*Some sources (as “Disneyland Admission Media Rides and Attractions” report, page 40, published 1971; “Disneyland Rides & Attractions and Attendance Report,” 1981, page 50) cite April 13th, while other sources state April 27th as the opening date.

One can easily slip into the jargon of “ride,” but at Disneyland there is a "story behind the story" of every attraction, every attraction is a living experience for the guest. Disneyland ride-through attractions or adventures have officially been defined as an “individual show, ride, or exhibit designed to produce an entertaining Guest experience. Disney attractions stir the imagination, enliven the senses, and provide the participants with positive, innovative entertainment, which is the essence of the DISNEYLAND Show.” It is important to review the story of the attraction, tell the story, explain it, and create interest. This is the story of the Midget Autopia.

While the term “Midget” is antiquated, “midget” racing was popular during the 1950s and 1960s! There were racing tracks in places (like the San Fernando Valley, California), where kids brought their “quarter midget race cars” in order to compete. Testifying to the popularity of “midget” race cars, Walt Disney’s Magazine (Vol. IV, No. 1) contains a story on one eleven-year-old “Quarter Midget Champion” who had won more than 200 racing trophies by the time the article was published.

Back on the eve of Disneyland’s first day of operation, Walt Disney had promised that “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow, to add new things, as long as there is imagination left in the world.” One new attraction (one of the smallest) would be accounted among the major additions to the Park. In 1957 it would open the Midget Autopia in Fantasyland. This would be the third Autopia track - and the smallest one. It’s a fact that the "little things" can make a big impression, as was proven by the memorable Midget Autopia at Disneyland!

Many other contemporaneous amusement parks (across the United States and Alaska) had already installed Arrow-Flite “Tracked Auto Rides” by 1957. There was Easbey Amusement (in Palo Alto, California), Gold Coast Shows (in San Jose, California), Woodland Park (in Seattle, Washington), Nu-Pike (of Long Beach, California), Peppermint Parks (of Houston, Texas), Shanahan (of Anchorage, Alaska), and Wards (of Coney Island). So, from that standpoint, this wasn’t a new attraction, but the custom cars and other imaginative story elements along the track made the Midget Autopia a truly unique Disneyland adventure!

Remember that Walt Disney had earlier said : “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow, always adding new things to provide its visitors with exceptional and entertaining attractions.” In Walt’s eyes, Disneyland was “like a piece of clay,” because if there was something he didn’t like, he wasn’t stuck with it. He could reshape and revamp it. After years of personally reshaping and revamping, Walt divulged: “I’m not the perfectionist anymore. It’s my staff - they’re the ones always insisting on doing something better and better.”

Bruce Bushman created an untold number of concept illustrations of “Mouseketopia”, a Mickey Mouse-themed Autopia track.

The ten Midget Autopia vehicles were manufactured by Arrow Development (who had built another fleet of these “Arrowflite” series vehicles for Idlewild Park in Pennsylvania).

Additionally, the Disneyland Midget Autopia would hold the record for the first Autopia track to have a center Guide Rail. The A/C power ran along one side of the rail, powering the electric motors of the vehicles. Joe Fowler (Disneyland Operations Committee) oversaw the Construction & Maintenance division including Engineering, New Construction, Maintenance, and Janitorial related to the installation of the attraction.

Once complete, the “ride structure” (passageways and sets) of this amusing adventure was appraised at a value between $25,300 and $27,600, while the equipment was valued between $5,250 and $6,300.

In this map excerpt (pictured above), we can see that the Midget Autopia was one of the first attractions to greet younger guests near the Fantasyland Station. It was located near another “lilliputian” attraction - the Storybook Land Canal Boats! According to 1959 advertisements, the Midget Autopia was “a special ‘auto’ ride” for “the ‘small fry’ too young to drive the Super Autopias.” Yes, Disneyland guests that were too small to drive the Tomorrowland and Fantasyland Autopia cars, could sit behind the wheels of their very own two-passenger car.

Skyway Cabins once offered an aerial preview of Fantasyland attractions and adventures, including the Santa Fe & Disneyland Viewliner train and Midget Autopia.

“Follow the leader, obey all the rules,

You're driving Autopia style.

This highway is play,

All the traffic's one way,

And the rule of the road is smile.”

The Midget Autopia was featured in several pieces of promotional media including “An Adventure in the Magic Kingdom” (April 9, 1958) and one Mickey Mouse Club Newsreel.

The former Walt Disney Imagineering Principal Creative Executive Marty Sklar would probably agree that the small details like these make the story appealing. One such detail was the garage. The memorable and climactic end of the Midget Autopia Show - crashing through a barn! This aspect of the attraction was even preserved on Souvenir Postcards during the Midget Autopia’s era of operation at Disneyland.

