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

Behind the Trigger (2009)

Fort Langhorn is located on Tom Sawyer Island, situated within Frontierland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Dad sets up a shot (2009)

One of the fun aspects that still remain (surprisingly) are the air rifles that make sound effects when triggered.

It's Mom's turn! (2009)

One bank of guns gazes across the Rivers of America, setting up the perfect shot against Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

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

Jonas Graffiti (2009)

During a December 2009 trip to Walt Disney World, we spent some time on Tom Sawyer Island at the Magic Kingdom. It was there that I discovered this graffiti that made me laugh.

Two days prior, the Jonas Brothers had been in the park filming segments for Disney's Christmas Day TV special. Apparently, Alexa needed to know about it!

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

Twain from the Train (2005)

My very first visit to Disneyland was in January 2005. Of course, it rained pretty much all day. But it was pretty exciting to see historical "Disney things" for the first time. Things that had history that dated back to Walt's day. For example, the Mark Twain Riverboat, seen here as viewed from the Disneyland Railroad.

On one of my Walt Disney Treasures DVD sets, there's an episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color called "Disneyland After Dark", first aired in 1962. It features nighttime entertainment around Disneyland, including many guest stars. One segment featured Louis Armstrong performing on the Mark Twain. Very cool!

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

The Haunted Mansion from Tom Sawyer's Island (1985)

We return to the Magic Kingdom during our 1985 vacation.  Here, my Dad, sister, and I are sitting on some boxes on Tom Sawyer's Island, looking across to the Haunted Mansion.  Originally, the Mansion didn't have a covered awning, but the hot Florida sun quickly made that a necessity after WDW opened in 1971.  Over the years the awning has changed colors, from white to red to green.  Last year the queue was expanded to include an "interactive graveyard," which in the photo above, would be located on where those trees are on the left side.

And hey, how about those tall socks!

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

The Portal (2011)

This is the portal from the Caribbean Plaza area of Adventureland into Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom, transforming from an exotic locale into something a bit more Western rustic.

One thing I have always loved about Disney theme parks is the attention to detail and theme, and more importantly, how those transitions between themes take place. You can see a hint of both Adventureland and Frontierland style in this shot from January 2011.

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!