FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

20. Maleficent

Debut: Fantasmic
Location: Disneyland Park
Video: "This is my dream..."

Despite Disney's immense catalogue of "nighttime spectaculars," many fans agree that Disneyland's Fantastic is still the one to beat. The sensational show transforms the park's Rivers of America into the abstract realm of imagination, beginning the moment Mickey Mouse falls asleep through his revelations that he can control light, water, music, fire, and more. The Villains' plans to exploit Mickey's dream by turning it into a nightmare culminate in the arrival of Maleficent herself.

In 2009, Disneyland's version of the show was upgraded with an exclusive Audio Animatronic that should make Disney World guests jealous. The five-story, fully-articulated dragon sets the river ablaze by breathing fire, lowers herself to glare at Mickey, then rears back with a strike of his sizzling gold magic, crackling and bellowing flames before vanishing into the night. Though this Maleficent scored a not-so-coveted spot on our 10 Infamous Animatronic Malfunctions feature for two particularly bad accidents, the astounding, enormous dragon is still a force to be reckoned with...

19. Hopper & The Insects

Image: Disney

Debut: “It’s Tough to be a Bug” (1999)
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom (exclusive)
Video: Insect-Sized Chaos 

Think of “It’s Tough to be a Bug” as a show within a show. Flik – the kindly ant protagonist of Disney-Pixar’s A Bug’s Life – has made us honorary bugs just long enough for him and his pals to show off a few insect survival skills and a rousing musical number to remind us just how important bugs are in the world. Then, Hopper arrives. 

The legitimately startling animatronic – which appears out of nowhere, bursting onto the stage in an explosion of smoke – is grotesque. With his one glassy eye, spindly limbs, and a disturbing, snake-like rattle from his sputtering wings, the animatronic scolds the audience for the horrific way humans treat the insect kingdom. Then, the spiteful eight foot tall grasshopper proceeds to fill the entire theatre with pressurized fog, drops animatronic spiders rappelling to within inches of guests reach, and sends hornets to sting families between the shoulder blades thanks to pneumatic pistons in the seats. It’s a horrifying, chaotic experience (see video above) that’s legitimately scary and sends many families screaming for the exit doors... and it all starts with an eerily lifelike giant grasshopper with a bad attitude.

18. Sinbad's Storybook Cast

Image: Disney

Debut: Sinbad's Seven Voyages (2001)
Location: Tokyo DisneySea (exclusive) 
Video: Setting Sail!

Maleficent may be an impressive and astounding animatronic, but Disney Legend and storied Imagineer Bob Gurr said, "The larger a creature is, the more space there is inside. It's actually easier to design something that's 30 feet tall than, say, 3 feet tall." Which is exactly what makes the cast of Sinbad's Storybook Voyage so phenomenal and hypnotic to watch... Sinbad's Storybook Voyage is a Tokyo DisneySea original and, to some, is a contender for the best ride in a park famously full of headliners.

On paper, the seafaring voyage is simple enough: a "small world" style cruise through the journeys of Sinbad from 1001 Arabian Nights – and his tiger kitten companion, Chandu – set to the tune of an Alan Menken singalong original called "Compass of Your Heart." But this storybook journey is brought to life by pint-sized, stylized Audio Animatronics of staggering fluid motion and amazing emotion. They breathe life into the literary adventure, making it a Disney classic all Imagineering fans should hope to see in person.

17. Ursula

Image: Disney

Debut: The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure (2011)
Location: Disney California Adventure and Magic Kingdom
Video: Poor, Unfortunate Souls! 

Despite needing a number of refurbishments and re-dressings to make it ship-shape, the Little Mermaid dark ride at Disney California Adventure was long overdue when it finally arrived in 2011. Folks had been clamoring for years to earn the timeless 1989 musical (which literally started the Disney Renaissance) a bigger presence in Disney Parks, and the dark ride did just that. But where there’s a mermaid, there’s a sea witch. The Audio-Animatronic Ariel located in the ride has earned some decided disapproval from fans, but there are no ifs, ands, or buts about Ursula.

The Sea Witch from the fable is present within the ride as a 7.5-foot tall, 12-foot wide Audio-Animatronic of exceptional proportions. Ursula sings, casts spells over her cauldron, and bounces along in her slithery, serpentine manner of choice with incredible detail, surprising range of movement and super-elastic skin. While the rest of the dark ride may get lukewarm reception from fans, Ursula is a sight to behold.

16. Imhotep 

Image: Universal

Debut: Revenge of the Mummy (2004)
Location: Universal Studios Florida (exclusive)
Video: "I shall rule for all eternity!" 

The queue for Orlando’s Modern Marvel: Revenge of the Mummy explores an ancient Egyptian tomb where the evil Imhotep and his curse await. According to the ride’s story, Imhotep is unstoppable… unless you can find the symbol of the Medjai, the ancient protectors of the Pharaoh who stand as the last guard between the mummified high priest and humanity. Shortly after boarding the ancient mine cars that travel into the tomb, guests get their first glimpse of just how serious Imhotep is about world domination. It seems that crewmember Reggie has gone missing from Revenge of the Mummy… and you’re about to find him.

Reggie – wrapped in mummified dressings – is leaned in a sarcophagus. As the coaster slowly moves toward him, he stirs. “Are you insane?! Get out of here! The curse – it’s real! This whole place is a trap!” Just then, the massive stone sarcophagus next to Reggie bursts open as the half-decayed Imhotep jumps out. “Silence!” he screams, extending his hand to Reggie. Dust is sucked out of Reggie’s mouth and into Imhotep as Reggie slumps over, dead. “With your souls,” Imhotep laughs, gesturing at the car, “I shall rule for all eternity.” Any future dealings with the Mummy will be in the form of projections, fog, and audio, but that first encounter with the surprising Imhotep figure leaves quite a taste in your mouth. And yes, it’s the only animatronic we can think of that jumps.

 
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Comments

I so miss the days of the 'real' Yeti at Animal Kingdom. Nowhere near the same now.

The cowboy (forget who its supposed to be...) in the American Adventure at Epcot is very cool. I love every time when he spins his lasso. Mr. Potato Head at Toy Midway Mania at Hollywood Studios has issues sometimes... we watched him take his ear out, miss putting it back it, so he kind of just dropped it on the floor. And that 'disco Yeti' is fooling no one. Fix it!!!

There was a robot in the pre show to Walt Disney World magic Kingdom Alien Encounter (now closed) that was simply incredible! It's movements and expressions were so real.

What about the Dragon in Harry Potter and the forbidden journey ?!!!

Where is the Dragon who is under Sleeping Beauty castle in Paris? I think that is impressive, too. Maybe not as Imothep or the Dwarfs, but still great

Add new comment

About Theme Park Tourist

Theme Park Tourist is one of the web’s leading sources of essential information and entertaining articles about theme parks in Orlando and beyond.

We are one of the world’s largest theme park guide sites, hosting detailed guides to more than 80 theme parks around the globe.

Find Out More About Us...

Plan Your Trip

Our theme park guides contain reviews and ratings of rides, restaurants and hotels at more than 80 theme parks worldwide.

You can even print them.

Start Planning Now...