If you have been reading for, well, the slightest length of time, then you know I'm a Central Floridian.... born and bred. I'm also a Central Floridian who has a great love of the House of Mouse
A while ago, this article showed up on Buzzfeed and was quickly shared by all my fellow Disney-loving FB friends. Normally, I would just link to a fun article, but this was too great to just link. Just to be clear.... I did NOT write this. Jessica Probus wrote it and did a really great job.
Also, to be clear..... I'm adding my own thoughts in orange. In no way
am I claiming that my thoughts are a part of the original post, are the
opinion of Jessica Probus, or the opinion of Buzzfeed.
29 Things You’ll Never See At Disney World Again
It might be a whole new world, but we kinda miss the old one.
posted on March 18, 2014, at 11:19 a.m.
Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed
1. PUSH the Talking Trash Can
After their contract ran out with the
Orlando-based robotics company that made this animatronic trash can,
this beloved 19-year-old character will no longer roam Tomorrow-land.
The good news is that you’ll never have to walk more than 30 steps to
throw your trash away.
True, PUSH isn't around, but there are still some copycat type of trash cans at various places in Disney World. Also true that there are trash cans everywhere.
2. Individual Ride Tickets
When WDW opened in 1971, each ride required a
separate ticket, which was not included in the price of admission
($3.75 at the time, which, adjusted for inflation, would be $21.66
today). Each ride was categorized as a letter from A–E depending on the
level of excitement. The Carousel was A, Space Mountain was E. Disney’s
more thrill-based rides are still referred to by those in the know as
“E-Ticket” rides. The ticket prices ranged from 10–90 cents (50 cents–$5
today).
That means for the price of buying one adult ticket in 2014 ($99) you
could get admission and 15 tickets to ride Space Mountain. Or 154 rides
on Cinderella’s Carousel.Or, you are a Floridian with an annual pass so you get your money's worth throughout the year. Personally, I'm fine with not having tickets.
3. A Sea of Yellow Mickey Ponchos
Werner Weiss / Via yesterland.com
When it rained at WDW (which happens
every day in Florida), the crowds would be covered in those overpriced
plastic bags known as ponchos. The bright yellow ones with the giant
Mickey on the back are a thing of the past — the company switched to
clear ponchos in 2003.
I'd forgotten about the yellow ponchos until this article, lol. What was funnier was when you were at Sea World or Busch Gardens and a yellow poncho would come out. (Just so you know, we mentally mock people who wear the wrong characters to the wrong parks)
4. “The Making of Me,” a Live-Action Video About Sex and Birth
In this 15-minute video shown in the
Wonders of Life pavilion at EPCOT, host Martin Short pulls a Marty
McFly, going back in time to witness his own conception using actual
footage from his birth. The pavilion has been closed since 2007, but you
can still watch the whole thing on YouTube here.
LOL.... I went to that ride once. Hysterical.
5. Rhea Pearlman as a Time-Traveling Robot
The Timekeeper was a 1992
movie starring Robin Williams (as the first Audio Animatronic) and a
robot named 9-Eye ( Pearlman). The film was shown in a 360-degree Circle
Vision theater and took the audience on a journey through time, during
which a curious Jules Verne is accidentally brought into the future from
the 1900 World’s Fair. Wacky hijinks ensue. See snippets of the
original film here. Located in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom, it has since been replaced by the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.
I do not miss this, at all.
6. Powdered Pink Soap in the Bathrooms
Until 2001, all bathrooms at Walt
Disney World used powdered pink Borax soap instead of liquid hand soap,
which was easier to clean up off the floor. The light pink soap had to
be removed after the 9/11-era Anthrax scare.
I don't miss this, either. My hands always felt grimy and unclean after using it.
7. An Aerial Gondola Lift Between Lands
The WDW “Skyway” took guests between
Fantasyland and Tomorrowland on a Swiss-designed aerial ropeway. The
attraction was closed in 1999 but the towers weren’t removed from the
park until 10 years later in 2009 during the renovation of Fantasyland.
Rumor has it that the ride was closed for safety reasons after a park
employee suffered a fatal fall during maintenance, but the company
maintains they had plans to close before the unfortunate incident and
the Skyways at Disneyland and Tokyo Disney had already been closed in
1994 and 1998 respectively.
I used to LOVE the Skyway. I'm pretty sure I'd be scared to death to ride in one now, though.
8. The Legitimately Scary Alien Encounter Ride
Located in Tomorrowland, this
“ExtraTERRORestrial” encounter had everything: Tyra Banks as the
pre-show alien host, Tim Curry as a robot, binaural sound effects, total
darkness, lasers, animatronic predators, simulated alien tongues, and
an exploding monster. One of the few attractions specifically not suited
for children under 12, it was replaced with the much tamer but
similarly styled Stitch’s Great Escape in 2006.
