Disney's Tomorrowland
Based on a futuristic theme, Tomorrowland has undergone numerous reformations in Disney’s attempts to revitalize the Land. Management continues to routinely close, replace, or add rides in its efforts to find the right mix. The seriously terrifying Extra TERRO Restrial Alien Encounter, for example, was finally judged – after complaints – to be too scary for Disney and is now closed.
This has been replaced by Stitch’s Great Escape!, in the fall of 2004. Inspired by the film Lilo and Stitch, the ride showcases the mayhem caused by the mischievous Stitch’s adventures in outer space.
There is plenty more to enjoy here. Space Mountain is a fast ride through tight bends and sharp drops in the dark against projections of asteroids and the like. The impression of traveling through space is excellent, but the ride, though wilder than Big Thunder Mountain, may seem somewhat tame for seasoned thrill seekers.
Next door to Space Mountain is the Tomorrowland Arcade, an enormous showcase of video games and various high-tech demonstrations.
Handling large crowds with ease, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is a sitdown attraction where the auditorium rotates around a central stage. It examines the transformations in domestic life through the times and, although rather quaint, is a firm favorite, particularly late in the evening.
Guests find the power of laughter in an interactive adventure inspired by Disney-Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club as they match wits with the one-eyed hero Mike Wazowski and his friends at the Tomorrow in the Magic Kingdom theater.
Visitors can soar high on silvery rockets on the Astro Orbiter ride, which affords an excellent view of Tomorrowland.
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority is a serene, quiet, and interesting 10-minute ride, which affords some of the best views of the park and an opportunity to relax after a lot of walking. Almost never busy, it travels through Space Mountain and offers glimpses inside several other attractions as well.
One of this Land’s recent innovations is Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. An extremely fast loader, it’s one of the park’s best rides.
This highly addictive journey through comic books sets you in a two-seater car, fitted with laser cannons and electronic scoreboards. A control allows you to rotate the car rapidly for a better aim. Shooting at all the targets with a red laser beam causes bangs, crashes, and rapid increases in your scores. It’s one of the few rides that kids have to tear their parents away from.
Located on the border of Mickey’s Toontown Fair is the new Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, a large, safe course where kids and adults 4.3 ft (1.3 m) and taller can drive their own race cars around a twisting track – smaller children must have an adult drive with them.
Nowhere near as difficult, or as thrilling as Epcot’s Test Track, the ride is more in line with family oriented go-kart race courses.
