The History of Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
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- čas přidán 17. 08. 2019
- Check out why this is the busiest restaurant in America, how it connects Tomorrowland to the Star Wars universe, and the backstory of Tomorrowland in Disney's Magic Kingdom NOW!
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe is a Disney staple. Although it doesn't have the best food, it is always packed and somehow ends up as a Disney must-do for me every time. Beginning as the Tomorrowland Terrace, this location has always been highly successful, with its live music and quick service food. It's a location that has been there since day 1 - and it is really interesting to see how it connects with the land as a whole.
So check out this video to really nerd out your Disney heart by becoming a fact expert on Disney's "flagship" quick service location!
Music:
• Tomorrowland Area Musi...
• Musical Mondays #3 - S...
Videos:
• Sonny Eclipse at Cosmi...
• The Timekeeper Full At...
Research:
www.endorexpress.net/database...
boardwalktimes.net/the-future...
themickeywiki.com/index.php?ti...
disney.fandom.com/wiki/Cosmic...
disneyparks.disney.go.com/blo...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorro...
disney.fandom.com/wiki/Tomorr...)
www.themeparktourist.com/feat... - Krátké a kreslené filmy
As a former Space Angel at Cosmic Ray’s from my college program Fall 17’/ Spring 18’, I truly loved watching this! Once a Space Angel, always a Space Angel🚀💓
That's fucking cool
I had no idea there were real space angels!!! What did you do for it?
@@kmart3453 It was super fun! It was a fun nickname the cast members called each other☺️ The girls would call each other Space Angels since Sonny Eclipse sings about his Space Angels and the guys would be nicknamed Space Rangers❤️
Out of all Disney animatronics, Sonny is my favorite.
This really is some great Disney history, thanks so much for sharing. We are digging through all our old 1990's Disney footage and love the Disney story through the ages.
Old Disney footage ROCKS! Put it in a video!!
Worked there for 5 yrs 96-00 (pink castle era). Best time there and yes super busy, especially during Brazilian visits. Food back in the day where great. They had an arrangement of food. The side by race cars was chix (rotisserie, bbq pulled pork sandwiches), center was burgers and hot dogs, and the other side by castle was soups salads ans sandwiches.
There were countless times I would find Sonny had stop playing. Why? Kids being kids and parents not paying attention. The kids would go under baracades and go on stage. There is a sensor around him that once you stop the Sonny takes a short nap. I would have to call DACS (tech service switch board) to have him be woken up
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When I was a little kid in early 70s I believe it was called Astro Lounge for awhile. I have always referred to it as Astro Lounge- and now my 3 kids who grew up going to Disney - (now 18/19/24 years old) only know it as Astro Lounge. One time my son asked an older cast member who worked there, what’s the best way to get to Astro Lounge and he was surprised he had called it that. He told my son he hasn’t heard it called Astro Lounge in many many years and then told him how to get there quickest way (bridge next to castle ).
so much history xx thanks for sharing - I enjoyed watching xx
So glad you tuned in!!
The first three pics are from Disneyland's Tomorrowland Terrace (now called Galactic Grill.)
There's more to this story... in the early the days, the stage could rise or lower to signify the start, or end, of a live performance. When you enter the seated area, look to around the back of the wall (if still there and may be behind curtains) and you will see the original control booth for the stage.
Love it! Gotta be my favourite in Magic Kingdom!!
Nice video 👍
What a fantastic video! I love That Disney Girl!
So sad they took sonny away! Just hit the like!
AlphaTraveler1 he will be back!! For now we just get to miss him:)
AlphaTraveler1 he’s back now!!!
Wow this is such great history iv never eaten at cosmic rays but may need too i kinda miss that stitch ride we got to try it once!!
Just an excuse to go now then :) And I am hoping something really great comes into that unused space!
You killed it!!!
YOU kill it!
Awe shucks lil lady!!!
Such a cool video.Thanks so much for doing this.
Dang, lots of things I didn't know about Comsic Ray's and Tomorrowland. Very informative! I wish ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter was still around, it's my favorite attraction of all time!
Matt Zabita me too! I wish I could have done it when I was older!
What an awesome video. So interesting and informative. Somehow we have never been. Just kind of walk by all the time. Had no idea it was such a popular restaurant.Your research and thoroughness are really impressive. Great job 👍🏻
So interesting to see all the changes! This is a great video!