I always refused to go on this......
9. A Semi-Submerged Submarine Ride
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
was a pioneering passenger ride at Magic Kingdom that used underwater
animatronics, forced perspective, and bubble machines to make guests
believe they were “diving” under the ocean. The “Nautilis” boats had
guests sitting below water level looking through portholes at real and
mythical aquatic life, including eels, turtles, mermaids, and the lost
city of Atlantis. Despite being popular, the ride was closed in 1994 due
to high maintenance costs and low capacity.
I only went on this once. The line was always hours long (much like Peter Pan is now), so we just never bothered.
10. This Terrifying Witch
After “crashing” through a wall in
Snow White’s Scary Adventure at Magic Kingdom, guests were faced with
this scary animatronic witch. The ride was known during its 41-year
existence as a rite of passage for Disney’s youngest guests who were
routinely frightened to the point of tears by this cackling hag. It was
replaced in 2012 with the Princess Fairytale Hall.
The witch never bothered me and I was a scaredy cat.
11. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Allen Huffman / Via yesterland.com
This stylized cartoon-like ride was based on the Disney version of The Wind in the Willows.
The well-loved ride closed in 1998 and was replaced by The Many
Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Fun fact: In front of the Haunted Mansion
ride there’s a stone in the pet cemetery dedicated to none other than
Mr. Toad. The actual grave marker is not easily legible from guest areas
but according to park lore, it reads:
DEAR MR. TOADIT’S SAD BUT TRUE
NOT NEARLY AS MARKETABLE
AS WINNIE THE POOH
I used to love this ride, but I have to admit that I prefer Winnie the Pooh.
12. Mickey and Minnie’s (Separate) Country Houses
Although it’s never been cleared up
whether Mickey and Minnie mouse are officially married, until 2012 they
maintained separate but equally cartoonish country houses at Magic
Kingdom in the since-closed Mickey’s ToonTown Fair area.
First off, I don't think they're married. While cute, I don't really miss these.
13. A 200-Foot Mickey Hand Over Spaceship Earth
Werner Weiss / Via yesterland.com
The icon tower at EPCOT was
originally built as part of the Millennium Celebration. Weighing 500,000
pounds and standing over 257 feet high, it was the tallest structure at
the Walt Disney World Resort until it was taken down in 2007.
This was fun.
14. The Spirit of Saudia Arabia, Eritrea, Israel and Easter Island
During the 15-month Millennium
Celebration, the Millennium Village pavilion at EPCOT had interactive
exhibits from more than 30 countries that weren’t in the permanent World
Showcase. The exhibits included fashion, history, and cuisine presented
in displays and presentations from international representatives. The
pavilion is now an event space used during the Food & Wine festival.
I'm sure I visited this, but I have no recollection.
15. An Island Filled with Lemurs, Galapagos Tortoises and Exotic Birds
Discovery Island, located in Bay Lake
near the Magic Kingdom resorts, was a zoological park accessible to
guests by boat. When it closed in 1999, the animals were moved to
sanctuaries at Animal Kingdom. There was a plan at one point to join
with the creators of the video game Myst to turn the island into an interactive themed experience, but the idea never went past concept.
I never went to this, but I vaguely remember it. I know people try to sneak on the island (too funny, imo), but I don't see the need for the island as an attraction with Animal Kingdom being around.
16. The World’s Last Dusky Seaside Sparrow
Located on Discovery Island, Avian Way was home to many species of birds, including the largest community of breeding Scarlet Ibises
in the U.S. It was also home to the last known Dusky Seaside Sparrow in
the world, known as “Orange Band,” who died in 1987. The species was
officially declared extinct in 1990.
Interesting.
17. A Waterslide Using Real Lake Water
Opened in 1978, River Country was a
rustic “watering hole”-themed water park that used filtered water from
nearby Bay Lake. In 2001 when brain-eating amoebas were found in several
Florida lakes, the park was permanently closed. It has since been abandoned.
I'm sure they'll do something with this, eventually. Florida is hot enough that they can always use another water park.
18. Minnie Moo
Minnie Moo was a Holstein cow from
Minnesota with a distinct Mickey-shaped spot. She was brought to Magic
Kingdom, where she lived at Grandma’s Duck Barn until she died in 2000.
Yeah........ Minnie Moo once licked my mouth.
19. Human Body Probes
Body Wars was a simulator ride in the
Wonders of Life pavilion where guests were “miniaturized” by a
futuristic science company to be able to enter the human body for the
purpose of treatment and diagnostics. Similar to Star Tours, this ride
was one of the earlier and more jerky simulators at the park. The
attraction was closed in 2007.
