Another “Tentacle Times” review gave the show “5 tentacles (out of eight).”
An unsigned review reads, “I laughed my head off…Literally. If found, please return my head to Monsters, Inc. lost and found. Thank you.”
The Scary Reporter gave the attraction “3 ½ SPIKES.”
The Monstropolis Horn proclaims, “These monsters are so funny, it’s scary!”
“Dr. Harvey Furrystein” leaves a note that reads: “If laughter is the best medicine, then check yourself into the Laugh Floor and you’ll feel better. If not, call me and I’ll write you a prescription for something stronger.”
The critic for the “Monstropolis Voice” noted that, “I laughed. I cried. Then I laughed again. Then I cried one more time. Then I sighed. Then I coughed. Then I had a lozenge.”
The “Daily Glob” proclaims that the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is a “NEW HIT SHOW.”
A series of hilarious notes between Mike Wazowski’s parents are also displayed:
A note from Mrs. Lawrence Wazowski says, “Mike Wazowski is the funniest son I’ve ever had.”
Mr. Lawrence Wazowski then explains, “Mike Wazowski is the only son you’ve ever had.”
Mrs. Wazowski then asks, “Are you saying he’s not funny?”
Mr. Wazowski finally replies that, “He’s hilarious. I’m very proud of him. Now what’s for dinner?”
Guests will also see a “LAUGH SYSTEM DIAGRAM” on one wall in the queue that explains the power collecting process for Monsters Inc. The old process, labeled “THEN,” explains that “Matching child to ideal monster to produce super scream” was “Refined into dependable energy.” The new process, labeled “NOW,” explains that “Human laughter [is] 10 times more powerful than screams” and “More humane + more laughs = MORE POWER!”
Guests will see the small outline for a door in the attraction queue that is labeled “MAINTENANCE CLOSET.” A star shaped sticker has been placed on that door with the name “MIKE WAZOWSKI.”
As guests prepare to enter the theatre, they are given instructions on how to text jokes to the monsters. Through this interactive experience, some of those jokes will be used during the actual attraction. Guests will also see a pre-show video starring Roz, which includes updates from Monsters University. In this video, guests learn that the comedians they are about to see are still in school.
Guests will also see a sign that reads “Scare Factory 17” hanging above a set of doors that lead into the theatre. However, another banner that reads “Laugh” has been placed over the “Scare” portion of the sign.
Once guests enter the theatre, they will see “SCARE POWER TESTING FACILITY 17” painted on the wall in the rear. However, thanks to a couple of specifically placed banners, the sign now reads “LAUGH POWER COMEDY FACILITY 17.”
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor uses innovative “digital puppetry” where live-action actors backstage perform the voices for the characters and manipulate the movements of the computer generated monsters on the theatre screen. Similar technology is used in The Seas with Nemo & Friends in Epcot. This allows the characters to talk in real time with and even interact with the audience.
Mike Wazowski serves as the “Monster of Ceremony.” During the attraction, guests are entertained by a variety of monsters telling corny jokes, including some suggested by those in the audience. A large canister in the theatre fills with “power” as guests laugh. According to the story, guests can only exit the theatre once the canister if full.
More Tomorrowland Magical Secrets
Tomorrowland was once home to the most interesting trashcan in Walt Disney World. Known affectionately as “Push,” this otherwise non-descript trashcan would surprise guests by randomly standing up and walking.
One of the most interesting objects in Tomorrowland is a large granite ball that hovers on a thin layer of water. This is actually a futuristic navigation device and includes a map of the universe. Guests can easily move this ball with a slight push.
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, the Magic Kingdom’s largest counter service restaurant, is the first Earth restaurant franchise from outer space. It is also home to Sonny Eclipse. This super hip audio-animatronic lizard is from Yew Nork City on the planet Zork, and is known as the “Biggest Little Star in the Galaxy.” Sonny sings in “Bossa Supernova” and “Eclipso” musical styles along with his backup singers, the Space Angels.
