FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

15. Abraham Lincoln

Image: Disney

Debut: 1964 New York World’s Fair
Location: Disneyland Park
Video: A Stately Address 

For Disney, the 1960s were a time defined by WED Enterprises' involvement in the 1964 New York World's Fair, where Walt had been commissioned to deliver shows for three corporations... and the State of Illinois. Luckily, that provided Disney with the opportunity (and funding) to take the Audio-Animatronics technology in the Tiki Room to the next level, bringing to life a human... and one who Walt personally admired. WED's Audio-Animatronic figure of the nation's 16th president (who hailed from Illinois) stood and gave a 5-minute address that left guests absolutely speechless.

The next year, the figure was duplicated to its own Main Street Opera House in Disneyland for the exclusive show, “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” That presidential encounter has briefly, intermittently closed so that the Opera House could play special presentations, and the Lincoln figure has been replaced and upgraded over the years. The most recent figure – an electronic-based Autonomatronic built in 2009 – has the most "real" emotional expression yet. Lincoln moves his eyebrows, sighs, gestures at the audience, reads from a note card in his hand, and stands upright from a seated position. Seeing Lincoln stand and address the crowd “in person” is deeply emotional. A virtual Lincoln on a 3D screen? Not so much.

14. Seven Dwarfs

Image: Disney

Debut: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (2014)
Location: Magic Kingdom and Shanghai Disneyland
Video: Whistle While You Work

When Disney fans were given Disney's 2009 plans for a New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, they accosted the resort for the expansion’s obvious bias toward princess meet-and-greets and a severe lack of actual attractions. Surprisingly, Disney agreed. They went back to the drawing board and redesigned New Fantasyland with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at its center. At the expense of the park’s original Lost Legend: Snow White's Scary Adventures, Magic Kingdom would receive a new family roller coaster that would recreate at least a bit of Snow White’s story from the point of view of Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Dopey, Grumpy, Sneezy, and Doc.

The ride opened in 2014 as the culmination of Fantasyland’s expansion. While the zipping, tilting coaster is a fun ride, it was the single dark ride scene mid-way through that fans went nuts over. The short-but-sweet scene passes through the Seven Dwarf’s gem mine, where unbelievable animatronics with disturbingly fluid motion sing, bounce, and whistle while they work. Aside from their flawless motion, the figures also debuted the first large-scale use of rear-projected faces able to lip-sync to the music (even as they dance!) as no other animatronics before had. As a result, the Seven Dwarfs are among the most fun animatronics to watch.  ​

13. The Yeti

Yeti

Image: Disney

Debut: Expedition Everest (2006)
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom (exclusive)
Video: A rare animation reel of the Yeti in full A-mode

Fittingly coming in at number 13 is the Yeti. Up until its 2006 debut, the Audio-Animatronic Yeti hidden inside the Modern Marvel: Expedition Everest was often sold as the ride’s highlight. Its big selling point was its status as Disney’s most advanced Audio-Animatronic ever. It’s a fair title to give it, since the 25-foot tall, 10,000 pound Yeti was able to swing out five feet and drop 18 inches in a simulated attack on the roller coaster train each time it zoomed through the mountain’s core, with each swipe requiring the thrust of a jet engine at take off.

Given that, why doesn't the Yeti rank higher on our list? Famously, the Yeti only “worked” for a few months after the ride’s opening, at which point something mysterious happened that prevents its operation today. Disney has only said through its spokesperson that the “complex functions have presented some challenges affecting its operation,” and that designers "purposefully took measures … to reduce unnecessary stress … while we studied long-term solutions.” So far, the temporary solution has remained: fans blow on the creature while strobe lights flashe on it, giving the impression of movement while the creature sits, frozen, with its hand outstretched toward the roller coaster track (its "B-mode").

