#59 - Living with the Land

Category: Slow Rides
Category Rank: 10

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 10

One thing that individuals realize pretty quickly is that WDW isn't synonymous with Disney.  That is to say, the World brings with it some unique characteristics that aren't the same as the Disney that we see in movies and cartoons.  While Disney is known for its classic characters (Mickey et al) and its princesses, and recently its Pixar characters, WDW is known for things like "The Technology of Tomorrow".

Number 59 on our list is nostalgic of one of those WDW-specific themes:  Being Environmentally Sound.  Living with the Land is a slow ride tucked away in the Land Pavilion, a place better known for the Soarin' attraction and the Garden Grill restaurant.  The slow ride takes you through some animatronic displays of humanity's past interaction with the land before taking you out into the greenhouse to see new innovative methods for growing crops.  This includes Mickey-shaped pumpkins, hydroponic lettuce, and 9-pound lemons.

Living with the Land is a typical example of one of those "Ho Hum" rides at first glance that you overlook.  In fact, we didn't ride on it until our 3rd visit, as it always lost out to other highly-billed attractions.  It goes to show you have to explore the World to find all of its treasures.  Think of it this way: No other theme park would dare put in an attraction like Living with the Land, let alone have it be a successful attraction for over 30 years.  But WDW does, because there is more to the World than just thrills and excitement.  That gets it onto our list.

Next up is #58, which takes us to our interactives/memorabilia category for a very recognizable but underrated item, something seen at all four parks as well as Downtown Disney.

#55 - United Kingdom (Epcot)

Category: Park Ambience
Category Rank: 8

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 9

We have our first "Park Ambience", which will require an explanation, much as the interactives/memorabilia category did.  Ambience might not be the perfect word, but it was the best I could come up with (except for maybe "Environment", which was a bit misleading).

The first term you might use to describe this is a "location" within a park.  However, location is a bit vague, since rides and shows and restaurants are all locations as well.  These are locations that don't have another stated attraction as top billing.  WDW actually helps us quite a bit here by breaking up its parks into these tiny "worlds", much like all the different countries in Epcot or the different lands in Magic Kingdom.

Location also doesn't really describe the important qualities of these items that bring about their nostalgia.  Take for example #55 on our list, the United Kingdom land in Epcot's World Showcase.  United Kingdom brings together natural beauty, architectural beauty, specific theming, sights, sounds, music, special characters, and even a bit of shopping.  All of these work in conjunction to promote the theme of the land (in this case, Britain!).  I thought a bit about trying to isolate some of these elements (say, choosing the band that plays there and the rose garden out back and the England-style buildings, and ranking each separately), but that doesn't really do the experience justice.  You experience them altogether... you have to rank them as one as well.

There are 11 lands in Epcot, each having its own unique ambience.  You could argue that all 11 have a place on this list, but we have to pick and choose.  UK has many things going for it.  Starting with its architecture, it features buildings represented from the Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian periods, as well as cobblestone streets and thatch roofs.  The back area contains a hedge maze and a traditional English garden, with one of the few quiet places in the World.  Of course, it also is the place for the British Revolution, a tribute band that plays songs from many British groups (the Beatles, the Who, and Led Zeppelin chief among them).  Plus there is a traveling improvisation group that performs there periodically.  Couple that with the traditional British characters (Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland) and it is one of the best lands for getting immersed in the cultural experience.

There are a couple things that make this land even more nostalgic for us.  Both Kristen and I have always enjoyed the music within Epcot, and one of our favorite groups was the British Invasion (an excellent Beatles tribute band that has sadly been replaced).  Plus, UK offers a unique shopping experience for our family, as our kids happen to love BBC shows like Downton Abbey and Doctor Who, and my mother is a big fan of the tea shop.  Plus, we take our pictures in the phone booth each trip.  The one thing that UK has going against it is that the "culture" is very similar to ours already, that certain other worlds (spoiler) stand out more as a cultural experience.  Still, if there is ever a time where we have a vacation with limitless time to spend idling away, I can't think of too many better places to spend it than UK.

We go to Magic Kingdom for the first time with #54, once again listing a snack item as a restaurant.

