Alice in Wonderland is a whimsical ride through scenes from the 1951 animated Disney classic Alice in Wonderland. Join Alice on a journey down an enchanted rabbit hole and into the topsy-turvy realm of Wonderland. Hop aboard your 4-person caterpillar and follow the White Rabbit to an off-the-wall kingdom. Wind through Wonderland surrounded by surreal sights, brilliant colors and madcap music.
Among the zany inhabitants, you'll meet the Mad Hatter, stout twins Tweedledee and Tweedledum, enigmatic Caterpillar and the garden of singing flowers featuring a Rocking-Horsefly, Tiger Lilly, Dandy-Lion and Bread-and-Butterfly. Down and down you go, until you encounter the Queen of Hearts. Vexed by a game of croquet, she proclaims, "Off with their heads!" The Queen's bumbling army of playing cards blocks your way. Can you escape in time for Alice's unbirthday party?
Alice in Wonderland is a dark ride in Fantasyland at Disneyland park. Based on the animated Disney adaptation of the same name, the attraction resides next to a second ride, the Mad Tea Party, based on a scene in that same adaptation. The presence of two rides based on the film is unusual in that Walt Disney said he regretted making it because it lacked a connection to the audience's hearts.
The ride follows the path of the movie, as the riders (as Alice) follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole into Wonderland. They spin through scenes in a madcap fashion, dodging absurd creatures in the Tulgey Wood with some questionable guidance from the Cheshire Cat. When the Queen of Hearts loses to Alice at croquet, she threatens to chop off the innocent girl's head as she (and the ride vehicles) push their way through brigades of playing cards. The vehicles then leave the ride building's second floor (a rare occurrence in a non-thrill ride at a Disney park) and descends by people waiting in line on a winding giant vine, before heading to the climactic scene at the Mad Tea Party. The White Rabbit quivers as a giant unbirthday cake with a dynamite candle on top of it explodes and the ride vehicles escape back to where they began.
Ride Summary
Guests board a magic Caterpillar and go down the rabbit hole, where the Doorknob swings his door open for the riders to pass through, entering Wonderland, encountering the Tweedles and seeing the White Rabbit bouncing up and down outside his house complaining about how late he is.
Next, the guests travel through the singing flower garden. The Flowers sing "Golden Afternoon" while smoke appears on a black screen above the Caterpillar saying "Who are you?". Once finishing the climb to the ride's second floor, a Dandelion pops up, roaring.
The guests then enter the Tulgey Wood, encountering the Cheshire Cat, an accordion-necked owl, an eyeglasses bird, an adult honking horn duck with its ducklings, an umbrella vulture, a birdcage bird, a pencil bird who writes the words "Which Way" on a sign and a pair of hammer birds nailing up a sign that reads "Watch Out".
From there, the guests enter the Queen of Hearts' garden and passing some singing and marching card soldiers as the White Rabbit announces the Queen. She plays croquet, using a flamingo as a club and a hedgehog as a ball. The King of Hearts, standing behind the Queen, says "Rule 42: The Queen should always win" as the guests go through a dark tunnel, where a hedgehog appears on the screen, then crashes and rolls back. The guests then enter the courtroom where the guests see an angry executioner card brandishing an axe and the Queen shouting "Off with their heads!". Various cards yell as the guests push through them, emerging back out into daylight and beginning a trip back down to the ground level on a long green vine.
The ride culminates at the Unbirthday Party, where the Mad Hatter and the March Hare sing "A Very Merry Unbirthday to You". The White Rabbit stands next to a giant unbirthday cake with a dynamite candle on top of it, shaking nervously. The cake explodes as the guests exit the scene and arrive at the unlod area to exit the caterpillar.
The ride was temporarily closed on July 15, 2010 after California's Department of Occupational Safety and Health pointed out that it needed handrails on the second floor outdoor portion of the ride. The ride re-opened with the new safety rails on August 13, 2010.
Touring Tips
- One of the tamer attractions in Fantasyland. Although it is set in the dark, it doesn't contain scary images like the other dark rides in Fantasyland. The Queen of Hearts does make an appearance, but not in an upsetting way. Younger children usually find this ride quite enjoyable.
- Part of the track takes you outside. Because of this Alice in Wonderland does not operate in the rain, so be aware of this if your trip forecast calls for showers.
- Located near Matterhorn Bobsleds, this is the perfect ride to take small children on while the other half of your party rides the Matterhorn.
Facts
- Opened on June 14, 1958.
- Voice Credits: Alice - Kathryn Beaumont, The White Rabbit/Cards- Corey Burton, Ace of Clubs - Thurl Ravenscroft, Cheshire Cat/King of Hearts- Tony Pope
- Alice herself is only seen in the singing flower garden, hidden behind a leaf to the visitors' right.
History
In 1983, the ride was updated as part of an overall refurbishment of Fantasyland, as the Upside-Down and Oversized Rooms were eliminated and the Mad Hatter's unbirthday scene was moved to the very end of the ride. A new narration track by Kathryn Beaumont, the original voice of Alice, was recorded. To create more unified theming in Fantasyland, the Mad Tea Party attraction was relocated at the rear of Fantasyland to a spot adjacent to the Alice in Wonderland ride that same year. The Alice in Wonderland, however, did not reopen until 1984, one year after the rest of the new Fantasyland opened.
The ride was temporarily closed on July 15, 2010 after California's Department of Occupational Safety and Health pointed out that it needed handrails on the second floor outdoor portion of the ride. The ride re-opened with the new safety rails on August 13, 2010.
Hidden Mickeys
- The splattered paint left from painting the roses red, creates a Classic Hidden Mickey.