Disney Park Comparison

Sunday, July 7, 2024

Comparing every Frontierland

1. DISNEYLAND

FRONTIERLAND - OPENED: JULY 17, 1955

Frontierland is one of the five original lands of Disneyland. It is a romanticized version to the Old West or the American Expansion from the 1770’s to the 1880’s.

From the hub, you enter Frontierland through a Fort-styled gate to find yourself in the heart of the Old West Town with all the Hollywood Western ingredients: the typical wooden façades of the shops and restaurants, including a saloon. Imagineers used the same forced perspective technique as for Main Street. On the right sits Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, adding a touch of Spanish colonial architecture to Frontierland.

On opening day, Frontierland was bigger than today, with more open spaces and a range of small-scale transportation attractions like a Conestoga wagon, a stagecoach, and pack mules. The weenie in Frontierland was Mark Twain Riverboat sailing the Rivers of America, the only opening day attraction of this land still operating. It is a replica of an actual stern-wheeler built on a smaller scale and named after Mark Twain since his writings are the inspiration for modern day river boat cruises. Since 1958 a second vessel sails the rivers of America: Sailing Ship Columbia, a full-scale replica of the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. This attraction is found only at Disneyland. The rivers reflect: the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Missouri, and the Rio Grande.

The adventurous Tom Sawyer’s Island is found in the middle of the rivers. It got a Pirate re-theming in 2007. Although thematically inconsistent with the Old West, given the huge popularity of the Pirate franchise and since there is no space available in the more Pirate-like zones of the park, it is an understandable choice since it is hidden from the rest of the land.

On the right side, the landscape is dominated by one of Disney’s most iconic rides: Big Thunder Mountain (BTM) Railroad. It opened in 1979 as Frontierland’s first blockbuster ride. The idea came from a never-built Magic Kingdom complex, including many attractions (see further). This huge pavilion was scrapped but Imagineer Tony Baxter proposed to use the mine train part of it as a single ride. And so BTM was born, opening one year prior to Magic Kingdom’s version. The rock work is based on the tent rocks from Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. This is one of Disney’s first rides to use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software.

The dinner show restaurant The Golden Horseshoe Saloon’s interior is designed by Imagineer Harper Goff, who also worked on Main Street and the Western movie Calamity Jane. The white painted interior is themed after typical New York theatres. John De Cuir painted the scenic backdrop in the style of Toulouse-Lautrec including circus artists and can-can girls.

During the early years of Disneyland, an Indian Village was located on the west side of the Rivers of America. The still operating attraction Indian War Canoes was part of this section. And although the canoes were renamed Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes after the ‘King of the Wild Frontier’ Davy Crockett, they became a part of a different land: Critter Country (see separate comparison). The boisterous Davy Crockett was the star of Frontierland during the early decades due to the hugely popular Disney mini-series. Thus, this attraction feels more at home in Frontierland rather than in Critter Country.

The borders of Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Critter Country are unclear, luckily these lands blend well around the Rivers of America.

2. MAGIC KINGDOM

FRONTIERLAND - OPENED: OCTOBER 1, 1971

The overall look and theme of Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland is very similar to Disneyland’s. It opened together with the grand opening of Magic Kingdom. Frontierland shares the Rivers of America with a second land: Liberty Square (see separate comparison).

On opening day Frontierland had only 3 attractions: Frontierland Station, Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes and one new attraction: the Country Bear Jamboree. This attraction, designed by Disney legend Marc Davis, came from an earlier idea for a never built recreation park in Mineral King. Its show building, named Grizzly Hall is designed as a Northwoods union hall. Further to the west sits the restaurant Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café. The main façade is styled as a typical Old West Saloon. The back of the large restaurant features different Pueblo-styled façades, as seen in the Southwestern States. Thereby it forms a smooth transition towards the somewhat similar Caribbean Plaza in Adventureland.

The part to the west of Rivers of America was preserved for a massive expansion called Thunder Mesa, including a runaway mine train, a canoe ride and a large-scale flume ride known as Western River Expedition. This would be the Old West counterpart to the Pirates of the Caribbean flume ride that Magic Kingdom did not have. Since the Pirates ride was so popular in Disneyland, guests were surprised to find out Magic Kingdom did not feature it, so it was built anyway. Another flume ride seemed redundant and so the Western River Expedition, along with the whole project, was scrapped.

