Disney World Reviews

[DavidG3276]

I've been to Disney World about twenty times and I was there just a few months ago. Here are some of my thoughts:

1. Journey into Imagination is a better ride than before, but I wish they would just bring back the original with Dreamfinder and Figment.
2. Soaring is way overhyped. Trust me that this is a fairly sedate ride. If my wife who gets stomach cramps just thinking about roller coasters enjoyed it then so will your queasy stomachs as well.
3. The 3-D PhilarMagic movie in Fantasyland is probably the best I've ever seen. The effects were almost seamless.
4. It's a Small World after all may have been spruced up, but it's still basically the same ride.
5. The Rio de Tiempo ride in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot is still a fun ride, but you'd think by now that they would have updated some of the videos played to show scenes in today's Mexico. I swear that I saw the same couple in the pool by the bar decades ago. Their skin must be turning prunelike by now.

I'll add more thoughts later.

[jbvenn]

I've been to Disney World about twenty times and I was there just a few months ago. Here are some of my thoughts:

1. Journey into Imagination is a better ride than before, but I wish they would just bring back the original with Dreamfinder and Figment.
2. Soaring is way overhyped. Trust me that this is a fairly sedate ride. If my wife who gets stomach cramps just thinking about roller coasters enjoyed it then so will your queasy stomachs as well.
3. The 3-D PhilarMagic movie in Fantasyland is probably the best I've ever seen. The effects were almost seamless.
4. It's a Small World after all may have been spruced up, but it's still basically the same ride.
5. The Rio de Tiempo ride in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot is still a fun ride, but you'd think by now that they would have updated some of the videos played to show scenes in today's Mexico. I swear that I saw the same couple in the pool by the bar decades ago. Their skin must be turning prunelike by now.

I'll add more thoughts later.

Thanks for the update!

2. I haven't been to WDW since Soarin' opened, so I'm really looking forward to it -- it appeals to my inner Peter Pan. I don't think every ride has to be a stomach-wrenching, white-knuckle thriller -- some people can't handle it (I love them, though).
3. The queues for PhilharMagic were just too long last time we were there, so we didn't see it -- maybe I'll have to make more of an effort next time?
4. People like to complain about "It's a Small World" but it's too much of a classic for Disney to mess with it much. Wish they felt that way about other attractions...

[addlema]

Philarmagic was superb. It and Expedition Everest really give me hope for the future of Disney.

El Rio de Tiempo is quite possibly my favorite of all rides.. It is so nice and relaxing after eating dinner at the San Angel. I love the entire Mexican Pavilion. It was so well done. I wish all of the WS pavilions had that much attention paid to them.

[cmcd13]

Philarmagic is one of my new favorites. If you follow the carpet ride close enough you can actually feel your stomach drop at some points.

Addlema, I agree about the El Rio ride after San Angel. I can't go to Epcot without planning dinner at the San Angel Inn.

[Beaker]

I also agree about Philharmagic. I think it is very fun to watch!

And I also agree about "El Rio" and I'd like to add that Maelstrom is also quite fun "Back, Back, Over the falls!" Whoops, sorry. Got caught up in it again! I very much enjoy the different activities for the countries, be it a movie or ride. I just wish that all of the countries had something like that. I don't think Germany, Morocco, Italy, or England have even a movie. I would love to see a gondola ride through Venice for Italy, but I suppose Disney has bigger things they are working on.

[slotofkit]

I have a hard time not laughing at how dated the videos are in El Rio. I've heard updating is dependant on sponsorship. Supposedly the actual countries help sponsor the pavilions.

[DavidG3276]

Here are some more thoughts on visiting Disney World.

1. If you have kids, bring them there when they are still young enough to see the "magic". We brought our daughter when she was about 3.5 years old. When she saw Pinocchio, she went right up to him and told him "Pinocchio - if you tell any lies, your nose is going to grow" becasue she wasn't talking to a cast member in an outfit. She was talking to Pinocchio.

2. That being said, don't bring young kids to DW unless you do it during the off season (best choice is the first two weeks in December). Young'uns don't do well standing in line for hours on end especially in the summer heat.

3. With young children, stay onsite. If you've got the bucks, stay at one of the Disney motels with a monorail station like the Polynesian. It makes it so easy to get back to the hotel room when they need their afternoon nap or they're just getting tired. The buses running to the value resorts work pretty well too. I know they say kids can sleep in their strollers, but trust me - a bed or crib still works best.

4. Take advantage of the babysitting features of WDW at the hotels if you're staying in one of them. Our young daughter had a blast at the Neverland Club at the Polynesian. It's funny - we were told by one of the people watching the kids that our daughter was very sad when the kids had the chance to play the video games. She told the woman that she had no money. When Megan found out that you didn't need quarters, she went to town! They take good care of the kids and give you and your spouse a nice break. You can see a picture of the Neverland Club at:
http://hotels.about.com/od/disneyworld/ ... new_10.htm

5. With young kids in tow, pace yourself. Just accept the fact that you're not going to see everything and you're not going to do everything. You feel so bad when you see people with little kids trying just to get through the Magic Kingdom in a day because either they they've just got that one day or for some other reason. It's just too much on the kids. Ideally, take a week to visit DW. Get up and the morning and after breakfast visit the more popular rides like Peter Pan's Flight before the crowds come in. Then grab luch and the afternoon nap. Go out again for a few hours in the late afternoon and get the kids in bed by their normal bedtime. Keeping them on a schedule pays big dividends.

