Haunted Mansion - WDW

One of the few major rides left in the Magic Kingdom that was running on the park's Oct. 1, 1971 opening day, the Haunted Mansion still draws in large crowds daily. Guests approach the mansion, Imagineered to look like a Hudson valley home, and are greeted by their "Ghost Host" before boarding "Doom Buggies" to begin the ride. The ride itself is a mix of audio-animatronics, playful light tricks, and classic music, and while there are mild chills along the way, most younger riders are more delighted than scared.

Lifthill comments: An absolute gem, the ride portion of Florida's Haunted Mansion is virtually identical to its Disneyland counterpart. As dark rides go, this classic set the bar for all to come, combining ingenious effects with great music, some funny gags and authentic-feeling ambiance. The ride is absolutely full of the small details that made Disney's parks so well-respected and loved —be sure to check out the tombstones in the queue, and look for Thurl Ravenscroft (the voice of Tony the Tiger) as one of the singing busts in the "graveyard" scene during the ride. For more Haunted Mansion information, be sure to check out the excellent fan site DoomBuggies.com.