Ironically, I am actually all for the Splash Mountain re-theme, hence why I wanted to bring it into MWDW. I always thought that the walkway that goes along the edge of the post-drop Splash Mountain track could be a good divider between New Orleans and the Wild West. (Plus, we could get a Tiana's Palace re-theme for Pecos Bill Café!) But nonetheless, even if it disrupts theming, I can't wait to see Tiana's Bayou Adventure come to fruition.
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Well, here I am again. I've had a nice break from posting, and now, I'm ready to continue our tour of Mirror Walt Disney World. It's time to explore a new land here at the Magic Kingdom...
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Hollywoodland
As we proceed northward from Belle’s village, we notice a shift in the mood. The breathtaking, symphonic orchestrations give way to jazz standards typical of the 1930s...in fact, even the European structures appear to be giving way to more Art-Deco-style buildings...could it...could it be? Yes, it could! We’ve just entered Hollywoodland!
There’s no denying that Disney-Universal Studios was a massive success. However, a deal between the two studios came with a stipulation: No new Disney studios park could be built until the year 2000. Despite that, the executives wanted something Hollywood-themed in the Florida property, so in 1996, it was announced that the Magic Kingdom would receive an all-new land. It would be called “Hollywoodland”, and it was designed to feature what was considered to be some of Disney-Universal Studios’ best elements in one place.
Construction had begun earlier that year, and it was going to be quite the project. In order to prepare for the new land’s arrival, Floridian Way and the Cast Member access road had to be re-routed to make way for the new land.* Likewise, the fireworks launch zone had to be moved, as well. In hindsight, the move helped to make the construction of Galaxy’s Edge all the easier. The land area itself had seen many possible expansion ideas come and go. Originally, the land that would become Hollywoodland was slated to host a further-expanded Fantasyland, with a Swiss village and a clone of Matterhorn Bobsleds, but this failed to materialize. Likewise, there was also an idea to use that land to host a clone of Disneyland’s Enchanted Snow Palace, but this too never came to be.
* In this Mirror universe, the Reedy Creek Energy Services center is built a few miles further north, leaving plenty of room for Hollywoodland. Remember, MWDW sits on about 30,500 acres of land; whereas real-life WDW sits on 27,000 acres.
Imagineers and construction workers worked tirelessly for well over three years, and on May 1, 1999, Hollywoodland opened its golden gates for the first time!
Beyond the farthest reaches of the Enchanted Forest, an ornate entrance gate stands before us. A pair of mighty, ornamental elephants sat atop polychromatic pillars mark the gate. Carved in gold along the gate is the world “Hollywoodland.” Stepping underneath the gate, we pass under a railroad trestle and find ourselves back in time, back in sunny California during the early half of the 20th century.
Hollywoodland is a representation of Hollywood in its Golden Age; the age when Walt first started out as a filmmaker. This is the Hollywood of Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This is a town that once took the heart of a young Walt Disney. The automobile has made way for the Red Car of the Pacific Electric Railway. The shimmer of neon and bustle of traffic have built a fairy-land from a suitcase and a dream, “where any office boy or young mechanic can be a panic, with just a goodlooking pan.” Here, one can go out and try their luck, and most certainly meet Donald Duck. Here, in the year 1940, the stress of our contemporary life fades for a glimpse into a warm embodiment of the “Hollywood That Never Was.” The shimmer of neon and triumph of a dream set our stage for this reverent tribute to the romance, glamour and sentimentality of the silver screen.
In the principle of Main Street, U.S.A., Hollywoodland is a sparkling thoroughfare presented in the style and architecture of one historic Hollywood building after the next. The use of Art Deco and Mission Revival instills in us a sense of familiarity with a hint of intrigue. The reality of the Great Depression has subdued into the color and excitement of a cinematic Tinseltown. Trolley cables hang throughout the “skies.” The historic Red Car of the Pacific Electric Railway once criss-crossed Los Angeles from 1887 to 1961. Today, the Red Car Trolley is of one and the same purpose: efficient travel. With two convenient stops throughout Hollywoodland, the Red Car is in tribute to the bygone memory of a yesteryear Los Angeles. The Red Car Newsboys exclaim the “daily” headlines through song and dance aboard their trolley “stage.”
Keystone cops patrol the streets in search of ne’er-do-wells, while an overly-flamboyant movie starlet canoodles her poodle to the adoration of her “fans.” The Citizens of Hollywood simply and thematically add to the immersive environment, entertaining one and all with their improvisational comedy acts, including their legendary “Funniest Citizen of Hollywood” contest. They also help set a period that is further established in Art Deco architecture and rooftop billboards representing fictional and nonfictional products of the 1930’s and 40’s. Big band beats fill the air, played in crisp, fresh orchestrations rather than crackling radio transmissions; although authentic big-band sounds can be heard in the form of the fabulous Five & Dime, who ride the streets of Hollywoodland in a jazzed-up jalopy. As the legend goes, five working-class folk from Chicago met a dame named “Dime” and hit it big in La La Land – thanks to a certain Mr. Disney – playing the Ritz and hits of yore.
Forming something of its own Town Square, Hollywoodland begins in Buena Vista Park. In the center of Buena Vista Park, Storytellers recalls the moment in which a young Walt and Mickey first laid foot in the City of Angels. The tribute of bronze and plaster has hidden itself among the foot-traffic of Buena Vista Park, a subtle reminder that Walt was once such an everyday dreamer as ourselves. An adjacent plaque reads: “It was July 1923. I packed all of my worldly goods – a pair of trousers, a checkered coat, a lot of drawing materials and the last of the fairy tale reels we had made – in a kind of frayed cardboard suitcase. And with that wonderful audacity of youth, I went to Hollywood, arriving there with just forty dollars. It was a big day the day I got on that Santa Fe California Limited. I was just free and happy!” – Walt Disney.
On the left-hand side of Buena Vista Park, your senses are stimulated by the sights and smells of Philippe’s, an L.A. original, found across the way from the Hollywood Boulevard trolley station. “Home of the Original French Dipped Sandwich,” specialties of the house include roast beef, pork, turkey, ham, or leg of lamb. Coleslaw, pickles, macaroni salad, pickled eggs, olives and peppers compliment the varied deli meats. This near-exact replica of the real-world location has been built to the minute detail; sawdust on the floor, neon in the signage, and “Carvers” at the counter. Found just a few feet away from the station, however, is the Fairfax Market, an outdoor grocery stand selling fresh fruits, snacks, and refreshments, represented as an authentic open-air grocery stand of a bygone era.
