Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Florida was one of the Magic Kingdom's opening day attractions on October 1, 1971. Although it was modeled after the Disneyland attraction, it had some unique characteristics that set it apart from its California counterpart. The most obvious was that the Florida incarnation had two separate boarding areas. The vehicles (in the form of jalopies) in each boarding area were on separate tracks that followed different paths, so riders would get a slightly different ride, depending on where they boarded. I was fortunate in that I did get to ride both. It was not a thrill ride, but it was not slow and quiet like most dark rides. It made sudden turns and often the vehicle would move at full speed towards an obstacle, which would move out of the way at the last second. At one point the vehicles on different tracks would head directly towards each other, giving the sense of an oncoming collision. It was a very stylized attraction and resembled a cartoon more than any other Disney ride. It contained highly ornate plywood characters and sets that were very reminiscent of the multiplane camerawork featured in many Disney films. It was FUN, hilarity, and Toad was he** on wheels! I can recall how it felt to me as a 12 year old, and I shrieked at every turn. The devil I found particularly frightening, but in a good, Disney kind of scary. I loved it!
Despite the ride's popularity and many protests, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed on September 7, 1998 and was subsequently replaced with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Many have disputed the reason for Toad's departure, but some including Save Mr. Toad's Wild Ride believe that money was the deciding factor. While minor tributes to the ride can be found in Disney World, including paintings of Mr. Toad and Moley within The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and a statue of Toad in a pet cemetery outside of Haunted Mansion, traces of "The Wind in the Willows" characters within Walt Disney World are minimal. Efforts have already been made to reconstruct the ride, including a 3D virtual recreation that I love! CLICK HERE FOR VIRTUAL TOAD!
After you are done playing with the Virtual Toad, check out this video:
Now don't get me wrong- I love going on Winnie the Pooh and have nothing against that ride, but I have often been saddened that they could not keep Mr. Toad intact and add Pooh elsewhere.
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was the only attraction in history to entice riders with the prospect of donning the persona of a crazed amphibian. That alone deserves respect.
This is the first in a series of Blogs in which I will show you some of the most famous Disney attractions that are no longer with us. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy putting them together!
Horizons was large. I mean it- really beautiful and a large building. Horizons was an Epcot pavilion and dark ride based on an Omnimover ride system. It would take guests to see how the past saw the future and the future. Some believe that the ride was a follow up to the Carousel of Progress. Horizons was the only Epcot pavilion to show all the 'Future World' elements in one pavilion. It was meant to show us all what technological advances were in store for our society.
Looking Back at Tomorrow was a section of the ride that showed how the past viewed the future from the time of Jules Verne to the 1950s.
Next, guests would move past two large OMNIMAX screens showing modern technologies and ideas for how we can build the world of tomorrow.
Other sections include visions of futuristic life in deserts, undersea, and space.
Horizons allowed guests to select their ending to the ride as they go back to the FuturePort. These choices were 31 second videos that were shown to riders in individual cars. To create the videos, Imagineers created some of the largest scale models of the time. It took 30 model makers over a year to build and take the endings. The endings were:
Brava Centauri - A space station showing space colonization.
Mesa Verde - A desert farm showing arid agriculture.
Sea Castle - An underwater research base and colonization
Can you imagine taking over a year to build a model? I can't! (Bowing to the model builders!)
The ride concept came from Reginald Jones (CEO of GE) and Jack Welch (future CEO of GE). Their idea was to have the pavilion focus on Thomas Edison and his work and the origin of GE. The idea was then re-worked to focus on the future of America. It's building was built to resemble a spaceship while giving the impression of an infinite horizon. It's diamond shape was very unique for the time it was built. It was a grand building and people that worked on the project took pride in it.
Horizons was scheduled to open a year after the opening of Epcot during Phase II. Prior to construction, the budget for the attraction was cut by $10 million and the building size was reduced. Because of this reduction, the ride was shortened by 600 feet, or 35% of the ride. Wow- do you realize that the $10 million would be $30 million by today's standards?
As with all Disney attractions, there was music. The main theme song was an homage to Walt Disney himself and is one of my favorite quotes from him: New Horizons written by George Wilkins. If we can dream it, then we can do it, yes we can, (yes we can.)
If we can dream it, then we can do it, yes we can, (yes we can.)
Have you ever looked beyond today, into the future? Picturing a world, we've yet to see. The wonder of finding new ways, that lead to the promise of brighter days.
Have you ever dreamed the dreams of the children? Just imagine the magic, their minds can see. (if we can dream it). Horizons, all shining and new, (shining and new). Horizons, where dreams do come true (they do come true).
And it will be, a future filled with care. For you and me, a world we all can share. For today holds the challenge to make this world a better place to be. New Horizons, for you and for me.
Horizons became Seasonal in 1994 when General Electric ended it's sponsorship. In 1995 it was opened temporarily while Universe of Energy was under rehabilitation. It would occasionally open again during periods of heavy attendance. It's last seasonally open time was while the World of Motion was being changed to Test Track in 1999. In 1999, the attraction was officially closed when it's demolition started to make way for Mission: SPACE.
After its change to being seasonal, there were plans to convert the pavilion theming to space. The building would be remodeled and allowing guests to control the pitch and yaw of their space vehicle while viewing outer space and its many space stations in the future. This idea became Mission: SPACE which replaced Horizons. Disney decided to totally tear down the building instead of re-theme or re-model as had been done previously on other attractions; this was a first.
No reason was given for the closing of Horizons in 1999 besides the lack of sponsorship since GE left. Some unofficial reasons that were later discovered were major structural problems with the building because of a sink-hole below the building. There are several known sink-holes around Epcot.
Mission: SPACE offers tribute to Horizons where the gravity wheel in the ride queue has the Horizons logo. (Check it out!)
of jalopies) in each boarding area were on separate tracks that followed different paths, so riders would get a slightly different ride, depending on where they boarded. I was fortunate in that I did get to ride both.
At one point the vehicles on different tracks would head directly towards each other, giving the sense of an oncoming collision. It was a very stylized attraction and resembled a cartoon more than any other Disney ride. It contained highly ornate plywood characters and sets that were very reminiscent of the multiplane camerawork featured in many Disney films. It was FUN, hilarity, and Toad was he** on wheels!
I can recall how it felt to me as a 12 year old, and I shrieked at every turn. The devil I found particularly frightening, but in a good, Disney kind of scary. I loved it!
and a statue of Toad in a pet cemetery outside of Haunted Mansion,
traces of "The Wind in the Willows" characters within Walt Disney World are minimal. Efforts have already been made to reconstruct the ride, including a 3D virtual recreation that I love! CLICK HERE FOR VIRTUAL TOAD!
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