WED Enterprises, Glendale, CA. Walt
Disney’s Amusement Park Design Firm. A creative playground for artists and engineers.
All that came were directed, instructed, and mentored by Walt Disney himself, who considered
the Imagineers his top artists. These included: Herb Ryman, concept artist.
Xavier Atencio, show writer. Yale Gracey, Special Effects.
Claude Coats, Show Designer Bob Gurr, Ride Designer
John Hench, Designer and Futurist And the most recent recruit,
George McGinnis, Designer. While reviews of Walt within his animation studio
were mixed, the Imagineers loved working for Uncle Walt. They knew to give each project their
all. Walt instilled in them his philosophies of entertainment and storytelling. Disney didn’t want
to create rides, he wanted to create experiences, stories that could be lived. Under Walt’s
eye, the Imagineers became a family, creating groundbreaking attractions that blew
audiences away and developing friendships among each otehr. But this group, in
1966, was at the beginning of their journey together, because after Walt passed at the
end of the year, their true test was yet to come. In January of 1965, executives from the
Monsanto chemical company traveled to Anaheim, California to visit Disneyland Park. Among them
was Monsanto’s chairman, Dr. Charles Allen Thomas. The 64-year-old chemist had been working
with Monsanto since 1936, and his claim to fame was his work on plutonium research for the
Manhattan Project, which he conducted alongside Mosnanto’s Central Research Department. Thomas
and his associates were traveling to Disneyland to view Monsanto’s three exhibits in the park’s
Tomorrowland area. The Monsanto Hall of Chemistry, the Monsanto House of the Future, and the newest
addition, Fashions and Fabrics Throughout the Ages. All three had been overseen by Thomas, who
had worked closely with Walt since Disneyland’s opening, resulting in a friendship between the
two men. Thomas and the Monsanto team were fresh off of a trip to the 1964 World’s Fair, at which
they had seen the latest in attraction technology and speculative futures. With the fair fresh in
their minds, Monsanto’s Tomororwland exhibits were looking more antiquated than ever. Thomas and
his associates were not alone in their opinion. Walt Disney and his Imagineers had participated
in the 1964 fair, creating four popular and groundbreaking attractions. After the fair,
Walt turned his attention to the company’s Florida Project and his proposed city
of tomorrow, EPCOT, but he also greenlit several other projects for his amusement
design firm, WED Enterprises, to complete, including a pirate-themed boat ride and
a haunted house attraction. The largest of these post-fair projects was a complete
refresh of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland area. Outside of its 1959 expansion and a few
other minor changes, the area had not evolved since the park’s opening in 1955. Walt had never
been satisfied with Tomorrowland. The rushed area was overly reliant on corporate sponsors, and
some attractions had become noticeably outdated, while others were never futuristic to begin
with. The Tomorrowland renovation would usher in a wave of new attractions that would
engage in actual speculation of the future, with an emphasis on the transportation of
tomorrow, possibly Walt’s greatest fascination. The entire New Tomorrowland project would be
given the unique theme, “World on the Move.” Special Narrator: New ideas for Disneyland are first visualized in artist renderings like
this overall view of the new Tomorrowland area. The painting begins to take on form and
dimension with the construction of a scale model, detailing every attraction. This model represents
five acres of attractions in Tomorrowland. The main avenue of Tomorrowland would be
completely overhauled, with almost no inch untouched. The area’s signature attraction, Rocket
to the Moon, would be demolished and rebuilt with larger theaters. It would also be given a pre-show
starring an animatronic named Mr. Tom Morrow. The attraction would be renamed to Flight to the
Moon, and was set in a future in which “travel to outer space will be an everyday adventure.”
The Circarama 360 film, America the Beautiful, would be replaced by the Circle-Vision 360
film, America the Beautiful. The new film of the same name was shot with a new method,
using 9 cameras as opposed to the original 11. The theater itself would also be expanded, taking
up more of Tomorrowland’s north exhibit building, closing the Art of Animation exhibit
permanently. The rest of the show building, where the Art Corner exhibit once was, would be
replaced by the Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant. The addition of the Tomorrowland Terrace would
also result in the closure of the Yacht Bar. The Astro Jets spinner would be replaced by the
Rocket Jets, which would be elevated to rest on top of the loading platform for a brand new
Tomorrowland attraction, the PeopleMover. The PeopleMover was a transportation attraction
that gave guests a tour around Tomorrowland and through its attractions, with on-board audio
describing the various sites. The PeopleMover was an evolution of the technology first used for the
Ford Magic Skyway attraction at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and the ride was meant to act as
a prototype to the transit system that would be integral to Walt’s experimental community project.
