This past April, a video from Disneyland went viral showing Johnny Depp crashing the Pirates of the Carribean attraction in full Captain Jack Sparrow character. What a great moment for those lucky guests who no doubt had to convince themselves they were seeing a pirate moving and talking like he was real. So, we got to thinking, who else would we hope to see?
Welcome to Believe Vacation’s Top Ten where today, we’ll look at the Top 10 Actors We Hope Make a Cameo at Disney Parks. For this list, we will look at actors and actresses who played memorable characters in the movies that he/she could play at a Disney Parks attraction. And if you thought the crowd went crazy over Johnny Depp, just imagine what would happen if these celebrities showed up unannounced:
10) Spaceship Earth – Dame Judi Dench
Our narrator for the “ride inside the golf ball,” Dame Judi Dench has an iconic voice that is both determined as a political activist and loving as a grandmother’s tones. Her voice is a large reason why Spaceship Earth remains popular even though it’s a little outdated. But what a surprise it would be for her to do a live narration during a scene like Rome burning? Or even better, as we are “thanking the Phoenicians,” let’s have her in the scene shaking hands with them!
9) Test Track or Tomorrowland Speedway – Professional NASCAR Driver
Epcot is home to the fastest ride at Disney and Magic Kingdom is home to the fastest 7 mph race around the track! With all this need for speed, we need a professional driver to show us how to really do it. Imagine Jeff Gordon sending you on your way at Tomorrowland Speedway or Dale Earnhardt Jr. helping you customize your vehicle at Test Track. Get your motors running!
8) Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – Harrison Ford
Show cameos seem like they would be the best places for our favorite characters to appear and I’m surprised it does not happen more often. While this show does have the action and excitement you would expect at a stunt show, you’ll be more familiar with them if you’ve seen the Indiana Jones movies. Imagine the roar of the crowd if “Indy” took off the famous fedora and Harrison Ford was standing with a grin underneath it? And please, let’s get some interactions with snakes for old-times sake.
7) Jungle Cruise – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Check back on this list after a couple of years and see if this entry does not move higher up the list. But our favorite wrestler turned Hollywood A-Lister, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is playing a role in an upcoming live-action film based on the Jungle Cruise ride. We are confident that once Mr. The Rock gets familiar with the quirky nature of the ride his movie is name after, we may be seeing him aboard one of the river boats as a friendly jungle skipper.
6) Rock N Roller Coaster – Aerosmith
I mean, they are in the pre-show and the entire attraction is built around them. Aerosmith is showing in 2017 that they may never slow down so they can still rock and roll. Imagine how much fun the pre-show would be if they were really there! How about as you are in the alleyway, they have a small set and are just jamming their greatest hits? Dream on fans, Dream on!
5) Finding Nemo The Musical – Ellen Degeneres
Ellen’s Energy Adventure is too obvious. But having Ellen show up as the actual voice and puppeteer of Dory during the musical would be amazing. A stand-up comic by trade, Ellen would have the audience rolling with her adlibs and quirky mannerisms. To top it off, I could see her leading a “Just Keep Swimming” chant throughout the show!
4) Maleficent – Angelina Jolie
Much like the other live-action Disney remakes over the last few years, everyone gets very excited for the character(s) the remake is based on and then it slowly goes away. Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of the “Mistress of All Evil” was very underrated and she is getting a sequel because of her popular portrayal. While she’s at it, she should show up in full costume at Disney’s Fantasmic. Normally dressed it the cartoon version purple and green makeup and costume, what a dramatic change to behold if the all black wardrobe and sunken cheeks of Ms. Jolie showed up and turned into a dragon!
3) Enchanted Tales with Belle – Emma Watson
Speaking of those live-action remakes, you may as well strike now while the iron is still hot with this one. Giving us a serviceable portrayal as Belle, the former Hermoine Granger became the peasant girl turned princess through songs and finding love underneath the outward appearances. To have her show up as Belle at her own experience, interacting with kids and parents and retelling the tale as old as time would be a tremendous celebrity appearance.
2) Star Tours – Mark Hamill
Star Wars Weekend at Hollywood Studios used to be an amazing 3 day over-saturation of arguably the greatest movie franchise ever. It was so successful that the entire park is basically one big Star Wars weekend. I kid, but there is a ton of Star Wars these days and the future will only grow this franchise. Now imagine being in the attraction that gave Star Wars a foot inside Disney properties to begin with and they search your ship for the rebel spy. If I’m on that ship and Luke Skywalker himself stands up and says “Here I am, come and get me!”, there will be no words in the galaxy to mention how awesome this would be!
Honorable Mention
The Great Movie Ride – Sigourney Weaver – A brief cameo finding the Alien would be a nice tension relief during the scariest moment of the ride.
Haunted Mansion – Eddie Murphy – The funnyman trading barbs with the singing busts would resurrect a classic moment from an underrated live-action film.
Monsters Inc Laugh Floor – Billy Crystal – If anyone has any right to play the role of “That Guy” who we credit all the success of the show to, it’s him!
1) The Hall of Presidents – Any living president
We are not talking politics and you can say you would not care if this President showed up or not. I’m confident the second a living former or current President of the United States walks on stage with the 40+ animatronics representing his peers, the show will stop, the ovations will be thunderous and chants of USA will be heard throughout the Magic Kingdom!
Did we miss anything? Who needs to reprise a famous movie or TV role and make a cameo at a Disney Parks attraction or show? Let us know in the comments section and remember that there is a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!
