Chapter 25 – Magic Kingdom – Tomorrowland – Part 1    posted 2/22/19

From Chapter 24 we’re departing Fantasyland’s Storybook Circus and heading to Tomorrowland via the Cinderella Plaza Hub.
The natural entrance to Tomorrowland is over the bridge between the hub and the Avenue of Planets.
For the most recent map: 
As guests crossed the threshold into the land, there used to by a welcome sign erected by many of Tomorrowland’s civic organizations. These included:
  • The League of Planets- This intergalactic organization has chosen Tomorrowland as its universal headquarters. In order to train inexperienced rocket ship pilots, the League has also constructed the Astro Orbiter.
  • The Loyal Order of Little Green Beings- This organization also is proudly presenting Leonard Burnedstar as he conducts the Martian Pops Orchestra with special guests Sirius, Centauri and Procyon!
  • The Sleepless Knights of the Milky Way
  • The GARA- Galactic Association of Retired Aliens
  • The Tomorrowland Chamber of Commerce- Like all metropolises Tomorrowland has its own Chamber of Commerce, whose motto is “Where the future of business is the business of the future”
The signs were removed in 2016 as part of the continuing Tomorrowland refurb.
Background

Walt Disney was known for his futurist views and, through his television programs, showed the American public how the world was moving into the future. Tomorrowland was the realized culmination of his views. Walt Disney truly created Tomorrowland, with the emphasis and focus on rockets and robots that would be a major part of our tomorrow.
In his own words: "Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future."
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©Disney
Walt’s futuristic ideals eventually lead him to designing his version of Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). Walt was the true champion of Tomorrowland. Walt Disney’s Tomorrowland would reflect a time where progress never stopped, where a trip to Mars is as easy as a trip to Florida, and where we have robots as our butlers. A land where we would have better forms of transportation like PeopleMovers, Jet Packs, and personal spaceships.
History
First, a little history. The history of Tomorrowland is one of complexity, with many changes and refurbishments often redefining the variable history of the themed area.
Tomorrowland, one of the 4 themed lands at Magic Kingdom in WDW, originally looked like the classic Disneyland variation – a lot of concrete work, Jetsons-like architecture, and themes like the US space race, automation, etc.
The first Tomorrowland opened at Disneyland on July 17, 1955, it represented the future in the year 1986. Disneyland’s Tomorrowland has gone through several incarnations over the years.
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Disneyland
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Disneyland
For more information:
The second Tomorrowland opened on October 1, 1971 at the Magic Kingdom and, like at Disneyland, was opened unfinished. On opening day, only two attractions opened: the Grand Prix Raceway, and the Skyway to Fantasyland.
In 1973, the plans for Tomorrowland were finalized; and for about two years, construction was a common sight. In 1974, Star Jets, a spinner attraction sat on the WEDWay Peoplemover station. It resembled a Saturn V Rocket like its Disneyland cousin, the Rocket Jets. The Space Bar, another restaurant opened below the Peoplemover station.
(more about these original sites later in the Chapter)
In 1975, Space Mountain and The Carousel of Progress opened. Another Railroad station was planned to be built next to the entrance and exit to Space Mountain, but due to crowds in this area, it was never built.
WEDWay Peoplemover opened in June.
 
When EPCOT opened in 1982, an entire section, Future World, was dedicated to future technology. So Tomorrowland needed to make a drastic change, which happened in 1994. Many of the attractions changed. Disney Imagineers pushed the limits with the 1994 “New Tomorrowland,” inspired by a lot of popular designs at the time. The groundwork for this incredible redesign was largely set by senior Imagineer Tony Baxter.
(Note: Tony Baxter was the former senior vice president of creative development in Walt Disney Imagineering actively involved in many projects in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World)
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©Disney
For most of its history, Tomorrowland's color scheme was predominantly white with soft blues, creating a retro-modernist landscape. Huge monolithic towers, spires, and clean lines completed the futuristic look. In 1994 Tomorrowland was completely re-built and altered to resemble a galactic spaceport as it would have been envisioned by the science-fiction comic strips of the early 20th century. Tomorrowland has since been given a much more metallic look, along with new darker blues and purples, especially along its main concourse leading from the central hub.
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2006
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2018
The Second Tomorrowland’s Backstory
 
Tomorrowland is a community where everyday living is made better through science, invention and intergalactic influence. Inhabited by robots, space aliens and a few humans, this amazing Earth community is so world-renowned, it was selected as the universal headquarters for League of Planets.
In Tomorrowland, robots perform household chores, ice cream comes from the Milky Way, and a trip through time is as common as a spin around the solar system. Tomorrowlanders keep up with the latest on and off-world wonders and technologies by visiting exhibits presented at their neighborhood Interplanetary Convention and Science Centers.
Those who work and play in and around Rockettower Plaza, the bustling heart of the community, live outside of town in the Hover Burbs. They commute via the Tomorrowland Transit Authority’s Superskyway Blueline Express. Locals get all the news before it even happens by subscribing to the Tomorrowland Times.

