Stitch's Great Arrival

Earlier on the blog, we explored the construction sites of some of our favorite Disney Parks attractions. Often just as interesting are the construction walls, used to hide the work being done and tease the upcoming additions to the park.

In 2004, the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter closed at the Magic Kingdom, to make way for Stitch's Great Escape. Anyone visiting Tomorrowland during that time was treated to an intriguing blue wall covered in a star field. Newspaper clippings posted on the wall offered clues to the story being prepped inside.

I especially enjoy the details, especially the newspaper mastheads. There's the Galactic Gazette, Tri-Planet Tribune and Planet Turo Times (Turo is the home planet of Jumba, Pleakley and Co. from the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch). It's difficult to see in this picture, but even things like the date of publication and organizational slogans helped reinforce the story.

On November 16, 2004, the walls came down, and new recruits were invited for the first time into Tomorrowland's Prisoner Teleportation Center to contend with the arrival of a Level 3 captive. To anyone else there that day, it was clear things had not gone according to plan. Someone... or some thing... had TP'ed and spray-painted the castle.

Displaying some of the same irreverence used in marketing the Lilo & Stitch film, Stitch's arrival in the Magic Kingdom was heralded in a uniquely "626" way. Of course, the Fairy Godmother had Cinderella's Castle back to normal by the next morning, but Stitch could still be found weeks later, hitching rides on the Walt Disney World monorail.

Traders from the Stars

Among the top importers/exporters of goods from across the galaxy is Mickey's Star Traders, located right here in Tomorrowland. With product constantly coming and going by every means of transport, the ground crew at Mickey's Star Traders is always happy to "rocket ship" your purchases to anywhere in the universe.

The design of Mickey's Star Traders adds a classic Disney touch to Tomorrowland, but still maintains the Machine Age influence seen throughout the land. From the metal and rivets of the marquee to the period comic book style of the graphics in the shop, Mickey's Star Traders has a very unique look about it. You'll notice that even the images of Mickey Mouse himself are the "pie-eyed" variety, as he was depicted in the 1930s.

Images of Mickey and the iconic three circles are woven into the design of the entire shop. Look closely at the murals on the walls, and you'll even see Mickey in the shape of a building or the headlamp and intakes of a high-speed train:

But Mickey isn't alone here. Mickey's Star Traders also happens to be a secondary exit point for Stitch's Great Escape (The attraction actually includes two audience chambers. One exits here; the other into Merchant of Venus). In the mural above the back wall, 626 can be seen screaming by on his way out of the city:

And just across the way, that's Jumba and Pleakley's ship in hot pursuit:

Dealing with the Riff-Raff

The occasional dust-up in Tomorrowland is handled by the Rangers from Star Command. Once captured, though, the prisoners are swiftly processed and beamed out of town so as to avoid the presence of any "undesirables" in this fair city. That task falls to the nearby Galactic Federation Prisoner Teleport Center (aka Stitch's Great Escape).

The Galactic Federation is looking for new guards to staff the Teleport Center, but before heading inside, take a glance up at the roof. The building is topped with a huge pulsating beam, ready to blast the particles of prisoners off to a distant penal planet. The beam structure is actually a prop carried over from the building's previous occupant, The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. Teleportation also figured into the story line of that show. In fact, close observers will even find that teleportation equipment from X-S Tech, the organization featured in Alien Encounter, is still in use inside the attraction (2nd photo below).

Once inside, we are welcomed by the Grand Councilwoman and introduced to Captain Gantu, the leader of the security team that helps take care of the more "naughty" members of society. Just around the bend, Officer C4703PK2704/90210 fills us in on the process through which prisoners at the Center are classified and teleported out. 90210's demonstration involves Skippy (another Alien Encounter holdover) and an incoming Level 1 prisoner caught sticky-handed in a donut shop.

Suddenly, the word comes down from Captain Gantu that a high-priority Level 3 prisoner is coming in to the facility. It's going to be all hands on deck!