About once a month, eagle-eyed fans race to Twitter or Internet message boards to announce “the Yeti is working!” It's not. They’re just falling for the strobe light trick month after month, which is a good thing! It means that the simple effect really does give the impression of movement, and in the split second that the train passes by the figure, that’s enough. Anyway, the popular tale is that a cracked concrete foundation prevents its safe operation, and that foundation can’t be fixed without serious and multi-month work inside the ride that would close it for a long time… and given that Everest is one of only three major rides at Animal Kingdom, the extended closure of such a headliner is unlikely.

Would we like to see what the Yeti is really capable of? Sure. And in the video above, you can see the Yeti in his full A-mode thanks to a very rare demo reel. As well, we have this on-ride video from the Yeti's short operational life. You'll probably think just what we do: that it's great, but it only lasts a second. We're sure that no one is more disappointed than Imagineers that the Yeti is still broken a decade later. As it is, 99% of guests fall for the “Disco Yeti,” and the figure itself is still impressive in its scale.

12. Rocket 

Image: Disney / Marvel

Attraction: Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! (2017)
Location: Disney California Adventure (exclusive)
Video: "One of the Guardians of the Galaxy... the SMART one."

Fans of Disney California Adventure's billion-dollar, five year rebirth looked on in absolute shock as Imagineers stripped the Lost Legend: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror of its art deco Hollywood stylings and its Californian mythology (seemingly perfect for a park dedicated to, y'know, California) and – in a six month quick-change – turned the lightning-scarred Hollywood Tower Hotel into buzzing space prison powerplant looming over the resort. If it seemed like an irreverent, odd, and outrageous treatment for the newly-minted park, that was purposeful and befitting Marvel's irreverent, odd, and outrageous Guardians of the Galaxy – the misfit super hero group introduced in Marvel's sleeper hit film of 2014.

Fans will eternally debate the merits of replacing a timeless, Californian legend with a flavor-of-the-week superhero screen ride that's seemingly antithetical to the park's recently-adopted sincerity and direction, but one thing no one can deny: Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! has a very cool Audio-Animatronic. Shepherded into the hotel's library – er... the Collector's office – a pre-show recording from Tanaleer Tivan is interrupted by the mischievious Rocket, who appears to fall from a vent, crawl along the room's collection cases, and even thwack his head against a well-placed pipe.

Whether you hold a grudge against Mission: BREAKOUT! or not, the impressive interaction between Rocket and your small group of visitors is probably the only chance we'll ever have to get this close to the rough-around-the-edge, not-raccoon character (voiced by Bradley Cooper). Cooler still is that the figure is also present (and reprogrammed) in the Halloween-exclusive Guardians of the Galaxy: Monsters After Dark, which is set just hours after the usual Mission: BREAKOUT storyline.

11. Albert

Image: Disney

Debut: Mystic Manor (2013)
Location: Hong Kong Disneyland
Video: Welcome to Mystic Manor

Often considered among the pantheon of Disney's best modern dark rides, Mystic Manor is part of the incredible and enigmatic storyline of S.E.A.: The Society of Explorers and Adventurers that connects multiple rides, shows, and even restaurants at Disney Parks around the world. The ride sends guests into the eclectic home of Lord Henry Mystic and his pet monkey Albert. The pair have spent their lives collecting wonders from around the world... Mystic's prized possession, though, is an ancient music box said to grant life to the lifeless! Of course, that's all silly superstition, so Mystic sends us ahead to the Aquisitions and Cataloguing Room to view the priceless music box.

As you might image, the glowing gems and painted primates on the music box prove too much for Albert to resist, as he opens the chest and sets our unthinkable adventure into motion. The mischievious monkey is so wonderfully lifelike and adorable, he's become a defacto icon for Hong Kong Disneyland. As for Mystic Manor itself? With some of the most spectacular special effects and asotunding animatronics Disney's ever created, the ride earned its own in-depth entry in our newest series, Modern Marvels: Mystic Manor that's an absolute must-read for Disney Parks fans. A 3D ride packed with screens wouldn't have the same effect.

 
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...