Now on with our Tour of Tomorrowland
 
Attractions, Entertainment, and Restaurants we’ll visit in this Chapter:
 
Stitch’s Great Escape – and prior attractions, as
  • Flight to the Moon
  • Mission to Mars
  • Alien Encounter-ExtraTERRORestrial

Purple Wall

Purple Wall Posters

Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant – with all of the name changes, which include
  • Tomorrowland Terrace Café
  • Plaza Pavilion
  • Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor – and prior attractions, at the site
  • Circle Vision 360
  • America the Beautiful
  • Magic Carpet ‘Round the World
  • American Journeys
  • Transportarium
  • The Timekeeper
Let’s get a close look at the present and the past, and maybe future Tomorrowland attractions. So let's add a little Tomorrowland background music.
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As we head into Tomorrowland on the Avenue of Planets to our left is the Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center.  The Convention Center over the years has housed four different attractions with the same basic format, a theater in the round.  The first was called Flight to the Moon, next Mission to Mars, then Alien Encouner-ExtraTERRORestrial, and finally the home of Stitch’s Great Escape. 

 
Flight to the Moon (1971–1975)
 
As was true of many of Tomorrowland’s attractions, Flight to the Moon, was nearly identical to its sister attraction in Disneyland, but it wasn't ready for guests when the park opened in October of 1971, it finally opened in December of that year. With the Lunar Landing in 1969 this attraction was already outdated.
The show included meeting one of the astronauts working on the moon’s surface and learning how it was possible, and guests were treated to a flight over the moon’s surface which they saw from the bottom “window” of the craft. Then they were directed to look at the sun. As the mass of burning gasses was discussed, the craft suddenly in a meteor shower. The craft began to shake as sirens blasted. To avoid any more danger, the craft returns home to Earth.
 
After about 4 years of operation the last guests on the journeyed to the Moon in Spring of 1975.
 
For those interested in the complete Transcript of the Flight to the Moon attraction link to:  
Reference:
Attraction Description
 There was a brief introduction in a queue, then guests would enter the preshow room: Mission Control. Here guests got an inside look into their upcoming flight and met the director of operations, Mr. Tom Morrow. Mr. Morrow would explain the purpose of Mission Control and introduced the vehicle for the upcoming flight to the moon. Guests exited Mission Control to head to the launch pad and their flight vehicle. This section of the attraction hasn’t changed much over the years, the layout of the room was a circular space with rows of seats surrounding a recessed center of the room. On the walls were multiple viewing screens as well as one on the ceiling and floor.
 
Once seated, a countdown began and then it was launch time. As the craft launched into space the entire room, including the seats, began to shake with audible force. A few moments later as the craft exited Earth’s atmosphere, the seats changed to simulate the change in gravity.
Mission to Mars (1975–1993)

A few months after Flight to the Moon closed, Mission to Mars opened to guests. The story line and attraction experience was very similar to that of the Flight to the Moon.
 
After a brief introduction in the queue area, Guests entered the pre-flight Mission Control Center, where a crew of space pioneers monitored activities on the ground and in outer space.
Here guests met the director of operations, Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson explained the purpose of the area and introduced the Mars flight vehicle.
 
Guests exited Mission Control to head to the launch pad and the flight vehicle. This section of the attraction hadn’t changed much. The layout of the room was the same circular space with rows of seats surrounding a recessed center of the room. On the walls were multiple viewing screens as well as one on the ceiling and floor.
Reference:
Once the guests were seated, the countdown began and it was launch time. As the craft launched into space the entire room, including the seats, began to shake with audible force. A few moments later as the craft exited Earth’s atmosphere, the seats changed to simulate the change in gravity. (same experience as Flight to the Moon)
Guests experienced the sights and sounds, including “hyper-space-warp,” the tilting of the cabin deck and seats.  from the bottom “window” of the craft guest saw close-up views of Mariner Valley on Mars’ surface
 
Along the way, the craft began to shake as sirens blasted. To keep guests from any more danger, the craft was returned back to Earth.
 
Mission to Mars closed in October of 1993 and in 1995 was replaced by Alien Encounter.
ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (1995–2003)
 
ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter officially opened in June 1995. It was definitely different, far darker theme. It featured one of the most advanced animatronics the parks had seen to date, it relied heavily on effects experienced in complete darkness.
 Guests entering the attraction passed through two pre-shows:
 
In the first, Guests are welcomed to view a demonstration of X-S Tech’s, an alien corporation, latest technological innovation with a recording from its chairman, L.C. Clench, saying, “If something can’t be done with X-S, then it shouldn’t be done at all.” The alien X-S Tech representative featured in the video was a familiar face, it was Tyra Banks.
The second show, hosted by “SIR” (Simulated Intelligence Robot), an X-S Robot voiced by Tim Curry, demonstrated X-S Tech’s teleportation technology with the help of an alien named Skippy. Skippy was teleported from one containment tube to another, though he appeared disoriented and burnt after the experiment.
 
