DisneySky - COMPLETE & RESTORED

[Pi on my Cake]

The Muppets Present…
Great Moments in Aviation History
B-ticket show

The Muppets perform riotous recreations of iconic moments in flight

The ever-malleable Muppets have a new home at Disneyland Resort! Their live comic performances regularly transform staid old Runway One into a playground of ridiculousness, as the troupe attempts to reenact important scenes in aviation history.

The format is the same as The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History, giving that fan-favorite show a new home since its untimely removal from Magic Kingdom. The show is easily implemented as it is extremely light on infrastructure - merely the side facade of Air Tower Sweets, which is located just off from the main runway route in Terminal Square. This runway corner is a makeshift arena with benches made from steamer trunks dotting the asphalt. Our open seating plan allows families to gather or to simply relax even when no show is occurring.

Howard H. Hummel

At showtime, a live actor barges down from the air tower above. This is Howard H. Hummel, head air traffic controller for Runway One. He acts flustered and ridiculous, quite unsure of why so many people have gathered together in his “neat and orderly airfield.”

While Hummel blubbers on, Kermit the Frog appears in the tower’s upstairs facades with great fanfare. Kermit presents himself as the “town flyer...er, crier.” He informs Hummel that the audience has gathered to enjoy a show put on by himself and his fellow Muppets...who now appear in other upstairs windows. Among them are Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Sam Eagle, and Rowlf the Dog. (Live hidden puppeteers perform as the Muppets, while pre-recorded dialogue provides their voices.)

Against Hummel’s continual confusion and consternation, Kermit insists that the show must go on. Kermit introduces Gonzo the Great, the Muppets’ aviation specialist, who swings haphazardly onto the scene in a ramshackle homemade biplane strung up by wires from Air Tower Sweets. (Gonzo is the most complex character in the show, and is realized with animatronics instead of puppetry.) While continuing to swing about in midair, Gonzo leads the crowd in a silly singalong of an original introductory song, “Heads in the Clouds.” This song is very, very, very, very silly, as of course is everything the Muppets get their felty hands onto. It concludes with the balcony Muppets launching air streamers, and Gonzo crashing his airplane through an upstairs window in Cayley Gallery (a breakaway setpiece). Explosions burst from the tower.

Gonzo reappears in the shattered tower top, smoking and burnt to a crisp...this Gonzo is a live puppet. Gonzo proceeds to narrate one of several aviation-themed stories, while other Muppets reenact historic roles.
Whatever possible seriousness is swiftly scuttled...and Sam the Eagle is quick to complain.

Also, occasionally Statler and Waldorf pop out from the highest air traffic tower to heckle the performers.

Specific shows include:​

• Icarus & Daedalus (featuring Kermit and Miss Piggy, with guest star Camilla the Chicken)​
• The Wright Brothers (featuring Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker)​
• Charles Lindbergh’s Transatlantic Flight (featuring Fozzie Bear and Rowlf the Dog competing for the same starring role)​
• The Apollo 11 Moon Landing (featuring Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, with a surprise cameo by Yoda)​

These performances are silly, song-filled, full of costume changes and deeply terrible puns, and deceptively educational for younger audiences. Each show runs roughly 10 minutes, with 8 shows scheduled daily (variable). An analog clock in Terminal Square with an “Estimated time ‘til show” marquee ensures guests never fail to catch an oddball performance.​

Perfectly captures that classic Muppet fun, goofy vibe! Love it!

 

[Evilgidgit]

It concludes with the balcony Muppets launching air streamers, and Gonzo crashing his airplane through an upstairs window in Cayley Gallery (a breakaway setpiece).

Thank you!

 

[D Hulk]

Inspiration Observatory Tours
C-ticket walkthrough

The history of aviation comes to life within the vibrant halls of Inspiration Observatory

A guided walkthrough of Inspiration Observatory’s inner workings serves as a summation of the park’s aviation themes. This is essentially DisneySky in miniature, as the clockwise foot route takes guests chronologically from prehistoric flight, through the varying eras of man made invention, to outer space and the promise of future creation. These scenes are realized with simple, dimensional storybook dioramas, making aviation history both fun and charming. Think of it as DisneySky’s “thesis statement.”

Groups gather within the Observatory’s original telescope dome left of the rotunda, the one inspired by Ladd Observatory. A spiral ramp leads up the red brick perimeter and into a warm wood-and-stone atrium. The refractor telescope here is functional (though not of much use in the daytime), and guests are invited to peer through its lens. Plaques along the wall detail the backstory of Inspiration Observatory - and of much of DisneySky as a whole - telling the family history of Rudolph Blauerhimmel, of his son S.K.Y.-founder William Diesel, and of his granddaughter the space-loving Dr. Luna Diesel who oversaw most of Inspiration Observatory’s creation and expansion.

Eventually a cast member appears to lead the group deeper into the observatory. Functionally, this tour operates similarly to the “Once Upon a Time” Adventure in Shanghai Disneyland’s Enchanted Storybook Castle, or Tokyo Disneyland’s one-time “Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour.” Our guide presents himself as a member of S.K.Y., as a disciple of Dr. Diesel. Subtitling the tour as “World of Flight” (a nod to old school EPCOT Center), the guide leads guests down a downwards spiraling ramp along the dome’s perimeter. Down we go into the observatory’s basement, to a space directly below In an Ocean of Stars and passing around Ptolemy’s.

(Groups of 20 leave every minute and a half, for an hourly throughput of 800. Tours last roughly 10 minutes.)

Exhibit Hall #1 - Man Dreams of Flight

Stone-lined halls let out into the first exhibit hall. Observatory walls give way to a stylized painterly jungle filled with simplistic animatronic birds (and one bat). Projection screens, seen through the trees’ branches, show the birds in flight against a crystal clear blue sky, rendered in 3D using Disney’s modern CGI animation style. Throughout the tour, here and to come, an aural throughline is provided by an orchestral version of “If You Had Wings” - a disused Magic Kingdom standard now revived!



A disembodied announcer provides a brief description about natural flight, and how it inspired mankind’s legends and myths. To illustrate this, the tree-lined screens are suddenly inundated with legendary flying creatures. Dragons. Pegasus. Cupids. Even winged pigs, flying ineptly.

The announcer describes how Man then invented very early flying devices. Colorful kites rise up into the screen, crowding out all the creatures and birds. As the skies grow more congested, guests move on through a canyon of granite.

Exhibit Hall #2 - A Renaissance of Invention

The enclosed, underlit canyon becomes a medieval fortress. Portico arches look out onto the terraced Romanesque garden of Leonardo da Vinci. An animatronic of da Vinci himself sits in a shaded patio workspace, drawing onto a large mounted parchment. All around him are wood-carved bits of clockwork gears, while a wastebasket nearby overflows with several discarded paper airplanes...plus the Mona Lisa painting.