#51 - Crepes des Chefs de France

Category: Restaurants
Category Rank: 7

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 8

We've talked quite a bit in our first 10 items on our list about snacks in Disney, so not much background needed here.  Snacks don't rank as high as our favorite restaurants in terms of nostalgic longing for WDW, but when you have set ones that you hit every trip, those are going to make your list as well.

That is definitely the case for the "Crepe Stand" in Epcot.  Its full name is Crepes des Chefs de France, from the restaurant around the walkway.  They have a simple menu featuring sugar, strawberry, or chocolate crepes.  They also have ice cream available, although the ice cream is extra and does not come with the snack credit.  For those that haven't had a crepe before, it is essentially a very flat/thin pancake, folded over several times into the shape of a triangle.

The Crepe Stand ranks highest on our list out of the different snack locations, meaning it is the most nostalgic out of the group.  This in spite of it being my least favorite out of the snacks (which is a bit like being the least favorite flavor of ice cream or your least favorite cruise destination).  What makes the crepes special?

Part of it is Epcot is a more special place.  It is the food capital of WDW, and as our representative snack in that place, crepes have a higher than normal level of nostalgia.  It also has been our place since the beginning, and like the carts in Magic Kingdom, the kiosk itself is quaint and the aroma is enticing.  Plus, they make the crepes right before your eyes.

Crepes, for us at least, also are a more unique food.  Ice cream cookie sandwiches can be recreated, as can fancy cupcakes.  Even the roasted almonds are a staple around the Christmas season.  Crepes for us are a little less present in our ordinary lives, making the experience even more unique.  So while the other snacks are great to eat and a special experience for us when we visit, crepes remain a special item for us all the time.

This is a good example of where people differ in their lists.  I estimate there will be about 20 items that everyone would have, and 20 more items that many people will have.  And then 20 items that are more unique to me and my family.  Many of you will have Dole Whip on your list, something we have not been that fond of.  Others will have the Mickey Bar or the Mickey Ice Cream Bar or the Butterfinger Bar (or whatever else there is).  Or even something simple like the Cotton Candy.  That's part of the magic... WDW is so big, there are many different corners of it for every taste.

That concludes our first 10.  We start off our second ten with our first seasonal event... one that really racks up the electric bill for the Disney Corporation.

#49 - Morocco (Epcot)

Category: Park Ambience
Category Rank: 7

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 7

We discussed the concept of Park Ambience with our UK entry in our list, and we revisit it here.  We have our second country from the World Showcase, featuring its architecture, music, shopping and sights/sounds for the total immersive experience.

I am guessing that Morocco would not be one of the top countries on most people's lists, unless they were Aladdin fans for some reason.  It doesn't have that worldwide cultural base that UK, France, or Italy have.  To talk about why it is on my list, let me start with a birdwalk.

It doesn't take too many trips to Epcot's World Showcase before you think to yourself, "I could have done this better."  Or, at least invited better countries.  A parlor game question would be to ask, if you could remove some current countries and replace them with others to improve the World Showcase, which would they be?  Or, if the rumors are to be believed, if you could fill in the empty 8 lots, what would you add?

It is important to have countries that have its own distinct culture, food architecture, music, and stories.  Even better if there are connections to Disney characters, so they can stand out there and sign autographs.  But, there is something to be said with adding some diversity to the World showcase, to truly build the worldwide experience.  So my answer to the first hypothetical would be:


• Remove USA, Canada, and Norway and replace them with Brazil, India, and *a sub-Saharan African country (I'm going to admit I would need to do some field testing to choose a country that isn't going to create problems... I wouldn't want to select Kenya, only to find out a year later, they are having a genocide)

My answer to the second hypothetical:

• Add Brazil, India, sub-Saharan African country, Australia, Russia, Indonesia or Philippines, Greece, and Jamaica or Cuba.  Or something like that.  Could add Chile instead... I've always like Chile.

Regardless, you can see that there are many countries with one skin pigmentation already represented, and many countries with many different skin pigmentations not represented.  Now you can see why Morocco is so important.

Morocco truly represents something unique to the experience.  Go in any other shops and you see soccer jerseys and chocolates from that country... it is a very similar experience.  Morocco gives you incense, henna, and traditional scarves.  Likewise, the food is unique.  Going out for Italian, Chinese or Mexican food, but Moroccan?

