Mad Tea Party

Last updated
Mad Tea Party
TeacupsMadTeaParty wb.jpg
Mad Tea Party at Disneyland
Disneyland
Area Fantasyland
Coordinates 33°48′49″N117°55′06″W / 33.8135°N 117.9183°W / 33.8135; -117.9183
StatusOperating
Opening dateJuly 17, 1955
Magic Kingdom
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates 28°25′12″N81°34′47″W / 28.42°N 81.5798°W / 28.42; -81.5798
StatusOperating
Opening dateOctober 1, 1971;52 years ago (October 1, 1971)
Tokyo Disneyland
NameAlice's Tea Party
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates 35°37′52″N139°52′52″E / 35.6312°N 139.881°E / 35.6312; 139.881
StatusOperating
Opening dateMarch 8, 1986
Disneyland Park (Paris)
NameMad Hatter's Tea Cups
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates 48°52′28″N2°46′31″E / 48.8744°N 2.7752°E / 48.8744; 2.7752
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 12, 1992
Hong Kong Disneyland
NameMad Hatter Tea Cups
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates 22°18′48″N114°02′24″E / 22.3133°N 114.0401°E / 22.3133; 114.0401
StatusOperating
Opening dateSeptember 12, 2005
Ride statistics
Attraction type Teacups
Designer Walt Disney Imagineering
Theme Alice in Wonderland
Height restrictionNo restriction for the American attractions [1] [2]
Manufacturer Arrow Development (Disneyland)
Genie+ Logo.svg Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane available
Attraction transfer icon.svg Must transfer from wheelchair

Mad Tea Party is a spinning tea cup ride at five of the six Disneyland-style theme parks around the world. The ride theme is inspired by the Unbirthday Party scene in Walt Disney's Alice In Wonderland , and plays a carousel version of the film's "Unbirthday Song". It was one of the opening day attractions operating at Disneyland on July 17, 1955. [3]

Contents

The attraction is called Mad Tea Party at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. It is known as Alice's Tea Party at Tokyo Disneyland, [4] Mad Hatter's Tea Cups at Disneyland Paris, and Mad Hatter Tea Cups at Hong Kong Disneyland.

All five versions of the attraction are located in Fantasyland, and all except the Tokyo version were opening-day attractions at their respective parks. The Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland versions do not have a big teapot in the center of the ride platform. The ride has gained infamy over the years for the number of guests who get motion sickness as a result of the spinning component to the ride. [5]

Like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Disneyland and its Hong Kong counterpart have a replica of one of the teacups located outside the attraction to be used by guests for better photo opportunities.

Attraction facts

History

Disneyland

Several concepts for the Mad Tea Party were originally much more outrageous compared to today's version. One drawing showed the Mad Hatter's dinner table featured in the center of the ride with various lanterns and decorations all around. Another drawing showed 20 teacups circling a central hub, making it similar to a racetrack with banked curves.

For the first few months after the ride first opened, the tea cups spun on a bare platform before it was painted with the psychedelic spiral that exists today. Also, during the ride's first two years, the tea cups had no brakes or clutches; nothing limited how fast they could be spun.

The attraction's original [6] [7] location was directly behind King Arthur Carrousel and Sleeping Beauty Castle. It was given slight modifications in 1972 with ornamental arches connecting the light posts, and again in 1978 with the platform and teacups being repainted. In 1983, the whole attraction was completely remodeled and relocated to its present location near Matterhorn Bobsleds. [8] It also incorporated a few ideas from the original concepts, such as colorful lanterns.

In 2004, the attraction was modified to make it more difficult to spin fast after a disabled rider lost his balance and slipped from a teacup. [9] Like other remaining 1955 attractions, one of Disneyland's teacups was painted gold in honor of the park's 50th anniversary in 2005.

The installation at Disneyland was manufactured by Arrow Development. [10]

In 1956, the ride was paired with a nearby gift shop, called the "Mad Hatter of Fantasyland"; when the Alice in Wonderland attraction was built in 1958, the store was moved closer to both rides, creating an Alice corner. One of the teacups is positioned outside the hat store, for photo opportunities. [11]

Magic Kingdom

Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom Mad Tea Part WDW.jpg
Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom

Like Disneyland, Magic Kingdom's original 1971 version of this attraction opened without a roof. It was eventually added in 1973 (along with the central teapot) due to extreme weather conditions. It was updated in 1992 with a new color scheme, new music, and the colorful lanterns. In 2010, the canopy was repainted.

On February 2, 2021, Magic Kingdom reopened after being temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak's impact on Florida. The ride closed temporarily on February 22 and reopened March 5, in time for Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary celebration.

