The March of the Animals

Located in a traditional Chinese octagonal pagoda building is “The March of the Animals.” The twelve animals featured throughout the attraction are those of the Chinese zodiac–Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat/Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each animal corresponds to a different year in the lunar calendar. For example, a person born in most of 1986 (or any multiple of 12 years prior to or after) would be a Tiger. Near the loading area of the ride, there is a poster that allows guests to figure out which animal represents their year. Since 2015, DCA has hosted the Chinese New Year with a parade featuring the animals of the Chinese zodiac; now they have a permanent location! Unlike The Garden of the Twelve Friends walk-through attraction at Shanghai Disneyland that bases the characters off of already existing Disney characters, this attraction features animals that are more traditional and thematically consistent. The queue tells the story--through paintings and mosaics--of how the Rat was the first animal, followed by the other animals and then finishing with the Pig. The animals have come together for a march in celebration of the Lunar New Year--the time at which the transition from the Year of one animal to the Year of another animal occurs.

The ride system used is the Thunderbolt flat ride. Traditionally this ride system uses 18 cars that seat either 2 adults or 3 children each. Imagineers have modified the ride vehicles so that there are 12 cars (representing the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac). Each car has 2 rows with each row sitting up to 2 adults or 3 children (classification based on height). The maximum capacity of the ride is therefore 48 adults or 72 children. The trains follow a circular path that rises and lowers along a track. The ride starts off at a relatively slow speed but then speeds up to provide some modest thrill. The ride lasts approximately 90 seconds. With 90 seconds needed for loading/unloading, the maximum hourly capacity is 1440 children. Chinese instrumental folk music plays in the background during the ride.