Note: Tim Curry is an English actor, voice actor, and singer who is best known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film, and television productions, often portraying villainous characters. Probably most noted for the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
 
After the pre-shows, guests entered the circular amphitheater very similar to that of the attraction’s predecessors. In the center was a large cylindrical “teleportation tube similar to the one introduced to by SIR in the preshow. After guest are seated, a shoulder restraint lowered onto each guest as the lighting is dimmed.
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They explain that they’re coming to us “live” from across the galaxy that one lucky guest is going to be teleported out of the chamber to another point in the galaxy and that one of the guests in the room will be chosen to be transported to meet Clench in person, but suddenly he changes the plan and decides that it would be even better that he would teleport to Earth instead.
 
In order to do this, however, the signal for the teleportation device must be re-routed through a potentially dangerous and unknown point in the universe.
 
As the teleportation process completes something has gone wrong. Instead of the Clench, a huge angry, carnivorous alien can be seen in the teleportation tube. The containment system is failing and amidst the flashing lights and smoke, a crash can be heard as the creature escapes, leaving a shattered and empty tube. The power fails and guests are thrust into complete darkness as they hear a maintenance worker attacked and feel the alien jumping around the room via their shoulders. As the employees work to fix the tube and contain the alien, you feel a hot breath on your neck and the low growl of the creature behind you. Soon, the X-S Technicians are able to fix the tube and lure the creature back inside where he is contained and presumably destroyed.

After 8 years of operation, Alien Encounter was shut down in late 2003. The general assumption was that the attraction was too intense for the Magic Kingdom’s younger guests.

References:
Note: Tyra Lynne Banks is an American actress, television producer, author, television personality, and former model who is best known as the creator and host of the UPN/The CW reality competition series America's Next Top Model
L.C. Clench (the X-S chairman), along with two other blundering X-S employees, Dr. Femus (played by Kathy Najimy) and Spinlok (played by Kevin Pollak), appear on video screens mounted above the guests.
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©Disney

(Warning signs were outside of the attraction’s entrance which let guests know that the experience was intense)
Stitch's Great Escape (2004 -)

A year later the attraction re-opened as Stitch’s Great Escape and featured many of the same technological aspects of Alien Encounter.
Stitch’s Great Escape brings guests into the world of the animated film Lilo & Stitch. The attraction is actually a prequel that follows an early adventure of Experiment 626 (Stitch) before his close encounter with Lilo in Hawaii.
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Note: The 2002 successful Lilo & Stitch animated film 's story is about two highly eccentric and mischievous individuals: a Hawaiian human girl named Lilo Pelekai and an extraterrestrial creature originally named Experiment 626, who gets adopted by Lilo as her "dog" called "Stitch". Stitch was genetically engineered by his creator to cause chaos and destruction, he initially uses Lilo to avoid being captured by an intergalactic federation, but the two individuals develop a close bond. This bond causes him to reconsider and later defy his intended destructive purpose in order to keep his newfound family together.
Backstory

The experience takes place in the Galactic Federation Prisoner Teleport Center. Guests have been recruited by the Grand Councilwoman to be guards for the Galactic Federation. After being taught the basic procedures of guard duty and the classification of prisoner hazard levels by Sergeant C4703BK2704-90210—and a brief, but comical, reprisal of Skippy from The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter—Captain Gantu gives an alert of a Level 3 prisoner being beamed to the Center. Guests are then instructed by Pleakley over a public-address system to proceed to the High Security Level 3 prisoner teleportation chamber.

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Attraction

After a brief introduction to the Galactic Federation in the first queue area, guests were guided into a preshow room where they were introduced to Sergeant C4703BK2704-90210 (and a brief, but comical, redressed of S.I.R. animatronic, Skippy from the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter). After being taught the basic procedures of guard duty and the classification of prisoner hazard levels by the robot sergeant, Captain Gantu gives an alert of a Level 3 prisoner being beamed to the Center. Guests are then instructed by Pleakley over an intercom communicator (off-camera) to proceed to the Level 3 prisoner teleportation chamber.
 
While waiting in the queue and preshow area of the attraction, guests should look around for a sign referencing X-S Tech. it’s an obvious tribute to the prior attraction Alien Encounter.

​After the preshow, guests were seated in the same theater used in each of the prior 3 attractions. As with its predecessor, shoulder restraints were once again used both to keep guests in their seats throughout the dark attraction, as well as to provide force feedback special effects. Outside of the new state-of-the-art 39" Stitch animatronic at the center of the room, the largest addition to the theater was the addition of two large "laser" cannons, programmed to target genetic material.
  • The prisoner is then beamed into the chamber via a large plume of smoke and is revealed to be Stitch.
  • After a brief period of puzzled talking by Gantu and his two assistants, Stitch uses the flaws of the armed laser cannons (the cannons follow and destroy any genetic material, including saliva) and disables all power to escape, causing mass chaos in the crowd.
  • During this period, hydraulic pumps and small hoses in the shoulder restraints make it seem as if Stitch is jumping on guests' shoulders and tickling their heads.
  • Stitch devours a chili cheese dog and burps - accompanied by a foul smell effect being released into the chamber - and destroys a cell phone, once again reminding the guests of the rules about eating or drinking in the theater or the use of electronic devices in the theater.
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©Disney
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©Disney
  • When the power comes back on, the laser cannons continue their attempt to bring Stitch down.
  • Again using the cannons' fatal flaws, he manages to fire the laser cannons into the crowd.
  • Shortly after using the diversion, he escapes to the Walt Disney World Resort. Cameras capture him going into Cinderella Castle where Stitch gets into the castle by claiming to be Prince Charming from Cinderella.
  • Stitch crawls in and says, "Oh Cinderella, your prince is here." Off-camera, Cinderella realizes that Stitch is not her prince, and kicks him out of the chamber.
  • The audience is then released from their duty and exit into one of two gift shops—Merchant of Venus or Mickey's Star Traders.
  • On the way to the gift shops, guest see a sign labeled "Days without an escape" and a big number going down.
 Voices

