parkeology.bsky.social
@parkeology.bsky.social
Disney park history, especially the obscure, weird and forgotten stuff. We also created the original #WDW ride every ride in 1 day challenge.
Guests used to flock to an unimaginably vast arcade at the Contemporary Resort, the famous Fiesta Fun Center! It had video games but also a shooting arcade, movie theater, and even artists drawing caricatures! These were park staples back then. Too bad almost no one saved theirs!
September 16, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Guests used to flock to an unimaginably vast arcade at the Contemporary Resort, the famous Fiesta Fun Center! It had video games but also a shooting arcade, movie theater, and even artists drawing caricatures! These were park staples back then. Too bad almost no one saved theirs!
Aquatopia at Tokyo DisneySea has officially closed forever. Did you ever get to ride it? We know it’s thousands of miles away, but we will kind of miss it. Still, that area is the weakest part of the park, and a big attraction should be a great upgrade. Now tell us what’s coming!
September 15, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Aquatopia at Tokyo DisneySea has officially closed forever. Did you ever get to ride it? We know it’s thousands of miles away, but we will kind of miss it. Still, that area is the weakest part of the park, and a big attraction should be a great upgrade. Now tell us what’s coming!
The newest version of Space Mountain is inching closer. Have you seen the nighttime lighting effects they’ve been testing? Pretty dramatic, and we bet that they remain working long-term!
September 14, 2026 at 7:53 PM
The newest version of Space Mountain is inching closer. Have you seen the nighttime lighting effects they’ve been testing? Pretty dramatic, and we bet that they remain working long-term!
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner was a showman; just look at him riding the Nautilus while introducing 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea! But keep watching, the third guy on the back is half of Parkeology! Disney was a very different place back then!
September 13, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner was a showman; just look at him riding the Nautilus while introducing 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea! But keep watching, the third guy on the back is half of Parkeology! Disney was a very different place back then!
You’ve likely seen Animal Kingdom’s African “hidden” Mickey; he’s not really hidden at all. But have you ever seen his actually hidden Donald counterpart? Same style, same building, yet virtually no one knows he’s there! The first hidden Donald?
September 12, 2026 at 7:50 PM
You’ve likely seen Animal Kingdom’s African “hidden” Mickey; he’s not really hidden at all. But have you ever seen his actually hidden Donald counterpart? Same style, same building, yet virtually no one knows he’s there! The first hidden Donald?
Villains Land is coming, and with it an incredible new boat ride! Or is Disney just being a bit sneaky? The art and description make it seem like a boat, but we are betting it uses the same ride system as Tokyo DisneySea’s Peter Pan ride. The vehicles look exactly the same.
September 11, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Villains Land is coming, and with it an incredible new boat ride! Or is Disney just being a bit sneaky? The art and description make it seem like a boat, but we are betting it uses the same ride system as Tokyo DisneySea’s Peter Pan ride. The vehicles look exactly the same.
You may remember when Disney Hollywood Studios was a working studio, but do you remember when Star Tours was a movie set? Guests used to enter "Stage 12", walk past directors’ chairs and lights, and onto a "Hot Set”. It’s a small detail lost on most but cherished by a few.
September 10, 2026 at 7:59 PM
You may remember when Disney Hollywood Studios was a working studio, but do you remember when Star Tours was a movie set? Guests used to enter "Stage 12", walk past directors’ chairs and lights, and onto a "Hot Set”. It’s a small detail lost on most but cherished by a few.
Joe Rohde’s new book has been eagerly anticipated by many Disney fans. We got our copy yesterday. Has anyone read it yet, or are you planning to? Let us know your thoughts. Is there a chapter devoted to earlobe augmentation?
September 9, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Joe Rohde’s new book has been eagerly anticipated by many Disney fans. We got our copy yesterday. Has anyone read it yet, or are you planning to? Let us know your thoughts. Is there a chapter devoted to earlobe augmentation?
It’s hard for modern fans to understand, but when Walt Disney World opened, many guests spent as much time or more away from the park (there was only one back then) as they did in it. Boating, golf, tennis, horseback riding, and more. Just look at how crowded the beach is!
