Plumber's Corner: The Former Fountains of Adventureland

Over the years many things have come and gone in the Magic Kingdom. Attractions, Shops, Toads. But sometimes things stop being as they were but still hang around if only to make us miss the old ways. One such thing are the Fountains of the Magic Kingdom. More specifically the many in Adventureland which are some of my personal favorites. Many of these beautiful works of art lost their magic around the early 2000's. The park attendance was low and water was in short supply in the sun shine state so one by one they started to be turned off. First with signs explaining the drought. Then they stated having plants put in them and soon they were full on planters never to spill their streams of clear water again.

As a Cast Member I would sit by this fountain and read a book on my days off. Bellow we see what came of this peaceful corner.

Now this area is a quite corner near the Pirates of the Caribbean. For several years it was in worse shape as it was a designated smoking area.

Another view of the same fountain and alcove near Pirates of the Caribbean.

Fuente de la Fortuna in it's early days across from Pirates of the Caribbean in Caribbean Plaza.

Fuente de la Fortuna is now a Planter ignored by guest who have other things to detract them in the area. Yeah i'm talking to you Jack.

Another classic fountain in the Pirates gift shop also now a planter.

Plumber's Corner: Catastrophe Canyon

Although the Backlot Tour is a thing of history in its early years it was the star attraction of the then Disney MGM Studios. The main character of that attraction was Catastrophe Canyon. A set piece dressed to look like a canyon in the desert with a working oil industry. She would take guest on dramatic and yet very corny adventure every three and a half minutes. With earth shacking, fire raging, and Water spraying it was a hell of a show to see. After the experience was over guest would be led behind the facade to see her inner workings. Pipes in a maze, color coated for fire water and air. The fire would reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. the air cannons would shoot water over the top of the canyon. and it was always said they were so powerful they could shot a basketball over the Empire State Building. And most impressively was the water 70,000 gallons of it. Moving on and off the set and back to the pipes reset for the next show in three and a half minutes. All and all a pretty cool site to see. 

Fun Fact: Universal was in a race with Disney to open a Studio Park in Orlando and they had plans to have a backlot tour like the one they operate in Hollywood. The plan was to have a similar experience to the canyon on that tour. But when they got wind of Disney's they backed out of the idea. Most of the effects and ideas behind it would wind up in the Earthquake attraction. Their canyon would be looking over the Hollywood Hills not a desert scene.

Plumber's Corner: Fountain of Nations

The fountain of Nations can be considered the center piece of Epcot second only to Spaceship Earth. One of the largest water features on Disney Property, She holds 108,000 gallons and pumps 30,000 gallons every minute. In fact if all of the 324 jets went off at the same time there would be 22,000 gallons of water in the air at once. At night the show enhances with over 1,000 lights powered with the help of 190,000 feet (35 miles) of electrical wiring. 

The fountain is just that a fountain untill every 15 minutes the area music goes down and the show music comes up. below is a list of the tracks played. 

Standing in motion - Yanni

Iron Will Main Theme - Joel McNeely

Flying Circus from the Rocketeer - James Horner

The Rescuers Down Under Main Theme - Bruce Broughton

Day One - John Tesh

Air Battle from Surprise in the Sky - Disney

Mickey's Show - Disney

Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand from the Millennium Celebration - Disney