Our 7 Favorite Attraction Exits

You’ve blasted your way across the cosmos, survived your encounter with 999 happy haunts, and discovered your future with the help of some innovative technology. So now it’s off to the next attraction, or for some of us, a much-needed helping of funnel cake. But wait, why are you in such a hurry? Just because the attraction is over doesn’t mean the experience is too. More often than not, just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’ll find that there’s a lot more to discover. And thus we arrive at one of the great overlooked features of Walt Disney World: the magic of the attraction exits.

1. The Haunted Mansion

Take some time to look around as you exit the foreboding Gothic structure. To the left you’ll find a mausoleum, and upon further examination you’ll discover a treasure trove of pun-filled inscriptions. Say a few out loud if you can’t figure them out! Continuing on, you’ll soon come across the Pet Cemetery. The gravestones are a bit further back and positioned a bit higher than their counterparts that stand guard at the Mansion’s entrance, but they are just as much fun to study. For the keen-eyed among you, look all the way back to the left and see if you can spot the tombstone of Mr. Toad, a one-time resident of Fantasyland. During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the Pet Cemetery takes on a whole new aura, with black lights illuminating the cryptic memorials and ominous fog slowly cascading down the hillside. Even as you finally exit, take a peek on the ground and see if you can spot the horseshoe prints in the concrete. Memories of the Headless Horseman? Or the ghostly tracks of the bearer of the morbid hearse that sits nearby?

2. Frozen Ever After

Speaking of hoofprints, once you leave the gift shop, (which features Frozen-themed merchandise as you would expect, but also a host of souvenirs from Norway…be sure to check out the candy selection!) head on over to the nearby courtyard, home to Wandering Oakens Pop-Up Portraits, formerly the Wandering Reindeer shop. As you wander about, look on the ground and you’ll see more prints in the sidewalk…but these aren’t horseshoe prints. No, these are the distinctive prints of Sven himself, who apparently wanted to get some early souvenir shopping down while the cement was still wet!

3. Space Mountain

Here, your exit takes you up a long moving sidewalk (or Speedramp as it’s known to the local astronauts) that brings you back to the surface. You’ll see several futuristic scenes depicting life in the far-off future. TTA fans will recall these scenes from their journey through Space Mountain, but now’s your chance to see them up close. By the way, if you ever wondered why the ramp dips down and then back up again, that’s because you’re actually traveling underneath the Walt Disney World Railroad tracks.

4. Spaceship Earth

Upon exiting your time machine, you’ll get to see yourself projected up on the giant globe (it may take a moment for your image to appear). Once your face is on display, it will stay for a few seconds and then be whisked away to your hometown (now you know why you entered your place of residence at the beginning of your journey through time!). For repeat visitors, it can be fun to pretend you live in a different place and see your image race over to Australia or Japan.

5. The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Here, the post-show area is actually home to the main attraction; the giant aquarium that’s home to hundreds of a fish and sea mammals. This is definitely one pavilion you’ll want to explore, and if you look around long enough you’ll even discover Nemo’s real-life counterpart.

6. Mission: SPACE

Once you safely make it back to Earth, you’ll come across a number of interactive games and play areas in the attraction’s post-show area. So many, in fact, that the pavilion is a wonderful attraction even if you don’t think you have the right stuff for the flight to Mars. The pavilion features one of the lesser known play areas for children (though arguably one of the coolest), and a cooperative game for space explorers of all ages.

7. Test Track

Another thrill attraction in World Discovery also features an expansive post-show area, and it’s here you’ll find some of the latest automotive innovations on display. And yep, you can climb in one of those new cars and see how it feels! (But no, you can’t take it for a test drive.) You’ll also find several interactive pavilions, such as a virtual racing game table. And, of course, you can check out your souvenir photo. (You remembered to smile, right?)

Catch up on Summer Fun in Walt Disney World with the new Summer issue of Celebrations Disney Magazine!

Immerse yourself in the magic of Disney with features and pictorials on:
• Summer Fun at Walt Disney World
• The BoardWalk and BoardWalk Inn Resort
• Disney Parades Throughout the Years
• Percy Jackson
• Wayback Machine: The World of Motion
• Top Ten Facts About the Dreamfinder

• and Much More!!