During 1957, admission for a ride aboard 1 of 10 Midget Autopia vehicles was one “jumbo” “B” coupon (or, 25 cents, for one adult), the same as a round of ammunition in the Main Street Shooting Gallery, entry into the Mickey Mouse Club Theater, or a ride aboard the Fantasyland or Tomorrowland & Fantasyland Viewliner! Based on the response of guests who recollect riding the Midget Autopia, it was well worth the price of admission!

By 1959, Joe Fowler was Vice President of Disneyland Operations Committee and Doc Lemmon of Disneyland Operations was overseeing Operators of Rides & Amusements (like the Midget Autopia), Livestock, Parking Lot, and Ticket Sellers. Quite a few memorable Disneylanders operated the Midget Autopia (like Earl Roy Archer), “who had a wonderful way with kids,” according to Backstage Disneyland (Summer, 1965). Roy Brem also operated the Midget Autopia.

Contrary to rumors, guests of all ages were allowed aboard Midget Autopia vehicles (depending on their height and weight). Yes, if they met the height requirement and did not exceed the weight limit, Adult Disneyland guests could exchange the corresponding admission coupon for a ride! Just look at the following “Vintage View”!

The Midget Autopia was closed weekdays during the winter season of 1962, operating only on weekends.

Many notable Disneylanders had a privileged part in the Midget Autopia rotation - the set order of Midget Control panel operating positions established by the attraction's Working Lead.

The Midget Autopia was still as popular than ever during its final year of operation at Disneyland. According to Mike O’Brien of Backstage Disneyland (Vol.4, No.4 ; December 1965) :

“Ron Osbon is the Man on Midgets. In fact, you could call him Mr, Midgets. He, as well as your scribe, will mourn the passing of Midget Autopia to a never-never land somewhere over the rainbow. The sheer delight of the little kiddies when they get behind that wheel is something to behold. Just recently, Ron was operating the ride when he looked up and saw Walt Disney waiting in line with his grandchildren. Ron invited him to come in the back way, but Walt said no, that he would wait in line like the other people. He expressed the fondness that he and his grand-kiddies have for Midget Autopia and said that he would like to see it relocated and remodeled in another area.” This is reminiscent of something else that Walt once said : “Disneyland is like a piece of clay : if there is something I don’t like, I’m not stuck with it. I can reshape and revamp.” And a fantastic example is the Midget Autopia once located in this little section of Fantasyland.

At a Walt Disney Productions Stockholders meeting (held on February 1, 1966), “Mr. Tatum pointed out - 50% of all visitors to Disneyland return later to see the Park’s new attractions.” Next, a need for an increased capacity was stressed, by “more facilities - rides, attractions, food and merchandising, to handle properly and efficiently our ever increasing guests.” And so, the Midget Autopia would yield to progress and efficiency, and make way for fantastic new Disneyland adventures by Imagineers who knew their audience!

According to one Disneyland Admission Media Rides and Attractions Report [prepared in April 1971, by Disneyland Research Department], by the time the Midget Autopia ceased operation in Disneyland, a grand total of 2,461,589 Disneyland guests (like Walt and his grandchildren) had sat behind the wheels of a Midget Autopia roadster. Though the smallest of the Autopia tracks was eventually removed to widen the pathways for the installation of it’s a small world, it wasn’t the end of the road for this Disneyland adventure!

So while many other parks (around North and South America) had an Arrow-Flite Tracked Auto Ride, the most famous of them all - the Midget Autopia -would soon find new life in Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri. The Midget Autopia would hold the record as the only Disneyland attraction to ever be donated and relocated outside a Disney Park, by Walt Disney! Please step this way, as we understand how this happened, courtesy of artifacts preserved through The Walt Disney Hometown Museum of Marceline, Missouri.

As early as 1961, Walt (through private communications with his friend Rush Johnson) furthered his intentions to give the Disneyland Midget Autopia attraction to the children of his beloved hometown. By offering drawings and photographs of the Fantasyland attraction to the Marceline City Council members, Walt hoped to give them a better understanding of what the gift would look like.

Admiral Joe Fowler was sent to Marceline for the installation of the attraction.

Over the next four years, plans would be made official, with the following press release from WED Imagineering! A WED Imagineering memo stated: “Donation of this ride is unprecedented in Disneyland's historv and will probably be the only one ever taken to a new location from the us Magic Kingdom in Anaheim, California.” The Midget Autopia would relocate to Marceline, Missouri, and a festive dedication was scheduled to take place on July 4th, 1966.

During 1966, workers finished adapting the Disneyland Midget Autopia Track layout for the town of Marceline, in preparation for the arrival of the rails, cars, and other attraction parts!