In 1980, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was built on this vacant land. The theme is slightly different than the previous version. The overall structure is bigger, and the rock work is based on the brighter colored mountains of Monument Valley in Arizona.

Splash Mountain, a second large-scale attraction opened in 1992 next to BTM. This attraction was also built first in Disneyland, but in a different land. In Magic Kingdom the setting and the theming of the now closed ride was a bit odd and didn’t blend smoothly with the overall Old West theming. Now, this ride is getting a makeover and will be themed to The Princess and the Frog. It will likely remain inconsistent thematically, but it is too early to judge this just yet.

Tom Sawyer Island, similar to the original version of Disneyland, opened here in 1973. Liberty Belle Riverboat, resembling the Mark Twain Riverboat circumnavigates the island, but is considered a part of Liberty Square.

Although the overall experience is quite appealing, the presence of the Country Bear Jamboree, Pecos Bill, and Splash Mountain, make this version of Frontierland a bit less realistic, but quite appealing towards children.

3. TOKYO DISNEYLAND

WESTERNLAND - OPENED: APRIL 15, 1983

In Japanese history nothing resembles the American frontier, making the term ‘frontier’ unknown. Therefore, the land is called Westernland here, easily understandable as Hollywood’s version of the Wild West.

This land resembles Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland most with copies of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Country Bear Theater, and the Diamond Horseshoe Revue. Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes was an opening day attraction in this land but like in Disneyland it became part of Critter Country once Splash Mountain opened.

The building for the riverboat landing is a copy of Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square version. Tokyo Disneyland features even more Liberty Square influences like the Haunted Mansion, located in Fantasyland here, but envisioned as a part of Westernland in the earlier presentations. The mansion is actually situated at almost the same spot as in Magic Kingdom. With this, Tokyo has a little Liberty Square area between Westernland and Fantasyland, just like the little New Orleans Square area between World Bazaar and Adventureland.

Although it is a decent land, it lacks originality, featuring only copies of the American counterparts. Here, the open spaces are quite noticeable and create odd transitions between the lands. The Diamond Horseshoe is very close to the hub and is also just in front of Snow White’s Grotto. The restaurant Captain Hook’s Galley at the back of Fantasyland is visually a part of Westernland.

4. DISNEYLAND PARIS

FRONTIERLAND - OPENED: APRIL 12, 1992

The Far West, with its Cowboys, Indians, and the thrilling gold rush, is a universe that Europeans dream of and know through hugely popular Western films and television series. Davy Crockett and Zorro were still very popular in Europe in the 1990’s. This version of Frontierland needed to be vivid, right into the action, more Wild West than Old West. This is the first version to have an elaborate backstory, creating a link between every aspect of the land. Although the name Westernland appeared in earlier plans, the name Frontierland was chosen eventually.

Jeff Burke, artistic director for the land explains that Big Thunder Mountain was to be the centerpiece of this land, placed on the island in the in the middle of the Rivers of the Far West, as they are called here. Tom Sawyer is a lesser-known figure, and so his island was scrapped. The rivers here reflect different rivers namely the Rio Grande, the Colorado, and the Sacramento. Mark Twain is just one of the two riverboats. The second is named Molly Brown, named after the Titanic survivor. This is the only sidewheeler present in a Disney park.

Early on, the plans to include New Orleans Square in Europe were scrapped, and so the Haunted Mansion got a home in Frontierland. It was renamed Phantom Manor because this would be better understood in multiple European languages. Another key change was its exterior. Walt Disney insisted on a ‘clean’ version on the outside for Disneyland, but this version on the other hand was made dirty and spooky, simply to be recognizable beyond the language barrier. The façade is a ruined version of a Second Empire Mansion, partly inspired by the Fourth Ward School in Virginia, but also resembling an original 1950s Harper Goff drawing for an unrealized residential expansion to Main Street. The ride itself is adapted to fit the Wild West theme and even includes some scenes inspired by the unbuilt Magic Kingdom’s Western River Expedition.

The town is named Thunder Mesa, another homage to the previously mentioned flume ride. It is bigger and more detailed than the American counterparts. From the hub, you enter the town through a fort like in Disneyland. Here the fort is elaborated into a walkthrough attraction, named Fort Comstock. The Lucky Nugget Saloon is a copy of Disneyland’s saloon, but rather than the white paint, it has a warmer, more natural patina.