The thing I like best about it is the music.  For years, the sounds of the band Mo' Rockin was the enticing sounds from the pavilion (coupled with their gratuitous belly dancing).  They have replaced them with a new band called B'net Al Houwariyate, which features a similar sound, but loses the land a bit of the luster (I liked Mo' Rockin that much... join the Facebook group to "save" them).  Regardless, the sounds of Middle Eastern music forever makes me think of the Morocco pavilion.  Which, deserves them a place on the list.

Our next entry is our first show on our list, and features the first of the "4D" shows.

#40 - Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Category: Seasonal
Category Rank: 5

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 6

Our next item is the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, the rare seasonal activity that isn't connected to a holiday.  Much like the Lawn & Garden Festival in the spring, the Food & Wine festival is a free event with the price of admission, though you do have to pay separately for any food that you purchase.

The Epcot Food and Wine Festival began in 1995, just finishing its 20th year this past fall.  The duration of the festival varies each year, as this past year's 53 days was a record length.  Throughout the world showcase, new venue booths are brought in to provide additional flavors of the world.  In addition, special shows for food preparation, demonstrations, book signings, or concerts are a common feature as well.

The Food and Wine Festival is a favorite of many adults, as many plan their annual trip to come specially for this event.  The variety is amazing and makes the park, already a bastion of multiculturalism, that much more so.  In terms of enhancing Disney's theme of "we are all one world", this event does it as good as any on this list.

For our family, the event is a bit of a mixed bag.  Having children, this is not a must-do item, as its value is lost on people who are more happy getting a hot dog than trying anything exotic.  The timing is not very good either, being during the school year.  And, we are not connoisseurs of wine, which is most of the appeal for the majority of adults there (as the increase in the number of drink around the world t-shirts can attest).  But, we do like food, so yeah.

Still, I can't help but assess this as truly a neat and exciting experience that WDW provides, and thinking about food festivals in general will make one pine for this event.  Perhaps the spectacle outshines the nostalgia here, resulting in its lower rank than other seasonal events.

We return to Magic Kingdom for #39 on our list; it happens to be a show that is an original attraction from the park's opening, featuring a variety of songs to sing along to.  And, there are no bears in it.

#29 - Club Cool

Category: Restaurants
Category Rank: 4

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 5

Our next item is, once again, stretching our "restaurant" category.  It is almost like we aren't going to take any actual restaurants in this list.

Club Cool is not much of a restaurant, as they don't have any food to sell.  What they do have is free samples of soda throughout the world.  That, and a ton of Coca Cola paraphernalia for sale.

You basically help yourself to as many dixie cups as you would like, and then have at it.  There will be up to 8 sodas total to try, although recently they have been down a soda or two.  Here is their current lineup:

• Fanta Pineapple (Greece)
• Fanta Melon Frosty (Thailand)
• Vegitabeta (Japan) - Apricot and Passion Fruit flavored vitamin drink
• Bibo (South Africa) - Kiwi Mango drink
• Sparberry (Zimbabwe) - Raspberry Creme Soda
• Inca Cola (Peru) - Sweet cola, like bubble-gum
• Guarana Kuat (Brazil) - "Guarana" berry
• Beverly (Italy) - Greatest drink on Earth

The drinks have gotten a little wilder over the years; the original batch included some pretty mild tasty drinks from Mexico, Germany, China, and Israel.

Of course, Beverly is the drink that Club Cool is known for.  Beverly is a very bitter drink, not one you would normally think of as refreshing.  For our family, we always take the Beverly Challenge, drinking a full dixie cup for some incentive.

Needless to say, this item will fall into that "nostalgic to us" category more so than "nostalgic for everyone".  We put it slightly above Ghirardelli given that there are a few more options, and its proximity to an actual park.

This ends this mid-level "squishy" area of hard-to-rank items.  We will now hit some more traditional items that will be on most people's lists, including the next six from Magic Kingdom.  Our next item is a dark slow ride, an original attraction from the park's opening, but one that has become much more popular with the release of a popular movie series... the rare situation where the ride came before the movie.

#18 - Japan (Epcot)

Category: Park Ambience
Category Rank: 4

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 4

Park ambience time (a refresher for what that is).  We come to the land that is my personal favorite, and I believe the personal favorite of all my family members.  Japan.

