Classic Disney: Five Original Disney World Attractions That Still Deliver Magic
Disney World is under construction. From the massive new gondola transportation system to the highly-anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it’s not difficult to find one of those tastefully decorated construction fences hiding future projects throughout the resort these days. And while I’m super excited for everything that is to come, all of the upcoming changes have me feeling a little nostalgic too. Today’s post takes a look at five original Disney World attractions that are still delighting guests nearly fifty years after they first opened.
Disney World started with Magic Kingdom in October of 1971. The company’s first Florida theme park offered about twenty attractions at the time, including the five highlighted in this post. These are the types of attractions that set Disney World apart, in my humble opinion. They may not “wow” you with cutting edge design, heart-stopping technological effects or blockbuster movie tie-ins, but they still deliver a different kind of magic. A return to a simpler time perhaps? A chance to catch a glimpse of Walt Disney’s original vision? An opportunity to enjoy an attraction with a much shorter line than Pandora’s Flight of Passage?
Maybe it’s a blend of the three.
Today I’m covering my five favorite classic Disney attractions. I hope this post evokes happy memories for you if you’ve visited the park before, or adds to your excitement for that trip you plan to take someday.
Country Bear Jamboree
I’m taking a risk by starting my list with Country Bear Jamboree because it tends to be one of those attractions people either love or hate. It’s kind of like country music that way. Unlike my feelings toward country music though (still friends?), I am firmly in the “love” camp for this classic attraction. My reasons are as plentiful as the goofy animatronics included in this ten minute musical hoedown.
First, it’s just silly fun. Country Bear Jamboree features animatronic creatures singing ridiculous, brief and not-so-politically-correct songs. The lyrics cover traditional country music topics like drinking and heartbreak in a satirical, unapologetic and surprisingly upbeat manner. Frankly, I was a little surprised Disney kept most of the show intact when it reworked the script six years ago. I’m glad they did, however, because the show is a quirky little gem that’s sure to make you smile or at least tilt your head in mild confusion.
Another reason I enjoy Country Bear Jamboree, and am perhaps a little more forgiving of its aging status, is because of its history. Walt Disney designed the show himself for a new ski resort project in California. When those plans were abandoned, the show moved to the list of opening day attractions for Magic Kingdom. A year or so later, the company opened a similar version at Disneyland. That makes it one of the few original Disney World attractions that opened in Florida before California. (Not that it’s a competition or anything. Right!?). Forty-seven years later Country Bear Jamboree feels like a little time capsule to a simpler era.
If I’m completely honest, I also like Country Bear Jamboree because it runs all day, offers short wait times and features indoor, climate-controlled seating. That’s the big three in my book. Florida weather and Disney World crowds are much more tolerable with well-planned breaks. You can try it for yourself in the Frontierland section of Magic Kingdom.
It’s a Small World
Another one of my favorite original Disney World attractions is “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland. Similar to Country Bear Jamboree, Walt Disney developed this ride himself for use outside of a theme park. In this case, however, he designed it for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. When the World’s Fair closed two years later, he moved the attraction to Disneyland. Based on its tremendous success, Disney then created another version of the attraction for opening day at Magic Kingdom. Today, there are versions of “it’s a small world” at every Disney resort around the world.
If you’ve never experienced “it’s a small world”, it’s a slow-moving boat ride that glides guests past scenes from all seven continents. Each scene includes numerous animatronic dolls, dressed in traditional garments and pursuing region-specific activities. There are roughly 300 dolls in total, each the same size and meticulously designed.
The backstory for the attraction, which I learned from a Disney holiday special last year, is interesting. The classic attraction is designed to look like the result of a group of children playing with a stack of construction paper on a rainy day. I love that description because it explains the two-dimensional, paper-like backdrops and simple settings throughout the ride. It also explains the ride’s childlike and perhaps over-simplified perspective of the world.
There’s a lot more to love about this particular attraction beyond its historical roots and ties to Walt Disney. First, the ride features the beautiful art direction of Mary Blair. I’ve raved about her on this blog several times before. You can find her bright and cheery artistic flair in Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and several other classic Disney films. Experiencing her artistic vision within a ride is a particular treat.
Second, the music played throughout the ride was composed by Robert and Richard Sherman. These are the same brothers that wrote the wonderful songs for Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh and countless others. In fact, Disney changed the name of the attraction from “Children of the World” to the current “it’s a small world,” because he was so taken by the essence of the brothers’ tune. Although some complain about the repetition of the theme song, I tend to think it was a brilliant move by the Sherman brothers to get the lovely concept of the ride stuck in our heads.
