The Fabulous Disney Babe
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Keeping Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers in mind, however, remember that nothing is certain until after soft openings and the press has been trotted through and received their complimentary rain ponchos. Heck, sometimes not even then. Look at Tomorrowland 2055, which would have arguably made Tomorrowland the crown jewel of all of Disney's "Lands". (Yes, Paris, too). If you go to Tomorrowland Terrace and look up, you'll see the only piece of it to survive: Eddie Sotto's space-deco mural. Pretty, isn't it?
Tomorrowland 2055's backstory is that, where the Imagination Institute is now, there had been an excavation going on, and the scientists had uncovered an ancient Artifact, which was, in fact, a beacon to alien civilizations, who started to visit, leaving all sorts of strange and beautiful gifts, art and incredible plants and such. Some stayed to live and set up shop in Tomorrowland. The Carousel Theatre would look like a flying saucer that had tried to wedge itself into the too-small space between the Skyway Station and Alien Encounter, which was to have been where Redd Rockett's Pizza Port is now. Tilted at an angle, the edge of the saucer becomes a walkway into the ship, which was to house a Robot Vaudeville show. For a while, you could see one of the performers at Epcot's Innoventions, Alec Tronic. The show went through about nine other versions before becoming Plectu's Fantastic Galactic Revue, "the worst of the bunch" one Imagineer confided: "weird alien creatures playing themselves like instruments. Yecch."
Alien Encounter was to have been next door, then, above the Artifact Excavation Site, a new track for the PeopleMover, which would have had an additional stop over Autopia. The track would no longer run out to the hub and back. Guests would board at the usual station, then head South to ride through Space Mountain, around its usual track, stopping at the other stop, then going on through Timekeeper (I know, couldn't it just kill you? I love Timekeeper.) it would then cross the hub, going through Star Tours, which would still be Star Tours, fitting in perfectly with the theme of the land, then back to the station.
I'm glad to be getting Pooh, Buzz, and Atlantis Encounter, but, man, wouldn't it have been cool to have all of that? Little wonder why hardcore Imagineering collectors go ape for 2055 logo stuff. Next time, as promised: March goes out like a lamb, and I tell you a little about my favorite Disney film, So Dear To My Heart.
-- Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith can be reached using the Talkback form below or by emailing her at [email protected].
The Fabulous Disney Babe's column is posted every Friday and when ever else she has something to say. For more on Michelle's background, see her first column. She also offers The Fabulous Tour: Disneyland Secrets and Stories. Click here for more information.
The opinions expressed by Michelle Smith, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted March 23, 2001