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5. Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

TPT100 Ranking: No. 25 (full ride details)

Tons of "foolish mortals" have been entranced by this spooky attraction since it opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1971, but did you know that it wasn't always planned to be a ride? Original plans called for it to be a walk-through attraction with maids and butlers leading guests through the grounds while telling them the tragic tale of a sea captain along with his bride. Then, it was planned to be a museum featuring strange creatures and odd illusions. The cost to develop and build the original ride wasn't cheap either: It cost $7 million for Disneyland's version in 1969, which translates to a whopping $45 million today.

4. Fantasmic!

Fantasmic!

TPT100 Ranking: No. 19 (full show details)

The next entry on the list isn't a ride at all, but a beloved 30-minute show at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The show features laser lights, projection, pyrotechnics and 1 million gallons of dancing water, and it even has its own line of merchandise to make the experience even more special. Guests can purchase a Minnie Mouse Headband that shines along with the show, a Mickey Mouse Glove that provides colors with a swipe of the hand and a Sorcerer Mickey Wand that changes the color patterns of the other items. Near the end of the show, when Steamboat Willie and up to 26 other characters appear on a boat, they're on a vessel that's actually bigger than the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria that belonged to Christopher Columbus!

3. Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain

TPT100 Ranking: No. 14 (full ride details)

The stars of Disney's "Song of the South" are featured in this log flume ride that has three dips and a five-story splashdown. The attraction's original name was “Zip-a-Dee River Run," but then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner wanted the name to promote "Splash," the movie starring Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah. Somehow, that name ended up sticking. And one of the ride's Imagineers managed to find a way to pay tribute to his alma mater too. One of the gophers in the ride who sounds like he's sneezing is actually saying "FSU" — for "Florida State University." 

2. Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Expedition Everest

TPT100 Ranking: No. 4 (full ride details)

It's back to Disney's Animal Kingdom for the next ride on the list. And the mountain for this one is actually the tallest out of all of the 20 Disney mountains all over the world, at 199 feet, though it's not the tallest mountain in Florida (that distinction goes to Walton County's Britton Hill). It's also the most expensive, costing $100 million, and the ride is Disney's first to have trains that travel forward and backward. Some fans may not be aware that the Yeti in the ride, which is Disney's largest-ever Audio-Animatronic, used to move. But the Yeti is so big that his concrete foundation cracked, causing real movement to no longer be possible. Now, in an attempt to simulate movement, a flashing light glows behind him, earning him the nickname "Disco Yeti."

1. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

TPT100 Ranking: No. 1 (full ride details)

This thrilling ride into another dimension is the top choice for many of our readers — and with good reason. Guests are whisked into the glamorous Hollywood Tower Hotel, which, as the story goes, served the rich and famous until a mysterious incident closed the site on Halloween night in 1939. As the elevator went up, lightning struck and suddenly sent it falling down to the ground floor. Now, riders can experience the same thing, with a series of drops that are randomly generated. The preshow features "Twilight Zone" host Rod Serling, whose voice is mixed with impersonator Mark Silverman's to narrate the scene, and many references to the show are sprinkled in the attraction, like the broken glasses from the infamous "Time Enough at Last" episode. And the same effect that shows five apparitions trapped in the Fifth Dimension coming toward the elevator is also employed in the Haunted Mansion's ballroom scene. The mirrored effect called "Pepper's Ghost" helps create the illusion of translucent 3D figures.

So there you have it — 10 Walt Disney World attractions that earn high marks from our readers. If your favorite attraction didn't make the top 10, head on over to the Park Guides and cast your vote!

 
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