Category — q. Reviews

AN ENCHANTING ATTRACTION

Enchanted Tales with Belle, a New Fantasyland attraction that had its formal Magic Kingdom opening in early December 2012, is by far the best recent Disney World offering.

Described by some as a “character meet,” it is so much more–and in one way a little bit less–than the routine character meet and greet at Walt Disney World that it deserves to be classed as an attraction.

Enchanted Tales with Belle is as charming and fun an attraction as you will find in the Magic Kingdom.  While little kids who volunteer to appear in the “show” (more on that later) will have the most fun, all ages will be delighted by the overall experience.

Even if your kids are in their 20s, there’s wonderful magic here, and watching the little ones put on the show is more than half the fun. [Read more →]

DUMBO IN NEW FANTASYLAND

Dumbo–a simple and undistinguished flying elephant ride–has been a mainstay in the Magic Kingdom since the park opened, delighting millions of toddlers, not so much their parents.

As part of the Fantasyland expansion project, Dumbo has been moved to the new Storybook Circus section of Fantasyland (where Toontown Fair used to be located), spiffed up, added to the FASTPASS program, duplicated so that there are now two copies of the basic Dumbo ride, and had an air-conditioned indoor waiting play area added.

For both parents and little ones, the changes are an improvement.

For the little ones who love Dumbo so much, the ride has the same appeal to little kids that it (and its earlier incarnation at Disneyland) has always had. Little ones will enjoy the added color and action of the new Storybook Circus setting, and the play opportunity in the stand-by line.

(The image is my sister and I on Dumbo at Disneyland in the late 60s.)

For the parents who wait with these kids, the changes–so far–have been a godsend.

The addition of FASTPASSES and the doubling of capacity means wait times are down, and the air-conditioned play area both increases the comfort and decreases the boredom the waiting line.

It’s still just Dumbo–skippable for all but the younger set–but Dumbo with a faster moving, more comfortable line than it’s ever had before, and a more charming and thematically appropriate setting in Storybook Circus!

UNDER THE SEA ~ JOURNEY OF THE LITTLE MERMAID AT THE MAGIC KINGDOM

The signature ride of Disney World’s Fantasyland expansion, Under the Sea ~ The Journey of the Little Mermaid, formally opened in early December 2012.

Located in Prince Eric’s castle, and duplicating the already opened version in Disney California Adventure, this new attraction is both wildly popular (so far) and quite a disappointment. [Read more →]

THE NEW TEST TRACK AT EPCOT

Test Track re-opened in early December 2012 after months spent fundamentally re-doing the ride.

The track and vehicles are essentially the same as before, including the great finale which is the best part of the ride, but the interior, pre-show and story have all changed.

The changes are mostly, but not entirely, for the better, and the ride remains a must-see! [Read more →]

We recently did Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure at Epcot, an attraction which opened in the summer of 2012.

Like the now-retired attraction it’s based on, Kim Possible’s World Showcase Adventure, it’s a terrific new attraction for returning visitors, but we have mixed feelings about it for first time visitors. [Read more →]

Kilimanjaro Safaris is the quintessential ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, wonderfully combining the park’s two major themes of animals and conservation.

It has recently re-launched with some elements added and some taken away. The combined effect is a new level of clarity for what was already a great ride, further solidifying its position as a not-to-be-missed attraction at the Animal Kingdom.

REVIEW: KILIMANJARO SAFARIS [Read more →]