Soarin’

Image: DisneyEvery human being dreams of flying. People look to the sky and watch with envy as birds conquer a dimension that eludes mankind. No critic would ever expect a Disney theme park to be the place that provides the closest sensation to the power of flight.

The moment that your friend gets swept into the air by a glorified erector set, they’ll realize that Imagineering is capable of wish fulfillment. Thanks to the ginormous IMAX screen and its accompanying visuals, the Disney hater will feel something that’s otherwise impossible. They’ll believe that they’re flying past some of the greatest landmarks in the world. It’s a hypnotic journey that will seduce even the most ardent of Disney doubters.

Splash Mountain

Image: DisneyThis choice is a sneaky way to prove the point that Disney is awesome. Most of the population is familiar with Splash Mountain, at least partially because of the Flash Mountain news items over the years. And the social media images of choreographed ride photos.

You can easily subvert the expectations of anyone who has never ridden Splash Mountain before. Simply point out that it’s a log flume ride. First-timers will assume that it’s a generic cookie attraction similar to anything that they’d find at their closest amusement park. Then, they’ll board Splash Mountain and realize that they’ve never experienced anything like the 10 minute journey toward and through the Laughing Place. The power of theming will persuade them that Disney can take even the most basic of concepts and make it special.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Image: DisneyThis attraction is similar to Splash Mountain in that it sounds like a standard ride. Even casual amusement park visitors are familiar with drop tower rides, the ones that take a person up to great heights and then pull the floor out from under them. What your companion won’t realize until they’ve ridden Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is that it’s a dark ride, too.

After a few seconds inside of the Hollywood Tower, your friend will start to understand that Disney’s version of the drop tower is different. They’ll see ghoulish cast members in hotel staff outfits, and they’ll notice the dusty remnants of a formerly great hotel. Once they board the haunted elevator, they’ll learn that every visit to the Hollywood Hotel is mesmerizing and insanely intense. The best part about this introduction is that you can take them back on the ride, and they’ll have an entirely different elevator plummet than the first time. Your associate won’t believe that a simple drop tower ride has so much depth and variety.

Have you used any other Disney rides to help your friends fall in love with Disney? Please leave your stories in the comments!