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

Oh, Fabi-ooooo....

Good morning, friends, and happy Monday! I’m spending today celebrating the 68th anniversary of Disneyland Park in two ways. First, in today’s edition of Out of the Disney Vault, I dove deep into the “bad miracle” of the Disney+ docuseries Behind the Attraction, which is available to paid subscribers right now. (If you’re still on the fence, I say you should nudge yourself onto the paid side of that fence! Five dollars a month is a low price to pay with paid essays coming at you at least once a week.)

Here’s that essay:

The second way I’m honoring the parks is yet to be determined in terms of whether it’s good or not, but this evening, I’ll be taking in the latest attempt to turn the Haunted Mansion into a movie. (By coincidence, my son wanted to watch the original Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy over the weekend, and…man, I sure as hell hope the new film is better, because the 2003 film is pretty rough stuff.)

Right now, you can honor the park by voting in today’s matchups in the second round of the Ultimate Disney Parks Attraction bracket. Let’s go!

(3) Living with the Land vs. (35) The Seas with Nemo and Friends: These two pavilions in Epcot’s Future World (I am aware that the sections of Epcot have been renamed, but it’s called Future World, thank you very much) are within walking distance of each other. And I like them both in some ways. But the answer here is Living with the Land, which remains one of the most relaxing and compelling ways to explore the wonders of the natural world in a Disney format. It doesn’t get better than this.

What do you think?

Living with the Land

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

(14) Horizons vs. (19) Star Tours: The Adventures Continue: Nostalgia is the renewable resource that makes the Disney parks run. I mention this because while the new iteration of Star Tours has its charms, I don’t think it can stand a chance against a now-long-gone attraction that holds a special place in many people’s hearts. If you can dream it, you can do it, right? (Because, if memory serves, that quote comes not from Walt Disney but from this ride.)

Horizons gets my vote. How about you?

Horizons

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

(6) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (DL) vs. (27) Journey Into Imagination: As a reminder, the version of Journey Into Imagination you’re voting on (or considering to vote for) is the original, not the current iteration. But honestly, for me, it doesn’t matter. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — either version, but this time, it’s just the Disneyland take — is a Top Five attraction for me. One of the very best fusions of theming and ride type, Big Thunder Mountain truly is the wildest ride in the wilderness. Sorry to this dragon.

My vote doesn’t do much, though — how do you vote here?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (DL)

Journey Into Imagination

(11) Carousel of Progress vs. (22) Sleeping Beauty Castle: Sometimes, I like to sit. But don’t we all? Sitting is what will win this vote, though, because while I very much like the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (and the castle itself), I can’t sit there to experience it. Amazingly, to experience a hundred years of progress, I can plop down on my keister and relax, and even though the Carousel of Progress arguably needs to be pushed further into the future, it’s enough to top a castle.

What do you think?

Carousel of Progress

Sleeping Beauty Castle