The History of the Disneyland Moonliner

Disney Parks History

Moonliner Rocket Coca Cola Tomorrowland Disneyland

Today when you visit Tomorrowland you can see a massive rocket just outside of Green Alien Pizza Planet, and this is actually a tribute to a classic part of the early days of Disneyland.

The original version of Tomorrowland which existed prior to 1967 was largely seen as the least successful part of Disneyland, with Flight to the Moon being one of only a few elements to survive the change. But one element of this attraction would not survive. 

The Moonliner was a classic style rocket that appeared outside the ride as an advertisement for TWA, as it like much of Tomorrowland was sponsored by real world companies.

This rocket had been designed by John Hench, one of the early imagineers, as well as Wernher von Braun, a former Nazi rocket scientist who would go on to help with the US Apollo missions, and the rocket in Disneyland was actually based on some his designs for rockets that had been utilized by Nazi Germany in World War II.

This would be removed for New Tomorrowland, but it would not be the last time the design appeared in Disneyland.

Redd Rockett's Pizza Port Sign Tomorrowland Disneyland

A much smaller version appeared in the once again newly redesigned Tomorrowland begining in 1998. This would open outside Redd Rockett's Pizza Port (now Green Alien Pizza Planet) and it would be a much smaller version of the same design. The original had been massive, and actually was taller than Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Disneyland Moonliner Rocket At Night Tomorrowland

This redesigned rocket still exists in Disneyland to this day, advertising the products of Coca Cola, continuing a Disneyland tradition from the earliest days of the park.


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