I did not attend the fair. But my wife did with her family and she has vivid memories of the attractions. Decades later we were at Magic Kingdom and took our daughter on Carousel of Progress. Things come full circle!!
Fantastic article. I love hearing the history behind these attractions. I was born about a decade too late to attend that fair, but love hearing the experiences of others.
Sometimes I wonder with my own kids what it takes to bring that same sense of awe - animatronics are old hat to them. When I took them to the Magic Kingdom for the first time, they were rather unimpressed with the classic dark rides after being born in an age of CGI and VR.
I guess the upside of that is that it drives Imagineers to constantly be pushing the envelope of technology to capture the imaginations of new generations. My kids have yet to experience some of the next generation rides such as Rise of the Resistance. I can't wait to see if those have what it takes to leave them surprised.
I hear you about the sense of wonderment. It's an absolute joy to experience something truly groundbreaking. I recently experienced that with The Bourne Stuntacular (https://www.aboutthemeparks.fun/p/this-show-is-bourne-to-be-wild) and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (https://www.aboutthemeparks.fun/p/have-an-interplanetary-blast-on-epcot?s=w). You might think after all these years of covering the industry that I'd be at least a bit jaded or ho-hum, been-there-done-that. But no, I sometimes still feel like that wide-eyed, open-jawed six-year-old at the New York World's Fair.
And yet, millions of people (including my folks) parted with their hard-earned cash–and likely thought it was worth it. Back then, the experience was quite novel.
I guess I'm an older fart. At age 16, I took the train with my friend Joey from Rhode Island to NYC to go to the fair. It was freedom. We had a ball. Really nice to read the backstories of the Disney presentations. Thanks.
I really wish there was a way to experience the Magic Skyway today. It looks like such a unique experience- but I imagine nobody’ s going to build a ride system that requires 170 working automobiles...
I have fond memories of it. But there are a number of reasons why Magic Skyway was the only one of the four attractions that did not migrate to Disneyland–not the least of which was that the overall quality was spotty. As I mention in the article, the Imagineers acknowledged that the cavemen characters weren't quite up to snuff, for example. Still, all four Disney attractions–and the entire fair for that matter–were overwhelming and awe-inspiring to an impressionable young boy.
I did not attend the fair. But my wife did with her family and she has vivid memories of the attractions. Decades later we were at Magic Kingdom and took our daughter on Carousel of Progress. Things come full circle!!
Ba-dum-TSH!
Fantastic article. I love hearing the history behind these attractions. I was born about a decade too late to attend that fair, but love hearing the experiences of others.
Sometimes I wonder with my own kids what it takes to bring that same sense of awe - animatronics are old hat to them. When I took them to the Magic Kingdom for the first time, they were rather unimpressed with the classic dark rides after being born in an age of CGI and VR.
I guess the upside of that is that it drives Imagineers to constantly be pushing the envelope of technology to capture the imaginations of new generations. My kids have yet to experience some of the next generation rides such as Rise of the Resistance. I can't wait to see if those have what it takes to leave them surprised.
Thanks for the nice comments, Tim.
I hear you about the sense of wonderment. It's an absolute joy to experience something truly groundbreaking. I recently experienced that with The Bourne Stuntacular (https://www.aboutthemeparks.fun/p/this-show-is-bourne-to-be-wild) and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (https://www.aboutthemeparks.fun/p/have-an-interplanetary-blast-on-epcot?s=w). You might think after all these years of covering the industry that I'd be at least a bit jaded or ho-hum, been-there-done-that. But no, I sometimes still feel like that wide-eyed, open-jawed six-year-old at the New York World's Fair.
Wonderful article. And that $2 admission to it's a small world in 1964 would be just above $18 today ... a bit steep.
And yet, millions of people (including my folks) parted with their hard-earned cash–and likely thought it was worth it. Back then, the experience was quite novel.
Thanks for the kind words, Stephen!
I guess I'm an older fart. At age 16, I took the train with my friend Joey from Rhode Island to NYC to go to the fair. It was freedom. We had a ball. Really nice to read the backstories of the Disney presentations. Thanks.
Older farts are welcome! Do you have any memories to share? What were some of the experiences that you most remember/cherish?
I really wish there was a way to experience the Magic Skyway today. It looks like such a unique experience- but I imagine nobody’ s going to build a ride system that requires 170 working automobiles...
I have fond memories of it. But there are a number of reasons why Magic Skyway was the only one of the four attractions that did not migrate to Disneyland–not the least of which was that the overall quality was spotty. As I mention in the article, the Imagineers acknowledged that the cavemen characters weren't quite up to snuff, for example. Still, all four Disney attractions–and the entire fair for that matter–were overwhelming and awe-inspiring to an impressionable young boy.