As the announcer describes da Vinci’s thought experiment flying machines, the room’s lights dim and the parchment paper comes to life. Da Vinci’s pencil sketches move on their own. A little wireframe man runs through his blueprint world, constructing fantastical contraptions from clockpunk parts. He first fashions da Vinci’s famous top-shaped wooden tank...then a functioning parachute. A hand-powered ornithopter glider. Lastly the famous “aerial screw” helicopter, with its spinning cloth spiral mechanism.

Exhibit Hall #3 - The Golden Age of Ballooning

Guests pass through more dim stone hallways as the announcer describes the boundless creativity which drove inventors and tinkerers...which led to early successes. From a curlicue Crystal Palace veranda, guests look out onto a flowering French airfield at the height of the 19th-century ballooning era. Projections in the sky show off a progression of fanciful lighter-than-air devices, all introduced with narration.

First simple handheld balloons - among them hidden away is Disneyland’s beloved Mickey ear variety. Next Victorian things like the Montgolfiers’ aerostatique balloon and the Aerostat Giffard start to show up. More and more ornate hot air balloons fill the skies, all piloted by stereotyped European nationals arguing amongst themselves. Two balloonists even duel with pistols, shooting each other’s balloons to the ground. Paris’ Eiffel Tower constructs itself in an instant, just in time for an airship to moor to its top. Throughout this scene, the bright blue day fades into a saturated crimson sunset. The night skies come up as guests press onwards.

Exhibit Hall #4 - The Pioneer Era

Guests proceed into a dark void lit only by a vintage film projector. Genuine stock footage plays of early failed flyers, all with silent movie wurlitzer accompaniment. Think of the opening montages from Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines or 1961’s Master of the World. The announcer describes these comically doomed efforts at heavier-than-air flight.

At last the morning sunlight brightens this space, revealing that guests are inside a makeshift cloth hangar. The front bay looks out onto the beaches at Kitty Hawk, where another screen projection shows off the Wright Brothers’ first ever successful 1903 experiment with their Flyer. As with previous scenes, again the skies soon thicken with more flying inventions, all Pioneer Era aeroplanes, first generation biplanes shown much as they were on EPCOT Center’s World of Motion. Jaunty jazz music plays as guests proceed through a shiny metal hangar doorway.

Exhibit Hall #5 - Testing Our Limits

Metal catwalks lead to a tube-shaped screen room. Projections cover every surface of this lengthwise cylindrical tunnel. The skies rush past us at Mach 1 speeds, just a blur of chemtrails and diffused light. The narrator describes how Man must constantly push his boundaries. How Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. A grand booming noise echoes across the chamber.

The narrator goes on to describe faster speeds. He mentions the speed of light, a speed deemed unattainable by mankind. What would happen if we were to go that fast? Suddenly a swirl of abstract colors floods the screens, like we are stuck inside a dream. Imagine physical immersion into 2001’s Beyond the Infinite sequence. Guests continue down the catwalk towards a distant doorway, the origin of this rushing imagery.

Exhibit Hall #6 - Beyond Possibility

Lastly our tour reaches a dark starfield dome. The only visible objects are the faintly-lit walkway below and a few twinkling star points above. Slowly, one-by-one, wall projections reveal space flight vehicles chronologically, with narration. First is Sputnik, when Man first broke Earth’s bounds. Next come the Mercury rockets, the Apollo spacecraft, the Space Shuttle, ISS, Viking probe, spinning ring-shaped satellites, SpaceX, on and on as futuristic, yet-unrealized spacecraft begin to appear.

The narrator delivers an inspirational call to future development and imagination. To think beyond our limitations. To dream beyond tomorrow. To move beyond possibility...

***

Spotlights illuminate a corner of this dark, celestial room. They reveal familiar observatory interiors. A hallway, ramping upwards, carries guests back into the solid physical world of Inspiration Observatory, and into its Planetary Marketplace shop (which we will visit later).

Here, our cast member guide might hand out S.K.Y. medals and pins - sure to become a collector’s item. The guide might also hand out a scavenger hunt map to younger guests. Think of this as a way to extend the S.K.Y. mythos beyond Inspiration Observatory, with a rather low-tech variant on Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Guests are encouraged to seek out specific details in every DisneySky land, details like more evidence of S.K.Y.’s activities, or even simply Hidden Mickeys - the game’s specifics can easily change over time. Using the Disneyland App they can take photos of these details. What a great way to encourage further exploration for our bold and curious guests!
​

---

Sorry for the delay today. The power has been out since breakfast.

 

[Pi on my Cake]

Inspiration Observatory Tours
C-ticket walkthrough

The history of aviation comes to life within the vibrant halls of Inspiration Observatory

A guided walkthrough of Inspiration Observatory’s inner workings serves as a summation of the park’s aviation themes. This is essentially DisneySky in miniature, as the clockwise foot route takes guests chronologically from prehistoric flight, through the varying eras of man made invention, to outer space and the promise of future creation. These scenes are realized with simple, dimensional storybook dioramas, making aviation history both fun and charming. Think of it as DisneySky’s “thesis statement.”
​

Groups gather within the Observatory’s original telescope dome left of the rotunda, the one inspired by Ladd Observatory. A spiral ramp leads up the red brick perimeter and into a warm wood-and-stone atrium. The refractor telescope here is functional (though not of much use in the daytime), and guests are invited to peer through its lens. Plaques along the wall detail the backstory of Inspiration Observatory - and of much of DisneySky as a whole - telling the family history of Rudolph Blauerhimmel, of his son S.K.Y.-founder William Diesel, and of his granddaughter the space-loving Dr. Luna Diesel who oversaw most of Inspiration Observatory’s creation and expansion.

Eventually a cast member appears to lead the group deeper into the observatory. Functionally, this tour operates similarly to the “Once Upon a Time” Adventure in Shanghai Disneyland’s Enchanted Storybook Castle, or Tokyo Disneyland’s one-time “Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour.” Our guide presents himself as a member of S.K.Y., as a disciple of Dr. Diesel. Subtitling the tour as “World of Flight” (a nod to old school EPCOT Center), the guide leads guests down a downwards spiraling ramp along the dome’s perimeter. Down we go into the observatory’s basement, to a space directly below In an Ocean of Stars and passing around Ptolemy’s.

(Groups of 20 leave every minute and a half, for an hourly throughput of 800. Tours last roughly 10 minutes.)

Exhibit Hall #1 - Man Dreams of Flight

Stone-lined halls let out into the first exhibit hall. Observatory walls give way to a stylized painterly jungle filled with simplistic animatronic birds (and one bat). Projection screens, seen through the trees’ branches, show the birds in flight against a crystal clear blue sky, rendered in 3D using Disney’s modern CGI animation style. Throughout the tour, here and to come, an aural throughline is provided by an orchestral version of “If You Had Wings” - a disused Magic Kingdom standard now revived!