The PeopleMover would also travel to the front of the land, passing above guests' heads, in the
area that the Clock of the World once was. Another attraction from the 1964 fair, the Carousel
of Progress, would be relocated to Disneyland, taking the place previously held by the Space
Bar restaurant. The new show building would have two stories, with the carousel show taking
up the first floor, and the second floor giving guests a view of Walt’s experimental community
concept in model form. The often unreliable Flying Saucers attraction would be removed, and
replaced with a new Tomorrowland Stage. What would become of the remaining Tomorrowland
space was up to one sponsor: Monsanto. Two out of three of Monsanto’s attractions
were located in the south exhibit building alongside the 20K Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit.
The other was the Monsanto House of the Future, which sat at the entrance to the land. Given
that the house of the future was now nearly a decade old, Monsanto and Disney decided to
close the attraction, but not until after the rest of the New Tomorrowland Project was
complete. Monsanto would also close their other two exhibits, the Hall of Chemistry
and Fashion and Fabrics Throughout the Ages, and Disney would remove their 20K Leagues exhibit
from the South Exhibition space, freeing up the entire building for a larger Monsanto attraction.
A brand new ride, utilizing a familiar concept. For Monsanto’s attraction, Disney would resurrect
a concept that had been on the drawing board since the early days of Disneyland, a proposed
Tomorrowland pavilion named Adventures in Science or Science Land. This small area would have
featured multiple new attractions, one of which was named MicroWorld. MicroWorld would have
sent guests traveling through a microscope, shrinking them down, and allowing them to explore
the inside of a drop of water. The attraction was given the nickname “the Protozoa Ride” among
the Imagineers because of the protozoa-shaped vehicles in the initial 1957 concept art. Disney
pitched the concept to Dr. Thomas and Monsanto, who liked the concept with one major note. Thomas
wanted the molecule through which guests traveled to be a man-made polymer that Monsanto produced
rather than a drop of water. The Imagineers pushed back on this idea. Water made much more sense, as
it is one of the molecules most important to life and universally recognized among audiences. Thomas
and Monsanto dropped the issue, and guests would travel through water as opposed to a Monsanto
creation. This would ultimately be the right decision, as the public’s opinion of man-made
chemicals was about to take a turn for the worse. Imagineers fleshed out the original MicroWorld
concept. The new ride would still star water, but in a more visually interesting state, a
snowflake, through which guests would travel. The ride vehicles would also no longer resemble
protozoa. Instead, an entirely new ride system would be developed, thanks again to the 1964 New
York World’s Fair. The fair featured numerous attractions with unique ride systems, such as GM’s
Futurama, which featured a unique conveyor system that allowed guests to ride through visions of the
future. Another ride, sponsored by Bell System, featured an even more unique continuous ride
system. Not only was the ride system efficient, it also allowed for dark rides to tell stories
in a new way. Most dark rides up to this point placed guests in a vehicle with their view
unrestricted, taking them along a curved rail, although always facing in the direction the
vehicle was moving. However, The Bell System Pavilion had guests facing perpendicular to
the direction in which they were traveling. These and other unique rides populated the fair
and impressed crowds, including Dr. Thomas and his associates, who pressed Walt for an attraction
that utilized moving vehicles or at the very least a moving sidewalk. Walt and his Imagineers had
also been impressed with the unique ride systems of the fair, having contributed two themselves.
Challenged with bringing a unique ride system to the Monsanto attraction, Imagineers considered
multiple concepts. It would not be until a meeting between two Imagineers that a novel idea was
introduced. One Imaginer Bob Gurr, who had created Disneyland’s Autopia cars and contributed to the
attractions at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, was in a brainstorming meeting with Imagineer
John Hench, who had helped design the original Tomorrowland at Disneyland. Hench wondered if it
were possible to place guests on a vehicle capable of rotating as it moved along the ride track,
allowing them to see in any direction or forcing guests to focus only on certain parts of the ride.
