WDW Changes Over The Years

[Hippychickali]

Yes! That's it! I remember it was one of the first attractions I ever saw at MGM. Does anyone know what happened to it?

Ali

 

[Hippychickali]

Does anyone know what happened to Super Star Television? I asked a long time ago and no one answered. Maybe no one knows but I suspect it is because the post got buried.

Ali

 

[Kaycee]

I miss 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I know it was probably a monster to keep maintained, and the queue was definitely atrocious (30-something years later, I remember how hot it got in that line!), but it's one of my clearest memories from my childhood trip to WDW the year the park opened.

I also miss the original Tiki Room. I thought that was such a nice, relaxing place to take a break and still be entertained. I think the new show is just irritating.

 

[tinkerbell81284]

I loved the Dreamflight! That was one of my favorites as a kid (even though I'm only 19!)! I also remember the 20,000 Leagues, the original Tiki Room (Iago just made it worse!) and the original Journey Into Imagination! Mr. Toad was okay I was just happy I could "drive" the car. I don't remember Universe of Motion or Horizions too well. Has the Universe of Energy changed within the past 5 years?

I'm definitely happy about the FastPASS system, Timekeeper and Carousel of Progress being open this weekend!

Tink

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

I miss the song "Listen to the Land" and the other song from Carosel of Progress..Now is the time. I also liked the "It's Time to Remember the Magic" parade.

 

[GoodFairies]

I also miss Mr. Toad, but I think Winnie the Pooh is pretty good too. I liked Alien Encounter and dread its replacement by anything to do with Stitch I hate the tiki room under new management and like the old corny show better. I already miss Food Rocks

On the other hand Moteurs Action! will be good; I think a lot of people will like it. I have seen it and enjoyed it.

 

[Rebeltinkle]

I really miss hearing "Tomorrow's Child" when you get to the top of Spaceship Earth. Hearing Walter Cronkite and that song was great.

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

We really miss Dreamfinder and Figment at EPCOT. The new ride with Figment back in is better than the original replacement, but still not as good as the original.

 

[mmorizio]

I understand that Disney needs to concentrate on rides that appeal to teens and young adults, but I am unhappy about the loss of the slow dark rides (World of Motion, Horizons, 20K Leagues). Especially Horizons - It was one of my favorites. Spiderman at IOA is a great example of what can be done to appeal to many age groups. I think that Mission: Space is just OK.

 

[Disney Fool]

Hey, did you guys forget about the "Skyway to Tomorrowland"? I used to love riding on that and getting the best view of Fantasy Land, especially at night.

 

[PanamaMike]

I loved the Delta Dreamflight..I have about 30 seconds of it on videotape from my 1989 visit, but I wish I'd taped the entire ride. I never did see it when it was TWA's If You Had Wings.

I addition to closing the Superstar TV and replacing it with Doug Live On Stage, the Disney/MGM Studios also did away with the Monster Sound Show with Martin Short and Chevy Chase.

The Backstage Tram Tour used to have it's entrance next to The Animation Tour building.

New York Street was originally not a guest area. You merely drove past it during the Tram Tour. They later expanded it into what is there today.

The sound stages housing the Backstage Pass and Who Wants to be a Millionaire were originally used as working sound stages, so there was a good chance you would see something being filmed as you went through the "Inside The Magic Special Effects and Production" Tour.
The tour was hosted by different Hollywood stars appearing on the monitors above. Mel Gibson, Pee-Wee Herman, Warren Beatty, Bette Midler...all discussing various facets of film production.
At the end they showed a short film starring Bette Midler that was partly filmed on the New York Street set and as you left, you walked past various indoor sets used for the film. These sets were later replaced by the 101 Dalmations sets and I believe currently hold sets from The Haunted Mansion.

The building that now holds Playhouse Disney was for many years the Soundstage Diner.
When it first opened it was themed around the Bette Midler/Lily Tomlin comedy "Big Business" with lots of props and sets on display. It later changed it's theme to Beauty And The Beast and then Aladdin's Oasis when it became a Character Buffet restaurant.

Journey Into Imagination had the 3D film Captain Eo for many years.

Spaceship Earth was originally narrated by Walter Cronkite.

The Land had The Kitchen Kabaret Revue starring Bonnie Appetit which later changed to Food Rocks (now gone to make way for Soarin' Over California).

The Universe Of Energy orignally didn't have Ellen and Bill Nye playing Jeopardy...and was all the better for it.

Long before Innoventions Epcot had the Communicore West and East.

Fantasyland had the 3D film Magic Journeys (which moved from Epcot when Captain EO arrived) and later replaced it with the puppet show The Legend Of The Lion King.

Mickey's Toontown was originally created as Mickey's Birthdayland (I believe it was 1987), then after the birthday celebration ended, it changed to Mickey's Starland.

Tomorrowland had Mission to Mars before the Extra Terror-estrial moved in.

 

[Rebeltinkle]

One of my biggest regrets was not going on the Swan Boats that circled Cinderella Castle the first time I was at the Magic Kingdom. The track is still visible in the water.

 

[time101]

I believe If You Had Wings was sponsored by Eastern Airlines, not TWA. It then began Delta Dreamflight, and then Take Flight when all corporate sponsorship ended.

I really used to enjoy World of Motion. I loved the way the vehicles spiraled up on the outside of the attraction, providing a wonderful view of Future World.

One of the silly things I miss is the spinning globe projected onto Spaceship Earth with lasers. Very cool.

I miss the original Illuminations and Tapestry of Nations. Although, I must say, once I had seen ToN about 2-3 times, it did get annoying if you wanted to get from one part of WS to another.

I miss Earth Station at the base of Spaceship Earth, where dining reservations could be made on 2-way monitors.

 

[leighe]

I miss the old Imagination pavillion. Remember the tunnel made of all the different colored lights? Now it's just like a giant Kodak gift shop.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I miss the original Tiki birds, the original Journey to the Imagination (although I do think this replacement is better than the last) and the Hunchback of Notre Dame!

I also think that Ak could use the boat ride around the park, will that ever come back?

Bobbi

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by time101
I miss Earth Station at the base of Spaceship Earth, where dining reservations could be made on 2-way monitors.

That was really cool! I remember that! Why did they get rid of it?

Remember the tunnel made of all the different colored lights?

I remember that too! It was cool!

 

[time101]

quote:
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Originally posted by time101
I miss Earth Station at the base of Spaceship Earth, where dining reservations could be made on 2-way monitors.
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Originally posted by cruisnfamily
That was really cool! I remember that! Why did they get rid of it? I remember that too! It was cool!

I'm sure it ended when they started letting you make dining reservations over the phone. It used to be that you could ONLY make SAME DAY reservations at Earth Station or at the restaurant itself. But those WorldKey Information kiosks were cool! They had them at Earth Station, in World Showcase Plaza, and around Germany.