The Disney theme parks are home to some of the most thrilling, entertaining, and technically-advanced attractions in the world, and for good reason. With countless teams of imagineers working together to collectively benefit the Walt Disney parks and resorts, and in turn, to offer up the best-of-the-best when it comes to theme park attractions, nobody creates a timeless on-ride experience like Disney. Of course, we each have our own collection of attractions that we favor more over the others. While some enjoy roller coasters, others enjoy the various shows that each park offers their guests. In this overview, Jenn breaks down her 5 favorite dark rides that she enjoys throughout Disney’s top-of-the-line theme parks, and give you her reasons for choosing these remarkable attractions. Join Tim and Jenn for their home vlog as we break down each attraction, below!
5. Haunted Mansion
“We have 999 happy haunts here, but there’s room for a thousand. Any volunteers?” Kicking off the list at number 5 is the Haunted Mansion, located inside of the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Known best as a delightfully unlivable ghostly retreat the Haunted Mansion is a Walt Disney World Resort classic that has entertained guests for almost 50 years! For Jenn, she highlights that some of her favorite parts of this attraction include: the interactive queue, the iconic stretching room, and the attic scene. This attraction is highly recommended for guests visiting the parks, as it is a Disney classic, and though it is home to a few mildly frightening scenes, the ghosts are friendly, and the music is catchy. Once you experience this attraction for the first time, it will have you returning for years come.
4. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
Coming in at number 4 for both Tim and Jenn is Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, located at Tokyo Disneyland Resort. Opening in the year 2000 with a cost of 130 million U.S. dollars, this trackless dark ride took the place of what was the old Skyway Station, and features exciting, whimsical scenes at every turn! With an entirely Japanese narration, incredible scene-by-scene story-telling, and a miture of colorful projections and animatronics throughout, this immersive dark ride is unlike any trackless attraction Disney Parks and Resorts offers today, and is a must-do if you ever find yourself visiting Tokyo Disneyland Resort.
3. Rise of the Resistance
Jenn’s choice for the number 3 spot on her Top 5 Disney Park Rides list is the highly innovative and possibly the most technologically advanced dark ride Disney Imagineering has ever created – Rise of the Resistance, currently found at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. Though this is Jenn’s favorite attraction in terms of Disney’s “plus” factor (no, not the streaming service) there are simply a few more rides that hold a deeper sentimental value to her, hence the ranking. Even still, this uber-immersive attraction places you in the heart of the Star Wars franchise, and for those who have always wanted to team up with the Resistance and take on the First Order, this attraction is for you! If you haven’t experienced this attraction yet, we won’t spoil it in this blog’s text, but let’s just say, this attraction will captivate you instantly, and is certainly worth waking up early in the morning for.
2. Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Tim and Jenn are once again in sync here, with both of their second favorite Disney dark ride attractions being Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid. At first, you may be thinking to yourself, “This dark ride attraction isn’t all that exciting,’ and though you may be right, this attraction is high up on both Tim and Jenn’s list for a very special reason. In case you didn’t know, this is Jackson’s very first dark ride. Tim and Jenn loved seeing him respond to all of the sights, sounds, and immersion throughout, and we think it’s safe to say that he thoroughly enjoyed his first ride through of this attraction. We expect many more ride throughs with The Tracker family in the future, and we cannot wait to see what other attractions captivate Jackson’s attention.
1. Alice in Wonderland
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for – Jenn’s favorite Disney Dark Ride attraction. Coming in at number 1 is another sentimental attraction for both Tim and Jenn and for very good reason. Alice in Wonderland, the famed dark ride located in Fantasyland at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, was Tim and Jenn’s first dark ride that they experienced together on the west coast! But that is isn’t the only reason that Jenn enjoys this attraction. This dark ride also delivers some clever effects, which in turn, offers guests the unique opportunity to travel down the rabbit hole and into the story of Alice in Wonderland movie. Though it has recieved extensive updates over the years, this attraction still offers many incredible effects that were present during the opening of the attraction over 60 years ago, and is recommended by Tim and Jenn the next time you visit Disneyland Park in California.
The Disney theme parks are home to some of the most thrilling, entertaining, and technically-advanced attractions in the world, and for good reason. With countless teams of imagineers working together to collectively benefit the Walt Disney parks and resorts, and in turn, to offer up the best-of-the-best when it comes to theme park attractions, nobody creates a timeless on-ride experience like Disney. Of course, we each have our own collection of attractions that we favor more over the others. While some enjoy roller coasters, others enjoy the various shows that each park offers their guests. What are some of your favorite dark ride attractions? Wondering what Tim’s favorite dark ride attractions are? Though they are covered in this video, we will be sure to break them down in textual form for all to enjoy in the near future. In the meantime, have fun, stay safe, and be sure to social distance!
