Favorite original attraction at MK (2024)

Haunted Mansion. No question.

My earliest memory of a Disney park is the tv special they had for Disneyland's 30th anniversary. I remember Drew Barrymore, the Pointer sisters and Donna Summers. But mostly, I remember how scary it was when they showed the HM, with the skeleton trying to get out of the coffin!

If I could pick a #2 and a #3, they would be IaSW and HoP.

Fraisie said:

Haunted Mansion. No question.

My earliest memory of a Disney park is the tv special they had for Disneyland's 30th anniversary. I remember Drew Barrymore, the Pointer sisters and Donna Summers. But mostly, I remember how scary it was when they showed the HM, with the skeleton trying to get out of the coffin!

If I could pick a #2 and a #3, they would be IaSW and HoP.

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Fraisie I used to have part if not all of that Special on Betamax. I wish I could find the whole thing on a DVD or segments of it on You Tube. That Haunted Mansion segment used to scare the hell outta me as a little kid. Guess this post shows my age.

Haunted Mansion for sure!

But I'm going to give some love to the Tomorrowland Speedway as well because it has a great nostagic feel for me personally.

MansionGoer13z said:

Space Mountain, very surprised this is not listed not to mention BTMRR.

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Space Mountain and Thunder mountain were later additions. The MK opened without thrill rides. Thrill rides were for cheap parks, for children.

The Magic Kingdom is build as the adult, elegant park. In a mass culture sense of the world, as the sophisticated theme park. It wasn't meant for thrill seekers or small children or cartoons.

As we all know, the decline started in 1973 and its been downhill ever since...:lookarou

shmmrname said:

Sometimes in-between as well, I assume.

(Mine is BTMRR or SPLASH, but we always make a few stops at HM on the way.)

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Yes, yes I do...ok I go on HM as much as I can when there

Endor Sightseer said:

I wish I could have seen the original version of the Haunted Mansion. I mean, the ride as I first experienced it as a kid was pretty close to the original specs, I'm sure. Outside, however is where things have changed more dramatically. The landscape of the park has changed so much. It must have been such a different experience with Haunted Mansion looming on a hill, less foliage, no mountains and Tomorrowland mostly a big race course.

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There is too much clutter around HM.

I understand the urge to add to the HM, to 'plus' it, but like pizza toppings, 'less is more'. Get a handful of ingredients that work, then stop adding.

The best way to build suspense is for the HM to just sit there, alone, a little bit outside of town. Looming eerily on that hill. Then you enter through the family crypt...

Canopies, trees, carts, hearse, queue clutter....it doesn't add anything to the experience. Each addtition in itself is defendable, but they are redundant (perhaps even distracting) to the story and the means by which it is told.

The Empress Lilly said:

Space Mountain and Thunder mountain were later additions. The MK opened without thrill rides. Thrill rides were for cheap parks, for children.

The Magic Kingdom is build as the adult, elegant park. In a mass culture sense of the world, as the sophisticated theme park. It wasn't meant for thrill seekers or small children or cartoons.

As we all know, the decline started in 1973 and its been downhill ever since...:lookarou

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Thanks for the info. I always thought they were originals to WDW

ParentsOf4 said:

To me, the Swiss Family Treehouse feels like the most "classic" Disney attraction at WDW. It harks back to a movie that is now nearly forgotten, is realistic (it feels as if it could have been the actual set for the movie), and (with all the stairs) is an example of an attraction that would never be built today.

I probably should have included the Topical Serenade. As you note, the current version is pretty much the same as the original but I ran out of poll options!

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I agree with Swiss Family Treehouse. When you think of it, you are pretty high up there. My wife went up once, I practically had to drag her and that was good enough for her. She is terrified of heights. I personally like the coziness of the place. You could easily sleep a night there no problem.

Haunted Mansion. of course.

now i feel like i'm on a bandwagon.