  • Chris Sanders — Stitch (Chris Sanders is an American animator, screenwriter, director, illustrator, and voice actor.) He directed the film Lilo & Stitch, and provided the voice of Stitch
  • Kevin Michael Richardson — Captain Gantu
  • Kevin McDonald — Pleakley
  • Zoe Caldwell — Grand Councilwoman
  • Richard Kind — Sergeant C4703BK2704-90210
  • Jennifer Hale — Cinderella
  • Danny Mann — Skippy
 
References:
In late September 2016 it was announced that the attraction would operate seasonally. A year later, ahead of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, it was announced the attraction would temporarily become Stitch's Alien Encounter Character Greeting.
Leaving the Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center, to the right of the Avenue of Planets is the Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center, which has been home to many experiences and attractions.
 
But before we venture in let’s visit the famous Purple Wall that wraps around the Center.
Purple Wall
 
The Purple Wall located near the entrance of Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom Park is one of the more popular photo backdrops in Walt Disney World. It is a social-media phenomenon.
It defies explanation, but guests come to the Purple Wall to take photos and selfies, then post them on various social media networks.
 
The color of the wall does provide an excellent backdrop for photo taking. At the end of 2018
The wall was re-imaged with a new color scheme and features several shades of purple in a geometric pattern.
 
The Purple Wall even has its own Social Media page.  (#purplewall)
 
More about the Purple Wall:  
However there are many other beautiful Backdrop Walls in Walt Disney World. To find them check out the link below:
Well we’ve cover a bit of ground, so it’s time for a break. Let’s head over it the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant located between the Tomorrowland Purple Wall and Main St. USA. (It is currently a seasonal restaurant)
 
The name Tomorrowland Terrace has over the years been used many different times and places, so bear with us it may get confusing.
 
Tomorrowland Terrace Cafe (1971–1994)
When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 a restaurant called Tomorrowland Terrace Café was located where the current Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe was. It was renamed Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in 1995 as part of the Tomorrowland makeover.

 
Plaza Pavilion (1973–2005)
In 1973, Plaza Pavilion opened on the site where the current Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant is. This outlet served hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and soft drinks.  There isn’t much information on this restaurant even through it was open for 12 years.

Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station (2005 - 2010)
In 2005, it became known as the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station.  The menu featured chicken, shrimp, and vegetable noodles. They also had stir fry and Asian salads.

Terrace has tiered level seating which offers great views of Cinderella Castle and the nightly fireworks shows.
Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant (2010 – Present)
In 2010, the restaurant was given a facelift and a name change, The Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant. The new menu features chicken strips, a spicy chicken sandwich, smoked sausage sandwich, etc.  It is currently a seasonal restaurant, meaning it’s only open during busy times and special events.

It closes every day at 3:30pm, and at night it is reserved for the Fireworks Dessert Party with seated patio viewing. 
 
For the Current Menu:
Firework Dessert Party
Purple Wall Posters
After our short break, we’ll head back around the Purple Wall to the Avenue of Planets and to the Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center.
 
As we pass the Purple Wall guest may note several Posters.

The posters advertising the convention facilities and some of the special events currently taking place in nearby venues. One poster advertises the Tomorrowland Towers Hover-Hotel. The fine print tells us that they offer gravity and antigravity suites, helpful robot valets, easy access landing pads, and more.

Another announced that appearing in town is Leonard Burnedstar. He is conducting the Martian Pops Orchestra. Tonight’s performance includes “The Opus Outer Space Concerto in Ursa Minor.” Special guest stars include Sirius, Centauri, and Procyon.
 
Around the Avenue of the Planets there are other posters, one promotes the Space Home & Garden Show. Attending this event will educate you in the areas of interplanetary timeshare options, instant flower and vegetable gardens, and undersea townhouse communities.
 
There is a poster that is promoting the Astro Orbiter, which is located in the Heart of Tomorrowland at Rockettower Plaza.
 
A poster presents that the Antique Rocket Show and Swoop Meet is Coming Soon to Tomorrowland.
Then there is a poster for the Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café with Sonny Eclipse is headlining. We also learn that the Starlight Cafe is the first Earth restaurant franchise from outer space.
 
There are a few other posters in this area, so check them out, but make sure you read the small print. These posters provide the backstory of Tomorrowland.
 