More specifically, the ride promotes the lovely thought of world harmony. It’s easily the best part of the ride if you let your mind fully absorb it. Can you imagine a world where everybody gets along and truly appreciates or even celebrates our differences? Sign me up. I know it sounds sappy, but every time I leave the ride I feel slightly more hopeful that the world really can become a better place.
At least until I get hit by another stroller on the way to our next attraction. (sigh)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Another favorite classic Disney ride at the Magic Kingdom is Dumbo the Flying Elephant. It’s a simple ride featuring elephant-shaped cars rising and spinning around a circus tent-like center. You’ll find similar interpretations at standard amusement parks or even close-by on Disney property. What makes this particular attraction special is its tie with Disney’s classic 1941 film. The movie comes to life with exquisite details like the shiny golden stork statues sitting on top of the circus tent to the crushed peanut shells worked into the concrete floors.
Although the attraction was part of the original line-up in 1971, Dumbo has received quite a few updates over the years. Most recently in 2012, Disney relocated the ride to its current location in the Storybook Circus section of Fantasyland. It also added a second set of elephants to double the ride’s capacity. Enhancements also included a new circus-themed waiting space that features a giant kids play area and a paging system that notifies you when it’s your time to fly.
The 2012 renovation also restored part of the ride’s original charm by adding a water feature below the elephants. I’m guessing it’s a nod to the scene in the film where Dumbo chooses to fly instead of diving into the bucket of water beneath him. In any case it makes the Magic Kingdom version of the ride more similar to the original attraction at Disneyland. It also is sure to bring a smile to your face, because it has a way of making you feel like you’re in a Disney park more than any other attraction I know.
Mad Tea Party
Speaking of spinning, another one of my favorite original Disney World attractions is the Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland. Each teacup spins across a spiral-painted floor, mimicking the silly tea party scene from Alice in Wonderland. Occasionally the Mad Hatter himself will jump into a tea cup and join the fun, as pictured above. I love the paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling and the bright and whimsical coloring of the ride. (Mary Blair again!) If the default spinning isn’t enough for you, each cup also features an independent spinner control that enables guests to control their own fate.
In other words, choose your riding companion carefully.
It may not be the most sophisticated ride, but it’s one that thousands of fans closely associate with Disney parks. The original version opened at Disneyland in the 1950s. The Disney World version opened with Magic Kingdom in 1971 and has received various updates (roof, central tea pot, etc.) since then. It’s a simple ride, but a lovely one. Plus the lines are usually short in an otherwise busy Fantasyland, so it’s often a great choice.
Haunted Mansion
The last original Disney World attraction I’ll cover today is the unforgettable Haunted Mansion. This attraction is unique from the other four on this list, for its darker theme and spooky visual effects. It also boosts a superior ride mechanism, with black “doom buggies” that carry brave guests through fifteen different rooms. The buggies open and close as if by magic and spin, slower than the teacups, to direct passengers’ attention to specific scenes. It’s creepy and dark, which was a slight surprise when the attraction first opened in Disney parks, but it’s a classic nonetheless and one that is treasured by the Disney loyal.
The Haunted Mansion has an elaborate back story that I’m still trying to figure out after multiple tours and countless rides. Let’s just say the central character of the ride is the mysterious Madame Leota. She’s mysterious because Disney created her for this particular attraction, rather than borrowing her character from a movie. She’s featured most prominently in the séance room of the Mansion, where her speaking voice is brilliantly portrayed by the same actress as Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. You’ll also see her tombstone in the waiting area before heading into the mansion. If you gaze at her grave long enough, you may even see her eyes flicker open and quickly look around.
Speaking of cool features in the waiting area, the Haunted Mansion features a ton of them. Disney completely reworked the waiting space in 2011 to add interactive games, comical epitaphs and other delicious details. It really does help set the stage for the upcoming ride and add another level of fun to your waiting time.
Overall, I love the Haunted Mansion for its thorough theming and unbelievable attention to detail. You can experience this original Disney World attraction numerous times and still catch something new.
Original Disney World Attractions
And that’s it. My list of five original Disney World attractions that are still delighting guests nearly fifty years later. Of course there are other original attractions that are still in operation today, but I’ll save them for another post. For now, I’m content reliving the happy memories of these classic attractions as we wait for all the new ones to arrive.
Disney World is tricky that way, a constant blend of old and new. You can’t get to the new stuff without letting go of some of the old. It’s true in Disney theme parks and regular life too.
Add some (original) magic to your world!