Fantasyland
When kids think of the Magic Kingdom, this is what they have in mind. Princesses, castles, Peter Pan, Dumbo—all the classics. Playing on that popularity, Disney is in the midst of a massive Fantasyland expansion that will grow the area significantly. It has several rides that may be designed for kids but that most adults also find worth the wait. When you see the little ones’ faces, even if they’re not your own, it will make your day.
Because you may be visiting at a time when the expansion is still underway, make sure to explore the area beyond just the marquee attractions that you might have read about before your trip.
Consider this a land where you’ll spend a great deal of time if you’re traveling with younger children. You may be rewarded if you visit more than once, even if it’s at the expense of another land in the Magic Kingdom or even another park. Just make sure you hit everything the kids want and the fun will be shared by all. This is the place where magic really does happen, and you don’t want to short yourself in that department.
Cinderella Castle
Attraction Type: Experience area/playground
The centerpiece of the entire Magic Kingdom is a child’s paradise in sights to be seen. While often the interior is blocked off as a staging area for performances shown in front of the castle, if you can get inside to see the tiled murals telling Cinderella’s story, it’s well worth it. There is a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique store/salon and the entrance to a restaurant on the ground floor, but the real use of the castle is as a backdrop for shows and fireworks. Let a child explore the grounds around the castle and you’ll be richly rewarded. Of particular note, take time in the winding garden paths, visit the wishing well, and just take it all in.
For more about the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique store, see the Downtown Disney/BoardWalk Chapter.
HIDDEN MAGIC!
When it was originally conceived, Cinderella Castle was allegedly going to have an apartment inside for Walt Disney and his family. Walt unfortunately passed before Walt Disney World was built, and the room never happened. But in 2007 a hotel suite was completed that is worthy of a princess.
I have visited the suite, and I can say that if you are offered the opportunity to stay in it, take that chance. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Dream Along with Mickey
Attraction Type: Theater/movie/show
A stage show held in front of Cinderella Castle several times during the day, this song-and-dance number is a great way for kids to get another dose of Mickey and friends without waiting in line.
Mad Tea Party
Attraction Type: Carnival attraction
Hop into a tea cup that spins around madly in multiple directions. This is another Disney classic ride that’s an almost required photo opportunity. It isn’t exciting for adults, but even the most tech-savvy youngster will lose his mind enjoying the spinning. And remember the old adage: the family that spins together, laughs together.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Attraction Type: Theme ride
This is one of three important character-themed dark rides in Fantasyland. Make sure you go to all of the ones in which your kids care for the characters. In this one, you hop aboard a honey pot and dive into the world of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and the rest of the childhood friends of Christopher Robin. The queue line, complete with Pooh’s tree-trunk home and interactive elements, makes the wait bearable.
MICKEY-SPEAK
Dark rides are attractions in which you ride in a car through a dark indoor set, visiting a series of scenes. Why is this important? Some kids, no matter how benign the subject matter, will have a melt down in the dark. Good to know if you have one of those kids with you, don’t you think?
“it’s a small world”
Attraction Type: Theme ride
Another Disney classic that has been recently refurbished, this boat ride lets you visit the children of the world country by country. The song is infectious, and the scenery, while a bit 1960s, hits a high note in the nostalgia category. It’s a Must Do! for all ages, simply because you have to say you rode this when you show pictures of your vacation when you return home. Also, the recently retrofitted queue line includes Disney’s most recent advancements in character greeting technology, so don’t miss it!
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Attraction Type: Carnival attraction
Sadly, some kids don’t even know who Dumbo is, though they would have no problem identifying the ride if it were Nemo. Nevertheless, this falls in the same category as the Mad Tea Party as a great photo-opportunity ride, one that is used in most of the Disney TV ads.
Besides, while twirling in circles may sound dull, when you’re doing it with that special person in your life, it just seems magical. This is one of the non-Princess elements of the Fantasyland expansion, as the ride is doubled in capacity through the addition of a second ride and a circus-themed queue area.
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Attraction Type: Carnival attraction
This is a beautiful carousel by anyone’s standard. It’s easy to understand why most guests pass it by, feeling that it’s nothing special you couldn’t find elsewhere. But if you have young children or are a romantic at heart, you should take a ride and appreciate the amazing craftsmanship that went into building this piece of moving art.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Attraction Type: Theater/movie/show
This is the best 3-D movie in all of Walt Disney World—and my wife’s favorite attraction anywhere. Join Donald as he bumbles through the world of music trying to regain control of Mickey’s sorcerer’s hat while characters from several Disney movies try to help.
The music is powerful and catchy, the 3-D effects are impressive, and the in-theater effects are perfectly balanced. Some kids will be scared by 3-D effects but with the glasses off will enjoy the music and show.
