Dumbo Flying Elephants (August 16th, 1955 - 1982)

Dumbo the Flying Elephant (May, 1983 - Present)

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 Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

“Research & Development”
In December of 1952, Walt Disney founded a little company called WED Enterprises, Inc. (the architectural and engineering design division of Walt Disney Productions) in order to master-plan and design his dreams of a Park. A team of Art Directors, Artists, Artisans, Architects, and Planners from the Studio created countless visual concepts for potential Disneyland, Inc. rides and attractions that would operate at Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Park and its later working title - “Disneyland!” Early thumbnail sketches and other concept artwork seemed to be unencumbered by restrictions of budget, schedule or the laws of nature and physics. Though guided by Walt, his artists appeared to engage in “free-thinking,” as if implementing the modern “Blue Sky” Imagineering process.

Walt’s artists utilized his catalogue of licensed characters - stars of both feature length films and short films. Stars of short films, like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, as well as the main characters, themes and settings of Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies (like The Old Mill) provided some inspiration. But most of the concept art was derivative of the characters and themes of Walt’s feature-length films like Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney’s Pinocchio, Walt Disney’s The Reluctant Dragon, and Walt Disney’s Dumbo.

Walt knew that it would require the assembling of a coalition of talents to Imagineer his “Flying Dumbos” at Disneyland. After working on designs for King Arthur Carrousel, Bruce Bushman was one who was assigned to develop what would become known as the “dark rides” as well as other Fantasyland attractions. In researching the project, Bruce drew upon the work of Herb Ryman, Don DaGradi and others who provided artistic direction for the original feature length Walt Disney Production. Based on both the namesake character and the film’s “Pink Elephants on Parade” musical sequence, the earliest artwork would feature a ten-elephant attraction - all of them pink. Like some advanced “High Concept,” final designs were quickly generated and approved.

By July 1, 1954, George Whitney of Disneyland, Inc. directed Amusements, with Ron Miller overseeing analysis, philosophy, capacities, planning, operator training, and amusement procurement. Soon, the Eyerly Aircraft Company (of Oregon) would become the first manufacturer to be attached to the development of Walt’s Dumbo ride for his Disneyland Park. Early designs were achieved utilizing the “Octopus” amusement ride as a foundation, accounting for early “suspended” elephant vehicles portrayed in promotional media and even pre-opening day parades. During the production of Lady and the Tramp I got to know many future W.E.D. talent like Frank Armitage, Ken O'Brien, Marc Davis, as well as Rolly Crump (who is one true "fun guy"). The studio was a beehive of activity when a new project was in the works. Walt was in the planning stages of an amusement park—a play land of sorts.

It is perhaps around this time that Walt Disney Studios animator Willie Ito (hired June 1954) recalled wandering onto the back lot and, in one of the workshops, seeing “large molds of the Dumbo ride.”

For instance, even before some syndicated publications gave an official glimpse of Walt Disney’s Disneyland, America’s Thanksgiving Parade of Detroit, Michigan featured this Dumbo Unit (among other units starring Walt Disney’s licensed characters).

Late in 1954, Louis Berg (“This Week Magazine” author of “Walt Disney’s New Ten Million Dollar Toy”, published September 19, 1954) briefly mentioned “You’ll be offered a soft drink and find yourself reduced in size, in a room with giant furnishings. Or a sip from another bottle will make you a giant moving in a miniature world. In brief, you can live through the adventures of Alice in Wonderland, or take an aerial flight on Dumbo, the air - borne elephant. All these are in the blueprint or model stage.”

Next, came certainly one of (if not) the most memorable Disneyland-related entries in a Tournament of Roses Parade! Celebrants of the 66th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade were also treated to a special preview of Disneyland. “There Is A Good Time Coming” was the appropriate title of a colorful float presented by sponsor Helm’s Bakeries (renown locally for their doughnuts). The three-dimensional representation of Disneyland was decorated with 7,000 pink roses, covering the forms of two iconic attractions in-the-making - Flying Dumbos and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle! The pinkish hue of the flying Pink Elephants was based on early Disneyland concept drawings by Walt Disney Studio artist Bruce Bushman. The float was so impressive that it won the “Judges Special Award” in the 1955 tournament.

If that weren’t enough, during January of 1955, McCall’s magazine also featured a preview of Walt Disney’s Disneyland (as well as Bruce’s Pink Elephants). However, the “Pink Elephants” idea wouldn’t “fly,” and life would imitate art as each elephant was colored gray. To top it all off, many of the Disneyland, Inc. drawings were now labeled with the temporary working title “Dumbo Swing Around.” Concepts of this attraction were included a portfolio of colored sketches by Herb Ryman, Bruce Bushman (of Bradley & Kaye in Long Beach), Harper Goff, and others that was prepared for Dick Irvine and Nat Winecoff to take back East to sell the Disneyland concept to prospective licensees.

