The Haunted Mansion Restaurant?

The Haunted Mansion restaurant? There's rumors of one coming someday to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. It may never happen, but something close did come within reach. At least it was once considered. 

The Haunted Mansion as you've never seen it in 3D. In the Fall 2009 edition of D23 magazine,  a piece of concept art which appeared displayed guests doing down to the infamous banquet hall for a bite. Very up close and personal. Your eyes are not deceiving you.  

That really is an Imagineering concept for the once proposed 3D version. Had it been built,  guests would don the glasses to see things in a very different, eerie light. There's no Omnimover, but instead a vehicle chain would looks very similar to what you would have found in EPCOT Center's Horizons attraction.  

Before Phantom Manor made its ghoulish debut in Disneyland Paris' Frontierland  in 1992, the Disney Imagineers created this long abandoned new twist on an old favorite as an idea for Tokyo Disneyland. The Tokyo Mansion was already very strangely placed in Fantasyland, so why not try a brand new idea for the Japanese park or for Paris? In my opinion, thankfully, smarter heads prevailed. They held off until a fresh concept- a Frontierland based Phantom Manor came into view for the French park. And it's a winner!

Instead of throwing 3D glasses on existing rides and calling them new, I would rather advocate we one day have  a version of the Haunted Mansion where the Doombuggies travel into some new rooms, expanding the attraction length and repeatability using a trackless ride system a la Ratatouille or Tokyo's Beauty and the Beast.

Would Hong Kong Disneyland's Mystic Manor go 3D eventually? Probably not- it already has it all. Even the videos of the attraction circulating on the web prove it is a unique and worthy experience all its own. First, there's a great and very original story using the trackless free roaming system we've loved from the beginning when from Pooh's Hunny Hunt debuted. And that Danny Elfman music! Certainly Mystic Manor is the attraction that finally placed that poor little under built Chinese park on the Disney fan map. It doesn't need the 3D at all.

For now, it does not look like the incomplete Shanghai Disneyland resort has a ghost filled attraction on its roster. That doesn't mean something won't happen one day. Strange things always do.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

EPCOT Center's Japan Omnimover Ride - and More

Let's kick off the month of August with a piece of concept art for a proposed Omnimover attraction for the Japan Showcase at Epcot. Or should I say, let's kick off the month with a gallery full of concept art for EPCOT Center's Japan Showcase.

This top piece from Imagineer Collin Campbell was designed long ago. But it is certainly not the only time Imagineers have looked at adding an attraction to the Japan location.

More recently, as with what's also happened elsewhere in World Showcase, there's been an idea to add even more shopping and dining options to entice guest to spend. More varied (and trendy) dining is certainly coming and has already been announced. Unfortunately the once proposed shopping street never saw the light of day. The art rendered above seems like something you'd find out in the ancient city of Kyoto. This would have been great! Kyoto is just an amazing city, and it's one I hope to return to some day.

A series of pieces for Meet the World.

The original plan for Japan at EPCOT Center was to build a huge revolving theater attraction. It did open but at Tokyo Disneyland along with the rest of the park in 1983, and it was called Meet the World. Think Carousel of Progress meets The American Adventure. Perhaps the suits felt two theater shows so close together wasn't a good idea, and this gave them the necessary excuse to scrap the very expensive plans to build it. Maybe it was the exclusion of World War II that made the suits decide it wasn't a good idea after all.

Matterhorn Bobsleds meets Japanese landscapes.

Perhaps a more thrilling and far less politically charged attraction is to your liking? How about a bobsled run inside a full scale replica of Mt. Fuji? Certainly a giant mountain thrill ride would be a hit. It's been done before at Disneyland in California, and the Japanese themed bobsled was considered as once was a full on Swiss version of the Anaheim favorite. These too were scrapped for a variety of reasons.

The bullet train idea.

