Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Disneyland
Land	Fantasyland
Coordinates	33°48′49″N 117°55′08″W / 33.81367°N 117.91891°W / 33.81367; -117.91891
Attraction type	Aerial carousel
Theme	Dumbo
Opening date	August 16, 1955

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Magic Kingdom
Land	Fantasyland
Coordinates	28°25′13″N 81°34′52″W / 28.42036°N 81.5810°W / 28.42036; -81.5810
Attraction type	Aerial carousel
Theme	Dumbo
Opening date	October 1, 1971

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Tokyo Disneyland
Land	Fantasyland
Coordinates	35°37′53″N 139°52′54″E / 35.63147°N 139.8817°E / 35.63147; 139.8817
Attraction type	Aerial carousel
Theme	Dumbo
Opening date	April 15, 1983

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Disneyland Park (Paris)
Land	Fantasyland
Coordinates	48°52′26″N 2°46′28″E / 48.874°N 2.77455°E / 48.874; 2.77455
Attraction type	Aerial carousel
Theme	Dumbo
Opening date	April 12, 1992

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Hong Kong Disneyland
Land	Fantasyland
Coordinates	22°18′44″N 114°02′25″E / 22.31236°N 114.0402°E / 22.31236; 114.0402
Attraction type	Aerial carousel
Theme	Dumbo
Opening date	September 12, 2005

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is a carousel-style ride located in Fantasyland at five Disney parks around the world. The original attraction opened at Disneyland in October of 1955, three months after the park opened. The four other versions of the attraction were opening day attractions at their respective parks.

One elephant from the ride is in the collection of the National Museum of American History, donated in 2005, on the occasion of Disneyland's 50th anniversary.^[1]

Attraction

Based on the character from the 1941 animated feature, the sixteen ride vehicles are each shaped like Dumbo and are mounted on articulated armatures connected to a rotating hub. The passengers ride in the "Dumbos" and can maneuver them up and down with a joystick which operates a hydraulic ram. The ride itself rotates counterclockwise at a constant rate.

A figure of Timothy Q. Mouse rides atop the central hub. The figure originally held a training whip, later replaced with the "magic feather." It has since been returned to the whip.^{[citation needed]} Timothy is voiced by Chris Edgerly on this ride.^[2]

The Magic Kingdom's version of this attraction does not include a central water feature like its Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland counterparts. The utilidors, running directly below the attraction, prevented the installation of water pipes necessary for the water features to operate.^[3]

History

Disneyland

The attraction was originally built with ten ride vehicles which were intended to represent not the "one and only" Dumbo, but the alcohol-induced "pink elephants" scene from the film. In fact, the working title of the attraction was "10 Pink Elephants On Parade" and the elephants were painted pink on installation. Walt Disney objected, not wishing Disneyland's guests to ride vehicles themed to a hallucination and thereby ordered them painted gray.

A circa 1915 band organ occasionally provides background music. This powerful instrument is capable of being heard more than a mile away. Naturally, it is operated at only a fraction of its potential.

During his 1957 visit to Disneyland, Former United States President Harry S. Truman politely declined a ride on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, due to the elephant being a Republican symbol.

In 1990, the attraction was updated with the sixteen vehicles originally intended for installation at Disneyland Paris after an incident during which a bracket support broke. During the 1992 Disneyana convention, one of the original ride vehicles sold for US$16,000. Like other remaining 1955 attractions, one of Disneyland's Dumbos was painted gold in honor of the park's fiftieth anniversary in 2005.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland is currently undergoing a large expansion and renovation. "The New Fantasyland will be constructed in phases with most new experiences open by 2013."^[4] Mickey's Toontown Fair closed permanently in February of 2011 in order to make way for the expansion.^[5] Some elements of Mickey's Toontown Fair will be demolished and others will be re-themed to a new Storybook Circus area. An expanded Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride will be built with an interactive queue. The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm will be re-themed, "featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini." ^[6]

References

1. ^ "Landmark Object: Dumbo the Flying Elephant". National Museum of American History. Washington DC: The Smithsonian Institution. [2008]. http://americanhistory.si.edu/news/factsheet.cfm?key=30&newskey=712. Retrieved 18 July 2011. 
2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7XbceE2LTY
3. ^ "Dumbo The Flying Elephant" Disney Reporter - Where the Magic Lives
4. ^ Smith, Thomas (18 January 2011). "Update on New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park". http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/01/update-on-new-fantasyland-at-magic-kingdom-park/. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
5. ^ Smith, Thomas (10 December 2010). "New Fantasyland Expansion Update". http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/12/new-fantasyland-expansion-update/. Retrieved 10 December 2010. 
6. ^ "Disney World’s Fantasyland expansion". WOFL FOX 35. 18 January 2011. http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/attractions/disney/011811-disney-announcements. Retrieved 18 January 2011. 

• Trahan, Kendra D. (2004). Disneyland Detective: An INDEPENDENT Guide to Discovering Disney's Legend, Lore, and Magic! PermaGrin Publishing, Inc., Mission Viejo, California. ISBN 0-9717464-0-0

External links

• Disneyland Resort - Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Walt Disney World Resort - Dumbo the Flying Elephant