Touring Tomorrowland: A Walk to the Future
When you visit Magic Kingdom, do you go left towards Adventureland or right towards Tomorrowland?
Since my first trip to Walt Disney World, I have always gone right toward Tomorrowland! My family and I would rope drop the park, and make our way towards Space Mountain to get in a couple of rides before the line got too long. At this point, decades later, going right is simply a reflex for me!
Walking towards Tomorrowland, you are welcomed by the new sign, inviting you into the beautiful world of Tomorrow! As you enter underneath the sign, the feeling of the park totally changes. The buildings become super structured, and the silver and blue colors portray exactly what this section of the park wants to convey; the future. That, mixed with the sounds of sci-fi techno music popping in the distance, really helps immerse you into the retro sci-fi feel Walt and his team of Imagineers strived for!
As you continue forward, you can see the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover whizzing past near the tops of the buildings on either side of the pathway. Being able to see people enjoying a ride always makes me so happy, and this is the first glimpse of that fun. Another great sight to see entering Tomorrowland is the Astro Orbiter! Looking into the sky, the spinning rockets and huge planets help bring the space feel into the land, rounding out the futuristic aesthetic!
Continuing down the path, the building on the right houses Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. This interactive comedy show hosted by Mike Wazowski lets guests of Magic Kingdom interact with some zany characters from Monstropolis, collecting all of the monster laughs from the audience! This show is super funny, and because it relies on audience engagement, each show is different! Definitely worth stopping to see!
Further down the path, next to the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, is Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. This ride is a favorite in my family! Guests can hop in their very own star cruiser and spin their way through the galaxy in an attempt to help stop Evil Emperor Zurg! Each cruiser holds two people and has lasers for each person to use to collect points in an attempt to take on Zurg. This ride is great for a little competition in your party to see who can rack up the most points by the end. As well, the space theme of this ride fits perfectly into Tomorrowland!
Continuing to the right, tucked in behind Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, is Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress! Introduced at the New York World’s Fair, this attraction has that nostalgic retro sci-fi feel I love about Tomorrowland. The Carousel of Progress takes place in a revolving theatre, where the seats move around a stationary stage for each portion of the show. In this show, you follow an American family through the 20th century as they navigate the way technological progress transforms their lives. From gas lamps and washing machines to televisions and virtual reality games, watching this family accept the change in modern technology is something everyone can resonate with, whether it is your own experience or watching your grandparent try to send a text.
Across the pathway from Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is the entrance to two more attractions: Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and Astro Orbiter!
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover sends guests on a 10 minute voyage around Tomorrowland in a tram, showing you behind the scenes of some of Tomorrowland’s attractions. As the tram runs on an elevated track, you get beautiful views of the park from above, and the leisurely ride is narrated to share some very interesting facts! While it is not the most high-energy, thrilling ride in the park, it is a must-ride for me!
However, if you are looking for a more thrilling ride, the Astro Orbiter may be for you! Taking an elevator up to the ride, you sit in a retro spaceship and spin around high in the air. The views from this high up are unbeatable, and the sounds of Tomorrowland add the perfect touch! As someone who is afraid of heights, this ride was a one-and-done for me, but I completely understand the appeal!
As we continue around the bend, back behind the Astro Orbiter entrance is Space Mountain. This is the fan-favorite attraction of Tomorrowland, one of the classic mountains of the park. On this ride, guests board a rocket and rip through outer space, zooming past shooting stars and satellites. In the blackness of space with just the stars to help you see, futuristic music plays all around you, amplifying the thrill of the ride! If you have never been on this ride, this has to be on your must-do list! It is so cool, and such a great representation of the immersive Disney feel!
As we continue around, the last attraction in Tomorrowland welcomes us with the humming of many engines. The Tomorrowland Speedway lets guests drive their own gas-powered car and race against the other drivers around sharp bends and up hills. The speedway has a beautiful nostalgic feel as you embark on your scenic drive and is a great segue to connect Tomorrowland back into the rest of Magic Kingdom!
Tomorrowland is such an iconic Magic Kingdom land and is a great way to start your day at the park! Being there helps guests remember that “There is a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day.”
~Alyssa
