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By Mike Patrick, Jr., M.D.
www.pediacast.org
One of the things I love about Disney is their respect for tradition. Think about it. What other 35-year-old theme park is populated with opening-day attractions that still look new? Of course, with progress, some change is inevitable. But with Disney, that change is often done in a way that celebrates the past. So let's continue our tour of Fantasyland with an eye on tradition and change.
First up is Peter Pan's Flight. This attraction was running on day one in California (1955) and Florida (1971). Sure, the technology is outdated, but doesn't that add to its appeal? Floridian Moms and Dads and Californian Grandparents can share with their kids and grandkids the same experience they recall from their youth.
Of course, there have been some changes. For example, the original California attraction did not include a Peter Pan image. That's right. You see, the guest was Peter Pan, soaring over the streets of London and then off to Neverland aboard a one-of-a-kind flying ship. Pretty cool concept. Unfortunately, the masses failed to make the connection, and complaint after complaint registered with guest services. Why in the world was Peter Pan absent from his own ride?
When Imagineers designed Florida's version, they included Peter from the get go. And, in 1983, after decades of complaint, Imagineers finally added Peter to the California ride, leaving the masses with the task of finding a new cause to champion.
Peter Pan's flight is another example of forced perspective, and the London fly-over illustrates the technique perfectly. Moving cars are tiny lights on the ground, and building tops are exaggerated in size. This provides riders with the feeling of flying higher than is actually possible given the physical constraints of the building.
Another opening-day attraction at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom is the Mad Tea Party. It's such a simple concept and at first glance seems a bit unDisney. After all, spinning rides are a staple of county fairs and parking-lot carnivals. But in typical Disney fashion, Imagineers took the ordinary and made it--well--unordinary.
The Mad Tea Party puts riders in the middle of Wonderland's off-kilter Unbirthday Party. The March Hare's quaint country cottage doubles as the ride's control booth, and the brightly-colored tent (Florida only) and Japanese tea lanterns add a touch of whimsical festivity. Fellow party-goers, like the Mad Hatter and Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, and even Alice herself, make frequent appearances throughout the day. And then there's the music--a fanciful crescendo that climaxes with the whirring of gears and a jolting end to the party. When you think about it--the unlikely occasion, the strange characters, the dizzying ride, the crazy music, and the abrupt stop--you begin to understand what Alice went through on her Wonderland Adventure.
Speaking of Adventure, remember my earlier comment about progress? Well, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a Fantasyland example of inevitable change. This attraction opened in 1999, replacing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. As it turns out, Mr. Toad did not go quietly into this dark night. Before the last jalopy made its final run-through, Toad saw mass ridings and peaceful protests from amphibian enthusiasts. Of course, they can still ride with Mr. Toad--they just have to travel to California to do so.
The Imagineers did pay tribute to the old attraction. Near the beginning of the new Pooh ride--in Owl's house--you'll find a portrait of Mr. Toad handing over the property deed to Owl. I guess it's not really Disney's fault. Toad sold the joint.
And the picture isn't the only connection between the two rides. You know Pooh is based on the works of A.A. Milne, right? But what you may not know is A.A. Milne also authored a stage production called "Toad of Toad Hall," which was based on Kenneth Grahame's novel "The Wind in the Willows," which is the same work that inspired Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Talk about a tangled web of connections!
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a classic dark ride with a new-millennial Imagineering twist. From bouncing with Tigger to Pooh's out-of-body dream sequence to the Heffalump's smoke ring to the rain rain rain coming down down down, the Pooh ride has enough tricks up its sleeve to at least dampen the disappointment of losing Mr. Toad.
Another new Fantasyland feature is Mickey's PhilharMagic. This twelve-minute larger-than-life 3-D experience was the largest animated project ever produced for a Disney theme park. This cooperative effort from Walt Disney Imagineering, Theme Park Productions, and Walt Disney Feature Animation resulted in the company's CGI debut. With the recent acquisition of Pixar, a pioneer in the use of computer-assisted imagery, expect to see plenty of similarly-produced films at theaters near you.
Mickey's PhilharMagic is a homecoming of sorts. It's building--the Fantasyland Theater--housed the Mickey Mouse Review on opening day. The Revue was a stage production of instrument-playing Audio-Animatronic characters led by a mechanical Mickey. The show closed its doors and moved to Tokyo Disneyland in 1987. Next, Magic Journeys occupied the space until 1994, when the Legend of the Lion King moved in. Then, in 2003, Maestro Mickey returned.
Of course, things have changed a bit for the conductor. This time around, he leads over 80 real-life musicians and singers who lent talent to the soundtrack. Famed composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice created the music, and the original character voice talents returned for a majority of the roles.
Most of Donald Duck's lines were edited from old films featuring the original quacker: Clarence Nash. In fact, the audience hears only four newly-created lines (spoken by Tony Anselmo) in the show.
Of course Disney doesn't stop with amazing animation and a rich soundtrack. Guest are literally engulfed with special effects. When Donald flies, you feel the rushing wind. When he swims, you feel the splash. And when an apple pie pops out of the oven... well, there's no adequate way to describe the experience. You just have to be there!
Well, that puts a wrap on our tour of Fantasyland. I don't know about you, but my legs are tired. As always, you can find more information in the Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom. You'll discover the relationship between Snow White's Scary Adventure and 101 Dalmatians. You'll read about those responsible for Fantasyland topiaries and learn the methods Imagineers use to extend an attraction's theme into the surrounding landscape.
I hear you can pick up a copy of the Field Guide at Amazon.com and other online bookstores--in case you haven't planned an upcoming trip to the Kingdom.
Join me next week as we leave Fantasyland and head over for a tour of Mickey's house.
Dr Mike is a board-certified pediatrician and host of Pediacast: A Pediatric Podcast for Parents. You can read his blog, listen to the podcast, and sign up for his newsletter at www.pediacast.org.
COPYRIGHT 2006 MIKE PATRICK JR
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