On the hub, to the right in front of the fort, the story already begins with a Native American encampment showcasing many artefacts and portraying them as peaceful traders.

To the right sits a unique Spanish/ Mexican section including Casa de Coco - Restaurante de la Familia, a restaurant built as a traditional four-sided hacienda and themed after the film Coco.

The whole northwest section of Frontierland is dedicated to the country life of the farmers and their families living peacefully out of town. They meet in the impressive Cottonwood Creek Ranch. The windmill next to it is an authentic artefact, used some 150 years ago. It was gathered, along with every single prop on display in Frontierland by legendary Disney Imagineer Pat Burke. He collected all the props for the previous versions too, but never before so many as for Europe, contributing to the realism of the whole.

In 1995 Frontierland received its only additional experience to date, namely the Chaparral Theater. Right behind the theater land is preserved for a Wild West version of Splash Mountain. Due to budget reasons and because of the cold winter season, this never happened. Frontierland, like the rest of Disneyland Paris, could use some new attractions.

That said, this is the most immersive version of Frontierland. And since Europeans apparently love the Wild West so much, it does not end here. In Disney Village the dinner-show spectacle Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show ran for 28 years, and 3 of the resort’s hotels further expand the theme. Hotel Cheyenne is themed as an Old West Town, Hotel Santa Fe features pueblo styled Southwestern architecture, and the campground is named Davy Crockett Ranch, after the ‘King of the Wild Frontier’.

5. HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

GRIZZLY GULCH - OPENED: JULY 12, 2012

Hong Kong’s version of Frontierland is called Grizzly Gulch. Contrary to the others, this land dit not open with the resort in 2005. It opened seven years later, on the outside border west of Adventureland. Although Frontierland was once announced as one of the opening day lands, this did not happen.

Grizzly Gulch is a booming Californian town founded on August 8, 1888, the luckiest day of the luckiest month of the luckiest year. (The number 8 is considered lucky according to Feng Shui.) Set during the gold rush, keeping some typical Frontierland styled buildings like the Lucky Nugget Saloon, but with an ursine twist to the whole.

The land is shaped around its one key attraction: Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, a multidirectional coaster, using the same rides system Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The mountain is inspired by the Vasquez Rocks in California and this ride is Hong Kong’s counterpart to Big Thunder Mountain. With an updated system, the overall experience is more exhilarating.

Adjacent Big Grizzly Mountain is Geyser Gulch, a small play area where guests can get wet. The rest of the town resembles a mini version of Frontierland with a Lucky Nugget Saloon as a quick service restaurant. This version is a cleaner version, using brighter colors than the previous Frontierlands. Less realistic, but probably more appealing this way to the local visitors.

6. SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND

Shanghai Disneyland does not have a Frontierland but features the unique Treasure Cove instead (see separate comparison).

(click image to enlarge)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Hong Kong has the most unique, but also the smallest version, and has thereby little to offer apart from it’s one signature attraction.

Tokyo, Anaheim and Florida feature Frontierlands that are quite similar, all featuring a nice range of well themed attractions and restaurants. Anaheim and Florida both have a unique Spanish influenced restaurant, but only Anaheim has the Sailing Ship Columbia as a plus.

Paris has the largest as well as the most immersive version of Frontierland. It has the best version of Big Thunder Mountain, and it is the only one to include Phantom Manor and the large country life section.

BEST FRONTIERLAND: Disneyland Paris

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Comparing every Adventureland

1. DISNEYLAND

ADVENTURELAND - OPENED: JULY 17, 1955

The idea to create Adventureland in Disneyland likely came from Disney’s film series True Life Adventures. Its placement, on the left-hand side next to Main Street U.S.A., was probably chosen so the eucalyptus trees that were there could be used in this land were nature is a vital component. Adventureland is themed as a romantic fantasy vision of the world’s tropical regions. Since California has a sub-tropical climate, it was quite easy to find the necessary plants in the neighborhood. Bill Evans was responsible for the landscaping.

When it opened, this land consisted of one attraction only, a huge and significant one, called Jungle Cruise. Inspired by the 1951 movie The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. The artwork, including the Victorian boathouse, the vessels, and the jungle foliage, were by the hand of Harper Goff. Jungle Cruise is a true cinematic experience on which every guest is the leading star, making this attraction the one that ultimately defines Disneyland as a whole.