Hahahaha.... We went to EPCOT as a field trip in the 6th grade and going on this was one of our assignments.
20. A Giant Pink Candy-Covered Castle
For the 25th anniversary of Magic
Kingdom in 1996, Cinderella’s Castle was transformed into a giant
birthday cake. It took over 400 gallons of pink paint to transform the
18-story structure, which included 20-foot candles, 5-foot gummy bears,
5-foot gumdrops, 6-foot Life Savers, 3-foot lollipops, and 2-foot gum
balls. The icing was inflatable, and it covered more than 1,000 feet
until 1998, when the castle was restored to normal.
This was super fun. I had a couple of shirts with the birthday castle on it and may still have a keychain. As fun as this was, I do prefer the castle in its original glory.
21. A Castle Covered in Toilet Paper
On Nov. 16, 2004, Cinderella’s Castle was covered in toilet paper and graffiti for the grand opening of Stitch’s Great Escape.
I'm sure this was a treat to clean up.
22. Dancing Anthropomorphic Produce
Food Rocks, located in EPCOT’s The
Land, was a “mock rock concert that delivered nutritional messages to
guests and was hosted by Füd Wrapper, inspired by the rapper Ton Loc.”
It has since been replaced by the popular Soarin’ ride.
Soarin' is better. Trust me on this.
23. Double-decker Bus Service
At EPCOT, these buses served as
transportation between the World Showcase and Future world. They stopped
carrying guests in the mid-1990s, but the special decorated red bus on
the right still takes characters around for a mini-parade.
I do wish this service would come back. That stinking lake is really big.
24. A Tamer Mission to Space
Chris Bales / Via yesterland.com
Before it was Alien Encounter, the
Magic Kingdom space was occupied by Mission to Mars. This ride was the
primitive version of the current Mission: SPACE, just without all the
NASA-generated centrifuge simulators…or the deaths.
I think I went on this once..... I've never been on Mission: SPACE.
25. A Parade with 600,000 Miniature Lights
The SpectroMagic parade at Magic
Kingdom, featuring elaborate, brightly lit floats of Disney characters
and scenes, ran until 2010. The wildly popular score by composers John
Debney and Steve Skorija featured Disney music arranged into a 14-minute
suite, which can be purchased on compact disc here.
I mean, I loved SpectroMagic and the score. However, I like the Electric Parade just as much. Buzzfeed is reaching on this one, imo.
26. Keel Boats Named Gullywhumper and Bertha Mae
Werner Weiss / Via yesterland.com
These boats, featured in Disney’s Davey Crockett
shows, were a B-ticket ride that took guests on a trip around Tom
Sawyer Island. After one of the boats capsized in 1997, the attraction
was closed, and one boat was sold for $15,000 on eBay. The other boat
was installed on Tom Sawyer Island as a prop.
I don't even remember this. We always took the rafts.
27. Scale Replica Facades of the Golden Girls and Empty Nest House
The shows were produced by Touchstone
Pictures, a subsidiary of Disney, and many of the houses were used for
external shots during some or all of the show seasons. They were also a
big stop on the Backlot Tour, before being demolished in 2003 and
replaced with the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.
I REALLY miss this one. I personally can't stand the stunt show. Over the years, they would add some and it was just neat to see.
28. A Cartoon-Themed Lingerie Shop
Photograph © Copyright 2008 Matthew C. Gallagher / Via etckt.com
Jessica’s of Hollywood was a lingerie store at Disney’s Pleasure Island named for Jessica Rabbit of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The store closed in 1992, but the neon sign with the swinging leg was used on the Planet Hollywood sign until 1996.
LOL.... As I was 9 when the store closed, I don't remember it being a lingerie shop. I do remember the sign, though.
29. Ryan Gosling and Justin Timberlake Filming the All New Mickey Mouse Club
The 1990s reboot of the once popular Mickey Mouse Club
was filmed at Walt Disney Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Mousketeers
included Britney Spears, Chrsitina Aguilera, Keri Russell, Ryan
Gosling, Justin Timberlake, and JC Chasez. The show was canceled because
merchandise wasn’t selling and the producers felt the cast wasn’t
talented enough to carry the show.
I *ADORED* MMC. In fact, my mom was going to let me audition when I was old enough, but they cancelled the show. Just think...... I could have grown up next to Ryan Gosling and Justin Timberlake. Two of my most favorite males ever.
2 comments:
holy cow. This post just made me so sad now! I had totally forgotten about all of those. Disney has changed so much, I want the disney of old back!
I know I will miss seeing Mickey & Minnie's houses on our trip. I worked in Toon Town so I will always love it even though it's no longer there. I know I will have my own moment of silence when we visit ;) I miss the display on spaceship earth too. I remember it because I was working there in 2000. It was strange to see it years later with nothing.
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