Peter Pan’s Flight: A Storybook Delight
The debut of Disney’s Peter Pan in 1953 let audiences soar to new heights along with Peter, Wendy, and Tinkerbell, and this fantastical, animated escape into Neverland is just as enjoyable over fifty years later. Like its titular character, the story never grows old – and neither has its accompanying Disney World ride: Peter Pan’s Flight!
With a sprinkle of pixie dust, some faith, and trust, you can join Peter as he rides the wind above a beautiful London night – just watch out for Captain Hook!
Aim for the second star on the right…and away we go!!
A Storybook Story
Originally a play and a book by J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan was adapted by Disney just two years before Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California.
Walt had seen the stage play about forty years early, but the story had always stayed in the back of his mind, whispering to his imagination. In 1939, Walt acquired the rights to the story, but the time still wasn’t right to make it into a movie.
The Second World War was just beginning, and the Disney company used nearly all of their creative labor on behalf of the Allies during those fighting-filled years. But once there were no more military insignia to draw or military training videos to animate, the company returned to the realm of fairy tales – the one realm in which war doesn’t always exist.
With help from a legendary artist, Mary Blair (of “it’s a small world” fame), Peter Pan came to life on the silver screen. With the freedom animation provided, Peter – traditionally played by a woman on stage to achieve the effect of being a young boy – was now played by a real boy (Bobby Driscoll giving the character a voice), for the first time. Tinkerbell wasn’t just a light that bounced around the stage anymore; she was a full-fledged female sprite with a sparky personality. Nana the dog and the terrifying crocodile weren’t just props, they were real characters with real personalities, too.1
Although Walt’s brother, Roy, hadn’t been so enthusiastic about the Peter Pan project, Walt was extremely dedicated to the idea. Animation artist and producer, Joe Hale, remembered during a screening, “[Walt] was sitting over in a folding chair, and there was a kind of light, and I could see him in the light. He was lip-synching every word on screen…He knew every single word for every character. I couldn’t believe it.”2
Perhaps already sensing the timelessness of their animated endeavor, Disney decided a Peter Pan attraction was in order for Anaheim. It became a dark ride known as Peter Pan’s Flight and was part of Disneyland’s opening day debut.
Just over 15 years later, Peter Pan would take flight once again as part of Walt Disney World’s opening day, where he continues to soar through Never Land today.3
Peter Pan’s Flight: The Magic of Imagination
Unlike some of the Magic Kingdom‘s newer rides, Peter Pan’s Flight doesn’t contain daring loop-de-loops, mind-bending special effects, or even virtual reality. Instead, Peter Pan’s Flight is an homage to the good, old-fashioned Disney, where magic was made with forced perspective, blacklight, fiber optics, and sublime storytelling.
Just because this dark ride is “simpler” than some of its modern counterparts doesn’t mean it’s any less fun! In fact, you’ll often find yourself waiting in line for a while because it’s still so popular 50 years later!
What’s the secret? Well, things in Never Land never grow old – and Tink’s pixie dust is unbeatable.
At the start of the queue, you’re already transported into the story, meandering through the Darling children’s bedroom. Keep an eye out for Tinkerbell’s signature sparkle – with a keen eye, you might just catch her zooming around the bedposts and playthings!
Board a magical, flying pirate ship and sail right out of the bedroom window along with Peter, Wendy, John, Michael, and Tink! You’ll scud across the London rooftops, just narrowly avoiding scraping off the shingles, then break free into the night sky.
Below you, Tower Bridge and the Big Ben clocktower loom small. Lights twinkle distantly in windows and on street corners, and the sound of traffic drifts away in favor of the Peter Pan soundtrack. England falls away into Never Land, and you’re flying over colorful hills, trees, and waterfalls – all constructed in a beautiful storybook, Mary Blair-style. Look out for landmarks like the Lost Boys’ camp, Skull Rock, and Mermaid Lagoon!
But wait – you’re not the only ship out among the stars!
Watch out for Captain Hook and his cronies as they try to capture you, Peter, and the Darling children, and be sure to cheer for Peter as he clashes blades with his arch-nemesis!
Thankfully, with your encouragement and a little luck, Peter wins the day and takes the helm of Hook’s ship. Hook, on the other hand, (no joke intended) has fallen into the clutches of a very hungry crocodile… Eek!
With our protagonists safe and the story complete, it’s time for your ship to come to shore. It will dock back in Disney World, but you can always visit Never Land again if you wish!
Never Grow Up
If Peter Pan was the boy who never grew up, then surely Peter Pan’s Flight is Disney World’s Fountain of Youth.
While riding it won’t actually stop you from aging (bummer!), it will let you recapture a favorite piece of childhood. Peter Pan’s Flight is an interactive reminder of the power of youth – that is, of viewing the world with wonderment. And that’s one element of childhood that we don’t have to give up – shouldn’t give up! – no matter how old we are. It was a truth Walt knew well, lived out, and advocated in his art.
Perfectly suited for the whole family, Peter Pan’s Flight is not only a return to Never Land but also a return to classic Disney.
Do you still enjoy riding Peter Pan’s Flight? Sprinkle some pixie dust in the comments below!
Cover Image
Photo: HarshLight via Flickr
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