Across the way, bright lights and the crackle of a phonograph welcome us to Oswald’s Filling Station. There always seems to be a ‘40 Pontiac Torpedo Coupe out front. Oswald’s is decked “ear-to-toe” in memorabilia of American Car Culture, with the inventory following suit. Oswald himself often frequents the station in full mechanic attire, a rabbit-shaped wrench at hand. As with Oswald, in Hollywoodland, we can “rub elbows” with the classic Disney stars of celluloid – including Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy – dressed in their Hollywood finest.
Beyond these two locations, Hollywoodland turns into a thoroughfare – Hollywood Boulevard. On either side of Hollywood Boulevard are unique experiences one can only find at Disney World. On the left-hand side of Hollywood Boulevard, we first come across the lavish Mickey’s of Hollywood, which sells any and all things related to kid-friendly merchandise, from stuffed Mickeys to Disney character-themed clothing. The store also features large statues depicting the Big Cheese in some of his most iconic roles, including him as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Steamboat Willie and the conductor of The Band Concert. Built within the same complex as Mickey’s, Pluto’s Toy Palace features all kinds of Disney toys – although, tying in with its neighbor, it mainly supplies toys inspired by Mickey and the gang. Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind Antiques and Curios is the place to go for all sorts of “Tinseltown treasures”: movie posters, books, and – most notably – authentic movie costumes and props. Mr. Cahuenga himself is among the Citizens of Hollywood troupe, although he mainly appears within his shop, performing magic tricks and impressions of the stars. As cheesy as the name sounds, Award Wieners next door stands in the spirit of another famous culinary Hollywood hotspot, Pink’s Hot Dogs, selling hot dogs and gourmet sausages from a window with a line that stretches around the block. Streetside tables with umbrellas provide ample dining space and perfect views of the live street entertainment.
On the other side of Hollywood Boulevard, the Red Car makes its first of two Hollywoodland stops outside the Celebrity 5 & 10, which is a “one-stop shop” that, while featuring generic merchandise, also features merchandise related to the Red Car and other railways. Neighboring the 5 & 10 to the left, our vision is pulled towards Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream Parlour, a place which recalls the Hollywood soda fountains of the 1930s, complete with film memorabilia, preserved props, and stills of the classics. Specialty sundaes, ice cream sodas and triple scoop cones abound. Next door, the Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café has a charming selection of dining and bakery items, the second in-park home of Starbucks Coffee. The Silver Lake Sisters – Dottie, Dolly and Ethel Bounds – once inspired the classic 1933 Silly Symphony short, The Three Little Pigs. In 1937, the three sisters have opened a coffee shop laden with the memorabilia of a previous decade in the limelight. And yes, they often perform here in Hollywoodland throughout the day, as well.
Just up the road from the FF&P Café, you’ll find a beautiful Streamline Moderne building. Within the blue glass walls and the orange-tinted entrance mural, you’ll find the familiar faces and silhouettes of many a beloved Disney character. Below the vertical marquee, a rotating filmstrip features a gradually-moving image of Mickey Mouse. It is clear that this building is inviting you to explore the ever-fascinating world of Disney Animation. One of the most beautiful, and most interesting, experiences in all the Magic Kingdom, Disney Animation is our firsthand glimpse into the secret world of the Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.
There’s so much to see and do at Disney Animation, but first, let’s talk about something that happens outside the building. At certain points throughout the day, three animators take their craft to the streets of Hollywoodland and invite guests to be Drawn to the Magic. In this show, we join three animators as they invite guests to see how they get inspiration for their drawings; each one focusing on a certain kind of character: heroes, princesses and magical friends. Three volunteers are even brought up to help them out by posing a certain way. Then, after a medley of songs from the Disney films, the sketches they've been working on are revealed, and in a true bit of magic, the character they’ve sketched appears before our very eyes! After the show, guests are even invited to meet the characters inside the Disney Animation building’s lobby or right outside nearby the animators’ easels – a perfect photo-op if you ask me!
And by the way, the three characters in the show are as follows: Representing the heroes, Woody. Representing the princesses, Cinderella. And representing the magical friends, who else but Sorcerer Mickey. In addition, other heroes and princesses have been known to drop in on one occasion, if Woody and Cinderella can’t make it to a particular performance. So, for the heroes, Hercules and Peter Pan are on stand-by; and for the princesses, Snow White and Belle are on stand-by.
Entering the building, we pass by a curved wall in which “Once upon a time…” is inscribed in gold lettering. Once inside the well-sized building, we are greeted by the breathtaking Animation Lobby. Inside this gorgeous place, a number of gargantuan screens convey the clips, music, stills and sketches of the Disney Animated Canon and the Pixar Canon. The films date back from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Peter Pan, all the way up to current films like Tangled and Encanto. The loop here at Hollywoodland, first put into service for the 100th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company, is a combination both the old (pre-2011) and new (post-2011) loops found at the Disney Animation building at Disney-Universal Studios, with a few new additions added, as well.
Here’s a brief overview of what this loop would feature, listing the films that will appear, and the music that will play underneath each film…
This indoor courtyard is our “hub” for the varied wings of the sprawling exhibition. There are four major components of the Disney Animation building, and we shall explore them, going from left to right. First, directly to our left is the Animation Academy. In this magical classroom, learn to draw a beloved Disney character with a hands-on lesson from a Disney artist.
Right next door to the Animation Academy is Character Close-Up. What Disney animation exhibit wouldn’t be complete without the chance to meet a beloved Disney character? Well, there are so many beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios, it’s impossible to decide which ones to have meeting guests here. What to do? Randomize, of course! In this colorful meet-and-greet, you’ll get the chance to meet up with four randomized characters representing four time periods: The Golden Age (1930s/1940s), The Silver Age (1950s/1960s/1970s), The Renaissance (1980s/1990s) and The New Millennium (2000s/2010s/2020s). Every morning, a different movie from each time period is selected by a computer, and one or two characters from the film in question are scheduled for an all-day meet ‘n’ greet in the space, providing an experience that always proves to be different.
