Secret Stories of Extinct Magic Kingdom Attractions
From Jim Korkis’s Newest Book: Secret Stories of Extinct Walt Disney World: The World that Disappeared
Join author Jim Korkis and I as we visit the Magic Kingdom and talk about some of the extinct Magic Kingdom attractions you can’t find any more. We talk about major attractions such as Flight to the Moon, the Diamond Horseshoe, and RCA’s Space Mountain exhibit. But we also talk about lesser known attractions such as Sword in the Stone Ceremony, Safari Club, West Center Street and the Flower Market. We end with a discussion of our favorite Magic Kingdom parades. It’s all part of Secret Stories of Extinct Walt Disney World: The World that Disappeared.
You can find our podcast, 168, here on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, MyTuner, and ListenNotes. An outline is shown below, but you’ll find most of the detail as well as Jim Korkis’s insights on the podcast.
Sword in the Stone Ceremony
On the podcast Jim talks about being “best friends” with Merlin himself and of the wonderful interactive experience of a young child pulling out King Arthur’s sword. You get the insights of what it’s like to make the magic happen on such a simple, yet enchanted show.
Flight to the Moon/Mission to Mars
Flight to the Moon opened about two months after the Magic Kingdom opened. But by then it was already an antiquated ride, supposing what it would be like to visit the moon, when mankind had already been there, done that.
In time Mission to Mars followed, utilizing the same space, and offering another perspective of what it was like to go to space. But it was nothing compared to the real feeling, as created by Space Mountain itself.
Diamond Horseshoe
An opening day attraction for the Magic Kingdom, this is a favorite of Jim and I. The original show is a mirror of the Golden Horseshoe, and it ran in Florida until it was changed on October 1, 1986, after which time it became the Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree. Now the it is merely a reminder of its former self, simply serving as a restaurant with no entertainment luster.
Orange Bird
Orange Bird was not only a character played in the parks during the early years, but it was primarily played by one female Disney Cast Member. It is a miracle this bird has not only survived but has thrived to become a cult classic at Magic Kingdom. Jim shares an interesting story as to why Donald Duck Orange Juice was never a sponsor at the park.
Safari Club
This was the first attraction to die at Magic Kingdom. You should note that this is nearly the back or opposite side of the Frontierland Shootin’ Gallery. I’ve never seen a photo of the actual attraction, but believe it was similar to a shooting gallery in Adventureland at Disneyland. Check out my post/podcast of 7 Attractions I Wish I Could Experience to see and learn more.
RCA’s Home of Future Living at Space Mountain
In the podcast Jim outlines the relationship that RCA had with Disney via NBC. It took effort to get a sponsorship going, but the outcome was a salute at the exit to the original Space Mountain to the television set of the future. Check out the video below to understand more.
Favorite Parades
Jim and I clearly have differing opinions of favorite parades. While we both agree on all that is great about America on Parade, we are split on Disney’s Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic. What do you think?
More Secret Stories
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World and to be a companion to Jim’s book Secret Stories of EXTINCT Disneyland, Jim has decided to take a nostalgic look at the dozens and dozens of things that have disappeared at the vacation destination over the decades.
Recent years have seen a rapid and massive demolition of much of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to make room for new additions, from a mythological galaxy far, far away to an ambitious rat who became a renowned chef.
However some things even disappeared within the first year to be replaced by others that have also vanished. Jim was fortunate to personally experience many of the shows and attractions included in this book so that helped with providing an accurate perspective of these long-forgotten treasures.
The chapters are filled to overflowing with quotes from Imagineers and show producers, facts, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes stories that have rarely if ever been told.
ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, Cranium Command, Skyleidoscope, Catastrophe Canyon, Diamond Horseshoe Revue, Pocahontas, Fort Wilderness Railroad, Walt Disney World Speedway, DisneyQuest, the Disney Inn Resort, and eighty more things that only still exist in the memories of past WDW guests are documented.
The book brings back fond memories for those who experienced these shows and attractions but is also designed to tantalize the curiosity of others who might have only briefly heard about them if they knew they had ever existed at all.
Be sure to check out the book, available on Amazon.