As mentioned in our Morocco entry, Japan stands out among lands in Epcot precisely because it is different and non-European.  The uniqueness of its culture, both ancient and modern, are proudly on display.  You have the ancient torii shrine out front, perhaps the most beautiful of all the land's lakeside icons.  You also have the 5-story pagoda (a story to represent each of the base elements -- earth, wind, air, fire, and sky), plus several galleries of ancient Japanese art.

You also have the modern Japanese dining experiences (which we admittedly have not tried).  Plus there is the traditional Japanese gardens around the perimeter.  Permeating the air is the sound of the drums from Matsuriza, which actually can be heard halfway around the lake.

Perhaps the best experience within Japan is the shopping, though.  Like some of the lands within Epcot, they have what is essentially one long store with rooms going to other rooms.  The modern section is something to behold, if you have any sense of Japanese pop culture.  Everything from Manga and Hello Kitty paraphernalia, to the Tamagotchis (virtual pets) and the crazy robots they have.

As you move down the room, you get more ancient.  They have a live pearl-jewelry-making exhibit, where you pick out your oyster, crack it open, and get the pearl made into jewelry right in front of you (you can't miss it; they make it a pretty loud affair).  Then there is a kimono room, filled with beautiful kimonos and robes.  You also get the Zen room, where you have miniature rock gardens and calligraphy pen sets.  And wind chimes.  And fans.  And wall hangings.

They also have samurai swords there as well (haven't figured out how to get those on the plane home yet).  Plus they have the china sets (I wonder if they have a different name for china in Japan).  It finally ends in the small grocery, where they have tons of Japanese candy and other goodies available.

Maybe we are Japanophiles (I'm trademarking that word), but we love the shopping, and we feel we aren't alone.  The store would make it on our list by itself; there are so many unique items to grab our attention.  We have purchased something every time we have been there.

The land itself mimics the homeland.  Japan is known for its Zen peacefulness, sitting in quiet meditation in distant places, juxtaposed with the crazy zaniness of Tokyo, being crammed into small noisy spaces.  And, the Japan land in Epcot does that too.  It is amazing to think that there was originally much more planned here.  They were going to put in a replica of Mount Fuji and have a roller coaster in it (darn).  Fujifilm wanted to sponsor it, but of course, Kodak was the park sponsor, and we couldn't have that happening.  Of course, now with iPhones, all my younger audience (I'm talking to you, Mom) is saying... what is "film"?  They were even thinking of having a monster like Godzilla come out and scare people on the ride.  No joke.  The concept of the ride was eventually turned into Expedition Everest.

It is true that Japan is our favorite land and has a high rank on this list because of it (though ironically being beat out by one other land... what is it with my favorites not being ranked the highest).  I'm guessing that Japan would appear on other individual's list if they were considering park ambiences.  What is interesting to me is that China, which was a close second in our favorites, is nowhere to be seen.  It has slipped quite a bit, and offers a somewhat similar experience to Japan, but without the zany modern culture or the good music or the beautiful shrine or the symbolic pagoda or the top-level food establishments.  Well, they do have swords.  That's somewhat cool.  Regardless, I'm on the record to state that a) Japan is much better than China, and b) China is very overrated among Epcot lands.

We are up to #17, and that brings us to another seasonal event.  This one is fortunate enough to be another first-day event, and forever changed my opinion on what I considered the worst part of the 4th of July (and Nordic Fest, while I am thinking about it).

#15 - Spaceship Earth

Category: Slow Rides
Category Rank: 2

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 3

If you exclude the landmarks of each park (i.e. the castle, golf ball, tree, and whatever replaces the sorcerers hat), it gets harder to pick items that are synecdochous (TM if that isn't a word).  That is, to pick something which symbolically personifies the entire park.

We mentioned that the Kilimanjaro Safaris rises to that level at Animal Kingdom, as it is the attraction that best sums up what that park is all about.  At Hollywood Studios, the item that probably best did this was recently closed... Backlot Tour.  And, given that it wasn't a great ride to begin with, that is probably no great loss.  It is tough to say now what fills the void... the Great American Movie ride?

Magic Kingdom is very difficult to identify, given that it has so many headliners (as seen by the disproportionate amount on this list).  While Dumbo and Its a Small World might be the most famous, they don't necessarily encapsulate all the magic that there is to be seen in the park.  Outside of the castle, there is nothing else.

