How Galaxyland looked in 1983! - From Fantasy to Galaxy - Part 1 - Best Edmonton Mall

The History of Galaxyland at West Edmonton Mall begins over 35 years ago, when the park first opened as Fantasyland in 1983. It was part of the Phase II expansion of what was the world's largest mall. Originally planned as a single phase amusement park, it was a well-rounded, universally themed, and was the world's largest indoor amusement park.
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This video series would not be possible without the generous contributions of footage of both classic Fantasyland, and Galaxyland. So, please subscribe to these channels to support those who supported this production with their awesome interviews and equally awesome footage:
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[@BestEdmontonMall]

Part Two: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3mnp4d9ostphpo

[@jonengler1296]

Boy, even with an older design, it looks so much more classier than what it ended up becoming.

[@ryanh6732]

Did you know? At Entrance 12 on the outside, near the Mindbender, there is a remenant of Fantasyland. Despite the fact that WEM covered it up with concrete and slapped the name of the mall onto it, you can still see the sides of the logo, and where the letters were on the bottom.

[@crystalbrown3728]

Yes I have seen it.

[@crystalbrown3728]

If you go into galexyland you can see an old entrance were the stairs are buy the operations offices are but I think it’s covered by a false wall

[@kellyburke3529]

11 years old in '83. I was there for it all. Thanks for the memory jog!

[@owellafehr5191]

I never realized that the kids' play park area was so different in Fantasyland vs. Galaxyland. I loved the Galaxykids Play Park so much; it was always my favourite part of the mall and I remember I cried in public when I got too tall to go in ;_;

[@loneeagle8298]

I remember playing tag in there untill I was about 15 at the Safeway picnic party. Use to lie to get in by saying I had to look after my younger brother. Good old days.

[@owellafehr5191]

@@loneeagle8298 Ahh lucky you!

[@shanesutton336]

My little sister is 13 years younger then me, so I got to play in there into like my 20’s with her. So much fun. I enjoyed playing in there as a kid, then I got to enjoy watching my little sister play in there when she was a kid.

[@fishygamesandshorts2895]

This is so good I love how it’s on a Friday week day I got school grade 6 9:00 is a best time I will be there

[@Waisonian]

Wow, the nostalgia! The feels!

[@scottysoften]

😩 2 days seems like forever! At least we know we this weekend is going to be fantastic! Can't wait!!!

[@mikeross880]

This is the best vintage Fantasyland/Galaxyland vid by far as it unlocks so many memories. The mountain and haunted cavern(Merlin's Lab) were my top favourites. But by far my second most favourite was the oversized building blocks which were actually a ground level maze with mirrors and carpet on the walls(you didn't actually climb up it) I lost count how many times I got lost crawling around in there. One time I remember it took a whole hour to find the exit but tons of fun all the same. I miss the old Fantasyland, it had a certain charm and character that i've never seen with Galaxyland today.

[@olekstormantovski8096]

4:16 oh man I had some good memories at that McDonalds. Puts a smile on my face just seeing it again.

[@crystalbrown3728]

I still can’t belive they toke it out. It was always busy and replaced it with a crapy small location in the food court

[@betholomaus]

@@crystalbrown3728 I always went to the one is phase 3 and the theater next to it lol. Some of my best and only memories from that age are at the phase 3 one

[@AltaGame]

Does anyone remember this McDonald's prior to looking as shown in this video? It was twice as wide and deep with 2 sides to it. One side having more of a children's theme with TV's showing Disney movies, the other side was just normal tables.

[@crystalbrown3728]

@@betholomaus me too

[@hollye142]

I couldn’t imagine what it would be like without you BEM guy, all of this would be lost forever. Thanks for everything you do

[@mark_omega]

I forgot about that animated fishing guy!!!!!!!!! I used to just stare watching him wow thanks

[@Can8ian.]

My most memorable childhood birthday was at West Edmonton Mall. We ate at McD's, then spent the afternoon in Fantasyland. I believe it was 1984 but this video is just how I remember it. My family lived in West Edmonton Village also developed by the 5 brothers, so we often got free passes for mall attractions... those were the days. :)

[@burtbakerack1110]

Mystery mountain was a lot of fun. Great memories.

