At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event last month, officials announced that Disney World 's Magic Kingdom will see " historic expansion ." But many super fans are wondering that these new plans mean for some treasured park attractions.
Next month, the flagship theme park will celebrate its 53rd birthday. The park still houses several attractions that have been operating since its grand opening.
When did Magic Kingdom open in Florida?
The first of the four Florida Disney parks, the Magic Kingdom opened up on Oct. 1, 1971 to a crowd of 10,000 parkgoers.
Magic Kingdom is located at 1180 Seven Seas Drive in Lake Buena Vista.
What attractions could guests ride on Magic Kingdom’s opening day in 1971?
According to WDW Magazine, here’s the complete list of attractions that were available on the theme park's opening day:
- Walt Disney World Railroad
- Jungle Cruise
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- Tropical Serenade
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Mike Fink Keel Boats
- Frontierland Shooting Gallery
- Diamond Horseshoe Revue
- Hall of Presidents
- Haunted Mansion
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel
- “It’s a Small World”
- Snow White’s Adventures
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Mad Tea Party
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Mickey Mouse Revue
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- Skyway
- Grand Prix Raceway
Which original Magic Kingdom attractions can you still experience?
Feeling nostalgic? Here's a complete list of the original attractions you can still experience as of 2024:
Jungle Cruise
In its official description , Disney World states that the ride takes guests on a 10 minute scenic and comedic boat tour across Asia, Africa and South America.
Theme park blog All Ears shares that early versions of the Jungle Cruise in Disneyland were done without jokes and were based on Disney's True Life Adventure Series. In the 1960s, animator Marc Davis was sought out by Walt Disney to “plus up” some of the attractions.
Davis worked on the Jungle Cruise and liven up the attraction by adding comical safari sequences, which influenced the ride’s skipper narration to what we know today.
Ride closed until holidays: How long is the Jungle Cruise ride at Disney World closed? What we know
Walt Disney World Railroad
Parkgoers can embark on a 20-minute, 1.5-mile scenic tour of the theme park while on board an authentic steam-powered train — Walt Disney World Railroad.
According to Disney Wiki , it transports over 3.7 million passengers each year. The railroad stops at Main Street U.S.A., Frontierland, and its reopened Fantasyland Station in Storybook Circus.
Swiss Family Treehouse
The Swiss Family Treehouse opened in Adventureland and is 60 feet tall and 90 feet wide walk-through attraction. It is based off of the 1960 movie “Swiss Family Robinson."
In California, its version was rethemed to be Tarzan's treehouse.
Tropical Serenade, now Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Better known as Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, this attraction is enchanted by various Polynesian deities giving it magical properties, including giving its birds the ability to talk.
The California version was the first attraction to ever feature audio-animatronics figures.
Due to low attendance, it was rethemed in the late 1990's to be hosted by Aladdin's Iago and The Lion King's Zazu. After a fire broke out in the attraction's attic in 2011, it was later rethemed to be more similar to the original.
Frontierland Shooting Gallery
The "Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade" is an attraction housed within Frontierland. It is meant to replicate a shootout in Tombstone, Arizona, over Boot Hill in 1850.
Disney Wiki says the gallery includes certain background elements such as a jail, hotel, bank, and a cemetery with targets which are animated when shot. There are a total of 97 targets in the shooting gallery.
Hall of Presidents
Located in Liberty Square, the "Hall of Presidents" is a multi-media presentation and stage show that seeks educate parkgoers on the formation of the U.S. and its presidents.
This is one of the attractions that came directly from Walt Disney, with the first animatronic president he created was Abraham Lincoln to present at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. Since it's original opening, it has added nine new presidents to its lineup.
Haunted Mansion
Whether it's spooky season or not, Haunted Mansion is always a hit. It even has two Disney movies based on the ride.
The attraction places riders inside a haunted manor infested with "999 happy haunts." You'll even get to ride in your own "Doombuggy," just make sure the ghosts set you free afterwards. One might even follow you back home.
Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel, now Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Originally called "Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel," the ride was built by The Philadelphia Toboggan Company, one of the most prestigious carousel companies, in 1917. Walt Disney purchased the carousel from Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey decades later in 1965.
The name was changed in 2010 to "Prince Charming Regal Carousel." Otherwise, the ride has only undergone repairs and slight aesthetic changes since its 1971 opening.
It’s a Small World
Love it or hate it, you'll never get the song out of your head afterward. "It's a Small World" takes guests on a whimsical boat ride past a chorus of animatronic children from around the globe.
But who is to be blamed for the catchy tune? According to FOX 35 , the music for the attraction was written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, who won two Oscars for their music in "Mary Poppins." They were told to create a simple song that could be sung and repeated in other languages.
Peter Pan’s Flight
Known to always have a long line, Peter Pan's Flight has always remained a popular ride. The ride seeks to take parkgoers through scenes of the 1953 film.
The ride has been regularly updated over the years. Parkgoers saw the return of Peter Pan's Flight at Magic Kingdom earlier this month with one of its scenes getting a major makeover. After the " Never Land Tribe scene " was called out for years for its “caricatures” of native people, officials have removed the stereotypical depictions.
Mad Tea Party
There are two different types of people in this world — those who get extremely sick on the Mad Tea Party and those who don't.
The Fantasyland-located ride opened without a roof. Due to Florida's extreme weather, they added a roof the following year. The ride has hardly changed over the years besides regular upkeeping and updating.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Based off the Disneyland version which opened in 1955, this ride saw hardly any changes until 2014. Storybook Circus opened and expanded to have two alternated rotating Dumbo rides, according to the Mouselets blog .
Grand Prix Raceway, now the Tomorrowland Speedway
According to D23 , this attraction enables drivers of any age to race (at about seven miles per hour) around a 2, 260 foot long track. In September 1996 the name was changed to Tomorrowland Speedway, and in 1999 to Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, dropping the "Indy" again in 2008.
Will Tom Sawyer's Island be replaced with new 'Cars' attractions?
While Tom Sawyer's Island opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1973, two years after the park opened in 1971, many still think of the attraction as an original. However, it will soon join the list of retired attractions.
To make way for the new Radiator Springs section of the theme park, Disney confirmed last month that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island would both be reimagined.
"It’s time to leave Radiator Springs and head west into exciting new locations. To make way for this completely new frontier, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be transformed into vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers," the website shares.
When will Tom Sawyer's Island close at Disney World?
As of September 2024, an official closing date for Tom Sawyer's Island had not been released. According to officials, the attraction will remain open throughout the rest of the year.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What original attractions are still at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom? One beloved attraction set to close soon
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