Now, Bruce Bushman would soon be known as one of the most prolific and influential of the Fantasyland concept artists. Though Bruce may not be a “household name” (as he is seldom mentioned), he helped develop the colossal… the stupendous… “Dumbo the Flying Elephant.” As a sidelight, it has been commented that “Bushman whom Disney assigned to develop many of the… rides for Fantasyland, was a big husky man. Walt took one look at him and decided that his proportions would guide the pattern for all seats at the Park. ‘If it fits you, Bruce, it’ll fit anybody,’ said Walt, eyeing the broad Bushman beam,” according to “Disneyland - Inside Story” by Randy Bright.

Custom rides were created that would be subordinate to story and setting. This concept was prepared by Bradley & Kaye Amusement Company of 8506 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles 48, Calif; Oleander 5-8029.

Artist Chris Mueller (who had come from Universal, and previously contributed toward The Creature from the Black Lagoon and This Island Earth) would translate Bruce Bushman’s designs into three dimensions.

“Construction”
Meanwhile, engineers of the Arrow Developement plant (of Mountain View) were constructing six rides for Disneyland - King Arthur Carousel, Casey Jr. Trains, Mad Tea Cup Ride, Snow White’s Adventures Dark Cars, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride Hot Rods, and Dumbo The Flying Elephant. The Arrow engineers especially assured that the final realization maintained the look and feel of Bruce Bushman’s conceptual drawings created during the attraction’s development! “Disney told us what he wanted and we had to get busy and engineer it,” said William Hardiman, company supervisor for the project. “Sometimes we had a sketch but more often he just described what he had in mind and left us to really put it up in some form.”

Cowlco manufactured the frame work, while Arrow Developement Co. was responsible for the mechanical engineering. “Walt Disney’s Disneyland” (published 1964), page 24, relays how “An engineer still shudders over the day a sub-contractor delivered the first load of ‘Dumbos,’ the flying elephants that soar above Fantasyland. Specifications called for the elephants to be lightweight shells so that the mechanism could lift elephant and two guests into the air. The first ones delivered were indeed baby elephants. They weighed 700 pounds!” Ultimately ten elephants (plus one spare) were constructed at Disneyland). Each elephant was 8 feet 2 inches long, 4 feet 6 inches wide, and weighed approximately 350 pounds.

But how would engineers get the fiber-glass elephants (plus a maximum capacity of 20 guests) off the ground? Early on, two 5 horse power electric motors coupled to a Dodge fluid clutch and a final drive-shaft King Reductor were considered. Later, “Twin-Disc Production Road” magazine (published for September, 1957) divulged the “magic feather” that would see an elephant fly in “vertical and circular fashion” - a special propulsion system. “The Drive for Dumbo consists of two 9.5 Hydro-Sheaves, each transmitting power from a 7.5-hp motor. The [fluid] drive train is the same as that of the Mad Tea Party.” These Hydro-Sheaves (in various quantities) would provide different kinds of movement. To compare, King Arthur Carrousel had one Hydro-Sheave Drive, while Dumbo Flying Elephants had two Hydro-Sheave Drives, and the Mad Tea Party had four Hydro-Sheave Drives. All of this machinery for the amusement device was constructed by the Arrow Development Company, in its Moffett Boulevard plant.

For added ambiance, an antique 1915 mechanical band organ provided the melodies for Guests who soared aboard their own flying pachyderm. Lastly, all decorations on the pieces were done at Disneyland. Only the designing and construction of the basic machinery was done by the Arrow Development Company.

Walt changed his mind, and didn't want to send the wrong message about liquor.

The presentation of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant show on the vast DISNEYLAND “stage” was to be a distinct part of the Disneyland theater concept. Soon, one authorized “Disneyland Information & Nomenclature List” (prepared by Bill Cottrell of Disneyland Inc., May 25, 1955) announced the working title as the “Dumbo,” describing “the flying elephant ride.” The same document adds notation that there were “10 flying Dumbos” (these were in addition to “one spare” mentioned in other contemporaneous documents).

Some of these viable project Concepts (as this), were supported by a well-developed business case and built expectation. Soon, newspaper readers received a preview of the attraction that would allow the opportunity to “soar high over Fantasyland aboard the elephant with aerodynamic ears.” The Los Angeles Examiner (July 15, 1955) heralded the attraction this way : “Soar aloft with Dumbo, the Flying Elephant, for a joyous aerial ride, while Timothy Mouse, Dumbo’s friend and manager, directs the gala circus.”

As of June 2, 1955, C.V. Wood Jr. sent an Inter-Office Memorandum to Walt Disney regarding the best estimates that could be obtained at the time regarding the completion status of individual sections of the Park and Opening Day. C.V. wrote: “Dumbo: This one is probably the tighest of all of our rides. It will be touch and go up to the last minute.”

