Here is an Epcot attraction we never had the chance to experience in its original form. And from the videos, that original version appears much more cohesive in terms of theme and experience, while also being more grounded in reality. Today’s version of Test Track – often dubbed “Test Track 2.0” by the fan community – is still a fantastic attraction. The entire experience has a coolness factor that just works. From the first steps in the queue, the build-up is high energy, with a great soundtrack, and a sleek aesthetic. The design studio is fantastic – engaging and innovative, giving riders a real reason to build a unique vehicle, and then seeing how it performs when riding. That feature doesn’t always function the way it should, but when it does work, it provides a personalized experience that is second to none. The indoor section of the ride itself, with its futuristic vibe and various test environments, is just the right length to provide an interesting and entertaining way to test out your vehicle. And the outdoor finale, while it could (and definitely should) utilize some better scenery, is a thrilling high speed journey that caps off the experience nicely. Still, Test Track should be more reliable, especially with its features testing out the personally designed vehicles. It’s a great attraction, but not great enough, and as a result, it’s at the bottom of the list.

Like the rest of Tokyo DisneySea, Journey to the Center of the Earth is a visual masterpiece. Mount Prometheus not only serves as the centerpiece of this park; this volcano is an attraction all on its own. It’s easy to spend hours watching the mountain erupt fire from its crest, walking around listening to the sounds of the drilling machinery boring into the rock, or even observing the pools of water bubble and gurgle. It is truly a Mysterious Island, and exploring deeper within lives one of the pinnacles of Walt Disney Imagineering. Journey to the Center of the Earth’s queue sets a fantastic stage, with artifacts and specimens from Captain Nemo’s previous explorations within the caves and tunnels. Boarding a Terravator, the journey then continues deep within the earth, to a load station that again is almost beyond comprehension with its sights, sounds, and details. The journey within these caves starts out beautifully and yet eerily tranquil, and a sense of foreboding grows. It all builds to a climactic electrical storm deep within a subterranean volcanic sea, highlighted by one of the largest, scariest, and most impressive animatronics ever. From there, it’s a high-speed blast up around and out of side of the mountain for a race back to the unload area. Journey to the Center of the Earth benefits not only from a fantastic all-original story, but from that incredible Toyko maintenance crew that ensures everything – including the giant animatronic – is always working (we’re looking at you, Expedition Everest Yeti!). It’s a ride that can and should be experienced over and over, as there is so much to take in from the first step in the queue, to the unload. There’s not a park icon anywhere else in the Disney portfolio that contains such an impressive and jaw dropping attraction – the almost-too-close-to-call, second best Disney Slot Car attraction in the world.

In the top spot – and just barely ahead of the runner up (it really was that close!) – the flagship attraction Radiator Springs Racers will break even the most anti-IP fanboys, as it just does absolutely everything right. The setting is exactly as it should be: as if riders are literally placed right in the middle of the town of Radiator Springs, with the jaw-dropping Cadillac Range wrapping all around, drawing them right into the movie. The immersive aspect of this land and its backdrop cannot be overstated – it really is one of the greatest settings in any Disney park, anywhere. The queue is fantastic, with nods to the car culture of Southern California, as well as inspirations from various real-world locations along Route 66 itself. But the attraction is the shining star. Within absolutely charming ride vehicles, the journey starts out as a leisurely drive through the gorgeous outdoor setting, before heading into the dark ride section. Here are fantastic and convincing animatronics, interwoven with exciting and entertaining scenes that follow a cohesive and engaging storyline. The adventure really picks up when riders find themselves in the town of Radiator Springs, invited to participate in an actual race against another vehicle. From there, the ride bursts into its high-speed outdoor section, racing neck-and-neck through the gorgeous desert setting, all the way to the finish line. As an added bonus, the race is slightly different every time, with vehicles trading places several times for the lead position. The winning lane is randomly chosen by the ride system, which only adds to the anticipation and fun as riders never know how it will end. Returning back to the load area, the adventure wraps up with a heartwarming finale from the lead characters. Even those a bit lukewarm to the Cars franchise won’t help but be wowed with the completely original storyline, amazing technology, and thrilling-but-not-too-thrilling experience that a wide range of guests can enjoy. It’s this laundry list of positives that results in Radiator Springs Racers being the headliner attraction in all of Disney California Adventure, and the best Disney Slot Car attraction on the planet.