5. Monsters Inc. Ride & Go Seek
Starting us off at number 5 is a fan-favorite dark ride for many individuals who have had the honor of visiting Tokyo Disneyland, and that is Monsters Inc. Ride & Go Seek. Armed with a flashlight, guests wonder the streets of Monstropolis and the Monsters Inc. offices as they use their lights to find the hidden monsters. All the while, participants must also avoid Randall as he lurks about and attempts to harness Boo’s screams for power. It’s a unique attraction that offers an enjoyable twist on the classic dark ride concept, with constant interaction and an engaging storyline that many, including Tim, find to be incredibly well done an exciting.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. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Bringing us into number 3 is a brand-new dark ride located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starring the mice themselves, Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is an entirely fresh take on the traditional dark rides that we all know and love today. That’s not to say that this dark ride throws out all that we’ve come to love about a Disney dark ride, as it still features many live show elements throughout, including props and animatronics. However, what sets this apart from the traditional Disney dark ride is the incorporation of high-resolution, bright, and vibrant projection mapping sets and backdrops throughout the attraction. Plus, there are PLENTY of Hidden Mickeys located throughout the ride, and we bet one will never truly be able to locate all of them. In addition to the bold steps that Disney Imagineers took to ‘plus’ what many have already come to know and love, Tim enjoys the emotional connection that he has with the Mickey Mouse Shorts. Because of this, he really enjoys this attraction and what its central theme is.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. Rise of the Resistance
Capping off Tim’s Top 5 Disney Dark Rides is, appropriately, one of the most highly innovative, and possibly the most technologically advanced, dark ride Disney Imagineering has ever created – Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. 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! Featuring a mixture of animatronics featuring your favorite stars from the sequel trilogy, impressive practical sets and effects, and a tasteful sprinkle of screens to enhance the show scene, this attraction is considered by some to be the pinnacle of Disney dark rides. 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.
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 Jenn’s favorite dark ride attractions are? Though they are covered in this video, we break them down in textual form for all to enjoy in last week’s blog. After enjoying this week and last week’s blog, remember to have fun, stay safe, and be sure to social distance!
