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Flying over London in Peter Pan’s Flight

 markluukkonen, Flickr (license)

Image: markluukkonen, Flickr (license)

Fantasyland is home to some of the most instantly recognizable Disney attractions, such as It’s a Small World and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. And yet, the most classically Disney ride found in the area has to be Peter Pan’s Flight.

What is it about this one simple attraction that causes such a devoted following? I submit to you that it is one of the ride’s first indelible images: London, viewed from high above.

As the ride’s unique arrangement of “You Can Fly” plays, your enchanted pirate ship flies high above the London skyline with only small lights representing cars moving swiftly below. It’s the perfect combination of cartoon and reality — showing what London looks like in our imaginations, rather than in reality.

This is the moment everyone remembers from their childhood, because the magic of this attraction is just that strong.

The burning of Rome and the Library of Alexandria in Spaceship Earth

 harshlight, Flickr (license)

Image: harshlight, Flickr (license)

Sometimes, the most effective means of telling a story are also the simplest. You don’t need a massive animatronic boat or a mysterious stretching room to evoke an emotion from your audience. Sometimes, you can do it with sense of smell alone.

Though it’s seen a few narrators, a handful of different scripts, and entire show scenes rebuilt, Spaceship Earth has had one scene stand the test of time: The burning of Rome / the smoldering ruins of the Library of Alexandria. 

There is some debate among the Disney fan community as to what this scene actually represents, but the reason it is so iconic is, of course, the overpowering barbecue-style smokehouse smell present. Such a small detail has become one of Spaceship Earth’s most recognizable elements, and it’s something that you can mention to anyone who’s been to Walt Disney World, and they’ll know just what you’re talking about.

The Finale of Impressions de France

 Theme Park Tourist

One of the great shocks of modern life is that, despite significant upheaval and a radical shift in tone, Epcot retains its most ambitious and unique attraction: Impressions de France.

It has no intellectual property involvement. It is not a ride. It has no real reason for existing beyond its artistic value — but man, is it chock full of that.

Created in 1982, this visual tone poem dedicated to the beauty of France has remain unchanged for over 30 years. The film’s resilience is a testament to its incredible imagery, music, and emotional journey. It is impossible to view this film without instantly falling in love with France in every conceivable way. 

The highlight is, of course, the stirring finale in which we revisit all the parts of France we’ve already seen in the film while Camille Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony plays regally in the background. The last lingering shot of the Eiffel Tower is a visceral gut punch in combination with the blistering organ, proving unforgettable and downright tear-inducing. 

While you might laugh at the semi-pretentiousness of the film as it begins, as it approaches its end, you can’t help but feel totally won over. It is that brilliant. 

 
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