Honey, I Shrunk the Audience Tomorrowland Disneyland

INTRODUCTION

You’re invited to the Imagination Institute’s awards ceremony, where Professor Wayne Szalinksi will accept the Inventor of the Year award. Unfortunately something goes a little wrong when Professor Szalinksi attempts to demonstrate his Dimensional Duplicator and Incredible Shrinking Machine, but don’t worry, you’ll end up none the worse for wear by the end! This 3-D presentation includes a variety of 3-D and other special effects. The Imagination Institute theater is located in Tomorrowland, between the entrance to Space Mountain and Starcade.

ATTRACTION

Pre-show – While waiting outside the theater doors the monitors overhead feature a picturesque sequence of photographs (the attraction is sponsored by Kodak), followed by an introduction to the Awards ceremony by Dr. Nigel Channing, head of the Imagination Institute.

Honey, I Shrunk the Audience – Upon entering the theater do not put on your 3-D glasses until instructed to do so. The show begins backstage at the Imagination Institute, where everyone is waiting for the Inventor of the Year, Professor Wayne Szalinski, to arrive. He finally arrives rather unceremoniously on his out-of-control hoverpod. The ceremony begins and Professor Szalinski starts to demonstrate his Dimensional Duplicator and Incredible Shrinking Machine. But Professor Szalinski’s son Adam makes his own adjustments to the machine and instead of making one duplicate of a mouse it makes thousands, which seemingly get released into the audience! During the demonstration of the shrinking machines there’s another mishap, and its beam is redirected and shrinks the entire audience! You’ll be menaced by a python, picked up and carried by an 8-year-old, and reassured by a giant Professor Szalinski before he is finally able to repair his machine and return everyone back to normal size. Szalinski accepts his award and it appears that everything is back on track when suddenly the family dog appears – having been super-sized by the laser that restored you to normal. He trots off — but not before sneezing on the audience — and the show ends.

There are some interesting special effects, including feeling the wind from the hoverpod, the mice rushing past your legs, the shaking of the theater as it’s picked up and carried, and of course the sneeze from the dog.

Read about the Walt Disney World version of this attraction HERE.

TOURING TIPS

This is a 20-minute show. The theatre is very rarely full, so you typically only wait outside the theatre until the current show ends. While waiting, the pre-show on the monitors overhead provides some entertainment.

Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is a very realistic 3-D motion picture. If you do not like snakes, lions, or mice, then you may want to bypass this movie. Parts of the movie are very loud and may scare young children.

3-D “safety goggles” are worn in the theatre to provide the special effects.

Wheelchairs/ECVs enter the theatre via the normal queue, and Cast Members will direct them to the areas in the theatre available to them and their parties.

Assistive listening devices and closed captioning are available.

The closest bathrooms are located outside the exit to the theatre, behind Starcade.

KIDS AND CHARACTERS

This attraction may be scary for some kids, especially those who don’t like the dark, loud noises, or mice.

Sitting your child on your lap will help reduce the special effects they experience.

DINING

Redd Rockett’s, serving pizza, pasta, and salads, is located near the entrance to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience.

Tomorrowland Terrace, offering sandwiches, burgers, and salads, is located nearby.

Disneyland Restaurants at a Glance

SHOPPING

There is no attraction-specific merchandise for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. Star Traders, located near the exit, has a wide selection of Disneyland souvenirs such as t-shirts, plush, character hats, and postcards.

INTERESTING FACTS

Honey, I Shrunk the Audience opened at Disneyland in May, 1998 as part of the “New Tomorrowland” rehab. The attraction originally premiered at Epcot’s Imagination pavilion in November 1994.

The attraction is based on the Disney movies “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” (1989), “Honey, I Blew Up The Kid” (1992), and “Honey We Shrunk Ourselves” (1997). It features the original Szalinski film family: the invention-happy professor, his trusting wife, Diane, their sons, Nick and Adam, and their frisky dog, Quark. As in the films, Wayne Szalinski is portrayed by comedic actor Rick Moranis.

Dr. Nigel Channing is played by Eric Idle from Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

Honey, I Shrunk the Audience brings together all the special effects of the Szalinski movies but in 3D.

Honey, I Shrunk the Audience replaced the 3-D movie Captain EO, which starred Michael Jackson.

In honor of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary, one of the 50 golden “hidden mickeys” has been placed in the Imagination Institute logo over the entrance.

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