Have you ever wondered what happened to Walt’s plane after it was removed from the Studio Back Lot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Well after the famous plane, known as “The Mouse”, was recently spotted from high above, we now have the answer. Satellite Imagery shows the plane in good condition and out of public sight.
There were some initial reports that the plane was severely damaged and maybe even crushed, while it was being moved to a backstage location elsewhere on property. We now know that isn’t the case thanks to recent satellite images.
The twin prop plane is surrounded by barricades and being kept safe in a restricted backstage area.
The area is easily recognizable as the wastewater treatment plant operated by the Reedy Creek Improvement District. As we mentioned the area is off-limits so it’s best not to try to sneak a peek.
If you’ve ever experienced The Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, chances are you’ve seen “The Mouse” – a white airplane with a Mickey Mouse icon on its tail. Before it made its home as part of the attraction the plane was actually used by Walt Disney himself.
The plane has a storied past and was used from everything from giving Walt a bird’s eye view to survey the future Walt Disney World property to shuttling Imagineers over to Florida to start their work on the project.
Walt purchased the Grumman Gulfstream 1 (G1) in 1964, and worked with his wife, Lillian, to select the plane’s interior design and color scheme. The plane seated 15 and featured a galley, two couches and a desk. Walt even designed his own special seat in the plane, which was in the rear left cabin. The seat was equipped with a special altimeter and air-speed gauge, which Walt added to satisfy his endless curiosity about flying.
The tail number on the plane has been N234MM since 1967, but it was N732G back when Walt Disney used the plane. Back then the plane was known as “George”. The new tail number of N234MM was originally called by the proper designation of “two three four metro metro,” but soon the FAA replaced the “metro metro” with “Mickey Mouse,” and so it was known for the remainder of its life.
The plane’s first trips took Walt and his Imagineers to and from California and New York to oversee the final preparations for Disney’s contributions to the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Later that year, Walt (pictured above, center) began surveying land in Central Florida, considering the site a possibility for his second theme park.
The plane also led Walt to find inspiration for the look of one classic Disney attraction. According to Mark Malone, son of Pilot Chuck Malone, Walt spotted El Morro fortress while flying over San Juan, Puerto Rico, and remarked that it would be the perfect look for his new Pirates of the Caribbean, which at the time was still in the planning phase.
In addition to taking Walt on his secret trips, the plane also took Disney characters on goodwill tours and visits to children’s hospitals around the United States. An estimated 83,000 passengers have flown aboard the plane, including Disney animators and several famous faces, including former Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, as well as Disney Legends Julie Andrews and Annette Funicello.
One of the most exciting things you may notice is the fact that it appears as though the plane has been repainted to its original colors. In some photos found on Nearmap by Blog Mickey you can see a much closer look at the plane and it looks like it’s in great condition.
Take an inside look at this amazing piece of history in the video below.
The airplane’s last flight took place Oct. 8, 1992, when it touched down on World Drive, west of Disney’s Hollywood Studios before it became part of The Back Lot Tour. What is most important is that it looks like Disney is taking good care of it and we hope the fact that it’s been repainted means that it will eventually end up on display again somewhere.