Whether it’s the Mad Hatter’s teacups, It’s a Small World, the Haunted Mansion or another iconic attraction, everyone has a go-to ride at Disney—the royal family included! And Prince Harry just revealed his all-time favorite ride at Disneyland. It may not be one of the newest, but it holds a special place in his heart. Having first gone on this classic ride a whopping 14 times when his mom, Princess Diana, took him to Walt Disney World as a child, Harry reckons it’s still his top pick.
And now that he’s a parent himself, Harry recently got to share the Disney magic with his children, Archie and Lilibet, for the first time, when the family visited Disneyland together.
So which ride gets Harry’s royal seal of approval? Read on to discover all.
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When did Prince Harry first go to Disney?
Proving royals are just like the rest of us, Prince Harry first experienced Disney’s magic at the age of 8, when Princess Diana, took him and his big brother, Prince William, then 11, to Disney World. It was August 1993, and Diana had split from Prince Charles the year before. The newly single mom was determined to have fun with her boys, so she took them to Disney World in Florida for their summer holiday. “It was one of my very happy memories,” Harry later told ABC’s Robin Roberts in 2016.
The little family had a fabulous time. They were escorted through the VIP underground tunnels to the rides, and a highlight for Harry, William and Diana was an exclusive trip on Splash Mountain, which was shut off to other guests so they could enjoy it on their own. According to Hola!, they also saw the popular dinner show Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. In fact, a video recently appeared on X of the young Prince William going on stage.
In the 2021 ABC special, The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World, Diana’s bodyguard Ken Wharfe revealed the family had stayed at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and thought the musical review was “fantastic.” He said Diana told him they’d had “a magical evening.”
In fact, Diana, Harry and William loved the magic so much, they were regular visitors to British amusement parks Alton Towers and Thorpe Park. They went to Thorpe Park, near London, three years in a row, in 1991, 1992 and 1993. “On their visits to the park, Diana insisted that they would queue for all their rides and should be treated like everybody else,” the park said in a statement.
Just a few months before their Disney World visit, they were filmed on the log flume ride at Thorpe Park and were the image of joy—drenched in water, all three shrieking with happiness. Although many of us have similar souvenir snaps, royal fans had never seen the Windsors looking so low-key … and they loved it. Diana and her boys were simply being a normal family—something that left an everlasting imprint on Harry and William.
When was Prince Harry’s most recent trip to Disney?
Harry and Meghan delighted royal-watchers when they recently revealed they’d enjoyed a two-day trip to Disneyland in California, for Lilibet’s birthday, in June. Meghan shared adorable photos of their family outing on Instagram set to the soundtrack “It’s a Good Day” by Peggy Lee, including the real-life princess meeting a Disney princess and going on the Dumbo ride and log flume. She also shared Lilibet’s two-tiered, princess-themed fourth-birthday cake, with Ariel atop it. “Thank you Disneyland for giving our family two days of pure joy!” wrote Meghan.
What’s Prince Harry’s favorite ride at Disneyland?
Although Splash Mountain holds a treasured place in his heart, it’s Space Mountain that Harry reveals is—and always has been—his No. 1. In the ABC 20/20 special The Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of Disneyland, Harry says, “Space Mountain is one of my favorite things,” to which Meghan replies, “It’s still one of your favorite rides,” and Harry emphasizes, “Of course …”
The show, which airs on Sept. 21, hints there are more exciting surprises to come as Disneyland celebrates its 70th anniversary. “Prepare yourself—you’re about to be blown away,” says Harry. “We were just so lucky,” says Meghan, hinting they’ve had a preview of some of the treats. Proof of Harry’s love for this classic ride comes in the form a photo of the couple screaming with joy on the ride, which Meghan shared on her Instagram reel.
And when Harry says he loves the ride, you’d better believe him. Recalling his first trip in 1993, he told ABC’s Robin Roberts, “I went on Space Mountain 14 times. It’s the best thing ever.”
What makes Space Mountain such a beloved Disney ride?
kirkikis/stock.adobe.com
As you hurtle through the dark, the out-of-this-world roller coaster is the closest most of us will ever get to going into space. And it’s this galactic adventure that makes it so beloved, even 50 years later. Here are five fun facts about Space Mountain:
Space Mountain, in Tomorrowland, opened in Disney World in 1975. It was so successful that it also launched in Disneyland two years later.
The grand opening of Space Mountain in Disneyland was attended by the first American men in space, U.S. Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Donald “Deke” Slayton. Betty Grissom, the widow of Gus Grissom, also attended.
Incredibly, Space Mountain was Disneyland’s second-only roller coaster, following Matterhorn Bobsleds.
It was the idea of visionary Walt Disney, who came up with the concept of a “Matterhorn in outer space.” Walt passed away in 1966, so he didn’t live to see it built.
Disney Imagineer John Hench designed it years before the technology needed to build it caught up. When Space Mountain finally opened, it was the first roller coaster to be fully controlled by a computer.
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Sources:
ABC News: “Prince Harry Opens Up on Princess Diana, Having Kids & What Drives Him in Candid New Interview”
Instagram: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Hola: “The place in Disney World where Princess Diana had a ‘magical evening’”
ABC: “The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World”
YouTube: “The Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of Disneyland”
Walt Disney Archives: “Space Mountain opens at Disneyland”