Specifically, that is to say, we love Walt Disney World (WDW) and visit as often as possible. If you’re not familiar, WDW is one vast Disney-owned area near Orlando, Florida, comprised of several theme parks: the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. In addition, there are a ton of hotels, shopping centers, water parks, miniature golf courses, real golf courses, and all sorts of other recreational facilities that make up the property.
What makes WDW different from other amusement park destinations is that the Disney parks are meticulously planned, incredibly well-themed, well-designed, and well-staffed. Disney takes extra care in making the experience as wonderful as possible for the guest. No other park even comes close. We were there for eight nights and with one exception, a bus driver who wasn’t quite as helpful as he could have been, the staff was remarkably polite. Really, they go out of their way to be friendly and courteous.
The Disney parks are home to the best collection of attractions in the world. The Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, the Hall of Presidents, Mission Space, the Haunted Mansion and many more were built with lavish detail to immerse you in the setting of the attraction. Most of these attractions are decades old yet still way beyond what other parks have even attempted.
So, what will follow are several posts with my thoughts on our recent experience at Disney World.
Two best Disney innovations - Fast Pass and extended hours.
Fast Passes allow you to claim a virtual place in line for a busy attraction so you can go ride something else. When the pass matures, you walk onto the attraction without any wait. As a result, we rarely waited more than ten minutes to get on anything in any of the parks.
If you’re a guest at a Disney hotel, you’re entitled to attend extended hours. On a rotating schedule, the parks stay open up to three hours after the usual closing time. That means that on some days the Magic Kingdom was open until 3AM! We had enough time to do everything we wanted and then some, with far smaller crowds.
Welcome Back - It’s a Small World
Closed the last time we were at WDW, it’s back, refurbished, and boy is it as corny as ever. But it’s good corn that you like to eat every now and then. Call it candy corn.
You’re still here? - Carousel of Progress
I know it’s one of the original rides and I know it was Walt Disney’s favorite, but geez is it uber-corny. But not the good kind of corn, more like hardened creamed corn with a dead fly in it. And their depiction of “the present” is about twenty years behind the times. Really, if you’re going to depict different technologies throughout the 20th century up until today, then at least get today right!
Most overrated ride - Peter Pan’s Flight
Of the four extant dark rides in Fantasyland (Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World, Snow White, and Winnie the Pooh), the best is unquestionably Peter Pan. You fly over London and the Island of Lost Boys in a pirate ship, watching animatronic scenes from the movie unfold below you. But the queues are outrageous. We’re in Fantasyland at 2AM and there’s still a forty minute wait to ride this thing? Not to mention that the entire ride lasts probably three minutes at most. Sheesh, people.
Best Ride I had never ridden before - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
I’m not a big fan of roller coasters as the long drops and upside down stuff really bother my delicate constitution (i.e. I’m a wuss). This coaster has no big drops and no upside down stuff. What it does have is speed, tight turns, and a lot of atmosphere. We really, really loved it, riding it five times during our two visits to the Magic Kingdom.
Honorable Mention - Soarin’ at Epcot
A simple (and surprisingly large) open motion simulator in front of a huge, curved screen makes you feel like you’re flying. Great fun.
Biggest intrusion of reality - Angry guy at Typhoon Lagoon
On our last day, we were getting dinner at one of the walk-up counters at Typhoon Lagoon. As I’m giving the guy my order, I hear a commotion. “Keep your hands off me!” some guy is screaming at the next cashier over. The cashier says loudly that he didn’t touch the guy and asks people around to verify it. Several people speak up to support the cashier. Other workers call security and the guy hightails it out of there. The cashier yells something after the guy about how the Disney employees deserve respect, not abuse, and several other customers agree that the guy was a jerk. I have no idea what was going on, but it was really a shock following all the happy smiles of the previous week.
Biggest disappointment - Kali River Rapids
At our last visit to Animal Kingdom in 2004, this new river rapids ride was undergoing testing and with limited operating hours, we didn’t get a chance to ride. This time we did and boy was it hugely disappointing. Your circular, twelve-person raft is hauled up one hill, rides the river for about one minute and then slides down one big, but not steep, slide, getting many people wet. And that’s it. Total ride time, about two minutes. As a modern attraction, it was woefully lame.
Coolest looking ride we didn’t ride - Expedition Everest
Wow, just look at this thing.
More to follow . . .
4 comments:
Bob,
We really appreciate all the PR. Didn't get your address, though, so we don't know where to send the check. See ya next year!
Love, Mickey
Oh, I am SO burned!
And yet, I criticized the Park several times in that post. So who's the corporate shill now?
Cleverly inserted faux-criticism only serves to lend credibility to your paid commercial. Certainly nothing the fine folks at Knott's Berry Farm would stoop to. BTW, if you haven't been to KNOTT'S BERRY FARM, you should certainly give it a shot. Knott's Berry Farm: Makes Disney Look Like a Turd! Brought to you by just some guy who really likes jam.
Can't argue with that. You certainly likes you some jam.
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