View source for Adventure Thru Inner Space

{{Short description|Former dark ride at Disneyland}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{ Infobox attraction
| name                = Adventure Thru Inner Space
| logo                = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[File:]] link-->
| logo_width          = <!--Default is 250px-->
| image               = Adventure_Thru_Inner_Space_Poster.png
| imagedimensions     = 250px
| caption             = Poster for Adventure Thru Inner Space
| location            = Disneyland
| section             = [[Tomorrowland (Disney Parks)|Tomorrowland]]
| status              = Removed
| cost                = 
| soft_opened         = 
| opened              = {{Start date|1967|08|05}}
| closed              = {{End date|1985|09|02}}
| previousattraction  = [[Monsanto Hall of Chemistry]]
| replacement         = [[Star Tours]]
| coordinates         = <!--Use ONLY if attraction is at one park. Use {{coord}}-->
| type                = [[Dark ride]]
| manufacturer        = Arrow Development
| designer            = [[Walt Disney Imagineering|WED Enterprises]]
| model               = 
| theme               = Microscopic world
| music               = "Miracles from Molecules"
| height_ft           = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| height_m            = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_ft             = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_m              = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_ft           = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_m            = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_mph           = <!--Must be expressed in miles per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_km/h          = <!--Must be expressed in kilometres per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| sitearea_sqft       = <!--Must be expressed in square feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| sitearea_sqm        = <!--Must be expressed in square metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| gforce              = 
| capacity            = 
<!--Use only one of vehicles, rows, participants, or audience-->
| vehicle_type        = [[Omnimover]]
| vehicles            = 
| riders_per_vehicle  = 2–3
| rows                = 
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| participants_per_group= <!--Only use if neither rows or vehicles is applicable.-->
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| restriction_cm      = <!--Must be expressed in centimetres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| virtual_queue_name  = 
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| virtual_queue_status= <!--should be available if above fields are used-->
| single_rider        = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| pay_per_use         = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| custom_label_1      = Hosted by
| custom_value_1      = [[Paul Frees]]
| custom_label_2      = Sponsor
| custom_value_2      = [[The Monsanto Company]] (1967–1977)
| custom_label_3      = 
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| accessible          = 
| transfer_accessible = yes
| assistive_listening = 
| cc                  = 
}}

'''Adventure Thru Inner Space''' was an attraction in [[Disneyland]]'s [[Tomorrowland (Disney Parks)|Tomorrowland]], presented by [[Monsanto Company]]. It was the first attraction to utilize Disney's [[Omnimover]] system.<ref name="Encyc">{{cite book |last1=Strodder |first1=Chris |title=The Disneyland Encyclopedia |date=2017 |publisher=Santa Monica Press |isbn=978-1595800909 |edition=3rd |pages=42–44}}</ref> The ride simulated shrinking guests to the size smaller than an atom (the "inner space") before taking a tour of snowflakes at molecular and atomic levels. 

''Adventure Thru Inner Space'' opened on August 5, 1967, as the centerpiece of the "New Tomorrowland",<ref name=Encyc/> and closed in 1985 to make way for Disney and [[George Lucas]]'s new [[Star Tours]] attraction, which opened in early 1987.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Emmons |first1=Steve |title=Every change at Disneyland brings a reaction from visitors. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-23-ls-752-story.html |access-date=August 26, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 23, 1994 |page=2}}</ref> The attraction was narrated by [[Paul Frees]], who also lent his voice to the [[The Haunted Mansion|Haunted Mansion]] attraction, another Omnimover attraction which is still open to this day.<ref name=FreshBaked>{{cite AV media |date= August 26, 2018|title= Adventure Thru Inner Space - Extinct Disneyland - Disneyland History and Secrets|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSDVuODft5c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/zSDVuODft5c| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|format= [[YouTube]]|publisher= FreshBaked}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==History==
The idea of the attraction goes as far back as 1957, when Walt Disney introduced a concept for an atomic-themed exhibit in [[Tomorrowland (Disney Parks)|Tomorrowland]] on the Disneyland television show episode, ''Our Friend The Atom''. A newspaper profile in 1957 said that Disney was planning a ride to take guests inside a microscope, in order to promote science education. "There's a great urgency today to interest young people in science as a profession," he said. "I want to give them some attractions that will start kids thinking more about science."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keating |first1=Micheline |title=The Magic in the Man Who Created Disneyland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tucson-daily-citizen-magic-in-the-man/142735359/ |access-date=5 March 2024 |work=Tucson Daily Citizen |page=18}}</ref> Disney became friends with Dr. Charles Allen Thomas, Chairman of the Monsanto Company, and Thomas was directly involved in the development of the attraction.<ref name="Story">{{cite book |last1=Gennawey |first1=Sam |title=The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dream |date=2014 |publisher=Keen Communications |isbn=978-1-62809-012-3 |pages=234–238}}</ref>

