Walt Disney was well-known for his innovation, love of technology, and constant tweaking of everything he produced. Yet today’s Disney goes far beyond what Walt did in a never-ending quest for streamlining, efficiency, and brand tie-ins. No matter when or how often you visit, you are likely to see construction walls and sweeping changes throughout the Walt Disney World parks and resorts. This makes it easy to believe that nothing is the same as it used to be.
Whether this is good or bad depends on your point of view. Yet what is often lost in the buzz about the next big thing is the fact that some things really haven’t changed at all. The Magic Kingdom still features 14 attractions that were present on opening day, October 1, 1971. This week, we’ll talk about 7 that are still close to their original designs. Next week, we’ll bring you the 7 that have been extensively rehabbed.
7. Peter Pan’s Flight
Peter Pan’s FlightPeter Pan’s Flight is based on a still-operational Disneyland opening day attraction.
Peter Pan’s Flight is relatively unusual in that it is a Magic Kingdom opening day attraction modeled on a Disneyland opening day attraction, and both versions are still operational today. While the 1955 Disneyland version was expanded and enhanced in 1983, the 1971 Magic Kingdom ride has not significantly changed since it opened its doors. Grandfathered in as an exception to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Peter Pan is one of the only attractions (along with the Tomorrowland Transit Authority) with a moving load ramp that cannot be stopped or slowed.
6. Walt Disney World Railroad
Walt Disney World RailroadThe Walt Disney World Railroad has made only minor safety tweaks.
Opened on October 1, 1971, the Walt Disney World Railroad is a longer version of the Disneyland Railroad, which opened with that park. The railroad originally had two stations, but added a third at Mickey’s Birthdayland in 1989. In 1991, the Frontierland Station moved to make room for Splash Mountain. Mickey’s Birthdayland transformed into Mickey’s Starland and then Mickey’s Toontown Fair before closing permanently in 2011 to make room for the expansion of Fantasyland. The station was demolished and rebuilt to match the new theme.
Although the stations have changed over the years, the historic trains have not. The only real modifications were for safety. For example, side panels were added to the passenger coaches and the conductor’s spiel panel was moved to a spot with a better view of the guests.
Small show scenes along the route greatly enhance the realism of the journey. These little-changed vignettes provide a look back through time to the technology of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They are best seen at night.
5. Swiss Family Treehouse
Swiss Family TreehouseThe Swiss Family Treehouse has not changed at all since it was built.
Also grandfathered in as an exception to the ADA, the Swiss Family Treehouse is the only attraction that is fully inaccessible to those who are not ambulatory. Depicting scenes from the book and film, Swiss Family Robinson, the attraction allows guests to wind their way through a sprawling treehouse home.
The 1971 Magic Kingdom attraction was based on the Disneyland version, which opened in 1962, two years after the Disney film was released. In 1999, however, Disneyland’s version was re-themed as Tarzan’s Treehouse, to coincide with the release of Disney’s animated Tarzan movie. Fortunately, the Magic Kingdom’s treehouse was not affected. It is arguably the least-changed opening day attraction of all.
4. Jungle Cruise
Jungle CruiseBased on a 1950s TV series, the Jungle Cruise is still wildly popular today.
Also based on a still-operating Disneyland opening day attraction, the Jungle Cruise was modeled after Disney’s hit 1950s True Life Adventures series. Interestingly, Walt wanted to feature live animals instead of audio-animatronics, but then-current zoo practices made it impossible to create the experience that he wanted. That dream would not be realized until the 1998 opening of Animal Kingdom.
While the Disneyland Jungle Cruise has undergone significant refurbishments over the decades, the Magic Kingdom version has barely changed at all. From time to time, the jokes are updated, but major rehabs stick to repainting and much-needed maintenance. The ride is best enjoyed after dark, when the 1970s animatronics look slightly more real.
3. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Prince Charming Regal CarrouselThe back story was rewritten and the ride renamed, but the historic carousel remains the same.
The Prince Charming Regal Carrousel was hand-built in 1917 by the prestigious Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Then known as the Liberty, the carousel was acquired by Disney in 1967. It opened with the Magic Kingdom as Cinderella’s Golden Carousel.
In 2010, the name changed to Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, and an additional back story was written. In this version, Cinderella and the Prince are married, and the Prince has constructed a rudimentary carousel for jousting tournament training. The villagers clamored to ride the novel contraption, so he had an elegant version built near the Castle for everyone to enjoy. Although the storyline has changed, the carousel has not. The original 1917 horses are carefully maintained, along with the hand-built mechanics.
2. Country Bear Jamboree
Country Bear JamboreeThe show has been trimmed, but is otherwise the same as it was four decades ago.
Planned for a ski resort that Walt Disney did not live to complete, the Country Bear Jamboree debuted at the Magic Kingdom on opening day before being copied at other Disney parks. Besides the holiday-themed Christmas Special and the short-lived Vacation Hoedown, the show has remained largely unchanged. In 2012, as part of an extensive refurbishment that gave the bears new fur and new costumes, nearly 5 minutes were trimmed to enhance the pacing. Otherwise, the show remains as it was more than 40 years ago.
1. Enchanted Tiki Room
Enchanted Tiki RoomThankfully, the Tiki Room is no longer Under New Management.
The word “unchanged” is a bit of a misnomer for the Enchanted Tiki Room, as it underwent a massive and largely hated rehab in 1998. Known as the Tropical Serenade, it was originally a duplicate of Disneyland’s attraction, which opened in 1963, only with a different preshow.
In 1998, the Walt Disney World version was replaced with the Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management. In that incarnation, Aladdin’s Iago and The Lion King’s Zazu took over the show. What followed was a terribly self-conscious attempt at intentional hipness and edginess—an interesting attempt at a self-referential meta perspective that simply fell flat.
With other projects constantly in the works, the Tiki Room seemed doomed until fate intervened. In 2011, the attraction experienced a small fire in its attic. Although details were never released, Disney legend holds that the Iago figure was severely damaged. If true, this is highly ironic, given that in the updated show, Iago was burned as punishment for making fun of the Tiki Gods.
Whatever actually happened that day, the show closed for rehab and soon reopened as the Enchanted Tiki Room. As a very slightly edited version of the original, the Enchanted Tiki Room has come full circle to join the list of barely-changed opening day attractions at the Magic Kingdom.
