One of the many things that separates Disney from all the other well, everything, is that the attractions are so much more than theme park rides. The imaginative details and plethora of Hidden Mickeys are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the imagineering of our beloved attractions. While I think most of us could agree that the magical queues of Peter Pan’s Flight and Adventures of Winnie the Pooh are Disney magic at it’s finest, the queues aren’t the only gems that exist before boarding your favorite boat, doom buggy, banshee or other various ride vehicle. 

Attractions that come with a pre-show at the very least kick start what is sure to be a phenomenal experience and are oftentimes just as, if not more fascinating than the show itself. They peak our curiosity and excitement before our magical journey begins and they may even cause us to laugh hysterically, roll our eyes or possibly frighten us, just the slightest bit.  From Patrick Warburton to the Ghost Host, these are a few of my all time favorite attractions pre shows. 

1.Dinosaur

Number two on my top five favorite attraction list, but number one on my favorite pre show list! This pre show has it all – thrill and excitement of a secret mission, a trip in a Delorean for all intents and purposes, and the promise of advancing science by bringing back one passenger, extra large, the Iguanodon of course! The interactive tete tete ta regarding a forbidden mission is just delightfully corny enough to get the blood flowing before boarding the time rover and changing the fate of humanity forever. What makes this attraction pre-show extra special is that, for those of you who’ve seen Dinosaur, this ride acts as a sort of sequel. Are you weighed down by the inevitability of what happened to the dinosaurs? Pay close attention to the point of this pre-show and the very end for a special, heartwarming surprise. 

2.Soarin’ Around the World

How is it even possible that most of this pre show is mainly safety procedures and regulations to follow yet it is so incredibly entertaining. True, it may be due in large part to the fact that Patrick Warburton, the before show narrator,  has the voice of a baritone angel who anyone in their right mind would want as their flight attendant. But when you are standing in line, in Epcot’s futuristic version of an “airport”, only Patrick has the Disney-voice to bring you both into the story and let you see past being loaded into ride vehicles. You are soothed by his voice, charmed by his tone, and eager to soar by virtue of the expectations he sets. 

3.Tower of Terror

The queue, preshow, and even the themed Joffrey’s kiosk right outside of this delightfully creepy attraction make that 13 floor plummet in a haunted elevator a side note. Anyone who has seen and enjoyed the Twilight Zone will attest to the feeling of truly being encompassed in the concept of hauntings in an otherworldly dimension. But this particular ride queue is also a show of dedication to story. As you wander through the line, you will see tidbits of Twilight Zone episodes, hints towards who you are in this new world, and even little tricks of the eye to keep you moving along. Just like episodes of the Twilight Zone, everything was carefully chosen to illustrate a point. You are the most incredible part of the story, so naturally it all comes down to you – a point you learn by the nature of the narrative (“you are about to enter a world… you are…”). Walt Disney was a man who knew how to make dreams come true. It’s only fitting that Disney embrace the idea that not all dreams are daisies and bunnies – sometimes they can be downright creepy. Rod Sterling would have been proud! 

4. Muppet-Vision 3D

Let’s be honest. Not many people are eager to go to Hollywood Studios to see the Muppets any more. They should be, it must be stated, but they aren’t. But Hollywood Studios features a dream experience to anyone who let Jim Henson shape their childhoods. Whether you were a fan in the 70s, 90s, or now, when you attend Muppet-Vision 3D, you’re not just sitting down for a show, you’re joining the production. Fans of the Muppets will recall the meta-narrative running throughout each episode – every act has a reason and Kermit and Scooter were there to see them through. Instead of standing in line and waiting to see one of these variety acts, however, you’re standing in a grouped queue to experience the show as Jim Henson would have loved. There is a lot more history to the ride itself, and I encourage you to look it up, but for now, be sure to sit back and enjoy how the Muppets bring you into a world where they truly exist. And be sure to keep an eye out for Sweetums!

5.The Haunted Mansion

Saving the best for last… this one is a bit of a stretch, pun intended! While the elevator in The Haunted Mansion is technically a part of the attraction itself, it is certainly a show for the guests who have experienced it a million times, or for the first time. From the moment you are asked to enter the room with the eerily changing portrait, to being asked to fill in all the dead spaces, and to having to stand in the dead center of the room, you are whisked away on the journey that is the Haunted Mansion. Then, when you think you’re entering just a normal elevator, the room begins to change. Normal flies out the window and into the graveyard. And the voice who started it all, the booming voice of the Ghost Host, follows you, ghostly, throughout every part of the ride! 

Before I get yelled at for not including Flight of Passage and Star Tours… those are all perfectly acceptable and delightful pre shows, but unfortunately the rides themselves leave my head spinning and my tummy in knots. Unfortunately, they’re not included in my own list because I spend more time trying to get my head back on straight! And yes, I know about Rise of the Resistance. I felt it did not belong on this list simply because it features the best of everything in the history of Disney ever.

Every solid story has a solid beginning, middle, and end. Disney knew this, and we have been taught this by many Disney and Pixar films. When Disney Imagineers approach a new ride, they are also keenly aware of this – they know we expect and crave more. It just so happens that part of the Disney magic is to provide more. More story. More feeling. More emotion. More connection. The next time you are able, take a moment to rethink how Disney starts your ride off while you are still in line. You might be surprised how that changes your own top five  lists. 

​