This is a mini post. The TTA (Tomorrowland Transit Authority) is still in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom (thankfully). A favorite of my family, the TTA has gone through some changes in the last couple years. When Space Mountain was renovated in 2009 so was the TTA.
Your party from Saturn has cancelled their trip
While the track itself is largely unchanged, some of the views along the ride as well as the iconic narration has changed. Therein lies the problem. My family tends to latch onto small details of the rides in Disney and cherish them.
Of course we like the rides themselves but we remember simply phrases said during a ride or one prop and always count on it to further enhance our Disney experience. You can imagine my dismay when we hopped on the TTA, whizzed off and, upon entering Space Mountain, could no longer see much of the glow-in-the-dark “shuttles” zooming around.
Construction covered up one of the previously open loading bays, thus impeding on the view from the TTA. Disappointing to say the least.
Preview the black walls inside Space Mountain aboard the TTA
Then, we groove around the Carousel of Progress and I wait for my favorite line: “Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow, your party from Saturn has arrived, please give them a ring.” Well…the line never came. A mysterious announcer did cry out for a certain Mr. Morrow but his request was different.
Mr. Morrow’s party from Saturn has apparently ended their daily trip to Earth to see him. Not only do I feel bad for Mr. Morrow that his friends have abandoned him but I felt horrible because the line is GONE.
Sure, the newer attractions were added to the narration loop and that’s cool and all but the ride just isn’t the same anymore. I will still go on it multiple times every time I visit Disney but until they bring that line back and let you see Space Mountain again it will be sub-par.
Apparently, I am not alone in my love of the line. There is actually a t-shirt, sold at Disney, with the famous line on it. You can’t find it at any official Disney store online but there are some places that sell them online.
(Side note: another family favorite line heard on the Monorail – “Por favor mantangase alejado de las puertas:” Please stand clear of the doors in Spanish – has been available as a t-shirt for the past few years. I own one.)
My only fear is that because it’s a rather old attraction and the number of people who ride it are much lower than other Tomorrowland attractions that some smell-me executives will decide to replace it with a newer ride. Mark my words: If this happens I will never step foot into Tomorrowland again.
Before 2009
After 2009
Disney from Michigan 