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Have you ever glanced through different Disney theme park websites and brochures (or been lucky enough to visit Disney Parks in places like California, Hong Kong, Tokyo or Paris) and noticed a few odd things?
For example, when Disneyland’s sister park opened in 2001, it was named, “Disney’s California Adventure,” but since 2010, it has been known as “Disney California Adventure.”
Do you see what they did there? Where did that ” ‘s “ go?
While it’s not always made clear why Disney executives make the decisions that they make, one thing seems pretty darn clear: Someone must have spiked their Dole Whip floats.
Here are some not quite similar names for various Disney attractions, gathered straight from the official Disney Parks websites. Be prepared for a few tongue twisters, head shakers and low-level migraines. After you read these, you may find yourself spiking your own Dole Whip float:
~ Disneyland’s whirly-hurly spinning rockets ride in Tomorrowland is known as the Astro Orbitor, while Magic Kingdom’s version is the Astro Orbiter. Tokyo Disneyland has a version called StarJets, and Hong Kong Disneyland has a version called Orbitron.
~ Want to help defeat Zurg? Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland offer Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, while Magic Kingdom offers Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Disneyland Paris’s version is called “Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast.” All attractions have similar blasters and spinning action.
~ Birds of a feather: Disneyland’s version goes by the simple Enchanted Tiki Room, while Magic Kingdom’s tacks on “Walt Disney’s” in front to create Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
~ Whose carrousel is it? Disneyland has King Arthur’s Carrousel, while Magic Kingdom features Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. Castle Carrousel is the name at Tokyo Disneyland, while Cinderella Carrousel can be found at Hong Kong Disneyland.
~ “What’s the word again?” Disney California Adventure features The Journey of the Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. Magic Kingdom offers a similar experience as Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid.
~ Soarin’ at Epcot and Soarin’ Over California at Disney California Adventure differ in name. The actual attraction/film is the exact same; the theming differs in that Epcot’s version is located within the Land pavilion, while California’s is themed to an aircraft hangar.
~ This here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness! Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland offer Big Thunder Mountain. No “Railroad” at the end of the title, unlike its Florida and California cousins.
~ For the most confusing cup of tea, Mad Tea Party in American Disney parks is known as Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups at Disneyland Paris, Mad Hatter Tea Cups at Hong Kong Disneyland (not possessive), and Alice’s Tea Party at Tokyo Disneyland.
~ Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is known simply as “Moteurs…Action! Stunt Show Spectacular” in Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris (also where the attraction originates).
~ It’s a whole new world …and a whole new name. Magic Carpets of Aladdin over at Magic Kingdom is also known as Flying Carpets over Agrabah at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris.
~ The Walt Disney Studios Park features a behind-the-scenes look called Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic, similar to the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Both feature the special effects gauntlet, Catastrophe Canyon.
~ The Bear Band bears will play now, in the good ole’ key of G! Tokyo Disneyland’s Country Bear Theater is the attraction to watch Zeke, Zed, Ted, Fred and a bear named Tennessee perform continuous shows all day, while Magic Kingdom’s performance goes by Country Bear Jamboree.
~ Snow White’s Scary Adventures can still be found over at Disneyland, while Tokyo’s version leaves out the adjective and is just called “Snow White’s Adventures.” Disneyland Paris’s version is Blanche Neige et les Sept Nains, which translates to simply “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
~ Hollywood, 1939, amidst the glitz and the glitter… The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has the same name and concept at both Disney California Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, although these two attractions differ slightly in layout and look. But, Twilight Zone is not licensed over in Tokyo. It is simply titled “Tower of Terror.” The storyline here is different as well and centers on a hotel billionaire with an evil artifact.
~ Toy Story Midway Mania! at Disneyland, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Tokyo DisneySea is the most inconsistent attraction. Tokyo’s version leaves out the word “Midway” on the marquee, calling it Toy Story Mania, while the American versions leave it in on the attraction’s sign and park map, but inconsistently shorten it for various news media.
~ Famously known around here as Jungle Cruise, the Jungle River Cruise makes the rounds at Hong Kong Disneyland.
~ Boo to you! The Haunted Mansion is known to scare and delight Guests at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. It goes by a different name and slightly different concept, Phantom Manor, in Disneyland Paris. A similar “mansion” attraction was recently created for Hong Kong Disneyland called Mystic Manor, although the concept is very different (but still worth mentioning)!
~ Lastly, while not all technically the same, the Castles should all still be mentioned. Disneyland in California, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland all showcase Sleeping Beauty Castle, while Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland showcase Cinderella Castle.
Attraction name changes may be due to licensing rights, location/theming differences, or simply being untranslatable. For example, Tokyo Disneyland’s Frontierland is actually called “Westernland,” since our word “frontier” doesn’t translate directly into the Japanese language.
Other differences, such as Astro Orbiter vs. Astro Orbitor, are not as clear.
Time for that Dole Whip!
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