The Metropolis Science Center was directly across the concourse from the Flight to the Moon/Mission to Mars attraction. The Tomorrowland Circle Vision Theater was once the home of Circle Vision 360, which showed number of different 360 films such as America the Beautiful (during two separate times), Magic Carpet ‘Round the World (also during two separate times), American Journeys, and the Transportarium (which was later renamed The Timekeeper, a more interactive attraction).  It was then replaced with the current attraction, “Monster’s Inc. Laughing Floor.
 
When it opened in 1971 in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World it presented a film called “America the Beautiful”, this presentation, as original attractions, could trace back to Disneyland.

Circle-Vision 360° (1971–2006)
 
Circle-Vision 360° is a film concept, which has been around since 1900, that uses nine cameras for nine big screens arranged in a circle. The technique was refined by The Walt Disney Company Imagineering, by using a filming process with a special rig of nine cameras, similar to what Google Earth uses. These nine films are then simultaneously shown on giant curved screens forming a circle around the room.
 
The name Circarama come from Cinerama. Cinerama is a widescreen process that originally projected images simultaneously from three synchronized 35 mm projectors onto a huge, deeply curved screen. It was the first of a number of novel processes introduced during the 1950s.
 
Circarama was such an ingenious, original idea that Walt Disney had it patented.

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U.S. Patent number 2942516 drawing, sheet 1 of 2
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U.S. Patent number 2942516 drawing, sheet 2 of 2
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in Walt Disney Museum
The original Circarama camera is on display at the Walt Disney Family Museum.

The first film was America the Beautiful (1955 Disneyland version) in the Circarama theater, which would eventually become Circle-Vision theater in 1967.

Microsoft
America the Beautiful (1971–1974, 1975–1979)
 
The Magic Kingdom’s Circle Vision 360 Theater opened in Tomorrowland in November of 1971.  “America the Beautiful,” an updated version of the 360 movie first shown at Disneyland in 1955.
 
It was the first of the Circle-Vision 360 films at Walt Disney World.

Both the film was originally shot for the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels.
Then the next stop for Circarama was the American National Exhibition in Moscow, Russia in 1959. The U.S. Government arranged for Walt Disney to redo the narration of America the Beautiful in Russian.
 
By the time America the Beautiful opened at Disneyland in 1960, it was the third version of the 360-degree movie.
 “America the Beautiful” took you to many fascinating places in the USA: New York Harbor; Times Square; a Vermont country church set against the splendor of the autumn foliage; Williamsburg, Virginia—cradle of American culture; Pittsburgh steel mills; Detroit automobile factories; Midwestern railroad freight yards; Oklahoma cowboys rounding up cattle; wheat-harvesting combines in Montana; copper mines in Utah; Monument Valley; Hoover Dam; The Grand Canyon; San Francisco; The Golden Gate Bridge; and campus life at America’s great University of California at Los Angeles.
 
The attraction closed in March of 1974 in order to modify the film for the Bicentennial. During this time, a new film, Magic Carpet 'Round the World, was used in its place. Once the modifications were complete, America the Beautiful returned to the theater in 1975, with added footage of Philadelphia, and played until 1979 when Magic Carpet ‘Round the World returned.

Below is a Video of the attraction:
Magic Carpet 'Round the World (1974-1975, 1979-1984)
 
Magic Carpet 'Round the World was the second Circle-Vision 360 film to appear in Circle-Vision Theater in Tomorrowland. It replaced, America the Beautiful from 1974-1975, while the America the Beautiful film was modified for the Bicentennial. It then returned from 1979-1984, when it was subsequently replacement by American Journeys. Monsanto the sponsored both films.
 
Magic Carpet ‘Round the World took guests on a 21-minute journey through more than 20 countries. According to a Disney press release, more than 37 hours of film were edited to create the movie.  The soundtrack was in 12-track stereo and featured a 24-voice chorus and 56-piece orchestra that included folk instruments.
The film transported guests on an imaginary journey which includes the sights and sounds of London’s Tower Bridge and the River Thames, the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, the Belgian Grand Prix, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Swiss Alps, castles on the Rhine, Vienna Boys’ Choir, Rome’s historic Coliseum, a bullfight in Madrid, the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, the Sahara Desert, the Sphinx and the Pyramids, Africa’s big-game country and Mount Kilimanjaro, the Taj Mahal, Siamese dancers, a Chinese junk in Hong Kong Harbor, the cherry blossoms of Japan, and a grand sweep of America beginning with San Francisco Bay and ending with a breath-taking view of the Statue of Liberty.
 
In 1984, Joe Foster, who was part of the Magic Carpet ‘Roud the World filming crew published an article in American Cinematographer, Jan 1984, about the Filming: Magic Carpet 'Round the World. Excerpt of article can be found in this link:
he most comprehensive article on the filming and background about Magic Carpet 'Round the World was found on the following website. Unfortunately the printout of the article doesn’t doesn’t provide any insight as to the Author or the publication it was taken from:
  

  Click on the pages to enlarge!