Tokyo Disneyland

Unlike any other version of the attraction, Tokyo's version did not open with the park in 1983, instead opening in 1986. It is mostly the same version as in Florida, with a canopy roof to protect from the often rainy Japanese weather and a teapot in the center from which the Dormouse continuously appears.

Originally, the ride was located close next to the former Skyway station to Tomorrowland, on the edge of Fantasyland. However, in late 1998, as part of Tokyo Disneyland's 15th anniversary, the ride was relocated to the center of Fantasyland near Castle Carrousel, while the Skyway station was closed to make room for Pooh's Hunny Hunt. In the process, the ride was given an overhaul, with more swirly designs on the cups and teapot that resemble those from Disneyland Paris and the addition of colorful Japanese lanterns.

Disneyland Paris

The Paris version of the attraction is the only version to feature a petal-shaped glass roof and surrounding gardens. It also uses the Dormouse's teapot outside the ride, near the March Hare's Refreshments. The teacup designs were later used for Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland's teacups.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's a Small World</span> Dark ride at Disney theme parks

"It's a Small World" is an Old Mill boat ride located in the Fantasyland area at various Disney theme parks around the world, including Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California; Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida; Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. The inaugural version of the ride premiered at the 1964 New York World's Fair before permanently moving to Disneyland in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happiest Homecoming on Earth</span>

The Happiest Homecoming on Earth or the Happiest Celebration on Earth was the eighteen-month-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Disneyland theme park, which opened on July 17, 1955. It commemorated fifty years of Disney theme parks and celebrated Disneyland's milestone throughout Disney parks all over the globe. The "Homecoming" name was only used for Disneyland Resort; all the other Disney Parks resorts used the "Celebration" name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantasyland</span> Themed land at Disney theme parks

Fantasyland is one of the "themed lands" at all of the Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world. It is themed after Disney's animated fairy tale feature films. Each Fantasyland has a castle, as well as several gentle rides themed after those Disney animated feature films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autopia</span> Attraction at Disney theme parks

Autopia is a race car track Disneyland attraction, in which patrons steer specially designed cars through an enclosed track. Versions of Autopia exist at Anaheim, California and Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. There was also an Autopia at Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island, Hong Kong before it closed on June 11, 2016. Other versions of the attraction can be found at the Magic Kingdom as the Tomorrowland Speedway and formerly at Tokyo Disneyland as the Grand Circuit Raceway. A previous generation of Disneyland's Autopia operated for over a decade at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, Missouri; one of the retired cars is now on display.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyway (Disney)</span> Former amusement ride in Disney parks

The Skyway was a gondola lift attraction at Disneyland, at the Magic Kingdom, and at Tokyo Disneyland. Since all versions of this attraction took riders back and forth between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, the route from Tomorrowland was called Skyway to Fantasyland, and the route from Fantasyland was called Skyway to Tomorrowland.

<i>Remember... Dreams Come True</i> Nighttime spectacular at Disneyland

Remember... Dreams Come True was a Disneyland fireworks display commemorating the 50th anniversary of the park in 2005 and 2006. The show featured fireworks, lower level pyrotechnics, isobar flame effects, projection mapping, lasers, searchlights, and lighting set to the soundtracks of some of Disneyland's rides and shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Pan's Flight</span> Dark ride at Disney theme parks

Peter Pan's Flight is a rail-suspended dark ride at the Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland theme parks. Located in the Fantasyland area of each park, its story, music, staging, and artwork are based on Walt Disney's Peter Pan, the 1953 animated film version of the classic Peter Pan story by J. M. Barrie. It is also one of the few remaining attractions that was operational on Disneyland's opening day in 1955, although the original version was entirely redesigned in 1983. Five of the six Disney resort destinations feature it, each with a unique exterior, walk-through queue and ride experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams</span> Former parade at Disneyland

Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams premiered on May 5, 2005 as part of the Happiest Homecoming on Earth, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Disneyland in California. Conceived by VP Parades and Spectaculars, Steve Davison, the parade celebrates the dreams of Disney characters and includes Disney characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Tinker Bell, Cinderella, Snow White, Simba, Alice and Mad Hatter, Pinocchio, Belle and Beast, Ariel, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. The parade includes eight floats which include Getaway to Dreams, Dream of Enchantment, Dream of Laughter, Dream of Another World, Dream of Imagination, Dream of Adventure, and Dreams Come True. It closed in November 2008 before the Holidays at Disneyland without notice to the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (attraction)</span> Dark ride at Disney theme parks

