What was the 1971 version of Peter Pan's Flight like?

[Clover Bailey]

Many rides like Snow White and the Haunted Mansion are famous for what they were like back in the
70's - 90's, but what about Peter Pan? I've checked online and found nothing about the original version. Was it the same as the current ride or was it a lot different.

 

[marni1971]

Very much the same.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Not sure much as really changed. Not a bad thing either.

 

[marni1971]

No Peter pan in it, you were him.

You're thinking of Snow Whites Adventures.

 

[Luxe]

All the Fantasyland dark rides put you as the main character.

You sure about that? I specifically remember seeing Snow White multiple times throughout the entire ride but I could be wrong.

 

[stevehousse]

You sure about that? I specifically remember seeing Snow White multiple times throughout the entire ride but I could be wrong.

The original version of Snow White ride was that you were Snow White and she was no where in it. And the evil queen pops up behind every corner scaring people! Lol

After years of complaints, they updated the ride to tone down on the evil queen appearances, and add Snow White in!

 

[Prog]

Many rides like Snow White and the Haunted Mansion are famous for what they were like back in the
70's - 90's, but what about Peter Pan? I've checked online and found nothing about the original version. Was it the same as the current ride or was it a lot different.

What major differences were in the Haunted Mansion between 1971 and 2003, aside from the attic?

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

You're thinking of Snow Whites Adventures.

I was under the same impression as the other posters. That all of the Fantasyland dark rides were missing the main character, since you were meant to be them. Was it really only SWA?

 

[Clover Bailey]

You sure about that? I specifically remember seeing Snow White multiple times throughout the entire ride but I could be wrong.

You are thinking of the modern Snow White ride. The original one didn't have her since you were seeing the ride through her perspective. People complained about her absence and so she was added.

 

[marni1971]

All the Fantasyland dark rides put you as the main character.

Only in Disneyland. Not Orlando.

Disneylands Pan didn't receive an animated figure of Pan until 1983. Orlando had one since 1971.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Mr Toad also seemed to indicate you were playing the role of Toad himself, I don't believe he actually appears in the ride at all (except in statues or portraits). Makes sense given the fact that you're the one driving like a maniac and end up getting killed and sent to hell. Snow White also lacked the main character until 1994, when it was closed for an extensive rebuild to add in Snow herself and make it somewhat closer to the Disneyland/Paris versions.

I don't think Peter Pan has ever changed though, I didn't visit prior to the 90's but i've never heard of any substantial changes to the show scenes being done to WDW's version. I do think Disneyland's got an overhaul in 1983 with their New Fantasyland, but Orlando's is still very dated to the 70's.

What major differences were in the Haunted Mansion between 1971 and 2003, aside from the attic?

The beginning scenes had most of the major differences.

1- The first long hallway after load was different. Currently this hallway has windows on the left side and portraits on the right wall. Lightning flashes from the windows which causes the portraits to morph into spooky imagery. But previously this was a windowless hall, both sides were lined with a ton eerie looking portraits. The eyes in these portraits followed you and glowed evilly.

2- The "Escher Stair" scene (the one now lined with abstract upside down and sideways staircases and mirrors) was a very dark room with more ordinary stairs. There were some rather large spider webs in the room with some also very large spiders in them.

3- Leota's scene is largely the same, but her ball didn't used to float and was fixed to the table.

4- The attic had some changes and was somewhat scarier. Instead of portraits where the groom heads disappear, there were very loud jack in the box ghosts that would pop out of boxes to startle people. Much like the ones still in the graveyard (though much noisier). The bride was also substantially different. The bride has actually changed several times over the years. But she never spoke in any prior version, she just silently held a candle and leered at guests with glowing eyes and a visible glowing beating heart. Her original face was apparently visible and skull-like, but early on she was changed to have a dark non-visible face. You can see the multiple brides used in this image (the second one is the one I grew up with and my personal pick for its subtle "fear of the unknown" style of creepiness)-

Tokyo Disneyland's version of HM by the way is pretty much an exact clone of Orlando's original, they have also yet to give Tokyo the 2007 stateside alterations. So you can find new videos on youtube of Tokyo's that are a lot more visible than old recordings of Orlando's if you want an idea of what it was like, thanks to the light capabilities of modern cameras.

