DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Roller coasters might just be the most popular amusement park attraction in the entire world. Dating back to the days of the first parks in New York’s Coney Island, roller coasters have always been high-speed, high-thrill attractions that serve as preeminent draws to hard-working people just looking to let their hair down and have a good time.
Traditionally, though, roller coasters aren’t exactly known for their storylines. Though “runaway train cars” have often provided a loose theme for some coasters, in general, the story is simply the thing itself – a piece of technology designed to create a thrill.
In the early days of the 20th century, amusement parks were mostly located in urban areas and put technology to work creating fun experiences in contrast to the way that most city-dwellers encountered electrical innovations – at their jobs. Thus, the  storyline was one that was internal to the riders, a way of finding amusement and escape amidst a mechanical revolution that was so rapidly changing the world around them.
Credit: Disney
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At Disney Parks, however, this just isn’t enough of a story. No or attraction at a (with the possible exception of the carousel) is the thing itself; rather, it’s a mechanical stage on which to present a story. This is true of roller coasters as much as any other kind of attraction.
But because they’re so fast-paced, roller coasters have much more difficulty getting across their storylines than dark rides or other attractions do. This means many Guests may focus on the physical thrill and miss out on the rich stories behind their favorite Disney coasters.
To help you get even more out of your favorite on your next visit, here (in alphabetical order) are the storylines behind every at the Walt Disney World Resort!
[Note: This list just includes the current, official roller coasters, so other thrill rides like , Test Track, or the of Terror aren’t included, nor are roller coasters removed like .]
The Barnstormer ()
The smallest at , The Barnstormer, is a “junior ” meant for children too young or small to enjoy the bigger coasters. As such, its storyline is simple and direct – Guests have boarded a plane at an open-air barn where Goofy (performing as “The Great Goofini”) is putting on a stunt show.
With Goofy as the pilot, it’s no wonder our stunt show experience features so many swoops, dives, and near-misses!
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For what is in many ways the most family- and child-centered of the four Parks at , the is by far the “ capital” of the resort. The most traditional of these coasters, in many ways, is , the “wildest in the wilderness.”
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Perhaps the best “runaway train” of all time, tells the story of a mining train that has fallen victim to a curse, as noted by the website’s official description of the attraction:
Legend has it that soon after gold was first discovered here in the 1850s, eerie things began to happen. Trains would take off and race through tunnels-by themselves.
After you arrive at the legendary Mining Company, descend into an abandoned mine shaft and board your train. As you enter the cursed cavern, the engine speeds up along the rickety track. Dodge exploding dynamite and falling boulders as you swoop around turns, drop into canyons and dart through the mysterious ghost town of Tumbleweed.
Your rip-roaring adventure proves that some legends are true. You’re sure to have a real blast!
But isn’t the only runaway train you’ll find at …
– Legend of the ()
Proving that you can’t hold back a good idea, the basic concept of  – Legend of the is the same as that of : a runaway train careens through mountains due to a mystical curse.
The difference is that  curse is embodied in the form of the Yeti, a beast that Guests encounter several times during the . What’s more, the story fits within the general theme of conservation and environmentalism, as Guests are seen to be intruding upon the Yeti’s territory by bringing technology and waste into the natural environment, a transgression for which they pay the price:
Wander into a Tibetan village at the base of and board a train to the “top of the world.” Beware: Some say a legendary snow monster lives deep in the mountain.
After a steep ascent, your train picks up speed and races into the darkness. Without warning, a broken and twisted track appears in front of you. Brace yourself as you plummet backward into total darkness. Inside the cavern, the mythical tale comes true as you see the shadow of a massive, growling beast!
Race to escape the cursed mountain-before the Yeti claims another expedition.
Guardians of the Galaxy: (EPCOT)
The newest at , and the first/only so far at EPCOT, is the high-tech “story ” Guardians of the Galaxy: . As the “story ” appellation implies, has one of the most explicit storylines of all the coasters at .
Credit: Visit Orlando
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Because of this, we won’t give the backstory here, so we don’t spoil it for those who haven’t had a chance to ride it!
Rock ‘n’ Starring Aerosmith (Hollywood Studios)
Thanks to its pre-show film, Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘n’ Starring Aerosmith is the other to feature a very clear-cut storyline.
Guests have entered a recording studio at G-Force Records to watch Aerosmith lay down a new track (of the musical, not , kind), but unfortunately, it turns out the band is running late for a concert. Magnanimously, lead singer Steven Tyler offers everyone backstage passes and a to the show in a “super stretch” limo.
The itself is meant to be that limo , winding crazily in and out of various iconic Los Angeles locations, including the Hollywood sign and the famous Whisky a Go Go club. Guests then exit at the “backstage VIP” area – walking down a red carpet, of course!
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Despite featuring several show scenes complete with delightful animatronics, the storyline for  “family ,” the , is somewhat unclear.
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In many ways resembling or – in that the vehicle is a train traversing rickety, winding tracks – on guests are never meant to believe that something has gone wrong. Rather, the experience seems to generally mimic the daily life of the titular Dwarfs as they travel to the mine, put in a day’s work, and then head home to dance with Snow White.
(Hollywood Studios)
Like , Hollywood Studios’ also lacks an extensive backstory. ‘s Slinky Dog has simply decided to take Guests along on a through Andy’s Mega Play Kit . . . and along the way, they may just be able to sneak a peek at Andy’s toys just slightly beyond !
Photo Credit: Disney
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Perhaps ‘s most famous , ‘s , has its simplest story – Guests are taken on a trip through outer space. That’s it. All the swooping and diving and soaring is simply a recreation of the experience of flying through space, encountering asteroids, moons, planets and other galactic bodies along the way. Experiential immersion is the name of the game here, rather than storytelling (so much so that we bet you can’t even explain what a “” actually is!).
Though, of course, this doesn’t make it any less fun, or the lines any shorter!
/ Run ()
Ending the list with a preview (because it’s, fortunately, last in alphabetical order!) we come to Tomorrowland’s upcoming new , / Run.
Based on Disney’s cult classic 1982 film TRON (which featured new breakthroughs in CGI technology) and the 2010 prequel TRON: Legacy, this will take Guests for a on one of the film’s most iconic vehicles – the high-speed lightcycles. According to  website, on this Guests can expect to:
Lean forward into the ultimate race of survival! Leave the real world behind and join Team Blue in an epic quest across the Grid-the dark, computerized world with no horizons from TRON. Here, there’s no limit to the excitement.
Climb aboard your very own Lightcycle and take off on a high-speed adventure, racing against the Grid’s most menacing Programs. Surge past your fierce opponents as you attempt to cross through 8 Energy Gates and secure your team’s victory-so you can survive to race another day.
Credit: Disney
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Whether or not this storyline will be made explicit to Guests either through a preshow or on the itself remains to be seen, but if the rest of the serve as an indicator, we’re likely to have a thrilling time regardless!
