6. Soarin' Around the World

Out of the selections on this list, Soarin’ is the only one without lyrics. That speaks volumes about the gorgeous musical accompaniment for this trip around the world. Jerry Goldsmith scored the original version of the soundtrack, and he loved its usage on Soarin’ so much that he allegedly cried during his first ride.

In 2016, Disney introduced new versions of Soarin’ at several of its theme parks. They technically use a different soundtrack, but the new composer, Bruce Boughton, predicated much of his “new” work on the original Goldsmith melodies. The result is a modern version of what was already an instant classic.

Soarin’ Around the World’s tunes tether the rider to Soarin’s sensations of flying by creating a soothing, uplifting background for the proceedings onscreen. Soarin’s music is so recognizable that The Simpsons recently did a parody of it that bordered on pure homage. The credits of that episode, Bart’s New Friend, even include an extended take of recycled Soarin’ music. Nothing demonstrates the pop culture power of something like a Simpsons spoof.

5. Carousel of Progress

When Walt Disney planned the 1964 New York World’s Fair, he knew that he’d need a new ride design capable of hosting plenty of customers at once. He also knew that he wanted a song to anchor the experience as well as set the mood. It even had an additional purpose for the musical accompaniment. It would distract guests as the machinery moved them from one set to the next. And that song goes…

There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day.

Any diehard theme park tourist knows the song well. It more than distracts away from moving seats. It exemplifies the underlying theme of Carousel of Progress. There’s a Great, Big Beautiful Tomorrow celebrates change and embraces the future, a staple of Walt Disney’s personality. Even as Tomorrowland and Future World show signs of aging and lapsed updates, the song and stage show for Carousel of Progress maintain the signature optimism of Uncle Walt. This particular earworm is as closely associated with its ride as anything else on this list save for…well, you’ll know it when you read it.

4. Splash Mountain

One of the true oddities of The Happiest Place on Earth is that its silliest attraction has the most controversial subject matter. Song of the South has unfortunate racial overtones that make the movie the shame of the Disney library. The music that came from the movie, however, is jubilant and fun.

Disney Imagineers appreciated the joyous nature of the soundtrack and wanted to use it as the basis for an attraction. They envisioned a ride called Zip-a-Dee River Run that would incorporate several songs from the movie including its most famous one, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.

While the three attractions listed below have more iconic songs as their anchors, I would argue that Splash Mountain makes it up in volume with several adorable singalong tunes such as How Do You Do, Ev'rybody Has a Laughing Place, and Burrow’s Lament. Still, the crowd pleaser is the title track, so to speak. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah is the celebratory reward that riders “earn” by reaching the bottom of Splash Mountain, usually in soggy clothing. It’s the actual, satisfactual ending to a wonderful ride.