A visit to virtual Disneyland
Theme parks are closed for the foreseeable future, but online theme park culture lives on. If a Disneyland attraction exists (in the time of YouTube, at least), then chances are a high-definition video ride-through, walk-through, or POV of said attraction exists, ready to be experienced from home.
Disney parks have a fairly lax policy when it comes to bringing cameras on rides to film the experience. While technically, officially not allowed, as long as filming doesn’t pose a safety hazard (which they would on Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘N Roller coaster, which goes upside down) or use flash on dark rides like Haunted Mansion, cast members permit recording devices on most rides at Disney parks. While selfie sticks specifically are prohibited at the parks, GoPros, iPhones, and DSLR cameras are all allowed. (Which explains how one mad genius covertly directed an entire black-and-white thriller inside the parks.)
Ride-through and walk-through videos are a big part of theme park culture, showcasing many attractions and interactive areas of the park. Since almost every attraction has at least one video associated with it, one can theoretically hit all the iconic landmarks of Disneyland without every leaving the comfort of home. So behold, a virtual exploration through Disneyland, Anaheim, broken down by each individual land in the park.
Adventureland
Photo: James Bareham/Polygon
Indiana Jones Adventure
The Indiana Jones-themed attraction opened in 1995. A dark, fast-paced ride, Indiana Jones adventure is more thrilling than the typical Disney ride experience, sharing a specific ride track technology used at only one other Disney park attraction: Animal Kingdom’s terrifying Dinosaur.
Jungle Cruise
The live-action movie of this classic Disney attraction may be postponed, but you can get your fix — with all the cheesy animal jokes! — with this ride-through video. Jungle Cruise is one of the attractions that opened with the park and evolved over the past 50 years. One noticeable change? The original Jungle Cruise skippers had real pistols and fired blanks at the animatronic hippos.
Tarzan’s Treehouse
The replica of the treehouse that Tarzan’s parents built at the beginning of the 1999 movie isn’t a ride so much as it is an experience. Luckily, walk-through videos are just as popular as ride throughs.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
The iconic Disney park show features a bunch of talking and singing birds. And it’s available on YouTube so you too can relieve the heavily accented birds crooning about their tropical paradise.
Hulu/Disney Plus bundle
- $13
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Disney is offering a bundle combining its three streaming services — Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus — for $12.99/month.