Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril – Disneyland Paris

When The Walt Disney Company chose to license Indiana Jones for an attraction, they famously debated several ride concepts. One of the best ideas, a roller coaster, wasn’t feasible for Disneyland at the time. As it was, Disney had to make a lot of park concessions to fit Indiana Jones Adventure into the available space.

The beneficiary of this constraint was Disneyland Paris. That park was still new and had plenty of available space. There, Disney could easily construct a large-scale roller coaster, one befitting the Indiana Jones brand. In fact, the original plans called for an entire mini-themed land celebrating the adventures of Indy and friends. Once that fell through, the coaster became the only remnant of a grander idea. It also wound up smaller than originally projected.

All of this sounds disappointing, but I’m of the opinion that everything worked out for the best. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril is a looping roller coaster that feels like a fitting recreation of the infamous mine scene from the film franchise. You spin out of control through a series of hazards, with the gorgeous background enhancing the proceedings. It’s one of the best Disney roller coasters anywhere, and Disney would be well-served to revisit that Indiana Jones themed land now that they own the intellectual property. This ride would be the perfect anchor for it.

Roaring Rapids – Shanghai Disneyland

In America, Disney’s track record of river rapids rides isn’t especially good, especially by their lofty standards. Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a mediocre theme and its technical struggles are well-known. It’s odd that Disney of all companies has experienced difficulties with such a basic ride concept.

When Shanghai Disneyland opened, Imagineers proved once and for all that they could do a river rapids ride right. Roaring Rapids combines some of the high points from Splash Mountain and Expedition Everest to add some spice.

After several minutes of meticulously themed scenery, Roaring Rapids takes guests into a darkened area. After a few stressful moments, the boats start traveling backward toward an unfriendly destination. A giant crocodile-ish monster lurks in these caves, and guests come face to face with it. Like the Disco Yeti, it’s both an intense moment and a comical one, as the crocodile’s bite is a bit silly.

Once the boat journeys back outside, the Splash Mountain part begins. Riders reach a point where the only possible destination is straight down to the ominous waters below. Everyone knows it’s time to hide in the poncho, as the splashdown is merely moments away. It’s a wholly satisfying conclusion to the best raft ride Disney’s ever made. They should replace the aging, mediocre Kali River Rapids with this superior iteration of the same concept.