

For years, I didn't really know much about the barber shop, but they (used to) offer a special experience for a child's first haircut. Before the internet ruined it, at least. They'd make a big deal of raising the chair, and giving the child Mickey stickers as a distraction while the worked. They wrapped the first lock/bit of cut hair in a tissue sealed with a Mickey Sticker. the cut also used to include Mickey shaped glitter (if the child was old enough), and a set of Mickey ears. instead of the child's name, the Mickey ears said, "first haircut." More recently they use the new electronic monogram sewing machines and they say, "My 1st haircut." the barbershop used to be walk-in only, but more recently it was mostly by appointment. It is currently closed.

I can also tell you the former Camera Center is long gutted- or was at least a year ago.

 

[DBF John]

What attraction preceded the Timekeeper? I want to say it was some kind of Circlevision film, but I can't remember.

Yes it was... 'America The Beautiful' if memory severs me correct.

 

[Brer Panther]

1. Does anyone know what year the Buzz Lightyear attraction opened?

Yes, it opened in 1998.

3. I don't know about the Magic Kingdom version, but for the Disneyland, the paddle steamer may have been recycled from America Sings, since that's where most of the Audioanimatronics came from. That's just a guess about the boat, though.

No, the boat's not recycled from America Sings. There wasn't any paddle streamer in America Sings. The animatronics on the boat are indeed recycled from America Sings, though.

 

[Robbiem]

Main Street had an old timey photo studio. You could dress up in turn-of-the-century clothes (appropriate to the era of Main Street), and your group posed on a mock-up of a luxury Pullman car. I'm glad my parents forced us to do this. We hated it at the time, because obviously, we would have rather been on rides, but now those pictures being back great memories from our family trips ik the 70s and 80s.

I have no idea when this studio closed, but I would estimate sometime in the late 80s-early 90s.

I remember a similar set up by pirates. We had a photo taken there around 1991 in color, happy times

 

[WEDfan9798]

Keep em comin!

I can help with the history of the Pirates of the Caribbean and Caribbean Plaza, if you'd like. I found out that in the original 1967 plans for the Florida Park, they did include the Pirates of the Caribbean. It was omitted from the plans for the Park by December 1967. However, it was greenlit for the Magic Kingdom in December 1971, two months after WDW opened. It was designed between April and August 1972 with construction beginning that September. The show building was erected during the late months of 1972 with the entrance building and Caribbean Plaza following behind. By Summer 1973, the construction had included not only the show building's interior (which apparently took months), but the entrance building and part of Caribbean Plaza. Now Caribbean Plaza (referring most to the north side of the complex with the shops, restaurant, and bandstand) opened in full in April 1974. The Pirates ride, along with the House of Treasure (which was opened for a few days that month, probably for the press), opened in December 1973. The exit plaza (which is between the restrooms, old Caribbean Arcade, exit doors from the Pirates, and the House of Treasure) was more of an atmospheric experience than a strict merchandising operation (which is the case nowadays).

The Pirates ride itself had many operational difficulties when it first opened with the ride system (one problem that hasn't gone away, it seems).


Here is a table of opening dates for Pirates and Caribbean Plaza:

Late November-about December 14, 1973: the previews for cast members and other ride testers (likely from WED or MAPO)

December 15-17, 1973: Opening weekend with press previews on the 15th and 16th and guests being allowed to ride for the first time. There is a debate over the dates because some of the local newspapers have shared different details on when it happened. The House of Treasure was briefly opened at this time, but it was not clear as to the extent of merchandise sold during those few days or so. It would remain closed until early 1974.

Late February 1974: The House of Treasure was opened fully.

April 1974: The entirety of the north side of Caribbean Plaza (which included everything from the bandstand to the Golden Galleon shop on the border with Frontierland) opened up.

Between September and December 1974: The Caribbean Arcade had opened in an alcove adjoining the "exit plaza".