[@storethings7632]

love the video, I like the idea of a long form series that goes through the complete history of something in one swoop, and that ending was awesome lol

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Haha, thanks! I'm really excited about this series

[@STGGamings]

Another banger video man! I remember that balloon in the kids area, and riding that all the time. Those tunnels were so fun, going from level to level. My father and i we used to go almost every weekend, he liked that there was much to do and his favorite used to be the food court Harveys. Awes seeing those videos and pics makes me miss what it used to be. A Memory, a great memory. Again great video! Keep up the great work.

[@crystalbrown3728]

I do not rember the ballon going up and down in the kids play place. I rembe the play place but not the ballon

[@cowboylike_zoe]

great video can’t wait for the next part

[@Keesik.327]

I sure miss all the plants that were all over the mall especially the palm trees. The palm trees I believe were shipped in from Florida sometime in the early 80s. Palm trees and fountains are a rare sight in northern malls nowdays unfortunately

[@TWLIV]

The teaser at the end of this puts Marvel to shame! Great video - can't wait to see the next video in the series!

[@Colin12475]

I was here when I was younger and it is exactly as I remembered; the domino maze and balloon race and giant climbing blocks not to mention the giant water park.

[@archerygirl_ab]

I can't wait to see the continuation of this series. I love being able to see the transformation through the years, especially the early stuff.

[@cassandrarichard5586]

Loved fantasyland! Best was that long slide at the top of the rock climb. So much fun. I remember climbing that over and over again. Swings are still my favourite! Ah to be a kid again 🙂

[@DueysVaping]

Great video super interesting how much a history there is here at home

[@spyagent]

Thanks for another awesome video!

[@sabrinamiller3671]

I'm so excited! My weekend is officially made!

[@sabrinamiller3671]

I love this video!! I remember well Fantasy World (the kids section)! My favorite part was the creepy caverns with all the animatronics! I'm so disappointed there's no footage of that, but I'm still delighted that you can find footage of old Fantasyland/Fantasy World! I remember going on my 8th birthday, and having a blast!

[@kokaneegold100]

Hello, um I grew up in Elmwood in the late 70's to around 2003. I worked there as a wallgamer/ride operator when I was 15, then maintenance in my 20's I'll be 45, I was one of the many ( MALL RATS) lol in my early teens. There used to be puppet shows outside fantasy land, yeah I'm that old, toyworld etc......... I can remember it like yesterday

[@sabrinamiller3671]

Finally, someone else who remembers those puppet shows!!

[@Lucysmom26]

We sound about the same age, I grew up in Callingwood and also remember being a mallrat in the late 80s. Was Toyworld the massive toy store? I remember lining up with my mom and sisters to buy Cabbage Patch Kids whichever year it was that they were huge. Took like 3 hours.

[@ShawnWigginsKafka]

Thank-you for making all these videos. I enjoy them in my small Manitoba town - remembering my visits to the mall. You cover everything so well!!

[@dustinr16]

Awesome. Being born in 1983 I spent many years going to Fantasyland. I only remember the park once the expansion was completed. I loved the play area with the tunnels, rope bridges, slides and ball pits. So many good memories seeing this. Personally I feel like the Fantasyland park was so much better designed and cohesive than Galaxyland is. I don’t remember that balloon ride in the middle of the playcenter ever being a ride. What year did that close? Can’t wait for part II!

[@crystalbrown3728]

Same. I was born in 81 but don’t think I went when it was only the one part. I do not rember the big ballon that whent up and down

[@Equinoxishere]

I almost don't want to go back, as I prefer how I remember it, in its hayday 🎉❤

[@lindsay1065]

dang this is gonna be good

[@mikemorris3890]

I totally forgot about the balloon ride in the middle of the kids area till I saw it again at the 7:19 mark, wow! My parents used to dump my two sisters and I in the play area and go watch a movie (a great idea at the time). I also remember, half way up the 'mountain' there was a small cave with a pot of gold in it. When you reached in to grab the pot of gold it would change into a scary face...I wonder if it's entombed into the mountain with renovations...or if it even exists at all anymore!

[@chonkeyshonkey]

Yay!!! More WEM content!! :D

[@oglostingaming]

as a fellow edmontonian i think it would be really neat to go to wem with you one day and just let you tell me everything you know about wherever it is in the mall we're at

[@owellafehr5191]

While I love Galaxyland, I'd love to have seen the park during its Fantasyland days. I *might* have actually been there when I was very young, but I can't remember it; it changed to Galaxyland when I was only about 1 year old.

