Opening on June 26, 1989, Delta Dreamflight replaced If You Could Fly in Tomorrowland’s Omnimover space, transforming the former travelogue into a celebration of aviation history. Initially sponsored by Delta Air Lines, the attraction featured a new layout, original soundtrack, and immersive sets that took guests on a whimsical journey through the golden age of flight, from barnstormers to supersonic jets.
Guests entered through a mock airport terminal, complete with:
- A full-scale Delta 767 nose and cockpit, labeled The Spirit of Delta
- Neon-lit corridors simulating jet boarding tunnels
- Posters of exotic destinations and aviation milestones
The attraction’s narrative unfolded in three acts:
- The Dream of Flight – A pop-up book-style room with hot air balloons, Da Vinci contraptions, and early gliders
- The Golden Age – A 1920s barnstorming air show with biplanes, crop fields, and a pilot stuck in a barn rafter
- The Jet Age and Beyond – Futuristic airports, sleek jets, and a speed tunnel finale with synchronized projections
The soundtrack, composed by Bob Moline (Listen to the Land, Energy: You Make the World Go ‘Round), featured lyrics like:
“This Dreamflight’s bound for non-stop fantasies / To lift us high above the deep blue sea…”
The tone was optimistic, educational, and imaginative, aligning with Tomorrowland’s broader themes of progress and possibility.
Delta ended its sponsorship on January 1, 1996, partly due to financial commitments to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The attraction was briefly renamed Dreamflight, with no changes to the ride experience.
On June 5, 1996, it reopened as Take Flight, now presented by the Tomorrowland Metro-Retro Historical Society—a fictional organization also tied to Carousel of Progress and the Progress City model. All Delta branding was removed, and the theme songs were re-recorded to reflect the new identity.
Take Flight closed permanently on January 5, 1998, making way for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, which still uses the original Omnimover system. Elements of Dreamflight were repurposed:
- The crashed pilot in the barn became a space alien
- Chickens from the barn scene were painted green to fit Buzz’s sci-fi theme
