Half way home! 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 the top half of our list, numbers 30-21:
30. Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks
Mickey’s PhilharMagic kicks off the top half because it may very well be the best combination of classic characters, songs and overall Disney magic. The outside may not look like much and the area outside the opry-hall is a simple holding area. But the show starts with an incredible display of audio and by the time the screen opens to an incredible 150 feet, you have been immersed into the world of some of our favorite characters. Sing the songs, enjoy the 4D effects, laugh at Donald and celebrate all the things that make Disney the most magical place on Earth.
29. Journey into Imagination with Figment
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Everyone’s favorite purple dragon finds a home on this list in the top-half and to be honest, that may be a surprise. Figment has gotten a ton of criticism ever since his original attraction was closed and has found trouble recapturing the audiences of old. This very enjoyable ride is complete with a cute, little song, humorous scenes for your sight, sound and smell and the addition of Eric Idle from Monty Python only makes this that much more enjoyable. Figment is Epcot’s Mickey Mouse and we hope he stays for a long time.
28. Turtle Talk with Crush
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We mentioned earlier the popularity of the Finding Nemo franchise so it was only time before one of its greatest characters got his own attraction. But there was already going to be a ride centered around the adventures of Nemo, so what do we do with Crush? Introducing an award-winning, interactive question and answer session with a Hawaiian accented turtle. Does it matter there are no ride vehicles nor princesses? Not one bit. This attraction is the definition of righteous!
27. Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
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What good is having Star Wars when you can not BE in Star Wars? That’s exactly the reasoning behind this attraction. Already with a solid simulator attraction, Star Wars changed the game for young kids by involving them into fighting the Empire and Darth Vader. What you now have is one of the most popular, interactive attractions in all of Disney Parks.
26. For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
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We joked about it in the weekly result posts but Disney may be onto something with this whole Frozen thing. If you think the songs from the hit movie are annoying, well you may as well pick another attraction to visit. For those that do enjoy the songs (even as a guilty pleasure), you’ll love this show more than the Broadway productions in other parts of Hollywood Studios. Add in some humorous narrators, appearances by the cast and some flurries and you have a magical production!
25. “it’s a small world”
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And speaking of songs! Well, we’ll get to that shortly. “it’s a small world” gets a terrible rap for being annoying, too childish, and non-thrilling. Realists will have you understand that more attractions like this could do its part to promote messages of peace over the span of many nations. Yes, the song is repetitive but I am willing to bet you could sing it right now. That’s the power of a Disney attraction: a simple idea that transcends to all corners of the world!
24. It’s Tough to be a Bug
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4D attractions at Disney really started to come around when It’s Tough to be a Bug opened. The problem is you may not be able to find where it’s located. Just look for the big tree in the center of the Animal Kingdom and go there! If you are able to see a show, you’ll be entertained and at one point, a little startled. I still say that the surprise ending is one of the best in Disney Parks so I think it’s fun to be a bug!
From Agent Kyle Holland: “One of my favorite aspects about Its Tough to Be a Bug is the walk through the roots of the Tree of Life. The Tree itself is amazing from a distance, but walking through the line and getting to see all the intricate animal details “carved” into the roots/branches is a fantastic experience. It really highlights the massive size of the tree. The show itself is very fun, and provides a nice mix of neat 3D/4D special effects and a bit of action/adventure as well. As the host of the show, Flik the Ant from A Bug’s Life does a great job of making the humans feel welcome in the world of bugs.”
23. Soarin’ Over the World
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And now for what I consider the biggest shocker of the entire countdown! Soarin‘ is the 23rd best Disney Attraction?! I could see barely slipping out of the top 10 but the top 20?!! But I can see it. It does have a height requirement, long wait and the queue is somewhat boring. But still, 23?! Brutal!
22. Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
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I’ll be honest and say I never thought of this attraction until my last trip and only when me and my boys were trying to kill some time. What I discovered was one of the funniest shows you’ll see at Disney! Many will discount it because there are plenty of fun attractions with thrills immediately around it. But I laughed, my kids retold all the jokes and then we even positioned my brother in the perfect seat to be “That Guy.” It’s randomness like this attraction that are the hidden gems and well deserving of a top 25 ranking.
From Agent Becky Willis: “A favorite for us! Text a joke, it’s so cool if they use it. We got a text back from Mike which is so fun.
21. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
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Tucked in the far back corner of Tomorrowland is Disney’s first attempt to make an attraction that capitalized on the success of the Toy Story franchise. As the precursor to the much more advanced Toy Story Midway Mania!, Buzz is a fun competition/ride that allows you to accumulate points and save the galaxy. While the lasers may not be as accurate and you many not know which one is yours, there is no harm with all ages blasting away at targets and spinning around in chairs. Well deserved ranking, just missing the top 20!
Conclusion:
Numbers 30-21 show the rise and impact of Pixar films. While Jedi Training and the Frozen sing-along are mostly “experiences,” the Pixar movement was enough to claim higher spots than classics like “it’s a small world” and Figment. And, in what I call a huge upset, Soarin‘ barely made the top 25!
But what say you? Are Pixar-based attractions worthy of being called the GREATEST DISNEY ATTRACTION OF ALL TIME? Leave your comments in the section below and remember, there’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!
