What’s the reason that you go to a theme park? What’s the reason that you do anything, for that matter? You’re seeking entertainment, a good time, a pleasant distraction. Even when you’re at the Most Magical Place on Earth, you’re still searching for the same thing, a ton of fun. And Disney delivers. Here are the eight biggest crowd pleasers out of all Walt Disney World rides.
8. Expedition Everest
Image: DisneyThink of the rankings for this list as a Fun Meter. When the bar is fuller, the ride ranks higher. Roller coasters are at a natural disadvantage here. They’re frenzied and not quite as tightly themed as other rides. That’s why Space Mountain is a non-starter, while Test Track and Slinky Dog Dash missed the cut.
One coaster that I would describe as joyous from start to finish is Expedition Everest. It sets the tone with an exhilarating but terrifying ride up the side of a mountain. Then, it establishes the danger by showing broken tracks, ones caused by a legendary monster that apparently isn’t fictional after all.
Finally, Expedition Everest thrusts you into darkness at warp speed, ultimately placing you face to face with your newfound enemy. This coaster is hypnotic, and the momentum shift between going forward and backward adds a special dose of ecstasy.
7. Jungle Cruise
Image: DisneyI’m a superfan of this ride, one of the few examples of Disney listening to in-park cast members. Jungle Cruise was once a serious attraction rather than a silly one. After a few years, however, the Skippers couldn’t help but bust on the cheesy aspects of the ride. Park officials eventually ran with the concept, and the best version of Jungle Cruise was born.
I’d love to rank this one higher. I really would. Unfortunately, it has a fatal flaw that we all know. Every journey on the Jungle Cruise is dependent on the Skipper. Some narrators are better at the task than others. While Disney has a training program and a reliable script for the ride, a few Skippers simply aren’t up to snuff.
In my opinion, the worst ones are the experimental types who do a bit. Sometimes, I run into those who stray too far away from the ride’s intent and make Jungle Cruise more about themselves. These experiences can ruin the ride for me for a while. All I want from my Skipper is a passion for the source material and a bit of comic timing. It’s a formula that has stood the test of time, one that doesn’t need any tweaking. When done right, it’s a thoroughly entertaining bit of escapism, a fanciful trip down the river of cheesy dialogue.
6. Soarin’
Image: DisneyHere’s a winning formula. Sweep an entire movie theater full of people up in the air. Next, give them the sensation of flight as they explore various parts of the planet. Create the illusion that they’re receiving a bird’s eye view of some of the greatest wonders of the world.
Throw in a few aromatic scents for effect, and you’ll allow everyone to live out that fantasy that they can take to the skies. While some debate exists about the repeat value of Soarin’, that first journey into the clouds is a moment of true elation.
5. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Image: DisneyI fervently believe that music is an integral part of the greatest theme park attractions. It sets a mood that accentuates the happiness that comes from the ride itself. Three of the top five entries on this list demonstrate the way that the right song elevates the ride experience.
On Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Heigh-Ho is the secret sauce that accentuates an already-marvelous ride experience. Imagineers designed this roller coaster as a pure injection of fun. The swiveling mechanism intrinsic to the ride cart has no other purpose than to give you a feeling unlike any other that you’ve had on a coaster. You’ll rock your way through the ride, humming the work anthem of Snow White’s pals.
4. Toy Story Mania!
Image: DisneyWalt Disney World features three attractions that have a gaming element. The best of them is Toy Story Mania!, which was formerly the hottest ticket at Walt Disney World prior to the arrival of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The attraction remained popular due to the excitement that stems from riding (or playing?) it.
Toy Story Mania! is a ride that would have been dear to Walt Disney’s heart. It celebrates the old-school carnival games, the ones that comprised a key part of Frontierland during the early days of Disneyland.
The genius of the updated version of the premise is that it’s the same skills translated into a videogame format. You have a controller instead of a dart or a ring toss, but you still need to pop balloons or stick your rings on a hoop. It’s timeless fun that hearkens back to a simpler age of theme park design.
Since there’s scoring, you’ll feel the thrill of competition, guaranteeing that special dose of excitement every round. Toy Story Mania! embodies the best of the first generation of Disney rides while still modernizing it for 21st century kids.
3. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Image: DisneyIn evaluating the biggest crowd pleasers at Walt Disney World, I see three tiers. Expedition Everest through Soarin’ is the first tier, while Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Toy Story Mania! are the second tier. People may quibble a bit on what goes into those sections, I think most theme park tourists would agree that the three attractions that score highest on the Fun Meter are these.
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is the least Disney-like of the three. It’s not based on a Disney intellectual property, and it’s not a ride design that they invented. Yes, it’s one that they perfected on this attraction, but the company prefers to innovate rather than duplicate. They made an exception because the theming and style of Tower of Terror is so spectacular. How could anyone feel anything but total delight as they bounce up and down in the haunted elevator shaft? It’s a euphoric sensation.
2. Haunted Mansion
Image: DisneyThe idea of gothic horror as a source of humor seems incongruous. Television shows like The Munsters and The Addams Family were all the rage during the 1960s, demonstrating how much viewers loved the idea at the time. Disney cast members involved with the design of Haunted Mansion weren’t as convinced. Some of them argued for a truly terrifying ride experience, while others wanted something silly. Haunted Mansion as a ride is the product of a seemingly awkward marriage of the two diverse concepts. It proves that the ideas are not at all incongruous, though.
You board a Doom Buggy and head into a ghastly manor, the home of 999 happy haunts. During your trip, you’ll encounter a murderous bridezilla, a ballroom full of dancing ghosts, and a graveyard comprised of wannabe musicians. It’s all so ridiculous and over the top that you can’t help but spiral into a giggle loop during your first journey into the forbidden realm. The mansion might be haunted, but the spookiest part is how much you laugh at some unsettling events.
1. Splash Mountain
Image: DisneyI understand why some of you would pick a different ride as the biggest crowd pleaser at Walt Disney World. When I compiled my selections, however, I never hesitated at which one would win. To me, Splash Mountain is a rapturous ride experience. It’s the perfect blend of cartoon characters telling a story and a water ride delivering an epic climax.
Like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Haunted Mansion, the musical interludes on Splash Mountain manipulate your mood. The congenial singalong fosters a sense of glee that will stick with you throughout the 12-minute ride. You’re happily listening to Disney music while you ride down a river dark ride. It’s the most comfortable setting imaginable. And it’s a clever way to distract you from the upcoming splashdown, too.
Splash Mountain is structured as a series of mischievous misdirects. You’ll worry that you’re about to hit the water and get soaked on several occasions. By the time it finally happens, you’ve entered into a “boy who cried wolf” scenario. You no longer worry about the possibility…right until the moment when you’re dripping wet. It’s a masterful ride design and the most gratifying single moment at Walt Disney World. Splash Mountain is what makes the most people the happiest at the parks.
