The Disney Parks are home to some of the most enchanting and enthralling rides and attractions the world has ever known. From the peak of Big Thunder Mountain to the rivers of It's a Small World, there are so many different rides and experiences that bring delight to park-goers around the globe.
Though the original parks dwell right here in the good old U.S. of A, the overseas parks in Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo have their own original treats. These intercontinental attractions are incredible experiences you can't find here in either of the original parks, but we've got ten that definitely deserve your attention.
Hong Kong Disney’s Haunted Mazes
When you think of haunted mazes with scare-actors in ghoulishly gruesome makeup and jumpscares around every corner, you're probably going to have visions of Horror Nights at Universal Studios, but what if we told you Disney had their own version and they didn't skip on the scares?
These attractions have been everything from a haunted hotel to Halloweentown, but the most infamous is The Nightmare Experiment. In this maze, we're shown nightmarish scenes including a clown torturing Pinocchio, Sid's grotesque collection of mutant toys, and a demented and deranged Mad Hatter. And you thought Disney was for kids...
Tokyo Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Now for something a bit less freaky, we have Tokyo Disney's submarine voyage inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. While Disney does indeed have its own film adaptation, this version feels more inspired by the original novel by Jules Verne, and the steampunk aesthetic definitely proves it.
Riders board their own aquatic craft and descend into the depths of the ocean where they'll discover the wonders of the deep. Sunken treasures, beautiful undersea flora and fauna, and of course the famous encounter with the giant squid. If you're a steampunk junkie, this is definitely a dream ride.
Disneyland Paris’s Crush’s Coaster
Epcot might have Turtle Talk with Crush and The Seas with Nemo and Friends, but Disneyland Paris has a turtle-themed rollercoaster that is as gnarly as the EAC. This coaster has every dip, dive, and spin you could want in a Disney coaster, and it's only available in Paris.
It's a mild thrill, but one the whole family can enjoy. If you were to take the charm of Epcot's Seas attraction with the thrills of the Seven Dwarfs' Mine Train, you'd have a rough comparison to the feel of Crush's Coaster. It's totally killer, dudes.
Disneyland Paris’s Temple of Peril
If Crush's Coaster wasn't exactly gnarly enough for you, don't worry, because this rollercoaster inspired by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom will send you for a loop, and we do mean that in a literal sense. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril was Disney's first looping coaster, so we have to give it some props on our list.
This is definitely a bit more curvaceous than the mine car chase in Temple of Doom, but the thrills are still there. Though it's currently going under refurbishment, it's still a DLP classic we felt like we'd be amiss not to include.
Shanghai Disneyland’s Alice in Wonderland Maze
We were going to put Alice's Curious Labyrinth from Disneyland Paris on the list, but we decided to go with the beautifully strange version inspired by the Tim Burton remake in Shanghai Disney. This weird and wonderful labyrinth is exactly like something we'd expect the Red Queen to have in her backyard, including a giant statue of her head.
With many twists, turns, and Burton-inspired sculptures and designs, the maze is very visually impressive and immersive. You'll wander through the Tulgey Woods, the Red Queen's Gardens, and the Mad Hatter's tea party before your trip is through. Talk about going down the rabbit hole.
Shanghai Disneylands’ Tron Light Cycle Power Run
Though Walt Disney World in Orlando is getting its own version soon enough, we have to talk about Shanghai Disneyland's Tron Coaster. Tron, much to our dismay, is a very underappreciated film series, so you can imagine our jealousy when we see that the Shanghai park has one incredible coaster inspired by the iconic Light Cycles.
Considered one of the all-time best Disney rollercoasters and definitely the fastest reaching up to 60 miles per hour, the Tron coaster is one of the most incredible rides on our list. Let's just say we'll be more than happy to see it in Tomorrowland come 2021.
Tokyo Disney’s Journey to the Center of the Earth
According to the lore set forth by Tokyo Disney, Captain Nemo didn't stop at 20,000 leagues under the sea but had to go all the way to the earth's core to satisfy his scientific itch. This incredible adventure is more than your standard dark ride, but a stunningly beautiful trip to subterranean worlds.
With terravators, guests will descend beneath the earth and discover scenes straight from the Jules Verne novel, but beware, an angry lava-dwelling monster lies in wait, and she has no patience for mouse-eared explorers. With a few thrills mixed in with twists and turns, you're in for a wild ride beneath the mountain.
Disneyland Paris’s Phantom Manor
While the U.S. parks definitely have the original Haunted Mansions beloved by all hardcore Disney fans, but Phantom Manor takes everything awesome about the Haunted Mansion and cranks it up to twelve. With more focus on the gothic horror elements than the humor, we're given a very unique experience that puts the dark in dark ride.
With a heart-broken bride, a house full of restless spirits, and a fiendish phantom, this isn't exactly Walt's vision of a haunted house attraction, but rather it was created by a new generation of Imagineers that really let their imaginations soar. The results were certainly something spooky and spectacular.
Disneyland Paris’s Dragon’s Lair
Speaking of spectacular things, we can't leave this list without talking about the iconic dragon that lives in the castle dungeons at Disneyland Paris. Though not technically a ride, this walkthrough attraction takes guests deep into the dark corners of the castle and leads them into The Dragon's Lair.
Definitely one of the scariest experiences you can have at a Disney park, this gigantic animatronic dragon is one of the most life-like monsters Disney Imagineering has ever unleashed. The dragon snarls, roars, and breathes smoke on those who get a little too curious.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mystic Manor
Hong Kong's Haunted Mansion-inspired attraction is completely different from any of its peers, but it's still considered one of the most beloved modern Disney rides. Since ghosts have a different meaning in certain Asian cultures, Mystic Manor has no happy haunts in its ride, but a large collection of enchanted artifacts and one mischievous monkey.
With a trackless ride system, clever humor, incredible special effects, and a score composed by Danny Elfman, it's definitely the most impressive ride on our list. Though there's a lot to love about this Haunted Mansion alternative, there's no substitution from the original.