Welcome back to another My Disney Top 5. I decided long ago that in order to keep this column fresh and interesting I would have to break down the topics and really pick things apart. I’m hoping that by peeling away the layers of the onion I can reveal all of the amazing details that are Disney’s trademark. Then hopefully the next time you’re in a Disney Park you’ll stop and smell the roses and gain a deeper appreciation for the hidden treasures in the hotels, parks and attractions.
Top 5 Disney Attractions would certainly be a fine article, but it’s just too broad a topic. That’s why I’ve torn apart the attractions over a few articles. So far I’ve looked at the Top 5 Attraction Signs and the Top 5 Coolest Queues at Walt Disney World. This time we’re going to travel inside the attractions and check out some specific rooms.
To do so, we have to set some parameters. I’ve only included attractions that are truly indoors. While I love that first cave on the uphill of Big Thunder Mountain, I didn’t think that it was fair to include it on this list because the majority of the ride is outside. I’ve also excluded shows. The inside of It’s Tough to be a Bug at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is pretty awesome looking but I wanted to stick with that special moment when you’re transported through different environments as you move from room to room. I think that packs a little more “wow factor” into an attraction. So what we’re really looking at here are dark rides like Snow White’s Scary Adventures, boat rides like Maelstrom, and omnimover rides like Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. With all that said, here are my picks for the Top 5 Attraction Rooms at Walt Disney World.
5 – The Polynesian Room in “it’s a small world”
My daughter's favorite doll in “it's a small world.” Photo by Chris Barry.
There are people that love this ride and there are people that can’t stand this ride. I love it. I’ve always loved it. I think it’s classic. I think the dolls and the costumes are wonderfully creative. I’ve been collecting New York World’s Fair memorabilia for a long time now and “it’s a small world” was one of Walt’s contributions to the ’64-’65 World’s Fair—consequently, I’ve always had a soft spot for this ride. My kids love it. My wife loves it. The Polynesian room has always been my favorite. I love the surfer on the wave, the hula girls, and the Hawaiian style music with the tiki drums. My daughter has always loved that dog wagging his tongue at the very end of the room. It’s a family favorite.
4 – The Polar Bear Room in Maelstrom
“You are not the first to pass this way.” The entrance to Maelstrom. Photo by Chris Barry.
Maelstrom is a classic. I’m a big fan of this pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase to begin with and I always want this boat ride through Norway to last longer. The room with the polar bears and puffins has always been my favorite. It’s very simple and it goes by pretty quick after you drop, “…back, back over the falls!” It’s a beautifully done room and a great example of the Imagineers creating a natural looking environment in an indoor attraction.
3 – The Jellyfish Room in The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Turn right at the seagulls and head for the jellyfish. Photo by Chris Barry.
I think there are some really cool looking scenes on this ride in Epcot, but to me this room has always been the highlight. There’s really nothing here but a room full of purple glowing jellyfish, but it’s a very effective and moody room. It’s got that wow factor and it does a great job of bringing that scene from the film to life..
2 – Flying Over London in Peter Pan’s Flight
Ready to fly over London? Photo by Chris Barry.
I’m a sucker for Peter Pan. It’s my favorite Disney movie and always the first attraction we hit on every trip to Walt Disney World. It’s simple and has a childlike innocence that I think we all seek out when we visit a Disney park. For me the best room is always the one where you’re flying over London. The clouds in the sky, the lights of the moving cars on London’s busy streets, and “You Can Fly” playing over the speakers instantly transforms me into a little kid. It’s amazing that such a simple ride has such an effect on people. After all these years and as technically complex and amazing as the Imagineers have gotten, it’s hard to top this ride. Judging by the huge waits that Peter Pan’s Flight can have on any given day, I guess a lot of other people feel the same way about this classic attraction.
1 – The Grand Staircase Room in The Haunted Mansion
“Every room has wall-to-wall creeps.” Photo by Chris Barry.
This was a tough one. The Haunted Mansion is basically one room after another that could be at the top of this list. The Graveyard. The Attic. The Séance room. The Corridor of Doors. All of them are winners. The Haunted Mansion is Disney at it’s best. Each room is full of eye candy and chock full of imagination. You can ride through over and over again and see something new each time.
For me, the room that hits the biggest homerun is the Grand Staircase, often referred to as the M.C. Escher room. It’s an Orlando exclusive and was added during the refurbishment of 2007. The room is full of intertwining staircases heading in all directions complete with ghostly glowing footsteps. It’s artistic. It’s creepy. It takes you by surprise. It makes you want to linger and sink yourself more into the experience. It’s way cool, and I think it’s the best room in any Walt Disney World attraction.
This was probably the toughest Top 5 list for me to narrow down. There are so many rooms that came close. I had trouble leaving off The Wicked Wench room that literally drops you into the world of the Pirates of the Caribbean. My wife and daughter voted for the Heffalumps and Woozles room from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. It was hard to not include anything from deep inside Splash Mountain or the Seven Dwarfs cottage from Snow White’s Scary Adventures.
But, when you write a list you have to pick your favorites and these are the ones that I can’t wait to get to whenever I’m at Walt Disney World. They’re the ones that most make me want to linger and totally absorb. The Imagineers have given us so many attractions to enjoy and so many individual rooms and pieces of those attractions really stand out in our minds and help to complete the magic for us.
That's My Disney Top 5 for today. What's yours? Click on the “Discuss this article on MousePad” link below and share your list!
