The Astro Orbitor sits in waiting for you. It guards the entrance to Tomorrowland as it towers into the air. Taking some inspiration from the planetary model in the Dark Crystal, the top half of the shaft features spheres rotating like planets, spinning and nearly hitting each other. The lower half features small rockets seating 1 or 2 people that rotate and give the rider the control to travel lower or higher in the air as they fly. Aside from the actual ride, the structure itself is quite beautiful and I catch someone every once in a while just watching.

The rocket ride that the Orbitor replaced used to sit above the queue for the Peoplemover and there was a red elevator shaft like a gantry that took you up to the platform above. Unfortunately Disney made the decision to bring the ride down to the ground and put it out in front in a cramped space. I think you lose some of what made the previous rocket ride fun and that was the height. You went up there and felt as if you were flying above the rest of the land, but it's still fun. The wait tends to be a little on the long side ranging from 30-60 minutes for a short ride. If the line isn't too bad, go for a spin.

The Disneyland Monorail is just another great piece of Disneyland history. And as Disney claims, this monorail system was America's first single-rail transportation system. But you still don't see a lot of monorails out these days (at least in southern California). It has certainly worked well for this establishment though and truly is an efficient way to travel. It's quiet and takes the 2.5 mile track with no problem at all. If you enter the park by Monorail there is a small tour of Tomorrowland before you leave you reach the station. There are some sights to see when you leave by Monorail too.

Monorails here are actually known simply by their colors. There is Orange, Purple, Red and Blue. Not all of them are in service at one time of course. Many have been in maintenance for a while now. These are also currently the Mark V series, with the Mark I series opening the attraction back in 1959. Don't be misled however. This is only the fourth series for Disneyland. The Mark IV series went to Florida. I've heard rumors that some units are on their last legs and that it might be time for Mark VI, but I'm guessing it's a little early to be saying that...

The track has been modified through its life to grow and flex with the changing environment. Most recently the track was slightly changed when California Adventure and Downtown Disney where added into the mix. Disneyland's Monorail now goes from Tomorrowland to the end of Downtown Disney right near the AMC Theatres. It's always cool to catch it going by over the Golden Gates of California Adventure. It's a nice sight. If you use the Downtown Disney and hotel station, sometimes it's actually a sneakier and faster way to get into the park. If you know the lines are going to be really long and you already have your tickets you can just catch a ride and find yourself in Tomorrowland before you know it. Of course that takes a lot out of the experience. I consider going through the turnstiles, seeing the train station with the Mickey planter and the morning walk down Main Street U.S.A. to be part of the experience. Otherwise I think that early in the morning or late in the evening are prime times to ride this fun piece of Disneyland history.

This is a classic piece of Disneyland history. The Disneyland Railroad will take you on a clockwise journey around the perimeter of the park in style. I don't consider a trip to Disneyland complete without a full ride around the entire park at some point in my day. I usually go at night to enjoy the park in its illuminated brilliance. There are four steam powered locomotives that have been around for decades. The crews of the railroad take their job very seriously and like everything in Disneyland, keep completely true to the original essence of the the attraction. You can almost feel Walt Disney taking a tour in the same train as you. Not much has changed with the Disneyland Railroad over the years. When Mickey's Toontown came into existence, a new station was added in the Toontown theme.

The main station is at Main Street. It's a beautiful station which is one of the first sights as you enter the park. The next stop is at New Orleans Square. This simple station consists of an overhang and a ticket booth on the opposite side of the tracks. A Morse code message can be heard being tapped from the booth. Many don't realize that this is actually Walt Disney's opening dedication speech being typed out for those waiting. As you then journey towards the Toontown station, you pass through Critter Country catching a glimpse of the Rivers of America and a brief look inside the finale of Splash Mountain. The Toontown station is completely decked out in bright colors and exaggerations appropriate for the theme. The next stop is here in Tomorrowland. On the way you pass behind It's a Small World and see a quick look at the botanical garden growing area. The Tomorrowland station also consists of a simple overhang, but the trip from Tomorrowland to Main Street is the highlight of the ride. As you travel, you enter a large diorama of the Grand Canyon, first looking at the Canyon as it appears today, and then as it may have looked during the time of the Dinosaurs. It's fun and even comes complete with a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus battle. I can remember the diorama from Disneyland visits decades ago. Ahhh the memories...

