Secrets & Little Known Facts about rides

[Hootch]

Wasn't there a ride (could be at Disneyland even) that made you feel like you had been shrunk and you were in the body? I remember it and rode it a couple of times so I know it had to be a Disney ride. For some reason I think it was Epcot but it was a long, long time ago and my memory won't let that one out.

was Body Wars. It was a motion simulator ride similar to Star Tours. The graphics had an affect on a lot of people.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

was Body Wars. It was a motion simulator ride similar to Star Tours. The graphics had an affect on a lot of people.

Can you imagine all the time, money, work, involved in creating and building a ride only to have to remove it because of complaints like that?

 

[doconeill]

Can you imagine all the time, money, work, involved in creating and building a ride only to have to remove it because of complaints like that?

I don't know if that was the reason, or the only reason, it was closed. I did get to ride it - it was pretty rough compared to Star Tours, and I've read that they didn't really do a good job syncing the camera motion with the simulator motion, which probably aggravated the issue for people susceptible to motion sickness.

Rumor is that it is still fully intact behind the wall at the Wonders of Life pavilion. The sign is still on the wall. And they may be testing Star Tours 2.0 there. But those are rumors, especially the last one.

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

I don't know if that was the reason, or the only reason, it was closed. I did get to ride it - it was pretty rough compared to Star Tours, and I've read that they didn't really do a good job syncing the camera motion with the simulator motion, which probably aggravated the issue for people susceptible to motion sickness.

Rumor is that it is still fully intact behind the wall at the Wonders of Life pavilion. The sign is still on the wall. And they may be testing Star Tours 2.0 there. But those are rumors, especially the last one.

I thought they were using one of the four simulators at DL to test Star Tours 2.0. The one on the far right hasn't been in service in a long time.

 

[demonskrye]

I thought they were using one of the four simulators at DL to test Star Tours 2.0. The one on the far right hasn't been in service in a long time.

Do these rumors have any relation to the rumor that Disney was going to do a new Start Tours film based on the podracing sequence in The Phantom Menace? I agree it could make for a fun ride, but I wouldn't think Disney would really want to have a ride that related directly to the prequels.

All I want is to actually make it to the forest moon of Endor. Just once.

 

[doconeill]

Do these rumors have any relation to the rumor that Disney was going to do a new Start Tours film based on the podracing sequence in The Phantom Menace? I agree it could make for a fun ride, but I wouldn't think Disney would really want to have a ride that related directly to the prequels.

All I want is to actually make it to the forest moon of Endor. Just once.

There are various rumors floating around. Several people have supposedly "let slip" that they are working on it, but nothing official has been announced. Just like the various rumors about testing it both at DL and Epcot.

Most recent stuff involves them using some new technology for the projection to make it 3D.

 

[JenniBarra]

I read a wonderful book from my library called "Realityland" - the making of WDW. I thought it might be a negative look at the world, but it was not. Just a REALLY in-depth look at the evolution of each park. It is filled with all sorts of stuff I din't know.

I agree that this book is a great read. It's not so much the secrets behind specific attractions, but more all about the whys and hows of the overall construction of the World.

 

[SassyCat]

Well... yes and no.

The attraction was actually going to be called "The Western River Expedition" and was the brainchild of Marc Davis (who came up with most of the pirate gags in PotC). The concept was "Cowboys of the Caribbean"; it was going to utilize essentially the same ride mechanism as PotC, but have a western theme and western gags. The attraction was actually intended as part of a much larger complex called Thunder Mesa, which would have included a runaway mine train-themed roller coaster and trails leading to an observation deck that would give guests a commanding view of the Magic Kingdom. The attraction was budgeted at around $100M -- small change to Disney today, but back then that price tag was exorbitant (the HM's budget was around $7M, by comparison). Thunder Mesa was planned to be added as part of the resort's "Phase II" construction process.

However, three things happened that derailed the plans. First, the Western as a form of popular entertainment dramatically dipped in popularity after the moon landing in 1969 and audiences turned to the skies and science fiction (this turn was referenced somewhat in Toy Story with Woody being replaced by Buzz as a favored toy). Secondly, initial Guests at the resort were outraged that PotC -- which had been heavily hyped by Disney on his national TV show -- was nowhere to be found in Florida. The lack of PotC was, in fact, the number one guest complaint at the MK during the first few months of operation. So, the decision was made -- quickly -- to install PotC at WDW. The only problem: money. So, an abbreviated version of the Disneyland PotC was hastily installed (which didn't sit well at all with the Imagineers). Davis was crushed; he knew that the addition of PotC meant WDW management would never allow the construction of Thunder Mesa. After all, the WRE and PotC was, essentially, the same ride, with a different overlay. The third thing that happened was the energy crisis of '73. Companies were tightening their belts, and WDW followed suit. A large number of Phase II projects were scrapped, including the Venetian, Asian, and Persian resorts -- and Thunder Mesa (now rendered obsolete by PotC).

Elements of Thunder Mesa were paid homage to (or stolen outright, depending on who you talk to) by Imagineer Tony Baxter with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (the runaway train roller coaster) and Splash Mountain (ride vehicles that would travel out from the attraction into the Rivers of America and then back inside-- and a show scene that was visible from the WDW Railroad. Splash Mountain also used character designs -- and the actual AAs at Disneyland! -- from another Marc Davis-designed attraction, America Sings). Supposedly Baxter was Davis' protege at one point, and the men stopped talking to each other in the 1970s. Supposedly.

This has been such an interesting thread, and a great way to pass time at work!

I have read about the Western River Expedition in the past. I don't know how accurate it was, but I read that some of the animatronics created for the Western River Expedition later ended up being used in some of the scenes at Living with the Land.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

It was a travelogue for all the destinations Eastern flew, basically - you rode in the same style of car as they use on Buzz, and movies were all around you as the track curved up and down and backward.