Gurr casually grabbed a toy from Hench’s desk that resembled a candied apple. Gurr then turned the
apple using his fingers, gripping the stick, asking Hench, “Like this?” Hench responded,
“Yeah, like that.” Gurr and Hench passed the concept along to Imagineers Roger E. Broggie and
Bert Brundage, who got to work designing the ride system, which Gurr would dub the Omnimover. The
Omnimover that would be used for the new Monsanto attraction would be referred to as the Atomobiles,
and they would feature a large blue shell that would surround guests. Each shell would include a
speaker that would play the ride’s audio directly into the ears of guests. Most importantly, the
shell prevented guests from viewing peripherally, forcing their sightlines so that they would
see only what the Imagineers wanted them to. The Omnimover would be able to move 3000 guests
per hour throughout the attraction. Walt asked the team to make the system as smooth as possible,
specifically so smooth that a martini glass could ride it without spilling, but in the end,
each turn of the vehicle would be quite jerky. The ride system would not be the only innovative
aspect of the Monsanto attraction. Another proposal from the original MicroWorld concept
would be utilized. Imagineer X. Atencio, who would write the script for Pirates of the Caribbean had
an idea for “a visual effect that will give the patrons the sensation of being reduced to the
size of the atom.” Atencio pitched the idea to Imagineer Herb Ryman, who drew it into concept
art. Ryman and Atencio’s initial concept showed a brass microscope with potholes, giving the
illusion of guests getting progressively smaller. Some thought the design could be improved. The
most recent hire at WED Enterprises was George McGinnis, an artist that was hired straight out
of college after Walt, Hench, and Gurr had viewed his student project. He was put to work creating
concept art for Walt’s EPCOT project, but he was also contributing to other projects. One day,
McGinnis was eating lunch in the WED cafeteria, sketching concepts of his own for the attraction’s
giant microscope on a napkin. Atencio looked over McGinnis’s shoulder to see what he was working on.
Liking what he saw, he immediately took the napkin to the model shop to mock up the microscope.
The microscope would be the icon of the new Monsanto attraction, which was soon given the
name Adventures Thru Inner Space. Atencio was to write the script. Claude Cotes, an Imagineer
that had done extensive work on Disneyland and the World’s Fair attractions, was set to design
it. And Yale Gracey, a special effects artist that had worked on the Carousel of Progress,
would contribute illusions to the new ride. In August of 1966, Walt suggested
placing a ceramic mural on Inner Space’s otherwise plain exterior. He pitched
the idea to Thomas, who loved the idea. Walt assigned artist Mary Blair to the mural.
Blair would end up creating two separate pieces, one for the CircleVision show building,
and another on Inner Space’s show building. The murals would be named “The Spirit
of Creative Energies Among Children.” Disneyland’s Tomorrowland closed in September
of 1966 for the renovation. Demolition of the old attractions began in October. But just
two months later, on December 15, 1966, Walt Disney would die of lung cancer, leaving the
world in mourning, and Walt Disney Productions and WED Enterprises in a state of shock. The future
of many projects at WED, namely Walt’s Florida Project, were suddenly uncertain. However, the
Tomorrowland renovation was never under question, as Walt had seen and approved the entire
refurbishment before his passing. The Imagineers continued construction on New Tomorrowland
and Adventures Thru Inner Space as planned. Paul Frees, a voice actor known for
his work in numerous science fiction films and voicing Disneyland’s Man in Space
specials, was recruited to narrate the ride, reading the script written by Atencio. Atencio
worked closely with Dr. Thomas and Monsanto, even traveling to Monsanto’s Headquarters and
back to ensure the ride’s scientific accuracy. Claude Coats plans for the dark ride were unlike
any ever created. The majority of the ride would be in pitch black darkness, with only certain
props and shapes illuminated throughout the’ journey, an experiment in minimalism. Coates' son
Alan would later say “it was the psychedelic ‘60s after all, a real ‘head trip’ they used to
say.” This experience was exemplified by the ride’s music, composed by musician Buddy Baker.
In May of 1967, Baker conducted an orchestra, performing 47 different, unusual scores. Baker
attempted to add a unique musical experience that would reflect the strangeness of the ride’s story,
with unexpected instruments that represented each part of the cell. A more standard Disney song
would be featured in the ride, written by the famous songwriting duo The Sherman Brothers.