We head into the teleport chamber, and soon Stitch is right in front of us, held captive by the most sophisticated prisoner containment technology available. From there, though, things don't go quite as planned. (For those who claim calling himself Stitch is a major plot hole in this prequel adventure, I would argue that Lilo did not actually give him the name in the film. She meets him at the pound, and he speaks to her. We hear him say, "Hi," and the scene cuts to Nani in the lobby. When Lilo emerges with her new pet she states, "His name is Stitch," as if he had told her himself. Now, as to how anyone would have gotten a chili dog in past the attraction greeters, well...)

For the benefit of those who haven't yet seen it, I won't spoil much of the action of the show here. Suffice to say, though, Stitch escapes. (I wouldn't consider that a spoiler, since it's actually the title of the attraction.) So much for the Prisoner Teleport Center's perfect record. On our way out, the tally counter on the wall rapidly resets to zero.

Before heading back into Tomorrowland, we discover alien footprints across the ceiling, giving away the path Stitch took on his way out and the fact that he may not have gotten all that far after all...

This is Merchant of Venus (although some Guests may also exit the attraction via Mickey's Star Traders). Tapping into the teleportation system on the roof, Merchant of Venus beams quality goods from worlds beyond down to Tomorrowland. Throughout the shop, blue cables coil down from the ceiling to collection orbs atop the fixtures (above), and exciting new merchandise materializes in the mini teleport chambers around the room (below).

Turn to leave Merchant of Venus, and you'll see an incredible "view" out the front windows toward Rockettower Plaza. It looks like the whole city is teeming with aliens and "experiments" from the world of Stitch. They're all having a great time in Tomorrowland, and one is even wearing Mouse Ears!

Community Services

While visiting downtown Tomorrowland, you can catch up on the latest happenings by stepping up to the Robo-Newz vendor. This friendly newsboy bot (love the cap sitting sideways on his head) will often greet you personally and print for you the latest edition of the daily paper "while-u-wait."

Apparently, you even have a choice of publication: The Tomorrowland Times, seen in process inside the robot, or the Galaxy Gazette, announcing the latest news that the alien known as Stitch has just escaped captivity. (In reality, Tomorrowland Times was the original paper displayed here, with an article about the X-S Tech teleportation demo. When Stitch's Great Escape replaced Alien Encounter in 2004, the newspaper displayed in the main case was updated, but the one only slightly visible through the center window was left behind as a bit of Hidden Disney.

The city of Tomorrowland didn't become so worlds-renowned for nothing. The citizens here take their position as one of the top spaceports in the galaxy very seriously. There are standards for everything, and everything must be the very best... even down to the popcorn served from a street vendor. Notice that this popcorn cart is wired to receive the freshest corn, teleported here from regions around world and beyond the stars. Of course, you never have to worry about the safety of teleported popping corn. All transmissions are fully regulated by the Tomorrowland Popcorn Authority!

With so many interstellar travelers passing through Tomorrowland, some are bound to need directions. That's where this map of the universe comes in handy.

The star marks that "You Are Here" in Rockettower Plaza:

And what's this? Historic Route 66 always ran from Chicago to L.A., but there must have been an extension built at some point in time. Looks like the nearest exit isn't far from here... and there's a gas station. Better fill up the rocket ship before we continue exploring!

More Than Meets the Eye

Storytelling details exist throughout the Disney Parks, enhancing everything from the attractions to the food carts. Some of the most fun details, though, are those which add to the overall story fabric of the land but don't relate to anything actually in the park. It's these elements which help give the story of an area history, richness and depth. They make a place feel lived in or at least feel larger than what we see.

Great examples can be found all around Tomorrowland in posters and ads like those pictured here. They advertise the Tomorrowland Towers Hover-Hotel, promote concerts from Leonard Burnedstar, and highlight upcoming special events at the Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center.

At one time, the Convention Center could actually be found in Tomorrowland. It was home to the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (now Stitch's Great Escape). Guests visiting the Convention Center were treated to a preview of the latest teleportation technology from X-S Tech, and these posters let us know that other things could be anticipated in the future.

Alien Encounter may be no more, but we can still imagine that the Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center exists somewhere in the city... beyond the physical realm of the Magic Kingdom