By Jocelyn Buhlman
To celebrate 45 enchanted years of the Magic Kingdom, D23 gives you the grand tour of five attractions that are unique to the theme park. Disney Parks all over the world are full of wonders in the worlds of yesterday, fantasy, and tomorrow, but this quintet can only be found at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Walking into Tomorrowland, guests are greeted with a world of motion, as Astro Orbiter spins around through the planets and Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress’ iconic theater rotates through another show. Driving in the sky around these attractions is the transportation system of the future, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, giving guests a chance to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of Tomorrowland. If you like to take it slow but still want to check out the intergalactic thrills of Space Mountain, you’re in luck—the PeopleMover lets you sneak a peek at the inside of the famous coaster. You also travel through Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, getting a bird’s-eye view of the inside of the attraction.
The PeopleMover isn’t just unique to the Magic Kingdom, it also provides you with a glimpse of Disney history—the original model of Walt Disney’s Progress City, the idealistic dream of a city designed to be “the blueprint of the future.”
The Barnstormer Featuring the Great Goofini
If you’re looking to soar to ridiculous heights, look no further than The Barnstormer Featuring the Great Goofini, a roller coaster that is fun for the whole family. Located in the exciting fairgrounds of the Storybook Circus, this skyleidoscope will make you the star of the show. Join a familiar, silly daredevil as he takes you through his aerial stunt spectacular—but watch out for large signs and circus tents!
This aerial stunt spectacular had humble origins as an abandoned farm before Goofy moved in, but now you can fly with the strange skymaster and his stunt spectacular any time. And keep your eyes peeled in the queue for advertisements for Goofy’s other acts—maybe he’ll let you help him with his Bear Wrasslin’ show next time.
The Hall of Presidents
If you ever want a break from the heat while celebrating the history of our country, step inside the The Hall of Presidents. Walt Disney originally proposed the idea for The Hall of Presidents as an attraction for Disneyland, but at the time the technology was not available to support the creation of lifelike figures of every president. Years later, after the development of Audio-Animatronics® technology and as Imagineers were planning Walt Disney World, they decided to use Walt’s original attraction concept for the Liberty Square section of the park. The Hall of Presidents features 43 Audio-Animatronics® figures of every United States President and has been updated with a new figure each time a new president is elected.
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Did you know that there’s a portal to Monstropolis in the Magic Kingdom? Located in Tomorrowland, you can walk through a special door to enter the monster world’s very own comedy club, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. Utilizing digital puppetry technology, monsters crack jokes and interact with the audience, even telling jokes that guests text to a special number before the show.
You’ll be howling with laughter as the monster comedians perform, including the talents of Mike Wazowski’s nephew, Marty Wazowski. Monstropolis needs your help generating laughter to power their city, but don’t worry—they’ll have you laughing so fast it’d almost be scary, if it wasn’t already so silly!
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
No attraction captures the optimistic spirit of Walt Disney more than the Carousel of Progress. The attraction was originally created for the 1964–65 World’s Fair. Disney Legend Admiral Joe Fowler once said “there was more of Walt in the Carousel of Progress show than there was in anything else we’ve done.” Every aspect of the show creates hope and excitement in the hearts of guests: the clever, rotating show building, the story of the evolution of electricity in America, and that classic, Sherman Brothers’-penned tune that summarizes the heart of it all, proclaiming that, “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.”
While the attraction premiered at the World’s Fair, it made its home at Disneyland for six years, until it was moved to the Magic Kingdom, where it still entertains and inspires today, spinning on and on to keep the message of Walt’s optimism alive even in the world of tomorrow.
