Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Splash Mountain On-Ride Photo (2007)

Without a doubt, my favorite ride in the Magic Kingdom is Splash Mountain. The attraction originally opened at Disneyland in 1989, using a single-file seating arrangement. The larger-capacity, side-by-side logs were used when Walt Disney World's version debuted in 1992.

I love the idea that this attraction is based on a movie that Disney refuses to re-release to the public (1946's Song of the South). I love the large use of animatronic figures to tell a story. I love the music that sets the tone for the adventures of Brer Rabbit. And for some reason, I'm terrified of that large drop at the end… but always want to go ride it again!

Today's image is a screencapture of the on-ride photo taken during that final drop. Shot during a September 2007 trip, it features my sister Karen and my Dad in the front row, my Mom hiding under a white hat in the second row, and Amy & I in the third row.

Historically, there have been no restraints on the ride. You just got in the boat and hung on. However, in January during a rehab, lap bar restraints were added to the logs, apparently to keep folks from trying to get out of them mid-ride. Thanks for ruining the fun, idiots who can't stay on the ride!

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Amy & Greg are horsing around! (1979)

We're back in 1979 to check up on 3½-year-old Amy riding Cinderella's Golden Carrousel with her brother Greg in Fantasyland. You may recall that Amy has issues with her brother in theme parks, thus it's probably a good idea that these two are somewhat separated for this photo.

In the background you can see Snow White's Adventures, which opened with the Magic Kingdom in 1971, renamed to "Snow White's Scary Adventures" in 1994, and slated to close soon thanks to the Fantasyland Expansion project. In its place? A meet-and-greet area called "Princess Fairytale Hall". Gag.

Incidentally, the carousel that Amy & Greg are riding was also recently renamed to Prince Charming Regal Carrousel; apparently boys will feel more welcome to ride it now, even though nothing else has actually changed.

Sometimes, you just have to question those marketing bozos at Disney.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Reflective mirrors at Universe of Energy (2009)

Today's photo reminds me of everyone who attempts to take goofy photos of themselves while visiting "The Bean" down at Chicago's Millennium Park. But actually this is the exterior of the Universe of Energy pavilion in Epcot's Future World. Here you can see our extended family during a December 2009 trip. I'm in the top row (with my tongue sticking out). The second row features Amy, my Mom, my brother-in-law Brian, my sister Karen (who took this picture), and my Dad.

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Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Steve on the Speedway! (2009)

Hey, it's me! My sister took this photo from another car on the Tomorrowland Speedway during a trip to Walt Disney World in December 2009. You'll note that I'm also holding a camera. Shocking, I know.

The Speedway is located in the Magic Kingdom and opened with the park in 1971 as the Grand Prix Raceway. It was then shortened in 1987 to fit in Mickey's Birthdayland, while also being renamed the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. A partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway helped facilitate the "Indy" branding. That agreement ended in 2008 and the track changed names again, this time to just Tomorrowland Speedway. The track was modified again in early 2011 to accommodate the Fantasyland Expansion.

It's a historic ride that has a weak theme to "tomorrow" and really long lines, but it's something you just gotta do when you visit!

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Virgin Spaceship Earth (1985)

EPCOT Center opened in 1982, and its icon Spaceship Earth anchored a minimalist environment when compared to a park like the Magic Kingdom. Today's photo was shot in 1985, just 3 years after the park opened, and you can see the wide open spaces, trees that still were growing, and lots of white or light colors used in architecture. You can also gaze upon my Mom, Dad, and sister Karen standing patiently while I snapped a photo with a Kodak Instamatic 126 film camera.

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Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Amy gets First Aid (2007)

During a trip to Walt Disney World in September 2007, we camped at Fort Wilderness. Often we would take the boat from the Magic Kingdom to the Fort Wilderness Marina. One night as Amy was stepping from the enclosed cabin onto the open front part of the boat, she tripped over the raised doorway… and fell on her face.

While it was dramatic, the only real damage was a lot of blood and scratches on her right leg. We patched her up that night, but the next day stopped off at the First Aid station at the Disney-MGM Studios to get some additional medical attention. They took a look at it and gave us a bunch of new bandages. Her leg was a bit sore, but she made it through the rest of the trip fine!

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Is this your Laughing Place? (2009)

This picturesque desert setting is actually situated near Splash Mountain, in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. I shot this during a family trip in December 2009.

There was just something about this scene that was peaceful and relaxed, which is great contrast to the typical frenzied pace found at a Disney theme park.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Pepto Castle (1996)

Did you know that Walt Disney World is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year? Probably not, because Disney has pretty much given up on park-specific commemorations in favor of soulless global marketing initiatives like "Let the Memories Begin." The Magic Kingdom and a few surrounding hotels opened in 1971.

Jump back to 1996, when the resort was celebrating its 25th anniversary. Back then the campaign was officially known as "Remember the Magic," but fans know it as "The Year of the Pink Castle" — one of the biggest marketing blunders this side of Reedy Creek. During the event, Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom was literally painted pink. Brightly-colored inflatable decorations were then added to make the whole structure look like a large birthday cake.

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Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Please don't call this a "big, silver golf ball"!

"Since the dawn of recorded time, communication has revolutionized our lives and changed our world.  We now have the ability and the responsibility to build new bridges of acceptance and co-operation between us; to create a better world for ourselves and our children as we continue our amazing journey aboard Spaceship Earth."

The iconic symbol of EPCOT Center, er, Epcot, is Spaceship Earth, an 18-story geodesic sphere that opened with the park in 1982. I took today's photo during a trip in 2009. Thankfully, it wasn't ruined by a stupid Mickey wand.

It houses a ride originally sponsored by the Bell System (1982-1984) and focused on communications.  This theme was continued when AT&T (1984-2004) picked up the sponsorship after the breakup of the Bell System.  In 2007, the storyline was changed to reflect general technology, thanks to sponsor Siemens AG (2005-present).

Epcot has changed a lot over the years, mostly for the worse, but Spaceship Earth remains an element that still reflects the World's Fair feeling of awe found in the original EPCOT Center.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Mom, Amy, & Karen startled in Injun Joe's Cave (2009)

Tom Sawyer Island is one of the fun areas to explore at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.  It's still a themed space that hasn't been completely corrupted by modern Disney branding and love of all things princesses, pirates, Pooh, & pins.  Disneyland's version, on the other hand, got a Pirates of the Caribbean redo a couple years ago, with mixed results.  And while some unique elements of WDW's Island aren't in place anymore, such as the eatery Aunt Polly's Dockside Inn, it's still an adventure for any age.

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