The Ultimate Disney Parks Attraction Bracket -- Round Two, Day Fourteen
How about a nice, juicy apple?
You know the best part about the summer in Phoenix, Arizona?
…no, seriously, I’m asking. What is the best part? Is there a best part? Because I can’t think of one. No, I just take solace in the chaos spread by brackets like this one on a day-to-day basis, no matter what time of year it is.
And with that in mind, it’s time for us to dive into four more matchups in the second round of the Ultimate Disney Parks Attraction bracket. Let’s go!
![Mickey's Fun Wheel in California Adventure's Paradise Pier [Closed]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F052e5c47-cb10-47c6-a18f-662f6c6b3f35_2124x1408.png "Mickey's Fun Wheel in California Adventure's Paradise Pier [Closed]")
(4) Muppet*Vision 3D vs. (29) Mickey’s Fun Wheel: One of the easiest matchups of the round, no? Muppet*Vision 3D for the victory. I should not have to explain why.
Muppet*Vision 3D
Mickey’s Fun Wheel
(13) Fantasmic (WDW) vs. (20) Snow White’s Scary Adventures: I imagine this will be a little tougher, and though I enjoy the original Snow White dark ride, it’s got to be Fantasmic. It’s not just that you can actually see Fantasmic in one of the theme parks right now (the Disneyland version remains closed through Labor Day, and likely beyond that), but there’s just so much more to be dazzled by in the nighttime show.
What do you think?
Fantasmic (WDW)
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
(5) Toy Story Midway Mania (DCA) vs. (28) Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (WDW): So, I know there are still some folks out there who nurse a grudge about the fact that Mr. Toad got evicted from the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. As noted before, I am not one of those people — I know Mr. Toad from Disneyland (and of course the movie inspired by the Kenneth Grahame book), and he’s doing just fine there. With that in mind, I’m going to give this one to the Toy Story ride in Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. Yes, there’s another version of it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so it’s not unique, but man, is it fun. Always a joy to have the high score in the ride vehicle.
What do you think should win?
Toy Story Midway Mania (DCA)
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (WDW)
(12) Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout vs. (21) Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid: I know that the Guardians ride is going to win this one, and yet, if you have paid any modicum of attention to the newsletters to date, you know I am going to vote against it. It’s basically on principle! I like the first two movies! (I will be watching the third one when it arrives on Disney+, not for any reason aside from just not getting around to it in theaters.) But I miss the Tower of Terror.
Basically, just as there are people who nurse a grudge about the loss of Mr. Toad from the Magic Kingdom, I nurse a grudge against the Guardians for booting out Rod Serling from Disney California Adventure.
But that’s me. What do you think?
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
What a travesty that Mr. Toad is losing to the worst video game ride Disney ever made. While the game part of TSMM is very fun, the ride part is truly bottom tier.
The actual ride part of TSMM is incidental to the experience, which to me is unforgivable. It doesn’t spin or move in any way other than to ferry guests from screen to screen. The experience would be the same (except for capacity) if the vehicles were removed and guests walked from screen to screen.
Also, unlike on Buzz or the Falcon, if you choose to sit back and “enjoy the ride” there’s nothing to enjoy at all. There is nothing happening in the background, and only incredibly basic cut-outs and paintings of characters on the walls. Not super-basic Small World tier animatronics. Just flat images. UGH. If you do nothing on Buzz, you still get the experience of a half-decent Buzz dark ride. Or on the Falcon you still experience the ride passively like it’s Star Tours.
I'd rather burn in Hell than vote for Woody''s ride (you know what you did, Woody!!). So I voted for Alan Sepinwall's FAVORITE ride, the one where you go to Hell!