Originally this realm would be named True-Life Adventureland, and Walt Disney wanted real animals on display for his boat ride. This idea was scrapped due to the unpredictable behaviors of wild animals. Instead came mechanical ones, which could be controlled to assure a quality ride for every guest, not just the lucky one. The setting of the boat ride changes at every turn and takes its guests along the world’s most famous waterways. Beginning with the Mekong River, meandering through the Southeast Asia zone, with a temple inspired by Cambodian temples like the Bayon and Ta Prohm temples. Next are the Nile, the Congo and Zambezi Rivers reflecting Africa, and finally the Amazon River for South America.

The first additional attraction was Swiss Family Treehouse in 1962, a replica of the treehouse seen in Disney’s 1960 film Swiss Family Robinson, fitting well in the land’s setting. The early 1960’s Tiki craze was probably the reason why also in 1962 the restaurant Tahitian Terrace opened at the entrance of the land in French Polynesian style. Not long after in 1963, this area was expanded with the opening of a groundbreaking attraction: Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, the first to use audio-animatronics. This attraction sits in the same building as the Tahitian Terrace and Plaza Pavilion restaurant right behind it on Main Street. Therefore, it was originally intended as a dinner show experience, sharing its kitchen with the adjacent restaurants, but these plans were scrapped eventually.

It wasn’t until 1993 that the land saw another addition, this time bringing medieval Arabian architecture to the land with the replacement of the Tahitian Terrace by Aladdin’s Oasis. Based on Disney’s popular film. In 2018 Aladdin’s Oasis was replaced again by The Tropical Hideaway, with more or less the same setting as the earlier Tahitian Terrace.

The biggest change to Adventureland occurred in 1995 with the opening of Indiana Jones Adventure. Set in the nonexistent Lost River Delta in India, it blends well with the rest of the land. This groundbreaking ride is one of the first attempts to create an immersive experience: you are not just riding an attraction; you undergo it as if you are the archeologist yourself. More vital than ever before the architecture and design of the building enhance the storytelling. Actually, the large show building is hidden from the public for it was constructed outside the park perimeter. The entrance pagoda only (and its queue area inside) was built inside the land. It is designed as a temple in Dravidian architecture like the Vaikunta Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram and the Shore Temple in Mamallapuram, both in India.

To make the experience even stronger, the entire land got a 1930’s theme, with the mysterious Temple of the Forbidden Eye hidden somewhere in the jungles of the land. With every step through the meticulous queue line, you get more and more immersed by the story and discover its hidden secrets. You are not just waiting in line for a ride, here the queuing is part of the experience. A clever trick to make the waiting more interesting. And this is only the pre-show to warm you up for the dramatic climax where you take place in a vehicle that uses a new and unique computer-controlled ride system capable of making each ride unique. This attraction is still considered one of the best theme park rides ever.

The latest addition occurred in 1999 with the replacement of the Swiss Family Treehouse by Tarzan’s Treehouse, based on the film from the same year. This attraction closed again in 2021 to receive another makeover. It will reopen soon as Adventureland Treehouse and will be based on the original Swiss Family Treehouse.

Adventureland is the smallest of original lands at Disneyland. It features not many, but significant attractions, making the land a popular and not to be overlooked part of Disneyland.

2.MAGIC KINGDOM

ADVENTURELAND - OPENED: OCTOBER 1, 1971

When Adventureland opened in Magic Kingdom, it was bigger than Disneyland’s version. The theme was similar, representing the tropic regions and cultures of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Polynesia and it also uses some Hollywood imagination and fantasy to hold it all together. Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse, and the Tropical Serenade, the Floridian version of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, were the 3 opening day attractions.

Pirates of the was Caribbean, a hugely popular ride in New Orleans Square in Disneyland (see separate comparison) was never envisioned for Florida. Only because of the deception of many guests it was built anyway. It opened in 1973, in an additional part of Adventureland called Caribbean Plaza, in the northwest quadrant of the land. The entrance of the attraction is known as El Castillo del Morro, also an actual fortress in Puerto Rico. The architecture is Spanish Colonial as found on the Caribbean Islands. The Caribbean Plaza area functions as a fluent transition between Adventureland and the adjacent Spanish influenced corner of Frontierland.