 

[Prog]

Well I knew most of that, but I was wondering if there were any major changes prior to the big refurb that included the lame-ing of the attic.
From what I've read, this is the third major version of the attic, but that may have been referring to DL.

 

[Luxe]

Thanks for clearing that up everyone, seems I was thinking of the wrong version of the ride!

 

[jloucks]

Mr Toad also seemed to indicate you were playing the role of Toad himself, I don't believe he actually appears in the ride at all (except in statues or portraits). Makes sense given the fact that you're the one driving like a maniac and end up getting killed and sent to hell. Snow White also lacked the main character until 1994, when it was closed for an extensive rebuild to add in Snow herself and make it somewhat closer to the Disneyland/Paris versions.

I don't think Peter Pan has ever changed though, I didn't visit prior to the 90's but i've never heard of any substantial changes to the show scenes being done to WDW's version. I do think Disneyland's got an overhaul in 1983 with their New Fantasyland, but Orlando's is still very dated to the 70's.


The beginning scenes had most of the major differences.

1- The first long hallway after load was different. Currently this hallway has windows on the left side and portraits on the right wall. Lightning flashes from the windows which causes the portraits to morph into spooky imagery. But previously this was a windowless hall, both sides were lined with a ton eerie looking portraits. The eyes in these portraits followed you and glowed evilly.

2- The "Escher Stair" scene (the one now lined with abstract upside down and sideways staircases and mirrors) was a very dark room with more ordinary stairs. There were some rather large spider webs in the room with some also very large spiders in them.

3- Leota's scene is largely the same, but her ball didn't used to float and was fixed to the table.

4- The attic had some changes and was somewhat scarier. Instead of portraits where the groom heads disappear, there were very loud jack in the box ghosts that would pop out of boxes to startle people. Much like the ones still in the graveyard (though much noisier). The bride was also substantially different. The bride has actually changed several times over the years. But she never spoke in any prior version, she just silently held a candle and leered at guests with glowing eyes and a visible glowing beating heart. Her original face was apparently visible and skull-like, but early on she was changed to have a dark non-visible face. You can see the multiple brides used in this image (the second one is the one I grew up with and my personal pick for its subtle "fear of the unknown" style of creepiness)-

They second bride gets my creepy/best vote

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Only in Disneyland. Not Orlando.

Disneylands Pan didn't receive an animated figure of Pan until 1983. Orlando had one since 1971.

Nice. I had just always assumed that Orlando had the same versions of the rides. It's rare anymore that I learn something new about the parks. It's always good having you around, Martin.

Do you happen to know of any resources that document the original versions of the DL dark rides? I know you mostly deal in Orlando lore, but I'd love to see some of the original Pan.

 

[Figments Friend]

The tin foil lining the inside of the volcano you 'fly' over in Neverland has been there since 1971.
Look for it the next time you ride...

 

[WondersOfLife]

Only in Disneyland. Not Orlando.

Disneylands Pan didn't receive an animated figure of Pan until 1983. Orlando had one since 1971.

What about Pinnochio? Just curious. I vaguely remember at least one Pinnochio AA at the very beginning.. Was he always in the ride?

 

[Bairstow]

Well I knew most of that, but I was wondering if there were any major changes prior to the big refurb that included the lame-ing of the attic.
From what I've read, this is the third major version of the attic, but that may have been referring to DL.

The stretching room portraits change all the time, since they've usually been actual paintings and not prints. The designs are sometimes closer or further from the Marc Davis originals.
Audio in the stretch room used to be single channel instead of current multi-channel setup.
The mechanism used to project and/or move Leota's ball has changed a couple times.
Pop-up ghost heads have been moved, removed, and their audio tweaked or muted.
Hitchhiking ghosts used to be a 2-way mirror effect with 3D animatronics instead of computer screens.
Little Leota and the singing busts switched to digital projection.
The stairway and bride have been covered.


Other than that, that's pretty much it.
The bulk of the Mansion has been unchanged.

 

[Clover Bailey]

What about Pinnochio? Just curious. I vaguely remember at least one Pinnochio AA at the very beginning.. Was he always in the ride?

Pinocchio didn't open till 1983 along with all the revamps of Fantasyland dark rides.

 

[Clover Bailey]

Little Leota and the singing busts switched to digital projection.

Weren't the busts always projections? Were they once animatronics?