Universal and Disney are intense rivals in the theme park industry – but that hasn’t stopped Universal from referencing some of Disney’s most famous rides in its own attractions.
Disney, for the most part, takes the “high ground” – refusing to acknowledge the existence of Universal in its own rides and shows, even those that are satirical in nature. But Universal has included jabs at Disney in a variety of attractions over the years. The next time you are at Universal Orlando or Universal Studios Hollywood, keep an eye out for these subtle (and not-so-subtle) Disney spoofs.
14. An unfortunate fairy (Shrek 4-D)
Tinkerbell has long been a fixture at Disney’s theme parks, flying in at the end of fireworks displays and appearing on parade floats. Guests even have the chance to meet the charming little fairy. She’s treated a little differently by Universal. The opening scene of Shrek 4-D sees a frog attempting to EATTinkerbell, who subsequently smashes into the theater wall.
13. The chase scene (Shrek 4-D)
Another scene in Shrek 4-D pays tribute to Star Tours – a classic Disney ride that Universal has itself attempted to one-up. Where Disney had collaborated with George Lucas, Universal paired up with Steven Spielberg to create its own motion simulator ride – Back to the Future: The Ride. The scene in question is a dragon chase through a narrow canyon, echoing Star Wars’famous Death Star attack.
12. The posters (Shrek 4-D)
Look out for more Disney jibes in the posters outside Shrek 4-D, which poke fun at the Enchanted Tiki Room and Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
11. The World’s Fair pavilion (Men in Black: Alien Attack)
Despite taking place on the opposite side of the country from Disneyland, the New York World’s Fair in 1964/65 was a major event in Disney theme park history. Walt Disney produced four attractions for various different sponsors. These moved theme park technology forward, with innovations including a high capacity boat ride system (It’s a Small World), audio-animatronics (Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and the Carousel of Progress) and the basis of a new transportation system (the Ford Magical Skyway). They provided new attractions for Disneyland, and also proved that East Coast audiences were keen on Disney’s style of entertainment – laying the foundations for Walt Disney World. So, it’s funny to see a mock pavilion from that very same World’s Fair located at Universal Studios Florida. It houses Men in Black: Alien Attack, which is themed around a mock attraction dubbed “The Universe and You”. Of course, this is also primarily a reference to an important location from the movie.
10. The Universe and You (Men in Black: Alien Attack)
The music that accompanies The Universe and You in Men in Black: Alien Attack’s pre-show may sound a little familiar. That’s because it’s a very deliberate parody of the music that in-house Disney composer Buddy Baker composed for Tomorrowland in the 1950s. Universal Creative even went as far as to hire one of Baker’s former protégés to help write it.
9. The Disneyland-style posters (Men in Black: Alien Attack)
There’s another Disney reference in the queue line for Men in Black: Alien Attack. The posters are deliberate rip-offs of Disneyland posters from the 1950s. For example, the poster for the Sky Lounge is very similar to the poster for Disneyland’s Skyway, while the poster for The Universe and You parodies that of former Tomorrowland attraction Space Station X-1.
8. A parody too far (Men in Black: Alien Attack)
When devising the concepts that eventually became The Universe and You, Universal Creative had originally proposed an even more direct spoof of a Disney attraction. This was to be dubbed “It’s a Small Universe After All” – a not-very-discreet jab at It’s a Small World. Universal’s legal department, though, felt that this was a little to close for comfort. The idea was dropped, but you can still see a partially-obscured piece of concept art for “It’s a Small Universe After All” on a bulletin board in the coffee room in the Men in Black: Alien Attack queue line.
7. Simpsons-fied Disney (The Simpsons Ride)
The Simpsons Ride pokes fun at a whole host of classic theme park attractions – including those from Universal, Disney and SeaWorld. Look out for tributes to the Haunted Mansion (in an advertisement for the Haunted Condo), Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s a Small World, The Hall of Presidents, the Jungle Cruise, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and even the former Kitchen Kabaret show at Epcot’s The Land Pavilion.
6. A familiar slogan (The Simpsons Ride)
Krusty Land’s tagline, “The Krustiest Place on Earth”, is a rip-off of Disneyland’s “The Happiest Place on Earth”.
5. More posters (Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls)
In the queue line for Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls at Islands of Adventure, look out for a variety of mock posters that reference movies made by Disney and other companies owned by it, including Paw Wars and Three Men and a Grizzly. You’ll also witness a bear and a beaver exchanging punchlines – a reference to the Country Bear Jamboree.
4. The train scene (Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls)
One of the most famous scenes in Mr Toad’s Wild Ride at Disneyland is one in which the cars enter what seems to be a dark prison cell, before abruptly turning right onto some railroad tracks. The vehicles then “collide” head-on with an oncoming train. There’s a tribute to this scene in Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. The boats enter a cave where a giant train light is seen and the sound of an engine blares out, shortly before a drop.
3. The lost keys (Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls)
Another scene from a classic Disney ride is parodied later in Ripsaw Falls. This time it’s the famous Pirates of the Caribbean scene which sees a group of pirates trying to retrieve a prison cell key from a dog by luring him towards them. After you pass the dynamite shack at the end of the ride, keep your eyes peeled for a jailed Snidely, who is trying to retrieve the cell key from a squirrel.
2. The mouse ears (Jurassic Park: The Ride)
Image: Disney
On Jurassic Park: The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood, take a closer look at the boat that has been torn to shreds by dinosaurs. A pair of Mickey Mouse-style ears are floating next to it.
1. More ears (Twister: Ride It Out!)
Note: This ride closed forever in 2015. Another pair of Mickey ears can be seen lodged in the tires of a jeep inside Aunt Meg’s house in Twister: Ride It Out!.