In what would have been at the time a very unique attraction, a bullet train tour of the country was considered. If you remember how effective The Living Seas' Hydrolators were at bringing you under the sea, you can easily picture how convincingly the Imagineers could have pulled off a ride like this! Travelogue meets motion simulator in a fresh application.

Closing out this post is a variety of concept art as well as a small model made up to show what the Japan presence would have felt like when World Showcase was to be its own park.

As I mentioned in my recent trip report, I love the Japan pavilion for what it is, but how I would have loved it for what it could have been!

(Art and model copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The End of Adventure Thru Inner Space

Long before Star Tours made its debut at Disneyland, the deepest, darkest, most mysterious attraction to be found at the brand new Tomorrowland 1967 was a corporate sponsored presentation, Adventure Thru Inner Space. The Monsanto company was on the leading edge of bringing science into everyday life making them a great choice for sponsorship. 

Notice the Peoplemover overhead 

and the same general building shape as the current Star Tours. 

Due to the fact it was at the entrance to Tomorrowland, crowds were instantly drawn to it. Peeking inside the building, the display of a larger than life snowflake made for a compelling piece of eye candy, while the giant microscope at the end of the queue seemed to devour guests. 

Actually, it really did devour guests! The reason Inner Space had great numbers of riders was due to its innovative, continuously moving vehicles. Guests journeyed into the world of a snowflake in the Atommobile, the first use of the Omnimover, a vehicle designed by Disney Imagineers.  It not only kept the crowds moving, it was also used to direct the sightless of visitors as the car itself turned to specific show scenes. 

Nice piece of WED concept art.

This thrilling journey into the world of an atom was a fan favorite for a variety of reasons- including the opportunity to travel with the one you loved to a cool, dark, and relatively private place. All under the view of the Mighty Microscope, of course! 

The actual ending of the attraction is shown in the top rendering. On the right side, drops of oil flowed down hundreds of strands of Monsanto fibers creating a striking piece of art. Smaller exhibits surrounded guests exiting the attraction in an area much smaller than but similar to EPCOT Center's Communicore / Inventions.

Crowds packed out Inner Space for about 15 years. By then, it seemed to be time for a change. Disney Imagineers and George Lucas joined together to bring the Star Wars universe to Disney. It was the end of the beloved attraction.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Art for the Haunted Mansion in 3D

Here's the Haunted Mansion as you've never seen it... and probably never will! In the Fall 2009 edition of D23 magazine, they shared a piece of concept art which displayed guests doing down to the infamous banquet hall. Very up close and personal. Are your eyes deceiving you? Not at all! That really is an Imagineering concept for a proposed 3D version, where guests don the glasses to see things in a very different light. There's no Omnimover, though, so this may be just a movie screen version replacing the ride through attraction.

Before Phantom Manor made its ghoulish debut in Disneyland Paris' Frontierland  in 1992, the Disney Imagineers created this long abandoned new twist on an old favorite as an idea for Tokyo Disneyland. It was already to be oddly placed in Fantasyland, but this idea would have been a stretch. Thankfully, smarter heads prevailed until a fresh concept came about for the French park years later. I would rather have seen them create a version of the ride where the Doombuggies travel into some new rooms, expanding the attraction length. Maybe we'll see this idea take root as a celebration of the Mansion's 50th Anniversary at Disneyland in California. Or perhaps a journey into a new room then? How hard would it be to extend the track and create a new route?

Would Hong Kong Disneyland's Mystic Manor go 3D eventually? Probably not- it already has it all. There's a great and original story using the trackless freeroaming system from Pooh's Hunny Hunt. It certainly doesn't seem to need the gimmick that 3D tends to be used for. Mystic Manor is the attraction that finally placed the poor little Chinese park on the map. 

Hmmm. I'd like to see the trackless system used for a new trip through the Haunted Mansion as the vehicles freely room into different rooms, making every trip randomly different.

