A New Autopia Poster for Disneyland Paris

Those great Imagineering attraction posters are some of my favorite pieces of Disney theme park memorabilia, and here's a brand new one from Disneyland Paris! (Will they create them for Disney Adventure World when the revised studio park opens in 2026? Let's hope so!) 

I'd say this new poster for Discoveryland's Autopia is not one of my favorites, but it does have some cool elements, particularly the shiny centerpiece red car. 

Now, I'll admit Autopia is one of few attractions I haven't ridden there. During our first trip in the 90's, my youngest son was this much too short for Space Mountain. My wife came to the rescue and took him for a spin in the cars. (Surprisingly, Star Tours is the other attraction I haven't ridden!)

Imagineer Tony Baxter's pet project for Europe is a park that must be seen to be believed! It's sets a very high standard for what a Disney castle park should be. So, go see it- even if you don't see all of it.  ;)

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland's Imperfect Motor Boat Cruise

Straddling the line between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, the Motor Boat Cruise at Disneyland was an interesting choice for an attraction. It certainly was not a must-do attraction, but it was situated around three very popular ones: the Autopia, the Submarine Voyage, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Arguably three must dos for any kid in the 10 year old range. Then the Monorail cruised above it all. The small water craft definitely had a second class rating, and it was not full of thrills, but that was part of its charm. Walt's park had and has plenty of smaller scale attractions that add to the whole of the park's experiences. Unlike modern day thinking from the suits, Walt and his Imagineers understood these smaller but still high quality attractions rounded out the lines and improved the overall guest experience. I love many of the new modern day marvels in the parks, but I miss the sweet and innocent days of the original Magic Kingdom.

The concept art shown is a product of its day. And what I have is not the best quality. But it is a piece that captures a moment in time. 

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland is Better Than Disneyland's Version of the Future

Among Disneyland purists, it's an unpopular opinion, but I've long maintained that Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom is far superior to its older California sibling. My last visit to Anaheim, we did not ride a single attraction in the Land of the Future. In contrast, during our last trip to Florida, I did as many as possible.

You've got the Peoplemover, the Astro Orbiter (way up high where it belongs), the Carousel of Progress, and of course, the wide open views of Space Mountain, the Contemporary Resort, and the upcoming TRON Lightcycle Run. Regardless of its charms- and the Submarine Lagoon itself is beautiful- Disneyland just can't compete in this arena.

In Florida, there are a good amount of classic vintage, retro focused attractions. Finally, the suits and Disney Imagineering are embracing this! The Tomorrowland Speedway gets a Christmas layover with a vibe straight from the 1960s and 70s. This piece of promo material / concept art makes me wish West Coast Disney fans had a chance for something similar. 

The food in either land is still bad, and the shopping is a joke as well. Yet, the vibe in Florida feels fresh not tired. TRON will only make it better. 

Now, about that space used up by Stitch's Great Escape...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Walt Behind the Wheel

Ah, the sparkling days of the early Disneyland! Energy and optimism abounded as the guests loved Walt's new kingdom- even if it came with a few challenges. But is was clear the man himself enjoyed the kingdom his Imagineers built. 

In Tomorrowland, even more impressive attractions were sure to be built, but this vintage shot of Walt at the wheel of the beloved Autopia is sure to make you smile. Years before Space Mountain would debut, kids and kids at heart just had to get behind the wheel for a spin- and Walt himself couldn't resist.

(Photograph from The Walt Disney Company.) 

Meeting A Disney Legend

My niece is a Disneyland lover just like her uncle- and here she is meeting a Disney Legend, Imagineering genius Bob Gurr. We know that Disneyland would not be the same without him!

The Original Disneyland Autopia

There's something so retro, so vintage, just so cool about the old Disneyland attractions and the thought behind it all. (It's one of the reasons I love the Daveland site.) Honestly, these days I'm really tired of the flash, the hype, the corporate greed of the Walt Disney Company. From Iger on down.

Anyway, Tomorrowland and Autopia concept art. The Imagineers of old knew how to do it! Not a bad combination, I'd say. Take a look at this piece. 

It's in vogue to get rid of old school attractions (looking at you, Tokyo Disneyland), but the delights of simpler times are not to be forgotten. Millions of kids of all ages love attractions like the Autopia, or perhaps a leisurely cruise aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat, or just circling the entire park aboard the Disneyland Railroad. It's these timeless, smaller attractions that give each park some charm, some warmth, and a connection to generations past. They round out a roster of thrills, thrills, and more thrills. (Or should I say characters, characters, characters?)

Sure, I get Disneyland is not a museum. But neither is it a corporate  billboard made of steel and concrete. Enough said.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Vintage Disneyland Autopia

The Autopia. An original attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim and one that has been duplicated in various forms at Magic Kingdom parks the world over. A Tomorrowland classic.