The part of Adventureland closest to the hub is dominated to the north by a façade of buildings in French colonial style of the Victorian era as found in Port-au-Prince. To the south, accessible from the hub, sits The Chrystal Palace (= a part of Main Street), providing a smooth transition towards the rest of the Victorian Main Street. The tropical jungle area sits right in front of the colonial buildings and is the home of Swiss Family Treehouse and Jungle Cruise. The latter is like Disneyland’s boat ride, although the order of the settings is altered here and most of the tableau’s are a bit grander. The boathouse, here in British colonial style is different too.

In between the Caribbean Plaza and the colonial area sits the imposing Sunshine Pavilion, home of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room (originally known as Tropical Serenade until 1998) and acts as weenie to attract guests coming from the hub. This attraction and its surroundings are designed in Polynesian architecture, including an imposing Balinese pagoda at the attraction’s entrance.

Adventureland was more or less unaltered until 2011, when The Magic Carpets of Aladdin opened right in the heart of Adventureland. This spinning ride, and the adjacent Agrabah Bazaar are based on the movie Aladdin. The style of the ride and shop are quite cartoonish, thereby in vast contrast with the stylish Sunshine Pavilion on one side and the grandeur of the colonial architecture on the other side. The attraction in itself is simple and fun, but it feels somewhat out of place in an otherwise rich and contemplated environment.

3.TOKYO DISNEYLAND

ADVENTURELAND - OPENED: APRIL 15, 1983

Like most attractions of Tokyo Disneyland, every ride here was copied from a previous version from Disneyland or Magic Kingdom. It opened with 5 attractions: Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Enchanted Tiki Room and the Western River Railroad.

The theming of the land is somewhat different though and it is divided in 3 sub-areas. When entering the land from World Bazaar you arrive at the New Orleans Square section. This area is not considered a separate land as it is in Disneyland, but a part of Adventureland. Probably the French Quarter style of New Orleans is interpreted as adventurous in Japan and it is quite small here. It features an almost exact copy of the Pirates ride of Disneyland, including its restaurant. There is also a theater in this section called Theatre Orleans, in typical French quarter style.

Moving on, we arrive at the second area called Coral Landing, added to Adventureland in the early 1990’s to increase dining capacity. It was built after the water park Typhoon Lagoon opened in Walt Disney World and is definitely reminiscent of it. This area is the only addition this land ever received. Note that all the opening day attractions are still operating.

Finally, we arrive at the largest section, featuring a combination of the Victorian, African, and Tiki styles. Here we find the Enchanted Tiki Room in a building like Florida’s Sunshine Pavilion, The Swiss Family Treehouse, and the Jungle Cruise. A copy of Florida’s version, only travelling clockwise, where the previous rides travel counterclockwise. The boathouse is also different and bigger, for it also serves as train station for the Western River Railroad. The ride is similar to the Disneyland Railroad but has only one stop (due to Japanese regulations) and circles Westernland and the Jungle Cruise only. It also features the Primeval World Diorama (like in Disneyland).

All in all, Tokyo’s Adventureland comes across as a mishmash. Actually every Adventureland features a mix of styles, but in Tokyo it combines Victorian, African, Polynesian, Colonial, Caribbean, New Orleans, and a bit of Typhoon Lagoon, and that is a lot to handle. (Not to mention the cowboys and dinosaurs you see during the railroad trip). On the other hand, every component is ‘adventurous’ and somehow it works as a whole. Furthermore, it has the best rides from Disneyland and the best ones from Magic Kingdom combined.

4. DISNEYLAND PARIS

ADVENTURELAND - OPENED: APRIL 12, 1992

Paris probably has the most unique adaptation of the classic Adventureland. Upon opening it featured 3 attractions: La Cabane des Robinson, Adventure Isle and Pirates of the Caribbean, excluding classics like Jungle Cruise and the Enchanted Tiki Room. The land is separated in 4 sub-areas also representing the exotic worlds but through the eyes of Europeans. That makes quite a difference. Chris Tietz was the artistic director for Adventureland, and because of the European fascination for the Middle East as an exotic world, he was inspired by the tales of the 1001 Arabian Nights. He also used the artwork for the unbuilt Africa Pavilion in Epcot by artist Ken Anderson as inspiration.

