Tomorrowland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tomorrowland | |
| Designer | Walt Disney |
| Attraction type | Themed Land |
| Theme | The Future |
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| Disneyland's Tomorrowland Logo | |
| Disneyland | |
| Opening date | July 17, 1955 |
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| Disney World's Tomorrowland Logo | |
| Magic Kingdom | |
| Opening date | October 1, 1971 |
| Tokyo Disneyland | |
| Opening date | April 15, 1983 |
| Hong Kong Disneyland | |
| Opening date | September 14, 2005 |
| Discoveryland | |
| Disneyland Park (Paris) | |
| Opening date | April 12, 1992 |
Tomorrowland is one of the many "themed lands" at the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world. Each version of the land is different and feature numerous classic and unique attractions that depict the numerous views of the future. All have the Tomorrowland name, except for Disneyland Paris, where this area is named Discoveryland.
Walt Disney was known for his futurist views and showed the American public through his television shows, how the world was moving into the future, and Tomorrowland was the realistic culmination of his views. In his own words: "Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future."
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[edit] Disneyland
[edit] Tomorrowland 1955-1967
The first Tomorrowland opened at Disneyland in 1955, with only a subset of its planned attractions due to budget cuts. Because the timeline in the first park's construction was rushed, Tomorrowland was the last land to be finished. Walt Disney was reluctant to turn his land into a corporate showcase, but when the time crunch came he accepted any offer he could. Monsanto Chemicals, American Motors, Richfield Oil, and Dutch Boy Paint were some of the many company showcases that were open in Tomorrowland in the first few years. Since the park was on a strict budget, one cost cutting idea was to use the sets from the 1954 movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as a walk through attraction, which remained until 1966. For the first four years, most of Tomorrowland was generally open space and considered to be very corporate fueled.
However it was not solely exhibits and had many attractions which have since been retired to Yesterland. Tomorrowland's showpiece was the TWA Moonliner, derived from the "Man in Space" set of three television shows in the 1950s. It was the tallest structure in the park at the time. Autopia, an opening day attraction, gave visitors a view of the soon to come National Interstate System. The Attraction still remains open, though has received numerous updates.
1957 brought Monsanto's "House of the Future," a plastic house with four wings cantilevered from a central plinth. This too had its precursors at World's Fairs, though in those cases they were simply homes with modern conveniences and aimed at housewives. Aside from displaying "modern" conveniences such as picture phones and television remote controls, this house introduced many people to their first microwave oven.
In 1959, three major attractions, the park's first billed E-ticket attractions opened. The addition of the ALWEG Monorail, Submarine Voyage, and Matterhorn (later changed to the Fantasyland realm), were so big it was televised as the second opening of Disneyland. New attractions came, as Walt Disney focused his efforts on the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. After the fair he turned his attention to a new Tomorrowland and his original Florida Project.
[edit] Tomorrowland 1967-1998
However, Disney died in December of 1966, almost seven months before a vast new Tomorrowland opened. In 1967 the area was completely rebuilt with new rides and scenery. The original layout was demolished, and a new set of buildings was erected. The addition of the Carousel theater, Flight to the Moon building, the Adventure Thru Inner Space building, a new Circle-Vision building, and the PeopleMover/Rocket Jets platform, gave Tomorrowland the "World on the Move" theme. In time, Walt Disney's idea of a Space Port, opened as Space Mountain; Star Tours; and Magic-Eye Theater opened in places of older attractions.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the planning phase of Michael Eisner's "Disney Decade" called for both American Tomorrowlands to receive makeovers. "Tomorrowland 2055" was slated to be completed by the late 1990s. The backstory of this renovation would be that with mysterious alien relics having been excavated in Disneyland, aliens were given the signal that Earth was now ready for intergalactic tourism and a century after Disneyland's opening, Disneyland would have become a popular destination for aliens visiting Earth. Within the new land were proposed attractions such as ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter; a copy of the original Magic Kingdom version, The Timekeeper; the American version from the Magic Kingdom, Plectu's Fantastic Intergalactic Revue; an audio-animatronic musical revue, and makeovers for classic attractions. However, due to financial difficulties surrounding the EuroDisney project, the plan was cut drastically and plans were shelved until 1997.