Linking all these separate time periods together are unique walls with projections on them. Behind each character is a specific projection area. In a style similar to what is seen in this video, the world of the character is sketched out right before our eyes and filled in with color (for example, Snow White would have the Dwarfs’ Cottage; Moana would have Motonui; Elsa would have either her ice palace or the Enchanted Forest). This adds for a nice visual for our meet-and-greets, almost as if we are stepping right into an animated world. Surrounding all these screens are more projections. As we wait for our turn to meet these beloved characters, pixie dust darts across the walls (via fiber optics) and familiar Disney characters are drawn before our eyes, also in the style of the video linked above.
Then, there’s the Sorcerer’s Workshop, a collection of three exhibits each focusing on a different aspect of bringing an animated character to life: development, voice and appearance. In the Magic Mirror’s Realm, we can create simple animation via spinning “reels”, create our own virtual portraits and mosaics, piece together our own Silly Symphony short or create an adventurous and romantic plot to their own animated film. There are also interactive exhibits teach how the principles of persistence of vision trick the eye into believing that still images are in motion, the most notable exhibit being the mesmerizing Toy Story Zoetrope, a constantly-spinning optical illusion that brings to life several sculptures of characters from the film(s). The stone walls reveal many of our favorite characters arranged by theme: Fairies and Spirits, Heroes and Villains, Mentors and Warriors.
The wise, talking portrait of the Magic Mirror points the path into Ursula’s Grotto, the eerie but humble abode of Ursula the Sea Witch. Rather than stealing our voice for her own benefit, Ursula allows us to do a bit of voiceover work, re-recording our own voices over classic scenes and songs from Disney animation. The adjoint Beast’s Library allows us to find our “Disney” self in a humorous quiz with Lumiere and Cogsworth. One of the most beautiful areas in the entire park, the Beast’s Library seems to stretch into the heavens, often falling into a state of disrepair before the displayed rose is restored and beauty and magic brighten the chamber.
An element from the original Disney Animation at Disney-Universal Studios, Back to Neverland is a classic film starring Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams, who gets transformed into a Lost Boy and fights alongside Captain Hook, in a demonstration of how hand-drawn animated films are made. In 2011, a sequel – “Back Again to Neverland” – was created to follow the original film, once again starring Robin Williams, but this time, narrated by Whoopi Goldberg and focusing on CGI animation. The film ends with a discussion from prominent animators and directors of Disney and Pixar, discussing what animation means to them, culminating in a moving montage featuring a highlight of clips from every film in the Disney Animated Canon, all set to a dramatic score of some of the best music from these movies.
When it comes time to leave, you head out past a wall similar to the one we passed when we entered, this time reading “...and they lived happily ever after.” Disney Animation exits out into the Off the Page store, which showcases merchandise from several classic animated Disney films.
The original Carthay Circle Theatre, built in 1926, played a significant role in the life of Walt Disney. His first feature-length film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered there in 1937 and, in 1941, groundbreaking stereophonic Fantasound was installed in the theatre for the West Coast premiere of Fantasia. The Carthay Circle Theatre of Hollywoodland, located across the street from Disney Animation, is in reflection of the romance and glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age, including references to the accomplishments of Walt Disney and his original animators. In fact, for this replica, the Imagineers studied the original floor plans and photographs down to the last detail, in order to make sure that the circular theater looked exactly like it did all those years ago. The theater makes use of orchestra and balcony seating and a pit for live musical accompaniment.
The first major production to be performed at the Carthay Circle Theatre when Hollywoodland opened in 1999 was Animazement, a show which brought together the characters and stories of the Disney Renaissance. Animazement came and went, and what replaced it? Well, what would a land themed around the glitz and glamour of Hollywood be without an awards ceremony?
The proud musical legacy of Disney is on full display as the Carthay Circle hosts The Golden Mickeys! Directed by acclaimed Broadway director Diane Paulus and choreographed by Maria Torres, The Golden Mickeys highlights achievements by various Disney characters in several different categories; represented, of course, through some of the most iconic songs to come from the Disney movies. Right from the get-go, the feeling of being at an awards ceremony hits you. The pathway that leads up to the theater is outfitted with a red carpet and banners. There’s no mistaking that a special event is about to take place. A velvet rope is set up a few feet away from the entrance doors. Behind this cordoned off area is a video camera. An announcement is made that Rona Rivers, famed red carpet hostess, will be interviewing guests as they arrive for the show. A beautiful woman in a gold evening gown arrives and begins her sound and camera checks. A display of the awards to be presented is set up behind her. As the special guests (a.k.a. us) arrive, Rona selects a few to interview. Each is asked what “designer” line they are wearing, who's their favorite Disney character and other “red carpet” questions. While this is fun to watch in person, you can see these interviews as they're broadcast inside the theater.
However, just as the music tunes up and the performance is about to begin, there’s a commotion backstage. The master of ceremonies has failed to appear, so a reluctant young stage manager named Chris (who, in this version of the show, is a genderfluid role) must take over hosting duties. The show follows the age old show biz tale of the star unable to perform with the understudy stepping into and shining in their role, ultimately realizing that anything is possible and dreams really do come true. What makes the show truly stand out is that it highlights many of the classic Disney films. In fact, there are fifteen Disney films represented in this 65-minute production – and that’s not even counting the hundreds of other films represented via movie clips and montages! To prove it, here’s a program detailing all the songs and films represented in the show…
And ever since the Carthay Circle Theatre opened, the Yuletide season has brought along a cherished classic: Mickey’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. In this festive revue, Clement C. Moore’s iconic holiday poem is given a Disney update, with Mickey and Minnie as the narrator and his wife, respectively, Goofy as St. Nick, as well as Pluto, Chip, Dale, and even Hyacinth Hippo from Fantasia in smaller roles. And the reason I call this show a “revue” is because it makes use of a wide and unique variety of Christmas tunes, including “We Need a Little Christmas”, “Santa Baby” and even Brian Setzer’s take on “Jingle Bells.” Making use of a boisterous ensemble, live musical accompaniment, and a few other special surprises, Mickey’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is definitely a high point in any Magic Kingdom holiday celebration.
