Believe You Can... And You Can!

I first heard about this special on a Disney podcast called Window to the Magic. I was born in 1984 - one year after the special premiered. I always thought the Fantasyland area of Disneyland had always been the same, but I was wrong about it. I had no idea that attractions of Fantasyland closed one by one until the entire land was completely closed down for renovation. This old special introduced what Fantasyland would be like when it would reopen in 1983.

I like watching heather O'Rourke and Maury Amsterdam introducing the viewers to the new fantasy land section of Disneyland with its expanded attractions.. This vintage Disney special also showed viewers that if you can believe in wishes, anything can be possible.

This program was essentially a 30 minute videotaped commercial for the newly remodeled Fantasyland at Disneyland that was reopening that year. I believe it ran on ABC during prime time. This was all prior to The Disney Channel and way before Disney owned any t.v. stations. Similar programs have aired for Disneyland's 30th birthday and Splash Mountain's grand opening.

Show description:

In this show, Heather O'Rourke, playing herself, goes to Disneyland with her "older brother" who abandons her in the park to meet his girlfriend at the Haunted Mansion. Heather is all excited to meet Mickey and friends when she finds that Fantasyland is closed until further notice. It is then that she meets up with Morey Amsterdam who gives her a preview of the new Fantasyland coming. (Alice in Wonderland the ride, is notably missing since it did not open until Summer of 1984). Shots of the land under construction and some scenes from inside Pinocchio are shown. There are a few songs performed. The program ends with Heather on trial being grilled some Disney villains on whether she is a Believer (in Disney magic?) or not. Snow White comes to her rescue and convinces the jury that she is indeed a Believer. The trial is held at the Carnation Gardens stage.

My mother videotaped this show and my brother and I watched it over and over. In fact, I still have the videotape. It is very unlikely this would ever be released again to the public.