Greg Maletic - Feb 12, 2002

Greg Maletic
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7. The Haunted Mansion
The "birthday party" scene is probably the most striking and perplexing effect to ever appear in a theme park attraction. Is there any layperson that doesn't think that "holograms" are the technology behind this?

8. Test Track
No ride vehicles that I'm aware of ever had to do what Test Track's needed to do: cruise around at a leisurely pace, then go from zero to sixty miles an hour in an instant. It took years to make them work correctly, but the results were worth it.

Most Famous/Infamous
Think about walking up to a stranger and asking them to name a Disney attraction. What would they say? Ironically, Disney is as well known for the attractions people hate as it is for the ones people love. Here are some of the favorite--as well as the most "misunderstood"--attractions, the ones that the American public knows the best:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates is most frequently mentioned as everyone's favorite attraction, the one thing that can't be missed during a visit to a Disney park.

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2. Space Mountain
The name Space Mountain has almost become synonymous with the term "roller coaster," and that's quite an achievement since Space Mountain's first appearance in 1975 made it a late entry into the world of thrill rides.

3. It's A Small World
A lot of people would rather eat glass than visit this attraction, but it evidently has even more admirers than haters since it appears in every Disney park.

4. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Everyone knows about Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and although it's fun, the reason for its incredible name recognition eludes me. The movie it's based on--The Adventures of Icabod and Mr. Toad--is not well-known, so that doesn't explain it. The book it's based on--The Wind In The Willows--doesn't provide a clue since most people don't even know that Mr. Toad is in that book. And although the ride is popular, it doesn't generate the lines that Peter Pan's Flight does. So where does this attraction's name recognition come from? If anyone has any ideas, let me know.