Disneyland’s limited space means that some rides disappear, but remain fond memories. Rocket to the Moon (1955-1992) became Flight to the Moon and Mission to Mars. The People Mover (1967-1996) was replaced by Rocket Rods (1998-2000). The submarine ride (1959-1998) reopened in 2007 with a Finding Nemo theme. The mine train through nature’s wonderland (1960-1979) became Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The Swiss Family Treehouse (1962) became Tarzan’s Treehouse, but tributes to the original remain. Disneyland maintains nostalgia, but new rides win the love of the new generation.
At Disneyland, innovation and new technologies have been an important foundation of the park since its inception. While this leads to a constant influx of new rides and attractions, limited space sadly leads to the disappearance of others. Disneyland rides that no longer exist in the park often remain as fond memories of past visitors.
Rocket to the Moon was one of the first rides at Disneyland, opening in 1955. Guests sat in a circular chamber with a screen below and one overhead, to simulate a thrilling rocket explosion and travel through space. This ride ran from 1955 to 1967 when it was upgraded to become Flight to the Moon and in 1975 it became Mission to Mars. Sadly, the simulator closed permanently in 1992, but a replica of the famous Moonliner rocket can still be seen at Tomorrowland.
A carousel transformation continues to cause Disneyland designers and fans headaches years after its last gasp. In 1967, the People Mover opened to take guests on a leisurely tour of Tomorrowland attractions, including Space Mountain and Adventures through Inner Space. While popular, the ride was replaced in 1996 by a track ride called Rocket Rods. Huge technical problems and a consistent 90-minute wait time, followed by a ride under three minutes spelled the early end of the Rocket Rods. The ride was closed in 2000, although dilapidated parts of the track still run through Tomorrowland, leading some fans to refer to it as “tomorrow’s eyesore”.
One of Disneyland’s most beloved rides was the submarine ride. The semi-submersible vessels took guests on a thrilling underwater ride amid eerily inanimate fish, mermaids and a cross-eyed sea serpent before returning them safely to land. The submarine ride opened in 1959 and carried passengers until it closed in 1998. In 2007, Disneyland fans were thrilled with the reopening of the submarine ride, which now uses underwater video projection to take guests into the colorful world of The Search of Pixar’s Nemo. Fans of the older version will be thrilled by the many crafty references to the original ride.
In Frontierland, home of Davy Crockett and Tom Sawyer, guests could once take a scenic train ride through hidden locations. The mine train through nature’s wonderland replaced the original train ride in 1960. Hardy’s frontier visitors traveled through dazzling waterfalls and the colorful waters of Rainbow Cavern, past the good Old Unfaithful Geyser, and could even spot a fishing bear or a beaver busy building a dam. watch out for those cacti! Guests who boarded the ride in the late evening could have enjoyed a unique view of the fireworks atop the Living Desert. In 1979, the train was replaced by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a high-speed roller coaster that still contains many of the original props and attractions.
At the top of the tree now designated as Tarzan’s home, the Swiss Family Treehouse once resided. Opened in 1962 and inspired by the famous Disney film, the ride allowed visitors to explore a replica of the house used in the film. Although the Robinson family has been ejected in favor of the more popular Tarzan, subtle tributes to the original exist throughout the run, including the “swisskapolka” that plays on Tarzan’s gramophone.
Disneyland’s rides exist on limited space, leading to the end of boarding for many favorites. Yet the company strives to maintain the park’s nostalgia, and many of Disneyland’s early rides, like Peter Pan’s Flight and The Adventures of Snow White, still remain. Most park-goers will admit sadness at the loss of their favorite rides, but these losses come with a silver lining. For each of Disneyland’s rides that no longer exist, in their place are new and glittering ones, winning the love of the new generation.
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