Greg Maletic
Page 3 of 5

5. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party
The Tea Party's teacups have long since become synonymous with the nausea-inducing amusement park ride.

6. Jungle Cruise
A quintessential Disney experience.

7. The Hall of Presidents
Many of our country's children--and adults--got a refresher course in American history via The Hall of Presidents. A lot of people love the patriotic message, while others avoid it like bitter medicine they think might be good for them, but would just as soon miss.

8. The Enchanted Tiki Room
The country's fascination with the South Seas in the late 50s/early 60s created this attraction, and in it we have that movement's last vestige. Say "tiki," and this attraction is what a lot of people will think of.

9. Country Bear Jamboree
Even more than The Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree was the must-see attraction when Walt Disney World opened in 1971.

And The Winner Is...
Let's review the nominees:

Most Influential Within Disney

1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. Adventures Thru Inner Space
3. Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln
4. The Enchanted Tiki Room
5. Monsanto's Plastics Home of the Future

Most Influential On The Industry/Outside World

1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. The Matterhorn
3. The Haunted Mansion
4. The Monorail
5. Star Tours

Most Groundbreaking

1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln
3. The Matterhorn
4. The Indiana Jones Adventure
5. Universe of Energy

Most Famous/Infamous

1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. Space Mountain
3. It's A Small World
4. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
5. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Only one attraction appears on all of these lists, and of course it's Pirates of the Caribbean. It's revolutionary, it's unique, it's spectacular, it's part of American culture...it's the best. It succeeds despite the fact that I don't think most people who ride it can really give a coherent explanation of what they've just seen. What does the bayou have to do with underground caverns? What do the caverns have to do with a Caribbean town under siege by pirates? What does any of this have to do with grog-swilling skeletons or a haunted harpsichord that plays itself? Disney fans have come up with their own explanations for all of this, but it's a tribute to the power of the attraction that even though it's a challenge to make sense of it all, nobody cares. There's a feeling that somebody knows what's going on, and you feel lucky just to be able to see it all take place.

Pirates succeeds for exactly the reason I mention later in this article about the Swiss Family Treehouse: people want to climb out and live in its world. People love being enveloped by the virtual seaside town that Disney created. There's a balcony just over your left-hand shoulder as you approach the auction scene. Seeing that balcony--even though there's nothing moving there, and it's poorly lit--is more evocative for me than all of the animatronic figures put together. Looking past the balcony into the house's candle-lit interior, it's hard not to wonder: who lives there? Where are they? Why...? You get the idea. I think everyone has a particular detail that's his or her favorite, and that's why this attraction is loved.