The Imagineers made sure that the Astro Orbiter tied in thematically with the overall backstory for Tomorrowland. Pilots can now train on the Astro Orbiter in order to hone their skills before venturing farther out into the universe.
The Astro Orbiter makes approximately eleven rotations each minute, resulting in roughly 1.2 million miles traveled per year.
A “Metrophone” from the Galactic Communications Network advertises, “Bringing the World Closer Together. Toll Free From Anywhere in the Galaxy.” It can be found in Rockettower Plaza near the entrance to the Astro Orbiter. The Metrophone will play nine different humorous conversations depending upon the digits pushed by guests. These conversations include those with:Psychic Robots Network
Johnny Jupiter, universally famous agent of Sonny Eclipse
Earth Crust Pizza, who advertises that they can deliver anywhere in the Solar System in less than two light years
Rocket Realty
Intergalactic Movie Line
The time and weather from Corrona Borealis of the Tomorrowland News Network
Guests who get thirsty can head over to the “Cool Ship” and see a red and white rocket ship labeled “Thirst Rangers” that sits atop a platform. The area is themed as an intergalactic loading station, with gray crates at the bottom of that platform helping convey the story. Labels on those crates include the following information:
STANDARD TRANSGALACTIC DELIVERY
CONTENT: Contains High Levels of Taste
ORIGIN: Earth Export
CAUTION: Open in 15lb/in Pressure Atmosphere Only
USE NO SPACE HOOKS
It just so happens that “15lb/in Pressure Atmosphere” reference is the normal atmospheric pressure of Earth.
A funny piece of advice found beneath a bar code on that label reads: “Enjoy Ice Code.”
Most guests are unaware that the Cool Ship rocket is actually one of two prop spacecraft that were used in filming the 1986 Disney live-action film Flight of the Navigator. As fans of that film will remember, the spacecraft in Flight of the Navigator was silver. Imagineers repainted the prop and added some futuristic accessories for display in Tomorrowland.
Real History
Much of Tomorrowland’s history has already been discussed in terms of the original backstory of the land and its substantial renovation and re-theming in 1993 and 1994. Because of the large thematic challenges associated with creating a vision of the future discussed above, Tomorrowland has undergone more changes than any other Walt Disney World land. As a matter of fact, more than 20 attractions have called Tomorrowland home over the past 48 years.
Because of the substantial amount of change involved with individual elements of Tomorrowland, a definitive history section for the land would be large enough to constitute an entire book in and of itself. In the interest of keeping the Magic Kingdom version of this series to two volumes, I will limit the historical description of Tomorrowland to an attraction timeline, organized by original attractions and the subsequent replacements thereof.
The Gran Prix Raceway opened with the Magic Kingdom on opening day, October 1, 1971. The attraction allowed guests to drive their own go-carts along a track. In 1987, the attraction was shortened and a portion of the track was removed to make way for Mickey’s Birthdayland (the area that is today Storybook Circus). The attraction is now known as the Tomorrowland Speedway.
The Skyway also opened on October 1, 1971. This gondola-style attraction transported guests from a station in Tomorrowland to a station in Fantasyland, and vice versa. The ride vehicles travelled high above those lands on wires
suspended between the two stations and provided guests with some of the best views in the Magic Kingdom. The Skyway closed in November of 1999.
America the Beautiful opened on November 25, 1971. The attraction was sponsored by Monsanto and offered an 18-minute tour of the United States. It was notable as the first “CircleVision” theatre used in the Magic Kingdom. Magic Carpet ’Round the World replaced America the Beautiful on March 15, 1974. This attraction took guests on a 21-minute ride through more than 20 different countries. A slightly revised version of America the Beautiful came back in 1975 and played through 1979, when Magic Carpet ‘Round the World returned once again. American Journeys became the new CircleVision show on September 15, 1984. This attraction provided guests with views of American life from across the country, and provided a more “real-world” portrayal of our country than America the Beautiful. It was replaced when From Time to Time opened on November 21, 1994. A few months later the attraction was renamed The Timekeeper and the theatre housing that attraction became known as the Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center. The Timekeeper was notable in that it was the first CircleVision film to have an actual storyline and the first to include audio-animatronics. The Timekeeper entertained guests for more than a decade before finally closing permanently on February 26, 2006. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor replaced the Timekeeper on April 2, 2007.
