Alice In Wonderland Articles

Among the many unrealized concepts brought forth during the early stages of Disneyland's development was an intricately detailed, Fantasyland-based walk-through attraction themed around 1951's Alice in Wonderland. The attraction would have seen guests visiting physical adaptations of nearly every scene in the motion picture, each one featuring some zany gag (often reminiscent of traditional carnival funhouses) such as a forced-perspective "shrinking" effect within the corridors of the rabbit hole and rotating platforms circling Dodo's rock that would have simulated the caucus race.

Themed to a popular Disney animated movie Alice in Wonderland is one of the Park's long-standing dark rides an industry term for indoor rides with guided vehicles. Alice in Wonderland places it's guests inside a colorful caterpillar style car and drops them into a bizarre world of Lewis Carroll's famous Victorian novel. The attraction was originally conceived of as a series of walkthrough display's ideally to be ready for 1955 opening day.Among the walkthrough scenes where some tilting stairs to climb and a slide to ride down.Unfortunately time and money were too tight for imagineers to make the mid July deadline. And Alice in Wonderland wasn't ready until mid June 1958 by then its location had been moved from the western Fantasyland row that held Snow White Adventures to the east side of Sleeping Beauty Castle opposite, Matterhorn mountain.

Alice in Wonderland shares part of its building with Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and during the 700-foot trip through Wonderland the caterpillar cars actually climb up to the second floor above the Mr. Toad layout.Inside the attraction the displays include familiar Carroll characters the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and incorporate the surreal styles kaleidoscope colors and buoyant music from the 1951 Disney movie.

Kathryn Beaumont, who had provided the voice for Alice in the 1951 motion picture, was brought back in 1982 to record narration tracks during the rehab of the attraction.In the 1984 renovation were the removal of the topsy-turvy upside-down room and the addition of about a minute of ride time. Making it a more impressive four minute attraction.The movie Alice character reprised her vocals for the attraction and even updated them in 1984.

Alice in Wonderland with its large butterflies, flowers and mushrooms out front has long presented an inviting view to guests riding the nearby Monorail and Matterhorn Bobsleds. Attentive pedestrians will know one more nifty design element outside the attraction recessed White Rabbit and Cheshire Cat statues are mounted in the walls along the walkway.Voices: Alice is Kathryn Beaumont, White Rabbit is Corey Burton, TweedleDee and TweedleDum is Corey Burton the Cards is Corey Burton, Cheshire Cat is Tony Pope, King of Hearts Tony Pope.

In the late 1950's Alice required a D ticket to ride. In the late 1960's required a C ticket to ride. In the late 1970's required a B ticket to ride.

From WED Disneyland Dictionary 1968 Brings to life the adventures of Alice in the Upside Down Room, Garden of Live Flowers, Tulgey Woods and of course, the Mad Tea Party. Through the Rabbit Hole are the Cheshire Cat, the always late White Rabbit, the Mad Matter himself and other favorite characters from the Lewis Carroll classic.

From Steve Birnbaum brings you the best of Disneyland 1982:
Traveling in oversize caterpillars, visitors fall down the rabbit hole, dash into an upside-down room and a flower garden, greet the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat, and take part in a tea party where a very Mad Hatter presides. It's all good fun-and it should be even better after its renovation, scheduled for completion in the summer of 1984.

Disney officials closed the ride July 15, 2010 after DOSH inspectors pointed out that it lacked handrails needed for maintenance crews who work on an elevated segment of the ride.

Specs Capacity per hour 960 -- Capactity per vehicle 4 -- Cycle Time 4:00 -- Load Time :10 -- Unload Time :07 -- Trip Time 3:17 -- Dispatch Interval :15 -- Trips per hour 240 -- Distance Traveled 764 feet -- Speed 2 MPH

Among the many unrealized concepts brought forth during the early stages of Disneyland's development was an intricately detailed, Fantasyland-based walk-through attraction themed around 1951's Alice in Wonderland. The attraction would have seen guests visiting physical adaptations of nearly every scene in the motion picture, each one featuring some zany gag (often reminiscent of traditional carnival funhouses) such as a forced-perspective "shrinking" effect within the corridors of the rabbit hole and rotating platforms circling Dodo's rock that would have simulated the caucus race. The idea of a walk-through exhibit was eventually scrapped, however, as it was decided that guests proceeding at too slow a pace would inevitably cause traffic hold-ups.An Alice dark ride was then considered as a remedy to this issue, but as a result of strict time and budgetary constraints, the idea was shelved, and the space originally designated to house the attraction would instead be occupied by the Mickey Mouse Club Theatre.

Kathryn Beaumont, who had provided the voice for Alice in the 1951 motion picture, was brought back in 1982 to record narration tracks during the rehab of the attraction.

Originally Alice In Wonderland was planned to be a walk-thru attraction.

Voices:
Alice - Kathryn Beaumont
White Rabbit - Corey Burton
TweedleDum and TweedleDee - Corey Burton
Cards - Corey Burton
Cheshire Cat - Tony Pope
King of Hearts - Tony Pope

The attraction often closes when there is rain

Main attraction designer was Claude Coats

Original track was 700 feet long

In the late 1950's required a D ticket to ride. In the late 1960's required a C ticket to ride. In the late 1970's required a B ticket to ride.

Required a "D" ticket in 1959

Required a "D" ticket in 1964-1965

From WED Disneyland Dictionary 1968
Brings to life the adventures of Alice in the Upside Down Room, Garden of Live Flowers, Tulgey Woods and of course, the Mad Tea Party. Through the Rabbit Hole are the Cheshire Cat, the always late White Rabbit, the Mad Matter himself and other favorite characters from the Lewis Carroll classic.

Required a "B" ticket in 1970's

From Steve Birnbaum brings you the best of Disneyland 1982:
Traveling in oversize caterpillars, visitors fall down the rabbit hole, dash into an upside-down room and a flower garden, greet the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat, and take part in a tea party where a very Mad Hatter presides. It's all good fun-and it should be even better after its renovation, scheduled for completion in the summer of 1984.

Disney officials said the Anaheim park voluntarily closed the ride July 15, 2010 after California Department of Occupational Safety and Health inspectors pointed out that it lacked handrails needed for maintenance crews who work on an elevated segment of the ride.