Is it possible to experience your favorite Disney Park attraction for the very first time … again?

Jim Hill

15 years ago

At last month’s “Practically Perfect Night at Mary Poppins” event at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre, a D23 member stood up and asked the cast of the North American touring company of this Disney / Cameron Mackintosh production how they did it. Where they found the energy to perform like that, night after night after night …

Which is when Mike O’Carroll – the stage veteran who plays both Admiral Boom and the Chairman of the Bank in this musical – shared a story that Anthony Lyn (i.e. the tour director for “Mary Poppins”) had told this cast while they were still in rehearsal.

“Tony told us ‘Imagine that – somewhere in this theater – there’s someone who’s seeing their first Broadway show. And now imagine that – in this same theater – there’s someone who’s seeing a live stage show for the very last time. These are the people you want to keep in mind while you’re up on stage. So that you can then deliver the sort of performance that they’ll remember forever.’ ”

For the last week or so, O’Carroll’s anecdote has been rattling around in my head. And I can’t help but connect this story with something that happened to Angela Ragno & I while we were at Disneyland last September.

You see, after the D23 EXPO had wrapped, Ms. Ragno and I found ourselves over at the theme park. Doing some last minute souvenir shopping and such before we went back to our hotel room, got packed up and then headed out for the airport.

But as we were walking through Tomorrowland, I glanced over at “Star Tours” and thought: “Jay Rasulo just announced that ‘Star Tours II’ is coming. That the updated version of this simulator ride will be opening at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2011. And since WDI has yet to reveal when it will be closing this Tomorrowland attraction so that the Imagineers can then reprogram the simulators as well as load in the new ride film … Well, this could be my very last chance to experience the original version of ‘Star Tours.’ “

So I turned to Angela and said “Could we? Please?” And being the good sport that she is, Ms. Ragno (with very little grumbling) then followed me into “Star Tours.” And as we made our
way through the queue, walking past pre-show scenes that (to be blunt) were looking a bit worn, were showing their age, I thought: “Well, I’m glad that Imagineering will soon be giving this Tomorrowland attraction all the TLC that it deserves. Because this simulator ride really used to be something back in the day.”

So Angela and I get loaded into our StarSpeeder 3000. Into the front row, to be exact. And as I’m about to surrender myself to the nostalgia of getting in one last ride on the original version of “Star Tours” … this family enters the cabin and quickly takes their seats. And the Mother – after she clicks her safety harness into place – then turns to me and says “This ride? What’s it about?”

I’m serious. This woman actually asked what “Star Tours” was about.

And I have to admit that – in the wake of her question – I was left temporarily speechless. I mean, these people had just walked past Audio Animatronic versions of R2D2 & C3PO. Surely this family is familiar with the films of George Lucas. How can you have lived on Earth for the past 30+ years and not know about “Star Wars” ?

So I try and cobble together a quick explanation as to what “Star Tours” is all about before Rex can then lower the cockpit shield and begin his usual spiel. I stutter something to the effect of “Um … It’s a ride that takes you out into space.”

The Mother quickly turns around and relays this information to her rather large brood. Who are now seated next to Angela and I as well as in the row directly behind us. Then the
cabin lights dim as C3PO welcomes us aboard.

And for the first 30 seconds or so, the Mother stares up quizzically at the screen and Rex. Waiting for the real adventure to begin. And as our StarSpeeder 3000 begins chugging through that tunnel, heading for our departure point, this woman turns to me and says “I thought that you said that this ride took us out into space.”

Which is when Rex began screaming about “… Brakes. Brakes! Where are the brakes!” And our StarSpeeder crashes through that safety railing and then drops straight down into the maintenance
bay.

Which – I know – for those of us who have ridden “Star Tours” before, this moment in the ride isn’t really that all that big a surprise. But for the family seated behind / next to Angela & I, who had evidently never been on this Tomorrowland attraction before … They were delighted that things had suddenly gone horribly wrong. These people laughed & screamed all the way through this 4 1/2 minute-long ride film. They had an absolute blast on this simulator.

And as the cabin doors opened and the “Star Wars” theme blared, this family unbuckled their safety straps and then raced for the exit. With those kids pleading with their Mother to please let them go on “Star Tours” one more time.

Now I know that there are Disneyana fans out there who would have bitched & moaned if they ever found themselves stuck next to a family like this. Who would have grumbled about how being around people who were this loud, that boisterous would have just ruined a trip to the Parks for them.

But I gotta tell you … Being seated next to this family who had never ever ridden “Star Tours” before, their enthusiasm was infectious. Their reaction reminded me of how terrific I thought this Tomorrowland attraction was the very first time that I rode it. And if this was how I got to experience this version of Disney’s premiere simulator ride for the last time … Well, it was a great way to go out.

So I guess what I’m saying here is … To circle back on Mr. O’Carroll’s first time / last time “Mary Poppins” anecdote … I know that a lot of JHM readers have made numerous trips to Disney’s Parks & Resorts. Which is why it’s easy to fixate on what wasn’t there (EX: Epcot’s
Lights of Winter) and/or what wasn’t working properly (EX: Fantasmic’s new dragon) during your visit.

But if you can just do what Angela & I did this past September and suddenly see an old favorite through new eyes … That’s when you remember why tens of millions of people visit these places year after year after year… Not to find the Hidden Mickeys. Not to hear
the back story and/or point out where the budget got cut. But because these are places where families can go to have fun together. Which is why Walt built the very first Disneyland back in 1955. Not so people on the Internet would then have something new to complain and/or obsess about.

So what about you folks? Has something like this ever happen to any of you? Have you ever had an experience at one of the Disney theme parks that suddenly reminded you of what it felt like the very first time you saw your favorite show and/or rode your favorite ride?

Your thoughts?