Tom’s Top 7: Movies that Should Have Rides
If you ask a child of the 90s or a Gen Zer their favorite Disney animated movie, there’s a good chance you’ll receive an answer that is not represented by a ride at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or any of the other parks. (Unless their favorite is Toy Story, in which case boy are they in luck!)
In reviewing lists of Fantasyland-style dark rides at each Disney park around the world, one thing sticks out: there’s very little representation from the last few decades. In this post, I’ll take a look at which classic Disney movies I think have been snubbed, and offer vague ‘Armchair Imagineering’ on what a good ride would look like to me. (Note that this is specifically about movies that don’t have rides. Some of these animated films already have in-park representation via restaurants, shows or…bathrooms.)
As this is a “Tom’s Top 7” rather than a standard top 10 list, there’s little to no objectivity here. In terms of which films “deserve” rides, that could probably be determined via some complex formula factoring in box office results, home video sales, merchandise revenue, longevity, and other factors to determine in-park worthiness. I’m more concerned with which movies I’d personally enjoy as rides.
While the Disney film pantheon now includes Marvel, Star Wars, and a range of live-action movies that plenty of people (even fans) probably don’t associate with Disney, I’m going to stick to just the Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar films here.
Because my focus is primarily Fantasyland-style dark rides, I think the animated libraries are the most fitting focuses of this list. I mean, I think we can all agree that National Treasure: Book of Secrets and The Ugly Dachshund need mega-budget E-Tickets in every single Disney park, so I don’t want to fixate on the obvious. With that said, here are the films I’d like to see have rides in the parks…
7. Beauty and the Beast – This is my favorite Disney animated film, but I’m putting it last for a couple of reasons. First, it already has a mini-land, restaurant, and an attraction (Enchanted Tales with Belle) in Magic Kingdom, plus a stage show in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It just doesn’t have a ride, which feels like a technicality given all it does have. Second, it’ll soon have the most lavish Disney dark ride of all time in Tokyo Disneyland.
With that said, since it is my favorite, I’m going to leverage that “no ride right now” technicality and insist that it still could use more of an in-park presence. This is particularly true in the parks where it is not represented at all but really should be, like Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. There are so many iconic scenes that individually could form the basis of a ride, and given the enduring popularity of the movie and its artistic accomplishments, it really deserves a ride…or several.
6. Zootopia – One thing I dislike about a lot of Fantasyland-style dark rides is that they end up being passive, CliffNotes retellings of the movie. The ride doesn’t immerse guests in an experience, but rather, shows them a condensed story. Attractions like Peter Pan’s Flight and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride work, despite their age, because guests actually fly over London or go to hell, as the case may be.
I’m not as huge of a Zootopia fan as some, and I worry that any Zootopia attraction would fall into this storytelling trap. However, the film’s epic scale of world-building is so exceptional that I’d feel remiss not to include it on this list. I don’t have any good ideas for a Zootopia attraction, but I think a simple, leisurely monorail ride above these districts without any attempt at telling a story, just an experience of scenic beauty and details–would be ideal. (Perhaps it could be like Hogwarts Express?)
Alternatively, set a story in one specific district and tell a new story from that locale. Whatever a Zootopia attraction ends up being, it shouldn’t try to do too much.
5. Lion King – This is another movie that has an in-park presence via a show, restaurant, and other offerings, but still no ride. Still, it makes the list because it’s my second-favorite Disney animated film, and I think it features an excellent cast of memorable characters, great music, and some interesting options for a dark ride.
This is another one I fear could be a CliffNotes retelling of the story, since there are so many memorable scenes, each of which feature different songs and highlight different characters. Personally, I’d punt on all of this, instead focusing solely on “Circle of Life” while drawing inspiration from the film’s opening, which features vignettes of many different animals.
Use this to make this a quasi-educational attraction and it becomes a perfect fit as a much-needed family dark ride in Animal Kingdom. Or Imagineering could take it in a totally different direction–I think there’s a ton of unrealized potential for Lion King in the parks.
4. The Aristocats – If it hasn’t happened by now, the Aristocats is probably never getting a film. I realize this isn’t the most popular film, so it’s tough to say a ride is “deserved” here. Nonetheless, several of the cats are still popular and have a strong merchandise presence in both Japan and Paris. Plus, everybody wants to be a cat!