[edit] Tomorrowland 1998-Present
A new Tomorrowland opened in 1998, loosely based on Disneyland Paris' Discoveryland and a "retro-futurist" concept. In place of the slow-moving PeopleMover was the ill-fated Rocket Rods. Most of the rides remained the same, except for the removal of Circle-Vision 360, Captain EO, and Mission to Mars attraction theaters. The Rocket Jets were replaced by a similar attraction called the Astro Orbitor, placed at the entrance of the land, at ground level. The original Rocket Jets ride mechanism remained intact atop the Rocket Jets queue, converted into an unmanned show element dubbed the "Observatron". Two EPCOT attractions found their place in Tomorrowland, "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!" & "Innoventions". The whole land, including Space Mountain, was painted in bronzes, golds, and dark browns, with emerald green trims on some attractions. Landscaping, with apparent vegetable plots being planted in some locations, made reference to "neo-agrarian" concepts.
The overhaul was unpopular among many fans, and its flagship new attraction, Rocket Rods, closed in September 2000 for financial and mechanical reasons. Many shops and restaurants opened, but few new attractions were built, in accordance with policies set by Paul Pressler and Cynthia Harriss mandating the expansion of retail space. 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 of the area. The negative look of the land was commented by many Disney fans on online chat rooms and articles.
In late 2003, Matt Ouimet became president of the Disneyland Resort, and sought to change the negative trends. Space Mountain was closed for two full years, as the entire ride was refurbished and a new track was built. The empty Rocket Rods queue, the old Circle-Vision theater, was converted into "Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters", a new version of the popular attraction at the Tokyo & Florida Disney Resorts.
In February 2005, Walt Disney Imagineering approved a repaint of Tomorrowland for the Happiest Homecoming on Earth fiftieth anniversary celebration. The new paint scheme incorporates a mix of blue, white and silver while keeping a little of 1998's gold and bronze colors.
Most of Tomorrowland has been repainted and new plans are being considered for the land. Rumors on some Disney-related internet forums have been abuzz over a new film for Star Tours. In 2007, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage will open along with new monorail trains. Rumors have it that there are also plans for a return of the Rocket Jets to their original location, as well as plans for the PeopleMover track which may include variable-speed personal gyroscopes, the pod transport system used by Syndrome in The Incredibles, the People Mover seen in the futuristic city in the movie Meet the Robinsons, or a new PeopleMover altogether.
[edit] Attractions
- Astro Orbitor
- Autopia
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Disneyland Monorail System
- Disneyland Railroad
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage(opening June 11, 2007)
- Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
- Innoventions
- Space Mountain
- Star Tours
[edit] "Tomorrowland 2055"
The first Idea that the Imagineers had for a 'New Tomorrowland' for Disneyland was Tomorrowland 2055. Bruce Gordon and Tony Baxer (of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad fame) were to champion this grand rethemeing. Picture Disneyland in 2055. A time when quite of a few extraterrestrials have made the trek to Anaheim and have set up shop in Tomorrowland.
Many buildings woud be redone, to match the new theme such as what used to be the Carousel of Progress. That would be a full-sized flying saucer that's reminiscent of the Mother Ship from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Were you to wander up that gangplank, you could sample the out-of-this-world entertainment presented at "Plectu's Fantastic Intergalactic Review.", an animatronic show. The aliens included this flying circus' three-armed ringmaster, P.T. Quantum as well as some giant swamp creature that -- as part of its performance -- rose out of the muck and sang operatic arias with its multiple mouths.
Overhead, glistening steel catwalks allow guests access to a whole new level of Tomorrowland shops and restaurants. On the ground, odd crystalline shapes that glowed brightly and weirdly shaped other-worldly plants would have given this side of the park a truly exotic feel.
Also, Tomorrowland 2055 would be where Dusneyland got it's verison of ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter before Walt Disney World, an attraction that was then thought of as a franchise attraction, being at every Disney theme park. It woud be situated in a building with a roof that appeared to be held up by statues of X.S, Tech employees.
"Tomorrowland 2055" would have become a real showplace at Disneyland. It could have set a whole new standard for theming and storytelling at the Anaheim park by taking guests on a fantastic trip to the future. But all of this was stopped by Eisner. Animatronic-heavy shows like this are expensive to build and difficult to maintain. Plus Disney CEO Michael Eisner reportedly never really warmed to the whole "Plectu" idea. In meetings where the Imagineers would try and pitch him various different versions of the show, Eisner would allegedly say things like "A revolving theater full of singing aliens? How is that different from what they've got at Chuck E. Cheese? We need a better idea for this show."
