Originally Posted By contemplatio In the original version of the Alice attraction, long before the rennovation that put the Tea Party scene at the end of the ride, I recall at the very bottom of the "leaf ramp" you actually went into another room briefly before coming out another door and exiting your Caterpillar. They probably took this room out in about 1963, I'm guessing. Does anyone who visited DL in the late 1950s/early 1960s remember details on that final room?? Would love to jog my memory.
Originally Posted By 9oldmen contemplatio, I only recall going down the "vine", making a sharp u-turn, and proceeding to unload, with the re-entry added for the new Fantasyland upgrade which debuted in 1983, with "Alice" re-opening in '84 as a sort of "phase II". On the original version of the ride, the "Tea Party" scene was located where the "Queen of Hearts" scene is now. The doors with the cards who try to stop you were originally just a series of themed doors which each got smaller and smaller, with the last one just having a keyhole painted on it. I don't think the room at the end was something that was there once, then gone, then replaced.
Originally Posted By contemplatio There is a photo taken in 1958 from the Skyway, which shows track going into a door at the bottom, then coming out another door to the unload. In the photo, one of these doors is even open. Is there a place on this website I can post this? (First day here...) Thanks for your response.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox I've seen a similar photo online. That room, according to Tony Baxter, was for ride vehicle storage and maintenance. His team repurposed it into the tea party scene during the New Fantasyland redo in 1983.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 That is correct. There's an issue of The E-Ticket that focuses on Alice, and includes a rundown of both versions, scene by scene (the original started with the upside down room, for Instance). But until 1984, you just made a u-turn at the bottom of the "vine" and exited. The room that's now at the end was just for maintenance.
Originally Posted By 9oldmen Wow. I just learned something that ...I didn't know about that ride. If I'm not mistaken, access to the current maintenance area is in the "Queen of Hearts" scene, on the right before you see the Queen herself. There's those two big doors with cards painted on them.
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<There's those two big doors with cards painted on them.>> That's correct. We exited the ride when it went 101 one night. We were escorted through the maintenance shop and down a staircase.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes You guys are correct. That "room" was for maintenance only. On the original Alice attraction you went down the "vine" and remained outside until you reached unload.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 I just love the fact that Disneyland has the only Alice dark ride. It's one of the reasons I love DL's Fantasyland.
Originally Posted By tonyanton better question is when are they going to design and implement a permanent fix for the outdoor "vine" section?
