When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true. See how one little boy made of wood fulfilled his dream of becoming a real boy. The 3-minute ride recreates magical moments from Disney's second, and many believe best, animated feature, Pinocchio.
Board an enchanted 4-person woodcarvers cart and embark on a journey that retells the tale of Pinocchio's moral misadventures, aided by his appointed conscience, Jiminy Cricket. Pinocchio was carved from wood by the goodhearted toymaker Geppetto and enchanted by the kindly Blue Fairy. Come along on his adventure as he tries to prove himself brave, honest and unselfish. If he can, he'll become a real boy!
Located in Fantasyland, this ride is based on Disney's animated film version of the classic story, which was the studio's second animated feature film. Stromboli's marionette show is also featured in the attraction, in which guests are inside a giant cage. The version in Disneyland was the first attraction created by Disney to use holographic material, which appears on hand held mirror, in the scene where the boys turn into donkeys on Pleasure Island. The Pepper's Ghost illusion (used extensively in the Haunted Mansion) is used when the Blue Fairy disappears, leaving a pile of fiber-optic fairy dust on the floor.
Ride Experience
Guests board a wooden car and enter Stromboli's Marionette show. Pinocchio starts to dance and sing with the duo of puppets until the car goes into the backstage area. Stromboli has put Pinocchio in a cage and Jiminy Cricket yells, "Watch out!". Then, the car goes through Pleasure Island and past all the amusements. The guests then see Lampwick turning into a donkey, before the car passes the Coachman cracking his whip and caging the children who have become donkeys. The car follows the sign reading "To the Sea" and seagulls appear as Monstro pops up. The guests then see the star while an instrumental version of "When You Wish Upon a Star" is heard. Finally, Pinocchio turns into a real boy and the objects become alive in Geppetto's Workshop. Then guests exit the wooden car and leave.
Touring Tips
- Pinocchio's Daring Journey is located in Fantasyland next to Snow White's Scary Adventures. The queue enters the building and winds around a bit before reaching the loading area. Each car has two rows and seats up to 4 people.
- This is a "dark" ride where the car enters the attraction and travels through rooms representing a variety of scenes from the movie. These include Stromboli's marionette show, Pleasure Island, and Monstro the whale.
- Pinocchio's Daring Journey doesn't seem to be quite as popular as some of the other Fantasyland attractions, so its line is usually a little shorter. The line is shortest early in the day. Except on the busiest days, lines will not be longer than 20-30 minutes.
- Some scenes are quite dark, and the appearance of being caged or eaten by a whale may be scary for some children.
- Some of the characters from Pinocchio make appearances at the character greeting area located on the raised terrace area along Small World Way.
Facts
- Told on a grand scale, the story is brought to life with the help of 32 animated characters, 29 inventive animated props and countless special effects.
- Pinocchio's Daring Journey is a dark ride at the Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Park (Paris) theme parks.
- Pinocchio's Daring Journey was added during the "New Fantasyland" project, and opened in May 1983. The building originally housed the Fantasyland Theater.
- The ride vehicles have "carvings" of different characters on the side - Cleo, Figaro, and Jiminy Cricket.
- Pinocchio's Daring Journey was the first Disneyland attraction to have first appeared at Tokyo Disneyland. The ride had long been on the drawing board for Disneyland but schedules worked out such that it actually opened in Japan about a month earlier than in Disneyland.
History
This ride's history actually begins in 1976, when it was decided to remove the old Fantasyland Theater in Disneyland and shoehorn the ride into it. It was originally intended for the guests to ride in cars designed to resemble Geppetto's wood-carved toys. However, it was all put in storage for a while before being revived for the opening of Tokyo Disneyland in 1983. It then came to Disneyland a month and a half later as part of the complete overhaul of Fantasyland. Just as originally planned, the one in Disneyland is where the Fantasyland Theater originally stood, with a weathervane that looks like Monstro the Whale.
When the park opened, this location was home to the Mickey Mouse Club Theater, where Disney cartoons were shown, with the presented cartoons changing every once in a while. Also shown periodically in the theater, beginning in June 1956 was 3D Jamboree, a 3D movie featuring the Mouseketeers, the film stopped showing in 1964. Also in 1964 the theater's name was changed to Fantasyland theater but filled much the same role (it was only open during peak periods) until it closed in December 1981 for the Fantasyland redesign.
The ride remains much the same as when it opened in 1984.
Hidden Mickeys
- A Classic Mickey is hidden atop the wooden display case, which is found near the end of the ride.