This next attraction is unique because, even though it is found at Disney parks around the world, it is located in a different land in each park. The original Haunted Mansion opened in Disneyland in 1969 in New Orleans Square. Not having New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion was an opening day attraction in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square in 1971. In 1983, the Haunted Mansion opened in Tokyo Disneyland’s Fantasyland followed in 1992 with Phantom Manor debuting in Disneyland Paris’s Frontierland. Most recently, Mystic Manor opened in 2013 at Hong Kong Disneyland. As a result, no two Haunted Mansion experiences are exactly the same, each providing its own unique spin with differences in theming and backstory. One of the most recognizable of all Disney attractions, Haunted Mansion is the quintessential Disney dark ride, combining immersive storytelling and a tremendous attention to detail.
What is amazing about Haunted Mansion was that its ride technology was really state of the art when it first opened and yet even today (forty-four years later) this technology continues to captivate Guests. The Haunted Mansion features some of the most effective uses of special effects found in any Disney attraction, from the rotating marble busts to Madame Leota’s head inside a floating glass orb to the hitchhiking ghosts. However, the most iconic of moments is the attraction’s ballroom scene. To create the illusion of ghosts dancing throughout the ballroom, Imagineers used an effect that had been around since the mid-19th century known as the Pepper’s Ghost effect. The "ghosts" are merely the reflections of Audio Animatronic figures, located in rooms above and below the ride path, where the walls are painted entirely black. In fact, the Haunted Mansion features one of the largest uses of the Pepper’s Ghost effect in the world.
The Haunted Mansion is more than just innovative technology and the attraction features Disney storytelling at its very best. Before even getting onto the ride, the exterior queue through the graveyard, foyer, and stretch room all help to set the mood for the attraction. The chilling narration throughout the Haunted Mansion is provided by your “Ghost Host” voiced by Paul Frees, which adds a very ominous and foreboding tone. One of the interesting things about the Haunted Mansion is that the ride starts off very eerie and creepy, but by the end of the ride has a much more whimsical and lighthearted feel (as evidenced by the Hitchhiking Ghosts). In fact, for a good portion of the attraction there are not even any Ghosts to be seen. This is all helping to set up the big reveal with the ballroom scene followed by the attic and finally the graveyard scene. One of the great things about Haunted Mansion is that it tells an extremely immersive story, but its storyline itself is not especially detailed. The Haunted Mansion is meant to be essentially just that, a haunted mansion. While there have been numerous “unofficial” storylines developed over the years, it is really an attraction that lets the Guests use their own imaginations and create their own stories.
The Haunted Mansion is very much a Disney cult classic with a passionate fan base; with so many memorable characters, such as Madame Leota, the singing marble busts, and the Hitchhiking Ghosts, tremendous use of special effects, and a number of truly iconic moments and scenes it is easy to see why it has become so popular. The narration in the stretch room may be the most-often quoted lines of dialogue from any Disney attraction and the ride’s “Grim Grinning Ghosts” is a song known around the world. The Haunted Mansion has withstood the test of time and remains to this day one of Disney’s most popular attractions. Aiding this is the fact that the ride has been continually tweaked and “plussed” over the years with the addition of new scenes and more up-to-date technology. One thing that has remained constant, however, is a passionate group of Cast Members whose performance theming really help bring the attraction to life. For all these reason, it is easy to see why the Haunted Mansion ranks #3 on the top fifty countdown.
#2: Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland
Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom is certainly a solid attraction, but after you have experienced the Disneyland version you will never look at Disney World’s the same way ever again. It is an attraction steeped in Disney heritage and history. In fact, the original version at Disneyland which opened in 1967 was actually the last attraction whose construction was overseen by Walt Disney himself as he passed away three months before it opened. The attraction was such a success at Disneyland that it was replicated at the Magic Kingdom in 1973, at Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, and at Disneyland Paris in 1992. Arguably one of the most iconic Disney attractions, experiencing Pirates of the Caribbean is a rite of passage for any Guest who visits Disneyland or Disney World. It is an attraction which is truly timeless, as popular today as it was when it first opened in 1967, and its universal appeal can clearly be seen with the movies the attraction inspired.
It is hard to believe that Pirates of the Caribbean was originally envisioned to be a walk-through wax museum. The goal was always to transport guests back to the 18th-century Caribbean islands, but that notion took a dynamic turn when Imagineer Marc Davis was assigned to the project. His sketches, drawings, and creation of colorful, comical fictional pirates were really what inspired Walt and greatly influenced the final version of the attraction. In addition to this, the 1964 World's Fair really helped move the project in a whole new direction. It was here that Walt debuted the first Audio Animatronic and with this success at the World’s Fair it was logical that Pirates of the Caribbean use the technology to breathe motion and life into its characters. The attraction was truly groundbreaking for its time, featuring animatronic figures on a scale that had never been seen before. In fact, Pirates of the Caribbean features over one hundred animatronic figures whose lifelike appearance and movements really give the attraction a tremendous sense of realism.
