Pinocchio (1940)

Today's movie is one that has had a presence in the Magic Kingdom since it opened, but not as a ride - Pinocchio.

The Movie:

Pinocchio is the 2nd movie in the Disney Animated Canon.  Due to World War II limiting the international release, Pinocchio was originally a box-office disappointment, despite the fact that it was highly praised.  It would see greater box-office success in later releases.  Today Pinocchio is still praised, and it is held by many people as the finest example of Walt Disney's work.

Based on a book by Carl Collodi, Pinocchio tells the story of the title puppet, who is brought to life by the Blue Fairy when his creator/"father" Geppetto wishes for him to be a real boy.  Jiminy Cricket, who had taken shelter in Geppetto's home, is given the job of being the conscience for the naive Pinocchio.  This job soon becomes a monumental task, as Pinocchio keeps falling for the schemes of Honest John and Gideon, leading the puppet into much trouble.

Whereas Snow White was Disney's pioneering work, Pinocchio shows how the artists at Disney grew in their craft.  The animation is wonderful and at times stunning.  The pacing is much more even than in Snow White, as the story never really bogs down.  The story is also pretty dark at times, which makes since as it is a morality tale.

The music of Pinocchio features several memorable songs by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington, including "Give a Little Whistle," "I've Got No Strings," and the Oscar-winning "When You Wish Upon a Star," the song that has become the de facto theme song for all things Disney.  The score, written by Harline and Paul J. Smith, also won an Oscar.

Although the book was set in Italy's Tuscany region, the visuals in the movie, including the building designs and clothing, give it a more Alpine appearance.

Presence in the Parks:

Unlike some of the other early Disney classics, Pinocchio did not get a dark ride when Disneyland first opened.  When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, Pinocchio did get a place in Fantasyland, in the form of a restaurant.  This restaurant, called Pinocchio's Village Haus, sits next to It's a Small World, and one room of the dining area even overlooks the loading area for that ride.  Fittingly, the restaurant serves quick service Italian food, even though the name and look of the building come across as more German (see the note above about the film's Alpine look).

Sandwich at Pinocchio's Village Haus, May 2015

It's a Small World and Pinocchio's Village Haus, May 2015

Characters from Pinocchio are not part of a regular meet and greet, although they have been known to appear in Fantasyland near the restaurant and at Epcot around the entrance to the World Showcase.

The former fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom, Wishes, was narrated by Jiminy Cricket and the Blue Fairy.  The movie Pinocchio was heavily referenced in the show.

Wishes fireworks, May 2015

Pinocchio also gets a small feature in Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios.  The bubble sequence, in which clips of various Disney characters are projected onto water, ends with Jiminy Cricket in a bubble that's filling with water, taken from the movie.  Clips of Monstro the whale are also projected as part of the show, and water effects create splashes to go with the clips.

Over at Disneyland, Pinocchio eventually got a dark ride, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, which was installed in 1983 with the Fantasyland overhaul.  That ride is also found in Tokyo and Paris.