A disembodied announcer provides a brief description about natural flight, and how it inspired mankind’s legends and myths. To illustrate this, the tree-lined screens are suddenly inundated with legendary flying creatures. Dragons. Pegasus. Cupids. Even winged pigs, flying ineptly.

The announcer describes how Man then invented very early flying devices. Colorful kites rise up into the screen, crowding out all the creatures and birds. As the skies grow more congested, guests move on through a canyon of granite.

Exhibit Hall #2 - A Renaissance of Invention

The enclosed, underlit canyon becomes a medieval fortress. Portico arches look out onto the terraced Romanesque garden of Leonardo da Vinci. An animatronic of da Vinci himself sits in a shaded patio workspace, drawing onto a large mounted parchment. All around him are wood-carved bits of clockwork gears, while a wastebasket nearby overflows with several discarded paper airplanes...plus the Mona Lisa painting.

As the announcer describes da Vinci’s thought experiment flying machines, the room’s lights dim and the parchment paper comes to life. Da Vinci’s pencil sketches move on their own. A little wireframe man runs through his blueprint world, constructing fantastical contraptions from clockpunk parts. He first fashions da Vinci’s famous top-shaped wooden tank...then a functioning parachute. A hand-powered ornithopter glider. Lastly the famous “aerial screw” helicopter, with its spinning cloth spiral mechanism.

Exhibit Hall #3 - The Golden Age of Ballooning

Guests pass through more dim stone hallways as the announcer describes the boundless creativity which drove inventors and tinkerers...which led to early successes. From a curlicue Crystal Palace veranda, guests look out onto a flowering French airfield at the height of the 19th-century ballooning era. Projections in the sky show off a progression of fanciful lighter-than-air devices, all introduced with narration.

First simple handheld balloons - among them hidden away is Disneyland’s beloved Mickey ear variety. Next Victorian things like the Montgolfiers’ aerostatique balloon and the Aerostat Giffard start to show up. More and more ornate hot air balloons fill the skies, all piloted by stereotyped European nationals arguing amongst themselves. Two balloonists even duel with pistols, shooting each other’s balloons to the ground. Paris’ Eiffel Tower constructs itself in an instant, just in time for an airship to moor to its top. Throughout this scene, the bright blue day fades into a saturated crimson sunset. The night skies come up as guests press onwards.

Exhibit Hall #4 - The Pioneer Era

Guests proceed into a dark void lit only by a vintage film projector. Genuine stock footage plays of early failed flyers, all with silent movie wurlitzer accompaniment. Think of the opening montages from Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines or 1961’s Master of the World. The announcer describes these comically doomed efforts at heavier-than-air flight.

At last the morning sunlight brightens this space, revealing that guests are inside a makeshift cloth hangar. The front bay looks out onto the beaches at Kitty Hawk, where another screen projection shows off the Wright Brothers’ first ever successful 1903 experiment with their Flyer. As with previous scenes, again the skies soon thicken with more flying inventions, all Pioneer Era aeroplanes, first generation biplanes shown much as they were on EPCOT Center’s World of Motion. Jaunty jazz music plays as guests proceed through a shiny metal hangar doorway.

Exhibit Hall #5 - Testing Our Limits

Metal catwalks lead to a tube-shaped screen room. Projections cover every surface of this lengthwise cylindrical tunnel. The skies rush past us at Mach 1 speeds, just a blur of chemtrails and diffused light. The narrator describes how Man must constantly push his boundaries. How Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. A grand booming noise echoes across the chamber.

The narrator goes on to describe faster speeds. He mentions the speed of light, a speed deemed unattainable by mankind. What would happen if we were to go that fast? Suddenly a swirl of abstract colors floods the screens, like we are stuck inside a dream. Imagine physical immersion into 2001’s Beyond the Infinite sequence. Guests continue down the catwalk towards a distant doorway, the origin of this rushing imagery.

Exhibit Hall #6 - Beyond Possibility

Lastly our tour reaches a dark starfield dome. The only visible objects are the faintly-lit walkway below and a few twinkling star points above. Slowly, one-by-one, wall projections reveal space flight vehicles chronologically, with narration. First is Sputnik, when Man first broke Earth’s bounds. Next come the Mercury rockets, the Apollo spacecraft, the Space Shuttle, ISS, Viking probe, spinning ring-shaped satellites, SpaceX, on and on as futuristic, yet-unrealized spacecraft begin to appear.

The narrator delivers an inspirational call to future development and imagination. To think beyond our limitations. To dream beyond tomorrow. To move beyond possibility...

***

Spotlights illuminate a corner of this dark, celestial room. They reveal familiar observatory interiors. A hallway, ramping upwards, carries guests back into the solid physical world of Inspiration Observatory, and into its Planetary Marketplace shop (which we will visit later).

Here, our cast member guide might hand out S.K.Y. medals and pins - sure to become a collector’s item. The guide might also hand out a scavenger hunt map to younger guests. Think of this as a way to extend the S.K.Y. mythos beyond Inspiration Observatory, with a rather low-tech variant on Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Guests are encouraged to seek out specific details in every DisneySky land, details like more evidence of S.K.Y.’s activities, or even simply Hidden Mickeys - the game’s specifics can easily change over time. Using the Disneyland App they can take photos of these details. What a great way to encourage further exploration for our bold and curious guests!
​

---

Sorry for the delay today. The power has been out since breakfast.

Worth the wait!

 

[MickeyJedi]

D Link, Well...Are you going to continue it?

 

[Suchomimus]

D Link, Well...Are you going to continue it?

Every day I will add a new post until we have completed our circle tour of DisneySky.

 

[D Hulk]

In an Ocean of Stars
D-ticket dark ride

Sail in a satellite pod on a poetic and tranquil journey to the furthest reaches of outer space and beyond Man’s understanding

While Inspiration Observatory Tours might be DisneySky’s “thesis statement,” Inspiration Observatory is prominently host to what is perhaps the park’s heart-and-soul - In an Ocean of Stars, a transcendental dark ride which wordlessly carries guests to the furthest cosmos. This is a meditative, mind-expanding attraction which aims to sum up and encapsulate DisneySky’s greatest philosophical ambitions.

This is certainly the most prominent feature in Runway One, with its entrance directly up the grand stairways and ramps into Inspiration Observatory’s central rotunda. (Overflow queueing outdoors occurs in the open plaza between the rotunda and Dreamers Circle.) FastPass entry, meanwhile, is directly up the ramps alongside Tour entry.

FastPass distribution takes place along the Observatory’s east wing perimeter, directly opposite the Planetary Marketplace west wing shop. FastPass machines resemble miniaturized versions of Griffith’s Astronomers Monument - Art Deco concrete obelisks topped by bronze armillary spheres.

