Which Disney Parks have the most rides? When have Disney’s Audio-Animatronics “lost their heads?” What’s the story behind demolished park icons like the Earful Tower and the Sun Icon? From the best Audio-Animatronics on Earth to spectacular original worlds, mythologies, souvenirs, and snacks, these quick-read countdowns, collections, and features are the place to debate, to be surprised, and to see parks differently.
Your Sneak Peek at Member Extras
As you uncover Park Lore’s in-depth collections telling the true stories behind Lost Legends, Modern Marvels, Declassified Disasters, and Possibilitylands, explore the threads that connect the tales here in the Extra Features collection! Filled with over a hundred quick-read stories, countdowns, behind-the-scenes features, and fun “listicles,” this Member-exclusive collection will leave you seeing the parks differently.
Park Lore Members who support this ad-free, clickbait-free, in-depth storytelling project for as little as $2 / month unlock rare concept art across the site and stories in the Extra Features collection! You can get a sneak peek of some of our newest and favorite Extras below. If you like what you read, consider becoming a Member to unlock it all!
- 25 Most Incredible Audio-Animatronics on Earth (tap)
- Park Lore Glossary: Frequently Used Terms for Imagineering Nerds (tap)
- By-The-Numbers: Ride-Count Countdowns to See Theme Parks Differently
- Lost Lands: 12 Areas Axed from Disney Parks (and What Replaced Them) (tap)
- 8 Spectacular Never-Built Lands at Disney Parks (tap)
- Are These 7 “Must-Have” Signature Souvenirs Worth The Price? (tap)
- 8 Action-Packed “Story Coasters” That Make YOU The Star (tap)
- From Ride to Screen The Best (and Worst) Movies Based on Disney Rides (tap)
- Coffeeland: 8 “Starbucks-in-Disguise” in Disney and Universal Parks (tap)
- 10 “How’d They Do That” Special Effects That Still Amaze Us (tap)
Join as a Member to unlock more Extra Features…
The Extra Features below are available exclusively to Park Lore Members who support this ad-free, research-based project for $2 / month or more.
Members can unlock our entire Vault of quick-read Extras and in-depth Special Features, receive a member card and merch in the mail, unlock podcast extras, reveal rare concept art and audio streams in stories, and much more! If you appreciate the in-depth stories on Park Lore, join the story and become a Member to keep this unique park history project growing!
- GIGA: A Primer on the Planet’s Elite Class of 300-Foot Gigacoasters from Millennium Force to the Future (tap)
- The 2021 Year in Review: What Opened (And What Didn’t) at Disney and Universal Parks (tap)
- Genie+ vs. Universal Express: Which Priority Access Upcharge is Worth It to Plus Your Trip? (tap)
- “A Genie By Any Other Name…”: The Nonesense Naming of Genie+, and Our Idea to Improve It (tap)
- The Multiverse Effect: How The Avengers Campus Model Resets The Rules of Living Lands (tap)
- Far, Far Away: 6 Concepts Cut From Disney’s Star Wars Lands (tap)
- WHAT IF…?: A Collection of Armchair Imagineering Daydreams
- What If… Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Entered The Twilight Zone? (tap)
- What If… Alien Encounter Was Reborn in Universal’s Jurassic Park? (COMING SOON)
- 10 Off-The-Beaten-Path, World Building Secret Spots at Islands of Adventure (tap)
- “Which, Where, How, and When?” Quality Control Questions to Guide IP Integration (tap)
- Potter… Nintendo… Star Wars… What’s Left?! 12 Untapped IPs Perfect For “Living Lands” (tap)
- The Multiverse Effect: How The Avengers Campus Model Resets The Rules of Living Lands (tap)
- Far, Far Away: 6 Concepts Cut From Disney’s Star Wars Lands (tap)
- 10 Off-The-Beaten-Path, World Building Secret Spots at Islands of Adventure (tap)
- Yep, That’s “Disney” Now: 9 Surprising IPs En Route to Disney+… and Maybe, Disney Parks (tap)
- Mouse Hunt: 5 Giant “Hidden Mickeys” You Can Only See From Above… Or Google Maps (tap)
- “Formerly Known As…” Do You Remember the OLD Names & Logos of These 7 Disney Parks? (tap)
- “Wood” This Lightning Rod of a Coaster Be The First True Wood-Steel Hybrid? (tap)
- Wonders of the Wand: Incredible Incantations & Secret Spells in the Wizarding World (tap)
- Rides of the Renaissance: The Surprising Shortage of E-Tickets Based on Disney’s ’90s Classics (tap)
