Disney's Alice In Wonderland Come To Life

Attractions: Mad Hatter's Mad Tea Party , Fantasyland (1955)
Alice in Wonderland, Fantasyland (1958)
Storybook Land Canal Boats (Alice's Village and Rabbit Hole), Fantasyland (1956)
It's a Small World (Alice and the White Rabbit appear in the England scene), Fantasyland (2008)

Eateries: none

Shops: Mad Hatter, Fantasyland (1956)
Mad Hatter, Main Street, USA (1958)

Ambiance: The Hub (White Rabbit Statuette) Main Street, USA (1993)
Fantasyland Restroom (the King and Queen of Hearts adorn the respective “Men” and “Women” placards and the stall doors are even painted like playing cards!)

Meetable Characters: Alice, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, Tweedledee and Tweedledum

Shows: None

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First thing's first: the ride and the movie it's based on can NOT share the same name.  It's  just lazy and doesn't fit with the wonderfully descriptive and active titles its sister rides share in Snow White's Scary Adventures, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Peter Pan's Flight.  But, of course, I do have suggestions!  How about Alice's Wonderland Jaunt, Alice's Wonderland Whimsy or Alice's Nonsensical Rendezvous.

Nomenclature aside, Alice in Wonderland is my favourite of the Fantasyland dark rides.  Even though I'm not a big fan of the movie, its zany atmosphere, memorable characters and colourful scenes make for the perfect Disneyland attraction.  Much like with Pinocchio and Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland has its own section in Fantasyland with the aforementioned dark ride, the Mad Hatter's Mad Tea Party (the Tea Cups) and the obligatory Mad Hatter (Hat shop).  Back to the dark ride; it's by far the longest of its ilk (4 minutes!) and has the most going on as in scenes, songs and animatronics.  The ride's winding track even takes your caterpillar upstairs and  outside the show building, connecting the Queen of Hearts scene with that of the Mad Tea Party.

Right across the way is the Mad Hatter's Mad Tea Party.  I've never had the stomach for spinning rides but I can still appreciate its simplicity and design.  It's especially striking at night when the Japanese lanterns hanging overhead are all lit up and the constant loop of “The  Unbirthday Song” add to the overall, maddening atmosphere of the area.  If anything, Fantasyland could be well served dedicating an even larger area to Wonderland.

Other Wonderland Details In Fantasyland

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Fun Facts

Much of  Alice in Wonderland actually takes place in the second floor above Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

The tiny slippers atop the giant mushroom (which used to be a ticket booth and is now a storage office) outside of Alice in Wonderland allude to the Caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly.

Sad fact:  As of 2010, parts of the Alice in Wonderland show building have been covered with an ugly green tarp while its second-story-outside-track has been given unsightly and very un-Disneyland-like make-shift handrails because it violated California's safety code. Supposedly, the ride will be given a permanent and more aesthetically pleasing makeover that complies with the codes later this year... but, we'll believe it when we it. 

No park guest has EVER referred to the Teacups by its official name: Mad Hatter's Mad Tea Party.

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All other incarnations of the Mad Hatter's Mad Tea Party at various Disney Parks include a giant teacup at the center of the whirling platforms – but not at Disneyland!

In 2004, the “Tea Cups” were modified to make it more difficult to spin fast – what a bummer!

Not only is there a Mad Hatter hat shop in Fantasyland but there's also one taking up residence on Main Street U.S.A. while even Tomorrowland had its own until 2006 which has since been renamed the puntastic Hatmosphere.

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