The televised Press Preview Day came. While John Harris’ & Walt Disney’s Dumbo Character ran toward the Dumbo Flying Elephants, the camera pan stopped short of fully revealing the attraction to audiences at home. While children could be seen boarding King Arthur Carousel, the Mad Tea Party, the Peter Pan fly-through, the Snow White ride, Canal Boats, and even the Casey Junior Circus Engine, Dumbo Flying Elephants were not spotlighted in the broadcast. Despite popular belief, the testaments of Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon of Arrow Development confirm the reason why. Dumbo Flying Elephants was operational for at least part of Press Preview Day - July 17th, 1955, but broke down under the press of crowds. A technician by the name of Paul Harvey was on site and tasked with changing the oil that day. Karl recollected, “while they were loading, he’d go out there and drain the system, and put in clean oil.” [Rollercoasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers, by Robert Reynolds, April of 1999] Apparently the attraction would go “101” (break down and suffer a closure). Dick Nunis (who was “located at Dumbo, as an Assistant Supervisor in Fantasyland”) recalled cycling out the vehicles, “unloading Dumbo with stepladders.” One contributing writer for The Daily Oklahoman (who was present on July 17, 1955) noted: “There was a flying circle of Dumbo elephants, Mr. Toad's motor car ride, Casey Jr.'s ride, etc. Some were not yet functioning for the premier but workmen were feverishly getting them ready for the public opening Monday.”

This helps put in perspective the testament of “The Disneyland Diary” editions and the words of Dave Smith (previous Chief Archivist Emeritus of the Walt Disney Archives) : “There were 20 attractions open on July 17. A few others that were not quite ready (such as Dumbo Flying Elephants)…opened within the next few weeks.” [Disney Facts Revealed by Dave Smith, 2016] Dumbo would re-open on Aug. 16, 1955.

But still, “Dumbo Flying Elephants [would] prove that in this fantasy world of ‘dreams come true,’ anything is possible. That’s why elephants really ‘fly’ in Fantasyland, as Timothy, the mouse, cracks the whip and Dumbos soar high carrying happy passengers,” according to the Disneyland Dictionary (compiled by WED Public Relations Department and Disneyland Publicity Office, about 1968). Despite opening day operational challenges, Dumbo Flying Elephants is still reckoned among “Disneyland rides and amusements” that would “delight the very young, the teen-ager, young married couples, the middle-aged, and grandparents alike,” as some of the Vintage Views testify [Anaheim Bulletin “Premier Souvenir Edition - Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom - Disneyland” Insert ; Friday, July 15th, 1955].

You may notice someone (or something) missing from the preceding Vintage View. [See footage preserved in “Disneyland - The Park,” short film prepared for an episode of the Disneyland anthology series, first aired 1957.] In Walt Disney’s feature-length film Dumbo, Timothy Q. Mouse performed an instrumental (or, “central”) role in the Ringmaster’s epiphany of the elephant act climax. Despite designs appearing in publication (like the “Disneyland” newspaper supplement of July 15, 1955; in the Fantasyland Game by Parker Brothers above), Timothy was noticeably absent on Opening Day.

It wasn’t until two years after Disneyland’s first day of operation, that Timothy would again find himself at the “center” of another exciting and entertaining addition to Dumbo’s Fantasyland act! When (in September of 1962), Max Stewart, Larry Clemmons, and Art Crookshank (of the Walt Disney Studio) filmed and shot scenery involving the “Dumbo Ride” for Studio Production #3185. For this, “the operation of the ride was not held up and we took footage of the ride in operation.” A particular second plate was shot on this occasion with a “close up of Timothy.”

However, this was the scene of Dumbo Flying Elephants until that time.

Many celebrities soon descended upon Walt’s Magic Kingdom, only to be photographed soaring with Dumbo! For instance, Shirley Temple Black and her two children visited among the first four million guests, and were photographed soaring with Dumbo for the pages of Disneyland Holiday. Actress Spring Byington (of “December Bride) and child actor Bobby Diamond (of “Fury”) were both photographed aboard a pachyderm for their 1956 “TV Radio Mirror” photoshoot at Disneyland! USNR Medical Corp. Captain and Mrs. Harlon W. Harrison were photographed riding aboard Dumbo for a pictorial published in Disneyland Holiday magazine (Winter, 1957-1958). The President of Indonesia and his 12-year-old son also soared with Dumbo during 1956.

The original 1955 ticket price of the “Dumbo Elephant” was one “B” Coupon, or 25 cents - the same admission price as a whirl in the Mad Tea Party, a ride aboard the Casey Jr. Train, or a show at the Mickey Mouse Theater. The “B” Coupon (or 25 cent) price to soar with Dumbo stayed consistent throughout 1956 and 1957. Admission for a flight with Dumbo the Flying Elephant 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 Viewliner!