At the northern end of Hollywood Boulevard splits off into the Grauman’s Chinese Theater Courtyard, a much needed expanded courtyard, surrounded with lush, green foliage and planted with lining palm trees. The surrounding area is lined with plains of grass, planted with bountiful trees, illuminated with twinkling LED lights. The courtyard is quite the common place for meet ‘n’ greets. Befitting the land’s status as a land themed around Hollywood, the usual faces you can find here are Mickey and the gang, as well as the stars of Disney Channel and Disney Junior
Standing before us is the shining star of Hollywoodland: a life-size replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The Chinese Theatre is one of the most famous in all of Hollywood, a theater which has hosted dozens of award shows and numerous movie premieres. It is truly the icon of all of the glitz and glamour that Hollywood could imply. The theater has hosted dozens of award shows and numerous movie premieres, including two Disney films: Mary Poppins in 1964 and The Jungle Book in 1967, souvenirs from which you can find in window displays. Outside of the theater, instrumental musical pieces from well-known movies play.
The actual Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles had been studied to be re-created and detailed in exact appearance here in Hollywoodland. Not only was the exterior of the Theater created, but even the forecourt was created, having actual celebrity handprints and spurting fountains along the rim of the Theater. In fact, this Chinese Theatre is so detailed, searchlights wave proudly behind it at night. Having celebrities arrive to place their handprints has been a time-honored tradition of Hollywoodland ever since Opening Day. Some of the first additions include Alan Alda, Liza Minnelli and Danny DeVito, and some of the more modern additions include the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Meryl Streep and Channing Tatum.
“Ready when you are, C.B.!”
Inside the theater, we can take The Great Movie Ride, a 25-minute guided dark ride through the history of cinema, cataloging and bringing to life some of the greatest stories ever told. Brimming with excitement, we enter the lavish movie palace and into a lobby filled with iconic props and posters of the silver screen; Dorothy’s ruby slippers, the Ark of the Covenant, Mary Poppins’ carousel horse. An inspired collection of trailers and scenes of classic cinema lead to a soundstage held beneath the Hollywoodland Sign at twilight. Here we board a “traveling theater” for a guided, immersive tour through the world of cinematic history.
The Great Movie Ride employs the use of Audio-Animatronic figures, practical sets, live actors, projections and special effects in a 25-minute experience. Along the way, we pass screen legends in their most iconic roles; a tableau of film in a timeless snapshot, from one movie to the next. And at one point, we become part of the action when a gangster shootout leads a mug named Mugsy to hijack our car! The finale, of course, brings all the films together in a moving montage of what else, but great movies… Such featured films include Titanic, High Noon, Singin’ in the Rain and The Wizard of Oz.
If you need to take a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of Hollywoodland, then take a quiet stroll through the Eastern Gardens. This is a tranquil and gorgeous garden nestled alongside the left side of the Chinese Theatre and into the Hollywoodland Hills, which serve as the street’s backdrop. Under the hill’s uneven letters reading HOLLYWOODLAND are the garden’s walking paths, bridges, streams, pagodas, and waterfalls that serve as a break from the ever-frantic pulse of Tinseltown. Nestled in the shadow of the Hollywoodland Hills, guests will find the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant, a lavish restaurant modeled after the truly iconic location. The restaurant is famously known for its Cobb salad, which was apparently Sid Grauman’s favorite snack after he had undergone some dental work. The restaurant features wonderful meals, while completely re-inventing the iconic restaurant, which even includes the classic Bamboo Room, modeled after the VIP Space.
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And that's where we'll stop for now. There's still plenty more to see and do here in Hollywoodland, and I intend to show it to you on Saturday, November 12, so stay tuned for that!
The idea for the Eastern Gardens was one borrowed from an elaborate pre-Galaxy's Edge/Toy Story Land concept a fan devised for a revitalized Hollywood Studios, as seen on Theme Park Tourist. "Back Again to Neverland" comes from @MANEATINGWREATH and his Dream Disney Resort thread; and the land itself was largely inspired by what he did for the earlier versions of Mirror Disneyland. And I should point out, the idea to have the handprint ceremonies continue well on into the land's existence comes from an idea from a revitalized Great Movie Ride concept we had back on the Visions Fantastic forums of old, devised by @comics101, @Snoopy, as well as FutureImagineer and Monkey4057.
Actually, you guys, they won't be in The Great Movie Ride. I technically already revealed this back in the Halloween post, but both Roger Rabbit and The Muppets will be having their own separate attractions in Hollywoodland, so they'll still get some park representation here in Mirror Walt Disney World.
Oh, man. I want to see Roger Rabbit and Muppets gets representation in The Great Movie Ride so bad. Anyways, is Roger Rabbit's Runaway Trolley will gonna have many Toon cameos appear during the ride, and what Toon cameos aka Disney characters we will also gonna see non-Disney characters like Bugs Bunny, Betty Boop, Popeye, etc...
Well, to be frank, if I ever describe what Universal Orlando is like in a Mirror universe where, as @MANEATINGWREATH established, Universal Orlando didn't open until 2005, I think Warner Bros. would be siding more with them than they would with Disney. Wizarding World opens there, as I mentioned earlier, and I'm honestly intrigued by a "second gate" that's a cross between Epic Universe and the original "Cartoon World." So, sadly, much like with Car Toon Spin, no Warner Bros./outside studio cameos. Sorry.
And now, here is the final land of the Magic Kingdom!
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Tomorrowland
Imagine, if you will, a vision of the future with its roots in the past… In this kinetic metropolis of tomorrow, the hope and promise for a better future have seamlessly clashed with the color and imagination of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon. Amidst landed spacecrafts, whirring contraptions, and bizarre creatures from the darkest reaches of known space, the “future that never was” is finally here!
Volcanic rock formations mark the entrance to Tomorrowland, hissing steam from leagues beneath the earth… Misshapen rocks and sparkling crystals protrude from the waters below, undulating with an ethereal, almost alien glow. As a rusted placard decrees, these supernatural formations were uncovered just centuries before, the last relics of a vanished sentient race. The crystals have only begun to glow as of late, a supposed beacon for the return of their creators to Earth, sending a message far out into the deepest reaches of space that Earth is finally an advanced enough civilization that it could begin accepting visits from extraterrestrials. As always, we enter the land via bridge; only, our bridge here is built from the half-submerged wreckage of a flying saucer crashed into the river.
