Disney Drops New Disneyland Ride POVs – Here’s What We Loved (and Didn’t)
To help celebrate Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, Disney has added 16 new POV videos and walkthroughs to Disney+. The “Disney Parks POV” series, which debuted on May 4 with two Galaxy’s Edge experiences, now features Radiator Springs Racers, Soarin’, Avengers Campus, and more. We’ve watched them all, and yes… we have opinions.
Ride POVs
Radiator Springs Racers: 4.5/5 stars
The nighttime Radiator Springs Racers POV begins with Sheriff telling us to buckle our seatbelts as the attraction’s sign fades in. We then find ourselves in a car, having skipped the queue altogether. This POV was filmed hand-held, which is a good thing. The operator pans left and right to show the ride’s incredible theming.
At the ride split, we veer left into Casa Della Tires for a quick pit stop. I wouldn’t have minded seeing the inside of Ramone’s House of Body Art, too, but that would’ve killed the POV vibe.
The “race” isn’t much of one, since we’re the only ones on the track. I’d have loved it if the camera panned over to reveal a second car filled with Disney characters. That oversight cost this POV half a star.
Incredicoaster: 5/5 stars
This video is excellent, thanks in part to Michael Giacchino’s score. It begins with us walking under the Incredicoaster’s archway toward the queue. The ultra-smooth ride video was filmed with a mounted camera. The early morning lighting is great. So is the audio quality.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure: 3/5 stars
Tiana’s video begins all too quickly. After a quick exterior shot, we find ourselves in a boat. I wouldn’t have minded encountering some beignets before riding.
While this video conveys the great pacing on Disneyland’s Tiana’s, it does have its issues. Or rather, the ride does. Most of the Audio-Animatronics work beautifully, but the first and last Tianas are motionless. The party scene’s character looks especially wooden.
Prepare yourself for a “Save Splash” onslaught on social media. I envy you if you don’t know what that means.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: 5/5 stars
Like the Incredicoaster, this video was shot with a mounted camera. It’s beautifully smooth, which makes it entirely unrealistic. The Old Prospector doesn’t lie!
“This here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!”
Old Prospector
This might be the prettiest video of the bunch. The spires are beautiful in the early morning sunlight. And the TNT fuses have me excited for what I hope is coming to Magic Kingdom’s ride.
Soarin’: 100/5 stars
Did Coca-Cola sponsor this video? It begins with a nighttime walkthrough of Refreshment Point (and its many Coke Freestyle machines and signs). The 1960 Rambler Cross Country and its canoe sure look pretty. Before long, the camera pans across the walkway to the Soarin’ entrance.
While most of these videos are focused solely on the ride, Disney understood the Soarin’ assignment. They filmed Patrick, the Chief Flight Attendant, as he teaches us about ride safety. Nice work, pal!
The ride POV looks pretty great, all things considered. Filming a movie that’s being projected on a concave screen is a thankless task. But the videographer was sitting in the middle of B1, so there’s minimal distortion. I’d have loved it if that sat far left of the bottom row. You know, for authenticity’s sake.
Oh, and this video was filmed when Soarin’ still had the old Eiffel Tower. You know, the fun one.
Haunted Mansion: 5/5 stars
Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion exterior has a different vibe from Magic Kingdom’s. I wish the videographer had lingered outside a bit longer. But nope. Before long, we’re in the stretching room, hearing those iconic words: “Welcome, foolish mortals.”
I fear this POV will make it easier for even more people to recite the speech in the future. Just know this (and I say this with love):
“Nobody wants to hear you say ‘no windows and no doors.’ Nobody.”
Me
The videographer took their time walking from the stretching room to the loading area, and it looks beautiful. We also see some dour-looking Cast Members. That’s a compliment, by the way.
This is a beautiful POV. I have dozens (hundreds?) of blurry shots that prove just how hard that is to pull off.
Indiana Jones Adventure: 4.5/5 stars
The Indy queue is incredible. And we experience none of it. Instead, we only see the ride’s sign before we’re sitting in our vehicle.
The ride footage is stunning. The lighting is perfect, and a camera gimbal ensures the video is much smoother than what guests experience in person. If I were rating the video only on the ride POV, it would score big. But I wanted to see the queue.
