The Magic Kingdom follows the formula established by California's Disneyland, dividing into Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Adventureland (roughly in declining order of merit). Some rides are identical to their California forebears; others are greatly improved. In Tomorrowland, old favorite Space Mountain offers a gut-churning roller-coaster trip around distant galaxies on a ferocious starlit switchback. More chilling is the high-tech, adrenalin-fueled Extra TERRORestrial Alien Encounter , where you're involved in an experiment that goes horrifically wrong. In the witty, fast-paced Timekeeper , an animatronic mad professor and feisty robots take you on a dizzying trip through time, relayed convincingly on an enormous 360 cinema screen.
Rides in Frontierland are gentler, though just as much fun. On Splash Mountain , a lazy boat ride through Brer Rabbit land culminates in a shriek-inducing 50ft drop. People with weak hearts steer towards the less frenetic runaway train of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad , or, if the rides are getting too much, to the hokey Country Bear Jamboree , where you can hoedown with furry, dungareed grizzlies. In Liberty Square , between Frontierland and Fantasyland, make time for Haunted Mansion , a seriously spooky ghost ride with spectacular holograms.
Fantasyland, heralded by Cinderella 's exceptionally pink castle, is very much old-style Disney, with a lot of stuff for kids. For adults the most endearing ride is the very 1970s It's a Small World , a bizarre boat jaunt advocating brotherly love. Adventureland feels similarly quaint; Pirates of the Caribbean , a boat ride through a town invaded by debauched robotic figures, looks distinctly tame compared to the newer rides in Tomorrowland.