It does not look like Shanghai Disneyland has a spirited attraction on its roster. But something could come their way in the years to come. The mystical always appeals as an attraction. It would be great to see a new version of an old classic come to life. Perhaps an even newer twist on The Tower of Terror?

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland Attraction Posters: The Tomorrowland Collection

Continuing on to the last post of the Disneyland Attraction Posters series, it's time to present Tomorrowland!

Back in 1955 when Disneyland opened, it was pretty evident that Walt's park would set aside space for a land devoted to the future. His ABC Television show included a segment, many actually, piquing viewer's interest, readying them for a visit to the world of the future.

In contrast to the incredible mashup of architecture and themes found in Disneyland's Tomorrowland right now, at opening it was more unified in spirit but still quite the mess.

There just wasn't enough money to truly finish this part of the park, so the Imagineers made due with corporate exhibits and decorated buildings with a variety of banners and bunting to make up for what no money couldn't buy. It worked for awhile because the idea of a theme park seemed so groundbreaking... and because Walt's enthusiasm for and skill in marketing the park made a powerful one-two punch.

Although it was quite tame by today's thrill-seeking standards, TransWorldAirlines' (TWA) Rocket to the Moon was considered one of the high tech successes of the park and the centerpiece of Tomorrowland.  The giant, iconic, rocket ship stood tall in the sky, promising and delivering an out of this world experience.

Space StationX-1 gave guests a chance to see America from a satellite view, something quite uncommon even for today. It was a simple exhibit, but the attention to detail in theme and a smart presentation created another Tomorrowland attraction worth visiting. It was one of the smaller attractions that contributed to giving the park its charm, but it was groundbreaking in thought. Decades before the premier of Google Earth!

The only original attraction still remaining in the land, and an all-time favorite of the younger set of guests, Autopia, was a breakout smash. Who could resist driving their own car on the freeways of tomorrow? Every kid and swinging dad (shown above) just had to get in on the action! 

In 2016, Honda took over sponsorship of Autopia.

Photo from Mint Crocodile at Magic Eye.
Clean up from yours truly.

It became so popular that a mini-version (Jr. Autopia) was built and eventually one for the Fantasyland area as well. I still find it great fun when I do take the time to ride during an off season visit when the kiddos are back in school.

1966 Tomorrowland poster.

To fill out the smaller opening day attraction roster, a precursor to CircleVision 360 was developed, featuring nine instead of twelve screens. Finally, the Imagineers mined the giant sea monster from the very popular Disney film, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, to create a walk through exhibit. The poster (first image) bears some resemblance to the one designed for a walk through Nautilus attraction designed for Disneyland Paris almost 40 years later. (the attraction in the French park is a must-do for any fan of the film or Jules Verne! In a small lagoon right next to Space Mountain, it's a pretty special gem, though often overlooked as just a set piece.)

Later in 1955, once the park became famous and a mecca for tourists, smaller attractions came to the land of the future to help with crowds. These were not headliners, like the Flight Circle, the House of the Future, and the Tomorrowland Boats.  None of them warranted an attraction poster for more publicity.

Within the next year, Walt began to fulfill has promise that "Disneyland would never be completed", and a couple of new and instantly beloved attractions were added to Tomorrowland.  

The Skyway debuted, provided scenic views for guests going to and from Tomorrowland into Fantasyland. From opening day to 1994, this attraction pleased crowds, and the management was rewarded with long lines at both stations. 

As the park grew, the skyway provided everything from a safe look at the thrill ride (Matterhorn Bobsleds) to advertising for the New Fantasyland of 1983. Due to changing times, guest manners, and legal eagles, the attraction ultimately displeased the corporate lawyers always on a lookout for whatever disaster could happen. It's loss created a void never met in any other attraction.

Found this rare poster on the Gorillas Don't Blog site.

With one of the briefest fully operating attractions ever to appear at Disneyland, the Viewliner was the predecessor to the monorail. It lasted about a year. Riding alongside the Disneyland Railroad at parts, it was futuristic looking but destined for the history books very quickly.

