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Petrana Radulovic is an entertainment reporter specializing in animation, fandom culture, theme parks, Disney, and young adult fantasy franchises.Theme parks are closed for the foreseeable future, but online theme park culture lives on. If a Disneyland attraction exists (in the time of YouTube, at least), then chances are a high-definition video ride-through, walk-through, or POV of said attraction exists, ready to be experienced from home.
Disney parks have a fairly lax policy when it comes to bringing cameras on rides to film the experience. While technically, officially not allowed, as long as filming doesn’t pose a safety hazard (which they would on Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘N Roller coaster, which goes upside down) or use flash on dark rides like Haunted Mansion, cast members permit recording devices on most rides at Disney parks. While selfie sticks specifically are prohibited at the parks, GoPros, iPhones, and DSLR cameras are all allowed. (Which explains how one mad genius covertly directed an entire black-and-white thriller inside the parks.)
Ride-through and walk-through videos are a big part of theme park culture, showcasing many attractions and interactive areas of the park. Since almost every attraction has at least one video associated with it, one can theoretically hit all the iconic landmarks of Disneyland without every leaving the comfort of home. So behold, a virtual exploration through Disneyland, Anaheim, broken down by each individual land in the park.
Adventureland
Indiana Jones Adventure
The Indiana Jones-themed attraction opened in 1995. A dark, fast-paced ride, Indiana Jones adventure is more thrilling than the typical Disney ride experience, sharing a specific ride track technology used at only one other Disney park attraction: Animal Kingdom’s terrifying Dinosaur.
Jungle Cruise
The live-action movie of this classic Disney attraction may be postponed, but you can get your fix — with all the cheesy animal jokes! — with this ride-through video. Jungle Cruise is one of the attractions that opened with the park and evolved over the past 50 years. One noticeable change? The original Jungle Cruise skippers had real pistols and fired blanks at the animatronic hippos.
Tarzan’s Treehouse
The replica of the treehouse that Tarzan’s parents built at the beginning of the 1999 movie isn’t a ride so much as it is an experience. Luckily, walk-through videos are just as popular as ride throughs.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
The iconic Disney park show features a bunch of talking and singing birds. And it’s available on YouTube so you too can relieve the heavily accented birds crooning about their tropical paradise.
Hulu/Disney Plus bundle
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Disney is offering a bundle combining its three streaming services — Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus — for $12.99/month.
Critter Country
Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
No motors or tracks on this ride! Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes is a free floating boat experience, which takes guests on a tour around the park, following the tracks of the larger Disney boats, Mark Twain River Boat, and the Sailing Ship Columbia.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
This family-friendly dark ride spins up the adventures of Winnie the Pooh. There are versions of the Winnie the Pooh attraction at Disney’s Orlando, Shanghai, and Hong Kong locations, but the Disneyland one is the only one to feature beehive ride vehicles instead of honey pots.
Splash Mountain
Based on the highly controversial Song of the South (so controversial that the movie isn’t on Disney Plus), Splash Mountain itself is a cheery ride about animated animals in a briar patch. The best part about a video version of this one is that you don’t get wet if you sit in the first row!
Fantasyland
King Arthur Carousel
This carousel was actually constructed 30 years before Disneyland opened and operated in Sunnyside Beach Park in Toronto, Canada. The lead horse, named Jingles, was so popular that all the other horses were painted white.
Snow White’s Scary Adventure
One of the attractions that debuted with the park in 1955, Snow White’s Scary Adventure had one major overhaul in 1983. It was set for another in January.
Alice in Wonderland
A dark attraction based on — you guessed it! — 1951’s Alice in Wonderland (not the 2010 Tim Burton one). Unlike some of the other based-on-a-movie dark rides in Disneyland’s Fantasyland, this one is exclusive to the California location.
Casey Jr. Circus Train
A miniature railroad based on thee train from Dumbo, Casey Jr. Circus Train takes young guests on a little tour of the Storybook area of Fantasyland.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Ride the skies on Dumbo’s back. This is one of the staples of Disney parks, the one they use in promotional material all the time.
It’s A Small World
It’s a small world after all, it’s a small world after all … get all the joys of riding this multicultural ride, without the stank of old water. No promises on if you’ll be able to get the Sherman Brothers’ earworm out of your head afterward.
Mad Tea Party
Take a virtual spin on the iconic tea cups. For added effect, prop your laptop on your lap as you spin your home office chair in time to the video.
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Modelled after the mountain of the same name in the Alps, which borders the Swiss and Italian border, the Matterhorn Bobsleds borders Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
This zany ride takes you through the “Wind in the Willows” segment of Disney’s The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad — and to the depths of hell, even though that isn’t in the movie! That’s right, at one point the ride “crashes” and you “die” and get sent to hell. It’s a ride for kids!
Peter Pan’s Flight
Though this dark attraction is one of the oldest in the park, it is still one of the most popular. Is it the enduring legacy of Peter Pan as a movie? Or the fact that Peter Pan is popular amongst edgy Hot Topic teens? We may never truly know.
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Based on Disney’s second theatrical animated feature, Pinocchio, this ride was added to the park in 1983, when Fantasyland underwent a huge revamp.
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Take a leisurely virtual boat ride around the Storybook section of Fantasyland. Think of it as the aquatic companion to the Casey Jr. Circus Train.
Fire TV Stick 4K
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K is an all-in-one streaming device with apps for most major streaming services, 4K streaming and a voice remote powered by Amazon’s Alexa. It’s listed at $50, but often drops down to $35 during Amazon device sales.