Within the magnificent rotunda, carved panel friezes along the corner moulding depict the various Greek gods. A mural overhead is a celestial map literalizing the constellations - Cancer becomes a crab, Taurus a bull, et cetera. The queue spirals through this worshipful space, then through a column-lined archway towards the left.

Curving hallways usher guests downslope, seemingly into the observatory’s subterranean levels. Truly it’s only a slight downgrade as we curve around the perimeter of the 1891 Ladd Observatory dome which hosts Inspiration Observatory Tours. Vaulted ceilings are water stained. Recessed lighting reveals simplistic 5-point stars painted into the vaults, long since faded away.

Various inspirations for the ride vehicle

Guests reach the observatory’s buried circular storage atrium. Simple star maps chart the coming voyage, out from the Solar System, past innumerable galaxies, out to the edge of the known universe. Opposite them, dangling from a Jet Age robot arm, is our ride vessel: A satellite space pod, like a cosmic submersible. Visually, picture a cross between a bronze riveted observatory telescope and the sleek pods of 2001: A Space Odyssey. This particular pod is under repair, with its bottom panels removed and soldering equipment strewn about a tangle of exposed wires.

Passing through another narrow and nondescript stucco tunnel, guests reach a loading hall located in Inspiration Observatory’s east wing. In this chamber, the observatory’s concrete physicality breaks down as it becomes a liminal setting between Earth and Space. This is not a literal space flight, but an abstracted mental journey. A cosmic answer to Adventure Thru Inner Space. Colorful lighting is similar to Space Mountain at Hong Kong Disneyland. There are still marble observatory floors, and riveted gantries holding up a telescope where the ride operator hides. This telescope peers out at a backlit mural of the cosmos on the far wall, a mural whose blinking lights almost suggest it could be the real cosmos.

Satellite pods like the one we saw earlier arrive in groups of three, docking alongside the gantry. They visibly glide atop astronomical guide tracks. Cast members efficiently load all three pods at once. The pods’ interiors are crammed full of analog control panel readouts, whose spinning dials fully engross guests in a mesmerizing space travel fantasia.

The interior of the EVA space pod ride vehicle

These pods are fairly similar to the diving bells found on DisneySea’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Guests ride entirely enclosed. Bubble-shaped observation windows provide stupendous views to the otherworldly scenery and protect riders from the vacuum of space. These pods modify the DisneySea design, with a single forward-facing window which can be enjoyed by three tiered rows of benches. These benches are larger too than DisneySea’s, with higher ceilings, able to comfortably fit three riders each. Pods ride atop a rail, rather than suspended. They are able to swivel while traveling, able to focus on specific gorgeous show scenes.

Due to a limited footprint, the ride’s layout is two-leveled. Pods follow a counterclockwise route through a show-building inside Mt. Helios. In case of ride breakdown, small stairways are built into the pods’ rears, leading to evacuation walkways which cannot be seen while on-ride.
​

RIDE STATS
Ride type: Dark ride
Capacity per pod: 9
Hourly capacity: 1,620
Duration: 6 minutes
Height restriction: None​

​

---

What a place to leave off! This ride is just too massive to fit into a single post. I am very excited to bring you the "In an Ocean of Stars" ride-through later today!

 

[D Hulk]

In an Ocean of Stars, cont’d

Once loaded, the three pods move forward from the gantry. Pods set out at 20-second intervals. While the first pod departs, the two remaining craft stagger in a riveted pod bay enlivened by swirling klieg lights. When the time is right, they set too forth one-by-one.

Blast off occurs with wild flashing lights on the interior control panels, and with fog machines on the pod’s exteriors firing clouds downwards against the observation windows. The pod rumbles, and the track lifts it up slightly.

Once the launch clouds clear, we are in outer space! Control panel lights within the pod dim, so as to not create distracting reflections in the bubble windows. Our eyes slowly adjust to take in the breathtaking sights.


"The Days" by Ludovico Einaudi, the on-ride soundtrack and HIGHLY recommending reading music

On-board speakers play “The Days” by Ludovico Einaudi, a deeply tranquil piano tone poem to accompany our cosmic voyage. This composition dictates the ride’s meditative pace, as noted by time signatures from the video above.

Mars & the Inner Solar System
(0:00 - 0:48)

Our voyage begins at “home” in the Solar System. The Sun itself sits to the left like a massive overbearing spotlight; it is too bright to view directly. The Earth appears tiny silhouetted against the star. Everything else is primarily an empty dark void, broken up by moments of beauty. Far away stars twinkle. A shooting star draws focus to the right, where the Milky Way band glistens faint in the great distance. (Generally these dark ride sights are a deft combination of practical sets, projections, and other effects.)

Our pod glides past Mars, seen entirely as a black circle with a red halo set before the Milky Way. It is a physical dark ride object, as is the armada of asteroids we pass gently through on our journey. Physical rocky planetoids of many different sizes and shapes spin about almost within grasp. Smaller spinning rocks rotate around their larger cousins. They feel tactile, like pumice stones (some actually are), all rocky and porous. Some asteroids fire off steam vents - water evaporating in the sunlight.

Jupiter
(0:49 - 1:10)

Einaudi’s idyllic music grows more vibrant. Past the asteroid belt, pods circle the gigantic orb of Jupiter, so large its surface entirely fills the bubble windows. Swirling multicolored storm clouds infest the great gas planet. This is an entirely practical effect - a huge cloud tank held inside a transparent sphere. The Eye of Jupiter flashes, mighty lightning storms within its cyclonic vortex.

Saturn & the Outer Solar System
(1:11 - 2:05)

As the music gets more vibrant yet somehow more peaceful, the pod rotates to behold lovely Saturn further off. She appears physically as an orb of tan and azure, a crescent shadow covering much of her surface. The majestic rings appear as a projection effect against a glassy surface.

Our gaze moves beyond Saturn, to the isolated ice planets Uranus and Neptune far and faint. Uranus’ rings swirl vertically around the sphere. Mostly we just see stars now. An icy comet screams across our sightline, a projection effect, its evaporating tail refracting light from the distant Sun.

As we start to drift past the edges of the Solar System, our vision is of mostly darkness. This is a moment of visual silence. Eerie blackness. Thirty-five lightyears from Earth, the pod’s speakers crackle with the earliest commercial radio broadcast, a KDKA news prompt circa 1920. This is to be our final evidence of Man’s impact on the universe...​

 

[D Hulk]

Interstellar Nebulae
(2:06 - 2:33)

Act II: Interstellar Space.

The cosmos again crackle with activity! Whole solar systems are visible at once. Rotating Pepper’s ghost projections on discs now fill the expanse. Delicate, incandescent nebulae start to appear - interstellar dust clouds formed of psychedelic gases. Practically, they’re a combination of tulle fabric, fiber optics, and soft purple lighting. Stars are obscured behind the clouds. Yet more clouds pass near the pod, produced by its exterior fog machine. Ion lightning flashes through a nebula, startling riders as it strikes very close much - a hidden light pole.