From the hub, you enter the land trough the Adventureland Bazar, a fantasy building in the style of the 1001 Arabian Nights stories. The complex is best described as a mix between the colorful Souks of Marrakech and the overwhelming Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis of Uzbekistan, with a fantasy twist to it. Many subtle references to famous characters from the 1001 Nights stories are found, like Scheherazade, Sinbad, the Serpent Queen, and the Bird Roc’s egg. References to Aladdin were present too upon opening day, but not in the style of the movie, for it was still in production during the construction of Euro Disney. One year later, in 1993 a walkthrough attraction based on the movie was added eventually. At the entrance gate, the logo of Disney’s True Life Adventures film series can be seen as homage to the origin of the land.

The next area is the African village, featuring earthen walls, colorful patterns, and thatched roofs for the huts and buildings, inspired by sub-Saharan architecture. The nearby exterior of the shop La Giraffe Curieuse is designed like the minaret of Gobarau in Katsina, Nigeria in Hausa style.

A fantasy Caribbean Island is the third and biggest area, home of the 3 opening day attractions. In the heart of it sits Adventure Isle, a substitute for Frontierland’s Tom Sawyer’s Island, present in all previous parks (see separate comparison). It is themed to 3 European stories: Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, and Peter Pan, rather than the lesser-known American Tom Sawyer. Each story is represented in a different way: La Cabane des Robinson is a walk-through attraction, Treasure Island is present as a treasure hunt, and finally Peter Pan is represented by the eye-catching Scull Rock and Captain Hook’s Galleon. This is also a homage to the Galleon and Scull Rock that were once a part of Disneyland’s Fantasyland, but were demolished in favor of the 1983 makeover. Next to the island sits a Spanish fortress, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The cinematographic façade looks scattered by the attacks of the pirates, who’s attraction is found inside this building.

Finally, to the rear of Adventureland sits the jungle section. This area was probably the most challenging to create for the climate was unsuited to grow tropical plants. The solution came from Bill Evans, responsible for the plantations in every previous Adventureland, who suggested to plant a forest of bamboo all around the land to create a micro-climate. It worked and the palm trees and other tropical plants survived the cold French winters. Upon opening, this area was mostly unused except for the British colonial styled Explorer’s Club Restaurant, today know as Colonel Hathi’s Pizza Outpost. As reference, photos from the book Caribbean Style by Suzanne Slesin were used. The building is grand and colorful, to attract guests to this part of the land. Among the many ideas for future expansion for this section, the most exciting was a copy of Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure. Due to budget cuts this didn’t happen. Instead, the roller coaster Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril was built in 1993, with the Mamallapuram Shore Temple in India from the Pallava dynasty as setting for it. Here the roller coaster track is wrapped around the huge building, were in Disneyland a smaller temple serves as entrance only.

Like every previous Adventureland, the European version is also a mixture of styles but different from the others. Here the design includes: Middle Eastern, Sub-Saharan, Colonial, Indian, and Caribbean elements. With the ship, Skull Rock, and the Bazar, this version is the most fantasy like. As beautiful and detailed as the land is, it has not seen any addition after 1993. A large parcel of land is still preserved for expansion though.

5. HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

ADVENTURELAND - OPENED: SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

The fifth and last version of the classic Adventureland is found in Hong Kong Disneyland. Although this park is the smallest of all castle parks, this land is the biggest Adventureland around. It has a similar look-and-feel as the previous installments, but with a unique flavor to it. The land has 6 attractions and can be divided in 3 sub-areas.

The main attraction is Jungle River Cruise, immediately visible when you enter the land. Hong Kong’s version of this classic ride is definitely the most unique. It is more visible from inside the land than is the case with the other versions which are more hidden in the jungle. Also, an exciting finale is added, where guests witness a fight between the Gods of Fire and Water. Finally, the boats circumnavigate an island. The vessels share the waters with the rafts that take you to the island where you find Tarzan’s Treehouse. It its very similar to the Rafts to Tom Sawyer’s Island found in most of the previous parks. The boathouse is in typical colonial style.