Plans for the attraction were put on hold for the [[1964 New York World's Fair]]. After the success of the fair, the atomic-themed attraction was green-lighted for the New Tomorrowland project. It would stand where the "Monsanto's Hall of Chemistry" building stood.<ref name=Encyc/>

The Disneyland Imagineers began with the idea of examining Monsanto's polymers, but decided that those molecules were too complex to explain. Instead, they settled on the idea of exploring a molecule of water, which was easy for guests to understand and relate to.<ref name="Story"/>

This was the first ride with an Omnimover system.<ref name=Story/> It opened as a free attraction, unlike most, but required a "C" ticket starting in 1972.<ref name="FreshBaked" /> The original sponsor was [[Monsanto]], which at the time was an agri-chemical company.<ref>{{cite news |title=Monsanto Opens Attraction on the Atom at Disneyland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-monsanto-attraction/142735723/ |access-date=5 March 2024 |work=The Anniston Star |date=July 12, 1967 |page=12}}</ref> The exit from the attraction led to a room displaying Monsanto's products.<ref>{{cite news |title=New, Space-Age 'Tomorrowland' Opens at Disneyland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-register-space-age-tomorrowland/142736286/ |access-date=5 March 2024 |work=The Register |date=July 3, 1967 |page=3}}</ref>

== Synopsis ==

The attraction was designed to simulate humans shrinking to a size smaller than an atom (the "inner space"). As patrons waited in line, they saw those before them entering one end of the Monsanto Mighty Microscope. The other end of the Monsanto Mighty Microscope had a glass tube in which the supposedly miniaturized riders could be seen moving through. The microscope was aimed at a panel beyond which snow could be seen falling.<ref name="FreshBaked" />

Upon boarding their 'Atommobiles', riders were greeted by the voice of an unseen scientist ([[Paul Frees]]) who explained: "''I am the first person to make this fabulous journey. Suspended in the timelessness of inner space are the thoughtwaves of my first impressions. They will be our only source of contact once you have passed beyond the limits of normal Mag-ni-fi-ca-tion''."<ref name="FreshBaked" />

The Atommobile entered the Monsanto Mighty Microscope and began to shake back and forth as the riders entered the darkness. As their vision returned, the riders saw giant snowflakes all around them, some still spinning as they fell. As they continued to shrink, the narrator exclaimed, "''I am passing beyond the magnification limits of even the most powerful microscopes. These are snowflakes – and yet they seem to grow larger and larger. Or can I be shrinking – shrinking beyond the smallness of a tiny snowflake crystal? Indeed, I am becoming smaller and smaller!''"

The snowflakes took on a crystalline form, eventually becoming large enough to cover the entire field of the riders' vision. Approaching the walls of ice crystals, the voice of the unseen scientist marveled, "''These tiny bits of snowflake crystal tower above me – like an enormous wall of ice. Can I penetrate this gigantic prism? And yet, this wall of ice only seems smooth and solid. From this tiny viewpoint, I can see that nothing is solid, no matter how it appears.''" Indeed, it then became obvious to the Atommobile riders that the ice crystals were not solid, but a lattice-like structure that they pass through. ''"And still I continue to shrink! What compelling force draws me into this mysterious darkness—can this be the threshold of inner space?"''

Next, the riders encountered a matrix of spheres appearing in columns and rows of infinite length. ''"What are these strange spheres?"'' asked the narrator. ''"Have I reached the universe of the molecule? Yes, these are water molecules – H<sub>2</sub>O. They vibrate in such an orderly pattern because this is water frozen into the solid state of matter."''

As the travelers continued to shrink, the molecules became larger, and took on [[Hidden Mickey|a peculiar Mickey Mouse shape]]. ''"These fuzzy spheres must be the atoms that make up the molecule – two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom. And I see that it's the orbiting electrons that give the atom its fuzzy appearance. And still I continue to shrink."''

The scientist wondered, ''"Is it possible that I can enter the atom itself?"'' As the Atommobile entered the atom, a storm of lights flashed past on all sides at impossible speeds. ''"Electrons are dashing about me – like so many fiery comets! Can I possibly survive?"''

