SATURDAY SIX: 6 Times THE SIMPSONS Totally Nailed Being A Theme Park Fan

Derek Burgan August 13, 2016 10 Comments Duff Beer, Duff Gardens, EPCOT, Halloween, Magic Kingdom, The Simpsons

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This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at 6 Times THE SIMPSONS Totally Nailed Being A Theme Park Fan. We here at SATURDAY SIX HQ have never hid the fact of how much we love The Simpsons television show. Despite it being a cartoon, for us it is right up there with the all-time great comedies including Seinfeld, Parks and Rec, and Cheers. When Universal Studios Florida expanded the area surrounding The Simpsons Ride into a small version of Springfield, it was a dream come true. As a fan of The Simpsons dating back to when they were just short skits on The Tracey Ullman Show, seeing Duff Beer brought to life was just as a magical moment for me as it is for Potterheads walking into Diagon Alley and getting a Butterbeer.

One of the reasons The Simpsons actually being represented at the Universal Orlando Resort is so great is because the show has spent the better part of 25 years making fun of theme parks! Other shows have gone to theme parks and made some jokes (such as Boy Meets World, Family Matters, and – of course – Full House), but for the most part those shows were just promotional vehicles for Disney. The Simpsons didn’t hold back. Their jokes had some real truths to them, truths that readers of this blog would understand. Today we are going to look back at the history of The Simpsons and theme parks, and at some of our favorite moments over the years. Many of these scenes can actually be seen in the queue for The Simpsons Ride along with exclusive new scenes made just for Universal. So sit back, put on a pair of beer googles, and let’s begin our countdown starting with…

# 6 – “Bart’s New Friend” (Season 26, Episode 11)

We’ll start off with an episode written by Judd Apatow, a man who knows a thing or two about comedy, with a resume that includes Freaks and Geeks, Knocked Up, and The 40 Year Old Virgin. The episode centers around Homer Simpson being hypnotized into thinking he is a 10 year child. Bart Simpson then begins to take advantage of the situation, using Homer as a way to thwart bullies at school and be the “brother” he never had. Before Homer can be de-hypnotized, Bart takes him to Itchy & Scratchy Land and we get to see them ride Soarin’ Over Springfield. This was a five star parody of one of Disney’s most popular rides.

soarin2 — Just like the real version, in Soarin’ Over Springfield you get to see guests’ legs dangling in front of you. Note the reference to Mystery Science Theater 3000.

soarin3 — With a swelling score, Soarin’ Over Springfield flies by all the major landmarks in town, including the long running tire fire.

soarin4 — Burning tire smell blown into the faces of guests, just as the scent of oranges was sprayed in the original Soarin’ and fresh cut flowers in the new Soarin’ Around the World.

soarin5 — At one point we fly over a bridge to reveal…

soarin6 — …cars falling off and into the water!

soarin7 — This hilarious sign was the transition to the next flyover scene.

soarin8 — Whereas the old Soarin’ finished its “flight” at Disneyland, and the new version at WDW ends at EPCOT, Soarin’ Over Springfield finishes at Itchy & Scratchyland.

soarin9 — “We’ve returned to Itchy & Scatchyland, which means you’ll have to pay again.” – Cast Member

soarin10 — As Bart and Homer leave Soarin’ Over Springfield, we see them walk by a restaurant selling $8 slices of pizza. That one probably a little low, as the BoardWalk Pizza Window – the official pizza of Hell – is serving slices of cheese for not much less.

soarin11 — “No! You can’t take him now, we’ve only been on two rides.” – Bart
“Well you should have used Fast Pass.” – Chief Wiggum
“Fast Pass can’t fix everything.” – Bart
“Spoken like a kid who has never lived in a non fast pass world.” – Chief Wiggum with a true pearl of wisdom.

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# 5 – “Special Edna” (Season 14, Episode 7)

In Season 14’s “Special Edna,” Bart feels bad for his teacher Edna Krabappel and attempts to cheer her up with a nomination for the Teacher of the Year Awards. In a fun moment, the nomination committee can’t believe it is the “real” Bart Simpson nominating Krabappel, as he was always seen as an urban myth in the teaching world, something too horrible to actually exist. The award ceremony takes place in Orlando, Florida. Everyone is excited until they learn it is being held at “EFCOT CENTER,” a place that Homer says is “even boring to fly over it.” The latter half of the episode has the characters experiencing several of the pavilions, have a meal in World Showcase, and end the night with a showing of IllumiNations.

