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10. Test Track

Test Track
Image © Disney
 

First opened in 1999, Test Track takes guests through a simulated set of tests on a new car. It sees guests seated in mock cars as they traverse a set of low-speed indoor tests before racing at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour around an outdoor section. Previously sponsored by Chevrolet's parent company General Motors, it underwent a lengthy refurbishment in 2012 as a result of a new commercial deal between Disney and GM.

Creating Test Track, with its vehicles that can accelerate and decelerate rapidly, was a nightmare. The ride's debut was delayed by nearly two years - but it proved to be worth the wait. It remains one of the most highly-rated attractions at Epcot by Theme Park Tourist readers. Despite the problems experienced with the Test Track system, Disney has since used it to create two other rides that are frequently cited as being amongst the best in the world. These are Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea (which uses "steam-powered" mine vehicles to carry guests on a trip to the Earth's core) and Radiator Springs Racers, the headline attraction of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure.

9. Adventure Thru Inner Space

Adventure Thru Inner Space poster

At the 1964 World's Fair, a number of rides employed systems that saw an endless loop of vehicles travel around a circuit. This ensured high capacity, but there was one major problem: guests were usually facing the back of the seat in front of them. What would be better would be a system that allowed the cars to rotate as required, as well as travelling up-and-down hills. Imagineers Bob Gurr and John Hench designed such a system, the Omnimover, which was first employed by Adventure Thru Inner Space at Disneyland. Adventure Thru Inner Space

A mini-Omnimover, used to show "shrunken" guests on Adventure Thru Inner Space.

The "Atommobile" vehicles carried guests pass giant snowflakes, Mickey Mouse-shaped molecules and the inside of an oxygen atom. Gradually, riders would start to return to normal size, witnessing swirling water molecules as the "snow" seen earlier melted. The Omnimover system has since been used by dozens of Disney rides, from the Haunted Mansion to Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid.

8. Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye

Indiana Jones Adventure

Image © Disney

Continuing its foray into rides based on non-Disney properties, Disney opened the ground-breaking Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland in 1995. Using jeep-style vehicles affixed to a motion simulator base, the attraction carries guests into the darkness of the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, an ancient lost Bengalese temple that has become the new vacation hotspot for would-be adventurers in 1935. Riding in jeeps holding sixteen passengers, guests on the Indiana Jones Adventure come face-to-face with skeletons, lava, giant snakes, rats, a giant rolling boulder, and the disfigured god himself via a number of special effects and the motion-base EMV (enhanced motion vehicle) that simulates rough terrain, quick turns, and quick acceleration. EMV patent The jeeps are fixed by three hydraulic rams to the frame of the chassis, allowing the shell to move independently. The rapid movements are used to convince guests that they are travelling faster, and over bumpier terrain, than they really are. It proved to be such a successful trick that Disney cloned the layout for Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull at Tokyo DisneySea and Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom. At the time the attraction opened, Universal Orlando was dreaming up ride concepts for its second theme park, Islands of Adventure. Originally, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Manwas due to be a simple dark ride. After seeing Disney's efforts, Universal decided to up the ante, developing an even more advanced motion simulator/dark ride system that has since been adopted by a number of other attractions.

7. Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Image © Disney

Initially conceived as a walkthrough attraction, the Haunted Mansion was ultimately built at Disneyland using the Omnimover system pioneered by Adventure Thru Inner Space. This was combined with a host of other Disney inventions, such as audio-animatronic characters, as well old-school tricks like the Pepper's Ghost effect used in the ballroom scene. In many ways, then, the Haunted Mansion can't really be considered to be ground-breaking. After all, "ghost train" rides had already been around for decades. But that's missing the point. The genius of the Haunted Mansion was the way that the Imagineers brought all of these elements together into a stunningly-detailed ride that has entertained visitors to several Disney parks for generations. Haunted Mansion

The Magic Kingdom's version of the Haunted Mansion.
Image © Disney

The fingerprints of the Haunted Mansion can be seen on attractions all over the world, from Disney's newer creations such as Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland to likes of Duel: The Haunted House Strikes Back!at Alton Towers in the UK.

6. Matterhorn Bobsleds

Matterhorn Bobsleds Walt Disney

Image © Disney

1959 was an incredible year for Disneyland. It saw the debut of no fewer than three major rides: the Submarine Voyage, the Monorail and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Disney is not often associated with innovation in roller coasters, but the latter ride was the world's first tubular steel roller coaster.

Matterhorn Bobsleds
Image © Disney

Disney had a long-standing relationship with Arrow Development, which was involved in the manufacture of a number of early Disneyland rides. The company's Imagineers had noted the growing popularity of "wild mouse"-style roller coasters, and inspired by a break in the Swiss Alps, Walt Disney decided to use one to take guests on a journey around the iconic Matterhorn.

 

An enormous fibreglass replica of the Matterhorn was constructed, with duel coaster tracks being installed by Arrow. The tubular steel design enabled the ride to race around tight bends with ease, as well as racing through a signature splashdown element. It's not difficult to see the influence that the Matterhorn has had. Disney alone has built a number of rides based around faux mountains, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Expedition Everest and the soon-to-open Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

 
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Comments

I agree with Kim. I live the nostalgia of these older attractions. They are true Disney magic.

I totally disagree. Love those two rides. They aren't thrill rides but they promote the atmosphere and the Disney Ambience. It would be a huge loss to eliminate those rides

In reply to by Kim Houghtaling (not verified)

Agree

the people mover and the universe of energy can be taken away. They are both so boring.

In reply to by Visitor (not verified)

You gotta be kidding! The People Mover is the best part of Tomorrowland.

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