The Pillars of Creation
(2:34 - 2:55)

Einaudi’s composition turns slightly mournful. The space clouds coalesce into the famed Horsehead Nebula. This wonder is realized with more fiber optics, fabrics, glass projections, and an even greater spectrum of celestial colors. It sparkles in pink, purple and teal. Lights shine forth.

More nebulae rise up like a forest of drifting trees. These are the Pillars of Creation. Their mighty spires frame views of a star being born. A twisting vertical funnel grows from a point of light, realized practically with a wind tunnel effect. A red laser shines down vertically through the tornado.

The Pulsar
(2:56 - 3:41)

We enter into the Crab Nebula. The same surreal imagery takes on new form, like physical fractals of orange and teal surrounding the pod on all sides. At this macro scale, patterns can feel subatomic. There is no human frame of reference. A ghostly blue light flashes against the clouds.

The pod turns towards the light’s source: a pulsar. A dying white dwarf star. It hovers in an otherwise empty, inky black void. A spinning blue spotlight pulses vertically from the star’s nucleus, cutting through the emptiness like a flashlight in the fog. Physical clouds hover and drift by.

This scene is alien, alienating, yet somehow also reassuringly peaceful. Einaudi’s piano adds to the tranquil loveliness. Another brief passage of almost total darkness swallows up the pod.​

 

[D Hulk]

The Milky Way & Intergalactic Space
(3:42 - 4:32)

Act III: Intergalactic Space.

The music builds to another vibrant head. The pod recedes and looks back at the journey we’ve completed so far: The entire Milky Way galaxy recedes from view, now seen all at once. Star clusters swirl around the galaxy’s center. Star projections strike multiple transparent layers, while white fiber optic points shine and die. The whole heavenly composition is a sight to behold, and the pod lingers on it for a few moments.

The pod takes in a new view. Distant, smaller galaxies dot the void. Andromeda Galaxy is the next nearest, done with a similar effect. The other galaxies, further away, are realized with pulsating plasma lamps. Incandescent globes house unimaginable worlds. A “starfield” is formed of these balls. These are the Magellanic Clouds.

The Edge of the Universe
(4:33 - 5:09)

The music slows down as we reach the end of our journey - the edge of the universe, 2 billion lightyears away.

The view here is very much as it would have been at the Big Bang. Galaxies collide together and mix into new forms. Explosions like fireworks mean the formation of new worlds. A luminous quasar shines brilliantly, with clouds of every color spinning around a center which emits a bright gaseous beam. Shards of light reminds us of sunlight breaking the ocean’s surface. Energy balls zoom about. All this is realized by a mighty spherical IMAX room, much like Horizons’ groundbreaking screen.

The Black Hole
(5:10 - 5:31)

The pod swivels from the lightshow, across the black nothingness, to a final sight...A black hole!

We are caught in the hole’s undeniable gravity, compelled towards it. This is simply a circular doorway in the room’s wall. Recessed lights around it create a “halo” of swirling color, meant to be galaxy clusters stuck in its event horizon. Projection effects populate the space surrounding the black hole with suns and asteroids being sucked into oblivion.

The black circle grows ever larger in our vision. It swallows us up!

Beyond Event Horizon
(5:32 - 5:58)

We are inside the black hole, and crushed to the size of an atom! The music climaxes with euphoria! The pod’s control panels go haywire. The fog machine fires off outside of the pod. Somehow in this moment our vehicle transitions from oblivion back into Earth reentry. The craft shakes as it descends. The clouds clear, simply to reveal another pod bay as when we left. Our strange and uplifting cosmic voyage is at an end.

***

The pods reemerge in the observatory’s loading chamber. Once again they stagger so that three may unload at once, with pods waiting in a corner alongside observatory telescope gears. Lastly they come to a halt at a dedicated unload platform as cast members help mesmerized guests to their feet.

The exit path ramps down through a hall decorated with photos taken by the Hubble Telescope, gorgeous photos of the real outer space with all her mysteries and beauty. ​

 

[Evilgidgit]

Now THIS is an attraction that should be put in Tomorrowland! Something that is wondrous, educational, scientific, and optimistic. Looking at our cosmos with fascination and daring. No Star Wars overlay, no need to slap an IP for synergy or whatever claptrap, just pure artistic effort.

 

[Parker41056]

I still am blown away at the details and thought process put into this project. Going to be a while before we make the complete loop.

 

[D Hulk]

I still am blown away at the details and thought process put into this project. Would it be possible to put labels on the overview map once you announce the headlining features? i.e. or a legend with numbers corresponding back to your reveals?

Land Layout & Details

Guest Relations: 1. Iwerks Terminal, 2. Park Info Board, 3. Storage Lockers (not on map)
Attractions: 4. DisneySky JetRail, 5. Skyliner, 6. Marceline Character Hub, 7. The Muppets Present…Great Moments in Aviation History, 8. Inspiration Observatory Tours, 9. In an Ocean of Stars
Dining: 10. Ptolemy’s, 11. Almagest Bar, 12. Layover Lounge, 13. Wright Bakers, 14. Pudknockers, 15. Glider Sliders, 16. Refueling Center
Retail: 17. Avionics, 18. Rosie’s, 19. Cayley Gallery, 20. Air Tower Sweets, 21. Mach 1, 22. Lindy’s, 23. Planetary Marketplace, 24. Flyer Suppliers​

Very pleased you’re enjoying the park!

The plan has been to include these sorts of maps with every land’s introductory walkthrough.

I could also create maps with written labels, to include at the start of every Attraction, Dining and Retail section...to be applied retroactively to what I’ve missed in Runway One. BTW, later today we start Runway One’s Dining.

 

[D Hulk]

Runway One - Dining
​

---

Ptolemy’s
Table service restaurant

Full-course meals and wine
[ADULT DRINKS]

Ptolemy’s is DisneySky’s signature table service restaurant found in a planetarium at the heart of Inspiration Observatory. The kitchen specializes in haute cuisine, specifically Spanish-influenced dishes, served under a romantic, starry perpetual nighttime.

The entry lobby is found to the right of Inspiration Observatory’s central rotunda stairs, located in the minimalist white 1939 dome. The lobby interior (shared with the Almagest Bar downstairs) is Dr. Luna Diesel’s private study. Original metal panel walls have been replaced with carved oak bookshelves, divided by marble columns. Dr. Diesel’s book collection is all scientific treatises from throughout the millennia. A 16th-century globe rests beside a reading nook. The dome above is covered in sliding engraved mahogany panels, which bear velvet-and-gold reproductions of Copernican sketches. Sunlight pours in through the dome’s retractable opening, illuminating a bronzed and purely decorative astronomical telescope upon a pedestal.

