Welcome back to another My Disney Top 5. I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. The vacation is not over yet and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day have yet to come. As my thoughts drifted away from the tree and the presents and drifted towards, what else, Walt Disney World, I began to think about what to write for another Top 5. I thought it might be time to head back to the Walt Disney World attractions. I’ve talked about the Top 5 Coolest Queues back in April of 2010. In October of that same year, I listed my Top 5 Attraction Signs. I discussed actual attraction rooms was back in February with my Top 5 Attraction Rooms. Just this past September I counted down the Top 5 Walt Disney World Attraction “Wow Factor” Moments.
This time let’s get more specific. Let’s walk past the awesome signs. Let’s head through the amazing and detailed queues and let’s get to the essence of any great Disney attraction, the ride vehicle. The vehicles that deliver you to the “wow” moments. One of the many things that make Disney so unique when it comes to their attractions is the ride vehicle itself. You rarely sit in something ordinary to experience a truly great and immersive Disney attraction. The vehicle has to be part of the experience. It has to surround you and envelop you in the story. It has a crucial part to play in an attraction. It’s the catalyst that transports you into whatever world the Imagineers want you to experience. Some are better than others. Some ride vehicles are quite simple and are merely transportation like the “it’s a small world” boats. Others are attractions all by themselves like the Walt Disney World Railroad or the extinct 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Submarine fleet.
I’m going to set some parameters first. Something like the Walt Disney World Monorail can surely be considered an attraction. But I’d like to leave it off this list as I would the Walt Disney World Railroad and the Main Street Vehicles. Sure, they’re technically attraction vehicles, but they’re also transportation. I’d have to leave off the aforementioned submarines, probably the ultimate attraction vehicle, for two solid reasons. One—they’re gone. Two—I never got to ride in them, so I can’t comment. I’m going with strictly ride vehicles here; something that the Imagineers created to transport you through one of their attractions and ones that they took the extra time to make so special.
So, please stay seated. Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times and let’s take a look at the Top 5 Walt Disney World Attraction Vehicles.
5 – The Boats From Peter Pan’s Flight
Peter Pan's Flight. Photo courtesy of Google Images.
I’m a sucker for Peter Pan. It’s well documented here on MousePlanet. It’s my favorite Disney movie. My wife is a big Tinker Bell fan, which is kind of funny because Diane actually reminds me of Tink. I used Peter Pan in the attraction sign article and the room where you fly over London made my Top 5 Attraction Rooms article. So, it comes as no surprise that the Peter Pan pirate ships are in this Top 5. They’re simple and classic just like the ride itself and they instantly make you feel like a kid the second you board.
4 – The Time Rovers From Dinosaur
A Dinosaur CTX Rover. Photo courtesy of Google Images.
These ride vehicles are probably the most complex ride vehicles in all of Walt Disney World, and for that matter perhaps in any theme park anywhere. These massive time traveling jeeps not only look cool but they also give you one heck of a ride. Once you turn down those stairs towards the loading platform and catch a glimpse of the time rovers, you realize what lay ahead; a completely amazing attraction that totally immerses you in the experience thanks in no small part to these incredible vehicles.
3 – The Rockets From Space Mountain
A Space Mountain rocket. Photo courtesy of Google Images.
I’m a roller coaster freak. I love them. Any kind. Small ones. Crazy ones. Not so crazy ones. There are roller coasters and then… there’s Space Mountain. Disney took things to a whole different level when they opened this attraction in 1975. The dark, the lights, the projections on the ceiling, the sound effects and more all combine for one of the most unique roller coaster experiences anywhere. I love the rocket’s classic design. I love the way you sit single file. I actually think they’re pretty comfortable as well. It’s hard to describe and I hope I’m not simplifying things too much, but to sum up why they made this list, I have to simply say…they’re just so darn cool!
2 – The Test Vehicles From Test Track
A Test Track test vehicle. Photo courtesy of Google Images.
These one of a kind ride vehicles, much like the time rovers, are highly advanced technological machines. Quite simply put, there’s nothing like them anywhere. At least, that is, until the new Radiator Springs Racers attraction opens in Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure. That ride will feature similar vehicles and a similar ride system as Epcot’s Test Track. Enjoy these awesome vehicles while you can. Maybe you’ve seen the spiffy new blue cars zipping around the testing grounds. Rumor has Test Track closing soon for an extensive upgrade including the addition of these cosmetically new ride vehicles.
1 – The Trains From The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. Photo courtesy of Google Images.
Many of you may be surprised by this ride’s position at number one, but hear me out. First of all, I love this attraction. My whole family loves it. We ride it multiple times whenever we’re in Walt Disney World. There’s never even a question about it. If someone suggests, “PeopleMover anyone?” the answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” from the crowd. It’s a great way to take a break and cool off. It’s a great way to see what’s going on throughout Tomorrowland and it’s got a wonderful view of Cinderella’s Castle, especially at night. We love the fact that we can all fit inside one car and we comfortably face each other as we zip around the tracks.
But, what I really love about these vehicles is their history. These weren’t designed as just ride vehicles; they truly were designed with the future in mind. The original PeopleMovers appeared at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair as part of the Ford Magic Skyway. Originally called the WEDway, similar vehicles appeared at Disneyland in 1967, and eventually made their way to Walt Disney World in 1975.
Walt had intended these vehicles to actually transport people to and from his experimental prototype city of tomorrow, otherwise known as EPCOT. As you zip around the TTA track you will see the original model for Walt’s city and if you look closely you will see a network of PeopleMovers extending out into EPCOT’s suburbs. The vehicles are propelled by linear synchronous motors, essentially using magnetic fields to quietly propel the cars along the tracks. They’re clean, quiet and considering the fact that they use little power and expel no pollution they were green way before green was trendy. They’re a perfect example of Walt and the Imagineers forward thinking, and that’s why they make my number one slot on this list.
So there you have it. There are others. I’m quite fond of the honey pots from The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. I love the Viking ships from Maelstrom in Epcot’s Norway pavilion and as far as roller coasters go, who doesn’t love the old mountain railway from Expedition Everest or the mine trains from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
These are my favorites. To me, they’re great examples of just how hard the Imagineers work on transporting us to other places both real and imaginary. They’re a huge part of what we all like to refer to as the “Disney difference.”
It’s what sets Walt Disney World and Disneyland apart from the crowd; the attention to detail, the innovation, and the constant strive for something new and different to spark the guest’s imagination.
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!
