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The Hero’s Rollercoaster

Examining Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey framework through the ups and downs of Disney World theme park rides

Tim Cigelske
Tim’s Travels
8 min readApr 3, 2024

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The universal themes of the hero’s journey are widely recognized in Disney movies such as The Lion King, Frozen or Moana.

But can you see them in a roller coaster?

After our 5th family vacation to Disney World, I’ve experienced some rides so many times that I start to see the details, nuance and — dare I say it — even deeper meaning and symbolism.

Of course, a ride like Test Track probably isn’t that deep. But with some of the epic newer rides — like the 18-minute Star Wars experience — there is an emphasis on setting the scene with storytelling. And many of those stories follow the same broad themes that make Disney stories so compelling.

The hero’s journey was first identified and labeled by Joseph Campbell, who pointed out the storytelling framework in literature and mythology depicting a protagonist who goes through a transformative journey. These are stages of conflict, triumph and resolution that resonate with all of us.

When you think about it, a theme park ride might just be a perfect analogy for Campbell’s journey. There are ups and downs, twists and turns, head-spinning speeds and…

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Tim’s Travels
Tim’s Travels

Published in Tim’s Travels

Ideas for traveling as a family with a focus on outdoor adventures

Tim Cigelske
Tim Cigelske

Written by Tim Cigelske

Educator. Podcast addict. Wrote a book about creativity: http://bit.ly/thecreativejourney

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