Peter Pan’s Flight
Attraction Type: Theme ride
The second of the three Fantasyland character-themed dark rides, this one takes you over the streets of London and the islands of Neverland in a pirate ship. Follow the heroic exploits of Peter Pan and the evil plotting of Hook in what is probably the most popular ride in Fantasyland. Really, if tales of Pan are even just of occasional interest to your kids, you need to ride this to make a classic come to life for them again.
Snow White’s Scary Adventure
Attraction Type: Theme ride
The third of the three Fantasyland character-themed dark rides, the Snow White ride may be called scary, but it’s perfect (and captivating) for smaller children. The witch and some brief dark periods are found here, but, for the most part, it’s an ideal retelling of the story.
There’s not much more to say, other than the fact that this is a storied ride based on perhaps the greatest of the Disney animated movies; you may not realize just how much your kids identify with this timeless classic, even in the day of computer-generated movies.
The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm
Attraction Type: Thrill ride
This roller coaster is designed for the younger set, but it still has a height restriction. The slow turns and dips make this one of the more ideal rides where an adult and a child truly can share the experience. So many rides are designed for one or the other, but this is really fun for both. Guests must be 35 inches to enjoy this ride.
Note that this ride used to be part of the now-extinct Toontown. As the Fantasyland expansion evolves, you may see it listed in another land, or even possibly re-themed altogether.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Fantasyland expansion, still underway at the time of this writing, is going to add several new attractions to the park. Most of the Princess-themed ones are within the Fantasyland Forest, but all are found in this magical land somewhere. Primary among these are:
• Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid—This boat ride takes guests through the story of the
Little Mermaid, as set inside the cliffside manor of Prince Eric.
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant—Doubling capacity and the addition of the circus-themed waiting area will make this iconic attraction more fun for the whole family.
• Dreams Come True with Cinderella—Meet Cinderella at her country chateau, and enjoy one of the more interactive experiences where some kids get to dance with her, or perhaps learn to be knights.
• Birthday Surprise for Sleeping Beauty—Join in as Flora, Fauna, and Meriwether throw a party for Sleeping Beauty.
• Enchanted Tales with Belle—Everyone’s favorite Beauty lets kids be part of the show as they play parts in the retelling of this classic tale.
Tomorrowland
This land is supposed to be a look back at how we envisioned the future. Confused? Well rather than say, “This is what the future will look like,” only to be constantly looking dated as our technology evolves in real time, they instead paint a picture of what people thought the future would look like back in the 1950s movies of spaceships and travels to the moon, Mars, and beyond. Anchored by the iconic Space Mountain roller coaster, the land has become a fun area for all ages.
Tomorrowland Speedway
Attraction Type: Theme ride
I used to hate this ride. It was slow, boring, noisy, and ugly. That’s when the team from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) stepped in, and it’s a world better now. While it is no longer branded to the Indy 500, it’s still a fun diversion. It’s also definitely a ride more for kids than adults, but what did you expect here? Drive a car (yes, a real car, with a real engine—not some electronic track-pulled prop!) around the looping course. A single rail keeps the cars from veering off, and the new refurbishment brings banked turns that make kids really feel like they’re in the big race. Guests have to be 54 inches tall to ride alone; otherwise, they can ride with an adult and be way shorter!
Stitch’s Great Escape!
Attraction Type: Thrill ride
Formerly known as the Extra TERRORestrial Alien Encounter, this attraction was softened a bit because the earlier version was just too scary for most. The attraction now puts you on the security detail watching Stitch, who, naturally, escapes and causes mayhem and havoc. While the effects are more fun, it’s still far too scary for most kids. Prolonged dark periods and some realistic effects will definitely scare them. Guests must be 40 inches tall to enjoy this attraction.
Space Mountain
Attraction Type: Thrill ride
This is still the best-known roller coaster at Walt Disney World, and it still thrills. The dark interior, lit only by stars, makes the twists and turns a surprise no matter how many times you’ve been on this classic. This thrill ride is a Must Do!, not only because it’s a trademark ride at the park, but because it’s a great ride that still pulls in roller-coaster enthusiasts from around the world. Guests must be 44 inches tall to enjoy this attraction.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Attraction Type: Theme ride
You’ve been enlisted by the Space Rangers to help Buzz fight powerhoarding bad guys. Emperor Zurg (the bad guy) needs to be stopped, and you are just the ranger to do it! Hop into a two-person car equipped with laser guns for shooting at targets throughout the ride. The guns actually score points based on whatever targets you hit along the way, so you even get to compete with your party.
This is one of the better new rides in the Magic Kingdom. You can encourage your kids to shoot things without worrying about sending the wrong message, because they’re just shooting targets to sap the batteries of their power. Kids also enjoy seeing what rank of ranger their score earns them at the end of the ride—and seeing if they beat Mom or Dad!
