I was walking around the Disney Marketplace one day and as I passed the small carousel there I heard a familiar tune. I walked up to the operator and said, “I bet these kids have no clue where that musical score comes from”. He agreed.
For anyone that has heard the original “If You Had Wings” by X Atencio, it’s a melody that is not easily forgotten. While not as monotonous as “It’s A Small World”, this piece of music will stay with you for a good, long time once you hear it.
My very first trip to Disney was in the early 70’s and I vividly remember this attraction. The carpeting was blue and the air had a particular scent to it. To this day, when I visit Disney, that smell takes me back. (The same smell is on the monorail–a combination of musty air conditioning, dust and Florida humidity.)
Originally sponsored by Eastern Airlines (reportedly a $10 million investment…big money for 1972!) this was a free “attraction” (tickets were used back in those days) and was basically a ride-through commercial for Eastern and its many travel destinations. I didn’t care! I thought it was marvelous! All of those projectors showing images of far-away places and simulation of movement. At one point I had to look down at the floor because I thought this thing was really flying down the hill…only to see that we were only creeping along on the Omnimover track at a snail’s pace. I was in the second grade and from where I came from, this was like going to the moon!
This was pretty much the basis for many attractions to come and go over the years, especially the sadly missed Horizons and World of Motion attractions at Epcot. They all used the Omnimover system, projection screens and small scene set ups.
The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros at the Mexican Pavilion at World Showcase is the closest thing to the original IYHW attraction. Plus they mixed it up with a little IASW too so you can have your staring dolls and repetitive theme song. The same ride system from IYHW is still used today. Have you ever been on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin? That’s the same track that was there in 1972. Even what was originally the “speed room”, an ellipsoid that you rode through while the car tilted back, an ovoid screen surrounded you and a fan simulated wind….still there and you still ride through it.
By today’s standards the special effects of this attraction would seem dated or not at all impressive. But in its day, this was cutting edge technology and set the stage for so many greater things to come. So the next time you’re shooting at aliens with a laser or watching the plastic mermaid wave at you…remember that once upon a time, we all had wings, had wings, had wings….