Suddenly the frenzy of the electrons passed, and the riders found themselves in a large, empty space, surrounded in the distance by a sphere of slow-moving lights. ''"I have pierced the wall of the oxygen atom,"'' continues the Narrator. ''"I am so infinitely small now that I can see millions of orbiting electrons. They appear like the Milky Way of our own solar system. This vast realm, THIS is the infinite universe within a tiny speck of snowflake crystal."''

A large pulsating red ball could then be seen inside the atom. ''"And there is the nucleus of the atom! Do I dare explore the vastness of ITS inner space? No, I dare not go on. I must return to the realm of the molecule, before I go on shrinking...forever!"''

The riders then began the return journey to full size, but were soon greeted with the sight of water molecules swirling rapidly. The scientist sees this as a discovery and says: ''"Ah, how strange! The molecules are so active now! They have become fluid – freed from their frozen state. That can only mean that the snowflake is melting!"'' The riders saw molecules around them, moving faster as their temperature increased. The molecules were depicted in green and yellow, with occasional star-shaped flashes representing evaporation.

''"Yes, the snowflake has melted,"'' intoned a scientist's voice (also [[Paul Frees]]), ''"But there is no cause for alarm. You are back on visual, and returning to your normal size."'' The riders could see evidence of the scientist's monitoring as they passed under a large microscope through which they could see his giant eye.

Having returned to normal size, the riders disembarked and passed by displays of Monsanto's advances in material science before exiting the attraction building.<ref name="FreshBaked" />

==''Miracles from Molecules''==
Like many of the [[Walt Disney Imagineering|WED Enterprises]] attractions of the 1960s, such as ''[[It's a Small World]]'', the ''[[Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress|Carousel of Progress]]'', and the ''[[Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room|Enchanted Tiki Room]]'', [[Walt Disney]] assigned his staff songwriters, the [[Sherman Brothers]], the task of writing an opening and closing song for the ''Adventure Thru Inner Space'' attraction. That song was ''Miracles from Molecules'' and bridged the ride message of adventure with the Monsanto company's mission statement.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} 

The [[Mickey Mouse (TV series)|Mickey Mouse]] episode "Down the Hatch" features [[Donald Duck]] singing the song in the episode's credits. 

In the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]-themed ''[[Disney Wish]]'' family dining experience ''Avengers: Quantum Encounter'', [[Scott Lang (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Scott Lang]] and [[Hope van Dyne]] host a demonstration of [[Pym Particles (Marvel Cinematic Universe) |Pym Particles]] called "Miracles From Molecules," featuring a new instrumental version of the song.

== Closing ==

In 1977, Monsanto ended their sponsorship for the attraction.<ref name="FreshBaked" /> All visual and audio references were removed (except for the end line, "This is Monsanto") and the Monsanto Mighty Microscope's Monsanto logo was replaced with a logo that says "The Mighty Microscope".

The Monsanto posters advertising their products were replaced with Disneyland posters. All the items in the display area were taken away and the gift shop took over all the area of the old post show area. Finally, the Monsanto "Fountain of Fashion" that dripped oil down strings tightened to it was replaced with a series of sculptures that looked like two plates put together with a snowflake on them. However, the shape of the old fountain/oil lamp was reused in the new sculpture.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} The attraction was finally closed in 1985 to be replaced with ''[[Star Tours]]'' in 1987.<ref name="FreshBaked" />

A tribute to Adventure Thru Inner Space can be found in the ''Star Tours'' ride film. At the beginning of the ride, when the StarSpeeder is sent into a maintenance bay after going down a wrong path, the Mighty Microscope can be seen at the bottom of the maintenance area. This near-miss with the Mighty Microscope is featured in all versions of ''Star Tours''.<ref name=Encyc/> ''Star Tours'' itself was closed and replaced with ''[[Star Tours – The Adventures Continue|Star Tours: The Adventures Continue]]'' at [[Disneyland]] and [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] in 2011. ''The Adventures Continue'' again pays tribute to Adventure Thru Inner Space, with the Mighty Microscope visible when escaping the under-construction [[Death Star]] above Geonosis.<ref name="FreshBaked" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.yesterland.com/innersp.html Yesterland Inner Space page]
* [http://www.themightymicroscope.com Adventure Thru Inner Space fan site, 3-D model of the ride]
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{{Disney rides}}
{{Sherman Brothers}}
{{Monsanto}}

[[Category:Former Walt Disney Parks and Resorts attractions]]
[[Category:Tomorrowland (Disney Parks)]]
[[Category:Amusement rides introduced in 1967]]
[[Category:Amusement rides that closed in 1985]]
[[Category:Omnimover attractions]]
[[Category:Monsanto]]
[[Category:Amusement rides manufactured by Arrow Dynamics]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1985 disestablishments in California]]