Possibly a surprise at number fifty. Everyone often jokes about how long the attraction is (forty-five minutes in length) and it can certainly be argued that the attraction is in need of an update in order to keep up with advancements in the field of energy, but this attraction is not without some endearing qualities that help to place it in the top fifty.
When the Universe of Energy opened at Epcot in 1982, the pavilion itself was an innovation in energy technology. The entire roof is covered with 80,000 photovoltaic solar cells that partially powered the ride vehicles. The building is massive, stretching 440 feet across at its widest point and 290 feet from front to back. Guests are transported through the pavilion in large battery-powered traveling theatre cars that followed guide-wires embedded in the floor as opposed to riding along conventional ride tracks, which was groundbreaking ride technology at the time. In addition, the attraction featured some of the largest Audio Animatronic figures ever created by Disney Imagineers.
In January 1996 the pavilion closed for a major refurbishment and reopen in September as Ellen’s Energy Crisis, which was soon after changed to Ellen’s Energy Adventure. The new version of the attraction is certainly not lacking star power as Ellen DeGeneres is joined by Bill Nye The Science Guy, Alex Trebek, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Among the changes from the original version was making the attraction more entertaining and family friendly; the witty back-and-forth banter between Ellen and Bill certainly give the attraction a lighthearted feel that was lacking in the original. The attraction also features one of the more entertaining preshows in Disney World as Guests are transported into Ellen’s dream where she is a contestant on Jeopardy and all the questions are about energy.
While not having the nostalgic feel of the original Universe of Energy, Ellen’s Energy Adventure is a worthy successor. The ride system itself remains largely unchanged since 1982 and the overall scale of the attraction, with its large animatronic figures, rotating theaters, and huge movie screens, still make it a very impressive attraction. Perhaps what this attraction has going for it the most is that it still holds true to what Epcot, and specifically Future World, are all about; it is a classic example of using an attraction to both entertain and educate Guests. For these reasons, Ellen’s Energy Adventure ranks #50 amongst all Disney attractions.
#49: Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
At number forty-nine is a show that is high on thrills, action, and excitement. Offering Guests a glimpse into how elaborate automobile chase and stunt scenes are produced, Lights, Motors, Action is a show that meshes well with the overall theme of Hollywood Studios.
Based on the Moteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular at the Walt Disney Studios in Paris that premiered in March 2002, the show had its grand opening at Hollywood Studios on May 5, 2005. The show was brought to Disney World as part of the Happiest Celebration on Earth, where Walt Disney World celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of Disneyland by bringing in attractions from other Disney parks around the world.
The show has more than 40 vehicles between those featured in the show as well as ones stored in the backstage maintenance garage. The primary car which the action revolves around, referred to as the hero car, is a custom-built design specifically for the show. There are actually three different hero cars, including one that has the bodyshell oriented backwards to allow the driver to appear to be driving in reverse and another that has a seat and steering wheel bolted onto the side of the car away from the audience, so that the car can be driven showing that there is no driver in the driver's seat.
With a beautiful backdrop inspired by Villefranche-sur-Mer, a Mediterranean village in the south of France, the show features an array of pyrotechnics, car and jet ski chases, and physical stuntwork. The cars perform some truly impressive feats that showcase the skill of the stunt drivers and the combination of automobiles, motorcycles, and jet skis provide good variation throughout the course of the show. What really makes the show a fitting addition to Hollywood Studios is that it shows Guests a real behind-the-scenes look into how these elaborate stunt scenes are produced, how the cars operate, how the stunt actors are kept safe, and how all the various components are brought together and edited into a final product. It really gives Guests a good sense of how action movies are made. Thus, Lights, Motors, Action ranks #49 on the countdown.
#48: Kali River Rapids, Animal Kingdom
It might be hard to believe, but when Kali River Rapids opened at Animal Kingdom in 1999 it was actually Disney’s first ever river rapids attraction. Opening a year after the park’s grand opening, this attraction was a part of Animal Kingdom's large Asia expansion and provided another, much-needed, attraction for the park.
Kali River Rapids takes Guests on a rafting expedition along the Chakranadi River, but the adventure begins before Guests even get onto the ride as the attraction features one of the best-themed and most immersive queues anywhere in Disney World. Guests enter along a winding pathway that makes its way through temples and shops, passing by ancient, decaying statues, shrines, overgrown ruins, and lush landscapes before finally ending in the rafting offices for Kali Rapids Expeditions. The queue really helps to set up the story for the actual attraction for as Guests are passing by all this natural beauty in the distances the ominous sound of chainsaws can be heard. Even when in the rafting offices, as Guests pass a television screen on which the proprietor explains the company's mission of showing visitors the natural beauty of the area, a radio transmission can also be heard warning that illegal loggers have moved dangerously close to the river.
The ride itself presents the stark contrast of the natural beauty of the environment and man’s destructive power. As the rafts leave the dock, Guests begin their adventure on the Chakranadi River by ascending a 90-foot lift hill through jasmine and ginger scented mist. Once at the top, the raft floats past gushing geysers and waterfalls through a dense tropical jungle where countless animal and bird calls can be heard. The water then becomes choppier as Guests hear the sound of chainsaws and the smell of smoke. Around the bend, the lush vegetation gives way to charred tree stumps and the raft passes a fully loaded logging truck which has slid perilously into the river before plunging down a thirty-foot drop.
While the ride itself may not be very long in duration, it effectively captures the essence of what Animal Kingdom is all about and the message of conservation, environmental protection, and harmony with nature that permeates the park. Providing mild thrills and a way to cool off during the hot Florida summers, while at the same time displaying a high degree of intricate theming and attention to detail, Kali River Rapids ranks #48 on the top fifty list.
#47: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Magic Kingdom
Even though it replaced the beloved Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has proven to be an incredibly popular attraction in Fantasyland since it opened in 1999. And, aided by the recent aesthetic changes to the attraction’s exterior and queue that help create a more immersive setting for the attraction, Winnie the Pooh has earned a spot in the top fifty.
One of the best qualities of Winnie the Pooh is that it is a classic dark ride that harkens back to the original Fantasyland attractions while at the same time it takes that dark ride technology to a new level. The goal of Fantasyland is putting Guests into the classic Disney stories that they love. In the case of Winnie the Pooh this happens quite literally as Guests start by passing through the pages of a giant story book. Of all the elements of the attraction, however, it is the ride vehicles themselves that make the attraction unique. Whether it is giving the sensation of bouncing along with Tigger or floating through a rainstorm, the movement and motion of the vehicles changes throughout the course of the ride to help enhance the story that is being told.
For fans of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, the current attraction also pays homage to the former tenants of the building. As Guests make their way through Owl’s home there are two painting that can be seen: one of J. Thaddeus Toad himself handing a deed over to Owl and another of Winnie the Pooh greeting Moley (Mr. Toad's sidekick). It is a subtle but charming nod to the original attraction that helps to keep that important piece of Disney history and heritage alive.
Even though it opened in 1999, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has a very classic feel, which really adds to the charm and appeal of the attraction. It is an attraction, like many of the older Fantasyland attractions at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland, that relies on storytelling and characters rather than thrills and technology to create a memorable experience for Guests. It is an attraction that seems as though Walt himself could have designed, an attraction that honors the past while still showcasing the advancements in ride technology that have been made since Magic Kingdom first opened. For these reasons, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh comes in at #47.
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