What are your top three attractions ever designed and opened by WDI? (defunct attractions are fair game)

[Musical Mermaid]

I'm not sure if these are my top 3 of all time, because I don't typically rate and rank favorites, but here are 3 from the favorites.
*Journey Into Imagination- delightful
*Great Movie Ride- epic
*Haunted Mansion- intriguing

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Kilimanjaro Safaris
Splash Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean (Disneyland)

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Kilimanjaro Safaris often gets left out of these discussions, perhaps because it's kind of its own thing, but I do want to stress that for me it's vying for the number 1 spot alongside these other three.

100%

For my money, it's the best attraction Disney has ever done.

 

[Jrb1979]

100%

For my money, it's the best attraction Disney has ever done.

It was better when it had the poacher story line.

 

[BlakeW39]

100%

For my money, it's the best attraction Disney has ever done.

Agreed! Disney really caught lightning in a bottle with that one, you really as if you're setting off on an adventure into the African bush. And the surrounding village of Harambe folds the attraction into its lore so nicely, with the posters and whatnot.

It was better when it had the poacher story line.

The core of the attraction is going on an African safari, so while I think some elements of the original attraction were good, like the radio comms with Wilson, some people on this forum have made the point that some of the poacher stuff only served to distract from the ride's main premise. Personally, I think there are positives and negatives to both experiences, altho from what I remember I did think it was a little jarring at the time.

 

[cjack300zx]

Star Tours is one of my favorite attractions ever, you can ride it 10 times in a row and get a different experience every time.

 

[FettFan]

1. Horizons
2. Big Thunder
3. The Haunted Mansion

 

[adimond]

Tied for 1st: Haunted Mansion (WDW) & Pirates of the Caribbean (DL original)
2nd: Horizons
3rd: Splash Mountain (WDW)

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Here are my top-three (of attractions I've been on):

1. Tower of Terror (WDW Version) - Everything fires on all cylinders. The theming, the ride pacing, the effects, the motion of the vehicles, everything. It's just a work of art, and I hope it survives for years to come. Oh yeah, and the fact that it blends in with the Morocco pavilion in Epcot is an A++++.
   
   
2. The Great Movie Ride - I think an attraction that required so many active and "acting" Cast Members, amazing animatronics, and outstanding special effects is definitely worthy of this spot. Every time I think about the Great Movie Ride, I feel extremely glad to have been able to ride it so many times. I was especially fortunate to be in WDW during the D23 when they announced its demise, so I was able to make a special trip back to DHS to ride it one last time. There really is nothing quite like it at any Disney Park these days.
   
   
3. Splash Mountain (WDW version) - The second version of SM really was such an improvement over the original Disneyland attraction. Sure, it was similar to Disneyland's, but improved in basically every way. The storyline is much clearer, set up from the very beginnings of the queue, and the addition of important pieces of dialogue, better lighting, and a more leisurely pace makes this one of the best attractions ever designed. While it's maintenance may not have been the best, I can't blame the Imagineers, because they really knocked it out of the park.

What are your top three?

The original Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain
Tower of Terror, WDW

 

[HauntedPirate]

1A - Horizons
1B - DHS ToT
1C - WDW Splash Mountain

Perfection, all three.

Cronkite/Irons SSE and the original JII are just a hair behind. DLP Pirates, GMR, Listen to the Land, the original story for KS, HM are all contenders but can’t crack my top 3. Haven’t been on DLP ToT since the most recent changes happened, but it’s really good as well.

 

[Disney Analyst]

In terms of what I believe really set WDI apart, and paved the way for what a great theme park attraction is:

1) POTC Disneyland
2) Haunted Mansion
3) Spaceship Earth

honourable mention:

Kilimanjaro Safari (the size and scale is insane).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

100%

For my money, it's the best attraction Disney has ever done.

Agreed. It is the most elaborate ride ever built

Star Tours is one of my favorite attractions ever, you can ride it 10 times in a row and get a different experience every time.

It gets a deduction because it’s 80s sims.

Sims are generally not as great for the senses IMHO.

Also…Star Wars always deserved something with movement/Gforce/gravity
It’s spaceships and things that go fast.

They’ve refused to realize that at every turn

 

[jannerUK]

Does beg the question why simulators are not built anymore. Its a shame because I do think its an experience that is rarely developed anymore (overlays like Simpsons & DM excluded) as new rides.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Does beg the question why simulators are not built anymore. Its a shame because I do think its an experience that is rarely developed anymore (overlays like Simpsons & DM excluded) as new rides.

Because they’re vans on sticks that jerk you around…no matter the price tag. They’ve been abandoned everywhere but Disney for decades. It’s an unconvincing fake…

Now there is room for innovation…and that’s flight of passage. That’s an amazing take.

Then you have Rise of the reboot…which is just a new aged dark ride car trying to mimic Simulator tricks….and…meh

 

[mergatroid]

1. Tower of Terror
2. Rise of the Resistance
3. Splash Mountain

 

[BlakeW39]

Because they’re vans on sticks that jerk you around…no matter the price tag. They’ve been abandoned everywhere but Disney for decades. It’s an unconvincing fake…

Now there is room for innovation…and that’s flight of passage. That’s an amazing take.

Then you have Rise of the reboot…which is just a new aged dark ride car trying to mimic Simulator tricks….and…meh

my hot take... all the new rides at WDW are overrated

 

[Chef Mickey]

Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, and Pirates are the 3 best.

 

[noodles]

1. Expedition Everest
2. Maelstrom
3. Universe of Energy

 

[co10064]

I love Space Mountain, not necessarily because of a story or theming, but because of its nostalgia and the fact that it is a classic that (to me) is synonymous with a Disney trip—almost rivaling an icon like the Castle.

WDW's Tower of Terror is another great attraction that knocks it out of the park on theming, story, and thrill. It's unmatched.

My last choice would probably have to be Flight of Passage. I love the exterior rock-work, the entire queue, and the experience is unlike any other—you really feel like you're flying.

Runner-up would probably be Splash Mountain. And while not WDI's most compelling or thrilling work, I love PeopleMover and Toy Story Mania.

 

[co10064]

To me, I have always found something "off" about Rise (and I'm a big Star Wars fan). I definitely enjoy it, but it doesn't rank near the top of my list.

Maybe it's because they set it in the sequel era, maybe it's because some of the sets feel too plastic to me, or maybe because the isolated ride (strip the story and theming) isn't thrilling.

Mostly, I think the reason why I feel the disconnect is that before I rode it, I had consistently seen it hyped up as "the best ride Disney has ever made," and it just didn't live up to that hype for me.