​In our new podcast episode, we talked about those attractions that, while they may not be true E-ticket attractions, we love just the same. Those attractions that offer up just as much Disney magic as their bigger cousins, but don’t get all the attention. In last week’s blog, Shaun Jex shared some of his favorites that fit this category, and this week I thought we would continue and list some more of my favorites. After reading the list, be sure to check out our latest podcast episode, where we have some fun kicking around this question – with a few surprises along the way!

But most of all, we’re interested in what YOU think! Let us know in the comments below what some of your favorite attractions are that may not qualify as true headliner E-ticket attractions, but give you those Disney feels just the same.

And now for our list…here we go!

Magic Kingdom: The Carousel of Progress and the Enchanted Tiki Room

We’ll start with a pair of special attractions from the Magic Kingdom. Why special? These are two attractions that Walt Disney was personally involved with, and for anyone who appreciates Disney’s history, visiting them is like turning back the hands of time. When you’re there, it almost feels like the spirit of Walt is right there with you, singing and laughing along with the rest of the audience.

As the introductory narration tells us, the Carousel of Progress was one of Walt Disney’s favorites. Initially created for the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair, the Carousel of Progress takes you on a tour through the decades as we get a glimpse of the newest technological innovations that our family experiences along the way.

For those who haven’t recently visited, the final Christmas scene got a bit of an update several weeks ago. Don’t worry; Grandma still gets the best of James in the virtual reality space game, Cousin Orville still complains about his lack of privacy, and dad still burns the turkey. The minor updates include a new TV and some updated clothing for the family, including a cooking apron for father that reads My Food Rocks, a clever reference to the Food Rocks show that once entertained Guests at EPCOT’s Land Pavilion.

On the other end of the spectrum is Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. This classic attraction hearkens back to the park’s opening days, with Michael, Pierre, Fritz, and José leading the birds as they sing words and the flowers as they croon. The Tiki Room represents one of Walt Disney’s earliest experiments in Animatronics. Curiously, before the idea of a tropical serenade was settled upon, the attraction was originally going to be a dinner theater complete with an Animatronic figure of Confucius sitting in the middle of the room dispensing wisdom. Speaking of tiki birds, a curious footnote in Disney history is that the idea for Animatronic figures was sparked by Walt Disney’s infatuation with a small mechanical bird that he picked up in his travels. That fascination led to much experimentation culminating in the Animatronic figures we see today. All from one little bird.

EPCOT: Mission: SPACE

Some of you may protest that this is a true headliner attraction, but go with me here! It’s very true that when Mission: SPACE first opened in 2003 (replacing Horizons), it was expected to join Test Track as EPCOT’s one-two thrill punch of E-ticket attractions. And indeed, for several years, it was very much that, with crowds rivaling those waiting for Test Track just next door. But in recent years, particularly with the opening of new attractions like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the crowds have dwindled to the point where you can sometimes walk right in, especially for the Green Team mission (which is my absolute favorite)! That’s good news for those of us who love the thrill of blasting off to outer space – as long as you don’t mind heading out with Rocket Raccoon.

Even if you don’t think you can handle the spinning G forces of this ultra-realistic space flight simulation, it’s still worth visiting the pavilion to check out all the amazing details. For instance, look on the model of the moon near the entrance and see if you can find the survey marker indicating the landing of Apollo 11, the site of man’s first steps on the moon.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Star Tours

For our next stop, we’re going to nominate another attraction that, like Mission: SPACE, was a bona fide headliner when it first opened but has since been relegated to C- or D-ticket status as new attractions have opened. Make no mistake, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is still a dream come true for anybody who grew up a Star Wars fan. Walking through the queue and seeing R2-D2 and C-3PO right before your eyes is a moment you will never forget, and the 3D journey through some of your favorite Star Wars worlds will absolutely leave you breathless. And let’s not forget one of the greatest souvenir shops and all of Walt Disney World, Tatooine Traders!

But once Galaxy’s Edge arrived in 2019, Rise of the Resistance and Smugglers Run have garnered all the headlines (and the crowds), and with good reason! The good news is that the popularity of Galaxy’s Edge has made Star Tours a virtual walk-on attraction, pretty much all day long. Best of all, that means we can loop it again and again, hoping that one of these days, we will be the rebel spy!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: DINOSAUR

For our final stop, we’ll visit yet another attraction that once stood at the pinnacle of headliner attractions in Walt Disney World. When DINOSAUR opened as Countdown to Extinction, it was the only true thrill ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Utilizing the same ride mechanisms as Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland, DINOSAUR took you on a thrilling trip through time right to the moment before a giant asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs. One of the great curiosities in the queue is the set of red, yellow, and white pipes running overhead, each labeled with the chemical formulas for ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise, respectively (a nod to McDonald’s, the attraction’s original sponsor).

But it wasn’t long before Expedition Everest opened, siphoning crowds away from DinoLand U.S.A. and over to the beautiful landscapes of Asia. With the subsequent openings of Flight of Passage and the Na’vi River Journey, the crowds at DinoLand have continued to thin out. The future of DinoLand is the subject of many rumors and what-if scenarios, though nothing has been officially announced for now. At the D23 Expo, Imagineers proposed some “blue sky” ideas for a Coco or Zootopia-themed land to take over this section of the park, but as was made clear at the time, these were purely speculative. So, for now, we will just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, you can visit DINOSAUR pretty much anytime you like with a minimal wait. But that doesn’t make the experience any less thrilling. Your fearsome encounter with the Carnotaurus is still one of the loudest moments you’ll experience in all of Walt Disney World, and I have yet to personally experience it with my eyes open!

So what are your thoughts? What are some of the attractions you love that might not make the list of true E-ticket attractions? These can still hold a very special place in your heart, and as far as you’re concerned, they’re still on your must-do list!