There's been SOOOO many right?! Thanks for tuning in :)
Awesome video! Any idea if they will ever replace stitch? Thoughts on the new Tomorrowland sign? I like the old one much better. The new one is so small and looks like a mint lifesaver
I love how when you talked about the Timekeeper you showed a picture of Tom Morrow from Disneyland’s Innoventions
Thanks for a great video! Could you provide any information about the stage system there? Doesn't it have a hydraulic stage that comes up from below? I was there summer 85 and seemed to remember a live cover band that would do sets and the stage would rise up with them on it and go back down after the set to take a break. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I saw another video with a DJ on it but it would be cool to learn more about the history behind it. Thank you again!
Yes, Cosmic Ray's was the original Tomorrowland Terrace. It did feature a hydraulic stage that came up from the tunnels below the building. Live acts would play there, especially during special events like Night of Joy or Grad Nights (Both of which no longer happen) Yep, I'm old.
@@scottrussell674 Thanks for the info!
I actually was chosen to be on stage with the band and Minnie and Mickey at 5 so 1989 ish and that became my fav thing to do at Disney so sad it’s not the same. Watching them rise up was the coolest.
Can we lose Sunny Eclipse and bring back live bands to the Tomorrowland terrace.
Isn't that the restaurant in magic kingdom that had blue colored mayonnaise back in the 90's?
Paul Robinson omg yes it sure did!!! Wish that was still around...
@@ThatDisneyGirl thanks, me too! :)
See you Tomorrow-land
That’s cool about his origins technically being from Star Tours in Tokyo. Never knew that. But I am a little disappointed on what very little history was actually mentioned in this 8 minute video. My first trip was in 89. They were still celebrating Mickey’s 60th birthday, having opened Mickey’s Birthdayland in 88 (Sorry Minnie, you’ll get your respect during the 90th). As part of the celebration, there was a live band on stage. Not one man, not one animatronic, but an actual band. They would congratulate Mickey, and have him come on stage and perform (dance) with them. They would then bring one very lucky child onto that stage, where Mickey would then give them a foot wide pinwheel with his more modern updated “rad” 80s image design.
I didn’t get picked the first time, but I figured out how it worked. There was a cast member next to the stage that would preselect a child. The last child was younger than me, and I was almost 7. That’s pretty old! It looked like she had already picked another “youngster,” but I hung out nearby anyway. She was too scared and didn’t want to do it, so my sweet 6yo self told her confidently “I’ll do it!” I got to go on stage with Mickey him self to help celebrate his birthday, and I still have that pin wheel 32 years later.
In 94, it would be my brothers first visit. Although, he was probably only 2, almost 3 at the time. I could not believe my disappointment! No band. And many windows were blacked out/covered. It was very dark for daytime eating, but it needed to be, because for entertainment, what they did was set up a big screen TV and showed continuous Goofy How To cartoon shorts. Mickey’s Birthdayland was now Mickey’s Starland, but I just remembered how heartbreaking that was to see, feeling like they cheaped out.
But in 96 the Tomorrowland revamp was finished and everyone was celebrating the amazing 25th anniversary of WDW. That was when we all got to experience Sonny for the very first time. Just as before, we always made sure to visit him every trip. So naturally my daughter fell in love, dancing offstage, next to him ever since she was two (we had been going every year since 2015, with only this year being the first we hadn’t).
During our 2020 trip, we got to see him once more, but we did things a bit differently and spent two days at MK back to back. The second night my 7yo wanted to see Sonny again, only he was not there. Thankfully we got to see him the day before, but the next day he wasn’t performing. It was the first of Feb, so no idea what sort of event they had planned. Big Top Gift Shop, which previously was the main stage of the Birthdayland/Starland stage show (all those circus tents are the last remnants of this former area) was closed. I didn’t get to shop there at all that trip because I just assumed I’d always be able to. I think they had an after hours party involving Cosmic Rays and Big Top Gifts.
My daughter was furious and wanted to eat elsewhere. Unfortunately it was late, my husband probably had already paid for our food, and there was not really anywhere else nearby we could go that didn’t already offer what we were buying. I had to tell her the story about how amazing this place was in 89 when I was her age, and the major let down 94 was, but reminded her that she at least got to see him the previous day, and how he would most likely be back next time (assuming we’d be back this year).
I also told her about the pretty neat trick involving the stage. It raises and lowers. I was pretty sure that’s where Sonny goes when he has the night off. In fact, that’s how I found your video. I searched “Cosmic Rays stage” and the very first video (yours was like the third) came up showing the stage raise Sonny, the keyboard, and the Space Angels up into a second floor, with a human performer (this time a DJ) below it, being raised from the Utilidors into Cosmic Rays. I was looking for this proof because anything involving “Tomorrowland Terrace” has that other area that’s almost always closed despite how insane crowds get. But finally! I’m not crazy! I have proof! Just use those keywords.
Talk to me about aliens baby
Eve Krogman for you - anything :)
That's a lot of hair.