I thought it'd be interesting to list my five favorite Walt Disney World attractions now that certain things have happened, mainly two refurbishments that bumped one attraction off the chart and bumped another one up. Without further adieu...5. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
The crown jewel of Disney's Hollywood Studios, and WDW's signature attraction until Disney decided to clone it three times elsewhere in the world. Florida's still has the most foreboding presence and is the only one with a 5th dimension room. The Tower of Terror was created in 1994, the very year that Disney reached its pinnacle before Pressler took over and things headed south. It's a perfect example of a thrill ride being just as engaging and themed as a family ride.
4. Kilimanjaro Safaris
Disney's Animal Kingdom is above all else a park dedicated to animals. Though Expedition Everest has diverted some attention away from the safari, it still remains the signature attraction of the park. I remember how amazed I was the first time I went on it. Unlike Disney's California Adventure, Animal Kingdom could afford to lack attractions because the safari was 2o minutes long and was truly spectacular. Though I haven't been on it since the script changed, I don't see it making much of a difference as long as the animals are still the stars. Best of all, Kilimanjaro Safaris is an adventure that is never the same twice.
3. The American Adventure
Almost nothing in Epcot is the same as when the place opened 25 years ago. Most of the heart and soul of the park is gone, but one attraction holds on. The American Adventure is a technological marvel, a powerful and educational journey through our nation's history, and a tear jerker all in one . Only Disney can make us feel proud, sad, angry, and forewarned all at the same time. Best of all, the ending was recently updated to include events through the 21st century. This is the type of attraction that is sorely lacking in today's Epcot, especially considering some of its core message and heart is the same as the one removed on the other side of the lagoon. As long as the American Adventure sticks around, Epcot will still have hope. Luckily, the attraction is so complex that it's unlikely today's imagineers could even think of anything to take its place.
2. Splash Mountain
The Magic Kingdom is often thought to be a rather poor clone of its cousin Disneyland in California. Most of the attractions are far inferior to their California counterparts. There are at least two exceptions. The first is Splash Mountain. Magic Kingdom's is so far superior to Disneyland's that it's amazing the original in California came from the same company. Everything from pacing to storytelling to lighting is better in Florida. Not only does MK's Splash Mountain hold up well against Disneyland's, but it's also the anchor attraction of the entire west side of the park. Amazingly, Disney hasn't opened anything even close in scale to Splash in the Magic Kingdom since it opened. While most of Magic Kingdom's attractions are dubbed classics by Disney and are thus given low expectations (it's supposed to look old and dusty!), Splash Mountain is the only attraction that not only is in the classic category, but also in the same category as the other E-tickets on property, the new classics if you will (Test Track, Soarin, Everest, Tower, Rock'n'RollerCoaster, The Safari, and Dinosaur). Absolutely no trip to Walt Disney World would be complete without a visit to Splash Mountain.
1. The Haunted Mansion
Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion used to be my favorite attraction. As the years went by however, neglect began to show, and the out of sync soundtrack, the cackling audio in the doombuggies, and the lack of the updated effects from California made the Haunted Mansion slip down my list. Now that Spaceship Earth is a disaster, and the Haunted Mansion has undergone an extreme makeover, I can now give it back the number one title. Not only is it the greatest attraction in Walt Disney World, it might actually be the best Haunted Mansion in the world. WDW's Haunted Mansion has always been longer that California's, which gave it hope for being superior, but now that the scenes have been reworked, the enhancements in the seance and attic installed, and the audio upgraded, there is little reason not to give it the title of the best. No attraction is more immersive than the Haunted Mansion. No ride has more iconic moments and unforgettable scenes. No ride has more "how did they do that?" moments and yet is still fairly simple. The Haunted Mansion is a testament to the greatest era of Imagineering, enhanced by some of the smarter minds of today's imagineers. The Haunted Mansion holds the secret to success- provide a loose narrative, but let the rider experience the attraction their own way. We don't need talking fish to remind us what's going on, or Pirates constantly yelling that they're looking for Jack Sparrow. In the words of the Ghost Host, "Shhhhh. Listen."
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