In addition to its colorful cast of characters, Pirates of the Caribbean completely immerses Guests into the storyline with detailed show scenes. It is here that Disneyland has a tremendous advantage over Disney World. Whereas Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom is eight and a half minutes long, Disneyland’s version is a whopping fifteen and a half minutes. This extra time allows for even more detail and theming that makes for a more complete story. Disneyland’s bayou scene and extensive treasure-filled caverns help to set the stage and establish the setting for the attraction, taking Guests from the charm of New Orleans square and transporting them to the Caribbean islands. Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean is on a scale few attractions can match, which is surprising since it is a much smaller park than Magic Kingdom, but it really is that scale which helps immerse Guests into the story; this is all done so effectively that you can almost forget that you are on a theme park attraction.
Helping to make Pirates of the Caribbean such a memorable attraction are a number of iconic moments. Scenes such as the auction where the pirates call out for the red head and the dog with the keys are immediately recognizable images that come to mind when one thinks of this attraction. Added to this is one of the most beloved and memorable songs found at any Disney attraction. Pirates of the Caribbean is a great example of Disney’s ability to take something potentially scary and yet end up making it a whimsical and fun adventure that can be enjoyed by the entire family. With such popularity in the theme parks, it is no surprise that Pirates of the Caribbean has become one of Disney’s tent pole movie franchises. These movies have helped introduce a new generation to Pirates of the Caribbean and have also helped to breathe new life into the attraction itself with a number of technological upgrades and new animatronic figures. While some may argue against having Captain Jack Sparrow in the attraction, it is done very tastefully in a way that does not remove from the original intent and vision of the attraction; it is just another chapter in the attraction’s long and storied history. Thus, Pirates of the Caribbean comes in at #2 on the top fifty countdown.
#1: Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye, Disneyland
At long last we come to the final attraction on the countdown. This attraction is one that combines everything that make Disney attractions so special: tremendous theming and attention to detail, a completely immersive experience that effectively transports Guests to another time and place, a unique and thrilling ride system, state-of-the-art special effects, and a moving musical score. Added to all of this is the fact that this attraction features one of the most recognizable and beloved movie characters of all time. The Indiana Jones Adventure opened at Disneyland on March 4, 1995. Despite being over eighteen years old, this attraction is still Disney’s best and has withstood the test of time to become a true classic. No trip to Disneyland is complete without experiencing this attraction.
Because of the success of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios, George Lucas decided to join forces with Disney in creating a new attraction for Disneyland. Several early concepts were considered including a walk-through adventure and a high-speed mine car adventure within a temple. The story, set in 1936, is told through letters and telegrams scattered throughout the queue as well as newsreels shown before guests board the attraction. Indiana Jones has reunited missing fragments of a map scroll of parchment documenting the precise location of an ancient temple. Although Jones’ discovery, dubbed the "Temple of the Forbidden Eye" by the media, has set the archaeological community abuzz, his funding has run out. To raise money so the excavation can continue, Sallah has begun conducting guided tours. Good fortune has come to many of the tourists who survive, but others have not returned. Promising to find the missing tourists, Jones ventured inside the temple approximately one week ago, and has not yet reappeared.
The attractions theming and intricate attention to detail are truly unmatched and it features one of the best queues in any Disney park. The attraction’s immersive and carefully detailed queue leads guests through dimly lit temple chambers and eerie passageways containing booby-trapped sections reminiscent of the Indiana Jones movies. Throughout the temple, petroglyphs in "Marabic" warn visitors of the rewards and perils that can be found further within. The ride itself continues with this immersive theming. It may seem hard to believe, but the ride path for Indiana Jones is identical to that of Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom. The difference is that, whereas Dinosaur is very dark throughout much of the ride, Indiana Jones features far more detailed show scenes and is designed on a much grander scale. Nowhere is this more evident than with the overlook scene in which the transport emerges from a passage and teeters on the edge of a vast pit of lava. From here, another transport is seen attempting to cross a rickety rope bridge. On the far side of the cavern there is a 45-foot-tall stone face, the left half of which has eroded in such a way that it resembles a skull, with lava occasionally pouring out of its mouth into the pool below. Its left eye contains a swirling flame, and periodically shoots green rays at both transports, causing flames to erupt from where the beam hits. With this scene and many others it is clear that Indiana Jones makes tremendous use of special effects, featuring everything from fire and smoke to lasers and various other lighting effects.
On top of all this tremendous theming and detail is one of Disney’s most unique ride systems. Guests board an Enhanced Motion Vehicle (EMV) intended to appear as a battered military troop transport. Each transport is a motion simulator which travels at a speed of only fourteen miles per hour on a guiderail track. The car’s body is attached by three hydraulic rams to the frame of the chassis, which allows the shell to articulate independently. A Guest's physically intense experience is programmed to achieve the illusion of greater speed and mechanical failure using the EMV's ability to add several feet of lift then rapidly descend, shudder and tremble, and intensify cornering with banks and twists. Combining thrills with theming, the Indiana Jones Adventure would be an incredible attraction even if it did not feature Indiana Jones. But, when you add memorable characters along with John Williams’s moving musical score, you have the absolute recipe for success. The Indiana Jones Adventure has everything you want in an attraction, it is a truly unforgettable experience from the moment you set foot in the queue until you exit. Every aspect of the attraction is top notch in terms of theming, detail, story, and technology and it is for all these reasons that the Indiana Jones Adventure is the #1 attraction on the top fifty countdown.
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