Disney World-If You Had Wings (Ultimate Edition)

-There are several different source videos of the fondly remembered Disney World attraction "If You Had Wings" on YT and elsewhere but none individually let you experience the complete attraction from holding area to exit. This compilation/re-edit of mine takes some of the best videos for the most "complete" experience possible.
The source videos utilized for this compilation and their original links are:
-MK Tencennial Footage Part 4 by Lord Pheonix. (For the two segments of the entrance and holding area)
• MK TENCENNIAL FOOTAGE ...
-Vintage 1981 Home Video "If You Had Wings" complete ride by VideoFrom George (for the holding area only). Click this link for his version of the entire ride.
• Vintage 1981 Home Vide...
-The main ride video comes from "Walt Disney World Footage (12/20-21/1986) by CDCB2 (his entire video of the entire park runs over 70 minutes and is spectacular).
• Walt Disney World Foot...
-And finally, brief snippets of the unloading area and exit were taken from "Widen Your World's" 1985 upload of the ride, and also a brief snippet from a March 1988 recording of "If You Could Fly". These areas are synched to an audio only recording that features the exit music heard in the attraction.
-This "ultimate version" is presented to offer a complete version of the attraction. Thanks to those who originally uploaded their various versions to make it possible.

[@czperiod2576]

In 1973 I remember being on this ride, and coming out of darkness into the "speed room" where the airplane was taking off. I still remember the runway ripping by and dropping down as we "took off". 25 years later I became a pilot. And as I did my first solo take off, the only thing I heard was "if you had wings......"

[@Paulajoe]

❤

[@pamela74h]

That song has been stuck in my head since the late '70s

[@scoutsisTYScout_]

Wow...just WOW!!!

[@theshopislocal]

Thats beautiful. This kind of thing is exactly why the parks are so important and beautiful. You never know what experience will inform the rest of a visitor's life.

[@fieryhellkitten]

omg that is awesome

[@Dave711701]

This is the Disney World I like to remember and wish we could go back to.

[@epaddon]

Couldn't agree more. The Disney World of 1975-1993 was the prime period.

[@Dave711701]

@@epaddon Our family made 6 trips to WDW from 1979 to 1989 and we always had the time of our lives while staying there. I started going back again after a 17-year absence from 2006 to 2020 and noticed it was getting way too expensive and much less enjoyable with every visit. All the small details that made WDW a special place was being taken away and over time all those small things turn into one big thing. It's so sad what WDW has become, younger people have no idea how much more wonderful this place once was.

[@epaddon]

@@Dave711701 That was a great period. My last "classic" visit was May 1993 (my twelfth overall since 75) and what was great was that only "If You Had Wings" and the Mickey Mouse Revue had disappeared from the original attractions but everything else was still intact and had been supplemented with Splash Mountain while EPCOT was still in its original prime and MGM was still largely new and exciting. Little did I know that I had visited just in the knick of time before ill-advised closings and makeovers took place to destroy that starting with the Hall Of Presidents one month after I'd been there, followed by the Tomorrowland overhaul misfire, the loss of 20K Leagues and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. EPCOT lost its uniqueness and MGM became neglected and not very distinctive any longer. My one time back since was in 2004 and so much had changed by that point and since then what I've seen on video of other changes hasn't been an improvement. New rides aren't geared toward the whole family since they usually involve violent motion and shaking until you get sick (which is why I didn't dare do Mission Space in EPCOT). "New Fantasyland" was a wasted opportunity that ended up costing us another classic Dark Ride in Snow White. Thank goodness these classic rides lived long enough into the age of camcorders because even though they're not HD quality they still are good enough to make the memories endure.

[@Dave711701]

@@epaddon You summed it all up perfectly and the latest thing they're doing right now is turning Fort Wilderness into a homogenized DVC resort. Glad you liked the If You Had Wings attraction and thanks for posting the video. I actually worked for Eastern Airlines out of Logan Airport in Boston as a ramp agent from 1988 until the end of 1990 right before they closed operations forever. That was my first real job I had right out of high school and got a couple of free flights to Orlando as a benefit, oh how I miss those days!!

[@jeannien9029]

“You do have wings. You can do all these things. You can widen your world.” Great message for a little kid in the 80s and certainly now, 40 years later, when I feel stuck in my routine. Think I’m gonna make this my mantra!

[@eth39232]

This is the Tomorrowland that I loved and miss.

[@MrMark7462]

I first went there in 1972. Space Mountain wasnt even finished yet. But this ride with the Jamaican cop directing traffic and the end where the wind blows and makes you feel like your going fast is my best memory of old disney

[@GreatDarkSpot]

It's a Bahamian cop!

[@epaddon]

@@trubenstudios4063 Who knows it may well have been, since he did do a movie for Disney in this era! ("The World's Greatest Athlete")

[@ourtravelingzoo3740]

When I went in 76 they still used tickets. This ride didn’t cost any tickets so I rode it a LOT

[@dianefrmny11]

Yes! It was a freebie! I was only 4 and while I was too scared to go on Haunted Mansion, my mom would take me through a few times while we waited for Dad and my brothers. I still sing it today!

[@TheSamLowry]

It blows my mind that those kids waving at their mom are probably now in their 60s. This was such an amazing ride, and I keep wishing it could be brought back somehow. I remember that someone even tried to start a project to recreate it in the Unreal engine, years ago....

[@JustJaneOYVEY]

I was nine in 1973..yes I'm 60...

[@bluxe7372]

The music back then was so warm and comforting.

[@yaywhewclips242]

Memories!! This and Carousel of progress (at Tomorrowland) were free rides when the A-E ticket system existed.

[@yaywhewclips242]

BTW a very cool ride. Imagine if U took acid and rode this!!

[@Mr17051963]

The Circle Vision theater was a free ride, too. I still have some of those A-E tickets with me. Good memories!

[@peterlutz7191]

I worked this ride, as a 3rd lead back in 1975.Thanks for posting.

[@phantpwr]

My earliest, fondest memories of WDW is this ride!

[@TariusShinobi]

I loved that Ride and I still love the Song!

[@cynthiaabbott1945]

Same! Loved this ride.

[@patricke170]

Same here

[@timh36]

I too had such fond memories of this ride, I was so disappointed to see it go.

[@traveller112]

Yes! I was 5 on my second trip to Disney World (first trip I was under 2 yrs old and remember nothing) and this ride always stuck with me. Loved it!

[@allisons3663]

Brings back such great memories of a happier and simpler time.

[@Todd1356]

Indeed it does.

[@theshopislocal]

This is cracking me up thinking of how often people get disappointed these days when a ride is just screens 🤣 not a new concept, and a well done screen ride can be fun.

[@michaelhoffman4470]

I think the difference is this ride isn't like a modern ride where you're looking at one giant screen in each room essentially. It had sets and everything else they use smaller screens within it Maybe the substitute for animatronics. The ending projections all over the ceiling and the walls are just cool. If a modern ride did that again with the 180° screen all around you I'm all for that.

[@theshopislocal]

@@michaelhoffman4470 I agree!

[@hroch8587]

My first favorite ride at WDW. To be young again and ride it one more time.....

[@willyjoerockhead]

Whoever filmed this...thank you for not moving the camera all over the place.

[@willyjoerockhead]

It would have been great if Disney kept this ride with the Eastern airlines advertising since the company doesn't exist anymore people would love the nostalgia.

[@SaraHouck461]

Now I know why there are many firm believers in nostalgia being a virtue instead of just being treated like one.

[@kryptism]

The Delta Airlines version sucked!😮

[@pamela74h]

I remember going in the late seventies, this was one of the rides that you could get on fairly quick to cool down and it was relaxing.

[@grease58]

YES! When it was REALLY hot outside, we'd make a beeline to this ride and it felt SOOOO good!!

[@RobRVA]

I used to love this one. The part where it was going super fast thru the various scenarios was the best part. And it was free no ticket 🎫 required.

[@PatriciaFreddy]

Why do I feel like we will never going to be this happy again? Feels like US theme parks will never go back to this happy mood like we used to have.

[@cathyizzo7886]

I feel the same way 😢

[@johnhoward3042]

You just got older, that’s what happened.

[@TheUsualSuspekt]

Because there's more people in the world and they're visiting in droves. Used to be there were certain months to avoid Disney. Now its year round

[@BeCreativewithTerryJeanette]

We use to go on this ride to rest and cool off. We road it several times whenever we went to Disney World, which was often because we lived about an hour from it. Thanks for sharing this.

[@courtheath5138]

It took me 10 years to get that out of my head “If you had wings had wings had wings” and tonight it returned lol. Also, “Please step left into the Rotunda - Thank you” ( Hall of Presidents). GREAT SHARE !!!! Great memories.

[@sosaix3545]

Nicely done! My mom worked for Eastern from 1963 until their closure in 1991 and this was always one of my favorite rides at WDW as a result. I was at WDW two months ago with my wife and kids and my parents to celebrate their 50th anniversary and while walking through Tomorrowland, you can hear a synthesizer version of "If You Had Wings" play on the audio loop they play. So awesome!

[@epaddon]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing your memories of the ride! I remember so well Eastern's identification as the "official airline of Walt Disney World" in those days.

[@pip12111]

I just read an article that Eastern Airlines is going back into buisness. With the hub at JFK, and 777 service to the Caribbean,and Asia

[@sosaix3545]

@@pip12111 ugh, don't get me started on that. It's a company called Dynamic using Eastern's name and intellectual property, except they're going in a whole different direction with new logos, branding, etc. and may as well leave the Eastern IP alone.

[@ENTERTAINMENT35]

Are you freaking kidding me!!!??? That is so awesome

[@jhagestad]

THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for sharing this! As a young kid who was fortunate enough to frequent WDW annually in the 70’s, I love all this nostalgia! Thank you for bringing some joy into this 50 year old’s heart! 🍻

[@epaddon]

You're welcome! That was a great time to visit WDW. I wish that version was still around today.

[@jhagestad]

@@epaddon Yes definitely! I look back fondly at the 70’s and 80’s as the height of dark ride excellence. Peter Pan’s Flight and Mister Toad’s Wild Ride are other good examples of high quality imagineering along with every future world dark ride at EPCOT. Universe of Energy blew my mind with those giant trackless vehicles. Only recently with Ratatouille, Rise of the Resistance, and Runaway Railway are we seeing worthy implementation of the U of E trackless technology along with improved visual surroundings to see a resurgence in high quality dark rides. I hope to one day get to enjoy them in person, but for now am grateful that others post videos that allow folks like me to ride along! Cheers!

[@1FatHappyBirthday]

Love this ride!!! Sad it's gone.

[@______9322]

My favorite. And it was free!!!

[@GreatDarkSpot]

First went to WDW when I was 8 in 1975 and they had the tickets for rides. I loved Tomorrowland because this and the WEDway People Mover were free and I just rode them over and over - the lines were not long, either. Eastern: The Wings of Man.

[@jameslatta6813]

Thank you so, so much for editing and posting this. I came upon it totally by accident and my mind was completely blown with the sounds and sights. I had memories of this attraction in my brain, but they were dormant and I would have never thought of them again, without viewing this magnificent tribute. My Mom worked at WDW for a decade. 1971-1981. She would take me and my friends to work with her, sign us in at the main gate and then meet us after work and we would go straight back into the part. She had Disney in her heart & soul since she was a child. Cheers and thanks again for your fine work and the original sources for their archival footage and memoralizing these precious memories.

[@epaddon]

Thanks for your kind comments! That was a special era of WDW history. I'm so glad that these video tributes can help keep our memories of them fresh in our minds instead of going dormant, as you say.

[@kevburk1]

From a time when most of us didn't get to travel to exotic places, this ride was so enchating and a true "Flight of Fancy." I miss it, like some of you one of my earlier WDW memories.

[@terrywigsell305]

Great to hear the theme music again fond memories what a pity it has gone

[@Lillylilster]

I remember riding this with my grandma. She loved it. I miss her so much ❤

[@Geee1986]

I loved this ride! Back in the 70s when you purchased a ticket book for rides (hence the name E-Ticket ride) this ride was free. And it was good! Thank you for posting.

[@michelehood8837]

I’ve had this song stuck in my mind since ‘79, the first time my parents took me to WDW.

[@bluxe7372]

Sadly any ride without a character tie in and merchandise sale potential has no place in Disney now. Everything is about bright neon painted spinning figures that are for sale in the gift shop. Sad.

[@wwlittlejOfficial]

Well... it had promotional items tied in, there was Eastern Airlines merch for sale back in those days at Disney. And nothing in the 70s was bright, it was all dull beige and brown, a roll back from the psychedelic 60's... To assume Disney NOW has interest in character tie-ins is pretty ignorant.. fucking MICKEY MOUSE????

[@sydneypadgett3548]

This whole ride was literally one long commercial that Eastern Airlines paid for lmao

[@KCFlyer2]

When we took our daughter in 2000 it seemed that every ride ended in a gift shop. They didn't do that back in the 70's

[@RAINPlaysGamesOfficial]

The only 2 that is still here without a character tie in that you can think of is Mission Space and Test Teack

[@bluxe7372]

A sponsorship tie in isn't quite what I was talking about jackoff.

[@jasonmariani1258]

I cannot believe the rush of memories I felt when I watched this. It’s truly beautiful ty so much!

[@ronaldhepp6405]

When you ran out of tickets... I would go on it over and over again the fact that it was free and fun.

[@keywestconcheyes6262]

This was absolutely one of my all-time favorite rides! Thank you SO much for putting this together...what memories!! :)

[@cherylburkett6112]

Us, too!!! We went in 1975 on our honeymoon and rode this so many times. We could sing that song in our heads forever. So thankful to KZbin for letting us relive it😍

[@cynthiaabbott1945]

Same! I absolutely loved it! I can't believe I'm watching this in 2020, and remember the details of this ride. I really miss it.

[@susansname]

Loved it! Step in from the hot sun into cool AC, no line usually, and so much fun

[@mickeysmyspiritanimal223]

Thank you so very much for this video! 🥰 I visited WDW in 1975 and again in the early 80s as a very young child and this ride was THE ride that had the most impact on my memories and love of WDW! Sadly, no other WDW ride has affected me the same way! 🥳💜❤️🎉🥰

[@garystewartmma1972]

When we went to WDW, the first ride we went on every year was “If you had Wings.”

[@humanwaves497]

OMG , I remember this. I still sing this song now and then. Lol

[@roscoegarbonzo9966]

Salivating these ole attractions! It was so nice to take a load off your feet back then on a hot & busy day! The C virus brought me here, Don't take anything for granted

[@Geek_Chorus]

This was the first ride on my first visit (of many and many, even worked there for a time) to WDW. This ride will always hold a special place in my heart. Ah the sweet memories!

[@chrissydisibio2779]

Look at the lack of lines - I miss the days of little lines

[@timh36]

Indeed there were only a few times a year that you'd see little lines at Disney, nowadays I don't think there are hardly any slow times.

[@coltonandjen]

I mean to be fair, this ride was never popular, even on busy days it almost never exceeded a 15 minute wait

[@laamor99]

I remember this ride, and it was one of my favorite! I also miss Maelstrom in Epcot, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Magic Kingdom’s Skyway, Ft Wilderness River Ranch, and now Splash Mountain. All those were great memories!

[@jasonhoffman218]

Best ride to cool down and relax,where the old lady,gave you an Old Fashion

[@snarkus63]

The whole ride was put together in less than a year,for a then-largely empty Tomorrowland....Space Mountain and the Peoplemover had not yet opened...it had no animatronics or real special effects,and had nothing to do with the future. It was basically a ride-through commercial for Eastern Airlines. .....and don't think that I wouldn't jump at the chance to ride it again.

[@johnhoward3042]

I went as a child in 1972 and flew Eastern Airlines down there. The tie-in with the ride made me a fan of Eastern.

[@ScientificallyStupid]

Thank you so much for this! I still remember this ride from my first visit-at the age of 7- to the Magic Kingdom, in 1984. The fact that I enjoyed what's basically a very expensive commercial for Eastern Airlines, rather than a Disney-produced e-ticket attraction like The Haunted Mansion, has been a family in-joke ever since. I can't believe I still remember that song! "If youuuu had wings, had wings, had wings...", I was singing it even before I clicked the "play" button.

[@boo234p]

We flew Eastern to Orlando the very first summer wdw was open. Thanks Dad..Great ride and wonderful memories. Thank you

[@sundayschoolmama]

I loved this ride...one of my favorites! I wish they could bring it back with the same speed, but with a more updated content. Tomorrow Land could another ride like this!

[@greenpurl8482]

I went to Disney World the year it opened and this is the ride I remember the most. At one point it felt like we were racing and I remember looking down and seeing that the ride was barely moving - it was all manipulated by the videos and fans to make it feel that we were racing.

[@cgfllagc84857]

We vacationed there quite a bit as I was growing up in the '70s and '80s. Watching this really took me back - there was so much I'd forgotten! Thank you for putting this together!

[@randykoger4646]

I think of all that is gone from WDW I truly miss this ride most of all. It was so much fun and so simple and sweet.

[@veromikes]

My favorite childhood memories are in this attraction.

[@RobertoTheOriginalManFromTheA]

I forgot the name of this ride,but we rode it all the time!!. God!..I remember that song,those birds!..

[@jeanettesmith765]

I loved that ride! I miss it and Horizons!

[@kristinschermann6581]

I miss this ride SO much! I think it was almost a poor-man's Soarin'!

[@willyjoerockhead]

When I would ride this as a little kid i was trying to understand how it went so fast when we got to the (fast room) racing cars etc. I was scared that it was going to go fast again when we were to exit. My friend finally explained that it goes the same speed at all times and that it just seems like we are going fast.

[@Marcsnowguitar]

I was there in 1982 when I was 9. I had clear memories of the films inside but I couldn't remember the name of this attraction. I knew Eastern Airlines. Good to see rhis video now I'm 52🥹

[@thehaydenwaltbradleychanne702]

Awesome Job, I'm 19 so I'm to young to have ever ridden this ride. But I have basically grown up with the extinct version of Disney that my parents remember when they were kids.

[@paul16451]

Loved this ride and still remember it as being the only one we didn't have to use any tickets out of the book for. And remember my dad using the travel agency at the exit to book the business trip he had to make following our Dismey stay.

[@kevinevans5921]

We got on that every year we went in the late 70’s and early 80’s

[@kevinevans5921]

Katie Law 50

[@Rompler_Rocco]

My first glimpse of the big blue people mover seats was immediately etched into my brain as a child. And the birds. And the wind machines. Possibly my first Disney ride experience.

[@chriscassino6063]

That cool gush of air when you took off!

[@recursiveidentity]

I was two in 1974 when I first rode this. It was always my favorite. The air blowing in your face in the speed room. And I loved that you could see the ride from up above on the People Mover. That was formative!

[@marcdich9066]

Yes I remember this ride I would have been for maybe five years old maybe six when I wrote it I did not realize this would be the last time I would write it for it would be several years later before I would visit Disney again as a teenager and then after that I have not been back cents for now I live in Ohio but I remember this ride and I remember Disney of the old days this is win Disney was great not it probably isn’t now but this was a fun time of Disney what memories

[@lynarw2448]

The flamingos with the traffic cop! 😂 I forgot about them. What a great ride (except for the part about singing that song for the rest of the day 😉).

[@chrisg7236]

Thank you for finding this treasure and posting it! What a great memory! I haven't seen that ride or heard that song since 1973. It was my favorite ride!

[@Anguilla2001]

One of my favorite rides, I drove my parents crazy taking this over and over again

[@Paulajoe]

This brings me back to my first (of many) visits to Disney World in the early years, and I remember how much my grandfather loved this ride... thank you for this and bringing back some awesome memories!!!

[@maxie865]

1978 I remember this like I was on it yesterday lol I would be 15 not 60 lol. Now parts of this attraction reminds me of other attractions now. A little bit of soaring in this old attraction.

[@tonysantiago255]

Thanks for sharing this and bringing back memories of one of my favorite rides way back in the way back. That song was an immediate earworm and the mirrored room gave you an amazingly submersive experience. Great fun.

[@joeb6245]

Memories of a simpler time. It was wonderful.

[@emomuzz5883]

I had to have ridden this and the Medway People Mover 100x ! Screw space mountain! Thanx 4 the awesome memory!

[@loogoo]

The very first attraction I visited on my very first visit to Disney World in 1972! No ticket was needed and Tomorrowland wasn't even really "finished" yet, but it left an indelible impression on me.

[@bas1010]

Loved this, one of my favorites

[@davidnorman4786]

This makes me feel so old. I rode this repeatedly back in the 70's. That's when you didn't have to pay $45 to get to the front of the line. When we returned to Disney, it was one of the rides I ran for. And now, I look at it. And it's crap. Don't get me wrong. The nostalgia is there. But imagine if you showed up today at Disney and this was their big new attraction. I miss those days.

[@joeym6730]

I always wondered what this ride was like. Thank you for sharing this!

[@chuck8925]

Remember this ride well although 40 years ago. Such great memories

[@bonnafide2606]

I remembered being freaked out by one of the last projector rooms (the mountains projection) back in 1980. I thought the drop off to the left and right of us might have been as sheer as the mountains were. The ride track is probably only a few feet above the floor, in reality, but it seemed cavernous in the dark. Thinking back, I'm pretty certain that I've ridden every incarnation of this ride, including the temporary change to Dreamflight back in 1996 before the conversion to Buzz Lightyear.

[@epaddon]

That experience when you passed from the Speed Room to the Mirror Room always created a false sensation that you'd just dropped and were free-falling and then as you say the mountain projections also added to the illusion (plus I recall how the air conditioner was even cooler in the Mirror Room to accompany the mountain visuals).

[@leonphelps1901]

I loved this ride

[@bostrickland4970]

Love ❤️ this

[@cynthiaabbott1945]

Disney has changed so much and not in a good way. It's truly sad.

[@akoww1000]

WDW is all about getting as many people as they can into the park to make the most money. I stop going in 2010 when I went during what was the slow season. rides that used to be under a 30min wait were an hour and a half and the big rides were two hours to 3 hours. Now I heard some rides are over four hours waiting in line. I read there isn't a slow season now too lol

[@Chloe-lw5ti]

Akow Just because you have to wait in a line doesn’t make Disney bad.

[@kylehill3643]

@@Chloe-lw5ti He means LONG lines. During slow season you could almost walk on with very short lines like no more then at a grocery store on a mild day. If you had fast pass it would be a waste to use a lot of times.

[@zoso73]

@@Chloe-lw5ti But not just waiting in line. Charging $10 for a pen to get autographs from the characters ... Look, i realize it's a public company and they have an obligation to make money for their shareholders, but it's just out of control today compared to the 70s and 80s.

[@mk202]

Agreed. I have no idea how they hope to sustain Epcot Center with what they have done to it. They have completely ditched the whole point.

[@JohnnyT002]

I just wanted to say Thank You for the memories. My Mother Loved this ride and every time we went to Disney World she would take us on this ride. 👍👍👍👍.

[@cornjobb]

if this were around today, the flight attendant would come over and advise you to shut everything off for takeoff and then you'd get in a fistfight with a dumpy, angry, maskless insurance salesman from jacksonville

[@cathyizzo7886]

All time favorite ride. I think part of the reason is that it was the first time being on such a fully immersive ride

[@justimagine2403]

LOVED this ride. Simple - visual - cool. I actually did get to do Dunn's River Falls. (its in Jamaica).

[@fluffyotter1601]

Thanks for the memories! Loved this ride and Eastern Airlines!

[@marcokeller3575]

Remember this from 1979, thank you

[@wdwnutjm]

My very first ride in Disney World was "If you could fly" in 1987 - a different song and different sponsor but mostly the same! Thanks for sharing - I still think of it.

[@kristinschermann6581]

My sister & I still sing s this song' ' if you had wings, had wings, had wings' 🎶

[@jesusfirstto-the-pointendt4552]

What memories. Thank you for sharing this.

[@thebabyhumanist1964]

This was low-tech AF by Disney park standards, but it's still my favorite. I miss it so much!

[@whodatpat504]

I remember riding this with my parents ❤. Brings back memories thank you for this

[@peaceandpurposepodcastwith4170]

This really was the precursor to Soarin’ (now my favorite ride)

[@kryptism]

I would take this over Buzz Light-year anytime!😮

[@bonnafide2606]

Admission free: a nice thing to see during the ticket Era 😆

[@lildeena1]

Born in 72 I remember this ride I think I road on it around 76-78 then it changed to Delta flight.

[@christopherveil7001]

Thank you for taking the time to post this and allowing me to go down memory lane. Your efforts are appreciated.

[@sarahmcmann5253]

My parents love this ride

[@michaeldunetz90]

I went on this when I was 8 years old in 1971.