As you can see from the piece of concept art above, the attraction originally was with our rails. But of course, once it became evident the cars were getting battered by inexperienced drivers, the maintenance or Imagineering team decided it was time for that to change! These sweet machines were far too expensive even back then to be getting a thrashing all day long.

It won't exist at Shanghai Disneyland but Hong Kong Disneyland's is all electric; Disneyland Paris has gone hybrid; and in Tokyo Disneyland's (gasp!) it is being removed for the largest expansion ever in the history of the park. Even It's a Small World is moving to ensure the New Fantasyland puts Florida's version to shame. 

Although it covers quite a bit of space in Walt's original kingdom, opinions are divided as to whether it ever really could or should be removed. The sponsorship of the attraction will soon change again, making it an opening day attraction that for the time being will continue on into the future. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland Paris Influences Disneyland California II

Last week, I shared a piece of concept art that displayed the influence of Disneyland Paris' Discoveryland on the remodel of Disneyland's dated Tomorrowland. Here's the California side of the design equation.

The Imagineering team working on the Anaheim project under the direction of master Imagineer Tony Baxter was tasked by Michael Eisner with a fairly minimal budget (which became the derailment of the short lived Peoplemover replacement Rocket Rods) as well as an odd concept of an "agricultural futuristic" view for the land. When tossed in with attractions with seemingly no connection in theme (Star Wars to the old America Sings / Carousel of Progress),  it seemed to be an impossible task. The Autopia (above) would get a quick remodel of the buildings to fit in as best as possible. The kid favorite would not be on the chopping block for various reasons. 

By comparing this piece with the one for Discoveryland, it's easy to see where one strongly influenced the other. If you view images of the copper tinged Space Mountain of Disneyland circa 1998 with the beautiful Jules Verne styled one in Paris, the similarities are even more noticeable.

Count me in as one who would like to see a total start over for the Land of the Future. Scrap it all and build new. But if Mickey's Toontown really does become the rumored location for Star Wars Land, two lands themed to outer space (one strongly, one vaguely) may be too much.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland Paris Influences the Original Magic Kingdom

At Disney Imagineering, no concept ever seems to truly go to waste. The piece of art above is an interesting one indeed. In many ways, it is clearly a look at the Autopia at Disneyland Paris. Nestled within the beautiful, Jules Verne styled Discoveryland, the neon rings glow clearly on the often grey and cloudy skies of Paris.

On the other hand, there are certainly elements of this piece that strongly remind me of Tony Baxter's redesign for Tomorrowland '98 at Disneyland. That redo, the first one done to Tomorrowland since the epic 1967 version, included the infamous and short-lived Rocket Rods. The California Autopia remained a perennial favorite and was also scheduled for a revamping in look. The Chevron oil sponsored attraction there includes a building that has very similar flourishes in style to what was found on opening day in the Paris park in 1992.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

New Attractions for Disneyland

Here's a great little piece of advertising/concept art. As most of us long term Disney geeks know (even those of us not of the D23 variety), Walt Disney and his Imagineers "put the pedal to the metal" when it came to expanding the Anaheim park.

In 1959, Disneyland debuted the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Submarine Voyage, the Motor Boat Cruise, the Autopia, and a little non-attraction billed as one, the Alpine Gardens. A pretty terrific expansion! But I have to say, this sort of takes the bite out of Disney advertising non-attractions- like those gardens- as the real item. I mean, wow, they were doing it back in Walt's day, too!
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Land Time (and Budget) Forgot

Right in the middle of Disney's D23 convention plans, I'd like to pose a question: What is to become of the original land of the future?

It's probably common knowledge that the long overdue Star Tours 2.0 is on its way to California's Disneyland, but it is anyone's guess what will happen to a land Walt loved. After the revision of that Star Wars attraction, what will come? Imagineers are tight lipped with leader Tony Baxter hopefully directing a crew from Imagineering to bring this land back to life.

As for right now, Tomorrowland at Walt's park is an unfortunate forced breeding of the old and new, the once cutting edge and the commercial, the fantasy inspired and the future invaded by animated hit movies. Space Mountain meets Finding Nemo meets Innoventions meets R2D2 meets an empty Peoplemover meets Buzz Lightyear. It's a misguided mess of epic proportions.

Yes, California Adventure is getting the budget and revamp it needs to move the park from a long time joke to something worthier of the Disney name. (Same can be said for Hong Kong Disneyland as well.) However, it is time for a real plan to come into clear view.
(Concept art copyright the Walt Disney Company)

Learner's Permit

With summer coming up, I thought it would be fun to post this image from MiceAge. Just print and cut! This is an opportunity for all the parents out there to give their young ones something fun during a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. Disneyland's Autopia- a classic!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)