- “Which, Where, How, and When?” Quality Control Questions to Guide IP Integration (tap)
- The Imagineering Bucket List: 16 Must-See Masterpieces From Around Disney Parks (tap)
- How It Works: 9 Real, Physical, Screen-Free, In Your Face Special Effects and How the Magic’s Made (tap)
- 12 Iconic Smells (both Nostalgic and Nauseating) at Disney & Universal Parks (tap)
- 6 “Roles” Guests Step Into On Iconic Theme Park Rides (tap)
- 10 Most Incredible Projection-Mapped Moments in Disney Rides (With Videos to Prove It) (tap)
- Inverted, Stand-Up, Flying, Wing… Here’s What Coaster Creator B&M is Doing Next (tap)
- Castle Countdown: The Royal Ranking of All 6 Disney Parks Palaces (tap)
- 9 Ultra-Classic Attractions That Would NEVER Get Built Today… And Why (tap)
- “A Tram By Any Other Name:” 7 Studio Tour Scenes Turned Standalone Stars (tap)
- Storytelling 101: 6 Tell-Tale Signs of a “Bad” Theme Park Attraction Story (tap)
- 8 Luxurious Hotels Where You Can Sleep “Inside” a Theme Park (tap)
- 10 Disney Classics with “Spiritual Sequels” You Might Not Think About (tap)
- 13 Cancelled, Closed, and Cop-Out Attractions Killed by Disneyland Paris (tap)
- Animatronics You’ll Only Find While You Wait (tap)
- Parks After Dark: The Reason to Stay Till Close at Each Park (tap)
- 4Â Kinds of Rides Universal Should Pluck from Disney’s Playbook (tap)
- 9 “Replacement” Rides that Have OUTLIVED The Classics They Replaced (tap)
- 16 “Easter Eggs” of Closed Classics Hidden in the Rides that Replaced Them (tap)
- 16 of Disney’s Gargantuan Showbuildings You Might Never See (tap)
- REWIND AWARDS: The One Best Ride of Every Decade So Far (tap)
- Peaks of Imagineering: 12 Best Disney “Mountain” E-Tickets Across the Globe (tap)
- Rest in Pieces: Parting Words to Rides We Lost in the 2010s (tap)
- Off The Rails: The World’s Best (and Worst) Trackless Dark Rides (tap)
- Living Lands: Disney and Universal’s Most Immersive Lands (tap)
- Carnivals, Boardwalks, and Backlots: Stories from Disney’s Least Immersive Lands (tap)
- Imagineering Originals
- 13 Abandoned, Broken, and Canceled Special Effects at Disney Parks (tap)
- 10 of Disney’s Most Outrageously High Capacity Rides (tap)
- 10 of Disney’s Most Outrageously Low Capacity Rides (tap)
- 10 Places You Can See Animatronics Outside of Rides (tap)
- 10 Times Disney’s Animatronics Malfunctioned, Froze, and Caught on Fire (tap)
- Rides That Would FOR SURE Have Character Overlays If They Were Built Today (tap)
- How Disney’s Smallest and Biggest Parks Measure Up (tap)
- From A(tom) to Z(urg): 10 Ways Disney Parks “Miniaturized” Guests (tap)
- 8 Most-Missed Disney Parks Characters from Closed Attractions (tap)
- 8 “What Were They Thinking” Mistakes We’re Happy to Forget (tap)
- The Most Incredible Walkthrough Attractions at Disney and Universal Parks (tap)
- 10 Imagineers Forever Immortalized on Main Street, U.S.A. (tap)
- The REAL History of 6 Hollywood Icons Brought to Life in Disney Parks (tap)
- Play-While-You-Wait: 10 Must-See Interactive Queues (COMING SOON)
- “That’s Not Dory” and 8 Other BAD Voice-Acting Moments at Disney Parks (tap)
- 10 Gasps-and-Goosebumps-Inducing Best Scenic Reveals in Disney Parks (tap)
- 8-Bit Magic: Throwback Video Games That Brought Disney Parks to Your Living Room (tap)
- PARK POP QUIZ: Which Resort is Missing Each of These 8 Classics? (tap)
- PARK POP QUIZ: How Long Has It Been Since Each Park Had an IP-FREE Anchor Attraction? (tap)
- Are Disney Parks Full? Where We Think Each Park is Growing Next (tap)
- 13 “Endangered” Attractions That May Not Survive the 2020s (tap)
- 7 Things That Fans Know, But Must Make Absolutely No Sense to First-Time Visitors (tap)
- “PLUS IT!” Our Top 10 Controversial Imagineering Ride Upgrades (tap)
- 9 Times Disney’s Attempts to “Plus” a Ride Became a “Minus” (tap)
- 10 Forgotten, Demoted, and Lost Icons of Disney Parks (tap)
- 12 of the Most Awe-Inspiring Park Icons and Their Stories (tap)
- Seven Wonders of the Theme Park World
- 16 Disneyland Exclusives That Should Make Disney World Fans Jealous (tap)
- 16 Disney World Exclusives That Should Make Disneyland Fans Jealous (tap)
- 12 Universal Orlando Exclusives That Should Make DIsney Parks Fans Jealous (tap)
- 13 Unlucky “…Then Something Goes Horribly Wrong” Ride Plot Twists (tap)
- 11 Classic Attractions Where Nothing “Goes Horribly Wrong!” (tap)
- 6 Disney Parks Clone Pairs You May Not Recognize (tap)