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a dark ride based upon the 1977 film of the same name, itself based on the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne. The attraction exists in slightly different forms at the Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland Park. Pooh's Hunny Hunt, located in Tokyo Disneyland, is an enhanced "E-ticket class" attraction, featuring full audio animatronics and a trackless ride system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin</span> Disney parks dark ride

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin is a dark ride located at the Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland theme parks, based on the 1988 Disney/Amblin film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Both versions of the attraction are located in Mickey's Toontown. The Disneyland version opened on January 26, 1994, a year after the Mickey's Toontown area opened, and the Tokyo Disneyland version opened on April 15, 1996. In December 2021, the Disneyland version was updated to include a new plot element of Jessica Rabbit in the role of a detective who is determined to stop a crime wave in Toontown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unbirthday</span> Neologism by Lewis Carroll

An unbirthday is an event celebrated on all days of the year which are not a person's birthday. It is a neologism which first appeared in Lewis Carroll's 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass. The concept gave rise to "The Unbirthday Song" in the 1951 animated feature film Alice in Wonderland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinocchio's Daring Journey</span> Dark ride at Disney theme parks

Pinocchio's Daring Journey is a dark ride at Disneyland in California, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Park in Paris. Located in the Fantasyland section of each park, this ride is based on Disney's 1940 animated film version of the classic story, which was the studio's second animated feature film. The attraction tells an abbreviated version of the film, with Pinocchio escaping from Stromboli's puppet show and visiting Pleasure Island, ignoring Jiminy Cricket's advice. Monstro the whale makes an appearance, and Pinocchio is finally reunited with Geppetto and turned into a real boy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice's Curious Labyrinth</span> Attraction at Disneyland Paris

Alice's Curious Labyrinth is a hedge maze attraction at the Disneyland Park within Disneyland Paris. It opened in 1992 with the Park, and belongs to the British part of Fantasyland. A similar maze attraction, based on both the 1951 and 2010 Disney film adaptations of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, exists at Shanghai Disneyland Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Street Cinema</span> Movie theater at Disneyland

The Main Street Cinema is a small movie theater currently located on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland and previously at the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumbo the Flying Elephant</span> Ride at six Disney parks

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is an aerial carousel-style ride located in Fantasyland at six Disney parks around the world. It is based on Disney's 1941 animated feature film, Dumbo. The original attraction opened at Disneyland on August 16, 1955. The four other versions of the attraction were opening-day attractions at their respective parks. It is the only attraction that can be found at all six Disney castle parks worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swiss Family Treehouse</span> Walkthrough attraction at Disney parks

Swiss Family Treehouse is a walk-through attraction featured at Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Park Paris and Tokyo Disneyland. It was formerly located at Disneyland. The attraction is centered on a large treehouse based on the 1960 Disney film Swiss Family Robinson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teacups</span> Type of amusement park ride

Teacups, or spinning teacups, is a type of amusement ride characterized by teacup-shaped spinning vehicles atop a turntable-like floor, which may also spin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice in Wonderland (Disneyland attraction)</span> Dark ride in Fantasyland at Disneyland

Alice in Wonderland is a dark ride in Fantasyland at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Based on the 1951 animated Disney film of the same name, the attraction resides next to a second ride, the Mad Tea Party, based on a scene in that same adaptation.

<i>Alice in Wonderland</i> (franchise) Disney media franchise based on the Alice books by Lewis Carroll

Alice in Wonderland, or simply Alice, is a Disney media franchise, commencing in 1951 with the theatrical release of the animated film Alice in Wonderland. The film is an adaptation of the books by Lewis Carroll, the 1865 novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its 1871 sequel Through the Looking-Glass, which featured his character Alice. A live-action film directed by Tim Burton was released in 2010.

References

  1. "Mad Tea Party". Disneyland. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  2. "Mad Tea Party". Magic Kingdom. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  3. Strodder, Chris (2017). The Disneyland Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Santa Monica Press. pp. 291–292. ISBN   978-1595800909.
  4. Tokyo Disneyland ride description Archived 22 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Gennawey, Sam (2014). The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dream. Keen Communications. p. 83. ISBN   978-1-62809-012-3.
  6. Your Guide to Disneyland Fall/Winter '67
  7. Disneyland Plot Plan blueprint
  8. Strodder, Chris (2015). The Disneyland Book of Lists. Santa Monica Press. p. 91. ISBN   9781595808264.
  9. At Disneyland, slower teacups
  10. Gurr, Bob (27 November 2013). "DESIGN: Those Were The Times – No.23 1955 Arrow Development – Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon". MiceChat. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  11. Strodder, Chris (2017). The Disneyland Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Santa Monica Press. pp. 289–290. ISBN   978-1595800909.