With Summer in full swing, what better activity is there other than to go to a theme park?! Especially for pop culture aficionados like ourselves, places like Disneyland or Universal Studios are a candyland of nerd-dom for anyone who would love the chance to dive deeper into the worlds of their favorite movies, shows, games, and more. From the authenticity presented in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley, to the inventive interactivity in Super Nintendo World, all the way to the characters and ships from a galaxy far far away at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the appeal is easy to see.
With that in mind, it got us wondering what other movies, shows, and games would be deserving of a theme park ride or even their very own land. Before we dive into this sea of endless possibilities, we should establish a couple ground rules first. Namely, we want to brainstorm ideas for properties that don’t already have a ride/themed world. So, as cool as it would be to include a ride for the Mandalorian or a land dedicated to Wakanda, this list is aiming to bring something fresh to these theme parks. Without further ado, let’s get started with a hedgehog who’s gotta go fast!
1. Sonic the Hedgehog’s Ride on the Tornado
If the iconic Italian Plumber can get his own land and themed attractions, it only makes sense to give some love to his rival from all the way back to the “Genesis does what Nintendon’t” era! Yup, we are talking about Sonic the Hedgehog, one of the most popular video game franchises in the world! Sonic has expanded into so many other mediums, including comics, cartoons, and now huge blockbuster movies (Sonic Movie 3 trailer when?!). With that level of fervor for the character, it only makes sense to give the Blue Blur his own ride, and we know just the way to do it. In so many Sonic games, you’ll often see Sonic riding on top of the Tornado with Tails in the pilot seat as he tries to stop the antics of Doctor Eggman. Well, what if you tagged along on the Tornado to go through the skies of iconic Sonic zones to stop Eggman’s plans for world domination?! As lifelong fans of the hedgehog, that idea sounds way past cool to us.
2. A Ride Through Barbie Land
One of the first thoughts I had while watching Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was, “Wow, Barbie Land looks so cool, I wish I could go there.” Well, what if you actually could? Whether you dedicated a whole land to the dolls dressed in pink, or you keep it consolidated to a ride where you’re in the car with Barbie & Ken as you drive across Barbie Land, that sounds too good to be true. So, why shouldn’t it be true? You could get Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling to film segments that play during the ride and you could have actors in the park donned in iconic Barbie & Ken apparel to take photo ops with kids of all ages. I know that if I got the chance to experience Barbie Land with my own eyes, I would feel more than Kenough.
3. Lord of the Rings & the World of Middle Earth
It’s quite a stark contrast to segue from the glitz and glamor of Barbie Land to the world of Middle Earth, but alas, here we are. One can not simply walk into Mordor, yet there are plenty of other kingdoms within the realm of Middle Earth to explore: the peaceful community of Hobbiton, the grand scope of Rivendell, and everything in-between. Either way, there is so much you can do with a land themed to Lord of the Rings that it’s shocking there hasn’t already been one already. Well, better late than never, and as for the rides themselves, there are so many possibilities. You could take wizarding lessons with Gandalf, ride a peaceful trolly through the Shire, or maybe even join the Fellowship in protecting the One Ring as you dive into the Mines of Moria! With so many possibilities, one thing is for certain: they better offer a place to get second breakfast.
4. Luca and a Race for the Portorosso Cup
To the handful of haters of the 2021 Pixar movie Luca, we only have one thing to say to you: Silencio! In the modern era of Pixar, Luca has already become a fan favorite entry in the studio’s legacy, so it only makes sense to give it some love in one Disney’s theme parks. Specifically, the section dedicated to Italy in Epcot would a perfect location to have ride for the movie set in the Italian Riviera. Not only that, but the movie itself already has a perfect setup for the ride in the form of the Portorosso Cup. This would give people the chance to experience the trials and tribulations that Luca himself experienced in the movie, which sounds like a whole lot of fun to me! Could they even give people their very own Vespa at the end of the ride? Well, that may be a bit of a stretch, but I still want to see this ride happen no matter what!
5. Logging in to The Matrix
Whoa! As terrifying as an actual dystopian apocalypse where humans are farmed for power sounds, the sheer number of things you could do with a ride themed to The Matrix sounds awesome! So many ideas come to mind for how the ride could actually play out. Could you enter into the ride via the ship where people are jacked into the Matrix? Is the ride a mission where you tag along with Neo & Trinity? Maybe even add some Agents chasing you and your party during the ride? The possibilities for a ride in this universe has to offer are as open-ended as what you can do in the Matrix when you open your mind (as Mopheus would say). Warner Bros, if you’re reading this article, please take notes and make this ride a physical reality and not just a virtual simulation.
6. A Journey with "Percy Jackson & The Olympians"
Fresh off the success of Season 1, a ride inspired by the popular "Percy Jackson" series gives us goosebumps just thinking about it. Heck, for anyone else out there who has watched the show, you already know that the show lays out blueprints for this potential ride. During the episode “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers”, Percy and Annabeth are tasked with retrieving Hades’s shield, which is kept in an amusement park designed by Hephaestus, the Greek god of artisans, blacksmiths, and everything in between. So, what if the ride itself is one "crafted by" Hephaestus and it’s up to you to help Percy and his crew out by helping them retrieve their magical MacGuffin on the ride itself? It may not be what some people expect for a property with Greek mythology aplenty, but it would be a very clever tie-in to a show that fans are eagerly awaiting a Season 2 for!
7. Wreck-It Ralph and Litwak’s Arcade
I’m gonna wreck it! Well, maybe — depends on the logistics of how legal it is to create a ride where the audience wrecks stuff. Anyways, Wreck-It Ralph has become one of Disney Animation’s most popular new franchises within the 21st century, so if this ride came to a Disney theme park, we would absolutely be there on day one. Given the sheer variety of games that both Wreck-It Ralph films cover, there are so many avenues that this ride could go down. The easiest one would be a go-kart adventure with Vanellope von Schweetz in the arcade racer Sugar Rush (which better feature some candy afterwards if you win). Regardless of what the Wreck-It Ralph ride entails, we cannot wait to put a quarter in and get straight to playing!
8. An Uncharted Adventure Ride
For any fans of both Indiana Jones and video games, it’s a safe bet that you’ve already played the popular Uncharted series on PlayStation at one point or another. With an action/adventure feel that is incredibly reminiscent of the classic serials from the 1930s, the tone of the Uncharted games and film adaptation would lend itself incredibly well to a theme park attraction. Whether you have it as a stunt show akin to the Indiana Jones show in Hollywood Studios, or a fast and tense dark ride like the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland, the template for this adventure with Nathan Drake is already there. Now, all we need is for Sony to reach out to theme park creators to make this journey through history a present-day dream come true!
9. Going Through the Upside Down From "Stranger Things"
Last, but certainly not least, is Netflix’s flagship series "Stranger Things". While we all not-so patiently wait for Season 5 to officially release, there is still plenty to explore with this world in the meantime. Say, if a proposed "Stranger Things" ride would have you join the Hawkins crew on a bold adventure to rescue some captured civilians from the Upside Down — well, we might need to bring a spare pair of pants, that’s for sure. Especially with the vast array of creatures that could interfere with your party’s mission, from Demogorgons all the way to the Mind Flayer, this ride would certainly be an intense one. But for any long-time fans of this Netflix show, it would be an excellent thrill ride to say the least!
Let us know what other movies, games, and shows could make for an awesome theme park attraction/land. And while you’re at it, have a churro — those are very popular in theme parks.