Snow White’s Enchanted Wish is a beloved dark ride located in Fantasyland at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. Originally opened in 1955 as Snow White and Her Adventures, the attraction was reimagined and renamed Snow White’s Enchanted Wish in 2021. The updated ride takes guests on a musical journey through the classic 1937 Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Ride Details
Average Wait Times: Average waits range from 15-45 minutes during less busy periods and 45-75 minutes during peak hours.
Height Requirements: The ride is suitable for guests of all ages, as there are no height requirements.
Single Rider: There is no Single Rider line for this attraction.
Ride Duration: About 3 minutes.
Genie+ and Lightning Lane: Genie+ and Lightning Lane are not available for this attraction.
Rider Switch: Families with young children who do not wish to ride can still enjoy Snow White’s Enchanted Wish without waiting in line twice. The Rider Switch program allows one adult to wait with the non-riding child while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. Afterward, the waiting adult can enjoy the ride without rejoining the regular line.
Disability Access Services (DAS): The Disability Access Service allows individuals with disabilities to request accommodations, ensuring that everyone can partake in the magic of Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. Talk with a Cast Member at Guest Relations for more information on DAS.
Best Time to Ride: To minimize wait times, consider riding early in the morning or during off-peak hours. Midweek visits and times when major parades or shows are occurring can also present opportune moments to experience the ride with shorter queues. Check out our crowd calendar for easier planning!
Early Entry Ride: Yes
History and Design
Snow White’s Enchanted Wish has the distinction of being one of the few remaining original attractions from Disneyland’s opening day in 1955. It was also the first Disney ride based on a Disney movie. Walt Disney himself oversaw the design and creation of the ride alongside his trusted team of Imagineers. The original Snow White attraction was designed to have guests experience the story through Snow White’s point of view.
Guests boarded mine cars and traveled through scenes depicting Snow White’s journey to escape the Evil Queen. Unfortunately, many guests were confused about why Snow White was not featured in the ride that bore her name. In 1983, Disney gave the ride its first major upgrade, adding the iconic Snow White figure throughout the ride and renaming it Snow White’s Scary Adventures. This version took on a scarier tone, much like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and leaned into the dark, sinister scenes with the Evil Queen and witch.
Design
The ominous music and dark lighting added to the ride’s eerie vibe. While Snow White was now present in her own story, the ride remained too intense for some young children. In 2021, Imagineers brought to life a long-held dream of Walt Disney’s to fully tell Snow White’s story in a ride. The attraction closed for an extensive reimagining and reopened as Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. The refreshed ride strikes the perfect balance between Snow White’s lighthearted, musical world and the darker elements of the Queen’s magic.
The new ride introduces state-of-the-art technology like LED black lighting, advanced projection mapping, enhanced audio and dazzling special effects. These modern touches blend seamlessly with the classic scenes and animatronic figures. The ride now features the scent of baking pies as you pass by the Dwarfs’ cottage. The musical soundtrack incorporates the movie’s beloved songs like “Whistle While You Work” and “Heigh Ho.”
The Enchanting Ride Experience
From the moment you enter the queue, the magic of Snow White’s Enchanted Wish transports you into the fairy tale world. The cottage façade establishes the storybook setting. The queue winds through the Dwarfs’ home with touches like mining picks, lanterns, and forest woodwork. Snow White’s animal friends, like birds, deer, rabbits and raccoons, frolic along the walls. The queue even showcases the Dwarfs’ individual beds and personalized cubbies. As you approach boarding, the mine car vehicles glimmer with embedded gems, a nod to the Dwarfs’ jewel mining operation.
The Ride
Climb aboard your mine car and prepare to be enchanted. The ride begins by passing through the dark woods full of eyes peering from trees and logs. Glowing magic leads you to the wishing well, where Snow White sings “I’m Wishing” as she dreams of her true love. Her lovely voice attracts the attention of the handsome Prince, who serenades her from atop his regal horse.
The mood shifts as you journey into the Queen’s castle and see her peering into her magic mirror. When the mirror proclaims Snow White as the fairest, the Queen transforms into the old hag and plots to eliminate her using a poisoned apple. A raven caws ominously overhead as you escape the castle. The ride brightens as you arrive at the Dwarfs’ sunlit cottage. Snow White sings “Whistle While You Work” while tidying up with help from her forest friends. The scent of freshly baked pies wafts through the air.
The Cottage
Inside the cottage, the seven Dwarfs sing and dance merrily as they march off to the mine. This lively musical scene is a highlight. Leaving the cottage, the ride takes a dark turn into the deep woods. Here, the creepy hag offers Snow White the tempting red apple, which sends her into a deep sleep when bitten. The mine cars roll by, vultures and log creatures keeping watch over Snow White’s lifeless body resting in her glass coffin. At last, we reach the happy ending as the Prince arrives and gives Snow White love’s first kiss, breaking the spell. A magical transformation occurs as the dark forest gives way to a beautiful golden castle, where Snow White and her Prince dance joyfully and share their “happily ever after.” You exit your mine car and back into the bright world of Fantasyland, your heart warmed by Snow White’s Enchanted Wish.
Music Sets the Mood
The rich musical soundtrack of Snow White’s Enchanted Wish plays an integral role in bringing the scenes to life. The audio incorporates the movie’s iconic songs, adapted to match each ride scene. Snow White’s lovely wishing well song “I’m Wishing” establishes her character’s innocence and optimism. The Prince’s reprise of “One Song” emphasizes his attraction and devotion to her. In the cottage, “Whistle While You Work” conveys Snow White’s cheerful nature as she tidies up and bonds with the animals.
The Dwarfs’ rendition of “Heigh Ho” emanates energy and silliness. The eerie instrumentals in the Queen’s castle and forest heighten the sense of danger and impending doom. The music turns tender and somber after Snow White bites the apple and the mine cars pass her still figure in the coffin. Finally, the sweet melody of “Someday My Prince Will Come” signals Snow White’s happy ending has arrived. The songs guide you through the emotions of Snow White’s journey from innocence to peril to true love’s triumph.
The Magic of Disney Storytelling
At its heart, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish brings to life Walt Disney’s gift for timeless storytelling. It takes guests into the rich fairy tale world that first put Disney animation on the map in 1937. You get to know and care about the characters through their memorable songs and detailed scenes. Snow White’s kindness, the Dwarfs’ playful spirit, the Queen’s jealousy and the Prince’s devotion all shine through. The ride’s immersive environments make you feel part of the story, from the dark woods to the cozy cottage to the jeweled mine.
The animatronics and special effects give dimension to key moments like the transformation into the old hag. The ride’s climactic ending showing the power of true love leaves you smiling. Snow White’s Enchanted Wish reminds us that a great story told with artistry, music and imagination can inspire generations. Walt Disney pioneered blending animation with technological innovation to immerse audiences in new worlds. This classic ride exemplifies his visionary spirit and gift for storytelling that still delights old and new fans today.
Conclusion
Snow White’s Enchanted Wish brings to life Walt Disney’s pioneering vision of experiential storytelling. Seamlessly blending classic animatronics, state-of-the-art technology and musical magic, this ride makes you a part of Snow White’s timeless fairy tale. From its early days as an original 1955 attraction, to the 2021 reimagining, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish reminds us how a great story can capture our hearts. This charming ride deserves its spot as a beloved jewel in Disneyland’s Fantasyland crown.
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