When we step foot inside this immense metropolis, we’ll find ourselves in an advanced, “modernized” spaceport of the 24th Century, as made clear by the seamless blend of chrome, iron and metal, washed in hues of blues and purples - not to mention video advertisements produced by the city to describe their “reinvention.” Outlandish, ominous, and wholeheartedly bizarre, Tomorrowland blends the pulp Deco-Tech aesthetic of 1920s and 1930s science-fiction with the color, neon and imagination of tomorrow’s utopia. Here, everyday living is improved through curious science, oddball inventions and intergalactic travel… Robots, space aliens, and human inventors – fictional or otherwise – work, live, and play here in perfect harmony. In fact, so renowned and advanced is Tomorrowland that it was chosen to serve as the headquarters for the League of Planets, an organization devoted to promoting peace among the various galaxies in the universe.
When we step into Tomorrowland, we’ll be entering Rockettower Plaza, the aptly titled “Civic Center of Interstellar Citizenship.” Rockettower Plaza is the hub of Tomorrowland, where all the major places of work and play are in the city. Beyond Rockettower Plaza are the “Hover-Burbs”, where the citizens of Tomorrowland live. In fact, the Contemporary Resort is even woven into the area – in Tomorrowland, the Contemporary is known as “Perfect Park Acres, the latest in Hover-Burb Communities.” Here in Rockettower Plaza, there couldn’t have been a better time for us to visit. You see, we’ve arrived in Tomorrowland just in time for the Galaxy’s Fair, where all forms of life gather together to show off the latest technological breakthroughs.
Beneath the soaring highways of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and the towering arches of this bustling community, we venture down the Avenue of Planets, the “Main Street” of science fiction. Kinetic sculptures, video walls, and electronic advertisements portray the innovation and mystique of “tomorrow”, with nonsensical gadgets to save on human labor. Storefront windows display robots performing household chores, a la Horizons. In the vast promenade at the end of the Avenue of Planets, a sleek, streamlined rocket, The Explorer, points to the stars, readied for a launch into some far-off system beyond sight and sound. The narrow “mall” of the Avenue of Planets features an attraction on either side: To the left, The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. To the right, The Timekeeper.
The Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center welcomes visitors to experience the latest in scientific innovation and design from the various corporate leagues of the known universe. Within these walls, we are introduced to the genius, alien minds behind X-S Tech. Once again, we serve as “lucky volunteers” to “seize the future” with X-S and catch a glimpse at their latest invention: the X-S 2000 Teleportation System. One awry presentation after another results in an unforgettable encounter…
A botched transmission results in the accidental arrival of a bloodthirsty creature from another planet… Angered, hungry, and confused, the alien monster breaks loose from the teleportation tube, causing horrific chaos in the now-darkened viewing chamber. Gnashing fangs, warm breath, hot drool, shattering glass, splattering blood, and a slimy, foreign tongue are among the extrasensory thrills encountered in this, the scariest and decidedly “most adult” attraction in the Magic Kingdom. Like it or not, The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter is here to scare...uh, I mean “stay”.
In 2002, it was announced that the show would undergo a re-casting in the wake of … well, something rather terrible regarding Jeffrey Jones, the actor who played X-S Tech chairman L.C. Clench. Kelsey Grammer took up the reins as Clench, and John Michael Higgins took up the role of Spinlok. Kathy Najimy retained her role as Dr. Femus and Tim Curry was retained as S.I.R., the robotic pre-show host. This new casting debuted on October 12, 2003.
The Interplanetary Convention Center hosting Alien Encounter exits into the iconic Merchants of Venus, a retro-futuristic bazaar in which aliens, humans and robots alike are invited to trade, sell and offer their wares from across the universe. In-store murals depict a side of Tomorrowland not seen to us - soaring skyscrapers, bustling highways, and floating suburbs. Not but a few feet from Merchants of Venus is The Space Place, a smaller shop offering wares themed around Disney’s sci-fi library.
Across the way from The Space Place are two quick-service eating options. First is Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies, an ice-cream shop neighboring Merchants of Venus. Inside, we can try some of the finest ice cream and some of the most succulent smoothies in the whole galaxy. Oh, and by the way, the source of ice cream here in Tomorrowland? The Milky Way, of course! Then, there is The Lunching Pad, a counter-service location offering sandwiches, chicken nuggets, chips, salads, punch, desserts and other snacks. It also has a full salad bar with all sorts of toppings and dressings for your sandwiches or salads. The PeopleMover passes right through the restaurant on its way to Space Mountain.
The late, great Robin Williams posthumously provides his voice to the title character of The Timekeeper, the finest in CircleVision 360 entertainment that has long been forgotten in the Disney theme park universe. Today, The Timekeeper has received an update for a new generation, featuring a new, high-definition, seamless CircleVision film (while the scenes remain the same to accommodate the Robin Williams/Rhea Perlmann dialogue; they’re all new and reshot; even the Jules Verne actor is different) with new in-theater effects and magic. Entering the Metropolis Science Centre sends us far forward into the future where robots in the likeliness of Timekeeper and 9-Eye are able to exist, the dream of many a classic futurist come true. What ensues next is a 360 degree trip through time and space, all the while accompanied by an unintentionally “kidnapped” Jules Verne who experiences many ideas in which he wrote about coming into fruition.
In 1972, If You Had Wings came in for a landing in Tomorrowland. This Eastern Airlines-sponsored Omnimover attraction captured the sensation of flight, and became an immediate favorite. Alas, it only operated for ten years, closing in 1982 for fear of redundancy with EPCOT’s forthcoming World Above pavilion. In 1984, TRON: Escape the Grid opened, using the same Omnimover system. This operated for over 30 years, finally closing in 2018. Why did it close? Well, it was all to make way for another new attraction…
Further down the street from the Avenue of Planets is the Tomorrowland Exhibition Hall. Today, as part of the Galaxy’s Fair happening in Tomorrowland, the Nova Corps, peaceful representatives of the planet Xandar, who also double as the planet’s police force, have elected to use a pavilion to tell the people of Earth about Xandar, and to hopefully establish a peaceful connection with Earthlings. Thus, within the walls of the Exhibition Hall is the Galaxarium, which will not only give people a glimpse of the universe, but also give them hyperspeed access to Xandar. Alas, those plans are derailed as the presentation is interrupted by Eson, a celestial being who, taking after the Mad Titan, wants to remove all of humanity from the universe. So, the Nova Corps must call on the Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket, Drax and Groot to arrive on “Terra” (what we call Earth) in the nick of time to save humanity from the threat of immediate extinction…again.
Hopping aboard a fast-moving Starjumper, we careen through intergalactic mayhem from all ends of the universe, as one of Star-Lord’s “Awesome Mix” tapes blasts a classic tune. These Starjumpers have been specifically spruced up by Rocket, in order to follow Eson from jump point to jump point, from one corner of the universe to the next…and even all the way back to the Big Bang!
