10 Things You May Not Know About the Mad Tea Party

1. Alice Comes to the Magic Kingdom

When Disneyland was being developed, several concepts were considered when planning the Mad Tea Party attraction. One would have placed the Mad Hatter’s table at the center, and prominent figures of the Mad Hatter and March Hare were to have sung “A Very Merry Unbirthday” to Guests. The attraction would have also featured sculptures of the caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat.

2. What Almost Was

Another early concept was similar to the caterpillar-type rides found at amusement parks at the time. Eventually, Disney opted for the turntable setup we all know today.

3. No Wonder You Get Dizzy!

The arrangement of teacups can be confusing, but it goes something like this. Three small turntables, which rotate clockwise, each hold six teacups that rotate counter-clockwise. All these elements are, in turn, placed on a single large, rotating platform that moves counter-clockwise. We’ll bet your head is spinning right about now!

4. Mary Blair

It should come as no surprise that the legendary Mary Blair provided the designs for the tea cups in the original attraction. Her concept art had gone a long way toward bringing Alice in Wonderland to the big screen, and her distinctive style added the perfect touch to this whimsical adventure.

5. A Troubled Beginning

When it first opened, Disneyland encountered many hiccups, and the Mad Tea Party was no exception. Half of the teacups weren’t decorated, and none had doors. There was no central disc for Guests to grab onto to spin the cups, and most amusingly, there wasn’t even a proper entrance to the attraction. A simple piece of rope was used instead.

6. Cutting It Close

So why did the Mad Tea Party start out that way? According to Imagineer Bob Gurr, the Mad Tea Party (as well as five other opening day attractions) were all prototypes. That means, as Gurr relates, “all of the developmental testing was done by our Disneyland Guests!”

7. Cracked Cups

The attraction was also something of a maintenance nightmare. Disney employees spent as many as two hours a day welding cracks in the attraction every morning for the first few months of its operation.

8. The Dormouse

Fortunately, the bugs were all ironed out by the time Walt Disney World opened in 1971. Just like at Disneyland, the Mad Tea Party was an opening day attraction. While the ride’s functionality was the same, there were a few key differences, the most notable being the addition of a giant teapot at the center. See if you can spot the Dormouse, who occasionally pops his head out of the pot as the cups spin around.

9. Where’s the Roof?

Unlike the Magic Kingdom version, the Mad Tea Party in Disneyland is uncovered. That means it’s unable to run in the rain because once the turntables are saturated with a moderate amount of water, they slip and can no longer spin. The versions found in other Disney parks are covered, but the Disneyland Paris version goes one step further; it features a petal-shaped glass roof!

10. The Legend of the Purple Teacup

It’s now that we must sadly disabuse you of one common misconception. Despite what you may have read, the purple teacup is not the fastest. That’s an urban legend that has persisted over the years. Each cup spins at the same speed. But don’t worry; they all go fast enough to make you plenty dizzy by the time the cups come to a halt.

Discover All the Magic That Awaits You in the Upcoming Spring Issue of Celebrations Disney Magazine!

Immerse yourself in the magic of Disney with features on:
• The Roller Coaster of Walt Disney World
• Disney Weddings
• Experiencing Riley’s Emotions Through Music in the Parks
• A Look Back at the Living Seas
• Monsters University
• Muppet*Vision 3D
• 10 Things You May Not Know About Carl and Russell from Up
• and Much More!!

Subscribe Now!