[@Goliath146]

December 20th, 1985: A big day for the park as they opened the mindbender roller coaster consisting of 3 loops and many twists and turns and the parks most thrilling ride! June 14th 1986: during a concert the ride was running fine and all of that until the back car of the yellow train wheel axel came off and when it hit the 3rd loop the ride derailed killing 3 and only 1 person survived he still remembers that moment with his friends to this day

[@ferrelli76]

I use to love the puppet shows out by the entrance to the park.

[@sabrinamiller3671]

Dude, I thought I was the only one who remembered those!

[@lumpychucks6457]

I loved the spooky tunnels when I was a kid. Made the whole kids area feel so mysterious compared to discovery zone.

[@kevtech733]

Good video👍🏼

[@s.t.9453]

I have never gone to west Edmonton mall. However it was always a dream of mine. Well it started off with me wanting to go to Disneyland, being a kid of course I would. But my parents told me I would have to save up for it. However soon I met up with someone, and they said that west Edmonton mall was better. They had themed rooms, an amusement park, well you know it all. Well, I have finally saved up enough, but I'm going to have to wait until after covid to go. It's been a dream of mine and when I go, it will be amazing. I can't wait!!

[@owellafehr5191]

I hope you enjoy it! I've been going there since I was a kid and I have such a huge fondness for it.

[@rushbayou5230]

i grew up in WEM.... it was my teen years. i was there for the world record balloon launch it was just before the water park was finished

[@danby01]

I thought I knew Fantasyland well but had no idea of Hometown Hardware impressive! I'd love to see a full view of that mall map you used for this video!

[@owellafehr5191]

dAMN those balloons would have been so fun to ride!!!

[@grahamh8631]

I remember when it was like that.

[@Blendeture]

Bravo!

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Thanks!

[@steff-annedark3166]

My favorite has always been the Galleon! I swear I can smell the water feature in my mind right now

[@rushbayou5230]

lol... lots a familiar names and ppl involved in the making of this vid ;)

[@becketmariner]

I remember they used to have a bananas themed restraunt. It had cargo nets, the interior tried to look like an old sailing ship ie pirate ship. You could see the ice rink from there.

[@endeavourist5287]

I remember getting lost in Fantasyland when I was a little kid and wandering into Merlin's Haunted Laboratory. That animatronic Merlin screamed or something, which scared the fuck out of me. Whoever thought of putting that monster in a children's playground?

[@sean5307]

I have been to he Mall of America and loved it but the West Edmonton Mall looks better. When the covid it gone I think I am going to go. Your videos have really inspired me to go to this Mall. I think I will go to Canada's Wonderland and ride on Via Rail too. Canada has so much to offer. Thanks for the great shows on your wonderful country. I'm really looking forward to going.

[@northernpunx1978]

Loved every minute of my time spent here. I'm so sad they're trashing the mindbender. Angry aswell. Classic things. Amazing memories.

[@mark_omega]

We need footage of the old fantasyland spooky train tunnel!!!!

[@davoohm2779]

Let me tell you I went to "Galaxyland" yesterday and It was an absolute ghost town. Not only do I think it has to do with the closing of the mindbender but also the soulless rebrand of the theme park. They even have the nerve to still call it Galaxyland powered by Hasbro. At this point, calling it Galaxyland would be a huge insult to its legacy. I'd hate to say it but the galaxyland I knew is dying just as the dinosaurs did. Seeing this video tells me just how far this park has fallen. I'd imagine it was probably even better in its early days. I was born in 2004 so I unfortunately did not experience it at the best time. Oh well.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Fantasyland was the OG park, and I feel it was the absolute best.

[@ULTIMATEPATCHES]

Great work, but isn't most of the video footage in this video from 1994?

[@nadinegriffin5252]

My parents used to drop me off at the kiddie area for child care. Well, that or the IKEA ballroom when we used to come to the mall. 😁. Both were great but I was so scared of Merlin that I didn't go in the tunnel part. Fast forward a few years and I almost also lost my lunch on the swinging galleon. Had a hard time getting ahold of the ride operator to stop the rind in time. 🤢

[@Jska5703]

Is there any footage of the original train in fantasy land? I remember it being scary

[@richmoney9348]

Could you do videos on Southgate mall!

[@CoryTheRaven]

Not gonna' lie, I do miss the Victorian theming... I wonder if my love of that style actually started at WEM... Hmmm...