We were unable to find a complete footage of the film, however From a Vintage Walt Disney World  Facebook Friend, Neil Engel, we were able to get the intro to the film
 
Neil worked at Circle-Vision in 1980, who must have shown the movie over a dozen times a day.
This was the spiel he did in the preshow:
 "Hello everyone, my name is Neil and I'd like to welcome you to Monsanto's Circle-Vision 360. The Magic Carpet Round the World show you are about to see was produced in Circle-Vision by Walt Disney Productions. Once in the theater you will be surrounded by 9 giant screens that will give you a 360 degree view of the places you'll visit. Through the magic of Circle-Vision, you'll be able to see where you are, where you've been and where you are going. We'll fly to London England, home of Big Ben. Hold on to your carpet for we'll fly to even more distant lands, such as Germany and Austria, where you'll be entertained by the world famous Vienna Boys Choir. Many fantastic places await us, so it's up and away on our Magic Carpet Round the World. Before leaving this area, be sure to collect your personal belongings, take small children by the hand and please not eating, drinking or smoking in the theater. Thank you for your attention and I hope you enjoy our presentation.”

We were also able to find a copy of the sound track of Magic Carpet ‘Round the World:
This second showing of Magic Carpet ‘Round the World was featured here for another five years when it was ultimately replaced with an all new Circle-Vision 360 film, American Journeys which opened on September 1984.
 
Note: And some of the Magic Carpet ‘Round the World footage was later reused in the Timekeeper attraction.
 
When the film premiered at Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, it was revised with new footage of Europe and North America.  
 
American Journeys (1984 – 1994)
In 1984, American Journeys replaced the Circle-Vision film Magic Carpet 'Round the World. This film was different than that of its predecessors in that it presented a broadminded version of America's history.
 
American Journeys had a similar in concept to America the Beautiful in that it toured America from coast to coast, it tried to present a more realistic view of America. American Journeys presented a brief overview of America's culture, history, and landscape
Depictions of the land and its people were far more diverse.
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©Disney
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©Disney
American Journeys was sponsored by Black and Decker.
 
Complete Script from the film: 

Videos: (the qualities of these videos isn’t great, but they will provide an idea of the content and concept of the film)
 
 
References:
Timekeeper (1994 - 2006)
With the re-imagineering of Tomorrowland in 1994 into its current retro-future appearance, Walt Disney Imagineering needed to update the Circle-Vision 360 experience.  The result of the 1994 refitting changed the Circle-Vision 360 Theater into the Transportarium. The new attraction was first called “From Time to Time”, shortly afterwards it was renamed “The Timekeeper” and the theater renamed the “Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center.”
In the preshow guests are introduced to 9-Eye. This name Droid with nine cameras (“eyes”) used to transmit pictures. In the preshow presentation we get a demonstration of 9-Eye at work filming: plunging over Niagara Falls, riding the Space Shuttle, and entering a barn full of explosives.
The attraction was completely revised, “Timekeeper”, with a full storyline, preshow and host characters. Timekeeper was the first Circle Vision 360 film to incorporate CGI effects and a fully interactive storyline.
Robin Williams voiced the Timekeeper host animatronic and Rhea Perlman voiced Nine-Eyes, the time travelling robot which brought the images into the theater.  Jeremy Irons appeared as H.G. Wells in the film.
This attraction originally debuted at Euro Disneyland in 1992, then at Tokyo Disneyland in 1993, and finally arrived in Florida in 1994.
The lobby for The Timekeeper matched the mechanical-age theming of the Tomorrowland Concourse. Carved stone created bases on which
iron girders rested. The walls were accented with acrylic cylinders filled with some sort of bubbling liquid. And glowing orbs radiated light.
After the preshow guests enter the presentation area. The attraction reused the Circle-Vision movie concept, but had an added storyline to the show. The story is presented by a state-of-the-art AudioAnimatronics character, his name was Timekeeper and voiced by Robin Williams.
When entering the presentation area, the Timekeeper was behind a panel of controls, busily checking his instrumentation. As he tinkered, he made occasional comments to the incoming audience, hurrying them along. Once everyone was in place and his instruments calibrated, the show began. A readout on Timekeeper’s panel displayed the current year and would change as we travel through time.
 
The show begins with Timekeeper introducing himself (voiced by Robin Williams) and his robot invention "9 Eye" (voiced by Rhea Perlman). He explains that he will be sending 8 Eye into the past as the guests will have an opportunity to view history from her "eyes".
  The Timekeeper uses his machine to send "9 Eye" into the past.

