Magic Kingdom

On the original list, 75 percent of the attractions are ones that you’ll find at Magic Kingdom. As such, I toyed with taking the park off the board this time. But the reality is that Magic Kingdom’s attractions are the most iconic ones in the world, just like the offerings at Disneyland. So, I still have several quality options this time.

Jungle Cruise was an opening day attraction that's morphed into a charmingly cornball goof on lame set pieces and bad jokes. It's a B-movie disguised as a Disney attraction, but a very real A-list movie will come out soon and heighten the ride's profile even more.

Mad Tea Party claims such strong name recognition that it’s virtually synonymous with nausea-inducing carnie rides. The same is true with Splash Mountain and water rides. The idea of getting your picture taken moments before getting soaked is symbolically linked to this particular attraction.

Then, there’s It’s a Small World, which I sometimes believe is the greatest theme park attraction ever built in terms of pure design. It's simple enough that any compulsive Etsy crafter could do parts of it but sophisticated enough in its message that the idea still resonates 45 years later. And the song is arguably the most recognizable one on the planet.

I feel like It’s a Small World and Jungle Cruise are both worthy of a spot on Mount Rushmore. However, I mentioned last time that the most brutal cut was my fifth selection for a four-spot list. I'm speaking of Splash Mountain, the attraction that's defined wet rides for the last 30 years. Like Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, it's a perfect ride, and that brings me to a more significant point.

Last time when I did this, I had to leave two perfect rides off the list, because that’s how spectacular Disney theme parks are. A single Mount Rushmore isn’t large enough as a monument to host all of the company’s greatest triumphs.

The Walt Disney World Mount Rushmore of Splash Mountain, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Soarin’, and Kilimanjaro Safaris still excludes several worthy contenders. I can’t list Expedition Everest, Avatar Flight of Passage, Star Tours, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Jungle Cruise, or It’s a Small World. The depth of astounding attractions at Walt Disney World is truly insane. We, as theme park tourists, are spoiled by it.