September 8, 2026 at 7:54 PM
It’s hard for modern fans to understand, but when Walt Disney World opened, many guests spent as much time or more away from the park (there was only one back then) as they did in it. Boating, golf, tennis, horseback riding, and more. Just look at how crowded the beach is!
VillainsLand is coming, and yet Tokyo Disneyland already had a magnificent villains-themed attraction. The Castle Mystery Tour closed twenty years ago. As with many things, Japan did it first, but did it do it better?
September 7, 2026 at 7:54 PM
VillainsLand is coming, and yet Tokyo Disneyland already had a magnificent villains-themed attraction. The Castle Mystery Tour closed twenty years ago. As with many things, Japan did it first, but did it do it better?
It’s the type of thing that you’ll tell your grandkids one day:
“In my time, Disney GAVE ya the Magic Bands, and they even shipped them to ya for free!”
Can you believe it’s been half a decade since that ended?
“Now sit down, son, and I’ll tell ya about the free airport bus!”
“In my time, Disney GAVE ya the Magic Bands, and they even shipped them to ya for free!”
Can you believe it’s been half a decade since that ended?
“Now sit down, son, and I’ll tell ya about the free airport bus!”
September 6, 2026 at 2:34 PM
It’s the type of thing that you’ll tell your grandkids one day:
“In my time, Disney GAVE ya the Magic Bands, and they even shipped them to ya for free!”
Can you believe it’s been half a decade since that ended?
“Now sit down, son, and I’ll tell ya about the free airport bus!”
“In my time, Disney GAVE ya the Magic Bands, and they even shipped them to ya for free!”
Can you believe it’s been half a decade since that ended?
“Now sit down, son, and I’ll tell ya about the free airport bus!”
Small-scale, charming pockets of old-school Disney still exist tucked in corners of the parks. You need to look for them; most guests willingly skip them. But how about you? Is there still room for this?
September 5, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Small-scale, charming pockets of old-school Disney still exist tucked in corners of the parks. You need to look for them; most guests willingly skip them. But how about you? Is there still room for this?
Disney says it’s (eventually) fixing the Yeti. We’ll see. Maybe they can fix the infamous bird as well. Have you ever spotted the bright red fire alarm (or something) stuck to the side of the mountain up there, or are you too busy randomly throwing hair ties to notice?
September 4, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Disney says it’s (eventually) fixing the Yeti. We’ll see. Maybe they can fix the infamous bird as well. Have you ever spotted the bright red fire alarm (or something) stuck to the side of the mountain up there, or are you too busy randomly throwing hair ties to notice?
Mickey surfing on a whale’s spout! Now there is something you don’t see every day. But the question really is: have you EVER seen it?
September 3, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Mickey surfing on a whale’s spout! Now there is something you don’t see every day. But the question really is: have you EVER seen it?
The canoes in Tokyo Disneyland may have a different name, Beaver Brothers’ Explorer Canoes, but just like ours in Disneyland, there’s always a guest, or 8, who refuse to paddle! Come one! Have you ever been THAT person? Be honest.
September 2, 2026 at 8:10 PM
The canoes in Tokyo Disneyland may have a different name, Beaver Brothers’ Explorer Canoes, but just like ours in Disneyland, there’s always a guest, or 8, who refuse to paddle! Come one! Have you ever been THAT person? Be honest.
Modern Disney is all about maximization, be it profit, space, or general efficiency. So how, in the age of AI, has this survived? There’s no intellectual property, no one talks about it, and it just can’t make much money. It’s a throwback to a bygone era that few remember.
September 1, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Modern Disney is all about maximization, be it profit, space, or general efficiency. So how, in the age of AI, has this survived? There’s no intellectual property, no one talks about it, and it just can’t make much money. It’s a throwback to a bygone era that few remember.
If Disney can have Halloween in August (which is crazy), then we can post about Christmas! Our old-school monorail from the 90s is still running well. No characters, nothing cutesy, just a perfect replica with an admonishment not to smoke. Does anyone else run one under the tree?