Flight to the Moon opened in the Magic Kingdom on December 24, 1971. On this attraction, which was located to the left-hand side of the walkway as guests entered Tomorrowland from the central hub, guests would sit in a circular theatre for a simulated ride on “Flight 92” to the moon. This attraction was hosted by Mr. Tom Morrow (get it?), and was significant in that it was the first Disney attraction in which a live-action Cast Member talked with an audio-animatronic character. Flight to the Moon closed on April 15, 1975 and was replaced by Mission to Mars on June 7, 1975. Lead technician “Mr. Johnson” replaced Tom Morrow. Instead of flying to the moon, guests now journeyed to Mars in a very similar experience to the previous iteration, this time on Space Flight 295 via a DC-88 Space Liner. Mission to Mars closed on October 4, 1993 and was replaced by ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter on December 16, 1994. That attraction closed after eight years on October 12, 2003. Stitch’s Great Escape opened on November 16, 2004.
If You Had Wings opened on June 5, 1972. This attraction served primarily as a marketing pitch for its sponsor, Eastern Airlines, and showed guests different locations they could visit on that airline. Guests even exited the attraction to a reservation desk that was staffed by Eastern Airlines employees rather than Disney Cast Members. The attraction was the 2nd in the Magic Kingdom to use an omnimover ride vehicle (Haunted Mansion was the first). When Eastern Airlines’ sponsorship ended on June 1, 1987, Disney quickly removed all references to the former sponsor. If You Could Fly opened five short days later on June 6, 1987. If You Could Fly ran through early January of 1989 when the Disney company found another sponsor, Delta Airlines, and a new attraction called Delta Dreamflight opened on June 23, 1989. That attraction provided a lighthearted retelling of the history of human flight and ran through December 31, 1995 when Delta’s sponsorship ended. On January 1, 1996, the Delta reference was removed from the name and the attraction became known simply as Dreamflight. The attraction was once again changed to Take Flight on June 5, 1996 and ran through January 5, 1998. Take Flight was replaced by Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin on November 3, 1998.
Star Jets was a classic hub-and-spoke style ride that opened on November 28, 1974. The attraction provided Tomorrowland with a much-needed “weenie” (a visual centerpiece), as a replica Saturn V rocket served as the hub of the attraction and soared high above Tomorrowland. Guests rode in open-air rocket ships around this replica Saturn V rocket. Star Jets was re-themed to the Astro Orbiter in 1994.
Carousel of Progress opened on January 15, 1975. The attraction was renamed Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress in 1993 as a tribute to Walt Disney.
Space Mountain opened on January 15, 1975 and is discussed in Chapter 7.
The WEDway PeopleMover opened on July 1, 1975. In 1994, the attraction was renamed the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and a new narration was incorporated. The attraction underwent another renovation in 2009 when the narration was once again changed and its name slightly modified to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. The attraction is discussed in chapter 6.
On July 15, 2017, Disney announced that Tomorrowland would receive yet another change with the addition of a roller coaster themed to the 1982 live-action film Tron. This “E” ticket attraction will most likely open prior to Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary on October 1, 2021.
chapter six
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Paging Mr. Morrow—Mr. Tom Morrow. Please contact Mr. Johnson in the control tower to confirm your flight to the moon.