simpsonsepcot1 — EFCOT Center: I assume that stands for Experimental Frozen Community Of Tomorrow? Boy, talk about being ahead of the curve!

simpsonsepcot2 — An attraction that looks like the fabled **Horizons** on the right, while **Spaceship Earth** is known as **The Future Sphere**.

simpsonsepcot3 — Eastern Airlines presents, the world of tomorrow! The attraction ended with Eastern Airline robots enslaving humanity.

simpsonsepcot4 — Transportation Pavilion.

simpsonsepcot5 — “Welcome to the electric car of the future, sponsored by the gasoline producers of America.” (Note the sad face on the car.)

simpsonsepcot9 — Referencing the former Honey, I Shrunk the Audience attraction.

simpsonsepcot7 — The Simpsons and Edna Krabappel eating in World Showcase.
“Wow this restaurant is so international! Le Pizza, de hamburger, señor grilled cheese… I hope I don’t accidentally order an elephant.” – Marge

simpsonsepcot10 — IllumiNations. Hard to believe there is an animated version of the iconic Mexico temple. The very same temple that an IDIOT tried to climb last year.

simpsonsepcot11 — I see the Japan Pavilion!

simpsonsepcot15 — Homer breaking into the Magic Kingdom. Anything in order to leave EFCOT. “”We’re going to Disney World!”

simpsonsepcot16 — Once Homer scales the wall he asks for “one churro.” He is told, “that will be $14.” Homer screams, but then accepts. There’s a little Homer in all of us, isn’t there?

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# 4 – “Halloween of Horror” (Season 27, Episode 4)

Someone has certainly been to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, because Season 27’s “Halloween of Horror” made some spot-on observations. The Simpsons show has an annual Halloween episode titled “Treehouse of Terror,” but this was a second episode that season dedicated to the holiday. The show even referenced that fact within this episode. Truly meta.

For this episode we have 8 year old Lisa Simpson excited that she is finally old enough to visit Krustyland’s Halloween Horror Night. She starts off the night excited, but immediately realizes the event is way too scary for her. In a hilarious moment, Homer acknowledges that his daughter is scared, but reminds her how much the tickets cost. I’ve had several moments at the real HHN at Universal seeing young children absolutely terrified walking through the haunted houses. Universal has plenty of cops waiting outside each house in case anyone gets “punchy,” but maybe some Child Protective Service people should be there as well. Anyway, the episode itself was a pitch-perfect send up of Universal’s annual hard ticket event.

HHN1 — “Oh man i can’t wait for tonight! I’m finally old enough for Krustyland Halloween Horror Night!” – Lisa
“Yeah, they do it *right*. Wait till you try the black cotton candy. It tastes just like cotton candy.” – Bart.

HHN2 — “Hand stamp required for re-entry. (Evil Laugh)” – Krusty

hhn3 — “That’s not scary. I thought this was gonna be scary!” – Lisa, running into Halloween Horror Night.

HHN4 — Lisa encounters her first scareactor.

hhn6 — Krustyland’s Halloween Horror Night echoes Universal’s HHN with plenty of scareactors weilding chainsaws.

hhn7 — You get a chainsaw! And YOU get a chainsaw! And YOU get a chainsaw….

hhn8 — “Lisa, I think you should stay, and not because the tickets were super expensive. Or that they were *suuuuuper* expensive, but remember you were really looking forward to the fun of being scared by stuff you know isn’t real, like the money I spent on this which is very real.” – Homer, trying to comfort his daughter

hhn10 — Homer offers to hold Lisa’s hand through the zombie horde.

hhn11 — “This isn’t real. ‘This isn’t real.” – Lisa speaks to herself as she walks through the horde.

hhn12 — Lisa then realizes she is holding a zombie’s hand!

hhn13 — While Homer is holding an old man’s hand. “Hold on Lisa, daddy’s picking out a pretzel topping.” – Homer

hhn14 — Trained well, once she is by herself Lisa knows to go to an adult. So she heads to “park security.”

hhn15 — Which was revealed to be a scare zone.

hhn16 — “Shut it down! Shut it Down. Shut the whole damn thing down!” – Operations manager after seeing Lisa balled up in the fetal position.

hhn17 — The lights come on. Over the loundspeakers we hear: “We have found the baby who thinks this is all real. Re-set time is 65 minutes.”

hhn18 — Theme park bloggers are not amused.

