Tomorrowland

Soundscapes by Here With the Magic

Soundscapes: Tomorrowland Follow along with the show notes below!

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(0:00) The age-old question inevitably posed to any visitor to the Magic Kingdom is this: which way do you go first? Once you’ve stepped off Main Street U.S.A. and into the Cinderella Castle hub, there are several stories that circumvent the sparkling turrets and elegant courtyards that call to us with equal vigor and intrigue. Some hear the tinkling of a carousel and head straight toward the Castle, over the drawbridge and into Fantasyland. Others are enticed by the sound of tiki drums and a resounding “Yo Ho” from Adventureland. Still others enjoy stepping back in time, whether into America’s inaugural moments or the tumbleweed towns of the Wild West.

Then, there are those whose insatiable curiosity is not fed by scenes from the past, nor by wandering the medieval villages of fairytales brought to life. These are the ponderers, the ones who yearn for the future and what unknown wonders it might hold. As Walt Disney once put it, these are the people who “savor the challenge and promise of the future.” They resist the gravitational pull of the terrestrial, the time-worn traditions of the past. They look to Tomorrow, and it is there that they find inspiration and delight. Today, we are among them.

(3:15) There is a bridge on the eastern side of Cinderella Castle, complete with a silver archway and otherworldly rock formations jettisoning off on either side. The shining words emblazoned at its peak read “Tomorrowland,” and our curious minds awaken suddenly in excitement and utmost attentiveness.

A land of discovery and off-the-charts imagination, Tomorrowland is distinctly unlike every other corner of the Magic Kingdom. Our eyes are drawn upward and all around. Here, the sky is most certainly not the limit; we have an entire universe beyond to explore.

All along the walkway toward Rockettower Plaza, a streetcar in the sky glides by, smoothly and serenely escorting passengers to their various destinations across the galaxy. A friendly, robotic voice narrates a grand circle tour of Tomorrowland, pointing out popular attractions and must-sees on your visit to this futuristic destination.

(4:49) As we pass the Monster’s Incorporated Laugh Floor, the indomitable Roz drawls in apathetic tones that do not invite us to linger.

An otherworldly symphony of sounds provides the rhythm for our journey, intriguing and unlike anything we might hear around the rest of the park. Synthesized and unrecognizable as being produced by any Earthly instrument, we catch glimpses of familiar tunes, including the Sherman Brothers classic that inspired so much of this place: “There’s a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow.”

(6:37) Up ahead, Rockettower Plaza is a technicolor tower of unrelenting kinesis. Planets and moons of all sizes and hues orbit each other, while rockets circle below, round and round the hub of Tomorrowland - a perfect bird’s eye view of the action below. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority: PeopleMover sails along, around the edges of the plaza and off toward the spires of Space Mountain gleaming in the distance.

(8:30) Tall and formidable and undoubtedly the marquee attraction of Tomorrowland, Space Mountain is a thrill and a wonder for all. How else can you imagine to fly alongside swirling galaxies and among millions of stars, all within the span of several minutes? Those shining spires call to the daring, the curious, and those who simply feel as drawn as Walt Disney was space: America’s last frontier. Come, let’s see what lies in store in the great, galactic unknown.

(9:20) An enchanting Star Tunnel plays us a peaceful lullaby, pulling us into a trance as we make our way throughout the space station and toward the loading dock. Constellations float along in tandem with the music on either side, utterly mesmerizing and celestial. Let’s pause Here for a moment, among the Magic of the stars. Adventure awaits, but it can always spare a moment of stillness and serenity.

(11:38) Onward we go into the depths of Space Mountain. We can hear control tower happenings from our position at the launch, directing travelers all across the galaxy.

(14:10) Suddenly, we find ourselves at the helm of our very own rocket, secured and ready (or not) for our own flight across space and time and the grand enigma of the universe. 3-2-1, blastoff! We are one among the cosmos, soaring and winding our way past the Milky Way as it glimmers against the star-strewn blanket of atmosphere. Arrestingly beautiful and oddly serene, it is awe-inspiring to imagine what it must be like to leave the world and all we know behind in pursuit of interstellar discovery.