This theme was titled Miracles from Molecules. Sherman Brothers: ""Miracles from Molecules, around us everywhere. There are Miracles from
Molecules, in the earth, the sea, the air." The attraction would take up 21,733 square feet,
and the ride would be six minutes in length. New Tomorrowland debuted in phases throughout June
and July of 1967, with the Carousel of Progress, the PeopleMover, America the Beautiful, and
Rocket Jets all debuting. However, Adventures Thru Inner Space remained under construction.
It would not officially open until August 5, 1967. The wait was worth it, as Disneyland guests
could now experience a journey unlike any other. Guests would enter the attraction by passing
under its marquee, a large navy block. At the time, Disneyland used a ticket book system
in which guests needed to purchase a ticket to the main gate as well as a ticket to each ride they
wanted to experience, with each attraction given a designation of A through E. However, as part
of the Monsanto sponsorship, Adventures Thru Inner Space was one of the few attractions
at the park that required no ticket to ride, so any guest could experience Adventures Thru
Inner Space as many times as they wanted. Adventures Thru Inner Space’s queue and preshow
was one of the most elaborate created at the time As guests entered the queue, they
immediately saw McGinnis’s Mighty Microscope. The microscope was a striking icon
and for many children, a convincing illusion, appearing to shrink the ride vehicles and guests
right before their eyes. The microscope was aimed at a large petri dish. Inside, snowflakes
danced, backlit by an illuminated pH scale. To the right of the microscope, a large rainbow
target displayed the guest's destination, the center of a snowflake. Pre-show narration,
some of which was voiced by Atencio, depicted scientists making final preparations
to send guests on their daring journey. Scientist 1: "Phase Blue. Definition excellent."
Scientist 2: "Phase Green. Resolving power decreasing." Plaques lined the queue, spelling out the entire
adventure to guests before they even boarded. As guests reached the end of the queue, they
were greeted by Cast Members, dressed in costumes made of polyester, a material that Monsanto
manufactured. Guests boarded a moving platform and took a seat in their Atomobiles to begin
their Adventure Thru Inner Space. The attraction began with guests entering the Mighty Microscope,
shrinking in size just as they had seen previous guests do. In reality, the Atomobiles simply
turned left. Through the ride's narration, Frees played the voice of the first scientist to
make the journey to inner space. At the beginning, this scientist could be heard calibrating the
microscope to send guests into the snowflake. Frees: "Now your adventure through Inner Space
has begun. Through the Mighty Microscope, you will travel into the incredible universe
found within the tiny fragment of a snowflake." During the rest of the ride, guests
are only able to hear the suspended thought waves of the scientist,
preserved from his first journey. Frees: "I am the first person to
make this spectacular journey. Suspended in the timelessness of inner space are
the thought waves of my first impressions. They will be our only source of contact once you have
passed beyond the limits of normal magnification." As Frees told guests of their journey, snowflakes,
of significant size, danced around, an effect achieved through projection. The vehicles continue
to move, now rotating guests to face a large snowflake structure, confirming that they have now
shrunk to the size of a snowflake. These enormous structures were enhanced through projections as
well. But the journey was far from over. Guests continued to shrink, passing by walls of ice and
entering a gorgeous scene of porous crystals. Atencio was a genius writer, and many of the
lines given by Frees are beautiful and haunting. Frees: “And still I continue to shrink. What compelling force draws me
into this mysterious darkness?” Guests then shrank smaller and broke into Inner
Space. Riders viewed molecules floating around them, represented by wire balls on string,
Mirrors on the walls gave the illusion that there were many more atoms than there actually
were. Guests then learned that they had shrunk even further, as they could now see H20
molecules almost as big as they were. Dancing electrons could be viewed. The journey
continued, as guests entered the oxygen atom, with lights swirling to show that the
electrons now surrounded the guests. Frees: "Electrons are dashing about me. Like so
many fiery comets. I cannot possibly survive." Then the ride reached its climax,
pushing guests straight toward the nucleus of the atom. The nucleus of the atom
was represented by a flashing red lightbulb. The narrator considers shrinking
even smaller to explore it. Frees: "Do I dare explore the vastness of
its Inner Space. No. I dare not go on. I must return to the realm of the molecule
before I go on shrinking... forever!" Guests then begin the journey back, growing from
the size of an atom to the size of a molecule. Projections reveal that the snowflake is melting. Frees: "Yes. The snowflake has melted.
