Five Gone-But-Not-Forgotten Disney Moments
As we get ready for Galaxy’s Edge, Guardians of the Galaxy, and a host of new entertainment spectacles coming our way, this is a good time to take a fond look back at beloved attractions that have come and gone. While we typically think of true Disney classics like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Maelstrom, and Horizons (just to name a few), I thought I’d take a “go with me here” trip and talk about some specific attraction scenes and off-the-beaten-path memories that I treasure to this day. (And it was really hard to keep the list down to only five!). Since it’s drizzling outside as I write this, I think it only appropriate to start with a little rain…
And It Rained…
The Living Seas was actually the second attraction I ever visited at Epcot (after Spaceship Earth), and I can still remember the Hydrolators and the descent to Sea Base Alpha (it took me a few trips before I realized I actually wasn’t going down!). But the special moment I’ll never forget was in the introductory film…as we saw the oceans forming, beginning with a few tentative drops of water and the unforgettable narration, “And then that cloud covered planet waits…and waits…and waits…until finally those clouds of gas and steam condense and rain upon that planet…and they rain…and rain…and rain. The deluge.” I don’t know why that particular moment has always stuck with me, but no matter how many times I visited the pavilion that was the one moment I couldn’t wait for. Somehow it perfectly embodied the philosophy of Epcot…to discover and explore the world around us, both past and future. This was a chance to journey millions of years into the past…and as we pulled away from that tiny pool of water to see the great expanse of the newly formed ocean I could truly appreciate the grand spectacle that was this…our Spaceship Earth. (See what I did there?)
The Spaceship Earth Descent
Speaking of which, let’s go back to that first attraction I ever visited at Epcot…Spaceship Earth. To this day I never tire of this journey through time, and the attraction is filled with memorable scenes and unforgettable details. One thing I will always miss though was the descent back to the base of the giant sphere after seeing the image of a lonely Earth floating in a celestial myriad of stars. Today of course we take that opportunity to take a peek into our future, but I will always treasure the previous incarnation of the attraction, which showed you glimpses of the future and the wonders of communication that awaited us. (Some of course have now come to fruition, such as video calls). However, it was the fiber optic city of tomorrow that always made my heart jump up into my throat; and the stirring music that brought a tear to my eye. Spaceship Earth continues to be one of my favorite attractions, but I will never forget that brief journey into the future, and the dreams I had of one day living in a city like that.
Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats
And now we’ll take a whimsical turn into Adventureland. This was a curious side “attraction,” on that most Guests overlooked on their way to the Jungle Cruise. And admittedly it was never at the top of my list of “must-do things.” But every once in a while, my daughter and I would take a moment to pilot our own Junior Jungle Boat. It was silly, it was fun, and it always made us laugh. Sadly, as hard as I tried, I could never navigate my way around the volcanoes. The Junior Jungle Boats were always a pleasant diversion, but most importantly it made one thing perfectly clear…in no way was I qualified to pilot an actual Jungle Cruise boat. You can thank me now, fellow cruisers. (If I had piloted the boat we surely would have made the list of “never seen again” travelers that you can find in the queue.)
New York Street
This wasn’t an attraction per se, but I’ll never forget those care-free strolls down New York Street in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (Though let’s not mince words, I will absolutely be first in line for Galaxy’s Edge…or 23,587th in line, however it works out). This was an area filled with oft-overlooked details, and once I realized it was a place worth exploring (rather than just a thoroughfare to other areas of the parks), I was rewarded with a wealth of tiny details and clever references that I had never noticed before. From The China Bowl Restaurant to the R.C. Brothers Grand Pianos store front, there was so much to see here that you could spend an afternoon exploring and taking it all in (and we haven’t even gotten to San Francisco’s Grand Avenue yet.) But perhaps my favorite detail was the innocuous subway sign for the “W” and “D” lines, a tribute to the man who started it all.
The Lights of Winter
With Christmas right around the corner (OK, I know it’s a ways off yet but I can’t wait!), I wanted to end with one of the things I will always miss the most, The Lights of Winter Christmas Display at Epcot. These brilliantly lit archways lined the promenade to World Showcase, and the colorful lights danced in perfect synchronization to the holiday music playing in the background. It was a show that perfectly embodied one of the ideals of Epcot: the exploration and discovery of new technologies. This was a light show unlike any other, and it was also host to one the most magical serendipitous moments you could ever experience; the moment your monorail passed right through the heart of this mesmerizing light show as you traveled around Future World on your way to the station. If you were fortunate enough to experience that moment, it was one that would surely live in your heart forever. I know it will for me.
Those are just a few special moments from years gone by that I will never forget. Do you have any of your own? Please share them with us in the comments below and we can stroll down memory lane together…Disney-style!
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