Spaceship Earth

Image: DisneyWalt Disney was human, and literally any human on the planet would gaze in awe at the structure that the world knows as Spaceship Earth. It’s an engineering marvel that rivals anything else on the planet and dwarfs all other theme park-related structures. Once Uncle Walt got past the architectural achievement, he would cherish the ride, too. Like DINOSAUR, its celebration of history would appeal to him and, like Frozen Ever After, the lifelike AAs would grab his attention, too. Spaceship Earth is exactly the sort of grand design that Disney would have embraced had it been possible while he was still alive.

Splash Mountain

Image: DisneyThe water ride wasn’t a known concept during Disney’s life. Well, a little boat ride was, as he’d created that premise with It’s a Small World. The idea of an actual splashdown would have caught him off-guard, though. Let’s be honest. He might even hate it. Some people do, and nobody would be more aware of the sanitary issues of theme park water than Disney.

I suspect that he’d overlook those concerns due to his passion for the attraction, though. Splash Mountain celebrates a movie that Uncle Walt wouldn’t know has fallen out of favor, and he’s appreciate that the songs from that film have stood the test of time. He’d adore the AAs and cartoonish antics on display. The set pieces brim with activity and are probably the busiest of any theme park attraction.

Disney would love how much is going on in each scene, and he’d also experience fascination at the tension-building at play, both for The Laughing Place and the titular part of Splash Mountain. I think he’d feel the most joy on this ride out of anything at Walt Disney World.

Test Track

Image: DisneyTest Track might not be an attraction that you would have shortlisted as one that Walt Disney would love. Hear me out on why I think he’d be extremely passionate about this one. First of all, cars were still a relatively new technology during his life. The industry was still young at the time, as the 1960s were when the average consumer could afford one. Disney was always fascinated by automobiles, which is why Disneyland featured multiple versions of Autopia during its earliest days.

I suspect that the modernity of Test Track’s vehicles would earn his respect and admiration. He’d also love the Tron-esque lighting on display throughout the ride. The use of these gripping colors is one of the strongest points of the attraction. This dark ride experience creates a strong sense of disbelief, a subject dear to Uncle Walt’s heart, thanks to these lighting effects. This tactic accentuates the surprise at the end, the opening of the doors that lead outside. That burst of light is a sublime design choice that might cause Uncle Walt to gasp out in delight. It certainly does for the rest of us.

PS: Disney would have loved the organic nature of the corporate sponsorship, too. A natural businessperson, the entrepreneur always sought out ways to persuade other companies to pay for Disney attractions. Test Track would appeal strongly to this aspect of his personality.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Image: DisneyOut of all the attractions listed here, Disney might respond the strongest to this one. After all, it’s the only non-Disney intellectual property that he would recognize. Since The Twilight Zone aired during Uncle Walt’s lifetime, he would have hyper-familiarity with the source material. He would feel a bit jealous about the fact that Rod Serling has found a way to host an attraction from beyond the grave, too.

I believe that Disney would spend the most time at Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. He would marvel at the thematic touches visited in the hotel lobby. The aged décor impeccably gets across the point that humans haven’t been here in a very long line. Once Uncle Walt boarded the ride, he would mark out at the thrills of shocking upward/downward movement. Both the theming and the ride structure would elevate this attraction in his eyes. It might be his favorite overall if he visited Walt Disney World today.