One of Eastern's demands was that the ride was free. And it was; you didn't have to use any of your A, B, C, D or E tickets to ride (the only other "free" attraction at the MK was the film "The Walt Disney Story", located in the Exposition hall. That theater is still there, and used primarily for internal presentations).

All I want is to actually make it to the forest moon of Endor. Just once.

You used to.

Originally, the attraction exit was themed to Endor (it was changed around 2000 or so to the Tattooine theme it has today, sparking rumors of the Podracing film).

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

I have read about the Western River Expedition in the past. I don't know how accurate it was, but I read that some of the animatronics created for the Western River Expedition later ended up being used in some of the scenes at Living with the Land.

I don't think any animatronics were actually constructed (except for Hoot Gibson, the owl narrator, who was on display for quite a while at Exposition Hall). Some of the show scenes were "recycled", certainly -- there, and (strangely) at Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris (in the "Ghost Town" sequence. BTW: the name of the town Frontierland at DLP is set in? Thunder Mesa).

 

[steins]

1. Main Street is not flat. It's on a slope going down from the Castle to the front entrance. That's so guests move a little faster when they're exiting the Park. (source: tourguide on Keys to the Kingdom tour).

Someone may have responded with this already, but I haven't made it through every post yet... I believe it is also sloped so that the Castle appears taller as you're entering the park. In fact, I remember hearing that the Castle is built with perspective in mind so that it gets smaller as it gets taller to give the illusion of it going higher into space. But I guess the sloped Main Street works out both ways!

 

[urbandonovan]

This has been such an interesting thread, and a great way to pass time at work!

As opposed to actually WORKING.....LOL!

 

[kidrericha]

Wasn't there a ride (could be at Disneyland even) that made you feel like you had been shrunk and you were in the body? I remember it and rode it a couple of times so I know it had to be a Disney ride. For some reason I think it was Epcot but it was a long, long time ago and my memory won't let that one out.

Just FRI, the DL attraction you’re confusing it with was Monsanto’s Adventure Thru Innerspace where it appeared that after you boarded your “ATOMobile” you would subsequently be shrunk to the size of an atom... Or at least to the size of the Atomobile models they showed (complete with passengers).

Never injected into a body from what I remember, but, oh, that eyeball. That was freaky.

 

[Lolie]

I can't remember if it's been posted or not yet, but here is one many of you will already know: Ride TTA when Space Mountain is broken down and you might get to see Space Mountain with the lights on! I got footage on camcorder of it once. You can also see it on youtube, but it's not that clear. Nothing beats the real experience.

In the good ole' days before Fastpass, all of the turnstiles were constantly packed and once or twice I saw the ride break down enough that they turned the lights on and started clearing the queue. We would always assume that "someone probably lost a hat" !!

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Just FRI, the DL attraction you’re confusing it with was Monsanto’s Adventure Thru Innerspace where it appeared that after you boarded your “ATOMobile” you would subsequently be shrunk to the size of an atom... Or at least to the size of the Atomobile models they showed (complete with passengers).

Never injected into a body from what I remember, but, oh, that eyeball. That was freaky.

Oh I do remember that eyeball and I remember either while in line or when leaving you could see others in a car really small. Thank you for the clarity. If I had known all those years ago that I would be a DisFan, I would have saved some of my left over tickets and taken more pictures of things long ago and taken notes or something. How you all know all these things is amazing, but I am glad you do.

 

[mousiemom]

oh well, it would be a good idea though!
mousiemom

 

[gatormommy07]

on the basketball court: it's more of a half court, but it's there. i think that much is proven. the myth portion is WHY it's there. there's a legend that Walt had to put it there to make it a 'sports arena' of sorts so he could get around some zoning restrictions. That portion isn't so much true. It's there, it's something to do in there, that's the deal with it. Kind of like there's a legend that the reason why Club 33 has an 'address' is because it was required to obtain a liquor license.

on pirates: the pieces absolutely shouldn't be moved around between visits (this would be the first i've heard of such a thing anyway). it is a stalemate although it's been argued by some chess players that there is no legitimate way for the pieces to end up in the position they're in. on top of that, it was created by marc davis but at some point, the pieces did lose their position (for whatever reason, I can't recall offhand) and they had to be reset except they could find no notes from davis as to which piece went where so it had to be re-created. davis also designed the ornamental roof of the haunted mansion which consists of various chess pieces (except for the knight)

some one else may have replied to this already but the peices were moved when they refurbished the ride, and they could not find the notes to put them back

 

[phalynx]

Someone may have responded with this already, but I haven't made it through every post yet... I believe it is also sloped so that the Castle appears taller as you're entering the park. In fact, I remember hearing that the Castle is built with perspective in mind so that it gets smaller as it gets taller to give the illusion of it going higher into space. But I guess the sloped Main Street works out both ways!

It was actually built up so that it could be taller than the 199 foot height requirement of the FAA. Anything 200 feet or above ground level requires a red beacon on the top so planes won't hit it. Disney decided to just raise the "ground level" by about 21 feet which made the castle reach the intended scale that they wanted.

 

[MickeyJoy]

Wait a minute - have I lost my mind or isn't the ride where you are "injected into a body" known as BodyWars? You are "injected" into the body to get a splinter out or something. Am I right or wrong? Also - I thought for some reason this ride was still going. No?

 

[iwish81792]

Wait a minute - have I lost my mind or isn't the ride where you are "injected into a body" known as BodyWars? You are "injected" into the body to get a splinter out or something. Am I right or wrong? Also - I thought for some reason this ride was still going. No?

Unfortunately, no. Every time I walk past the pavilion I think "Maybe, this time!" but alas. Ropes.


Also--this thread is awesome.