 

[MaryJaneP]

Mid 1970's - was there a Welch's Red and White Grape Juice stall in Fantasy Land? IIRC, they sponsored something too.

 

[JohnD]

Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride used to be located here. After Toad closed and Pooh replaced it, Imagineers added a "family photo" of Toad handing the property deed to Owl. You can see this on your left just after starting the ride.

Haunted Mansion: Similarly, there is now a statue of Mr. Toad in the Haunted Mansion Pet Cemetery. I went to WDW not too long after Hurricane Irma blew through. All the statutes were blown over and the cemetery was a mess. Being outside HM, I thought it actually look better. LOL.

 

[GinaD613]

If I Had Wings was sponsored by Eastern Airlines, of blessed memory. At the exit of the ride they had a reservations desk. On a trip with my Dad (also of blessed memory), possibly in 1982, he was able to change our flight reservations at the desk.

 

[danyoung56]

That would be "If YOU Had Wings". That song is forever buried in my brain!

 

[GinaD613]

That would be "If YOU Had Wings". That song is forever buried in my brain!

I stand corrected! This is what happens when you post on social media long past your bedtime

 

[TwilightZone]

Sorry for the late bump but one interesting piece is the timekeeper animatronic was going to be reused for Pete's Silly Slideshow at one point (this image was quite hard to find since the website hosting it removed it)

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Some of the ride names have changed over the years. For example, I recall in 1976 that the Tomorrowland Speedway was called the Grand Prix Raceway.

And, you are missing the Swan Boats, which I believe were originally grouped under Main Street.

the Swan Boats used to travel the moats around the hub and go underneath the castle bridge. The load/unload station was to the left of the main Tomorrowland walkway in the Hub. It was along what used to the the Rose Walk. This was removed of course with the hub redesign circa 2014. Long after the Swan Boats were gone the queue was used as a general seating area. You can still see the track for the swan boats whenever they drain the moat around the castle for maintenance through in most cases the track surface is now flush with the cement on the moat bottom.

 

[yensid67]

You may want to include...

"The Magic Kingdom Park is actually the top floor of a 2 story building." and "There are 9 acres of Tunnels under the park called, UTILIDORS that are used to transport goods and services as well as Cast Members to each land. These added to MK because Uncle Walt was walking through Disneyland and saw a Frontierland Cast Member walking through Tomorrowland, ruining the effect!" --Yensid67(WDWMAGIC)

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

I believe at least one of them is at The Boardwalk Hotel..

Yes there are a few of them at Boardwalk also, glad to see them keep stuff around.

 

[yensid67]

the Swan Boats used to travel the moats around the hub and go underneath the castle bridge. The load/unload station was to the left of the main Tomorrowland walkway in the Hub. It was along what used to the the Rose Walk. This was removed of course with the hub redesign circa 2014. Long after the Swan Boats were gone the queue was used as a general seating area. You can still see the track for the swan boats whenever they drain the moat around the castle for maintenance through in most cases the track surface is now flush with the cement on the moat bottom.

Also to add...after the demise, they were moved to Lake Eola to be used as the Swan Boats there(or at least rumored)

 

[Goofyernmost]

That’s what I live for it seems sometimes

Martin are you still on You Tube. I don't seem to find you anyplace. I tried using your name and checked under Disney Histories and have found nothing. If you have moved, where did you move too.

 

[marni1971]

Martin are you still on You Tube. I don't seem to find you anyplace. I tried using your name and checked under Disney Histories and have found nothing. If you have moved, where did you move too.

Oh eck you got me worried then.

MartinsVidsdotnet

Or a search for Martin’s videos and/or Disney should work

 

[Goofyernmost]

Oh eck you got me worried then.

MartinsVidsdotnet

Or a search for Martin’s videos and/or Disney should work

I just found the problem I used your last name as well and didn't give me anything. Disney history gave me about 400 million other sites and I didn't scroll through them all. Sorry, wipe that worried look off your face, have a nice cup of tea and a crumpet or two and relax. My fault.