Greg Maletic - Feb 12, 2002

Greg Maletic
Page 1 of 5

by Greg Maletic (archives)
February 12, 2002
Greg tries to objectively choose The Great Disney Attraction of all Time - Part Two of Two.

Greatest Disney Attraction...Ever?
Part 2

If you missed Part One, click here to read it

Most Groundbreaking
No company has advanced the state-of-the-art in the amusement industry more than Disney has. Here are a few of their most astonishing creations:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean
It may owe its biggest debt to the elaborate "Tunnel of Love" attractions at Coney Island earlier in the century, but it's safe to say that there was nothing quite like it when it premiered in 1967. There still isn't. Never had someone tried to create a virtual world and achieved this level of success.

2. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
As Disney's bid to get his Audio-Animatronic figures taken seriously, his Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show at the 1964 World's Fair Illinois pavilion made a memorable impact, and showed that it was possible to do a lot more with the technology than animate tiki birds.

3. The Matterhorn
I've already said enough about The Matterhorn, but its steel structure redefined how to build roller coasters.

Indy.jpg (14266 bytes)
(c) Disney

4. The Indiana Jones Adventure
Thematically, it owes everything to the movies it's based upon (which in turn owe a debt to Pirates of the Caribbean), but technologically, it's probably Disney's most innovative ride ever.

5. Universe of Energy
The most elaborate grade-school science lecture ever. The unbelievably huge movie screen displaying the world's largest piece of animation, the theater that magically turns into a ride, the dinosaurs...it's fantastic. Of the attractions on display on Epcot's opening day, Universe of Energy was the only one that I found truly awe-inspiring: the only one that was unlike anything seen before in the Magic Kingdom.

TOT.jpg (16553 bytes)

6. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
I'm not sure that anyone thought that building an attraction this elaborate around a freefall ride was possible, but Disney did it. In addition to the unbelievable ride vehicles, the ride features landmark special effects and a beautiful queueing area and pre-show that are truly unnerving.

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