August 31, 2026 at 7:55 PM
If Disney can have Halloween in August (which is crazy), then we can post about Christmas! Our old-school monorail from the 90s is still running well. No characters, nothing cutesy, just a perfect replica with an admonishment not to smoke. Does anyone else run one under the tree?
You likely understand this sign’s pun, but can you guess where it’s located? We love when Disney drops inside jokes, but due to this one’s location, we bet few guests understand it.
August 30, 2026 at 2:50 PM
You likely understand this sign’s pun, but can you guess where it’s located? We love when Disney drops inside jokes, but due to this one’s location, we bet few guests understand it.
Before streaming, quality Disney content (other than movies) was surprisingly rare. Enter: Walt Disney Treasures! These suckers were two-disc sets in tin boxes complete with Leonard Maltin introductions and packed with rare bonus features. Why not include them on Disney+ today?
August 29, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Before streaming, quality Disney content (other than movies) was surprisingly rare. Enter: Walt Disney Treasures! These suckers were two-disc sets in tin boxes complete with Leonard Maltin introductions and packed with rare bonus features. Why not include them on Disney+ today?
Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion used to feature ghoulish portraits with eyes that followed the DoomBuggies. In 2007, Disney replaced them with the changing portraits guests walk past in Disneyland. Was having a unique version on each coast better? Which style do you prefer?
August 28, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion used to feature ghoulish portraits with eyes that followed the DoomBuggies. In 2007, Disney replaced them with the changing portraits guests walk past in Disneyland. Was having a unique version on each coast better? Which style do you prefer?
With Joe Rohde’s book just around the corner, we are curious about his time after WDI. He joined Virgin Galactic as the “Experience Architect”. We looked forward to seeing what he would do there, but it’s five years later, and we’ve heard nothing. Is Joe still there?
August 27, 2026 at 7:57 PM
With Joe Rohde’s book just around the corner, we are curious about his time after WDI. He joined Virgin Galactic as the “Experience Architect”. We looked forward to seeing what he would do there, but it’s five years later, and we’ve heard nothing. Is Joe still there?
When Star Tours first opened, it was prominently sponsored by M&Ms of all things. The Disney-MGM Studios version even had a “behind the scenes” vending machine for the “film crew” packed with 100% M&Ms, remeber? But what does that flying saucer have to do with Star Wars?!
August 26, 2026 at 7:56 PM
When Star Tours first opened, it was prominently sponsored by M&Ms of all things. The Disney-MGM Studios version even had a “behind the scenes” vending machine for the “film crew” packed with 100% M&Ms, remeber? But what does that flying saucer have to do with Star Wars?!
Big Thunder Mountain used to be so slow! Well, sort of. Today’s guests may not realize that Disneyland’s old “Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland” was in essence a slow-moving (flat) version of Big Thunder. Some long-time fans have ridden both; have you (or your parents)?
August 25, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Big Thunder Mountain used to be so slow! Well, sort of. Today’s guests may not realize that Disneyland’s old “Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland” was in essence a slow-moving (flat) version of Big Thunder. Some long-time fans have ridden both; have you (or your parents)?
For more than thirty years, cheap Halloween rubber bats rotated on strings in the attic of Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion. They’re gone now, but did you notice? Those red eyes are forever etched in our memory!
August 24, 2026 at 7:36 PM
For more than thirty years, cheap Halloween rubber bats rotated on strings in the attic of Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion. They’re gone now, but did you notice? Those red eyes are forever etched in our memory!
We have to admit, there is a lot to love about the new models for the Animal Kingdom Indy ride, especially the detail in Tsukan, the serpent. Did you notice how his scales actually form Mayan designs not unlike the pyramids? It feels like this could be something special.
August 23, 2026 at 3:10 PM
We have to admit, there is a lot to love about the new models for the Animal Kingdom Indy ride, especially the detail in Tsukan, the serpent. Did you notice how his scales actually form Mayan designs not unlike the pyramids? It feels like this could be something special.