An incredible motion simulator adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened on January 27, 2021, after an astonishing three years of construction and development. The ride utilizes the simulators that once took guests to a galaxy far, far away on Star Tours, which were moved over here to save costs. In fact, the reason why TRON closed in 2018 was so they could start gutting the building ahead of time, so they could move the simulators in with no problems. The experience exits out into Treasures of Xandar, selling any and all merchandise themed around Guardians of the Galaxy.
After Tomorrowland underwent its refurbishment and became New Tomorrowland in 1994, the original atmospheric music changed to reflect a mixture of modern electro-synthetic musical impressions, interwoven with recognizable themes from Disney’s many film productions and former attractions from Tomorrow’s past. The atmospheric music of Tomorrowland carries into the Merchants of Venus and beyond, even while waiting at the station of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. The TTA PeopleMover soars through the second story of Tomorrowland, traveling through the various attractions and pavilions. Aboard the PeopleMover, we can preview almost every attraction in either land, then come back later to see the whole show.
The magnificent Astro Orbiter stands proudly in the heart of Rockettower Plaza, a creation of the League of Planets themselves. Seeming to have been borrowed from the pages of a Buck Rogers comic book, the Astro Orbiter is our chance to maneuver a personal rocket on an airborne series of revolutions held high above the streets of Tomorrowland from an elevated platform, sat directly above the TTA station. The streamlined craft of The Explorer sits adjacent to the planets, cogs and contraptions of the Astro Orbiter, acting as a secondary “weenie” to the fantastical attraction. Rocket pilots are invited to dance, float and sail through the air in conjunction with the Astro Orbiter via 16 mechanical arms.
With the advent of New Tomorrowland in 1994 came an all-new elevated walkway, connecting the Astro Orbiter to a few new vantage points in Tomorrowland. This eliminated the need for the escalator up, and a new queue was set up along the walkway. Built into the base of the TTA station is the Space Bar, specializing in non-alcoholic cocktails with an intergalactic twist. At night, these drinks glow thanks to special, glowing ice cubes, blending in beautifully with the neon lights of Tomorrowland.
Built directly behind Rockettower Plaza is a unique restaurant: Cosmic Ray’s Starliner Diner. This is a unique take on a table-service restaurant here in the Magic Kingdom. Let’s just say it’s not every day you get to have a meal inside a flying saucer! Yes, Cosmic Ray sets up shop from within his giant flying saucer, which has docked right here in Tomorrowland. In fact, it overlooks the land almost as much as the iconic Space Mountain! Much like Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain, a prominent escalator leads guests up into the dining room within the saucer. After checking in with the concierge service by the entrance of Space Mountain, guests will be free to wander until paged on their phone or led straight to the escalators. After a short ride up, the doors will open welcoming guests to the Starliner Diner.
Looking towards the center of Tomorrowland, guests are greeted by sloping windows that reach towards the ceiling. The windows themselves are regular windows augmented with projection technology. Over the course of their dining experience, guests will witness rockets launching and landing in the distance, robots traveling through the sky, and other strange sights. The window supports sport a modern medal look with inset lights. The Starliner Diner itself looks like a trendy, high-class nightclub, or the futuristic alien equivalent of such. The food offered is served in a style similar to Garden Grill, wherein the various entrees and sides are served all at the same time in a family-style platter. Now, of course, it wouldn’t be a nightclub without entertainment, and luckily, Cosmic Ray brought along an old friend…
Sonny Eclipse, the “biggest little star in the galaxy!” His 27-minute set of tunes – and wisecracks – has been enjoyed by diners multiple times a day since the Starliner Diner opened in 1994. This literal “lounge lizard” tickles the glowing keys of his Astro-Organ, an invention devised in his hometown of Yew Nork City on the Planet Zork, “a topsy-turvy town where the subways are up and the streets are down.” Sonny’s favorite songs include “Planetary Boogie,” “Gravity Blues,” “Bright Little Star” and more. “You know, I recently heard the universe was expanding. Guess it’s time to loosen the asteroid belt!”
Speaking of aliens, at Close Encounters located nearby, you can meet up with everyone's favorite alien, Stitch, as well as his ohana: Lilo, Angel, Jumba and Pleakley. Other such visitors to Tomorrowland include Buzz Lightyear, Mickey and the gang in snazzy astronaut suits, and even WALL-E and EVE! But they aren’t the only characters you can meet here. There’s also PUSH, the Talking Trash Can. Yes, here in Tomorrowland, even the trash cans can talk, and this guy loves rolling about, striking up conversations with unsuspecting visitors.
Down the road from Cosmic Ray’s is a circular pavilion, the contribution of the Tomorrowland Progress Initiative, a group dedicated to the progress we have made, and a source of inspiration for what may come next. A step inside their pavilion takes us on a trip through time and space aboard Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, one of the most seminal shows in Disney Parks history. Starting at the turn-of-the-century, we meet up with everyone’s favorite Audio-Animatronic family – father John, mother Sarah, daughter Gracie, son James, second daughter Louise, Grandma, Grandpa, faithful dog Rover and, of course, Cousin Orville – who showcase the latest breakthroughs in home-based technology. As the show continues, we step forward in time to the next generation of progress, then the next, and the next, until finally, we see how far progress has traveled into the future and how it may have an effect on our everyday lives. Delighting guests ever since its debut at the 1964 World’s Fair, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is a perfect reminder that there's always a “great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.”
Of course, the show has received multiple updates over the years, the most recent taking place in 2021, in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. Although the scenes have changed, the biggest change of all involves a new post-show.
Much like the World’s Fair original, the post-show involves guests heading up to the second floor of the Carousel Theater to take a gander at Progress City. The model, which at one point was only visible if you rode the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, has been fully restored to its original glory. In fact, it was originally going to be part of the 1975 original Magic Kingdom version – they even outfitted the exit theater with the beginnings of the escalator up to the viewing area, set up an exit ramp, and gave the theater a dome in the style of the original 1964 Carousel Theater (and let me tell you, it wasn’t difficult to blend that dome in with the styles of New Tomorrowland in 1994) – but alas, budget cuts cut that part out, and a curtain hung over that escalator for nearly 50 years.