We join Professor Wayne Salinsky (Rick Moranis) as he accepts the Inventor of the Year Award presented to him by the Imagination Institute for his work in science. But we all remember Salinsky and his mishaps with shrinking his kids and blowing up his baby. Hardly anything associated with him ever goes as planned and before we know it we are bombarded with mice, snakes, and the possibility of being trampled. Who knows? Right about this time in your day you might be looking for a place to sit down for a little while. What an excellent opportunity this would be to see this fun and energetic show.

This 3D show replaced Captain EO (Michael Jackson) at the Kodak Magic Eye Theatre when Tomorrowland was remodeled. The show is more technically advanced with a number of physical effects that help to draw the audience into the action and make them participants in the show. The show may be more impressive as far as 3D entertainment is concerned, but I feel there is something missing that was there with Captain EO. I have a feeling though that there are not a lot of Disneyland visitors that would agree with me. It's still an entertaining show and the wait is usually very reasonable.
-Hosted by Kodak-

This is a building in Tomorrowland that you really can't miss. It's the attraction with the shortest line. I'm only kidding folks. It's the big rotating cylinder in the corner of this land next to Autopia. Take a step onto the rotating platform and get a brief introduction from our host Tom Morrow. Whenever I hear that name, I immediately think of Mission to Mars. Don't you? There are 5 themed areas of technology that we can enter. There is entertainment, fitness, transportation, work, and home. Your theme depends on when you enter the attraction. But soon we will all enter as a small group and see our friend Tom Morrow in front of us in all his animatronic glory. It's an impressive piece. But enough about him. This is our opportunity to see some of the latest Innoventions out there demonstrated to our small group based on our theme for that visit. The technology is always changing so every time you visit the park I'm sure you will get a different demonstration.

On the bottom floor there are many themed areas where you can go and play on computers and test out some software for yourself. There are lots of things for the younger ones to play with. Journey upstairs and you find yourself in a much more corporate world. Here there are exhibits sponsored by companies of technology that can really effect our lives. I've seen virtual reality, medical, and home entertainment demonstrations. There certainly can be a lot to see here. Just don't forget that there are no restrooms inside and the exit is on the second story. I would hate for you to get those backwards.

This used to be the home of America Sings. It was a rotating four part audio animatronic show taking us through the journey of some classic American songs. I think the fact that I say that it used to be America Sings instead of the Carousel of Progress really puts me in my age group. Although America Sings ended long before the new Tomorrowland came about, I do miss it a little bit. There are audio tracks from the show floating around but I would love to see the show one more time. I really don't think that will happen. I really loved it as a kid though. Without the death of American Sings though would Splash Mountain have come to fruition the way it did?

What's the bottom line here? Innoventions is an interesting place to go for a little while. The interior looks great and it's obvious that a lot of time and effort when into the design and look of the place. I just doubt that it will hold your interest very long and that's a little bit of a shame. There aren't enough really interesting things to see. One time I was on the second floor and just picked up a PS2 controller and started playing Kingdom Hearts. I then realized that I was playing PS2 at Disneyland. I put the controller down. I've only been a handful of times and I don't spend a lot of time there. It's not that I don't want it to succeed. I was really pulling for it. To tell you that you need to go, just wouldn't be honest of me. And if you can't trust me, then who can you trust?

This new addition to the remodeled Tomorrowland replaced the Peoplemover. The Peoplemover was beginning to show age and I know that it wasn't as popular as it was earlier in its existence. The track that tours Tomorrowland was left in place and the cars were replaced with the Rocket Rods. These cars travel the same length of track in a fraction of the time. A few simple effects like lights, mirrors and fans help to increase the intensity level of the ride. Also, many sound effects were added to each car and everyone down below could always hear them coming from a mile away. The lines were always ridiculously long because it just couldn't move through the crowds fast enough. And the queue area was terrible. But notice how I said "was"?

Unfortunately there was a problem. The Rocket Rods idea was like putting a Band-Aid on too large of a wound. It didn't exactly solve anything. The track was never built for the intention of what it was now being used for. As a result, the ride never felt quite right. But more importantly, Disney Imagineering built the ride without it ever working correctly. Even after many months went by, there was still a daily problem. Cars were getting stuck and there were even zoning problems where sometimes cars would bump into each other. After just causing one too many headaches, the Rocket Rods are no more.

It's white. No it's copper. No wait it's white again. Space Mountain is a big enough attraction that you can see from outside the park. It's an unusual looking spiked dome that sits in the corner of Tomorrowland and right on the edge of Disneyland itself. Just the exterior of the building alone is enough to get your attention. Wait until you see what is inside. You can be sure that it's not like anything you've ever seen or gone on before.

