Greg Maletic
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Greatest Disney Attraction...Ever?
Part 2
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Most Groundbreaking
No company has advanced the state-of-the-art in the amusement industry more than Disney
has. Here are a few of their most astonishing creations:
1. Pirates of the Caribbean
It may owe its biggest debt to the elaborate "Tunnel of Love" attractions at
Coney Island earlier in the century, but it's safe to say that there was nothing quite
like it when it premiered in 1967. There still isn't. Never had someone tried to create a
virtual world and achieved this level of success.
2. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
As Disney's bid to get his Audio-Animatronic figures taken seriously, his Great Moments
with Mr. Lincoln show at the 1964 World's Fair Illinois pavilion made a memorable
impact, and showed that it was possible to do a lot more with the technology than animate
tiki birds.
3. The Matterhorn
I've already said enough about The Matterhorn, but its steel structure redefined
how to build roller coasters.
(c) Disney
4. The Indiana Jones Adventure
Thematically, it owes everything to the movies it's based upon (which in turn owe a debt
to Pirates of the Caribbean), but technologically, it's probably Disney's most
innovative ride ever.
5. Universe of Energy
The most elaborate grade-school science lecture ever. The unbelievably huge movie screen
displaying the world's largest piece of animation, the theater that magically turns into a
ride, the dinosaurs...it's fantastic. Of the attractions on display on Epcot's opening
day, Universe of Energy was the only one that I found truly awe-inspiring: the only
one that was unlike anything seen before in the Magic Kingdom.
6. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
I'm not sure that anyone thought that building an attraction this elaborate around a
freefall ride was possible, but Disney did it. In addition to the unbelievable ride
vehicles, the ride features landmark special effects and a beautiful queueing area and
pre-show that are truly unnerving.