This ride's history actually begins in 1976, when it was decided to remove the old Fantasyland Theater in Disneyland and install a ride, based on the 1940 Disney film about the boy puppet, into its location.

It was originally intended for the guests to ride in cars designed to resemble Geppetto's wood-carved toys.  However, it was all put in storage for a while before being revived for the opening of Tokyo Disneyland in 1983.

It then came to Disneyland a month and a half later as part of the complete overhaul of Fantasyland.  Just as originally planned, it is where the Fantasyland Theater originally stood.

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