WDW Rides -- EPCOT

To tell you the truth, there are very few rides in Epcot. Disney has been ramping up the ride focus, but there are other sights, stores and restaurants to visit instead of ride.

Here's the 2013 map of Epcot:



Here's the older map version of Epcot.



Sorry, but this true north aspect of the maps is just too bizarre for me to comprehend. Just put the entrance near the bottom and let it go!

Again, when you enter the park pick up a map AND a Times Guide. The maps come in numerous languages, but I'm not sure about the Times Guides. If there isn't a map in your language, check out Guest Relations (to your left after the first fountain and Spaceship Earth.

FUTURE WORLD EAST

Spaceship Earth -- is the focal point of Epcot. It's the large golf ball sphere. It's a mellow ride, 2 in front, 2 behind in each car. We enjoy it as it's a nice way to cool off in the afternoon heat. As soon as you enter the building you walk onto a moving circular platform. You have to be able to get out of your scooter or wheelchair to ride this ride--though I think Disney does it's best to make all rides accessible for everyone.

Ellen's Energy Adventure -- It's been a long time since we rode this one. There are three sections in this auditorium that break apart and move around for the show. Accessible for everyone . . . just be sure you take a potty break BEFORE you ride as it's a looong show. 45 min.

Mission: SPACE -- Fast Pass -- 44" height requirement, shoulder harness -- Orange team = intense experience -- Green team = less intense. I've ridden both sides. Green usually has less of a line, but that doesn't mean less of an experience. The Orange team still has the centrifugal action going, so if you get motion sickness, this is NOT the ride for you! Very cold air is circulating around the cockpit that holds four people. Each seat is given a job, which is a good way to keep you focused on the video screen and NOT on the thought of spinning around. You will feel pressure on the Green team, but not the G-forces you will experience on the Orange team. You're strapped in pretty tightly and I didn't experience any issues with my neck.

Test Track -- Fast Pass -- singles line -- 40" height requirement -- for almost a year, this ride was down as the reimagined the concept. The actual ride is still the same, but the pre-ride is very different. Different, not necessarily better. Not as much of a fan of the reimagined ride. Even the singles line takes longer than you would expect since these riders also go through a version of the design a car concept. If you are preggers, or have neck or back issues, you might want to skip this ride. It is a little harsh on the body.  

Sum of All Thrills -- We never got a chance to do this. It's in the Innovations East building. Every time we wanted to try this out, there was a LONG line. You basically design your own rollercoaster and then you get into a pod (a mechanical arm with a bucket on the end) and then you 'ride' your own roller coaster design.

**I think this ride might also be at Disney Quest, which is in Downtown Disney.**

FUTURE WORLD WEST

The Seas: numerous exhibits featuring very small and very large aquariums. Take some time to explore this area. You will also find Turtle Talk with Crush in this building.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends -- This is the reimagined entrance into the Living Seas. You ride in a clamobile (2 or 3 people depending on everyone's size) through various scenes. The Disney imagineers have done a great job mixing a real aquarium with action, scenes, etc from Nemo.

The Land: This building has quite a few restaurants and a couple of different shows, but most people go into The Land to ride . . .

Soarin' -- Fast Pass -- 40" height requirement. Love this ride as you are basically hang gliding with about 80 of you best friends. :-) It's very smooth, but you are up in the air and they don't want people to get hurt, which is why there is a height requirement.

Living with the Land -- Fast Pass -- boat ride. Slow boat that takes you through Disney greenhouses and a fish farm. The only time this ride is crowded is during peak season. Erm, I would never consider getting a fast pass for this ride, but each to their own. 
 
Imagination: This area has been reimagined a few times, but it still needs some work. Very few people come over to this area.

Journey into the Imagination -- Ride with Figment. Fun, mellow little ride to get you out of the heat. You will be singing the song for awhile because it's an earworm like "It's a Small World"

Captain EO -- 3-D Michael Jackson film as he plays Captain EO as he rescues the world through dance, music and a light show . . . good, but very dated.

WORLD SHOWCASE -- clockwise around the lake. I'm including each of the worlds even if they don't have a ride. Many of them have exhibits that change periodically, sit down restaurants, quick service type of restaurants, and, of course, shopping!

Mexico -- gentle raft ride around Mexico, featuring the three caballeros (Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, and Pancito Pistoles). Some rafts are equipped to have wheelchairs. Mariachi shows periodically throughout the day along with character greetings.

Norway -- Fast Pass -- Maelstrom--Viking boat ride through Norway's past. Some drops, but no restraints on the boat, so it's very gentle . . . as you travel through TROLL COUNTRY! This is a fun ride, and yes, when there is a long line we've been known to get a fast pass. There is a short film after the ride, but if you don't want to watch it, then just walk through into the gift shops. Every meal at the Akershus Restaurant is a character meal with Princesses. If you want to see Epcot empty, then make reservations for breakfast--family style--where everyone at your table digs into the same dish. Hope you like the people you're with!  

China -- 360 movie theater. Standing rails only. But I love this movie! Throughout the day, there are acrobats putting on shows. Don't miss the pint-sized rendition of the Terra Cotta Warriors. Very Impressive!

Germany -- If you time it well, you can see the giant cuckoo clock chime. The restaurant is the show. Buffet meal with seating at long, communal tables. Meet new people as you sing "Ein Prosit" together while swilling large steins of beer . . . not that I would ever do that . . .

Italy -- again with all the eating. Sometimes they will provide a clown/mime/juggling act. If you have little ones, you might warn them that the statues might move. . . You'll know if it's a show.

The American Adventure -- three different shows. Yeah, and I'm one of those terrible American's who bypass this whole section. The food is standard stuff for the US, though they do serve Sam Adam's beer.

