Disney parks are a show from the moment you enter the gates. Disney World considers all of its theme parks to be a stage, with each employee being a Cast Member and each detail meticulously placed. The immersion is never broken even when you walk from attraction to attraction. Even the queue areas for the rides are all part of the show. Because of this, Disney uniquely created the pre-show. Many attractions have a pre-show to experience while you wait for the actual attraction to begin. This pre-show is part of the overall experience of the attraction or show, and there are a few entertaining pre-shows that really stick out.
The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
This attraction features an extremely unique and thematic beginning. From the moment you enter the queue of The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror you are transported to the Hollywood Tower Hotel. You begin in the gardens outside and then you enter the lobby that has been eerily frozen in time. After you step through the queue and take in all of the details you enter the library where you watch the introduction to an episode of The Twilight Zone: your episode! You watch as the host explains the haunted hotel and the cursed elevator, and then you enter to see for yourself.
Haunted Mansion
This classic attraction is also home to a very classic pre-show. As guests make their way through the haunted graveyard outside of the home, they are welcomed into the building and enter the stretching room. There, your “ghost host” joins you and explains that you have found your way into a room with no windows and no doors. Before your eyes the room stretches, with paintings revealing themselves along the way. After your ghost host gives you a fright you enter the main queue for the attraction.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has an incredible pre-show that entertains and showcases excellent Imagineering. As guests walk through the queue they enter a theater where they watch a cartoon of Mickey, Minnie, and friends. The cartoon explains that you are about to board Goofy’s train to have a picnic in the park with Mickey and Minnie. Nothing can go wrong! Until it does…
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
This attraction has an immersive queue that really tells guests the story of what they are doing and where. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, takes guests on a commercial spaceflight. As guests walk through the queue area they watch advertisements for the flight they are about to board. They see droids working, and they are transported to another world. Once guests enter the line to actually ride the attraction, they see a pre-flight video that explains how the attraction will work, and they also get an explanation for why C-3Po is the their pilot.
What are your favorite pre-shows to experience at the Disney parks? We want to hear from you in the comments below!
Featured Photo: Emily Murray.
Written by
Megan Woodard
Contributing Writer
Megan was born into a Disney family. Her first trip to Disney World was when she was only 18 months old. Now as an adult, Megan loves to share the magic of Disney with her family. Keeping up with Disney news and Disney World knowledge is a fun hobby for Megan. Disney World is her favorite place to be and continuously brings back her childhood joy.