(15:34) A truly unforgettable thrill, Space Mountain leaves us both wind-blown and mind-blown upon our return to Earth. Then it’s back out into Tomorrowland and Rockettower Plaza in pursuit of our next adventure.

(17:25) Perhaps it’s time at last to climb aboard the PeopleMover for a spin around Tomorrowland. Day or night, these views of the Magic Kingdom cannot be beat, and a relaxing, languorous journey is the just what we need after heart-pounding, high test Space Mountain.

(19:37) A cool, evening breeze is a welcome relief as our chariot sweeps us away from Rockettower Plaza. Our first stop is a showcase of Progress City, Walt Disney’s original inspiration for what later became EPCOT Center. Though his vision for a utopian community was never fully realized, the ideals, themes, and design elements are present throughout Walt Disney World, especially Here in Tomorrowland.

(20:22) Gliding along, we watch young and ambitious future motorists taking their place behind the wheel for the first time in a tribute to the growing automotive industry of Walt’s day. The Tomorrowland Speedway may not contend with the speed and stimulation that thrill-seekers crave, but the littlest drivers can’t get enough.

(21:20) And just like that, we’re whooshed back to the rocket launch of Space Mountain, watching the rockets on their ascent to take off as we coast toward outer space. From the control tower, we hear that classic last-minute passenger being located. “Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow…Please contract Mr. Johnson in the control tower to confirm your flight to the moon.”

Hoping Mr. Tom Morrow makes it before the day is through, we circle past shooting stars and rockets hurtling toward their lunar destinations. Then, it’s back into the fading light of Tomorrowland, the spires of Space Mountain glinting in the setting sun.

(24:32) Soon, we hear that jaunty Sherman Brothers tune rise up from the theater below, daring us not to sing along as we pass. The Magic Kingdom iteration of Walt Disney’s exhibition at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, the Carousel of Progress is not only a beacon of the ideals that governed Walt throughout his life and career, but of the ones that still hold true at Disney parks all across the world today. Though nearly six decades have passed since its debut, the Carousel of Progress remains a whimsical, timeless reminder of what can happen when we let our dreams take flight on the wings of Progress and innovation.

(25:38) Leaving the notions of America’s golden age of industry behind, we speed off toward an epic space mission, accompanied by the one and only Buzz Lightyear. Space ranger and galactic hero, Buzz has enlisted us to aid him in his quest to save the galaxy. Aliens and extraterrestrial volcanoes below promise a spectacular adventure.

27:30) With one final glimpse of the Kingdom beyond, our guided tour of Tomorrowland comes gently to its end. We’re back on our own to feet, which may come as a relief after all of the excitement of soaring through the cosmos. Every sharp line and towering obelisk looks significantly larger from this vantage point, and suddenly we gain some perspective on our position in the vastness of the universe beyond.

(29:30) A final destination calls to us today, before our journey through Tomorrowland can fully be considered complete. As night falls and neon lights burst into fluorescent life, music spilling out from a galactic hotspot invites us in for a spell. Offering casual indulgences and plenty of seating, Cosmic Ray’s is a great place to kick back and enjoy the ambience of an alien night club.

(30:45) Our host, the famous and celebrated Sonny Eclipse, takes his place at the piano for a rousing number he affectionately calls the “Planetary Boogie.” An obviously popular favorite amongst the regulars, this snappy, swinging number has even the humans tapping their feet and nodding along between sips of soda and bites of shoestring fries. Get up and dance, why don’t you? Don’t worry for a moment about embarrassing yourself - you’ll never see any of these aliens again, anyway.

(32:14) Appetites satisfied and sillies all shook out, we make our way back into the blanket of nighttime. Stranger Things have happened than to find ourselves among otherworldly creatures and stories in the course of a day at the Magic Kingdom, but we can’t wait to do it again. We’d be remiss if we didn’t allow these moments to enrapture us, call out our childlike wonder and fill us with lasting joy. This place is nothing if not memorable, whimsical, wonderful, inspiring. That is the promise of Tomorrowland: that we who seek to be a part of building the future must employ our imaginations as much as anything else. That the future is a promise built on what becomes of today, and Tomorrow is just a dream away.