2. Pirates of the Caribbean

Image: DisneyYou may not be old enough to remember a time before Captain Jack Sparrow. Even if that’s the case, you should know that Pirates of the Caribbean was roughly four decades old prior to the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

The attraction was one of the most important to Imagineers due to what it represented. Even as his health failed, Walt Disney personally oversaw this project. He even had a harness system built so that he could experience the ride the same way that a theme park tourist would. After his death, his beloved cast members endeavored to perfect the theme park attraction, adding memorable set pieces that remain largely intact today.

Image: DisneyPirates of the Caribbean developed such tremendous stature in such a short timeframe that it caused problems at Walt Disney World. In Florida, the place where the pirates had once terrorized the region, Disney felt that a Pirates attraction would be redundant. Everyone already knew the stories. When they opened Magic Kingdom without a Pirates attraction, guests complained so much that a new version of Pirates of the Caribbean was promptly fast-tracked. Even in the early 1970s, it was already deemed a basic part of a Disney theme park visit. Nothing has changed in the interim. When anyone hears the words “Pirates of…” they mentally add “the Caribbean.” The branding is that strong.

1. Space Mountain

Image: DisneyRic Flair, master of the euphemism, used to brag about taking his dates for a ride on Space Mountain. He…wasn’t being literal. But he used that catchphrase for more than two decades for a simple reason. It was a statement that everyone understood. No theme park attraction ever made can match the overall awareness of Space Mountain.

I’ve previously described it as the alpha and the omega of the theme park industry, and I’ve also called it the apex predator of roller coasters. It’s the one that other rides target when they want to gain a claim as the greatest thrill ride in the world. With regards to reputation, nothing else can touch Space Mountain. Every other ride listed here is a masterpiece of themed storytelling, but only one can rightfully be described as the greatest.

Image: DisneyBy my estimation, Space Mountain is the one that has the highest recognition factor, the one that everyone knows by name. You could walk anywhere on the planet and say the words, “Space Mountain.” People would know what you mean, whether they speak English or not. It was the world’s greatest roller coaster for about 20 years straight and still maintains its status as one of the all-time greats. It is THE most iconic theme park attraction ever built.