But there is no cause for alarm. You are back on visual and
returning to your normal size." As guests continued to grow in size, a large
human eye peering at them through the other end of the microscope could be seen above their
heads. After turning a final corner and returning back to their normal size, guests exited the
microscope, disembarking from their vehicles, but not before passing a brilliant rain
illusion called the Fountain of Fashion showing off Monsanto products. This final piece
was another change from the original concept art, which showed Monsanto products in glass
boxes. As guests exited their Atommobiles, they entered a post-show dedicated to select
Monsanto products, depicted by elaborate and impressive animated posters and product displays.
The carpets at the exit to Inner Space were made with Monsanto Acrilan fibers and Cumuloft fibers.
The post-show area also featured a unique global clock that displayed the time anywhere in the
world, similar to the former entranceway icon of Tomorrowland, but this clock also showed all
of Monsanto's facilities worldwide. Guests riding the PeopleMover, which passed through the show
building, were given a unique perspective of the attraction's pre-show and post-show as well
as an exclusive view of a second-story mural. Guests flocked to the attraction,
including some celebrities. Special Narration: "One of the early travelers through Inner Space was Prince Rainier
of Monaco and his attractive children." The ride thrilled audiences, but it also terrified
them. Those young enough to buy into the illusion in the preshow actually believed they were being
shrunk down, unsure if they would ever grow back to their normal size. However, even kids and
adults that knew the experience was fiction couldn’t help but get chills from the pitch-black
darkness and the echoing voice of Paul Frees. Teenagers were the least affected by the ride’s
atmosphere, but this did not keep them away. A few rowdy teenagers made it a challenge to grab
and steal the hanging props throughout the ride, taking them home as a souvenir, others made a
game at trying to spit at the eye projection at the ride end. This prompted Disneyland to be
more strict in their envelope of protection, which exists to prevent guests from being able
to reach and touch objects along a ride track. This also led to more CCTV cameras installed
on rides to monitor guest behavior. But as much as teens took from the ride,
they would also add to the ride's narrative with chemicals of their own, hormones. Adventures
Thru Inner Space became a favorite among teen park-goers thanks to its darkness, hoping
for some private time at the park. Not only was the ride dark, but the Omnimover ride
system provided unique privacy, as guests were never facing one another, and even during
the brief times in which they were adjacent, the large shell blocked much of the view.
Adventures Thru Inner Space would be added to the park’s ticket system in 1972, being designated
a C ticket. Rumors say this is due to teens taking advantage of the free attraction, so requiring a
ticket on the ride would discourage the behavior or at the very least Disney would profit from
it. However, this did not work, and Disneyland operators reportedly sped up the attraction to
shorten it, which seems like more of a challenge than a solution. This strategy messed with the
rides' effects and the pitch of the narration. At the time of Inner Space’s debut in 1966,
Monsanto was the 33rd largest company in America, even more interesting is that they were only
the third-largest chemical company in America. Monsnato was primarily focused on agriculture, but
they had recently found success with Chemstrand, a subsidiary that was the largest
manufacturer of synthetic fiber at the time. This venture meant that Monsanto not only
created herbicides and pesticides for farming and the opposite of farming, but they also had
a strong presence in the consumer product space, producing everything from carpets to rugs to
clothes, as can be seen throughout Adventures Thru Inner Space’s post-show. This is one of
the reasons that the company’s relationship with Disney was so attractive, as Disneyland would end
up being the company’s primary way of presenting themselves to consumers and demystifying their
work in the chemical field, convincing consumers that Monsanto was not creating anything to be
afraid of just a few years before it was revealed that they were responsible for creating something
that people should absolutely be afraid of. 1968, the year after Adventures Thru Inner Space
opened, was a tumultuous year in the United States. From the assassination of Martin Luther
King Jr to the assassination of Robert Kennedy to the passing of the Civil Rights Act
of 1968 to the election of Richard Nixon, America was fractured and chaotic. At the
forefront of American’s minds was the Vietnam war, which was at its peak. Over 500,000 U.S. troops
were now in Vietnam, and the Tet Offensive launched by the North was reducing any hopes
America had of winning the war. The given reason for America’s involvement in the conflict was to
spread democracy and stop the growth of Communism, but this was becoming less convincing and
accepted as more about the war was revealed. Anti-war protests broke out across the country,
leading to a thriving counterculture movement that sought to bring peace to the world and tear
down many existing social norms and restrictions. Not even Disneyland was exempt from the conflict.