—Narration, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover takes guests on a tranquil open-air tour of Tomorrowland, including close-up views of Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, Stitch’s Great Escape, and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Many guests are unaware that Disney Imaginers created an intricate backstory for the PeopleMover in the 1990s that connected the attraction with the overall “intergalactic spaceport” theme for Tomorrowland. Even more surprising than that fictional backstory, however, is the real world impact that Walt Disney himself once thought that the PeopleMover would have. Walt felt so strongly that the PeopleMover would change the way that people lived, worked and travelled in major metropolitan areas that he planned to incorporate a version of the PeopleMover as one of the primary modes of transportation in his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.
Backstory
A Grand Circle Tour of Tomorrowland
The PeopleMover’s current backstory is simple and, candidly, bland. According to this backstory, the PeopleMover provides guests with a peaceful “grand circle tour” of Tomorrowland. The narration for the attraction conveys this backstory as soon as guests step aboard the ride vehicles:
Welcome aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover—your quiet and carefree highway in the sky. We invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy your grand circle tour of Tomorrowland.
Along the way, you can preview many of the exciting places you’ll want to be sure to enjoy today while visiting this land of tomorrow. The PeopleMover is the perfect vehicle for people-watching. So keep your eyes peeled; you never know who you might see!
Notwithstanding this generic “tour” backstory, die-hard Disney fans maintain that the true backstory for the PeopleMover remains the previous iteration that was incorporated during Tomorrowland’s massive re-theming in 1993 and 1994.
Transportation for an Intergalactic Space Port
When the overall backstory for Tomorrowland was changed in the mid-1990s, the PeopleMover received a corresponding makeover. The name of the attraction was changed from the WEDway PeopleMover to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and the ride vehicles became known as “Metroliners.” Imagineers also incorporated a detailed and imaginative backstory for the attraction, whereby the “TTA” provided the intergalactic citizens of Tomorrowland (people, aliens, and robots) transportation on three different “lines”:
The “Blue Line” provided local transportation services for citizens who were travelling within the boundaries of Tomorrowland. This is the line that guests riding aboard the TTA actually traveled upon. The Blue Line also served as the means of transporting goods in Tomorrowland for businesses like “Earth Crust Pizza.”
The “Red Line” provided transportation services for those passengers who needed to travel off planet.
The “Green Line” transported guests to the suburbs of Tomorrowland, known as the “hoverburbs.”
During the attraction, guests could even see dioramas depicting the Red and Green Lines intersecting with the
Blue Line.
The TTA’s intricately detailed narration offered many details that supported the backstories of the attraction and Tomorrowland as a whole:
“Tomorrowland Transit Authority Metroliner non-stop now departing Rockettower Plaza Station for a round-trip super skyway tour. Welcome aboard TTA travellers, we hope you enjoy Tomorrowland Transit Authority’s super skyway.”
“Now approaching Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center. The Convention Center is home to a galaxy of new ideas.”
“For your convenience, the ground crew at Mickey’s Star Traders will be glad to rocket ship you to any planet in the galaxy.”
“Hi there Tomorrowland travellers, it’s Mr. Johnson in Skyview Hovercraft 1 bringing you the latest Tomorrowland traffic report. As usual, everything is perfect on Tomorrowland super-highways.”
“Now arriving at Space Mountain, Tomorrowland’s gateway to the galaxy…”
“As you can see, Space Mountain makes ordinary space travel an adventure. Another fine transportation service provided by the Tomorrowland Transit Authority.”
“Attention all visitors from Galaxy M31, please keep forward-facing tentacles clear of oncoming Metroliner vehicles.”
“The centerpiece of Rockettower Plaza is the League of Planets Astro Orbiter. This symbol of universal harmony and inter-planetary fellowship provides all beings with an exhilarating spin around the planets.”
“For all your future travel needs, the TTA services all of Tomorrowland’s outlying areas, including the personal rocket ship docking lot, and of course Perfect Park Acres, the latest in hoverburb communities.”
“Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow, your party from Saturn has arrived. Please give them a ring.”
Adventureland, Tomorrowland, and Fantasyland Page 16
