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TOMORROWLAND |
| (1955—Present) BACKSTORY: Budget cuts/construction deadlines caused it to be finished last with Disney reluctantly changing it into a corporate showcase featuring Crane (“Bathroom of Tomorrow,” 1956–1960), Kaiser Aluminum (“Hall of Fame,” July 17, 1955–1960), Monsanto Chemicals (“Hall of Chemistry,” July 17, 1955–September 1966), American Motors, Richfield Oil (“The World Beneath Us,” July 17, 1955–1960), American Dairy Association Dairy Bar (January 21, 1956 to September 1, 1958) and Dutch Boy Paint (July 17, 1955–1963). One cost cutting idea used sets from 1954’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” as a walk-through attraction. Tomorrowland’s showpiece was the TWA Moonliner, derived from the “Man in Space” TV shows. Autopia gave visitors a future glimpse of the National Interstate System, and the Tomorrowland Boats gave guests...well, not much, as they were quickly rethemed within a year. 1957 brought Monsanto’s “House of the Future,”. In 1959, the unveiling of three major E-ticket attractions (the first ones) ALWEG Monorail, Submarine Voyage, and Matterhorn (later changed to Fantasyland) were televised as the 2nd Disneyland opening.
Completely rebuilt in 1967, it was christened the “New” Tomorrowland on July 2, 1967, with new rides & scenery (shortly after Walt’s passing). The Carousel Theater, Flight to the Moon, Adventure Thru Inner Space, a new Circle-Vision building, and the PeopleMover/Rocket Jets platform gave Tomorrowland the “World on the Move” theme. Eventually, Walt’s idea of a Space Port opened as Space Mountain; Star Tours & Magic-Eye Theater opened in places of older attractions. In 1998, Michael Eisner’s “Disney Decade” called for a redesign loosely based on Disneyland Paris’ Discoveryland and a “retro-futurist” concept which debuted on May 22, 1998. The Rocket Rods replaced the PeopleMover and Circle-Vision 360, Captain EO, and Mission to Mars attraction theaters were removed. The Rocket Jets were replaced by a similar attraction called the Astro Orbitor, placed at ground level in the Tomorrowland entrance. The original mechanism remained intact atop the Rocket Jets queue, converted into an unmanned show element dubbed the “Observatron.” Two EPCOT attractions were added, “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!” & “Innoventions.” The land was painted in bronzes, golds, and dark browns, with emerald green trims on some attractions. Landscaping included vegetable plots being planted in some areas. The overhaul was unpopular and its flagship new attraction, Rocket Rods, closed in Sept. 2000 for financial & mechanical reasons. Shops & restaurants opened with few new attractions in accordance with Paul Pressler & Cynthia Harriss’ policies mandating retail expansion. The Rocket Rods building was left empty, paint peeled around the land, Space Mountain was in danger of track failure, and one by one, sponsors left Innoventions. The placement of the Astro-Orbitor led to congestion problems around the entrance. Matt Ouimet became Disneyland Resort president late 2003 and things began to improve: Space Mountain closed for a two year refurbishment and the empty Rocket Rods queue/old Circle-Vision theater was converted into “Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters.” Imagineering also approved a new color scheme in Feb. 2005: blue, white, and silver while keeping touches of gold & bronze. Most photos available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below. |
Tomorrowland Attraction Posters |
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Tomorrowland Photos: 1950’s |
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Tomorrowland Photos: 1960’s |
New Tomorrowland Construction, 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
) Dec. 1966 |
1967—1969Including “Carousel of Progress” (July 2, 1967–1974) BACKSTORY: Created for the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair, and used the Sherman Brother’s song, “There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” Guests sat in a theater that rotated in a circle and stopped at different scenes through different eras that showcased changes in the way we live. The Carousel was located in the section formerly occupied by the Space Bar restaurant. |
1970’s & 1980’sIncluding “America Sings” (June 29, 1974–1988) BACKSTORY: Replacing the show in The Carousel of Progress, this salute to the Great American Songbook really was somewhat out of place in Tomorrowland. Filled with 114 Audio-Animatronic comic animals (including a pig singing “Bill Bailey” voiced by Golden Horseshoe legend Betty Taylor), most of the animals found a new home at “Splash Mountain” in Critter Country once this show closed. Songs for this show included “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “Joy to the World,” “Old Chisholm Trail,” and “Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay.” |
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Tomorrowland Photos: 2000+ |
) Tomorrowland Sign, October 2006 |
) Tomorrowland and former People Mover Track, Dec. 2006 |
) Jan. 2007 |
) Redd Rocket’s Pizza, May 2007 |
) May 2007 |
) Oct. 2007 |
) Oct. 2007 |
) Oct. 2007 |
) Oct. 2007 |
) Dec. 2007 |
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