HHN19 — Because Homer and the kids left Halloween Horror Night early, Marge tells Bart she will take him to a special Halloween event held at the Pine Hills neighborhood. Unfortunately they are not allowed in, but Bart gets to see everyone having an incredible time. There is even an unbelievably great reference to the Universal attraction *E.T. Adventure. “Hello, scro-tum”*

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# 3 – “Selma’s Choice” (Season 4, Episode 13)

One of the earliest attempts at mocking the theme parks we know and love took place all the way back in Season 4 (airdate of the show was in January, 1993). We started off the show with The Simpsons watching TV and seeing a commercial for Duff Gardens. While Duff Gardens itself was more of a parody of Disney, the name is referencing Busch Gardens. For those who don’t know, Busch Gardens used to be run by the Anheuser-Busch company, the makers of Budweiser. In The Simpsons universe, Duff Beer is the clear equivalent of Budweiser.

Homer is just as excited as Bart and Lisa when he saw the television and asked the kids, “What do we say when we get to the ticket booth?” The kids replied,”we’re under 6!” followed by Homer adding, “and I’m a college student!” Just amazing. Homer ends up getting sick and the kids were taken to the park by their aunt Selma, who would have liked to be anywhere else. This episode marked the first appearance of the Seven Duffs, a clever spin on Disney’s Seven Dwarfs. We also got to see some fun poked at it’s a small world, Hall of Presidents, the Main Street Electrical Parade, and even theme park gift shops.

duffgardens1 — “Come to Duff Gardens, where roaming gangs aren’t a big problem anymore!” – Television ad for Duff Gardens

duff2 — “Now featuring the clean shaven sounds of Hooray for Everything!”

duff4 — The Duff Beeramid. “The Beeramid contains so much aluminum it would take five men to lift it.” – Lisa

duff5 — Lisa reads from a Duff Gardens pamphlet.

duff7 — The Seven Duffs make their first appearance. The Seven Duffs are Tipsy, Queasy, Surly, Sleazy, Edgy, Dizzy and Remorseful.

duff10 — “Four score and seven years ago we took the finest hops and barley to brew a full bodied lager.” – Abe Lincoln in the *Beer Hall of Presidents*.

duff12 — “If the line is this long its gotta be good.” – Bart

duff13 — The Simpsons foreshadowing Disney’s Villains Unleashed event over 20 years earlier.

duff14 — Duff Gardens it’s a small world equivalent.

duff15 — “Duff beer for me. Duff beer for you. I’ll have a Duff, you have one too!” – Song playing throughout the ride.

duff16 — “I wanna get off! “- Bart
“You can’t get off, we have five more continents to visit!” – Selma

duff22 — Bart stands on large lollipops to artificially increase his height.

duff19 — “Woah, that isn’t good.” – Bart, after the safety bar goes behind him. Bart would later find himself hanging upside down on the ride.

duff20 — “Can’t you do something?” – Selma
“Hey, Surly only looks out for one guy. Surly.”

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# 2 – “Itchy & Scratchy Land” (Season 6, Episode 4)

As we stated earlier, The Simpsons is an all time classic show, with many episodes ingrained into pop culture. Several episodes such as Marge vs. The Monorail, Cape Feare, and A Fish Called Selma can be put in a time capsule to show future generations how great TV can be. For my money, Season 6 is overall the greatest season in the history of The Simpsons, with Homie the Clown, And Maggie Makes Three, and the Who Shot Mr. Burns? season ending cliffhanger being three monster home runs, but – for me – pound for pound the best episode was Itchy & Scratchy Land.

Similar to Duff Gardens, Bart and Lisa see a commercial for the new Itchy & Scratchy Land theme park and beg Marge and Homer to take them. Marge had her heart set on visiting a bird sanctuary, but after finding out the area has Parent’s Island (referencing Disney’s old Pleasure Island) the family makes a group trip to the theme park. What follows is a tour de force in theme park related comedy. Anyone who has ever parked their car at a theme park will laugh. Anyone who has bought Disney Dollars will laugh. Anyone who has gone into a theme park gift shop will laugh. Besides being filled with amazingly accurate jabs at the Disney parks here in America, the show ends with a jaw dropping finish at Euro Itchy & Scratchy Land (which was making fun at the all too real problems Euro Disneyland faced at the time.) When I die, bury me with the VHS copy of this episode I taped when it aired on TV.

itchyandscratchyland1 — This reminds me of the Welcome to Walt Disney World sign we all drive by entering property.

itchyandscratchyland2 — “Now remember, we’re in the Itchy lot.” – Homer

itchyandscratchyland3 — The Scratchy lot.

itchyandscratchyland4 — The show started off with a reference to Jurassic Park, but ended in a story referencing Westworld.

