When I was a child I went to Disneyland three or four times a year. I liked Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean but my favorite attraction was Adventures Thru Inner Space. Guests would ride in an atomobile and travel through a microscope until they were shrunk and then explore molecules and atoms. I could ride this all day long. When you stood in line you watched the atomobiles shrink into a 37 foot microscope eyepiece. I loved thinking that I was getting smaller and smaller. It was awesome!
Adventures Thru Inner Space opened today in 1967. In honor of its anniversary I want to explore what made this ride so fantastic. I found these facts from This Day In Disney History and The Disneyland Encyclopedia
5 fun facts about Adventures Thru Inner Space:
1) This attraction lived at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland from August 5, 1967 to September 2, 1985.
2) Monsanto sponsored this attraction and the previous attraction housed in the building, the Hall of Chemistry.
3) During the era when admission was free and tickets were used to ride the attractions (an A ticket ride to an E ticket ride) Adventures Thru Inner Space was free to ride thanks to the sponsor.
4) This was the first attraction to use the Omnimover. These are the vehicles used today in the Haunted Mansion and many other attractions.
5) Here is another Haunted Mansion connection. Paul Frees, the voice of the “ghost host” in the Haunted Mansion did the narration for Adventures Thru Inner Space. Spooky!
My first big disappointment at Disneyland came when this ride was removed. However, since it was removed so Star Tours could be built I wasn’t sad for long. Disney is always changing but luckily we can revisit our favorite attractions in our memories. Let’s go make some Disney memories today. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: I always say you can’t take too many pictures at the Disney parks. One of many reasons to do so is because the parks are always changing. Do you have pictures of Adventures Thru Inner Space, or the Skyway, or the Mike Fink Keel Boats (three of my favorite rides ever.) These attractions no long exist except in photos and memories, so take lots of photos before the parks change again.