As you make your way further and further along in the line you eventually find yourself in a space station with cars below ready to take you on a turbulent ride through the stars. It is a fast paced roller coaster that takes place in the darkness of space with your body surrounded by the stars of the galaxy. You only a have few small landmarks in sight. The darkness only adds to the thrill and speed of this fantastic ride. All the turns, twists and drops are hidden from your clear sight. Don't forget to smile at the end of your journey. You'll have an opportunity to take a piece of your ride home with you later. Space Mountain is such a great ride and it really has lived through the years since its opening. It is hands down one of the most popular rides in the park and a personal favorite of mine too. What a great way to get your blood moving in the morning.

As a fairly recent an addition to the experience, all the cars were equipped with speakers in the headrest that would play a pretty cool soundtrack as you went on your journey into the dark. I haven't heard too many negative comments about that addition but I rarely got to hear it work. As I understand, it was actually a rather complicated system that mixed the audio track as it went. Different changes in weight of course effect the speed and duration of the ride. The tempo in the audio would have to be adjusted accordingly. There was a bright red light that was attached to the back of the cars that would designate whether or not the audio system was on for that car. More often than not that light was off, and just a little piece of me was sad.

Update:
So you're reading this right now, on your way to the park tomorrow and can't wait to try this one out. I hate to say it, but I'm afraid that you will have to wait a little bit for that opportunity. Space Mountain is currently closed do some major remodeling work. The attraction won't be ready until 2005 and the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. What are they doing? I have to be honest and say that I have heard a lot of things and I'm not sure what to believe. From what I've gathered, Space Mountain was gutted. Now there is another Disney park getting a new Space Mountain track and so why not get two at the same time? So we are getting one of these whole new tracks along with some new effects for our modern time. Other than that, I don't have too much to report I'm afraid. But Disney knows that this attraction means a lot to the fans and I just know that all the work will be done in the same spirit which originally brought it here.

Update Part II:
Here is an update regarding the new changes for Space Mountain that was posted recently on the alt.disney.disneyland newsgroup by Marcie.

All of this sounds pretty good to me. I'm just really hoping that Disney is going to come through on this project. I love Space Mountain and I would hate to see it ruined by something cheap. I know the fans are a little weary. Regardless of my slight hesitation, I'm still really looking forward to it.
-Presented by Federal Express-

Video games, video games, video games. Guess what they have here? Well there are some other things here such as those funky compatibility machines and souvenir pennies. But most come for a little video game break. There used to be air hockey... Real air hockey. But I haven't seen that there in a while. Now they have some wannabe air tables. Too bad...

"Star Tours announces the boarding of the Endor Express, nonstop StarSpeeder service to the moon of Endor. All passengers please prepare for immediate boarding."

Star Tours does in fact provide vacation packages to other areas of the galaxy, such as the planet Hoth, but it is the moon of Endor that is the destination of this particular tour. Well, Endor would be the destination if it were not for Captain Rex. You see, Captain Rex is the new droid pilot whose responsibility is simply to get everyone safely to their destination. But the problems begin with a little red tag that mentions something about removing it before the flight. Before anyone has a chance to blink, Rex has piloted the StarSpeeder full of 40 tourists down the wrong corridor, past Endor, through a comet shower, and right into the hands of the Empire. Only with the help of R2D2 and a band of Rebel fighters, does Rex aid in the destruction of the Death Star, and eventually return the rustled passengers safely to the Star Tours hanger. But he promises to do better next time.

Back in the old days, this was the Adventure Through Inner Space attraction. A lot of younger kids out there have no idea what that was. And here I am talking like I'm some old guy. It was early enough in my memory so I shouldn't be talking. What am I getting to? Well there are a few fun things to watch out for in this attraction and one of them is the microscope that was the feature of that old attraction. When you go down the wrong way corridor and almost plummet to you eternal doom, look down to your lower right hand side and you will see it before you exit through the cargo doors. Also, those two robot droids working so hard in the queue were from the American Sings attraction that was where Innoventions is now. They've just undergone some minor surgery so to speak. And listen for the audible announcements. I'm sure you will find some amusing ones.

