May 15, 2008: Rocket to the Moon

[Werner Weiss]

Rocket to the Moon has been one of the most popular pages at Yesterland since 1995. I finally updated the entry with new, larger photos and more information.

Link to Rocket to the Moon, at Yesterland

Please discuss it here.

[bearride]

Thank you, Werner! I always enjoy your site!

[aashee]

Wonderful Pictures. I never got to experience the Moon but Mission to Mars was a must ride when I was younger. The picture of the inside of the ride brought back some great memories, thank you.

[Katella Gate]

Ah the long lost TWA rocket. It seems like TWA never made it to the future in space, just like Pan Am's hypersonic shuttle in "2001 a Space Odyssey". Perhaps somewhere they fly through space in an alternate universe full of defunct company hardware.

My biggest gripe about the ride as a 12 year old was that the rocket view port did not show us lifting off from Disneyland, but rather from some bean field. I wasn't exactly traumatized by this cheat, but 36 years later, I am still slightly miffed and hold a grudge.

By the way, I noticed the Space Bar in the Tomorroland 55 model (it's the building with the highly raked roof at the far right). Does anybody know if the building was simply picked up, rotated, and moved to face the new lagoon when the subs were installed around 1960? (It was renamed the Yacht Bar).

Thanks for the update Werner.

[GrumpyFan]

Werner, thanks for the history lesson. It's always enjoyable, and even a little sad sometimes reading about what was in the parks.

[ttrocc7007]

Great stuff, and always a favorite attraction from my first visit in 1968 at the age of 12.
One thing I always noticed, long before such a thing was discussed in polite company? As you 'blast off,' the lower screen showing where you're departing from is a trio of buildings that form a perfect 'Hidden Mickey.'
I bet they could market those vibrating chairs at one of 'those' shops on Hollywood Boulevard!
I don't suppose you have a good clear pic of the original EPCOT model as previewed on the way out of the theater? I used to spend so much time looking at it and fantasizing about this vision of the future, Cast Members used to have to chase me out!
Thanks Werner!

[Asterix]

Speaking of yester-airlines, wasn't PSA the sponsor for American Journeys? And who sponsored If You Had Wings, was it Eastern? Seems like bad luck for an airline to sponsor a Tomorrowland attraction! I guess Delta is still around, though.

Thanks as always for another great column Werner!

[JiminyCricketFan]

I remember the original rocket. Great story!

I would prefer that Tomorrowland be a vision of tomorrow rather than a "mall like" feel of a camp vision of tomorrow. That is what I feel having the miniature vision of the rocket there is like. I would rather have a flight simulation to Mars that Pizza any day too!

[NASAMan]

I am a big Moonliner fan, and would love to see a sister ship docked at my park here on the east coast. It is so Disney, and iconic for the time. Even 50 years later, it still is a vision of travel through space. Here's some extra trivia: As Werner stated, the Moonliner currently standing is 2/3 the height of the original, about 54' compared to 80'. But the original was a 1/3 model of the 'actual' ship which would stand 240' tall! That is taller than the Space Shuttle! Are any pictures of its construction or demolition available?

[Alchimedes]

I got to experience this with my family back in the early 70's for Flight to the Moon then later for the trip to Mars.

I can remember it opening and closing a few times before it finally closed.

Mission Control(Mission to Mars) always seemed super cool with animatronics.

It wasn't an attraction that you just had to be on, but it Tomorrowland now could be better.

Love the collectible lamp Disney released for the 50th.

[WarriorPoets]

*cheap plug coming*

For anyone who is a fan of Robert Olszewski's miniatures of Main Street USA, classic attractions or his Gallery of Light pieces, he'll be releasing a miniature of the Moonliner around July 17th of this year. Keep an eye of disneygallery.com for more information.

[NASAMan]

Originally Posted by WarriorPoets

*cheap plug coming*

For anyone who is a fan of Robert Olszewski's miniatures of Main Street USA, classic attractions or his Gallery of Light pieces, he'll be releasing a miniature of the Moonliner around July 17th of this year. Keep an eye of disneygallery.com for more information.

Oh no! His pieces are expensive but so brilliantly executed I'll have to get one! Maybe my stimulus check?

[WarriorPoets]

Price point is pending, but I'd be shocked if it's over 150, if that. Keep an eye on either disneygallery.com or olszewskistudios.com for more info.

[CDReed]

I know when Redd Rockets opened, cast members claimed that the theaters remained intact inside. Is that still true?