Pirates of the Caribbean: 5/5 stars
I love Disneyland’s Pirates. I love Magic Kingdom’s, too. But Anaheim’s is better.
And this POV video is perfection. No notes.
Jungle Cruise
Caitlin: 1,000/5 stars
POV: 4/5 stars
I was worried about this one. And I was right to be worried. Caitlin is a great skipper, but she’s telling her jokes to an empty boat. Well, the videographer is there, but they never laugh.
I’d have filled the boat with Cast Members, because jokes like this need an audience:
“Bertha is proof that if you stay in the shower for too long, you do turn into an elephant. I wouldn’t know, though, because I don’t shower.”
Jungle Skipper Caitlin
Her “horsies” jokes were great, too.
Pixar Pal-A-Round: 4/5 stars
Opportunity lost! They didn’t film inside a moving gondola! I’m sure using a stationary gondola makes for a better video, but I wanted the chaos.
We are treated to some great aerial shots of Disney California Adventure while listening to “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “Strange Things,” and “Andy’s Birthday.” And we spy a few of the swinging gondolas along with an elusive Cast Member. Seriously, I wish every one of these POVs included Cast Members.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: 3.5/5 stars
Let’s start with the good. Rise’s POV includes the full queue. I guess that makes sense, seeing as the queue is part of the ride. Even better, we see several Cast Members.
Now for the not-so-good: This was the first ride POV to be shared on Disney+, and it shows. Unlike the beautiful videos released earlier today, this one has lighting issues, especially in the Star Destroyer hangar. Cast Members are backlit, and the stormtroopers don’t pop like they do in person. It’s still a great POV, but it suffers when compared to Disney’s newest videos.
Nighttime Spectaculars: incomplete
This 1-minute, 32-second video is beautiful. And it’s way too short. We catch glimpses of Disneyland and California Adventure’s nighttime spectaculars (Paint the Night, World of Color, etc.), but that’s all. I’m left wanting way more.
Walkthroughs
Main Street, U.S.A.: all the stars
The Main Street walkthrough begins with us walking under this sign:
“Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.”
While listening to ragtime tunes, we take a meandering stroll down Walt’s Main Street. We see the trolley, the Partners statue, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and a sparkling Sleeping Beauty Castle. I only wish it had a prettier sky and better natural lighting.
Galaxy’s Edge: 4/5 stars
This late-night POV was previously released on Star Wars Day. It provides stunning views of a nighttime Galaxy’s Edge. We encounter several characters, including Rey, Chewbacca, Mando, Grogu, and Kylo Ren. But most of the video highlights an empty land. I know filling it with people would’ve taken it from a simple POV to a major production, but it would’ve been cool to see character interactions and more energy.
Wait! What am I talking about? I love an empty Galaxy’s Edge. At least in person.
Avengers Campus: 3/5 stars
The Avengers Campus walkthrough is another beautiful video. I love hearing Alan Silvestri’s score as we visit the Pym Test Kitchen and WEB SLINGERS. But it also lacks energy. Unlike the Galaxy’s Edge POV, no characters make an appearance in this video.
Cars Land: 4.5/5 stars
Remember me griping about empty land walkthroughs? Yeah, forget all that. Radiator Springs at night is pure magic, and I actually like seeing it empty. This POV includes a few Cars characters, but they’re just parked along the road. I’d have loved to see them cruising down the strip instead.
Hollywood Land: 4/5 stars
Swing tunes like “Wildhorn Lucy” bring all the energy to this POV. I love that they included Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! I just wonder if the rest of Hollywood Land will survive California Adventure’s retheming.
Mickey’s Toontown: 4.5/5 stars
This video has us strolling through Toontown as “My Happy Place” plays. Mickey and Minnie Mouse greet us a couple of times. It’s a great POV, especially for kids. It’s too bad Disney+ doesn’t let you automatically repeat videos. Parents are going to be hearing “again!” all day long with this one.
These POV videos are a great addition to Disney+. I hope Disney doesn’t stop with these. I’d love to see videos from parks around the world. And while we’re at it, how about we get some rides and attractions that are no longer with us? Muppet*Vision 3D, anyone?
