Behind the Attraction

I was so excited to see a Disney+ documentary series specific to some of my favourite attractions after really enjoying imagineering last year. Sadly, this couldn't be more of a disappointment. The narration style is utterly horrendous even chipping in with silly single words to quickly chain together heavily cut interviews, stupid one liner dad jokes and 'witty' quips and comments at every opportunity. It seemed like the whole thing was sped up to 1.5x speed for no reason.

Painful to watch and such a shame. When you get to hear the imagineers talk it is interesting but I couldn't get past the annoying style and turned it off after only watching a few of the episodes. A wasted opportunity, I hope they make more in the future but aimed at an adult audience.

After nailing The Imagineering Story, I was extremely excited to hear that Behind the Attraction was coming out! I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to learn even more than we as the general public had no idea about & see archive footage of the construction of the rides.

Instead, we received a very fast paced (almost TikTok style) video with even fewer facts than many of the amazing YouTubers have told us. It felt aimed at teenagers, but also, not gripping enough to keep their attention.

It was a shame as I feel the style & pacing of Imagineering Story was so perfect & this could have been a beautiful continuation of that, but you it just feels like you've ridden Mission Space for 45 minutes straight!

Behind the Attraction is a documentary series that takes Disney fans deep into the making of the company's most famous theme park rides. From Haunted Mansion to Space Mountain, the show explores the history, design challenges, and creative vision behind these iconic attractions.

It's surprisingly detailed for a streaming series, offering interviews with Imagineers and archival footage that highlight just how much work goes into bringing these rides to life. The tone is light and accessible, making it easy for casual viewers while still offering plenty for hardcore Disney enthusiasts.

Not every episode hits the same high : some topics like the monorail or Hall of Presidents feel less thrilling compared to more iconic attractions, and the lack of French dubbing in season two is a curious omission. Still, the series succeeds in sparking nostalgia and deepening appreciation for Disney's craftsmanship.

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POSITIVE : Offers unique behind-the-scenes insights into Disney rides / Mix of archival footage and Imagineer interviews / Balances fun tone with genuinely interesting facts

NEGATIVE : Episode quality varies (some feel less engaging) / Lack of French dubbing for season 2 is disappointing

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I'm NOT the correct demographics for this type of content (and from the reading the reviews seems like it's not great for hardcore fans either). I've always been anti-Disney. I think the happiest place on earth should be your home. However, I understand that's a privilege that not many have access to. Walt Disney's intention was to create a place for happiness for the masses.

I'm a huge fan of behind the scenes content. 6-7 episodes in, I'm fascinated by the ingenuity and engineering Disney and crew have been able to accomplish through out the years when access to such "tech" was not viable. I learned interesting facts and tidbits about Disney that I would otherwise have not pursued on my own.

Does the series feel like propaganda, YES. Does the series get super deep into the weeds, no, but for someone that isn't super interested in the Disney "world", this series has been great for me. The series has provided me a view into understanding why Disney has such a huge fan base.

Will I become a Disney fan, no. But I can appreciate what it's done for humanity (good or bad).

If you like the Netflix series "The Movies that made Us" you will love this series "Behind the Attraction". It's good fun and informative at the same time. Paget Brewster is doing a hell of job with her witty and very funny narration. Do yourself a favor and don't pay any attention to the sour reviews of humorless people and enjoy this treat of a series!