Adventure Thru Inner Space was an attraction in Disneyland's Tomorrowland, presented by Monsanto Company. It was the first attraction to utilize Disney's Omnimover system. The ride simulated shrinking guests to the size smaller than an atom (the "inner space") before taking a tour of snowflakes at molecular and atomic levels.
Adventure Thru Inner Space opened on August 5, 1967, as the centerpiece of the "New Tomorrowland", The attraction was narrated by Paul Frees, who also lent his voice to the Haunted Mansion attraction, another Omnimover attraction which is still open to this day.
History
The idea of the attraction goes as far back as 1957, when Walt Disney introduced a concept for an atomic-themed exhibit in Tomorrowland on the Disneyland television show episode, Our Friend The Atom. A newspaper profile in 1957 said that Disney was planning a ride to take guests inside a microscope, in order to promote science education. "There's a great urgency today to interest young people in science as a profession," he said. "I want to give them some attractions that will start kids thinking more about science." Disney became friends with Dr. Charles Allen Thomas, Chairman of the Monsanto Company, and Thomas was directly involved in the development of the attraction.
Plans for the attraction were put on hold for the 1964 New York World's Fair. After the success of the fair, the atomic-themed attraction was green-lighted for the New Tomorrowland project. It would stand where the "Monsanto's Hall of Chemistry" building stood. The exit from the attraction led to a room displaying Monsanto's products.
Synopsis
The attraction was designed to simulate humans shrinking to a size smaller than an atom (the "inner space"). As patrons waited in line, they saw those before them entering one end of the Monsanto Mighty Microscope. The other end of the Monsanto Mighty Microscope had a glass tube in which the supposedly miniaturized riders could be seen moving through. The microscope was aimed at a panel beyond which snow could be seen falling.