Image from www.endorexpress.net

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. Let’s explore Adventures Thru Inner Space in more detail.

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.

Image from Disney Parks on Facebook

Star Wars and Disney goes together like chicken and waffles. They are each one of a kind, but I rarely think of one without thinking of the other. For Star Wars and Disney this is because Star Tours has been one of my favorite rides since I was a teenager. So I am never surprised to hear about special Star Wars events happening at the Disney parks. However, this newest one has me as excited as a trip to the Endor moon.

This Saturday is May 4 and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be hosting “May the Fourth Be With You”, a special Star Wars themed event. On this day only adults can fulfill their dream and join their children in the Jedi Training Academy. I bet a lot of dads will be dragging their children through the park yelling, “Go faster, I want to sign up before it fills up!” I love watching the Jedi Training Academy shows and I’m sure it will be even funnier with the parents trying to battle Darth Vader, the nemesis of their childhood.

If you like to ride Star Tours (me! me!) then you don’t want to miss it during May the Fourth Be With You. On Saturday Star Wars characters will be riding along with you. You may be sitting next to Chewbacca, or Boba Fett. Better fasten your seat belts.

If you miss the characters at Star Tours you can still catch them throughout the park. They will be around for meet and greets which I think is amazing. I would love to have my picture taken with any of the Star Wars characters.

For a full list of everything happening on Saturday check out the blog post at touringplans.com.

This Limited Time Magic Event will be galactic fun, with everything from cool merchandise to evening Star Wars-themed fireworks. As always I wish I lived closer to the parks. Here is my advice for those who are going. Expect crowds. Arrive early. Don’t plan to ride every ride. Instead, slow down and enjoy the special events and may the fourth be with you. Happiness Squared.

Goofy Tip: Disneyland is also celebrating “May the Fourth Be With You,” but on a much smaller scale. I have noticed that many of this year’s special events are happening on both coasts. So if you hear about an event check with your nearest park or touringplans.com to see if anything is happening at near you.