Ultimately, it’s these cats themselves that could carry a ride concept, and make for something really fun. Here, I envision a ride that’s part the scurrying around Paris of Ratatouille: the Adventure (with less screens and more physical sets) and part the finale dream sequence room from Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. In that room, a Heffalump band performs, with some characters actually in a trackless ride vehicle ‘mingling’ with guests. This would be a great climax of an Aristocats ride, complete with the Alley Cats performing a jammin’ finale…before tiring everyone out and the cats falling asleep at the end, as cats do.
3. Inside Out – This one’s probably easy to envision because we already had the most obvious attraction that comes to mind when thinking about Inside Out: Cranium Command. (The similarities become downright eery once you learn that Inside Out director Pete Docter was an animator on Cranium Command.)
For me, there’s a lot of appeal in a redux of Cranium Command that features the emotions from Inside Out, but covers entirely different ground. This is one film that could use the premise of the film for something totally different and fresh, potentially with randomized sequences a la Star Tours: the Adventures Continue. Having the 5 emotions be Audio Animatronics would also give the attraction depth, making it more than just a screen-based ride.
Alternatively, I think a Bing Bong rocket wagon ride would be the great starting point for a silly and endearing trackless dark ride. Personally, I’ll take more Bing Bong anything; any way we can get a greater in-park representation of this character (short of replacing Figment) is fine by me!
2. Tangled – This is all about the “I See the Light” floating lantern scene. That’s one of the most beautifully evocative scenes in any Disney animated film, and would be jaw-dropping brought to life. The technology is there (or almost there) to recreate this as a three dimensional scene in the finale of a Tangled boat ride.
Disney could make this happen with drones in a nighttime spectacular instead, but I think it’d be much more powerful for the guest to be in a boat with lanterns taking flight above them, reflected in the water.
1. The Princess and the Frog – Dining at Tiana’s Place aboard the Disney Wonder was actually the inspiration for this entire post. I kept thinking, “how does this movie not have a ride yet?!” Now, that’s partly rhetorical, as I realize it didn’t do the best numbers at the box office. On the other hand, that was when Walt Disney Animation Studios was stuck in a decade-long funk. If the exact movie were released today with the benefit of several successive artistic and commercial successes by WDAS in front of it, it’d perform much better. I also think it’ll develop classic status over time, especially as new audiences discover it.
I don’t really have a strong idea of what a Princess and the Frog ride would include. I’m assuming it’d be a mysterious boat ride through the bayou with voodoo effects, transitioning into a New Orleans’ setting with jazz and a jovial and optimistic spirit. For me, the mood is key and what would make a Princess and the Frog attraction a slam dunk. I already think of Princess and the Frog as something of the “anti-Frozen” when it comes to the film’s presence in the parks–it’s under-utilized and steals the show whenever else it’s featured.
There are easily another dozen movies that could be on this list, from new classics like Wall-E to older gems like the Fox and the Hound. It’s hardly a comprehensive list–and as a fan of Disney Parks first and films second, I also don’t want to see a bunch of rides based on movies at the expense of original attractions. Nonetheless, I thought it was a fun exercise, and hopefully you enjoyed it, too.
Your Thoughts
Which Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar movies would you like to see represented more in the parks? Any particular scenes from these movies you think would make for a memorable Fantasyland-style dark ride experience? Any other thoughts or questions? Share in the comments below!
Typo maybe?
4. The Aristocats — If it hasn’t happened by now, the Aristocats is probably never getting a film.
Should the last word in that sentence be ride? Your wording distracted me.
Have a nice day!
They really need to design a new Lilo and Stitch attraction. They have nothing that represents the feeling or fun of the movie.
Movies that need to be represented: Hercules, Pocahontas, Tarzan, Emperor’s New Groove…. we NEED rides for these!
Even though this post is about New Fantasyland, I want to make a quick detour to the World Showcase for a moment.
I know a lot of people aren’t fans of the Maelstrom being turned into a Frozen ride in Norway, but did it really detract from the World Showcase’s cultural education mission any more than having the UK pavilion be nothing more than shops for soccer and Doctor Who?
