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4. Monsanto Hall of Chemistry

Monsanto Hall of Chemistry

To appreciate the wonders of the Monsanto Hall of Chemistry (one of Tomorrowland's original attractions at Disneyland), we need only read these quotes from a 1955 advert in the LA Times (courtesy of Yesterland): Monsanto, in Tomorrowland, shows you the romance of chemistry, how chemically-made products benefit your life, how they can make a new and startling world tomorrow. Your food, clothing, housing, health, and transportation all depend on chemistry … and the future holds some exciting, wonderful things in store for you. Upon entering Monsanto’s Hall of Chemistry, you will see the CHEMATRON...huge shining tubes of the eight basic materials found in nature, from which countless chemicals and plastics can be made. One of these is salt, another coal; another water: but from those eight common substances come almost 500 different Monsanto chemicals and plastics. And you’ll see how these promise to build a new and easier way of life your you, your children, and generations to come. COAL! Did you know that from coal it is possible to make over a quarter of a million substances? From plastics to perfumes, from drugs to disinfectants—hundreds of things you use today … and will tomorrow … are derived—chemically—from coal.And thousands more will be found tomorrow. See what Chemistry in Tomorrowland has in store for you.Who could resist?

3. The Mickey Mouse Club Circus

Not long after Disneyland opened in 1955, Walt Disney experimented with an on-site circus show. Tied into the new Mickey Mouse Club television show, it saw two huge circus tents being set up on the edge of Fantasyland. Two 75-minute performances took place every day, featuring acrobats, aerialists, wild animals and Mouseketeers from the show. Unfortunately, guests hadn't come to Disneyland to see a circus show, and it proved to be unpopular compared to Disneyland's other attractions. A series of mishaps - including an incident in which a black panther BIT THE PAW OFF A TIGERin front of a live audience - led to the circus being removed after just a few months.

2. Push the Talking Trash Can

Push

Push with some friends.
Image: Lucky 6.9, Wikipedia

What's that wandering around Tomorrowland? Why, it's a TALKINGtrash can! For most of the last two decades, Push has been trundling his way around the futuristic area at Disney's various resorts, chatting away to guests. Push's Wikipedia page claims that the robot is operated by a plain-clothed operator via a remote control. Fans of Push, of course, will know that he is actually real. Unfortunately for Push, the Magic Kingdom no longer requires his services. Despite denials that the character was on his way out of the park, Disney removed the trash can from Tomorrowland, apparently due to a dispute with his (non-existent) operator.

1. The birthday cake castle

Cinderella Castle cake

It's the photo every first-time Walt Disney World visitor dreams of: one of them stood proudly in front of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately for visitors to the park in 1996, that photo opportunity wasn't available. Instead, they could stand in front of a giant "castle cake" instead. The 185-foot-tall cake was the centerpiece of the resort's 25th anniversary celebrations, and was estimated to weigh 40 million pounds. 55,040 tablespoons of pink paint in three different shades were employed to create it, and it featured 50 gumballs, 30 lollipops, 4 lifesavers, 16 red candy hearts and 16 green candy stars. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Disney hasn't repeated the stunt for subsequent anniversary celebrations.

 
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Comments

In reply to by Wilby Daniels (not verified)

Alien Encounter truly was unexpected and frightening and one of the very best attractions ever it should never have been changed as I am sure it would have endured the test of time.

In reply to by James Irby (not verified)

Hey. There are some children who never would have gone inside for fear of aliens. I love Stitch and was terrified of aliens as a child.

In reply to by Wilby Daniels (not verified)

Hey I loved the ideas of the circus, Push, and the candy castle. But I can agree that the public doesn't go to Disney for circuses, as much as I would have rathered a circus revival for the new Dumbo area. And Push, I think, was a pretty witty thing. Never got to meet him like I wanted to, but who expects a talking trash can?!?! I think it was kinda cool. And as for the 25th Anniversary castle, I just love sweets and Disney and with Wreck-It Ralph, I believe Disney now has a reason to do it at least just one more time in the future for a WiR anniversary maybe.

I was surprised when they threw the Push thing as not being there anymore. This is actually not accurate. We were there a few months ago and Push was going around talking to people as always. Hilarious too! And yes it was controlled wirelessly by a guy dressed as usual tourist and controlling it from a mechanism in his sidebag. Push lives on!

In reply to by wrswaim (not verified)

He was retired last year, although I can't remember the exact date. You were probably one of the last to see him.

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