DISNEYLAND:
Think about what it takes to design a dark ride. This ancient form of amusement park entertainment gives you a limited amount of time to do something that will make you feel like you didn’t get ripped off. One solution would be to paint broad-brush strokes so that people experience a simple story. Another would be to limit yourself by ignoring any story and use special effects to set a mood.
But Walt knew you had to have both and the secret was to add enough details to keep them coming back again and again. Snow White’s Scary Adventure is an excellent example of layering on the story within a wonderful atmosphere. It is a true Disney classic attraction in both parks.
In California, they call this Snow White’s Scary Adventure for a reason. This is not the happy flight in a ship high above the action like Peter Pan. You are going down into the mine and the dungeon. You will be chased throughout the ride by a truly evil character. She will tempt you with apples (some have been so tempted they have escaped with souvenirs). You will have scary trees reaching out at. Scary stuff.
So let’s take the kids, right? It is Fantasyland after all. The Imagineers have thankfully provided pre-show elements that give you a taste of what lies inside those dark stonewalls. Parents be warned.
The Gothic façade is an early clue that this is a scary adventure. As you approach the arch look up at the window above. Be patient. Sometimes the Evil Queen is looking. Walk toward the golden apple and book. I’ve got to touch them every time I pass by. Touch the apple and the witch laughs. Wait a second and then touch again. That was a scary noise! Better to move on.
Just beyond the entrance is a little room with a spell book and, just beyond a door, is a silhouette of a Raven moving about. Scary lights and sounds add to the tension. This is meant to scare your kids. If they fail this test then they are not going to be happy inside. It is pretty easy to turn around and walk over to Peter Pan.
So hop into your mining car for a brief happy visit with Snow White and Dwarfs. Until all Hell breaks loose. And then suddenly it ends. Witch dead (sorry gave it away). There is a picture of the Prince and Snow White riding away, happily ever after. Very abrupt.
Okay good trivia while you are waiting in line. When the attraction debuted, it was designed so you were Snow White. The attraction was designed as a first person experience. Virtual reality if you please. However, people didn’t get it and they finally shoehorned Snow White into the attraction.
WDW:
The front façade of the Magic Kingdom’s Snow White still retains the tournament style tents that were an update to the original 1955-era Sleep Beauty inspired Disneyland courtyard. To ride Snow White you pop under the happy tent and enjoy the wide-open entrance. Like everything else about Walt Disney World, they had space and this time they knew what to do with it.
The attraction is a much richer cinematic-like experience than the one at Disneyland. Like a movie, you start with a long shot of the countryside, which provides a setting and context. Turn the corner and there is a mid-shot of Snow White just being adorable as she ushers us through the doors. From that point on we see the whole story. The good times and the bad times and the good times again. The story gets a chance to fully resolve itself and the happily ever after doesn’t feel like it was stuck on.
Florida’s version certainly isn’t as dark as Anaheim’s. The size of the sets makes a big difference. The extra 25% or so of track length really helps. Both versions have stood the test of time are still relevant today. But if I were pressed to pick a favorite I would pick…
WINNER: WDW Magic Kingdom
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