I’m in favor of each pavilion having a single movie-themed ride that highlights the cultural inspiration for that movie. We already have Frozen in Norway and we’ll be getting Ratatouille in France, and most likely Three Caballeros in Mexico will be refashioned into a Coco ride some time in the near future. So why not have a Mulan ride in China? Or a Robin Hood ride in the UK pavilion? Both Mulan and Robin Hood are culturally important folk tales to those countries, and putting those rides in those pavilions just makes more sense than putting them in the Magic Kingdom (especially when you consider the absolute lack of Disney IP in those two particular pavilions. Don’t get me started on how the UK pavilion does not seem to be aware there is a Scottish Disney Princess).
I want a water ride for the Jungle Book at Animal kingdom. I would also like a Cave of Wonders Ride (not just the kiddie ride) similar to Star .
Honestly I’d love to see Robin Hood and The Sword in the Stone represented in a ride. Those are two classics I grew up enjoying that seem to be looong forgotten. They could, in my opinion, make for an excellent dark ride.
I always thought it would be such a good idea to convert Tom Sawyer island (let’s face it, it sucks) into princess and the frog. Have a voodo mama juju treehouse restaurant and a dark boat ride down the bayou.
My favorite Disney movies are Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan. Out of those I think a Tarzan ride could be pretty cool at AK. You could surf on the tree limbs like Tarzan does and try to run away from the leopard. I also think a battle scene ride for mulan with the Huns could be both educational and could use a ton of cool pyrotechnics.
I’m not sticking with animated films, but one ride I think would be practically perfect in every way would be:
https://youtu.be/WU6X1eLoVWI
Enough said.
Secondly, who doesn’t want to go to Narnia!?!
I’m not sticking to animated, but one I think would be practically perfect in every way is:
https://youtu.be/WU6X1eLoVWI
Enough said on that;
Also, Who doesn’t want to go to Narnia!?!
It is my 11 yr. old daughter’s dream to be an Imagineer one day and she says she is going to create a Monsters Inc. ride based on the Scare Floor with all the doors racing around on the transport system. I could give you every detail, but it’d take forever! If you’ve seen the movie when Mike, Sulley and Randall are looking for Boo’s door, you get the idea!!
There actually is a ride like that…in Disney’s California Adventure! It’s a lot of fun!
I fully agree with you, Tom! I’d especially like to see the Inside Out idea come to life. (We NEED MORE Bing-Bong!!) Also I liked someone’s idea for Big Hero 6. This movie has become a favorite for my boys. Disney execs need to read this and offer you a job! 🙂
I always thought big hero six was a match made in heaven for Epcot. This could be a coaster similar to a Batman hanging coaster flying on the back of baymax flying through San fransokyo. The queue could be the San Fransokyo institutes expo, with all the new technology being demonstrated While the line looped through it. I know big hero six is a marvel property and you were only doing classic disney and Pixar, but this would be ride 1 for me. If they want to update epcot and give it a fresh new look. Start here, then look at inside out cranium command… both would be a great addition. I also do like the idea of a nice relaxed chill ride similar to the people mover to end our day at the parks, always a must do before we leave magic kingdom, and spaceship earth is that ride for Epcot, maybe a chill peoplemover type ride exploring the world of zootopia at AK. Love all the ideas.
I’m probably in the minority but I’ve always wanted a ride based on the lab “in The Emperor’s New Groove. It’s all right there waiting to be turned into something. The “wrong lever” could be pulled and you could go flying down a slide into a pit of fake crocodiles. Generally, there is very little ENG presence anywhere, makes me sad as it’s one of my favorites.
There’s 2 rides I’ve really wanted but am willing to bet we will never get.
1. Aladdin flying carpet coaster. Run through the cave of wonders and end up in the clouds at night.
2. Riding on a door coaster from Monsters Inc. The first thing I thought when I saw that scene chasing Randall was that it’s goung to make a great ride
Yes!!!!! My family has said for years what fun a door coaster would be! The Imagineers have so much material to work with on that one! It would be a huge draw- thrilling on the same level as Test Track.
I’d love a Black Cauldron ride. They could even have a quick service restaurant that serves Welsh rarebit.
I am big fan of the classic animated films centered around animals from the Nine Old Men era. These films I wish had attractions similar to a Disneyland Fantasyland dark ride, Haunted Mansion, or Pirates of Caribbean: Robin Hood, Jungle Book, Bambi, Aristocats, Rescuers, or Fantasia. I would also be happy to see Princess and the Frog, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins, or Sword in the Stone rides.