Star Tours is generally the first stop of the day for me. It's right there at the entrance to Tomorrowland and as you now know, I enjoy visiting Tomorrowland early in the morning. Star Tours is also my second favorite ride in the park. But it's pretty close. It just falls into the shadow of Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. To be honest, it's the Star Wars factor that does it. I swear, this ride throws you right into the middle of the Star Wars universe and I must say it is very enjoyable. Right when you enter, there are C-3PO, R2D2 and a large StarSpeeder. Even though it opened in 1987, the simulator ride is still fun, effective, and energetic. I remember quite a few years ago there were rumors floating around that there were going to be other adventures and locations, besides the Endor one. But I don't see that happening in the near future. Even though there are four simulators, the line can get very long. But, don't miss Star Tours during your Disneyland day, especially now that it has FastPass distribution. I won't be able to forgive you if you miss it and are a Star Wars fan.
-Presented by Energizer (Previously M&M / Mars)-

Tucked back away at the edge of Tomorrowland near the railroad station sits Autopia. It is one of the few attractions here in Tomorrowland that is still around since its original opening in 1955. This is an opportunity for drivers of all ages to get behind the wheel of a motorcar and go for a lovely drive through a variety of terrain. Drivers can drive by themselves if they so desire as long as they meet the height requirement. Originally there weren't bumpers on the cars and guide rails on the ground like they have now. It didn't take too long before Disney began to equip the cars with effective bumpers and install a bit of guide track on the ground so the cars wouldn't get too badly damaged.

In 1999, Autopia was closed for an extensive renovation. Before the renovation, there were two separate Autopia tracks. There was one in Fantasyland and then the one here in Tomorrowland. I don't remember seeing the Fantasyland track open much at all. I suppose they felt there wasn't ever a need for it. So if it's going to be just sitting there, why not combine them? That's exactly what Imagineering did. The new Autopia opened in the spring of 2000 with the two tracks are now combined into one. The longer track now shows an enormous amount of personality with playful artwork pieces throughout. With fresh grass, colorful billboards and an entire theme that works really well together. They even give you sense of offroading a little by making some of the surrounding terrain just a little bit more rugged. When Autopia closed in 1999 the cars where pretty much all the same with just different solid colored paint jobs. Now the cars have much more personality with new bodies and new parts under the hood. Most noticeably though is the work done to the actual queue. It now hold many more people and really looks great. It certainly has a home here in the modern day Tomorrowland.

It's amazing how something new can completely wipe away old memories. I'm trying to remember what the queue and main Autopia gate looked like before 1999 and I can't for the life of me remember. Does someone have some pictures? I also remember the guide track being smaller (narrower) before the renovation. Maybe I'm wrong though.

The line does get a little bit long and there is a FastPass system. It's really fun if you have a good group, but missable at the same time. I like to take a drive, but I'm not too disappointed if I can't. Here's something to remember though. Whatever you, do not bump the car in front of you if you are being watched by a Cast Member. That is one rule they are pretty rough in enforcing and I can certainly understand it. Although a little bit of playful bumping with my friends in front of me out there on the track isn't toooo bad. I know... I know... I'm evil, right? So fasten your seatbelts everyone. You never know... I might be out there on the track myself.
-Presented by Chevron-

I know what you are thinking. You are wandering around Tomorrowland and wondering where you can buy a hat. The sun is beating down and you haven't had a chance to pick up some Mickey ears yet. You've come to the proper place. The Hatmosphere is located next to Innoventions and is just below where the Tomorrowland Skyway entrance used to be. They have a nice selection of Disney character hats and they come equipped with an embroidering service so people will know who you are even when you are traveling incognito with your new hat.

The shop is a little on the smaller side and easy to miss. It is located right next the American Space Experience exhibit. The content of this store has changed a lot over the course of a few years. They don't sell the same merchandise that they used to and even the interior is a bit different. Pin traders will be very happy. No doubt they are the majority of the ones to visit this store. Use this place as a perfect opportunity to pick up a few more pins for your collection or for trading. Although there is a pin trading station just outside, the Premiere Shop is also considered to be the pin trading headquarters for the park. There is a meeting area in the back for all you enthusiasts. I have to admit that there was one time where I thought about picking up a pin. It sounds weird coming from me I know, but I did consider it for a moment. In case you couldn't tell, i'm not a pin trader or even collector for that matter. I'm getting off topic again...

While this may be a place for pin traders to hang out, there are also some other items to find. But if you want general souvenir merchandise, you might want to pay a visit to the Star Trader just across the way. It's much larger and may have more of what you are looking for. Besides all of that, there is also a print system much like what the Disney Gallery has. A good portion of the work is Mickey artwork and more general Disney and Disneyland work. Go up to a kiosk and scroll through the prints that are available and feel free to purchase something. It will be printed out for you and you can pick it up a bit later. You can also flip through those large mounted poster viewers to see if there is anything there that catches your eye. I've never bought any artwork from this store before. I've always gone to the Disney Gallery.

