A third of our list has been revealed! We continue the results of our daily countdown series that will reveal what our agents voted to be THE GREATEST DISNEY ATTRACTION OF ALL TIME.
Time to reveal numbers 40-31:
40. Festival of the Lion King
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
Considered by many Disney experts to be the absolute best when it comes to stage shows, The Festival of the Lion King combines Disney storytelling with the acrobatic feats of Cirque de Soliel. Before Pandora opened, the Animal Kingdom was considered a “half-day park” and that meant riding attractions more than seeing shows. For those who did get a chance to experience the show, they were blown away, moved to tears and inspired to preserve the “Circle of Life.” In time with evening hours now offered at Animal Kingdom, the ranking will only get better!
39. Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
But why then is Festival ranked behind Voyage of the Little Mermaid? Again, Voyage had more screenings during the day and with limited attractions at Hollywood Studios, one could budget 30-45 minutes of the day and not feel bad about it. Regardless, once inside, you’re treated to an amazing performance of song and puppetry that will put smiles on kids of all ages.
38. Disney Junior – Live
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
Disney Jr. has effectively moved from our televisions to Hollywood Studios. Not a show that caters to all ages (ie grown-ups), most would rather meet the human-sized characters in the parks and restaurants then watch them in puppet form on stage. Little kids will enjoy singing and dancing and seeing their heroes on stage. If you’re a parent and your child watches the shows religiously, there is no shame in making their day and watching them smile.
37. Mission: SPACE
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Appropriately located in Future World of Epcot, Mission: Space is the only time any of us will feel what it is like to blast off and reach past the Earth’s atmosphere. But choose wisely because depending on which version you pick, you may be loosing your lunch before you’re prepared. The simulated experiences are second-to-none and you really do feel like you’re in a space ship. Ultimately, it’s an attraction that may get overlooked because of more impressive attractions on the grounds.
36. Enchanted Tiki Room
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
One of the originals, The Enchanted Tiki Room is can’t miss. Literally, you have to go around it when in Adventureland. Younger kids will not appreciate what this attraction has meant to Disney over the years but the older kids will look with fondness as they remember the first time they saw the singing birds. Like all classics, if you have never enjoyed it before, try to work it into your every-visit routine.
35. Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
Hollywood Studios was the mecca for attractions that called back to famous movies and stunt shows were easy ways to draw crowds without spending oodles for a ride. Indiana Jones does have some amazing stunt effects but the excitement of the franchise has waned in years and been overshadowed by the ongoing enhancements to its park neighbor, Star Wars. Still, a fun show with lots of things moving, blowing up, oohing and aahing.
From Agent Kyle Holland: “The Epic Stunt Spectacular is one of the few attractions remaining at Hollywood Studios that gives you a glimpse of “behind the magic”, in this case of one of the great classic movies. My personal preference is to always be the one jumping up and down ridiculously to get picked as a volunteer extra for the show. My parents used to embarrass me by doing it when I was little, so I now feel it only appropriate that I embarrass my wife (and eventually my kids) in the same fashion.”
34. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
The iconic flying attraction surprisingly falls into the lower half of the list. What could we have missed? Dumbo is iconic, is for all ages, recently got an amazing refurbishment and a new interactive queue area. Maybe it is the wait time that steadily grows over the day or the fact that it only goes in a circle. I do not want to think it’s because Dumbo is not as popular anymore. Call this one a shocker!
From Agent Becky Wills: “You cannot go to Magic Kingdom and not ride it!! Look for the peanuts in the cement.”
33. Peter Pan’s Flight
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
Our second shocking attraction in a row! Peter Pan is still one of the most popular attractions in ALL of Disney Parks with wait times over one hour. You fly in pirate ships, there is an amazing interactive queue that goes through the Darling nursery and the characters are as iconic as they come. I’m going to assume that the heavily outdated figures you fly by are really holding this attraction back. The music you hear inside the attraction is so soft, it actually gets drowned out by the squeaking of the wheels on the overhead track above you. So while time has not made Peter Pan obsolete, it is time for this attraction to grow up and update itself.
32. Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
Not even a handful of years old, Journey of the Little Mermaid splashes into the rankings with a fairly decent showing. This attraction is a very basic “ride through the movies” where you transition from one scene to the other without any real drama or thrill. When you get to the impressive “Under the Sea” and Ursula scenes, you realize why this attraction was warmly embraced as the first attraction to New Fantasyland. The clam shell vehicles are a nice touch as well.
31. Finding Nemo – The Musical
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
We conclude the bottom half with one of the most elaborate stage shows in the world and could be on Broadway anytime it chooses. This musical features some of the largest puppets in the world and you know you’ve got real magic when you do not even recognize there are actors on stage. While it does not feature the iconic songs of Lion King and Little Mermaid, there is no denying the popularity of Finding Nemo these days and how it may currently be the most popular kid’s franchise!
From Agent Tiffany Bigelow: “A very colorful and unique portraying of the characters you love from the movie with spectacular music and puppetry! It’s a must “sea”!”
Conclusion:
Numbers 40-31 are all about some of the massive productions and shows within in Disney Parks. We often forget to stop and take in a show when we are too busy sticking to our agenda but I was very shocked to see both Dumbo and Peter Pan in the bottom half of our countdown. Just goes to show we may have some more surprises on the way!
But what say you? Have we ranked any in the bottom half too low? Were you expecting to see an attraction/show already but still might be the GREATEST DISNEY ATTRACTION OF ALL TIME? Leave your comments in the section below and remember, there’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!
