Top 10 Disney World Trivia

Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel
Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel was originally built in 1917 and once stood at Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Contemporary Resort
President Richard Nixon gave his famous “I am not a crook” speech during a convention at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in 1973.

Doom Buggies
The Omnimover vehicles used for the Haunted Mansion are nicknamed “Doom Buggies.”

Dummy Corporations
Using a series of dummy corporations, Walt Disney purchased the land for Disney World at a cost of just over $5 million.

Expedition Everest
At 199.5 feet tall, Expedition Everest is the tallest artificial mountain at Walt Disney World Resort.

Magic Kingdom Ticket Prices
When Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park opened its doors on October 1, 1971, adult admission cost just $3.50, a seven-ride attraction ticket book cost $4.75 and an 11-ride attraction ticket book cost only $5.75.

Mission: SPACE
Each space capsule at Epcot’s Mission: SPACE is equipped with motion sickness bags.

New York World’s Fair
It’s A Small World and the Carousel of Progress both debuted at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios launches riders at a speed of 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds.

Walt Disney World Open Invitational
Golf legend Jack Nicklaus captured the first championship at the inaugural 1971 Walt Disney World Open Invitational.

Top 10 Defunct Disney World Attractions

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
One of the original attractions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, 20,000 Leagues closed in 1994 and has been partially replaced by a Winnie the Pooh playground and Disney character meet & greet area (which have since been replaced by construction for the expanded Fantasyland).

ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter
This thrilling attraction opened at the site of the former Mission to Mars in Tomorrowland in 1995. ExtraTERRORestrial gained a cult following but has since been replaced by Stitch’s Great Escape.

Flight to the Moon
Hosted by Mr. Tom Morrow, this “state-of-the-art” Tomorrowland attraction opened on Christmas Eve 1971 and became hopelessly outdated by 1975 when it was replaced by Mission to Mars. Stitch’s Great Escape now occupies the site.

Horizons
This Epcot ride made its debut in 1983 and closed in 1999 to make way for Mission: SPACE. It has developed somewhat of a cult following over the years, although I remember it as a mediocre Future World attraction that dated very quickly.

If You Had Wings
Sponsored by Eastern Airlines, If You Had Wings was one of the few rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom that rarely drew a line. It was replaced by If You Could Fly in 1987 and now Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin stands on the site.

Mickey Mouse Revue
One of the Magic Kingdom’s original attractions, Mickey Mouse Revue opened in Fantasyland in 1971 and featured an audio-animatronic orchestra of popular Disney characters singing such classics as “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee.” The Mickey Mouse Revue closed in 1980 and was shipped to Tokyo Disneyland. Mickey’s PhilharMagic now occupies the site.

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Despite an extensive “Save the Toad” campaign, Disney’s Magic Kingdom replaced Mr. Toad with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1998.

Plaza Swan Boats
Opened in 1973, the D-ticket Plaza Swan Boats embarked from two Magic Kingdom loading docks: one near the entrance to Tomorrowland and the other near the Plaza Restaurant. The Plaza Swan Boats stopped running in 1983.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire – Play It!
Based on the hit ABC TV show, this Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) attraction closed in 2006 along Mickey Avenue.

World of Motion
Sponsored by General Motors, World of Motion was one of Epcot’s original attractions. The ride offered a humorous look at the history of transportation and closed in 1996 to make way for Test Track.