[edit] The Magic Kingdom
See also: List of current Magic Kingdom attractions
The second Tomorrowland opened in 1971 at The Magic Kingdom park in the Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, and, like at Disneyland, opened unfinished. But by 1975, the entire land was completed, and was built much closer to Walt Disney's vision for Tomorrowland.
Some of the most popular Disney park attractions premiered here, such as Space Mountain which opened in 1975 and is now part of every Tomorrowland around the world. Some classic Tomorrowland attractions which have closed in Disneyland still live on at the Magic Kingdom: the PeopleMover is here under the name of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, and the Carousel of Progress was moved here from California.
For most of its history, this Tomorrowland's color scheme was predominantly white with soft blues. In 1994, using the just-completed Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris as its guide, Tomorrowland was renovated to resemble a galactic spaceport as it would have been envisioned by the science-fiction comic strips of the early 20th century, like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. In essence, Tomorrowland would represent "the future that never was." Today's Tomorrowland has a much more metallic look, along with darker blues and purples, especially along its main concourse leading from the central hub.
[edit] Attractions
- Astro Orbiter
- Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
- Space Mountain
- Stitch's Great Escape!
- Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority
- Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
- Galaxy Palace Theater
- Tomorrowland Arcade (Also known as the Tomorrowland Light and Power Co.)
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
[edit] Closed Attractions
[edit] Tokyo Disneyland
At Tokyo Disneyland, the Imagineers set out to create an urban Tomorrowland, much more like a working community than a showcase of future technology. The rides are much more technology-specific, and effects are much more expensive, due to a much larger budget from The Oriental Land Company. Many see the Tokyo Disneyland Tomorrowland as the definitive representation of Walt Disney's vision.
The paint scheme of the Tomorrowland at Tokyo Disneyland is also mostly white.
[edit] Attractions
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Grand Circuit Raceway
- MicroAdventure!
- Space Mountain
- Star Tours
- Showbase
- Starcade
- Star Jets
- Monsters Inc: Ride And Go Seek (Coming 2009)
[edit] Closed Attractions
- Circle-Vision 360°
- Meet the World
- Captain EO
- Magic Journeys
- Eternal Seas
[edit] Disneyland Park, Paris
Disneyland Resort Paris realizes Tomorrowland with an entirely new concept, Discoveryland. European culture was used distinctively in the park and Discoveryland uses the ideas of famed European thinkers and explorers, with Jules Verne featured most prominently.
Architecturally designed using Jules Verne's vision of the future as inspiration, the land is laid out very differently. The major Tomorrowland classics are there, such as Autopia and Star Tours, but Space Mountain is significantly changed. Originally conceived as "Discovery Mountain" it was to hold more than one attraction and a restaurant. But due to budget cuts, it was finished in 1995 as an improved version of the classic, but named Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune (From the earth to the moon).
Bordering the Space Mountain show building is Lake Nautilus, with a walk-through recreation of the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Also in Tomorrowland is Autopia and "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience". The showcase attraction on opening day was a Circle-Vision 360 film, titled Le Visionarium. The attraction featured two time-travelling robots that take Jules Verne into the world of the today, which was the future he dreamed and came true.
Parts of Discoveryland have been heavily inspired by the abandoned Disneyland expansion concept, Discovery Bay, which was to have sat on the north bay of the Rivers of America in the Californian park.
Space Mountain was completely refurbished in 2005 for the Happiest Celebration on Earth event, with a new soundtrack and special effects. Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast opened April 8, 2006, in the former building of the Le Visionarium attraction, which closed in September 2004.
[edit] Attractions
- Autopia
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
- Disneyland Railroad- Discoveryland Station
- Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
- Les Mystères du Nautilus
- Orbitron, Machines Volantes
- Space Mountain: Mission 2
- Star Tours
- Videopolis Theatre (The Legend Of The Lion King)
- L'Astroport Services Interstellaires
- Arcades Alpha & Beta
[edit] Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005 with its own version of Tomorrowland. Like the newer generations of the American Tomorrowlands, Hong Kong's version features an emphasis on metallic trim, with lots of blue and purple hues.
[edit] Attractions
- Autopia
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Orbitron
- Space Mountain
- Stitch Encounter
- UFO Zone
[edit] See also
| The themed lands of a Magic Kingdom-style park: |
| Main Street, U.S.A. | Fantasyland | Tomorrowland | Frontierland | Adventureland |
| New Orleans Square | Liberty Square | Mickey's Toontown | Critter Country |
