10 Fun Facts About Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Today we’re going to take a nostalgic trip to Fantasyland (Storybook Circus actually!) and explore the history and fun details of one of the oldest (and iconic!) Disney attractions of them all…Dumbo the Flying Elephant. So grab your black feathers, climb aboard, and let’s find out if an elephant can really fly!

 

 

1. An Original

Dumbo the Flying Elephant was an opening day attraction at Walt Disney World, taking young, wide-eyed Guests on a fun-filled ride through the sky aboard their favorite pachyderm. As fun as the attraction was, it was extremely slow loading, resulting in long lines. In addition, since it was uncovered, Guests often had to wait for an extended time underneath the sweltering Florida sun.

 

 

2. Storybook Circus

These dilemmas were imaginatively solved in two ways when the attraction was relocated to its new home in Storybook Circus. The first was the addition of a second spinner, which instantly doubled the attraction’s capacity and helped alleviate the long lines.

 

 

3. The Big Top

But what about that unrelenting sun? Rather than cover the attraction (which would cut down on the thrill of soaring through the big blue sky), it was decided to cover the queue! Better still, instead of just adding a simple canopy, Imagineers would create a whole new experience! A new big top was added to the attraction where you can relax and play while waiting to board your elephant. Upon entering the big top, you’ll get a pager to let you know when it’s your time to board. In the meantime, kids can play in the circus-themed play area that recreates the famous circus finale from the film while parents can relax on a bench and rest their weary feet.

 

 

4. 32 Flying Pachyderms

Each of the two spinners contains 16 elephants, and attentive Guests will notice that they fly around in opposite directions, one going clockwise and the other counterclockwise.

 

 

5. New Details

Dumbo’s move to Storybook Circus also saw the inclusion of new fountains and an updated colorful paint scheme. New artwork panels at the bottom of the spinners tell the story of Dumbo, much like the ones at the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, which tell the story of Cinderella. Additionally, the move to Storybook Circus also brought with it a new soundtrack.

 

 

6. Mystery Solved!

Speaking of fountains, you may recall that the original Dumbo didn’t have a central fountain, unlike its counterparts in Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. Why? This was because of the Magic Kingdom’s famed Utilidors located directly below the attraction, preventing the installation of underground water pipes.

 

 

7. Timothy Q. Mouse

The relocation to Storybook Circus brought one last change, this one reserved for Dumbo’s diminutive sidekick. In the attraction’s original location, Timothy Q. Mouse was perched atop the central pillar, holding his black feather. When Dumbo was moved, Timothy was relocated to the marquee sign, welcoming Guests to the newly refurbished area. Initially, Timothy didn’t move, but that soon changed, and the figure now rotates high above the streets of Storybook Circus.

 

 

8. A What…?

It seems only natural that Timothy holds Dumbo’s black feather, but that wasn’t always the case. In his first incarnation, both in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, he held a training whip and stood on a disco ball.

 

 

9. Pink Elephants On Parade

Speaking of Disneyland, in the early planning of the attraction, there were going to be ten ride vehicles meant to recreate the “pink elephants” scene from the film. This was quickly changed to the version we know today, but the prototype vehicles had flaws, resulting in the attraction opening a month later than the rest of the park. It was originally intended for Dumbo’s ears to flap, but mechanical plans led to the abandonment of that plan.

 

 

10. A Presidential Snub

When former president Harry S. Truman visited Disneyland in 1957, he politely declined to ride the Dumbo attraction, as the elephant is a symbol of the Republican Party, and Truman was a Democrat!

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