The Polynesian area to the left features a unique show based on Disney’s Moana, and it has a beautifully themed restaurant called Tahitian Terrace. Although reminiscent of Polynesian areas in previous Adventurelands, Hong Kong does not have its signature attraction: The Enchanted Tiki Room. The same theme is also found in a small attraction called Liki Tikis, which sits further away from this area, next to the boathouse.

A unique area called Karibuni Marketplace is the third area. It represents an African market with its typical mud huts with wooden poles holding thatched roofs. They are decorated with African patters. In this section we find the grand circular Theater in the Wild, which has a similar architectural style and is home of the Festival of The Lion King show.

Although it is the biggest Adventureland, it does not have many big attractions. The one most notably missing is Pirates of the Caribbean. Maybe because a pirate-themed land was one envisioned for Hong Kong, but never built. Nevertheless, a beautiful version of Adventureland.

6. SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND

ADVENTURE ISLE - OPENED: JUNE 16, 2016

Instead of Adventureland the innovative Shanghai Disneyland features a different adventurous realm called Adventure Isle. In all previous parks Adventureland and Frontierland are situated to the left of the hub and Tomorrowland to the right. In Shanghai, this placement is inverted, Adventure Isle and the adjacent Treasure Cove are found to the right of the hub, and Tomorrowland to the left.

Like in Adventureland, here nature is a vital component too, furthermore the overall architecture and design feature similarities. On the other hand, this land does not have any of the classic Adventureland attractions, and here the rides are masterfully wrapped around a single storyline. The island is inhabited by the Arbori tribe, and the three main attractions all have a guardian animal according to their mythology. The island is discovered by accident in the 1930’s by the League of Adventurers who study the island and the tribe ever since.

The marquee attraction is Roaring Rapids, a river rapids ride like Grizzly River Run in California Adventure Park. It features the massive Audio-Animatronic of Q’aráq, a crocodile-like beast, the guardian of water. Right next to it sits Camp Discovery in the realm of Q'ai: the fanged cat guardian of the earth. This is a new and unique fixed-rope course attraction divided in 3 areas: Hidden Falls Chamber, House of the Ancients, and Echo Cavern. Guests conquer cliffs, gorges, waterfalls, and caverns with the impressive Apu Taku Mountain as backdrop, one of the most visually stunning creations in the park. This area also has Tribal Table, the Arbori restaurant. Its theme is a mixture of African and South American architecture.

On the other side of the mountain, hidden from the view are two more attractions. The first is Soaring Over the Horizon, an e-ticket attraction copied from other parks like California Adventure. It is presented inside an ancient celestial observatory and temple dedicated to Q'otár, a thunderbird spirit and the guardian of the skies. Even with the explanations during the pre-show by one of the Arbori Shamans, it is a bit of a long shot to fit this hi-tech motion simulator ride within the Arbori world. The ride is great though and that helps you forget the minor imperfections. The adjacent theatre is called Storyhouse Stage, a show venue designed as a storehouse for the League of Adventurers. In theory this fits the theme, but unfortunately in design it is just a massive concrete building, making it the only flaw in an otherwise innovative and exquisite land. Upon opening, a Tarzan based spectacle was performed here, an entertaining show but with no connection to the rest of the land.

Overall, this intricate land is Disney Imagineering at his best, there is a story holding everything together and it is accurately themed to create the immersive feeling of being in another world in another time. The same goes for Treasure Cove (see separate comparison), making these two lands a very interesting alternative to the classic Adventureland-Frontierland combination found in the other parks.

(click image to enlarge)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Hong Kong’s Adventureland is the biggest of all, and has the best Jungle Cruise. The land as a whole is beautiful but lacks some major attractions.

Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo are the most comparable, although with some distinctive differences: Florida features the overwhelming Sunshine Pavilion but has a less interesting Pirates ride. Disneyland has the smallest Adventureland but is the only one featuring the stunning Indiana Jones Adventure and it has an overall coherent theming. Tokyo’s land features the best rides of both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, but the whole comes across as a bizarre mix.

The most unique Adventureland is found in Paris, a whimsical fata morgana with a mix of Oriental, African, Indian, and Caribbean architecture. It misses attractions though. Shanghai’s Adventure Isle is unique too. Its meticulous design is impressive, and it features a unique range of attractions.

BEST ADVENTURELAND: Disneyland (but Shanghai and Paris are worthy of an honorable mention for their unique and beautiful design)