The entry lobby shared by Ptolemy's and the Almagest Bar

Arched hallways lead up red velvet stairs to Ptolemy’s, or downstairs to the Almagest Bar. There is also a secret elevator hidden behind a bookcase in the study to accommodate less mobile guests.

The main dining room is set upstairs in the Grand Planetarium - the main golden dome which dominates Inspiration Observatory from the outside. This magnificent atrium exudes quiet dignity, much in the vein of California Adventure’s Carthay Circle Restaurant or DisneySea’s Magellan’s. Fine dining tables in soft linen dot the floor. A prerecorded viola plays.

At the planetarium’s center is a visible projection machine upon a platform. Onto the domed ceiling it projects a beautiful, crisp night sky, complete with a sharply-defined Milky Way. These projections exist on an hourlong loop, depicting the yearly rotation of the stars and Moon. (New digital projection shows depicting other topics - such as travel across the cosmos or the Northern Lights - may easily be switched out, say for special VIP events.) Diners feast under this amazing starry scene. Simply in terms of visual ambiance, Ptolemy’s central floor is a not-to-be-missed dining experience.

Eight smaller side rooms line the Grand Planetarium, each themed to a different Solar System planet (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune). The planets’ names, engraved in quarry limestone, sit prominently on archway capstones. These domed alcoves feature imagery devoted to their respective planets. The centuries-spanning history of astronomical thought concerning, say, Venus, is covered in pictures, murals and charts. These side rooms may be sealed off from the Grand Planetarium and joined together, ideal for private parties.

Even the restrooms - located just off from the entry hallway - continue Ptolemy’s understated Old World elegance. Tile floors depict star maps, while the walls and ceilings continue the observatory’s stately design.

Ptolemy’s haute cuisine menu primarily features Spanish-style dishes. Specialty house entrees include raciones (similar to tapas) and paella, in addition to a seasonally rotating menu. Certain “evergreen” dishes populate the appetizer and dessert menus as well, such as Ptolemy’s signature deviled eggs or its dulce de leche dessert. For drinks, Ptolemy’s offers its world-famous sangria, in addition to a full complement of fine cocktails. Our wine cellar is fully stocked with labels ranging from Spain to the Americas, North and South. Bartending services are shared between Ptolemy’s and the Almagest Bar downstairs.
​

---

Almagest Bar
Bar

Appetizers and cocktails
[ADULT DRINKS]

If we were to follow a ramp downstairs from Ptolemy’s domed lobby, we would discover the Almagest Bar located directly under the floor of the Grand Planetarium. This is not a full-service restaurant, but rather a dedicated cocktail bar and lounge. It may be used by guests waiting for a table at Ptolemy’s upstairs, or it may simply be used by those needing a respite from the park. Our soft-spoken, warm inviting interior certainly offers that respite.

The name is derived from The Almagest, Ptolemy’s 2nd-century treatise which first modeled the planets’ movements...even if it erred at the time with a geocentric arrangement. This name was chosen as tribute by the members of S.K.Y. who created this lounge as their private secret meeting chamber. They have now opened the lounge up to guests, ready to share their theories with the world.

The lounge’s circular chamber certainly suggests a Masonic Lodge hidden away under thick stone. More specifically, the room’s semi-circular rotunda suggests the inside of a huge armillary sphere. Smaller armillary spheres line pillars along the vaulted walls, while an enormous Baroque armillary sphere sits on central display. Astrolabe patterns dot the metal ceiling supports like tattoos. Throughout are framed displays on other cultures’ astronomical tools, such as an old Aztec calendar or a Renaissance quadrant or an ancient Chinese telescope.

The main bar sits behind an oak counter featuring wood carvings of historic astronomers - minds such as Ptolemy himself, Agrippa, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Hubble, Halley, and Tycho Brahe. The bar’s “capstone” is an Eye of Providence seemingly made of alabaster and gold inlays - an undeniably Masonic symbol. It is actually a simple animatronic which will blink in response to patrons’ questions. The concept is fairly similar to a “prophetic” stuffed owl at Hollywood’s Magic Castle. Our “all-seeing eye” will blink once for “yes” and twice for “no,” its single iris scanning the tables. Such a fun additional touch gives the Almagest Bar that hint of Disney magic.

While Almagest Bar largely shares a drink menu with Ptolemy’s, it offers many unique specialties. The leatherbound menu features European-influenced cocktails, as well as a pisco sour - a Peruvian classic made of Pisco liquor, lime juice, egg whites and bitters. For food, Almagest Bar offers not full dinners but rather a dedicated sampler menu of tapas appetizers. There is enough food variety that one could very easily enjoy a satisfying meal here nonetheless.​

 

[James G.]

My dear friend Mr. Hulk, I have two comments/questions. First, Ptolemy was Egyptian. Why feature Spanish cuisine? Let's face it- Spanish cuisine in Southern California is about as common as earthquakes and wildfires. I would suggest either a fusion of Egyptian/Spanish cuisine or a separate, limited Egyptian menu in honor of the restaurant's namesake. I've eaten in Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot, and the cuisine was wonderful. I know, Morocco and Egypt are on opposite sides of Northern Africa, but if you're going adventurous, go big! Second, Masonic Lodges are not circular, but rectangular, with the length of the room extending from east to west, and the width from the center of the room to the south. Technically, in Masonic tradition, there is no North side in the lodge room, but that's another story. The capstone is a Masonic symbol- the Eye of Providence is, I believe, also Masonic, but is rarely discussed and considered more historic and archaic than commonplace in Masonic traditions.

Now that I've said my piece, once again you gave me a reason to rush home from work to discover more of DisneySky!

 

[D Hulk]

Layover Lounge
Counter service character dining restaurant

Italian food, cold cuts and more
[ADULT DRINKS]

Layover Lounge is Runway One’s main eastern eatery, serving up accessible Italian-American foods in a casual and high-throughput counter service setting. At Layover Lounge everyone is a member at the swankiest Jet Age terminal club, with an experience that exemplifies the best in commercial aviation.

Space is shared with the Skyliner, especially the interior lobby of the Pan Am Miami structure. This ground level - the ordering room - features a 10-foot-diameter rotating globe statue embedded in the floor. Skyliner gondolas glide directly overhead. Nearby is a model of a DC-3 upon a pedestal, realized with the same romanticism as the galleon model in DisneySea’s MiraCosta lobby. Food ordering counters in this lobby are styled like Pan Am check-in counters. More detailed niceties dot this space, like a clock with aviator wings, or ceiling panel murals which show stylized (and unsuccessful) pre-Wright Brother flying machines.

The food of Layover Lounge is light and familiar, perfect for a quick lunch on an active day. Italian-American dishes like pizzas, cold cuts, pastrami sandwiches and garden fresh salads dominate the menu. Drink options include sodas, juices, as well as beers.