I think they should make the ride they are putting in France be more of a tribute to France and its influence on the movies as a whole rather than one specific movie itself – they could use so many Disney movies set in France to do this – Ratatouille (of course), Beauty & the Beast, Aristocats, Hunchback of Notre Dame, maybe Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella too. Could do the same in the UK with Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, and 101 Dalmations.
Between Be Our Guest & Enchanted Tales , I personally feel there’s “enough” Beauty & the Beast throughout the parks already — I would like to see something big for Moana in Adventureland.
I think they could improve the (lack of) theming on Kali River Rapids with some Jungle Book overlay.
Love this list! I’d also add a ride focused on Huey, Dewey and Louie plus Chip and Dale. So many movies, children’s books and television specials/shows have featured these wonderful characters through the years. My son loves them, I love them… but other than topiaries these adorable and mischievous characters are hard to find in the parks.
Inside Out/Cranium Command, as mention would be stellar. Great movie, great potential.
I am #TeamTangled all the way (it is point by point comparison far greater than Frozen) and a nice boat ride story would be great.
Wreck It Ralph would be an easy (and FUN!) one, Princess Venellope declares a race day with her friends (ride vehicle design would be based on the “create your ride scene” or the opponents vehicles from Sugar Rush. You start the race in Sugar Rush but then [insert Ralph causing mayhem] you end up driving through various games to help him stop [insert villan]. All designed around RSRs concepts.
Big Hero 6 (screw the whip ride!) with a fly though of SanFranTokyo with a battle at the end like in the movie; could use Pandora projector or RR-esque dark roller coaster and more of a harness dangling as Baymax carries you or even a Ratatouille like ride which zips you around with the other heroes in a ride vehicle the heroes invented, all with them popping up on 3D screens throughout. I think, like Zootopia, the movie is a bit unappreciated in the parks (okay the box office wasn’t too kind to this one either, but I liked it enough). Everyone LOVES Baymax! Revitalize it with all this Marvel hysteria going on right now and it could end up being a fun ride.
A Goofy Movie (oldie but a goody with the Gooftster and Max) – epic adventure across America would easily make scene transitions flow together from room to room. Ride queue would set up the story for leading into the roadtrip/PowerLine concert. Maybe using a KUKA arm for the car/ride vehicle (HPatFJ) or a track like RSRs as you weave through traffic and pass through the montage scenes of roadside attractions with “On the Open Road”, slow it down as you “float through the river scene” and end in a concert like setting with “Eye to Eye” as you end and exit…. all while doing “the perfect cast”!
Mary Poppins – need I say more? The off and on rumors need to end. Confirm this one now, Disney!
One of my all time favorites, the Sword in the Stone. No real ideas other than a classic, old school dark ride. Merlin and Archimedes popping up throughout would be so dang epic!
Someone mentioned Emperor’s New Groove… THAT WOULD BE SO MUCH FUN as a Splash Mountain-esque water ride
Personal ones that most maybe don’t remember but could have been fun if they were made during their release periods:
– Flight of the Navigator: A simple Star Tours-esque ride simulator as you board the spaceship with Max
– Bedknobs and Broomsticks: A very simple dark ride while sitting on the bed, going through the movie scenes. That war scene at the end with the knights would be a riot!
– A Radiator Springs Racer-esque Herbie/The Love Bug ride… WITHOUT Lindsey of course. Pit him up against Mr Banks… I mean Thorndyke…. I mean David Tomlinson. The blueprint is all there with RSR/TT layout….
– A Hocus Pocus/Nightmare Before Christmas/Haunted Mansion-esque dark ride. I know it’s too similar to the Haunted House already, and DL already does the overlay, but why not give the Sanderson Sisters an overlay in the Haunted Mansion? Because blasphemy! That’s why! =D
-And finally, how’s this for simple….. A COOL RUNNINGS BOBSLED RIDE! YES PLEASE!
HEY DISNEY IMAGINEERING, I AM STILL WAITING FOR THAT PHONE CALL! hehe
Loved this article, Tom! Great to get the creative juices flowing…
We always say how awesome Tomorrowland Speedway would be re-imagined as a Wreck-It Ralph ride!
Nice ideas, Brian! I’m also on #TeamTangled. 🙂
Omg i love the cool running’s idea!!! Yes yes yes!