itchyandscratchyland5 — The original Skull Island? I guess *South Park* was right, The Simpsons did it first. Everything.

itchyandscratchyland6 — Note the lines of people lining up to buy tickets.

itchyandscratchyland8 — At the ticket counter, Homer is talked into **Itchy & Scratchy money**, which was referencing **Disney Dollars**.
“It’s just like regular money except it’s….fun.”

itchyandscratchyland7 — Anyone who has been to a theme park has seen the signs alerting people to what rides aren’t in operation for the day. This episode takes some deep dives.

itchyandscratchyland9 — This is just part of the Itchy & Scratchy Land park map, which was laid out just like you would see at the Magic Kingdom.

itchyandscratchyland12 — The “Bort” license plate. One of the top five all time great moments in Simpsons history? We covered the Bort merchandise available at the real Universal parks in this SATURDAY SIX.

Bort_nametag_Darren — Bort pin found in Universal Studios Florida. (photo by Darren Schimdt)

itchyandscratchyland13 — Scratchtasia, a film referencing Disney’s *Fantasia*. This was shown in the Roger Myers Story attraction (think *One Man’s Dream).*

itchyandscratchyland10 — Parent’s Island, eerily similar to the old Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney.

itchyandscratchyland11 — Also on Parent’s Island was “T.G.I. McScratchy’s Goodtime Fooddrinkery.” Here is where they celebrated New Year’s Eve every single day.

itchyandscratchyland14 — Partners statue reference featuring Roger Meyers and Itchy & Scratchy.

The episode featured the audio animatronics of the park going haywire and trying to kill the guests. Maybe it’s a good thing our Yeti can’t move after all. Anyway, after the robots are defeated (by the flashes of disposable cameras, talk about a moment in time,) Professor Frink says, “If this is happening here, I hate to think what is happening in Euro Itchy & Scratchyland.” We then cut to a deserted Euro Itchy & Scratchy Land, with a ticket salesman yelling out for people to come.

itchyandscratchyland15 — Euro Itchy lot.

itchyandscratchyland16 — Euro Itchy & Scatchyland. No one in line.

itchyandscratchyland17 — “Hello! Itchy & Scratchyland open for business! Who are you to resist it, huh?” – Sounds better when you read it in a horrible French accent.

itchyandscratchyland18 — “C’mon! My last paycheck bounced! My children need wine!”

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# 1 – “The Man Who Came To Be Dinner (Season 26, Episode 10)

For Disneyland fans, Season 26’s episode on the Simpsons going to Dizzneeland is worth going out of your way to see. Each episode is broken up into three acts, and only the first act relates to the theme parks, but boy do they pack a lot in. We start off with the family parking in a parking structure (which we don’t have at any of the WDW parks) and Homer tells his family, “Don’t worry, this time I’m going to write down where I parked!” He wrote down “parking lot,” so you know right from the start we are in a for a fun ride. We then get to see the family experience the frustration of slow moving rides for young kids, Star Wars being integrated into the Disney parks, and long lines for – well – everything. The Dizzneeland adventure is filled with jokes for theme park fans, by theme park fans, and that’s what makes The Simpsons so special.

dizzneeland2 — “Remember we are parked in the Ethnic Princess section.” – Marge

dizzneeland4 — Long escalators will be very familiar to anyone who has gone to Universal Studios Hollywood.

dizzneeland6 — The family then boards a tram.

dizzneeland7 — Which leads to an escalator going up.

dizzneeland9 — This is referencing a very famous photo from the Vietnam War.

dizzneeland10 — Now people know what it is like for us WDW annual passholders having to park at the TTC to go to the Magic Kingdom!

dizzneeland11 — If you can’t laugh at that, you may be dead.

dizzneeland12 — The Dizzneeland entrance, with what looks like versions of Big Thunder Mountain, the Sky Way, and the Matterhorn.

dizzneeland13 — In a fun moment, after showing the entrance the “camera” moved back to reveal the large security entrance. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

dizzneeland14 — Homer gets patted down by a Chip & Dale-like character.

dizzneeland15 — “You planted that on me man!” – Homer

dizzneeland17 — No outside pacifiers allowed in Dizzneeland.

dizzneeland18 — This riff on Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train might have been a “shots fired” moment at Mark Diba and TouringPlans’ own Guy Selga.

dizzneeland20 — The kid pulls up the sword as it is revealed Fat Tony pointed a gun at the Cast Member.

dizzneeland21 — “Wow, this place sure has changed since Disney bought the rights to Cosmic Wars.” – Lisa

dizzneeland22 — Reference to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.