Dining area shared by Layover Lounge and Wright Bakers

Dining areas are found to the left in a space shared with Wright Bakers next door. From the outside this shared facade resembles the LaGuardia Administration Building, but with tall multi-floor slanted windows designed similarly to those of the lobby building.

From inside, these windows provide exceptional views of Mt. Helios. Guests dine in a minimalist Jet Age space warmed by the afternoon sun. A second level balcony dining space - set above the main walkway - offers superior panoramic views. Vintage airline posters provide detail. The rear wall, illuminated by sunlight from the window bay, features a floor-to-ceiling mural...a hand-painted flight map of the world.

From a stage set before this mural, Layover Lounge enjoys regularly scheduled entertainment in the form of a sultry postwar jazz singer - a chartreuse who adds excitement to this rather stark club space.

Character dining takes place exclusively in the lounge’s upper level balcony, to not disturb crowd patterns. Runway One’s Fab Five aviators all make scheduled appearances. Layover Lounge and Wright Bakers offer exclusive “hard ticket” breakfast events (when this space is underutilized) where guests can maximize their time with favorite Disney characters.

Daimler Airway hangar, the hallway connection to Wright Bakers

As implied, Layover Lounge shares its dining space with Wright Bakers. The latter is accessible through a wood shed hallway. From outside, the hallway looks like a pair of primitive early hangars, like those at Daimler Airway, set before the more modernist terminal lobby. Hangar rooftops read “RUNWAY ONE” in huge white lettering. On the shed’s interior, there is no decor, only the aural soundscape of a bustling airport overhead.

Restrooms, shared by Layover Lounge and Wright Bakers, are accessible via a side hallway set off from this connecting shed.
​

---

Wright Bakers
Counter service restaurant

Coffee and bakery items

A duplicate of the Wright Brothers’ Ohio bike shop is located in between Rosie’s factory and Layover Lounge’s mid-century terminal. Many disparate eras are represented in Runway One, yes, just as you might find at a real airfield with a long and vibrant history. Wright Bakers serves as DisneySky’s main coffee shop (serving Starbucks). Alongside hot-brewed drinks, they also offer a bakery’s worth of fresh artisanal donuts, cookies, and other sweet items. All dishes are respectfully named for early Wright-era aviators.

The inside of the bike shop - where the Wright Brothers designed the world’s first heavier-than-air machine - is faithfully recreated from the original. But there are whimsical touches as well, such as a kinetic homemade replica of the Flyer made from bike parts, hanging from the ceiling and animated by fan belts and tire chains. Ordering counters are set around glass display cases which feature both baked goods and vintage bicycle accessories.

As discussed, the dining area is accessed through a tiny disheveled wooden hangar. This allows Runway One’s limited meal areas to double up for both breakfast seatings (when Wright Bakers is more popular) and afternoon seating when Layover Lounge takes over.​

 

[James G.]

Layover Lounge features Italian-American food...and Drink options include sodas, juices, as well as beers. Italian-American, but no wine? I'll assume that was just not a complete list of beverages.

Now for those of you who might not remember this, or me, I judged DisneySky's first incarnation several years ago on a different site. Now I'm seeing it majorly reworked, renovated, improved, etc. so I contacted D Hulk (or whatever he's calling himself today- it seems he's off his medication again) and will possibly make a few constructive suggestions, as he's done with my Americana Resort (which possibly a year or so from now after I retire I'll attempt to share in here if anyone is interested). D Hulk and I have been friends for years, and at least on my end we value each other's honest constructive suggestions.

DisneySky was impressive originally. The DisneySky he's sharing with us now is amazing. I'm looking forward to discovering the improvements he's made. So far they are...I keep using this word...impressive.

 

[D Hulk]

Pudknockers
Buffeteria

Pub grub and more
[ADULT DRINKS]

In the glory days of aviation, fearless test pilots and naval airmen enjoyed private clubs where they could boast about their exaggerated exploits in a boisterous, welcoming atmosphere. These long-lost officer clubs reflected the pilots’ personalities, big and bold and brass.

Now DisneySky guests may relive this storied heyday at “Pudknockers Pilots Club & Coffee Shop.” (The term “pudknocker” refers to a greenhorn aviator.) This rowdy, romanticized restaurant sits on the path towards Cosmic Crater and Avengers Airspace, anticipating those lands’ heroics.

The club’s exterior, set back from the main walkways in an overgrown orange grove, is an unassuming stone shack, one primarily inspired by the Happy Bottom Riding Club once frequented by Chuck Yeager and other legends at Edwards Air Force Base. There’s just a bit of Scotty’s Castle from Death Valley mixed into the facade, to give it character. This setting is a converted test pilot school up in the high desert, where Joshua trees mix with the citrus.

Entry to the outer gardens is between twin rock towers bearing archway lettering. A neon sign to one side advertises “Liftoff Coffee.” There is a nearby roadside statue of a coffee pot made from an experimental test plane. Outdoor diners sit around repurposed plane wings under the shady grove.

Pudknockers’ interior is mostly inspired by the defunct, fabled Point O-Club once found at Naval Air Station Cubi Point in the Philippines. This was possibly the greatest officers club of all time! Imagine all those family restaurants with random memorabilia scattered across the walls. Now multiply that by 10 and add an aeronautic twist! That’s what guests find within Pudknockers. Artifacts from (nearly) every DisneySky “destination” line the shelves. Mounted cases display air squadron patches. Framed plaques. Pilot helmets. Leather bombardier jackets in cases. Repurposed propellers and cockpits. Peppering the ceiling, there are flags from every nation on earth circa 1955.

Ordering counters are found in the converted bar. There is an unmistakable greasy spoon diner ambiance. Pub grub scents waft from the visible kitchen. Cast members taking your order behave in-character as sassy waitresses. “What’ll it be, hon?” Guests may choose from an eclectic pub menu which features standards such as meat pies, salads, and treacle pudding for dessert. The Pudknockers specialty is simply the classic American hamburger. All-beef patties are generously thick. A nearby condiments station (under a converted cockpit bubble “sneeze guard”) lets guests dress their burgers as they like.

Most indoor dining is on the main club floor, found at tables or booths or at countertops flanking the ordering counters. Overstuffed red leather seats welcome diners. Smaller side rooms are dedicated to specific famous aviators such as James Doolittle and Amelia Earhart and Bessie Coleman, completely populated with photos and memorabilia for each. Every corner of Pudknockers bursts with timeless aeronautic charm!
​

---

Glider Sliders
Snack cart

Wagon selling slider burgers and more

For a quicker alternative to Pudknockers, Glider Sliders is a snack cart next door set in a corrugated airfield shed. A vintage Parasev hang glider (an experimental NASA “flying jeep”) rests on the roof. The shed’s side wall is adorned with the logo for the fictional “55th Flying Wing” squadron, complete with Pegasus mascot.

