ON THIS DAY IN DISNEY HISTORY ...
JUNE 7 , 1975
Houston , we have a problem super cool vintage attraction . Mission to Mars opened in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom back in ’ 75 . Though it closed in 1993 , the outof-this-world adventures at this location haven ’ t stopped . Aliens invaded this spot via two other attractions in the time since . Do you know which two they were ?
JUNE 14 , 1959
Disneyland marked a major expansion with the grand opening of the Matterhorn Bobsleds , Submarine Voyage , and the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System . What all did the hectic schedule for this grand opening event entail , and which famous politician was in attendance ? Find out on the blog .
JUNE 21 , 2016
For the first time in forever , Frozen arrived at EPCOT in the form of Frozen Ever After , an epic boat ride in Norway Pavilion . But to make room , Disney had to say “ let it go ” to another classic EPCOT attraction , Maelstrom . Head to the blog to see what subtle Maelstrom Easter eggs to watch out for when riding Frozen Ever After .
JUNE 28 , 1988
Disney ’ s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa opened as the Grand Floridian Beach Resort , treating guests to a luxurious trip back in time to somewhere between 1890 and 1910 . Take your own trip back in time on the blog to see what this resort was all about back in 1988 the day it opened .
You may have known these dates , but do you know the details ? Visit WDW-MAGAZINE . COM / THE-BLOG to find out more .
There are lockers near the ride entrance so you can stash your gear . PHOTO BY LAURIE SAPP
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE The Kali River Rapids ride is nestled in the township of Anandapur — which is a fictional invention , though it ’ s based on a combination of real Asian settings . Case in point , there is a real town called Anandapur in India ’ s Odisha province .
Like the real Anandapur , Disney ’ s is set along a river : the Chakranadi , which translates to “ river that flows in a circle ,” which is exactly what it does . ( In real life , Anandapur is set along the Baitarani , a river important for local agriculture and that also figures into the area ’ s religious and mythological rituals .)
Just as the Chakranadi River itself is circular , so are the Earth ’ s cycles — and therefore , our place in them . While you wait in line to climb aboard your raft , you ’ ll watch a video message from Manisha Gurung , the founder of Kali Rapids Expeditions . According to the narrative , she and her team designed this raft expedition explicitly as a reaction to the logging and deforestation that are wreaking havoc on the lush , natural landscapes that surround Anandapur Township . By allowing riders to see the destruction firsthand , she hopes to spread awareness about the problem : “ The more people like you care , the better chance our jungle has of surviving ,” she says .
Of course , in reality , Gurung herself is an invention brought to life by the creative team who worked on this project , including famous fan-favorite Imagineer Joe Rohde . By putting this message into Gurung ’ s mouth , the designers did , in fact , create exactly the firsthand educational experience she ’ s talking about in real life — and their hard work didn ’ t stop there .
A FEAT OF IMAGINEERING In designing Kali River Rapids , Imagineers knew they were facing a conundrum . The ride was meant to be somewhat fast and thrilling — the word “ rapid ” was right there in the name . And yet , they wanted it to be a relatively gentle attraction , one that even very young riders could enjoy as part of a family experience .
And so , they set to creating history . When Kali River Rapids first opened , it boasted the largest lift hill in the world : The ride ’ s iconic initial incline click-clacks up 90 feet of vertical space , allowing for the not-so-scary descent along the river ’ s rapids . Despite the big climb , you ’ ll never drop more than 30 feet at a time while aboard