[@betholomaus]

Same like I get they have to keep up with the times or the mall will become irrelevant to tourists and boring to locals but I kinda like the old mall better

[@9merlinengines253]

have you heard of the show called 6Teen, it’s about a group of 6 teenagers and their antics in their mall, and the mall is loosely based off of WEM. pretty much all the episodes are officially (I believe) free on youtube

[@jackgodfrey.]

Can you do an evolution of Galaxyland vid? EDIT: thought it was a mall evolution video.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

That's... what this series is?

[@jackgodfrey.]

@@BestEdmontonMall oh 😂 sry I thought it was a mall evolution vid 😂

[@BestEdmontonMall]

@@jackgodfrey. 😋

[@evileyeball]

The swing of the Century Freeks me the Hell out I hate things like that and I hate 90% of Amusement park rides. When we went on our honeymoon 10 years back my wife got me on the Carousell which was good for me, She also got me on the Little kiddie train which I knew would be fine and got me in Bumper cars which I was OK with too. but Yeah Screw anything that dangles like that swing. Nope Nope Nope.. I also don't like things that spin.

[@bryanzambrano6859]

If you pause at various moments from 6:21- 6:25, look at the right hand corner of the footage and you'll find some sort of statue's hand and what might be part of the Wizard's black robe. Im just assuming things here and I'm not 100% sure what that is (though it has to be some statue of sorts too since it stays wat too still)

[@sabrinamiller3671]

Oh, yeah! I think I spotted it!

[@phyacracka]

Nah it’s the person holding the camcorder. Merlin was behind glass inside. Anyone remember the uneven floor inside? I remember as kids, falling and sliding along the sloped floors. There were a pair of animatronic monsters in the cave at the entrance by the ball pit too.

[@mikeross880]

Yes I tripped and slipped on those floors more than a few times in my youth. I believe it was to give the feeling of going underground to the centre of the earth after entering the cave (Haunted Cavern) as there was also an illuminated orb on the wall across from Merlin's Lab (behind glass) which simulated orange and red lava flowing through it. Also who can forget that creepy soundtrack of Merlin casting his spells from his book as the bats from the bookshelves looked on. Best years of my life back then.

[@evileyeball]

I did have trouble with the Carousell, I couldn't easily get off the horse

[@loneeagle8298]

Some how I don't think that would have been a big problem. Lol

[@betholomaus]

I totally forgot about that McDonalds! How long ago did that close again? Also am I the only one that kinda likes the original Galaxyland(fanatsyland) better? Idk the old mall had such a different feel to it. Also I'm sad because I was born in 2000 and am assuming most of this stuff was changed by that point because I don't remember any of it.

[@mysterycomment1553]

Honestly I think it looked better when it first opened. Never was a fan of the whole space theme as much.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

I loved fantasyland, it's theme was great, it's look was classy.

[@thehappywanderer4230]

It actually had many-- real-- trees to give that “ outdoor “ feel to it. It was phenomenal back then. Today it’s just a pastel looking junkie place.

[@evileyeball]

if COVID has cooled off enough for my friend to have her Alberta wedding next summer in 2022 my wife and I might make a stop back at WEM as it will be our 10th aniversary.and we did our honeymoon at WEM 10 years back. Hopefully we can kick this virus in the ass

[@Razlo5000]

I vividly remember going on that train ride and being terrified (in a great way). Back then it had a raiders of the lost arc / temple of doom type theme complete with jump scare air hoses and animatronic snakes. I rode it again a few years later hoping to experience that thrilling scare again but much to my disappointment, it had been reduced to neon childish crap. It was now galaxyland and it SUCKED!

[@gizzyguzzi]

Never heard of it. Interesting. Lemme guess, gone now? Not the same? Still good or dying, like all the other malls with stores closing down. UhOh, I see, Toyota dealer taking over for Sears! yay

[@yourbestgamer6706]

It used to be so much cheaper to come to galaxy land

[@HiDDENk00l]

I think that McDonald's is now a Dollarama

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Close! It's the Ardene

[@MatecaCorp]

I wish they'd go back to the theme park not looking horrible. The whole "Galaxyland" renovation was a travesty.

[@CannaToker420]

My ex-girlfriend farted in the submarine and a little kid lost his lunch.

[@TheJasonVoorhees]

There was a guy hiding in the train tunnel Halloween 1983... he jumped out and scared ppl... i punched him in the gut 😂