Epcot, though, is much easier.  Nothing sums up Epcot like Spaceship Earth, the animatronic-heavy slow ride taking you through a history of mankind and into the future, all while riding within the Golf Ball.

Spaceship Earth is the first of the 7 most iconic items in WDW that are heavily sprinkled at the top of our list, in amongst 8 others that get their ranking from being personal favorites of our family.  These top 7 iconic things are sure to be on everyone's list, so there isn't much sense in attempting to convince you of why it is here.  But I'm going to anyways.  'Cause that's how I roll.

First things first.  Spaceship Earth the ride is separate on this list from the Golf Ball, since they are essentially different attractions (much like our separation of Port Orleans Riverside resort from the Food Court).  The Golf Ball is still to come, meaning if these two were put together, the resulting attraction would probably be top 5 overall, and maybe higher.

Second, this ranking does include the simulated interactions at the end of the ride.  Yes, you could argue those are separate, given that you could go into the interactions without riding the ride, but this fits under the "enhanced experience" that one sees with the Test Track ride, where the interaction is connected to (and not separate from) the ride.  However, while the interactions are pretty neat, they really have little bearing on this ranking, other than the choose-your-future video you make while still on the ride.

Spaceship Earth has been around since the park opening and was the featured attraction.  The ride is educational in nature, as it gives a narration by Judi Densch (and previously by Lawrence Dobkin, Walter Cronkite, and Jeremy Irons).  You start with the dawn of man, pack hunting a mammoth, and move up through the discovery of fire, the beginning of writing, the invention of paper, and much more.  You reach the present at the top of the ball, and then start your descent planning for the future.  This includes a choose-your-own-adventure style video that you create, and can have emailed to you.

The ride is iconic not only for its location, but its use of animatronics is classic Disney, as is its themes of progress to the future.  While the Carousel of Progress outdates it by almost two decades, this one is more famous, and frankly does it better.

And much like other slow rides on this list, there isn't anything "thrilling" about this ride.  Epcot misses the boat on thrilling for most of its other rides (Soarin' included... most overrated ride in all of WDW), but this one never pretends to be thrilling.  There is something a bit haunting about the serious nature of the narration and the quiet music in conjunction with the animatronics, all in the presence of an indoor dark ride, and this haunting adds to the gravitas of the ride.

Our next item is another of those iconic features, and it features the most iconic resort of the bunch.  This one, adjacent to Magic Kingdom, is the original resort of WDW.

#11 - Mexico (Epcot)

Category: Park Ambience
Category Rank: 3

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 2

We are back to the strange "park ambience" category, that item describing those areas of the park that pull together the sights, sounds, smells, and all-around experiences into one package.

With #11, we hit the highest ranking world of Epcot.  We've seen the UK, Morocco, and Japan earlier, and made mention about why we didn't pick other European lands in our list.  Mexico makes the list as an overall great attraction, but its lofty ranking is for something altogether different.

First, the land itself has one of the more notable landmark features, the Mesoamerican style pyramid.  In true definition of ambience, when you go inside the pyramid, you are whisked away to a whole new experience, as it is permanently dusk inside.  Within, there is an "outdoor" village marketplace as well as an eating area for the San Angel Inn restaurant, all of which are lit by lantern-style street lights.  There are a couple shops, as well as the Three Caballeros boat ride, which goes on the indoor lagoon next to the backdrop of the Mexican countryside (featuring a volcano).

The pyramid's interior stands out among all the pavilions.  While other pavilions have their shops and their circlevision shows, this is the only one that brings the whole marketplace inside.  The effect is very neat.

The exterior isn't too shabby either.  As a regular feature is the Mariachi Cobre, one of the longer lasting music groups within Epcot.  Though it doesn't have the flair that Mo' Rockin has, the music is distinctly Mexican and festive.  In addition, there is a character meet-and-greet area for Donald, one of the original Three Caballeros.  Unbeknownst to us, the Mexican culture and Mexico-in-general as a setting has been one of the longest running staples of Disney movies, rivaling UK and France.

Mexico benefits, though to a slightly less extent, from the same "foreign-ness" that Morocco and Japan benefit from.  The music, the clothing, the artwork, the food, and the language is all distinct from the European bland lands.  We aren't drinkers of alcohol, or otherwise I'm sure the margaritas would be a reason to visit Mexico as well.