  • Our adventure began with a quick trip to the Jurassic period where 9-Eye was attacked by an angry allosaurus.
  • From there we visited the Ice Age and then,
  • A medieval battle scene.
  • We briefly met Leonardo da Vinci (played by Franco Nero)
  • Then drop in on a recital being given by a young Mozart.
  • And on to the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. Where we met Jules Verne (Michel Piccoli) and HG Wells (Jeremy Irons). The two authors had a brief squabble about time travel before Verne discovered 9-Eye.
  • While examining 9-Eye, Vern got enveloped in Timekeeper’s time vortex and was accidentally transported to present day.
  • After some discussion between the Timekeeper and Verne, it was decided to show Verne around and we were treated to some beautiful and zany CircleVision scenery.
  • Ultimately, Verne was brought back to the Paris Exposition where he once again ran into HG Wells.
  • Leaving the authors in the past, Timekeeper decided to send 9-Eye into the future, along with a family from the audience.
  • He chose the date 2189, 300 years after the Exposition Universelle.
  • Guests are treated to an aerial view of future Paris.
  • While hovering over the City of Lights, another flying vehicle pulled up beside us with Verne and Wells sitting side by side. 9-Eye asked them, “How did you get here?” and Verne responded, “In the future, anything is possible.”
  • The final scene is flyover of New York City.
Voice cast
Character                        Voice actor (American)

Timekeeper                      Robin Williams
Nine-Eye                          Rhea Perlman

Film cast
Character                        Actor

Jules Verne                      Michel Piccoli
H.G. Wells                        Jeremy Irons
Leonardo da Vinci             Franco Nero
Mona Lisa                         Anna Pernicci
Louis XV                           Jean Rochefort
Madame de Pompadour   Nathalie Baye
Roissy Employee              Gérard Depardieu
Mr. Verne's Translator       Patrick Bauchau

Time Keeper attraction closed in 2006.  Along with the attraction’s departure, thus the last of the Circle-Vision 360 films to use in the Magic Kingdom. In 2007, the Timekeeper was replaced by Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, a comedy show using a performance-capture system for live actors/CG models.
 
Circle Vision 360, however can still be found around Epcot at the Canadian (“O Canada!”) and Chinese (“Reflections of China”) pavilions in World Showcase.

Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
 
 The site has gone through a lot of changes over the years from Circle-Vision 360 films like America the Beautiful, Magic Carpet ‘Round the World, and American Journeys to the Circle-Vsion 360 with the interactive AudioAnimatronics Timekeeper. Now there has been a completely change away from the Circle-Vision 360 approach to a new concept where the audience interact with audio animatronic characters.
Picture
2007
Picture
2019
Opening in 2007, Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor allows the audience can interact with audio animatronic characters like Mike Wazowski and Roz in real time.
 
The original name for the attraction was “Laugh Floor Comedy Club”.  But by the time it opened it was changed to “Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club”. 
 
Then with further changes the final name and current name became, Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor.
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The theater was renovated for its new use, but guest can still find traces of the Timekeeper in the queue area. 
And if you look carefully you will note the 9 screens around the main part of the theater.
Storyline
Guests who have never seen the film Monsters, Inc. or its sequel, Monsters University, the pre-show for the attraction bring them up to date on everything they need to know to enjoy the show. The performance takes place after both movies.
The storyline of the movie “Monster’s Inc.,” takes place in the city of Monstropolis which was powered by the screams of frightened children. It was discovered when Boo laughed at Mike, which caused the entire city to be overpowered, that laughter could provides ten times more power than screams.

The Laugh Floor was the replacement for the Scare Floor in the final scene of Monsters, Inc., when the company was re-established by its new CEO, James P. Sullivan (Sulley). Instead of scaring kids, the new focus of the floor is to make them laugh.
Now Monstropolis has started using “laugh power” instead of screams for power, but the city still needs more power, so Mike Wazowski had the idea of opening up a comedy club for monsters and humans alike.
 
The story continues in Tomorrowland.
The Monster Inc. Laugh Floor attraction intention is instead of monsters coming to the human world and get their laughter only one human at a time, why not create a place where humans can visit the monster world and the monsters can perform and collect more laughs at one time.  So humans have been invited to enter the monster world and visit the power factory.


Queue
The first queue area for Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is for the most part unchanged from The Timekeeper attraction. The only difference is the addition of overhead banners that contain jokes and give instructions on how to submit your own anecdotes to be performed by the monsters in the comedy club.
At the far end of this room is a set of doors. These doors act as a portal in which humans can leave Tomorrowland and enter the monster world. Once they open guest will find another set of doors. Above them it says “Scare Factory 17.” However the word “SCARE” has been partially covered with a banner that says “LAUGH.” Beyond these doors is the Laugh facility.
Looking around this queue area guest will see that it once was the break room for monsters before they began their shift in the next room scaring children. It has since been converted into a lobby for humans waiting for the upcoming comedy show.
 
Evidence that this was once a break room can be found by checking out the various items in this area. There’s a snack machine which dispenses “Salt, Sugar, and Fat.”
There is also a bulletin board proudly displayed the photographs of the “Scarer of the Month,” but now it displays “Monsters of Comedy.”
During the show they are telling jokes in order to collect your laughs.  Guests get to watch the laugh canister fill up as the show goes on in hopes that you completely fill the canister for Mike.
 
The preshow video includes information about Monster’s University. Guests learn that the comedians they will be seeing are still in school and not the best of the best or the cream of the crop.
Another is the bulletin board on the wall. That displays the mandatory work safety rules, monsters have posted a number of personal ads for their co-workers. Worth reading while guest wait.
A number of TV monitors were installed in this old break room. Here guest see Roz showing outtakes of Mike Wazowski from past shows. The outtakes are basically slapstick and are intended to warm up the audience before the real show begins.
There will also be instructions on how to text jokes to the monsters. If your joke is selected it will be used during one of the segments in the show and credit will be given to the submitter.  This is the guest’s moment to get your name on the big screen!

