Magic Mountain Is Removing Two Classic Rides, Including One With A Connection To Disneyland

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It’s always disappointing when a favorite amusement park ride closes. However, how upset people get usually depends on how popular the ride was. For example, when Six Flags closed Kingda Ka, a record-breaking roller coaster, fans were deeply saddened.

Most people probably won’t be surprised to hear that Six Flags Magic Mountain, famous for its thrilling roller coasters, is taking down two of its smaller children’s rides. But it’s worth paying attention, because one of these rides has a long and interesting past – it actually goes back to the early days of Disneyland.

Two Magic Mountain “Kiddie Rides” Are Set For Demotion

KTLA in Los Angeles reports that Magic Mountain is planning to remove two rides. Though the park hasn’t officially announced it, descriptions of the rides being demolished – a steel swing and a small steel roller coaster – strongly suggest they are Tweety’s Escape and the Magic Flyer.

We don’t know yet what will take the place of these closed attractions. A new and unique “suspended motorbike coaster” is currently being built, and it’s possible the closures are connected to that project, but they might be happening for other reasons entirely.

The future of these attractions is uncertain. Although they’re being taken down, they’re small enough to be moved to a new location instead of being demolished. I’m hoping at least one of them, especially the Magic Flyer – which has historical significance – can be preserved and relocated.

Magic Flyer’s Original Home Was A Major Influence For Disneyland

The Magic Flyer roller coaster at Magic Mountain has quite a past! It’s been around for 70 years. Originally named the Little Dipper, it operated at Beverly Park (also known as Kiddieland) in Los Angeles from 1943 until 1974, before being moved to Magic Mountain in 1970.

David Bradley bought Beverly Park in 1945 and personally oversaw the construction of the Little Dipper, a very early steel roller coaster. The park became so popular with local families that his wife, Bernice, left her job at Walt Disney Studios to help him run it.

The story is that when Walt Disney learned Bernice, his head of Story Research, had taken a job at Beverly Park, he decided to visit it himself. Walt was already thinking about creating his own amusement park, and he befriended the owner, David, to learn everything he could about running one. Over the next several years, Walt often took his daughters to Beverly Park, continuing his research by observing what kids enjoyed most. Ultimately, what Walt Disney experienced at Beverly Park heavily influenced the creation of Disneyland.

Walt Disney wasn’t immediately keen on adding roller coasters to Disneyland; in fact, the park didn’t get its first one for several years after opening. But when the Matterhorn Bobsleds were designed, Bob Gurr, the designer, chose to build them with steel, similar to the Little Dipper coaster.

It would be great if the Magic Flyer/Little Dipper coaster wasn’t lost for good. Hopefully, a smaller amusement park will be able to buy and use it. Because it was built to be moved easily, it could even work at a temporary location, and it would be a fantastic addition. If no park is interested, perhaps the Walt Disney Archives would want it – they might be able to acquire a piece of their history without a large investment.

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2025-12-11 01:38