On August 6, 1970, around 300 members of the Youth International Party, or Yipppies as they were
popularly known, invaded Disneyland to protest the war. While an increasing number of Americans
began to speak out against the War, the conflict continued. Ground troops were constantly being
outmaneuvered by the North, who were able to hide soldiers in Vietnam's dense forests. To combat
this, the US initiated Operation Ranch Hand, in which US planes began spraying defoliants and
herbicides over the forests of South Vietnam, in an attempt to remove the lucrative foliage
cover and damage the food supply of the North. By 1968, this was a primary tactic
utilized by the US Air Force, who used many different chemical agents, each
named after the colored marking on their drums, such as Agent Blue, Agent White,
and the most commonly used, Agent Orange. The main manufacturer of the
chemicals, and the manufacturer who produced the most toxic of the formulas, was none
other than the Monsanto Chemical Company. Military Chant: "Miracles from
Molecules, around us everywhere. There are Miracles from Molecules, in the earth, the sea, the air. Now men
with dreams are furthering what nature first began. Making modern
Miracles from Molecules for man. Making modern Miracles from Molecules for man." Tragically, the true effects of Agent
Orange were not immediately realized, and Monsanto was rarely the target of
counterculture protests in this period, with that honor going to the Dow Chemical
Company, who also produced Agent Orange but were targeted by protesters for
producing the flammable gel Napalm, which was also being used in Vietnam. This
extended Monsanto’s life in consumer products, and the company continued to turn to Disney
as their major outlet of reaching the public. Also in 1968, Monsanto president and CEO Edward
J. Bock announced that the chemical company would be one of the primary corporate partners of Walt
Disney World’s construction in Orlando, Florida. Operation Ranch Hand continued until 1971 when a
government study linking the herbicides to birth defects was leaked to the press. After this,
President Richard Nixon ended the program. Throughout the early 1970s, more reports began
to emerge on the damage of the herbicides, with Monsanto’s involvement revealed. Reports would
worsen each year, and by the mid-’70s, as the US pulled its last troops out of Vietnam, the true
effects of the herbicide could finally be seen. From 1961 to 1971, the US sprayed over 19 million
gallons of defoliants in Vietnam. Agent Orange, which contained the highly toxic carcinogen
dioxin, resulted in unquantifiable suffering on the environment, Vietnamese people, and US
troops. It is estimated that 400,000 people were either killed or critically injured as a result of
the herbicidal warfare. As Monsanto made headlines for their involvement with the herbicides, Inner
Space continued to entertain guests at Disneyland At some point, the pre-show target effect was
refurbished, with a sign explaining that the piece represents Miniaturization Control. The Fountain
of Fashion would change to simply display rotating Monsanto signs. The post-show would eventually
lose the world clock, and more product displays took its place. These were eventually removed when
the wall was removed and traffic was redirected through the neighboring character shop, resulting
in one of the first theme park gift shop exits. In 1977, Monsanto’s ten-year contract for
Adventure Thru Inner Space was up for renewal. Despite the company’s long-held relationship with
Disney, they declined to renew their sponsorship. Disney was certainly better off
distancing themselves from Monsanto, whose public image was falling
rapidly, and would continue to decline. The same year that Monsanto declined
to renew their Disneyland sponsorship, the company funneled millions of dollars into a
new campaign aimed at convincing consumers that Monsanto’s chemical products are good for you
despite the fact they allegedly caused cancer. Monsanto was removed from the ride’s narration,
and their logos were removed throughout the attraction. The post-show was heavily altered,
with the water effect being turned off, and the animated Monsanto posters
replaced with attraction posters. The year after Monsanto declined to renew its
sponsorship of Adventure Thru Inner Space, the first of a series of class action lawsuits were
filed by US Veterans, attempting to hold Monsanto and other manufacturers responsible for the toxic
and carcinogenic herbicides. Four years later, Dr. Thomas would pass away. His obituary lamented the
public’s newfound perception of big business as evil. This perception had worsened significantly
throughout his lifetime. Many factors contributed to this decrease in institutional trust, but few,
if any are ase significant than the Vietnam War, which fundamentally changed the way