The biggest benefit of Mexico is hard to explain, however.  As mentioned, we are creatures of habit, and we tend to eat in the same locations when we visit.  When it comes to Epcot, I already mentioned the crepes that we get as a snack.  Our lunch has most often been the Cantina de San Angel counter-service restaurant, which is outside on the lagoon.  No, the food is not unbelievably outstanding... it is run-of-the-mill Disney counter service (though it is better than what Disney Rob thinks).

It is the view, though that puts this place so high on our list.  We get our lunch and sit and look out over the lagoon.  It offers a relaxing respite during the busy day of walking, and it is actually fairly out of the way of the hustle and bustle.  There will often be birds there scrounging for food, which adds to the fun.  Now, you could re-create this experience in many different locations around the lagoon (there are admittedly many great views which you could couple with the food of your choice).  But for us, the choice is Mexico.

As mentioned, that midday respite is one of the most relaxing places in all of WDW.  Moments of serenity happen to be one of the best things more me to reminisce.  Our next item, and first one in our top ten, is a similar respite "park ambience", though at a different park.

#8 - The Golf Ball

Category: Landmarks
Category Rank: 2

Park: Epcot
Park Rank: 1

We arrive at the top nostalgic item from Epcot, and it is not a surprise.  The Golf Ball stands out as the most memorable item from the park.  Indeed, the Golf Ball is basically a symbol for the entire park, as there are common internet inquiries asking "Why does Epcot look like a golf ball?"

The answer to that question is, Epcot does not look like a golf ball, the Spaceship Earth ride looks like a golf ball.  But, the follow-up answer is they wanted a futuristic shape modeled after the biosphere in the 1967 Montreal World Fair.  The dome was further inspired by science-fiction writer Ray Bradbury, who helped design the ride.

Hailey can provide you an entire treasure trove of trivia on this structure, having given a presentation on it last year in school.  Some items worth pointing out, in addition to the geometric facing that covers the exterior, is the unbelievable drainage system built into the attraction.  When it rains, all the water goes in through one-inch gaps in the panels and flows down through a channel into the World lagoon.  In addition, there are actually two domes, the famous exterior and and interior dome meant to house the ride.

We earlier mentioned that the Golf Ball is known as Spaceship Earth, which we covered earlier on our list.  As we also mentioned earlier, the Golf Ball part of Spaceship Earth is really a different attraction.  We are 'attracted' to it for its majestic beauty and iconic shape.  In reality, that external shape is more important to the overall attraction.  If we were to gut out the ride and just have an empty structure, it would still be the most memorable thing in the park.  If instead we were to strip away the golf ball and put the ride in a big box... well, it would lose some of its impact.

One thing to consider with this entry is the idea of a landmark.  A landmark typically has quite a bit of appeal to it for individuals who have not yet visited it.  Much like the arch in St. Louis, the Hollywood Sign, or the Statue of Liberty, a landmark is a recognizable attraction that immediately makes you think of the location.  In this respect, Disney has done a masterful job of featuring an iconic landmark in each of their four parks.  Er, three parks.  Sorry Sorcerer's Hat.

While a landmark has appeal to those who have yet to visit, it tends to be a letdown after you have visited a couple times.  Individuals who have been to New York will reminisce more about the ambience of Broadway or of 5th Avenue.  Maybe even a stop at Yankee Stadium or Madison Square Garden.  Landmarks can maintain their majesty, and they are something to behold on the plane arrival, but they really are not what keeps that nostalgia for you.

What's interesting is that these central landmarks to the WDW parks don't follow that rule.  For me, at least, they keep their prestige.  We always get our photos by them, and there is something special seeing them from lookouts throughout the park.

What is also interesting is that there really aren't any accidental landmarks, either.  Disney obviously intended the Golf Ball and the Castle and the Tree of Life to be landmarks given their proximity and the views that you have of them.  But other items don't really rise to that landmark status.  The Hollywood Tower of Terror is the tallest structure within WDW, and it has a fairly iconic status, but the structure itself is nothing compared to the ride within (definitely a thrill ride, and therefore ineligible from our list).  The balloon ride in Downtown Disney is perhaps the only other one I can think of, and it too is weak at best.

We are up to #7, and we actually go back to Downtown Disney for the 2nd and last item from there on our list.  No, it isn't the balloon, but it is the biggest store in the entire WDW.