The Show

After the preshow the Facility Door will open and guest can enter the Laugh Facility #17 or better known now as the Laugh Floor.
 
Guest should close pay attention to the surroundings and they will notice the screens around the room which are a reminder of the Circle-Vision 360 movies that were once shown here. The Imagineers did an excellent job of converting this space without doing a total overhaul. As guest enter there are rows of seats facing the stage with the occasional cocktail lamp accents the small tables. Not to worry, all of the seats are good.
After guests enter the theater and are seated, cameras throughout the theater will be scsnning around for guests that they will use in the show for some of the various gags that they do.  They show pictures and put up funny jokes. There is also always someone that is selected to be “That Guy”.  But at the end of the Show this person will gets an “I was ‘That Guy’” sticker as a reminder and thanks for partaking in the show. 
 
It is one of the few stage shows where audience members are actually put on the spot and an enormous television screen.  Guests just never know when the camera will zoom in on them, and it’s a show that is full of surprises and laughter, that’s why it’s called “Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor.
 
During the show jokes are told in a manner that is interactive with the audience.  Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor uses revolutionary technology, the same technology that is used in Epcot’s Turtle Talk with Crush possible. It’s called digital puppetry, and it involves having actors perform behind a screen, while computer-generated images (CGI) of the monsters appear on the screens, in synch with the performers’ voices. The hidden actors use movable cameras, located throughout the theatre, to figure out which guests they want to interact with. Throughout the theater there are well-placed lights and cast members with portable microphones to do the rest.
 
Due to the nature of the show and the improvisation of the actors, the show is never the exact same show each time. 
 
During the show, Mike Wazowski is the “Monster of Ceremonies”, and Roz also appears in the show as her skeptical self.
There are new monsters which include Mike’s nephew, Marty Wazowski; a mind-reading purple monster with eyes on long stalks; and a two-headed monster will incorporating guests into their routines.
Audience participation is part of the fun at Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.
 
Mike Wazowski is the Monsters of Ceremony who explains the with help of the audience laughter the monsters intend to fill a large canister located near the stage with energy as the laughs continue.
Roz stands by to keep the show moving along.
During the presentation, the animated monsters will entertain the guests with silly jokes.
 
The show runs about 10 minutes. Most jokes are corny, but a few take a little more to get. But generally guests leave the monster world with a smile on their face.
The attraction was a nominated for the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project award in 2008.  The award is issued by the Visual Effects Society.  The attraction was nominated for the award and recognized for the hard work and technology that went into creating the experience.  Liz Gazzan, Joe Garlington, Roger Gould and Daniele Colajacomo were the Imagineers that were called out in the award nomination.

Video from Laugh Floor:
 
References:
Our pictorial tour of Tomorrowland Part 1 is completed. We’ve covered a lot of Disney and Tomorrowland history, from attraction changes over the years to a view at what's now:

  • Flight to the Moon
  • Mission to Mars
  • Alien Encouner-ExtraTERRORestrial, which is now
  • Stitch’s Great Escape
 
  • Purple Wall, where it fits in the Social Media
  • Purple Wall Posters, which provided some of the Backstory of Tomorrowland
 
  • Tomorrowland Terrace Café
  • Plaza Pavilion
  • Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station, and it’s now called
  • Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant
 
  • Circle Vision 360
  • America the Beautiful
  • Magic Carpet ‘Round the World
  • American Journeys
  • Transportarium
  • The Timekeeper, which made way for
  • Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
 
But we’re not finished with Tomorrowland, we have just made our way down the Avenue of the Planets.
In the next Chapter 26 – Tomorrowland Part 2, we’ll tour the Rockettower Plaza and the surrounding attractions, which includes:
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Buzz Lightyear Meet and Greet
  • Galaxy Palace Theater
  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority
  • The Lunching Pad
  • Astro Orbiter
Afterword:
WDWMousing.com is designed to be a tour of Walt Disney World through photos. We have been to Walt Disney World countless times over the past 25 years and accumulated a magnitude of photos in that time. This website is an intention to combine two of our favorite pastimes, Walt Disney World and photography, and provide an insightful pictorial tour.
While doing so, we've done an extensive research of the internet and literary sources for background information on each area and atrraction. The information is available, but most bits and pieces are scattered all over. WDWMousing doesn't intend to rewrite the stories, legends or data, but to try and collect it into one location with reference and links to the original articles and authors. And giving rightful credit. We've stumbled through quite a bit of mis-information, most of which came to life by fans because the origins were lost, forgotten or no one seems to remember. Over the past 25 years we've also lost most of the great Imagineers that helped develop, design and build the original concepts of Walt Disney World. So we believe it's extremely important to make sure that their efforts, intentions, details and creativity in making this Happiest Place on Earth isn't lost.
So we ask for feedback, insights, and suggestions.

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