In-between Cosmic Rewind and the Carousel of Progress is a newly-expanded section of Tomorrowland. In the late 1980s, the original Tomorrowland Stage was razed in order to make way for more experiences for guests to experience, the first of which was a certain E-ticket known as Star Tours. Star Tours, which opened on December 15, 1989, was inspired by the classic Star Wars films, and was the first ever attraction to use flight simulator technology. Aboard the StarSpeeder 3000, the rookie pilot Rex would take passengers on a harrowing flight into deep space, encountering icy comets and deadly TIE Fighters, all before destroying an inexplicable third Death Star. The large, multi-tiered “Spaceport” quickly became one of the Magic Kingdom’s biggest hotspots, garnering long lines day after day. Plus, when work began on New Tomorrowland in the early 1990s, it fit theming like a glove, so win-win! In 2011, a new ride film debuted: Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, which utilized a randomized technology system, so that guests could be taken to new places in the Star Wars universe. No two rides were the same!
However, that all changed once an entire land based on Star Wars was announced to be coming to the Magic Kingdom; and thus, that means Star Tours would end up taking its final flight in 2019, just a few weeks after Galaxy’s Edge opened. Work soon began on an all-new attraction with an all-new ride system; an attraction which would premiere on April 26, 2021, two years after the release date of Avengers: Endgame.
The Star Tours Terminal has turned into the headquarters of the Stark Expo, which offers an all-access look into the company’s legacy of changing the world for the better, before introducing the ground-breaking technology that will shape our future. Displayed are innumerable Stark innovations that will change and improve our home today and the visionary thinking that will transform our entire world tomorrow.
The Stark Expo is divided into several exhibition halls. In the Hall of Protection, we glimpse a number of Iron Man and War Machine suits, including the famous MARK III suit and other leading advancements in the sphere of defense. The Hall of Energy details how an arc reactor could provide enough clean and sustainable energy to power an entire city. But the piece de resistance is the display in the Hall of Mobility: the latest technological masterpiece from Stark Industries – the gravity-defying Iron Bike. However, the demonstration is interrupted by the sudden arrival of either Nick Fury or Maria Hill. They warn us that Thanos has completed the Infinity Gauntlet, and must be stopped before he wipes half the universe out of existence! In order to do that, we must jump aboard our own Iron Bike and join the fight and save the universe from an existential nightmare! What follows is one of the Magic Kingdom’s most thrilling adventures: Avengers United!
The way you could describe this could be as a “hybrid attraction.” You see, Avengers United uses the same modified Soarin’ system Flight of Passage uses in our current Walt Disney World (hence why we use Iron Bikes); and it also uses the randomized simulator technology of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. In this rousing 3D E-ticket simulator, we rotor through an interstellar Kree battle over Tomorrowland. Thanos, the Mad Titan himself, oversees from his hover-throne. With his Infinity Gauntlet, able to wield absolute power over all aspects of existence, Thanos banishes recruits on a randomized journey: to the original Battle of New York; alongside Captain America in WWII; into the cosmos with the Guardians of the Galaxy; in the Bifrost with Thor; shrunken in the Quantum Realm with Ant-Man; a trip through the Multiverse of Madness with Doctor Strange; defending Wakanda alongside Black Panther; fighting the Kree alongside Captain Marvel in 1995; et cetera! Finally all Avengers unite to thrillingly defeat Thanos!
But a thrilling excursion on Avengers United is only the half of what you can do here at the Stark Expo. When Star Tours closed, Disney decided to take the initiative to expand the building to include more Marvel experiences. So, while the first floor contains the queue for Avengers United, you’ll also find Avengers Academy, a spiritual successor to the Jedi Training Academy, where all hopeful heroes can train alongside the Avengers. It seems only fitting that the Hall of Armor take up residence next door, allowing children the chance to transform into their favorite hero or heroine.
The Hall of Fame is found in the same complex as the Stark Expo. The Hall of Fame is somewhat of a Marvel fan supercenter, with unique merchandise and rare comic-books. The Hall of Fame also offers us a glimpse at a large, revolving globe portraying the birthplace, origin and power of each recorded Avenger and villain. In this expansive museum and tribute to “Earth’s Greatest Heroes,” we discover one detailed exhibition after the next in honor of almost every hero in the Marvel Canon – Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Black Panther, Scarlet Witch, Vision, the Fantastic Four, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange – everyone is here, even Deadpool.
Of course, the Stark Expo is the place where we can meet some of our favorite heroes and villains from across all points of time, including, but not limited to: Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Loki, Mighty Thor (Jane Foster), Black Widow (both Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova), Hawkeye (both Clint Barton and Kate Bishop), Taskmaster, Spider-Man, Captain America (both Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson), the Winter Soldier, Doctor Strange, Wong, America Chavez, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Agatha Harkness, Ant-Man, the Wasp, Shang-Chi, Death Dealer, Black Panther (both T’Challa and Shuri), M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje, Moon Knight, Mr. Knight, Werewolf by Night, Elsa Bloodstone, Captain Marvel, and three members of the Eternals: Sersi, Kingo and Phastos.
On the second floor of the Expo Center is Expo Gifts, epicenter of all Marvel merchandise, with gadgets and comic-books for available purchase. This is, naturally, where Avengers United exits out into. Also within this shop is Officer Zzyzx, an alien who works for the Expo Center and who oversees the shop. He is known to interact with shoppers and passers-by, and – given that he’s almost-always awaiting lunch break – always recommends guests visit what lies right across the way…
Across from the Expo Center is the two-story visage of the galaxy’s number-one source for “pie in the sky”: the Pan-Galactic Pizza Port! When Cosmic Ray’s table-service eatery opened, and the Tomorrowland Terrace closed to make way for the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall, that left Tomorrowland without a counter-service restaurant (The Lunching Pad wouldn’t open until 1998). So, the Imagineers decided to bring this extraterrestrial hot-spot into the picture. The restaurant, a clone from Tokyo Disneyland, is a multimedia dinner show with an Audio-Animatronics alien named Tony Solaroni. Solaroni is the charismatic mechanic behind a large machine that delivers pizza anywhere in the galaxy. However, it’s not an easy task, given that the machine is prone to breaking down, and given that Solaroni has a boss, Mr. Foosano, and a wife, known only as “Mrs. Solaroni”, who are always breathing down his neck. The restaurant’s pizza includes all our favorite flavors, and some unique “extraterrestrial” varieties.
