Welcome to another Disney Friends Blog Hop! For September the theme is Fall. Once you’ve finished reading this post, click on the next button at the bottom of the page to make your way through the loop.
Many of the Magic Kingdom attractions celebrate their anniversary during the fall months, mostly due to the park opening on October 1, 1971. Most of the original opening day attractions are still there today and enjoyed by guests of all ages. But, throughout the months of September, October, and November, many other attractions have opened over the years. Below is a list of all the Magic Kingdom attractions which opened during the fall months, their opening dates, and which anniversary they are celebrating this year.
October 1, 1971 – 49th Anniversary
Main Street Vehicles
There are four different types of old-fashion vehicles that drive up and down Main Street, USA: the horse-drawn trolley, the omnibus, the jitney, and the fire engine. The stops for these vehicles can be found in town square near the entrance of the park, and in the hub in front of Cinderella Castle. The Main Street Vehicles typically only run in the mornings before the park becomes too crowded.
Walt Disney World Railroad
The Walt Disney World Railroad has three stops around the park, Main Street, USA, Frontierland, and Fantasyland. The four steam train engines were all originally built between the years 1916 and 1928. Their names are: the Walter E. Disney, the Roy O. Disney, the Lilly Belle, and the Roger E. Broggie. Three of the trains entered into service on Walt Disney World’s opening day, but the Roger E. Broggie didn’t enter into service until December 1, 1971.
Jungle Cruise
Skippers of the fictional Jungle Navigation Co. bring guests on an adventurous journey through the rivers of South America, Africa, and Asia. The Magic Kingdom Jungle Cruise in Adventureland is home to fifteen different riverboats, including the Amazon Annie, Irrawaddy Irma, Wamba Wanda, and Nile Nellie. During the holidays, the Jungle Cruise becomes the Jingle Cruise and is decorated with a Christmas theme.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Originally called Tropical Serenade, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room has undergone a number of changes over the years. Some of the name changes include the Sunshine Pavilion and the Enchanted Tiki Birds. In 1998, the show became the Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management featuring Zazu and Iago. A small fire in 2011 caused the show to close, and it reopened later that year with the original show and called Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
Swiss Family Treehouse
The Swiss Family Treehouse walkthrough attraction, based on Disney’s 1960 Swiss Family Robinson, was originally called the Swiss Family Island Treehouse when it first opened. According to the Walt Disney World website, there are 116 stairs in the treehouse. Despite looking like it was built in a real tree, the tree is actually made of steel, concrete, and stucco.
Country Bear Jamboree
The Country Bear Jamboree was the first attraction to debut at Walt Disney World before opening at Disneyland. The show was originally designed for Disney’s Mineral King Ski Resort, a resort Walt Disney had wanted to build in California’s Sierra-Nevada Mountains, but the project fell through after Walt passed away. The Country Bear Jamboree has also been replicated in Tokyo Disneyland.
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
Originally called the Frontierland Shooting Gallery, the Shootin’ Arcade is themed to the 1881 Boot Hill shootout in Tombstone Arizona, commonly referred to as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The rifles originally shot lead pellets, but were soon replaced with infra-red light guns.
Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion can be found in different lands in Disney parks around the world. In Magic Kingdom, the Haunted Mansion is in Liberty Square. The mysterious Ghost Host brings guests on a tour via Doom Buggy of this spooky house. The Magic Kingdom version has a few extra scenes, making it longer than the original Disneyland attraction.
Hall of Presidents
The Hall of Presidents came from a concept Walt Disney designed called One Nation Under God which would feature wax figures of the US presidents. Walt then got the idea to create Audio-Animatronics instead of wax figures, and this lead to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln which debuted at the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair before being moved to Disneyland. When Walt Disney World was opening, the idea was revisited and the Hall of Presidents was born.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Based on the classic 1941 animated film, Dumbo the Flying Elephant can be found in every Magic Kingdom-style park around the world. In 2012, New Fantasyland debuted at Magic Kingdom, which included moving Dumbo the Flying Elephant to a new location in Storybook Circus, and adding a second spinner of the attraction.
It’s a Small World
The original It’s A Small World debuted at the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair and was later moved to Disneyland. Magic Kingdom opened with its own version, which unfortunately did not include the beautiful façade. The interior still captures the whimsical flair of Mary Blair’s style, and, of course, the famous Sherman Brothers song.
Mad Tea Party
The Mad Tea Party is based on the colourful scene in Disney’s 1951 Alice in Wonderland with the Mad Hatter, March Hare, and Dormouse. In the centre of the spinning tea cups is a teapot where the Dormouse pops out his head. This attraction is beautiful at night with the different coloured lanterns hanging above the tea cups.