6. One thing - if you are going to DW, DO NOT - REPEAT, DO NOT tell your kid about it a month or so ahead of time. Their sense of time and knowledge of the calendar is not the same as ours. For us, it may seem like the weeks rush by in a flash before we leave for DW. For them, it drags on and on. I recall being asked every morning for weeks by my then young daughter if we were going to DW today. Plus, she decided on her own to invite her friends at pre-school to come with her to DW. And being kids, they really thought they were going with us until we nipped that in the bud. If only we had kep our mouths shut.

7. One advantage of being at a Disney Hotel near the lagoon in the Magic Kingdom is that you can get a great view of the fireworks without the noise being excessive. Little ones can have sensitive ears and so they may not like the fireworks show if they're right there. Ditto for Epcot's fireworks.

8. One warning - be real careful before you get on the teacup ride in fantasyland. Your kid may be able to handle the turning around and around, but it's a bit disconcerting for kids to see their parents upchuck.

In a few days, I'll contribute some more thoughts.

[kgmadorin]

LOL!

Great post, DavidG! Wonderful, wonderful advice for anyone visitng WDW with young'uns.

[mickster68]

Love your post DavidG! I couldn't agree with you more on each and every thought! I'm always amazed when I read these horror stories from parents of young children, and their trips from hell. We've been taking ours since they were 2-1/2 and 4, and have never had a bad experience. Sure we have our moments here and there, but I can honestly say we've never had a bad trip with them. Not mentioning anything to them about the trip is great advice. Our guys didn't know we were going last time until we we actually boarded the plane! We managed to stay completely hush about the trip, pack their things while they were in school, load the car while they were asleep, and wake them in the morning with them thinking they were picking up their uncle at the airport--they were so stunned, I think it took them a couple of hours to realize we were really going to Disney--what a great memory! They still talk about that. But really, you've got to play it smart with little ones, and not push them. I realize not all kids are the same. Some may take everything in stride, and others may go bonkers at what may seem mild to your or I. I want to add that it may be helpful to have a talk with your kids before going in to the parks about some of the attractions. Our son was a little scared to go on rides like Stitch and Haunted Mansion, but we sat and talked with him about what was going to happen, how it's all "Disney magic" and make-believe, etc. and he decided on his own that he wanted to give them a try. He ended up loving them both. We've never dragged them on anything kicking and screaming. It only makes matters worse!
The Neverland Club is awesome! Our 7 year old still talks about it from our first trip. I'd highly recommend checking it out. It's always nice to have a little adult time while you're there...
Want to add--LOVED Philharmagic! It's my new favorite at MK. I was a little nervous about Soarin', but it was much milder than I had anticipated--a truly fantastic ride! El Rio, still an Epcot favorite, but I agree, it could use a little updating.

[DavidG3276]

Here are some more thoughts on visiting Disney.

1. I know people swear by the FastPass, but I swear at it. During our recent visit to WDW, there were hardly any people in line for Peter Pan's Flight, but it still took us almost forty minutes to get on because of people flashing their fastpass. Since there's no way Disney would've issued that many passes for that time period, the only thing I could conclude is that the people running the ride weren't enforcing the time restrictions. It left a bad taste in my mouth and that's a terrible thing to have happen at the most happiest place on earth!

2. WDW needs to expand! As I may have mentioned earlier, I've been there almost twenty times. I still enjoy it, but change can be good too. And so, I'd like to recommend a few new "lands" for the Magic Kingdom. One would be "retro-land" where you could find all those attractions you remember and love from earlier days like "You can Fly!" or "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride". Another would be "DK-land" (Disney Kids) which would be geared for the preschool set. You don't get in here unless you've got a kid. Put it near the park's entrance so that parents don't have to walk a long way with their kids to get to it. Let there be plenty of shade and cooling stations so that kids don't get the summer "wearies".

3. The Magic Kingdom rides could take a cue from Epcot. Instead of a few minutes going through Snow White's Journey, why not expand it to last ten to fifteen minutes? Do the same for other rides. The technology is finally there to do some awesome things and Disney ought to take advantage of it.

[MouseMan]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts DavidG, but I couldn't disagree with you on the FastPass any more. FP's are a great idea if you use them right. And as for enforcing the times, when we were at WDW this past Feb I actually had a CM make us wait 5 minutes to get in the Space Mountain FP line because that is when one of the two FPs we were using was timed. The time apparently changed by five minutes between the time the first and second tickets came out of the FP machine.

One comment on the Peter Pan ride; I have never seen a short line for that ride. Its just slow loading and very popular.

[horizons1]

6. One thing - if you are going to DW, DO NOT - REPEAT, DO NOT tell your kid about it a month or so ahead of time. Their sense of time and knowledge of the calendar is not the same as ours. For us, it may seem like the weeks rush by in a flash before we leave for DW. For them, it drags on and on. I recall being asked every morning for weeks by my then young daughter if we were going to DW today.

I suppose it depends upon the kid's age. When I was 10, I would countdown the days by crossing them off on a wall calendar. A great way to keep the kids from nagging you, plus it helps them prepare.