Next door is the Trimaxion Space Facility, named after the legendary craft featured in Flight of the Navigator, the place where guests can explore The Mysterious Galaxy. The Mysterious Galaxy is an alternative space adventure for those who can’t yet board – or refuse to board – Space Mountain. In Tomorrowland, space travel is as common as a trip to the store. Pretty much anyone can set off to explore the galaxy! As such, we are invited to take off on a journey that would put IMAX to shame. Captain Tom Morrow is our host as we blast off to explore the Solar System and beyond, and facing such events as the heat of the Sun, traversing through the asteroid belt, jumps through hyperspace and a brief glimpse at what lies beyond the Milky Way. And it’s all scored to a specially-arranged version of Gustav Holst’s famous suite “The Planets”, to add another level of majesty to this spaceflight. And the technical side of the attraction is nothing to scoff at, either! Utilizing a special domed theater, in order to fully immerse guests in the beauty of space, in-theater effects, including shaking, KUKA-esque seats, and the largest seamless projection screen ever used in a Disney production, The Mysterious Galaxy truly is an adventure unlike any other!
Back outside in Rockettower Plaza, we find that night has fallen on our day at the Magic Kingdom. Tomorrowland is perhaps the most striking of all lands in the Magic Kingdom after dark - the city is awash in hues of neon and color reflecting off the metallic spires, twisted arches and jagged rocks. Bizarre, near-Avatar-like plant-life is aglow in fluorescent light. Triumphant orchestrations from classic films reminiscent of the space age fill the air both day and night, inspiring us to dream bigger and go further with our ideas and our adventurous spirit. The landed spacecrafts, varied robots and techno-rhythms emulate an omnipresent sense of living, breathing energy throughout the land. In a way, the ominous yet romantic lights of this retro-futuristic world recall not the far-off future of our own imagination, but instead the far-off future of the early 20th Century.
Approaching the farthest eastern edge of the Magic Kingdom, overhead highways of the PeopleMover whisk by as we approach the entrance of StarPort 75, home to one of Walt Disney World’s most iconic rides: Space Mountain. In this unknown and dangerous frontier, we navigate through a futuristic, glowing space station as you make your way to Mission Control, home of the launch pad for your journey to the farthest realms of space. Upon our arrival, we board our very own sleek spaceship and prepare for a daring adventure into the unknown. Upon blasting off, what follows is a wild roller coaster ride through the deepest banks of space, all the while evading and fighting back against asteroids and black holes; a ride featuring unexpected drops, tight turns, strange special effects, as well as some surprise encounters, an attraction truly meant for those of an older age. Come nightfall, Space Mountain provides an ethereal glow from within, a beacon for those viewing Tomorrowland from the Central Plaza and beyond.
Ah, but don’t think it will be the same old ride that you remember going on as a kid. Just like how Disneyland’s Space Mountain got a refresh for their 50th anniversary, so too has Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain. Our own @montydysquith-navarro came up with many amazing ways to improve Walt Disney World’s signature thrill ride, almost all of which are on display here at Mirror Walt Disney World: a completely replaced coaster track to allow for a smoother ride experience; newly-redesigned ride vehicles, redesigned for more guest comfortability and addition of SOBATs/synchronized onboard audio tracks; enhancements to the lighting and projection systems inside the dome; the addition of new story elements that will be unique to each track – specifically, randomized “encounters” with various celestial bodies interacting with the track done through projection domes/screens a la Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (as it opened in our real-life EPCOT, of course); and a redesigned “wormhole” re-entry tunnel to the redesigned unload platform, which finally resembles the loading platform. Now, I say “almost all”, because monty proposed a new attraction score from Pinar Toprak, the composer of Captain Marvel and “The EPCOT Anthem”...which, honestly, I wouldn’t go with. Honestly, I’d personally restore Dick Dale’s iconic score that entertained Disneyland guests from 1996 to 2003 – a surf guitar version of “Aquarium” from Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~The time has come. As the exit music to Happily Ever After comes to a close, you might notice the Sensational Six at the train station’s balcony, waving goodbye to us. They normally stay on the balcony for about ten to fifteen minutes before retiring for the night. However, don’t think you need to leave just as soon as the fireworks end. Main Street, U.S.A. stays open a half-hour after park close, so guests can get one last snack in or grab a last-minute item from the shops. But for many Disney fans, it is what happens at the end of this extra half-hour that something truly special happens…
The Kiss Goodnight is one of the Magic Kingdom’s most underrated surprises, and it is a truly moving event. This simple audio farewell – climaxing with a choral version of “When You Wish Upon a Star” similar to what was performed on Dedication Day – framed against the simple lighting package of Cinderella Castle, is a quiet, yet understated, way to say goodbye to the Most Magical Place on Earth. With the Kiss Goodnight having ended, we head back down Main Street, through those magic tunnels, and find ourselves on the edge of Seven Seas Lagoon once more, our day at the Magic Kingdom complete.
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That was Tomorrowland, the final land of the Magic Kingdom! What did you think? Later tonight, I'll post a recap list featuring every attraction, restaurant, shop, entertainment option and character greeting place in the Magic Kingdom; and that will conclude our time in the Magic Kingdom. After today, I'm going to be going on another brief hiatus, because I've got a very busy schedule the rest of this week. But, join me on Monday, November 21, when we'll begin our tour of EPCOT! See you then!
Once again, I must extend credit to Ideal Buildout for the idea to expand Tomorrowland beyond the old Galaxy Palace Theater space; credit to @Disneylover152, @FireMountain, @James G., @TheDesignPirate, @NateD1226, @Outbound and @Voxel, whose Atomic Lounge concept served as a huge inspiration for Cosmic Ray's Starliner Diner; as well as credit to @D Hulk, the creator of the incredible Avengers United attraction, and @MANEATINGWREATH, from whom I borrowed the Avengers United queue and the Hall of Fame. And once again, I absolutely must credit @montydysquith-navarro, who created that refurbished Space Mountain for the final Sorcerer's Warmup in Season 7: Fantasmic Journeys I named second-place in that round. With that in mind, I knew I had to work it into MWDW, somehow. Truth be told, I wanted to include it in the original MWDW, but I never got around to including it.
I did done my timeline of Disney-MGM Studios/Disney-Warner Bros. Studios., but I need to do holiday overlay for the park like Halloween and Christmas. So you can check my timeline for the park here: