The History of Wizard of Oz Theme Parks: From Walt Disney to Las Vegas! (Part One)

[@TeacupForOne]

*MATT'S MUSINGS:* Which 'Oz' Theme Park would you most want to visit?!

[@thewiz2003]

I would like to visit the old Las Vegas one, but hopefully the new Wizard of Oz land in Australia will capture the magic of this beloved tale.

[@DaRealTaylorPlayz]

Hi, Matt! I actually visited the Land of Oz Theme Park in North Carolina for Autumn at Oz 2019 and I must say: it is ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT. And to answer your question about why the Las Vegas Oz extravaganza was torn down, it got shut down because the whole Oz exhibit was attracting too many children and they wanted more adults to gamble.

[@TeacupForOne]

That must have been so much fun!!!! If I were closer to NC I’d consider making the trip, hopefully one day I’ll get to see it! And that makes total sense about the MGM Grand…I think I’m living proof that it was too appealing for kids 😅 The real lesson here: don’t put a spinning Glinda robot in the casino if you don’t want kids in the casino!

[@marthayipchuck9977]

This is one of your best videos in my opinion! Amazing research, you obviously spent many hours going through the OZ archives. I love watching the old Vegas clips, those were magical vacations, even though your dad was there on business, we had a fabulous time. Not sure if you remember the huge theme park outside, behind the MGM, partially dedicated to OZ, you were very young and it was extremely hot outside. Looking forward to part two.

[@AG_KEMPER]

"The Wizard of Oz" has always been one of my favorite movies (and my mother's, who watched it every year on TV). Of course, I later found out that I'm *ahem* "a Friend of Dorothy", which started my own personal Oz Renaissance and deepened my connection to it. I'd have loved to go to the NC theme park in its heyday!

[@bitchenboutique6953]

That Land of Oz place is giving off serious Sid & Marty Krofft vibes!!!

[@TeacupForOne]

💯!!

[@downtheyellowbrickpod465]

Loving this! Just want to add that there may have been an earlier rides with sprinkled in Oz at the turn of the century and earlier concepts, one being from L Frank Baum himself! Really enjoying this breakdown.

[@TeacupForOne]

Thank you so much, I didn’t know L Frank conceptualized an Oz ride! 🤯 I *just* uploaded part ii if you wanted to take a look, this whole series was supposed to be a quick an easy project and it turned out to be the most ambitious project I’ve done on the channel in ages 🤣😅 Thanks again for the support, seeing an Oz creator give my video their stamp of approval meant the world to me!

[@kcreateful]

This was so well researched and interesting! From the oz puns to the visuals it was a informative and entertaining. Two take aways: 1) it is awesome that you got those experiences as a kid! I’m not jealous. Not at all. I swear. It’s just…. Obviously my childhood wasn’t complete without experiencing that hotel and now I’m just so sad for my past childhood self. 2) you would be an amazing professor of film history. You are more passionate, knowledgeable and engaging than any prof I remember.

[@WilliamTheUnkownShoutout]

This is so great😀.

[@TeacupForOne]

Thanks William!!!

[@softweebtrash]

I was so hurt about the Great Movie Ride closing without my ever getting to go to it- but knowing there was Wizard of Oz themed RESORT in Las Vegas. I am absolutely wounded. I am grateful that growing up I did get to have a tiny piece of Oz through "the Land of Oz" "theme park" in Storybook Land in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It's got very few rides, it's mostly just statues of characters, but it's still pretty cool if you ever find yourself in the midwest. I really wanted to have my wedding there, but it was hard to plan my wedding out of state so it didn't happen :/

[@MissManday]

I have found my male twin. Oz and Disney loving - the best combo.

[@bitchenboutique6953]

Suddenly the cocktail waitress in Swingers makes sense. “I’m a Dorothy.” I never put two and two together before. Of course that’s why she was a Dorothy!

[@TeacupForOne]

I’ve never seen Swingers, but that scene alone sounds hilarious 🤣 I’m adding it to my watch list!!

[@bitchenboutique6953]

@@TeacupForOne oh man it’s so great… the Jon Favreau origin story 😂

[@justimagine2403]

I did the magical show in the MGM Grand Casino. It was pretty epic as at the end, the entire room would like tilt and whirl with the magicians final act. Sadly, this is gone now. And MGM Grand is no longer the largest hotel. It has been far surpassed by The Venetian in Macau.

[@TeacupForOne]

Did the room actually move?? That would have been incredible….I have very vague recollections of the show, my main memory was that one of the magicians was in a cloak near the end and then they magically changed into another performer from within the cloak….does that sound familiar or am I making up memories? 😂 Thanks is for watching!

[@justimagine2403]

Vegas theming and the family rides went the way of the warrior due to low attendance and Parents would leave their kids sleeping on the floor next to them as they gambled. A couple of incidents of children being grabbed or worse and the really low attendance of MGM theme park caused them to go a new direction. And... in Vegas... things change very fast. The hyper theming looked dated very quickly. I must have been there in the sweet spot as I got to see EFX with Michael Crawford. And lions on the way to the theme park and a MONORAIL from MGM to Bally's.

[@TheJFish94]

You forgot to mention that the MGM Grand Vegas also had an amusement park called the MGM Adventure.

[@TeacupForOne]

I don’t think the MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park had any Wizard of Oz specific theming or attractions, did it?

[@bems9546]

Your videos are interesting and entertaining. We all wish we were as talented as you. Quit it. #dontquitit

[@halenarouzer9257]

Is the North Carlina Land of OZ theme park still there? if so, where in North Carlina is there the land of OZ.

[@maximusprime3459]

I'm actually surprised there isnt an actual Oz theme park thats open and operational.

[@TeacupForOne]

I know!!! But we do have the Oz Land opening up in Australia next year, hopefully that will open the door to a bigger Oz presence in theme parks!

[@maximusprime3459]

@@TeacupForOne Sounds good. Hopefully it'll inspire someone here in the States to give Disney a run for its money😂

[@khavon123]

If Disney got it there wouldn’t he just garland or somewhere over the rainbow none of that

[@GageTheMatewielGurl]

Turns out it was because they wanted to appeal to more mature adults

[@U.S.A..]

If you want a real wizard of oz experience read all 14 wizard of oz books . They are way better than the movie . The movie butchered The wizard of Oz butchered it . Read the books for the real experience