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
This carrousel dates back to 1917 when it was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for Belle Isle Park in Detroit. Then it was known as the Liberty Carousel. Disney purchased the carrousel in 1967, and it was shipped to California. There molds were made of the horses to be used for Tokyo Disneyland’s carrousel and also to use for stand-ins in Disneyland when their horses were being refurbished. The carrousel was then given a Cinderella theme and was named Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel until it became Prince Charming Regal Carrousel in 2010.
Tomorrowland Speedway
The Tomorrowland Speedway opened as the Grand Prix Raceway when the park opened and was based on an international race track, instead of the Highways of Tomorrow theme Autopia had in Disneyland. In 1994 the name was changed to Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, and then again in 2008 to Tomorrowland Speedway.
October 2, 1971 – 49th Anniversary
The Liberty Belle
Also known as the Liberty Square Riverboat, the Liberty Belle opened one day after park opening. This Colonial-era paddle wheeler takes a trip around Tom Sawyer Island. The paddle wheel is powered by an actual working steam engine as a reproduction of the historical boats that brought people up and down the Mississippi during author Mark Twain’s lifetime.
October 3, 1971 – 49th Anniversary
Peter Pan’s Flight
Two days after Magic Kingdom opened, the iconic dark ride Peter Pan’s Flight, based on the 1953 film, opened in Fantasyland. Guests board a pirate ship and follow Peter Pan and the Darling children to Neverland. In 2014, an indoor interactive queue was added to this popular attraction.
November 28, 1974 – 46th Anniversary
Astro Orbitor
The Star Jets opened three years after Magic Kingdom opened. Similar to Disneyland at the time in Tomorrowland, the Star Jets were located on top of the PeopleMover platform, but instead of being shaped like rockets, they were shaped like space shuttles. In 1994, the attraction was redesigned and reopened as the Astro Orbitor.
September 23, 1980 – 40th Anniversary
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The concept for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad came out of the unrealized Western River Expedition, a western-themed pavilion designed by Marc Davis for the back corner of Magic Kingdom. Instead, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was created where guests board a runaway ghost train in the town of Tumbleweed, which was deserted after a flash flood occurred, for the wildest ride in the wilderness!
October 2, 1992 – 28th Anniversary
Splash Mountain
Currently, Splash Mountain is themed to Song of the South featuring Br’er Fox, Br’er Bear, and Br’er Rabbit. Recently, Disney announced that at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, Splash Mountain will be rethemed to The Princess and the Frog. Magic Kingdom’s Splash Mountain is the only version to be located in Frontierland instead having its own land called Critter Country.
October 1, 1996 – 24th Anniversary
The Barnstormer
Originally opening as The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm in 1996, the Barnstormer is a junior roller coaster located in Storybook Circus in Fantasyland. The theme was based around a flying school taught by Goofy. During the construction of New Fantasyland in 2012, the name and theme changed to The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini. Instead of a flying instructor, Goofy is an aerial stuntman.
November 3, 1998 (soft opening October 7) – 22nd Anniversary
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
At one point there was a Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in every Magic Kingdom-style Disney park, but Hong Kong Disneyland’s closed in 2017. The name varies across the parks, including Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast or Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue. The original is the Magic Kingdom version, and it had a soft opening on October 7, 1998 before officially opening on November 3rd.
October 8, 2003 – 17th Anniversary
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a 4-D show that first opened at Magic Kingdom in 2003, and has since opened at four other Disney parks around the world. Donald Duck tries on Mickey’s sorcerer hat causing the musical instruments to come to life. Donald then finds himself being a part of big musical hits from various animated films including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Fantasia.
December 6, 2012 (soft opening October 12) – 8th Anniversary
Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
A Little Mermaid dark ride first opened at Disney California Adventure in 2011 called The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. The following year, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid opened as part of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom: same ride, different name. The soft opening was on October 12, 2012 with the official opening on December 6th.
Happy Anniversary to all these Magic Kingdom attractions! Which of these attractions is your favourite? Which upcoming attraction are you most looking forward to its opening at Walt Disney World?
Check out the complete list of Disney blogs participating in the Blog Hop!
www.confessionsofapixietraveler.com
www.thisdisnerdlife.wordpress.com
So much of Magic Kingdom has its roots in the fall! Who knew 🙂
The Disney parks seem to have a pattern of opening attractions close to the parks anniversary. I noticed most of Disneyland’s attractions have opened in the summer over the years.
Great Disney World history!
Thank you 🙂 It’s so much fun to write
wow I learned so much! We are native to DL so it’s so interesting to hear the history of WDW (and makes me wish I went earlier than 2016 too!)
Disneyland is my home park as well! I was going to write this post about Disneyland, but turns out there are only like 3 attractions there that opened in the Fall! It would have been a very short post 🙂
Wow so many anniversaries!
I had no idea that there were so many fall anniversaries for Disney attractions. This is so cool! I love learning about history of things, so this was right up my alley.