dizzneeland24 — “They revamped this ride because of massive complaints from two people.” – Lisa

dizzneeland25 — “No means no, we knooow now. No means no.” – Pirate song.

dizzneeland26 — Iconic shot from Pirates of the Caribbean done for the #Millenial generation

dizzneeland27 — There are not enough stars in the galaxy to describe how great this joke is.

dizzneeland28 — “Ha ha, my cartoons weren’t good, they were just first.”
That’s what we in the biz call *a sick burn*.

dizzneeland29 — Who among us hasn’t had to the same at any Disney counter service restaurant. Note the Song of the South reference. The rabbit in that picture is from Matt Groening’s comic strip Life In Hell, which is what eventually lead to *The Simpsons* being created.

dizzneeland31 — Dizzneeland’s version of Tomorrowland.

dizzneeland33 — “By 1994 we’ll have drive-in theaters on Neptune…”

dizzneeland34 — “Well that’s it. We’ve visited every section including Churro County, Toonton Abbey, but you know what we haven’t had here… I’ll tell you…. **fun!** The kind of fun attractive families have in commercials.” – Homer

dizzneeland35 — In the background we can see Dizzneeland’s Astro Orbiter.

dizzneeland36 — “I just want to sit down but the line to the bench is too long.” – Homer

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HONORABLE MENTION – “The Winter Of His Content” (Season 25, Episode 14)

Presented without commentary.

SixFlagsOverKrusty — Six Flags Over Krusty.

So there you have it: Six Times THE SIMPSONS Totally Nailed Being a Theme Park Fan. See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll be going to EPCOT. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the E-Ticket Report podcast. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan)

New_Disney_Parade_Tweet — Hold on, you’re **STILL** not following me on Twitter? *What’s up with that?!*

If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following:

Six “EASTER EGGS” at the Universal Orlando Resort (including Back to the Future’s DOC BROWN in the queue for The Simpsons Ride)

Our Six Favorite Jokes in Universal’s SPRINGFIELD U.S.A.

Six Great Souvenirs From the Universal Orlando Resort (including the BORT KEYCHAIN at the Kwik E Mart)

Six Times Our Favorite Shows Went to Disney World

Walt Disney World Locations Used in Hulk Hogan’s THUNDER IN PARADISE

Special Thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover, master photo manipulater Matt Cleary, the leading generator of 404 error messages on the entire internet – Tim Grassey of WDWThemeParks.com, and blogger to the stars Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-host Aengus Mackenzie along with Meg’s Yeti To Be Named Disney Podcast.

SATURDAY_SIX_BATSYMBOL — The SATURDAY SIX isn’t the blog the theme park community deserves, but it’s the one it *needs*.

10 thoughts on “SATURDAY SIX: 6 Times THE SIMPSONS Totally Nailed Being A Theme Park Fan”

autobot license plate

February 19, 2020 at 6:48 pm

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Scott Bort

August 17, 2016 at 1:47 pm

Listen, The Bort jokes were funny back in the 90s…..oh who am I kidding they are still funny. Lord help me if they are out of Bort License plates.

And yes, Bort is my real last name.
Duffy Bear

August 15, 2016 at 9:32 am

Thank you! Super great article!
Sherron

August 14, 2016 at 4:22 pm

We are heading to Universal for the first time next year and himself, being English and thus a foreigner, has not ever seen one single Simpson’s episode – thanks for the primer!

@Disneyoldsters
Kristina Snowden

August 13, 2016 at 6:22 pm

Loved it! I loved every one of these episodes. I may have been using the Bort joke at every spinner of personalized merchandise for decades. Funny every time!
Radioactive Man

August 13, 2016 at 3:35 pm

“My eyes! The goggles do nothing!”
Dean Finder

August 13, 2016 at 2:46 pm

I’m looking forward to a special dining package for Disney’s Main Street Dumpster Fire Parade.
I think it will include a Nothingburger, and a Bob Iger souvenir cup.
Dee

August 13, 2016 at 1:25 pm

Great article! I’ve never seen these episodes but reading about them makes me want to see them. A really fun read!
Bob I.

August 13, 2016 at 10:29 am

Wow, what a great article by Mr. Burgan. A true labor of love. Besides all the free advertising The Simpsons have provided Disney over the years, the icing on the money cake is the anchoring of our egregiously high prices and long wait times. You know what you’re in for, people!
Susan

August 13, 2016 at 9:26 am

“Fast pass can’t fix everything.” -Chris Wakefield
“Spoken like a kid who has never lived in a non fast pass world.” -Derek Burgan
#eticketreport