The big day arrived! The entire town of Marceline awaited the special pre-recorded Dedication Speech spoken by Walt Disney!

The following program facsimile gives an idea of the scheduled events planned for the Grand Opening Dedication Ceremony of Walt Disney Municipal Park. Festivities would include a beauty pageant (in which future Walt Disney Hometown Museum Director Kaye Malins would participate). A ribbon-cutting ceremony also occurred after a brief history of The Midget Autopia was recounted.

Walt wanted to dedicate his gift in person, but was forced to cancel his trip just a few days prior due to a cough he “couldn’t shake”. It later turned out to be cancer. Instead, his dedication speech was recorded and forwarded to Marceline in time for the ceremony. As you read Walt’s words, note his blessing upon the people of the small town, the children, and the Midget Autopia attraction itself!

During (and after) the Dedication Ceremony, the children of Marceline await the Grand Opening!

A few lucky children of Marceline take a spin around the curves of Walt’s “little” gift!

The Governor of Missouri praised the new state attraction, and congratulated Marceline’s Mayor Young and the Citizens of Marceline!

Photographs and accounts surrounding the dedication of Walt Disney Municipal Park and its main attraction (The Midget Autopia) were sent to Walt, so he could share in the joy of the festivities. Walt appreciated this gesture so much that he thanked the Mayor by writing this letter dated July 22, 1966. The attraction operated a year longer in Marceline than it operated at Disneyland.

If you visit the site today, you may notice a plaque near the former location of the Midget Autopia track commemorating Walt’s historic gesture this way :

”Relocated from the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland as a gift to the children of this community from Marceline’s favorite sons Walt and Roy Disney. Accepted in appreciation July 1966, Mayor C.A. Young”

Walt passed on December of 1966. The Midget Autopia continued operation for 11 years.

“Once located in Marceline's Walt Disney Municipal Park, the beloved ride was operational from 1966 through 1977. When the city retired Walt and Roy's gift from day to day operation the concrete track remained as a playground for local children, and a visual reminder of the Disneys' generosity. Sadly the 1966 track was removed from its park location by the City of Marceline due to maintenance and safety concerns.”

This museum restoration was very faithful to the original Midget Autopia vehicles that once ran through Marceline, Missouri and Disneyland. Circa 1957 Chevy hood ornaments were used for the Midget Autopia hood ornaments, while 1956 Pontiac “running lights” were used for the Midget Autopia vehicles’ headlight housings.

Whatever happened to the Midget Autopia, once it was removed? Lee Hoover (Walt Disney Hometown Museum) takes us “under the hood” of the Midget Autopia, as he shares the next exciting chapter of the beloved attraction, as well as current efforts to restore the only Disneyland attraction to ever be “relocated” outside the park by special permission of Walt Disney!

It’s all here in this “Disney History 101 presents People” featurette!

Whatever happened to the Midget Autopia, once it was removed? Lee Hoover (Walt Disney Hometown Museum ) takes us “under the hood” of the Midget Autopia, as he shares the next exciting chapter of the beloved attraction, as well as current efforts to restore the only Disneyland attraction to ever be “relocated” outside the park by special permission of Walt Disney!

It’s all here in this “Disney History 101 presents People” featurette!

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Walt’s gift to the children of Marceline, The Walt Disney Hometown Museum planned a $500,000 Kickstarter campaign to rehabilitate and restore the Midget Autopia. The campaign began August 14th, 2015, coinciding with a Walt Disney Hometown Museum exhibit at D23 Expo in Anaheim, California.

While visiting Marceline, Missouri (Walt Disney’s boyhood home, of which he later donated the Midget Autopia), we visited the location where some of the parts are stored, while awaiting an ongoing restoration and repair project.

During the era of the Autopia Presented by Chevron, this bronzed Midget Autopia vehicle was preserved (to a degree) as a roadside prop on the Autopia stage (one of the non-operational steering wheels was removed). During the New Midget Autopia Track groundbreaking ceremony, this artifact was brought to Marceline, Missouri in an event, courtesy of The Walt Disney Archives, Disneyland, and D23.

“This new walking track is a salute and heartfelt thank you to Walt and Roy. The layout you see before you was designed by Disney Imagineering, and is based off the original Disneyland footprint. This new trail gives curious visitors a unique opportunity to once again walk a piece of Disney history, and possibly relive a few fleeting moments of their own childhoods right here in Walt's boyhood hometown.”

According to the catalogue, “This original car… features the original body, wheels, and steering wheel from Disneyland, with restored red rims with chrome spinners, a new wood and vinyl seat, windshield bar and "firewall" footrest, and decals. The taillights are S&M vintage 1950's replacements for the originals.”