If you are like me, I'm sure that you have many terrific memories of the park that have found a loving home in the folds of your brain. So many of those memories are sound and music related. You go home with the safety spiel from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad playing through your mind or the roar of the Abominable Snowman from the Matterhorn. The Old Suzanna banjo from the Pirates of the Caribbean helps to bring back all the details including that unique and memorable Bayou smell. A few years ago Disneyland started to make these sounds available for purchase through these kiosks. With a touch screen interface, you can go through each land of the park and put together a ten track CD full of these auditory memories. Some of the tracks available even include attractions that are no longer with us such as the entire soundtrack for the Submarine Voyage. During the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean anniversaries, CDs were released for each that include the full ride soundtrack as well as other audio material. These anniversary CDs can also be purchased here. For those swimming in Disneyland memories, do not miss seeing this. If you don't make it to the kiosks here in Tomorrowland, they also exist on Main Street.

Update:
Before you jump up in arms about that last paragraph being ridiculously out of date, I didn't want to get rid of it because I still want the memory of Disneyland Forever to live on. And in case you didn't know, yes you guessed it... Disneyland Forever CD kiosks have retired into Disneyland history. I think this disappoints a lot of people and I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one. The best reason I could get out of a Cast Member for their disappearance was that the system didn't work very well. It always seemed to work well for me. So keep your eyes open there people. If you happen to see one floating around out there, give it a second look because you never know when you might see one again.

If you take Autopia and Innoventions and make a triangle, Club Buzz is the remaining point. This is also the same place where the Buzz Lightyear Adventure show takes place. Most of the area is covered by a nicely patterned overhang (the ordering windows at least). There are also a number of tables and chairs with umbrellas in the surrounding area. Some of you may remember this area as the Tomorrowland Terrace. It seems that the menu has changed since those good old days before it became Club Buzz. Besides Club Buzz, it could also be known as the most crowded place in Tomorrowland. Really. No kidding. You have ordering windows, seating areas and a stage show all in very close proximity to each other. So after you wade through the crowds just to get your meal you continue to wade through the same crowd to find a place to sit. You can bet that take while you are there with your family, you will be surrounded be people. It's not the most relaxing place in the park for at least me to be sure.

There is something that is a little bit interesting to me. With the Buzz Lightyear theme and nearby show, it is a little funny to me that the menu is a little bit more geared toward mature tastes. I mean there are some menu items for the kids, but look at the majority of the menu. There are chicken sandwiches, club sandwiches, chicken wraps and salads. There are some cheeseburgers and some meal packages available for them, but it's not the majority of the menu. It's just a thought. And remember to check which line you are in for what you want. There are two separate ordering window sections. There is one for meals like the items mentioned above, and there is one for more desert related items like funnel cakes. Gotta have the funnel cakes. You know I love them so much I should really get one of the home kits. Naw. I'm too lazy for that.

I always thought that it would've been cool to name this restaurant Pizza Planet after the one in Toy Story, but I'm sure Disney had their reasons for choosing the name Redd Rockett's Pizza Port. But let's forget about all that for right now and concentrate on more important matters. More important matters? That's right. Redd Rockett's is a great addition to the new and improved Tomorrowland. I vaguely remember what restaurant there before. It was right next to the Mission to Mars entrance. I don't remember ever eating there, or seeing it open for that matter. Maybe someone can help out with a name. For some reason the outside eating area sticks with me with the wall covered in light bulbs.

The place looks great with an excellent color scheme. The gold, dark reds and greens work well with each other to create a fantastic mood and stay true to the current Tomorrowland theme. Accented lighting works really well. There are a combination of booths and then tables and chairs, both inside and outside. The food service works much like a cafeteria and like a few other places in the park. You grab a green tray at the entrance and make your way around selecting what you want from the counters in front of you. A drink island is in the center and there are some dessert selections by the register. But how about the food? That's what's important right? The food I think is actually really good. I usually just go with a slice of pepperoni and a Coke. But there are other pizza selections too. Some prefer plain cheese. Some do. But remember? I prefer pepperoni. Don't forget about your salad options which are really good. If you aren't in the mood for pizza or salad there is spaghetti, a killer Countdown Chicken Fusilli, some meals for the kids, and a few other odds and ends that will sure to leave you satisfied.

So if you aren't sure where to eat and maybe don't know what you are in the mood for, stop by if you're in the Tomorrowland neighborhood. You may find what you are looking for. I would definitely recommend this place over Club Buzz. It doesn't feel as crowded and is away from traffic flows. The food is better too. Give it a try.
-Hosted by Buitoni-