Americans thought and perceived themselves. Not only was trust in institutions down,
but the post-war patriotism of the 1950s, that had in part led to the success of Disneyland,
was more or less gone. A once optimistic America was suddenly cynical. Corporations that had once
branded them as the shepherds of the future, such as Monsanto, were now in full damage
control, and this was just the beginning. Despite the lack of sponsor, Adventure Thru Inner
Space continued to entertain throughout the 1980s, but its age was certainly showing. The
snowflake effect in the queue was now broken, many of the effects throughout the ride itself
were either turned off or barely visible, and fewer and fewer guests were taking the voyage
through inner space. Some complained that the cars were too cramped and that the speaker was too loud
against the ear. Tony Baxter, an Imagineer who had risen the ranks to become the first prominent
creative mind in the company’s second generation of theme park designers, admitted to the press
that Adventures Thru Inner Space needed to be revised or eliminated, citing that audiences don’t
respond to light shows and that the ride contains scientific inaccuracies. However, the company had
no refurbishment or replacement plans in mind. That was until 1984, when newly-appointed CEO
Michael Eisner reached a deal with filmmaker George Lucas to create a new Star Wars based
attraction for Disneyland. While Imagineers were initially hesitant to place the fantasy attraction
in the science-based land, they eventually agreed to a simulator concept named Star Tours, which
was set to open in 1986. It was determined that the best location for Star Tours would be Inner
Space's show building, meaning that after eighteen years of operation, Adventure Thru Inner Space
would shrink its final guest. The final day of operation would be on September 2, 1985. Most of
the ride was destroyed. The Mighty Microscope was dismantled, and all but a few Atommobiles were
sent to a landfill in Mexico. Its closure would be a quiet one, but its legacy on Disneyland
and the theme park industry was significant. One of Adventures Thru Inner Space’s biggest
impacts on Disney Parks would be its Omnimover ride system, a technology that would be used
again for multiple attractions, most famously as the Doom Buggies in the Haunted Mansion.
Adventure Thru Inner Space was also Disney's first edutainment dark ride, and it was Disney's most
educational ride at the time. Tributes to Inner Space could also be found in its successor.
The queue's layout was retained for Star Tours, with the Mighty Microscope being replaced with a
Starspeeder 3000 in the preshow. This layout was retained when Star Tours was cloned for multiple
Disney Parks throughout the world. The original Star Tours did not make use of Inner Space's
post-show and it became a storage area for the neighboring gift shop. This was until 1998 when it
was replaced by an extended queue for Star Tours. One of the small Atomobiles from the Mighty
Microscope could also be found in the overhead conveyer ststem in the queue, and the Mighty
Microscope could be spotted in the ride film. This easter egg carried over into Star Tours
successor, Star Tours the Adventures Continue, which also added another reference to Inner
Space in a luggage scan gag in the queue. In 1998, a new Tomorrowland mural made
reference to Inner Space, and that same year, the exhibit Innoventions opened with a
parody of Inner Space in its phone booth. Phone Booth: "Yes, your time is up. But there
is no cause for alarm. You can deposit more." These are just a few of the many references Disney
has made to the defunct ride thoughout the years. Adventure Thru Inner Space was immediate proof
that the Imagineers could create something spectacular even in the absence of their former
leader. Whether it was Yale Gracey’s illusions, Claude Coats production design, or Atencio’s
writing, Walt had left his park and WED Enterprises in great hands. However, Adventure
Thru Inner Space, as well as the other attractions already in progress at the time of Walt’s death,
were mere trial runs for the challenge that was awaiting the Imagineers, as Walt had left them
with more than just his philosophies and a few unfinished rides, he had left them 27,000
acres of swampland in Florida and a dream called EPCOT. And this is where Adventures
Thru Inner Space’s true legacy would be seen, as the Imagineers continued developing the Florida
Project, opening the resort with the Magic Kingdom theme park in 1971, they were still deciding what
to do with Walt’s EPCOT. It was eventually decided that instead of a city, WED would build a
second theme park for the Florida resort, filled with edutainment attractions sponsored
by major corporations. A permanent World’s Fair, dedicated to the idea of the future, to
debut to a post-Vietnam cynical America. This would be the Imagineer’s greatest
challenge yet. This was EPCOT Center.