The rare and not fully completed 1956 version of the poster.

The other high flying ride was AstroJet, an instantly popular spinner attraction, its iconic shape and style piercing the Tomorrowland sky in one variation or another ever since. In its latest incarnation, the attraction has been grounded, thereby losing much of its appeal, becoming a ride for pre-schoolers versus thrill seekers.

All these smaller attractions lended charm to a formerly barren area, but in 1959, three major attractions stole the spotlight, becoming fan favorites that lasted for decades beyond their debut.

The Submarine Voyage launched a cult following- and many variations on this attraction exist or have existed in other Disney parks. A journey through "Liquid Space" was irresistible, proving so popular, another version Walt Disney World's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, made the roster for opening day attractions at the Magic Kingdom in 1971. Naturally, it's also the centerpiece attraction of the Jules Verne themed Mysterious Island at Tokyo Disney Sea.

Also coming on line was the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail, which is still in operation to this day. At opening, the trains journeyed right to the Disneyland Hotel, but now due to the reconfiguration of the land around it, trains glides past California Adventure and into the  Downtown Disney station. The station location hasn't changed, it's just no longer part of the hotel.

As the poster above shows, the third major "E Ticket" attraction to be launched at the same time was the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Its location has fluctuated between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. Park enthusiasts debate which of the two sides of the attraction provide the greatest thrill.  (To see the poster with a designation of Fantasyland, look here.)

A smaller attraction opened in 1960, and it only lasted a few years. The Art of Animation exhibit gave guests a chance to see for themselves what it took to create the beloved Disney characters. It would be a precursor to a more detailed attraction that would open at Disney-MGM Studios in 1989.  A special thanks to Gorillas Don't Blog website, where I found this poster and the one from the Viewliner.

The only Tomorrowland attraction to be revived in revised form in California Adventure first came to surface in 1961: The Flying Saucers. Operational problems derailed the long term life of the attraction, but it was beloved by a young John Lasseter. So enamored was he, that when it came to light that his Cars franchise would be the inspiration at the struggling park, John thought it a perfect fit as Luigi's Flying Tires. 

Tomorrowland mostly rested as is until the big redo of 1967.  And a big redo it was! Beginning a trend that still holds power today, the Imagineers redesigned the Land of the Future using much of the existing buildings and layout of space.

Fan favorite and the original Disneyland make out spot, Adventure Thru Inner Space drew crowds almost instantly- partially due to its location but mostly due to its imaginative plot and execution. This attraction holds the distinction of being the first ride to use the Omnimover system, a couple of years before its use in The Haunted Mansion. Even though it was a corporate promotional tool for Monsanto, the journey through the microscopic world of the snowflake was difficult to resist. It had it all: stunning atmosphere, incredible storyline, a mesmerizing musical soundtrack, and a great narration. All said, even its cutting edge replacement still left many fans wanting this old school attraction.

American Journeys played in the theater for as season as well!

Wonders of China from EPCOT Center

also played in Tomorrowland.

In the new Tomorrowland, a full Circle-Vision 360 film finally debuted, America the Beautiful. Honoring the States, guests were taken to far reaching locations and sights with action happening all around them. A different variation of this film came about later, American Journeys. As with a few of the attractions, new posters made their debut with the new incarnation of future lands. In the 80's, Wonders of China was next to fill the slot. The highly anticipated film came from the China showcase at EPCOT Center. 

Carousel of Progress. What is there to say about this iconic attraction? Doing a bit of research, I discovered two color versions of the attraction poster. My gut tells me that neither is in the original color scheme. Anyone have one in the right colors?

It was 1967, and the first man to step on the Moon wouldn't accomplish the task until 1969, so the Imagineers felt there was life left in the original concept. The earlier Rocket to the Moon changed its name to Flight to the Moon, and eventually to Mission to Mars. New technology improved the attraction and a sleek new exterior replaced the landmark rocket, itself returning to the 1998 incarnation of the land.