Japan Air LInes initiated flights from Tokyo to Los Angeles (on May 30, 1959), and such Disneyland icons were featured on this commemorative Japan Airlines envelope!

By 1959, Joe Fowler was Vice President of Disneyland Operations Committee and Doc Lemmon of Disneyland Operations was overseeing Operators of Rides & Amusements (like Dumbo Flying Elephants), Livestock, Parking Lot, and Ticket Sellers.

Thai Princess Rudi Voravan (who visited the Park in March of 1960) must have had many good things to report about Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom. And so her relatives Thai King Bhumibhol (a renown “enthusiastic collector of Disneyana,” according to Saturday Evening Post contributor Bill Davidson) and Thai Queen Kirikit soon visited Disneyland in June of 1960. They were accompanied by their three children - Princess Sirindhorn (age 5), Princess Ubol Ratana (age 9), and Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn (age 8) - who soared over Fantasyland with Dumbo! The kids had such a good time, that (while their parents continued their Royal Tour of the United States) the children made a return visit to Disneyland a few days later.

You may notice that Dumbo’s hinged ears remained in-tact until the Dumbos were re-cast during one c. 1963 rehabilitation.

Many years later (in 1974; two years after the theatrical rerelease of Dumbo), President Gerald Ford’s son John visited Disneyland, and took a ride aboard Dumbo with Ambassador Carol DeKeyser. The one… the only… the fabulous Dumbo Flying Elephants was featured in pieces of promotional media, as when Karen and Richard Carpenter filmed several scenes for their “Mr. Postman” music video, released in 1975.

After a brief rehabilitation, Dumbo Flying Elephants reopened August 16th, 1966, with a theoretical guest capacity of 424 guests per hour.

“Flying Dumbos are just part of this exciting adventure in the realm of Storybook classics!”

Knowing their audience, Walt Disney Imagineers reimagined aspects of Dumbo Flying Elephants for New Fantasyland. For a final touch (years later), “22k gold leafing” would cover “the mechanisms of the Dumbo Flying Elephants,” according to “Disneyland - A Treasure Chest of Trivia” prepared by Walt Disney Productions, 1990.

In 1965, the cast of admission for a soaring over Fantasyland aboard the elephant with the aerodynamic ears was exactly one “C” coupon, or 35¢.

Dumbo Flying Elephants was closed weekdays during the winter season of 1962, operating on weekends.

“Blue Sky and Master Planning for Dumbo Flying Elephants”

“Around 1979 (and as work on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was wrapping up), the Park Managers Operations Committee addressed the New Projects and Master Planning Committee regarding the updating and placing in priority projects which relate to onstage guest involvement. About this it was written: “The New Projects and Master Planning Committee… addressed itself to the updating and placing in priority projects which relate to onstage guest involvement. A primary concern is that of providing a major addition of change in the Park within the next three to four years.”

Among the planned future attractions of a seven year master plan was a “Dumbo Circus Land.” By September 30, 1982, WED/MAPO jobs were opened for Dumbo Circus Conceptual Design (Sp. ID 02-600) at a total cost of $542,504.80. Walt Disney Imagineer John Stone designed and developed new topography and queue Layouts for Dumbo.

“The Maintenance of Magic”

Through the years it was common for Park Operations Crew M-41 Machinists to make standard opening inspections of the attraction. The overall appearance was checked, making it ready for operation. If there were any discrepancies from the checklist, M-1 and the proper department supervisor were notified.

During each day, Disneyland Park Operations M-42 Machinists would, at least once, check all attractions in Fantasyland and discuss with each Attraction Lead and problems, defects, or any other feedback regarding the department. M-42 Machinists would also respond to all downs and delayed openings in the Fantasyland area whether or not it was mechanical. Upon arriving at an attraction, they would determine whether what the failure was. M-42 would determine which crafts were needed, determine an estimated time of repair, notify M-1 and assist with crafts when necessary.

The popular attraction was updated with a new ride system during 1990.

By (April-June) 1981, WED Imagineering surveys of the 3,848 square-foot attraction were conducted in relation to New Fantasyland.

One Elephant was preserved with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., in 2005, in honor of Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary. The timeless Dumbo the Flying Elephant has inspired a worldwide legacy at five Disney Parks, including the Magic Kingdom (in Florida), Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Park (in Paris), Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is one of many Fantasyland attractions that continues to delight generations of guests - old and young! By 2003, a 16-pachyderm Dumbo the Flying Elephant had a legacy in Fantasyland at Honk Kong Disneyland.

Today, Guests fly high above Fantasyland on Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Disneyland queue lines are designed as part of the attraction to make the guests' time in line as comfortable as possible.