The Ultimate Disney Parks Attraction Bracket -- Round Four, Day Two

Now, where's that Hatbox Ghost?

Hello, folks! It’s yet another Friday, meaning that the summer movie season…well, I suppose if you love sharks and/or le cinema du Ben Wheatley, you’re stoked for a sequel to The Meg. But the summer feels like it peaked with mid-July, even if an instant classic like Dead Reckoning got missed in the fever of “Barbenheimer”.

But it’s just another day here, meaning four more matchups in the fourth round of the Ultimate Disney Parks Attraction bracket. What else moves onto the Sweet Sixteen today? Let’s find out.

(1) Fantasmic (DL) vs. (8) Rock’n’Roller Coaster: I realize some folks have called out the seeding of certain attractions throughout this bracket. It happens! And whatever questionable choices I may make, they are usually based in me thinking, “Well, X is surely going to be eliminated before too long, right?” And I don’t mean Twitter!

Anyway. I did not think that Rock’n’Roller Coaster would make it to the field of 32 seeds, and I sure as hell presume it’s going down today. Because Fantasmic — with or without a dragon, whether or not we see it before next summer — is perfect nighttime entertainment.

Do the right thing.

Fantasmic (DL)

Rock’n’Roller Coaster

(4) Kilimanjaro Safaris vs. (5) Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (DL): This one’s a little tougher, but I’m giving it to the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Yes, these are both rides unique to one specific park, and yes, Mr. Toad has a lot of fans behind him. But the Kilimanjaro Safaris (even in spite of its hokey storyline) has real animals, and Mr. Toad does not.

How do you vote?

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (DL)

(2) Space Mountain (WDW) vs. (10) The Haunted Mansion (WDW): If I get any “Josh, you are history’s greatest monster”-style comments today, I presume it will be because of this matchup. Two excellent attractions, and both the versions that you can find in Orlando. I don’t know how much that distinction matters, but it does exist here so I wanted to call it out.

Me? Well, aside from being glad that I don’t actually vote in the matchups like this, I will lean towards the Haunted Mansion. Cast Members can make or break the theme-park experience, and in this case, they always make it a lot better. (Or they plus it. Or they enhance it. Whatever you want to say.) Not that the Cast Members at Space Mountain are falling down on the job, but the CMs at the Haunted Mansion get to play up the spooky vibe with how they interact with guests. That’s where my vote goes. (Yes, even with the Hatbox Ghost being placed before Madame Leota now. A stupid call, but I still like it better than Space Mountain.)

What about you?

Space Mountain (WDW)

The Haunted Mansion (WDW)

(3) Living with the Land vs. (6) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (DL): Oh, how I love Living with the Land. And oh, how I’ll miss Living with the Land in the next round. I presume that Big Thunder will get the win here, in no small part because…well, if I was voting, that’s how I’d vote.

But it’s your call. What do you say?

Living with the Land

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (DL)