Disney World: Create your own adventure

The Discovery Channel had a feature on Disney World today, and I discovered something new. In Downtown Disney’s DisneyQuest, there is a feature called Cyberspace Mountain, where you can create your own roller coaster and then ride the roller coaster in a simulator. This is obviously a very interesting idea, and I wish I’d found it during my last trip. As it is, I plan to make this a priority when I get back to Mouse-ville.

Finally, I will get a chance to be an imagineer. What will I call my first ride? How about Inside the Park Home Run: The Ride. Ok, maybe the name needs some work.

Disney World: What park is coming next?

First, there was the Magic Kingdom. Then EPCOT. Now, Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios provide the entertainment. As I found out in the Keys To The Kingdom Tour, Disney has only used about half of the usable property it owns in Orlando. While I am guessing that the rise of the internet has been bad for the theme park business, it makes sense that another park will be added before too long. We got the land of tomorrow, the home of animals, and a metroplex metropolis, so what is next?

I have narrowed it down to two possibilities. The first is a sports theme park. Now, Disney already has the Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, but I am thinking much, much grander. I envision a park with sections for each of the major sports, plus some others. When you get tired of the Hockey Shootout, which actually “shoots” you at various nets and other targets, you can head on over to Basketballtown, U.S.A., where you can learn all about Dr. James Naismith and the ABA. My favorite ride, of course, is the Julius Erving Slam Dunk, a water ride. Naturally, athletic competitions, such as speed pitch and pop-a-shot, will populate this park.

Ok, perhaps that’s a little far-fetched. Maybe music would have a better shot. After all, Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is the most popular ride at MGM. As for rides, how about the Electric Slide? Or the Beatles Yellow Submarine Ride? I’m sure there are plenty of attractions to be built, and the spectacle shows would probably be fantastic. Of course, I am waiting for the Pearl Jam Evenflow Ride. And I bet this park features an arena for live concerts.

I think we’ll see a music theme park before a sports park. Either way, I can’t wait to get back to Orlando so I can experience the new park for the first time!

Disney World: Keys To The Kingdom Tour

This trip, I had the privilege of going on the Keys To The Kingdom tour, a four hour journey through the Magic Kingdom. I have to say that this tour is well worth the price (additional on top of park admission), and probably even a bargain. Make your reservations early because the tour typically sells out.

I learned a great deal about the Disney family, especially Roy Disney (Walt’s brother), who probably had a bigger hand in the entire Disney movement than Walt did. Next time you’re on Main Street U.S.A. in Disney World, give a look up at some of the windows. There are some interesting stories there, if you can find them. According to our tour guide, they read just like movie credits. And Blaine Gibson is quite an interesting fellow.

I also learned about the inner workings of the park, including a brief journey through the Utilidor tunnel. It was quite interesting to see the hidden side of a Disney park. Let’s just say that the guide maps might prove to be a little “misguided.”

The most interesting thing I learned was how the hitchhikers from the Haunted Mansion show up right in your car. Someone very smart came up with the idea, and the end result looks great.

All in all, this was a very thought-provoking, comprehensive, and interesting introduction to the other side of the wall. The time flew by and I was constantly amazed at how many cool things I found out about. I recommend the tour to anyone who has ever been to Disney World, and especially to the inquisitive ones who wonder how the whole thing has been put together.

Disney World: Attractions

I quickly realized that this was not the Disney World of my youth. There are now four parks, and about five thousand rides and attractions to vie for your attention.

The biggest change is FastPass. Basically, if you want to go on a ride, but the wait time (conveniently posted at the entrance) is too long, you can put your park ticket in a machine and get a FastPass slip. This tells you a time, usually an hour or two later, when you can come back and skip the line. So you go on another ride and then it’s time to skip!

They are smart: you can’t get multiple FastPasses. It makes you wait an hour or so to get a different FastPass. The end result is that, while you still have to wait in some lines, if you really want to go on a ride, it’s much easier.

You still have to get there early in the morning. We generally arrived between 8 and 9 AM and took a break around 3 or 4, then came back in the evening. Magic Kingdom even has Extra Magic Hours on Sunday nights (until 1 AM), so we were able to go on just about every ride at that time.

Here are the Top 10 Disney World Attractions:
1. Fantasmic (MGM)
2. Rockin Roller Coaster w/ Aerosmith (MGM)
3. Test Track (EPCOT)
4. Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom)
5. Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
6. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Magic Kingdom)
7. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin (Magic Kingdom)
8. Dinosaur (Animal Kingdom)
9. Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
10. Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom)

Fantasmic was a very interesting “show” in a stadium-type area of MGM. It was really a creative, innovative way to show off all of what Disney has to offer. TIP: When you walk into the seating area, go to your left until you hit the end of the last building. Then proceed down into the seats and go about halfway down. Everyone else will head towards the right, so you can reach your mark even if you’re not at the front of the crowd. You will be sitting right in the middle of the show.

Expedition Everest amazed me by being the smoothest roller coaster I have ever been on. Naturally, it’s brand new (opened in early 2006).

The Buzz Lightyear ride had a lot of potential. Essentially, you are trying to shoot targets that appear throughout the ride. You can even turn your car to aim at them. Your score and your co-rider’s score are listed on your dashboard. But it was hard to tell what you had hit, and how many points you earned for it. If they can figure out a way to improve that, this ride will score even higher marks.

There was some great imagery in the Haunted Mansion. Especially when you wind up with a ghost right in your car! I later learned how they did it and it is pretty impressive. More on that in the next post.

Incidentally, we bought Mini Mickey: The Pocket-Sized Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World prior to our trip. It is great: it has details about every ride, every restaurant and every hotel. And it fit right in my back pocket. Well worth the cost.

Disney World: Lodging

During the trip, we stayed in the Polynesian Resort on Disney property. In fact, it’s right on the monorail line and right next to the Transportation Center (public parking). While Disney World has a veritable plethora of lodging options, it really helped to be that close. I definitely recommend staying in a place around the Seven Seas Lagoon, which includes the Polynesian (Hawaiian theme), Grand Floridian (upscale), and Comtemporary (basics). Any of the three will get you quick access to the Magic Kingdom, either by monorail (one goes right through the Contemporary) or by boat. Both options are free.

The best part about staying on Disney property was cash-carrying. I went into the park each day with seven dollars. I charged everything to my room, from a hot dog on the street to a fancy dinner to gifts in the shops. And it worked everywhere, from the Magic Kingdom to the Animal Kingdom. My entire inventory:

- Silver Pass (entry to the park)
- Park Ticket (also used for FastPass)
- Room Key (for charging and to get back into my room)
- Seven dollars

The Polynesian itself is nice, although it’s too true to the Hawaiian theme. When I go to Disney World, I want Mickey on the pillowcases. While at this particular resort, you lose track of the fact you are at Disney World. Unless, of course, you are on the beach, with a great view of Cinderella’s Castle, Space Mountain, and the Contemporary all lit up across the water. The Polynesian has two pools (one heated), and no hot tub. And you have to go outside from the main building to your own building. All in all, I’d rather have stayed at the Contemporary. But I’m not really complaining either way.

Disney World: The happiest place on Earth

Last night, I returned from a four day trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. I had such a great time and have a lot to talk about. There are four Disney World blog posts coming in the near future.

The posts will appear in this order:
- Lodging
- Attractions
- Keys to the Kingdom tour
- Potential Future Parks