A lot of the rides at Disneyland and Walt Disney World are based on Disney movies, but not all of them. These are the Disney rides that were turned into movies after the rides already existed. Some are surprising. There are still more rides that Disney could turn into movies.
Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise is an attraction at Disneyland that opened on opening day in 1955. Magic Kingdom got the same ride when it opened in 1971. Then in 2021, Disney released a movie titled Jungle Cruise that was based on the attraction in the Disney parks. It stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean is in Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and other Disney parks around the world. The Disneyland version opened in 1967 and the Magic Kingdom version opened in 1973. Disney made a movie called Pirates of the Caribbean that came out in 2003 and was based on the rides. They then went and updated the rides to match the movies better by adding Captain Jack Sparrow and more.
Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion is another attraction at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and more Disney parks around the world that was an attraction before it was ever a movie. The ride opened in Disneyland in 1969 and Magic Kingdom in 1971. There have been a few movies based on the ride. The first Haunted Mansion movie with Eddie Murphy was released in 2003, Muppets Haunted Mansion in 2021, and the latest movie titled Haunted Mansion came out in 2023.
Tower of Terror
Tower of Terror is an attraction in Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World that opened in 1994. Disneyland Paris also has a version of the ride. A Tower of Terror movie was released in 1997 that was based on the attraction and filmed some scenes there. California Adventure had Tower of Terror from 2004 to 2017. That ride is now Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT. See all the Disneyland rides that have been rethemed here.
Country Bear Jamboree
Country Bear Jamboree has been an attraction in Magic Kingdom since the park opened in 1971. A movie based on the attraction titled The Country Bears was released in 2002. Disneyland also had this attraction from 1972 to 2001. It was closed and changed into The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. See all the Disneyland attractions that permanently closed here.
Dinosaur
Dinosaur was an opening day attraction at Animal Kingdom park in Disney World in 1998. A movie was made based on the attraction that is named Dinosaur. It came out in 2000.
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland is not just an attraction, but a whole land. Tomorrowland opened in Disneyland in 1955 and Magic Kingdom in 1971. A movie based on this land titled Tomorrowland was released in 2015. It starred George Clooney.