Like your Peoplemover with Tron? 

It didn't last for too long but it did add a new element to the attraction.

Perhaps the attraction hard-core Disneyland fans most miss is the PeopleMover. And for good reason! What could be more enjoyable on a hot summer day than gliding above it all, watching the crowds below as well as viewing the sparkling Submarine lagoon? Not much, actually. The ill-fated replacement attraction, Rocket Rods had an element of fun, but it lasted on the roster for about 30 seconds. Pity- but glad I rode it while it was still around. 

High atop Rocket Tower Plaza lies the Rocket Jets. Oh yeah, that's in Florida's Magic Kingdom! In Disneyland, the AstroJet didn't just change names. In the '98 redo, the jets were grounded. While the design seemed to be an up to date improvement, the placement ruined something iconic and special. I've ridden once since its been misplaced, and I probably won't again until I have a small child in tow.

The "Freaky Friday" promotional poster.

Space Mountain- iconic. An American cultural touchstone for young teens imported to other Disney Parks around the world. Walt wanted this at Disneyland from the 60s, but it wasn't built until technology made it possible in 1977. So glad it did! 

Michael Jackson and Disney- a natural fit?! Well, the suits thought so under the reign of Michael Eisner, and this strange film came to the park in 1986. The music was good, however.

EO in a slightly richer color pallet.

It was part of an era that saw other companies' properties arrive at Disneyland. In Adventureland, that meant the excellent addition of the Indiana Jones Adventure, while in 1987, Tomorrowland received the ground-breaking Star Tours. 

Two versions for a new "E Ticket" attraction! Directly above, the original poster for  1987 version of Star Tours.  It was certainly groundbreaking then, George Lucas brought magic to the parks in a form that the current generation understood all too well! Disney was passé. Star Wars was anything but. Version two was promised but wouldn't come until too many years later.

Tomorrowland 1998 opened to mixed reviews, but this nice poster (above) communicated the fresh update- even if the Rocket Rods didn't last long.

The tooning of Tomorrowland continues. 

The next era of changes brought Pixar/Disney animated characters to the parks, changing the feel and focus of Tomorrowland even more. A little orange fish arrived to make a big splash.

What would Tomorrowland be without a little controversy? When Tony Baxter led a team of Imagineers to bring Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage to the long empty lagoon, some hailed it as a necessary move to save the submarines while others cried about the advancing infestation of animated characters into a land dedicated to the worlds of the future. Both points valid from this man's perspective! It may have been a necessary move to save the lagoon, but I think the end result is lacking. I've ridden twice. Both time, the kids on board were loving it- and I enjoyed it but missed what used to be. Filmed fish just didn't do it for me. In fact, I prefer the similar attraction to Epcot Center instead.

Here are the new posters for Star Tours ("2"), the Adventure Continues. After years of suggesting new destinations because it was an easy format to update, the suits finally delivered in the 2000's! All a great lead in to the proposed Star Wars changes coming to Tomorrowland in 2015 forward.

Photo taken on my 2018 visit to the park.

When Star Tours 2.0 (The Adventures Continue) arrived, so did a brand new attraction poster! This was a GREAT way to get guests to experience the attraction all over again- this time with multiple, varied destinations.

In 2017, the park premiered its 30th Anniversary attraction poster. It's quite striking in its simplicity and grayscale approach!

When the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opened at the end of 2019, a new attraction poster debuted to coincide with the ride adding new scenes from the latest film.

The August 2015 D23 announcement of Star Wars Land at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World also brings the Star Wars themed HyperSpace Mountain to California. The poster premiered at the exposition.

This post wraps up the look at Disneyland attraction posters. What comes next in this series? I just don't know, but stay tuned- and thanks for your patience on this last one.

Special thanks to Daveland and Yesterland for some of the images- and to Gorillas Don't Blog site for the rare Viewliner and Art of Animation ones.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)