E.T. Adventure

Image: UniversalI will fight you on this! Anyone who rolls their eyes dismissively at the inclusion of E.T. Adventure simply doesn’t appreciate what Universal has accomplished here. All the way back in 1990, they constructed a themed ride that retells the beloved story of Elliott and E.T. in a timeless manner. Every time I get on the bike, I feel like a child again. As Amanda Kondolojy always says, if Universal ever tries to shut this ride down, we riot!

Frozen Ever After

Image: DisneyWhat are the best parts of Frozen? My answer is the music, the visuals, and the loving connections between the characters. Frozen Ever After somehow took the space of Maelstrom and repurposed it into a colorful representation of Arendelle. In my opinion, the audio-animatronics (AAs) on this attraction are the most lifelike of any Disney dark ride, but they’re not even the best part.

Everyone who has watched Frozen knows that the seminal moment in the film is the performance of Let It Go. Frozen Ever After effectively builds to Elsa’s song, the centerpiece of the attraction. I think it’s the best musical moment on any Disney attraction.

Hogwarts Express

Image: UniversalI could have easily chosen Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts here. I’ve gone a different way despite my adoration for the combination dark ride and steel roller coaster. I simply feel that Hogwarts Express better interprets the Harry Potter stories told in the movie franchise.

To some, Hogwarts Express is merely a means to go from Point A to Point B at Universal Orlando Resort. The train ride is much more than a method of transportation to me. It’s an organic, immersive experience that allows me to believe that I’m living out a Potterverse adventure on the train. Whether I watch centaurs frolic or I shirk away from Dementors, I’m a part of that world for a time, the best sign of a successful theme park attraction.