The Ultimate Disney Parks Attraction Bracket -- Round One, Day Nine

Some imagination, huh?

Apropos of nothing, I wanted to start today by shouting out the many people — I believe approaching the one-thousand-person mark, if not surpassing it — who came together to make the utterly brilliant new film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. What does this have to do with today’s set of first-round matchups in the Ultimate Disney Parks Attraction bracket?

Oh, basically nothing. But it’s been a few days since I saw the film in theaters, and I’m still buzzing about it. Great movie.

Anyway, to the polls!

(1) Fantasmic (DL) vs. (64) Stitch’s Great Escape: Yeah, listen, this one’s easy. I don’t much care for Stitch’s Great Escape to start, as you can tell from the 64-seed placement. But also…come on. The original Fantasmic — and if you haven’t seen both versions in the United States, there are differences aplenty — is one of the all-time great nighttime shows, if not the very best. An easy win.

Fantasmic (DL)

Stitch’s Great Escape

(32) Barnstormer vs. (33) Silly Symphony Swings: On one hand, I’ve not been to Walt Disney World since its overhaul of the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom, so I’ve never ridden on the kid-friendly Barnstormer roller coaster themed to “the Great Goofini”. (I think that’s a reference to Daisy Duck, right?) I’m still voting against it if only because I do like the Silly Symphony Swings, one of the few kid-friendly parts of the back half of Disney California Adventure that feels like a good blend of audience and theming.

How do you vote?

Barnstormer

Silly Symphony Swings

(16) Dapper Dans (WDW) vs. (49) Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple: If nothing else, consider this a vote against the not-very-exciting Jedi Training show (the best the show ever was is if there were bloopers in-show, which is not a great point in its favor). But hey, the Dapper Dans. You gotta love ‘em. Right?

Dapper Dans (WDW)

Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

(17) Disneyland Monorail vs. (48) Wonders of Life: Did you know that “mono” means “one” and “rail” means “rail”? Well, I just took a very interesting class that taught me this valuable information, from a fast-talking fellow who says he’s put places like Ogdenville and North Haverbrook on the map! Anyway, his passion convinced me to vote for the Disneyland Monorail in this matchup.

How about you?

Disneyland Monorail

Wonders of Life