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Attraction Type: Theme ride
This ride is impressive, in that it’s run by magnetic power and technically has no moving parts but the cars themselves. You get an above-ground view of Tomorrowland, gliding around the park and even inside Space Mountain. It’s not very exciting, but it’s a relaxing ride if you need a cool-down period after a meal or before your next FASTPASS is valid.
Astro Orbiter
Attraction Type: Carnival attraction
This modern take on the traditional carnival ride (replace Dumbo with a rocket) has you circling on spaceships that rise up and down. Located in the middle of the courtyard in the center of Tomorrowland, it’s a pretty simple ride with few surprises, but the height above ground level (about three stories up) can be a problem for some kids, so consider that first before riding.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tomorrowland has a talking trash can. Usually found around the restrooms near the Astro Orbiter, this moving, chatting can is a big surprise to most and a surprisingly pleasant conversationalist. See if you can get him to scare Mom when she comes out of the restroom. Priceless.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Attraction Type: Theme ride
I’m sorry—I really want to like this ride, due to its history: Walt Disney actually created it for the 1964 World’s Fair. But it really needs either an upgrade or a replacement. In this attraction, you sit in a theater that goes around to a series of stages with audio-animatronic action figures that walk you through the technology advancements from the early 1900s to today. It’s always reputed to be closing or being refurbished, but neither seems to be true. There are rumors that Walt demanded that it never be closed down. There are also websites dedicated to the ride’s preservation, but you should simply consider it an uncomfortable air-conditioned rest from the Orlando humidity. Otherwise, you may want to pass it by. Let’s hope that this is updated soon, keeping Walt’s dream alive!
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club
Attraction Type: Theater/movie/show
Disney has created a new technology that allows for an interactive cartoon show, originally debuting in Turtle Talk with Crush in Epcot. This sets the ideal stage for kids, where they can really interact with the stars of the movies that they’ve grown to love. In this attraction, you are part of the crowd in a comedy club located in the mythical town of Monstropolis depicted in Monsters, Inc. Mike (the one-eyed green creature originally voiced by Billy Crystal) is trying to power the city with your laughter, so he pulls out many of his friends to help.
A really innovative feature of the attraction is that you can use your cell phone to text-message a joke to them while you are waiting in line to enter the show. They’ll even text you back to let you know if they’re going to use it.
This is a Must Do! attraction because the humor works for all, and the technology used is what we should all dream of. It enhances the show, but we don’t spend time figuring it out—we just enjoy it!
Summary
The Magic Kingdom is the true heart of Walt Disney World. The long list of attractions should tell you that they’ve crammed as much fun into the park as they can, and they’ve tried to find something for everyone. As you plan your trip, make sure that you recognize this and that you plan your time accordingly. Whereas other parks may get a day of your time, the Magic Kingdom can take two days and still have you heading home without having seen it all. Don’t let that be a negative—that just means you’ll always have something to come back to see. For kids, that can mean everything.
Chapter 18
Epcot
In This Chapter
• Learn about the secrets of the future (Future World)
• Travel the world, or at least the World Showcase
• Decide how best to enjoy the attractions, shopping, and dining of the two parks that make up Epcot
Epcot stands for the Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow, and it was conceived by Walt Disney himself. While it is vastly different than his original plans, the Disney Imagineers created a park that is essentially two parks made into one. Roughly organized like a figure eight, this park conveys the excitement of the future and manages to combine it with an idyllic view of the rest
of the world.
Nothing is more fun on your first visit to Epcot than to enter by way of the monorail as it circles Spaceship Earth. This large geodesic globe is the symbol of Epcot and it sits near the center of Future World, which celebrates different aspects of technology, nature, and mankind through a series of pavilions. These pavilions, which form a circle around Spaceship Earth, take you on journeys that explore these worlds and show how they will change as we, our technology, and our planet change. This forward-looking approach makes it interesting and fun, and explains why they call it Future World.
I hear you groaning, “Oh, no, not learning on a vacation!” Don’t worry; this is a fun park that just happens to have some learning hidden here and there. It has some of the fastest thrill rides (Test Track and Mission: SPACE), a 5-million-plus-gallon aquarium, and a whole lot more.
Then there’s the World Showcase. This circle of pavilions brings different corners of the globe to central Florida. Kind of like a permanent World’s Expo, the 11 national pavilions put you squarely in front of the Eiffel Tower, in the shadow of an Aztec pyramid, and in the heart of a Moroccan bazaar. Staffed by students native to the many countries represented here, the World Showcase lets you feel as though you’re globe-trotting. This part of Epcot brings some unique shopping, exceptional food, and impressive views. While it may not have traditional theme park rides, the World Showcase is an experience not to be missed, especially around fireworks or mealtimes. It has been listed by many as a perennial favorite simply for the great atmosphere.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Walt Disney World, 2012 Edition Page 22
