20. Velociraptor
Debut: Jurassic World VelociCoaster (2021)
Location: Universal Islands of Adventure
Video: Captivity
1993’s Jurassic Park will probably always be considered among the greatest films of all time. Its 1997 and 2001 sequels? Not so much… But that all changed thanks to a major reboot. Set (and released) 22 years after the events of Jurassic Park, 2015’s Jurassic World takes place in a new (but no less doomed) iteration of the prehistoric park. Rather than a boutique wildlife refuge for one-percenters, Jurassic World is a much more modern enterprise with “more teeth.” We’re talking a mass-market park of stadiums, monorails, a CityWalk shopping district, and mega thrill rides.
So even though Islands of Adventure’s Jurassic Park land is still technically themed to the original, literary park seen in the 1993 film, its skyline has a new entry: the 150-foot tall top hat of an Intamin multi-launch roller coaster that dives through the raptor paddock of Jurassic World, “joining the hunt” alongside the sequel trilogy’s all-female velociraptor quartet – Blue, Charlie, Delta, and Echo.
The ride’s fairly elaborate queue sends guests through the labyrinthine support facilities of the raptor exhibit they’re about to foolishly launch into, including a stop in a medical bay where two of the raptors we’ve seen on screen (Delta and Echo) are harnessed by the snout. They grunt, wince, snarl, bare their teeth, and rattle their cages in a staggeringly lifelike display that’s incredibly effective, and a real show-stopper. That makes sense – these dinosaurs were created by the Creature Technology Company, who also manufactured the figures in the jaw-dropping Jurassic World: The Exhibition.
19. Imhotep
Debut: Revenge of the Mummy (2004)
Location: Universal Studios Florida (exclusive)
Video: “I shall rule for all eternity!”
The queue for Orlando’s Modern Marvel: Revenge of the Mummy explores an ancient Egyptian tomb where the evil Imhotep and his curse await. According to the ride’s story, Imhotep is unstoppable… unless you can find the symbol of the Medjai, the ancient protectors of the Pharaoh who stand as the last guard between the mummified high priest and humanity. Shortly after boarding the ancient mine cars that travel into the tomb, guests get their first glimpse of just how serious Imhotep is about world domination. It seems that crew member Reggie has gone missing from Revenge of the Mummy… and you’re about to find him.
Reggie – wrapped in mummified dressings – is leaned in a sarcophagus. As the coaster slowly moves toward him, he stirs. “Are you insane?! Get out of here! The curse – it’s real! This whole place is a trap!” Just then, the massive stone sarcophagus next to Reggie bursts open as the half-decayed Imhotep jumps out. “Silence!” he screams, extending his hand to Reggie. Dust is sucked out of Reggie’s mouth and into Imhotep as Reggie slumps over, dead. “With your souls,” Imhotep laughs, gesturing at the car, “I shall rule for all eternity.” Any future dealings with the Mummy will be in the form of projections, fog, and audio, but that first encounter with the surprising Imhotep figure leaves quite a taste in your mouth. And yes, it’s the only animatronic we can think of that jumps.
18. Abraham Lincoln
Debut: 1964 New York World’s Fair
Location: Disneyland Park
Video: A Stately Address
For Disney, the 1960s were a time defined by WED Enterprises’ involvement in the 1964 New York World’s Fair, where Walt had been commissioned to deliver shows for three corporations… and the State of Illinois. Luckily, that provided Disney with the opportunity (and funding) to take the Audio-Animatronics technology in the Tiki Room to the next level, bringing to life a human… and one who Walt personally admired. WED’s Audio-Animatronic figure of the nation’s 16th president (who hailed from Illinois) stood and gave a 5-minute address that left guests absolutely speechless.
The next year, the figure was duplicated to its own Main Street Opera House in Disneyland for the exclusive show, “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” That presidential encounter has briefly, intermittently closed so that the Opera House could play special presentations, and the Lincoln figure has been replaced and upgraded over the years. The most recent figure – an electronic-based “A-100” figure built in 2009 – has the most “real” emotional expression yet. Lincoln moves his eyebrows, sighs, gestures at the audience, reads from a note card in his hand, and stands upright from a seated position. Seeing Lincoln stand and address the crowd “in person” is deeply emotional. A virtual Lincoln on a 3D screen? Not so much.
17. The Seven Dwarfs
Debut: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (2014)
Location: Magic Kingdom and Shanghai Disneyland
Video: Whistle While You Work
When Disney fans were given Disney’s 2009 plans for a New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, they accosted the resort for the expansion’s obvious bias toward princess meet-and-greets and a severe lack of actual attractions. Surprisingly, Disney agreed. After an executive swap in the Parks division, Imagineers went back to the drawing board and redesigned New Fantasyland with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at its center. At the expense of the park’s original Lost Legend: Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Magic Kingdom would receive a new family roller coaster that would recreate at least a bit of Snow White’s story from the point of view of Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Dopey, Grumpy, Sneezy, and Doc.
The ride opened in 2014 as the culmination of Fantasyland’s expansion. While the zipping, tilting coaster is a fun ride, it was the single dark ride scene mid-way through that fans went nuts over. The short-but-sweet scene passes through the Seven Dwarf’s gem mine, where unbelievable animatronics with disturbingly fluid motion sing, bounce, and whistle while they work. Aside from their flawless motion, the figures also debuted the first large-scale use of rear-projected faces able to lip-sync to the music (even as they dance!) as no other animatronics before had. As a result, the Seven Dwarfs are among the most fun animatronics to watch.
16. T. rex
Debut: Jurassic Park: The Ride (1996)
Location: Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Islands of Adventure
Video: NEED