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Timekeeper and Tommorowland Transit Authority -- 4/23/02
Today's Focus will cover 2 attractions-Timekeeper and the TTA.
The Timekeeper is unfortunately not open daily any more. It is open, like the CoP, according to the volumes of visitors expected in a given season so you will most likely be able to experience it on a weekend day during the "peak" seasons. Make every effort to do so, because it is worth a look. This attraction was once the Monsanto Circle Vision 360 movie about the US. The same 360 movie theater is employed now to bring us a short and humorous history lesson. Hosted by a robot looking and sounding a lot like Robin Williams and assisted by a little camera called 9-eye, one is taken back into time. Pay attention to 9-eye, too, you will find her voice familiar as well.
Timekeeper and 9-eye give us a demonstration of the first ever working time machine, based on a model by Jules Verne. 9-eye is actually the only one who goes back in time via the machine. She then sends back pictures in real time for us to see. Timekeeper controls the machine and none to delicately, either. At first, little 9-eye is thrown to the Jurassic period where she barely misses being swallowed, then to the Renaissance where she gives Leonardo some cool ideas. We see a medieval battle from the middle instead of the sidelines, and finally meet HG Wells and Jules Verne at the Paris Exposition of 1900, housed in a very familiar looking glass building. Ever eaten at the
Crystal Palace? It was modeled after this very building. I'll keep the final scene to myself, but it is a hoot and everyone will enjoy a trip with the Timekeeper. Oh yes- this theater has no seats and the show is 20 minutes long. It can be tiresome on already tired legs so see it early in the day. And don't forget it's round- turn around often and get the full effect of views from all angles. It's really neat.
TTA stands for Tommorowland Transit Authority. Originally called the WEDway People Mover, it is still the People Mover to me, it is a nice relaxing tour of Tommorowland taken from above. One sits in little open air cars and travels along a track weaving in and out of all the Tommorowland attractions from above. It takes about 10 minutes and is a great place for a rest for those weary legs. In fact, unless the line is really long, most CM's will let you stay on for as many consecutive rides as you like. At on of the recent RADP meets, folks met at the TTA to see how many rides in a row they could get. It was a TTA-athon!
The cars are magnetically powered by something called LIM engines. I believe that stands for linear induction motors and that they are basically big magnets with no moving parts. The ride certainly is a quiet one. This is a good way to get squeamish kids to decide if they want to ride Space Mountain before getting in line for it- TTA goes right through and one gets a good look at the cars hurtling around the track. In fact, once I was on this and SM was down for some reason with all the lights on and I was able to really see the track for the first time. That was WAAAAY cool!.
Both of these little attractions are well worth your time. I hope you will take advantage of both on your next visit to Tommorrowland. Next week, I will finish our little tour of Tomorrowland with a look at the very scary Extraterrorestrial Adventure!
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