Glider Sliders’ cuisine is inspired by L.A.’s vibrant food truck culture. The signature item is slider burgers (with seasonal variants). We also dish up classic Mexican street tacos with options like carne asada, chicken, al pastor, or veggie. Pudknockers’ outdoor tables are available for use.
​

---

Refueling Center
Beer stand

Wagon offering character foods and other items
[ADULT DRINKS]

Left of Inspiration Observatory is a vintage airport fuel truck which actively refuels a PA-20 Pacer plane parked on display. This truck also offers up quick snacks to guests from a side window set under a military tarp. Think of these snacks as another form of fuel! Shaded seating is available under the Pacer’s wing, or guests may dine on-the-go.

You’ll find stands like this throughout California Adventure or DisneySea, beer stands whose refreshing adult beverages set themselves apart from Disney’s Castle Parks without promoting drunkenness. It is the same here. Refueling Center (and all of DisneySky’s beer stands) serves locally-brewed draft beers.

Refueling Station in particular also specializes in an Instagram-worthy DisneySky specialty, the Mickey Glove Bun sandwich. This unique snack item is a spongy glove-shaped bun which comes filled with an assortment of savory fillings. It is a must-try treat for first timers or regulars!
​

---

To address my colleague @James G. and his critique of my food selections, the menus I discuss for DisneySky are simply suggestions. They are by no means comprehensive. The same will apply for retail items. My focus has been on creating grand dining & shopping spaces where other, cleverer people can provide the best food & merch. Theme park food menus are eternally malleable.

 

[James G.]

Pudknockers
Buffeteria

Pub grub and more
[ADULT DRINKS]

In the glory days of aviation, fearless test pilots and naval airmen enjoyed private clubs where they could boast about their exaggerated exploits in a boisterous, welcoming atmosphere. These long-lost officer clubs reflected the pilots’ personalities, big and bold and brass.

Now DisneySky guests may relive this storied heyday at “Pudknockers Pilots Club & Coffee Shop.” (The term “pudknocker” refers to a greenhorn aviator.) This rowdy, romanticized restaurant sits on the path towards Cosmic Crater and Avengers Airspace, anticipating those lands’ heroics.

The club’s exterior, set back from the main walkways in an overgrown orange grove, is an unassuming stone shack, one primarily inspired by the Happy Bottom Riding Club once frequented by Chuck Yeager and other legends at Edwards Air Force Base. There’s just a bit of Scotty’s Castle from Death Valley mixed into the facade, to give it character. This setting is a converted test pilot school up in the high desert, where Joshua trees mix with the citrus.

Entry to the outer gardens is between twin rock towers bearing archway lettering. A neon sign to one side advertises “Liftoff Coffee.” There is a nearby roadside statue of a coffee pot made from an experimental test plane. Outdoor diners sit around repurposed plane wings under the shady grove.

Pudknockers’ interior is mostly inspired by the defunct, fabled Point O-Club once found at Naval Air Station Cubi Point in the Philippines. This was possibly the greatest officers club of all time! Imagine all those family restaurants with random memorabilia scattered across the walls. Now multiply that by 10 and add an aeronautic twist! That’s what guests find within Pudknockers. Artifacts from (nearly) every DisneySky “destination” line the shelves. Mounted cases display air squadron patches. Framed plaques. Pilot helmets. Leather bombardier jackets in cases. Repurposed propellers and cockpits. Peppering the ceiling, there are flags from every nation on earth circa 1955.

Ordering counters are found in the converted bar. There is an unmistakable greasy spoon diner ambiance. Pub grub scents waft from the visible kitchen. Cast members taking your order behave in-character as sassy waitresses. “What’ll it be, hon?” Guests may choose from an eclectic pub menu which features standards such as meat pies, salads, and treacle pudding for dessert. The Pudknockers specialty is simply the classic American hamburger. All-beef patties are generously thick. A nearby condiments station (under a converted cockpit bubble “sneeze guard”) lets guests dress their burgers as they like.

Most indoor dining is on the main club floor, found at tables or booths or at countertops flanking the ordering counters. Overstuffed red leather seats welcome diners. Smaller side rooms are dedicated to specific famous aviators such as James Doolittle and Amelia Earhart and Bessie Coleman, completely populated with photos and memorabilia for each. Every corner of Pudknockers bursts with timeless aeronautic charm!
​

---

Glider Sliders
Snack cart

Wagon selling slider burgers and more

For a quicker alternative to Pudknockers, Glider Sliders is a snack cart next door set in a corrugated airfield shed. A vintage Parasev hang glider (an experimental NASA “flying jeep”) rests on the roof. The shed’s side wall is adorned with the logo for the fictional “55th Flying Wing” squadron, complete with Pegasus mascot.

Glider Sliders’ cuisine is inspired by L.A.’s vibrant food truck culture. The signature item is slider burgers (with seasonal variants). We also dish up classic Mexican street tacos with options like carne asada, chicken, al pastor, or veggie. Pudknockers’ outdoor tables are available for use.
​

---

Refueling Center
Beer stand

Wagon offering character foods and other items
[ADULT DRINKS]

Left of Inspiration Observatory is a vintage airport fuel truck which actively refuels a PA-20 Pacer plane parked on display. This truck also offers up quick snacks to guests from a side window set under a military tarp. Think of these snacks as another form of fuel! Shaded seating is available under the Pacer’s wing, or guests may dine on-the-go.

You’ll find stands like this throughout California Adventure or DisneySea, beer stands whose refreshing adult beverages set themselves apart from Disney’s Castle Parks without promoting drunkenness. It is the same here. Refueling Center (and all of DisneySky’s beer stands) serves locally-brewed draft beers.

Refueling Station in particular also specializes in an Instagram-worthy DisneySky specialty, the Mickey Glove Bun sandwich. This unique snack item is a spongy glove-shaped bun which comes filled with an assortment of savory fillings. It is a must-try treat for first timers or regulars!
​

---

To address my colleague @James G. and his critique of my food selections, the menus I discuss for DisneySky are simply suggestions. They are by no means comprehensive. The same will apply for retail items. My focus has been on creating grand dining & shopping spaces where other, cleverer people can provide the best food & merch. Theme park food menus are eternally malleable.

D, when I get picky, it's because there's nothing major to criticize. In fact, after reading this section (and before getting to your disclaimer), I was thinking that you've really done an amazing job of incorporating a great variety of dining options into a single land. Well done!

 

[D Hulk]

Runway One - Attractions​

Runway One - Dining​

I've added labeled maps for Runway One's previous Attraction and Dining sections, to hopefully help clarify where things are located. I'll be doing the same with the Retail section which begins tomorrow, plus everything to come.