Japan -- In the past, they've done the advent of tin toys, and how anime ties into their history. A couple of shows are throughout the day. If you get a chance to see the Taiko Drummers-- DO! They are amazing!

Morocco -- This area was getting a facelift to help draw guests into their country. Throughout the day, there is a belly dancer who performs. She's really good at getting the little tykes up to dance.

France -- Impressions de France film is in a sit down auditorium. It's a nice trip to the very different areas of France.

United Kingdom -- Various shows throughout the day. I totally enjoyed British Revolution . . . but then it might have been the beer speaking when I sang along with them to a Billy Idol song. Yes, I embarrassed the kidlet . . . that's the point, right??

Canada -- 360 film of Canada. Standing rails only. Off Kilter, a Canadian/Celtic rock group performs throughout the day. If you want to splurge, Le Cellier has some of the best steak I've ever eaten. It's right up there with really good steakhouses like Morton's and Flemings.

There are a few things to keep the kiddies occupied, instead of whining about how tired they are.

1) Kidcot -- I didn't pay attention to the fan that kids can color this year. In the past, it was a mask on a stick. The kiddo goes to each county's kidcot area to get a stamp and many times the cast member will write the kiddo's name in that language. It's fun to see what each name looks like in Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, etc.

2) Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World showcase adventure -- This isn't just for tweens or teens, you will see adults playing with their F.O.N.E., finding clues, and foiling Dr. Doofenschmirtz. If you see someone with an old style FONE, hang around them to see what they set off!

3) Every night, Epcot does a IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at 9 PM. The only time they might postpone this show is if there is lightning. There are a few better areas to view the firework, lights, and laser show, but almost any place around the lagoon will work . . . just try to stay away from buildings and trees that might get in the way as the show is on the water as much as it is in the air!

Epcot provides this wonderful show at the end of an exhausting day. It's a must see!

Magic Kingdom is the last park I'm chatting about. It might take me longer than the rest since virtually everything in the park is a ride!

WDW Rides -- Hollywood Studios

Trying to figure out this particular park is a mess. . . and the map certainly doesn't help as the entrance is in the upper right hand corner. Hollywood Studios highlights movies and television, and though there are rides, there are more shows to see. Many of the shows we haven't seen, but I'll put them on the list.

Again, be sure to check the times guide when you enter the park as it will have the most current show times.

Did I mention that I HATE these new maps??

Here's the 2013 version of the map:

Here's the 2012 version of the map:

Since there is no rhyme or reason to the layout of this map, I'll just follow the color coded system on the old map to help you figure out where everything is situated.

HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD

The Great Movie Ride -- This ride takes the guest through various movie scenes. Though the line might seem long, each car is HUGE. It's a very mellow ride with the exception of the Alien movie . . .

ECHO LAKE

The American Idol Experience -- Never saw it. It runs through auditions picking the best of the best until the end of the day when they choose a winner who makes it through directly to the judges at the American Idol tryouts.

ABC Sound Studio -- Saw it once a long time ago. How sounds are made in the movies.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular -- Must see show -- Basically, this is a stunt show that showcases the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Star Tours -- fast pass -- A couple of years ago this ride was updated. This motion simulator is now 3-D, and every time you ride the ride you get a different experience. There are three sections to the experience and they rotate through the different movie options providing a new experience every time.

STREETS OF AMERICA

Muppet Vision 3D -- A wonderful 3-D show for the whole family. 25-minutes long

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure -- This is a great place for the little tykes to burn off some energy. It's fun for the parents, too, but some of the areas are hard to get to unless you are a little kid or a very nimble adult.

Lights, Motor, Action! Extreme Stunt Show -- Must see show -- A vehicle stunt show--cars, trucks and motorcycles. Very loud. Very hot since it's outside. But it's nice to see how they do some of those car stunts in the various movies.

Studio Backlot Tour -- Tram ride through the backlot sets.

PIXAR PLACE / MICKEY AVENUE

Toy Story Midway Mania! -- fast pass -- Must ride -- The fast passes go quickly on this ride. Many times we'll be getting fast passes only 15 minutes after the park opens with a return time after noon. Before getting a fast pass verify the return time, remembering you can't get another fast pass for another ride until the fast pass window starts. Sometimes we will just wait in line for up to an hour first thing in the morning because the times will only get longer as the day goes on, especially during the high season. Each car holds four people, two on each side. Word of warning: your shooting arm will get really, really sore and tired!

Walt Disney: One Man's Dream -- never saw it.

ANIMATION COURTYARD
 
Voyage of The Little Mermaid -- fast pass -- Must see show --  Can be scary for the little ones due to being in the dark, and Ursula gets HUGE!

The Magic of Disney Animation -- Walk-thru. You get to watch various artists working on the next Disney movie.

Disney Junior--Live Onstage -- show. It's been awhile since we saw this show. I would guess that it keeps getting updated and relevant.

SUNSET BOULEVARD

Beauty and the Beast--Live Onstage -- Must see show -- Outside on benches. Can be steamy hot.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, starring Aerosmith -- fast pass -- Indoor, in the dark rollercoaster. Zero to fifty takeoff. This ride has a singles line also. Sometimes it's quicker to hit the singles line, but when you get to loading the cars, many times you have to wait until there's an odd number.

--while waiting in the singles line, we had the chance to overhear the cast member training another cast member. They manage the crowds by altering the ratio of standby to fast pass guests. It had escalated to level two and she was letting 30 fast pass holders in for every 6 standby guests. This ration meant the standby line was over 2 hours long. Every time they filled another group for the pre-show, they let 10 singles through.

--another point is that they do NOT tolerate line jumpers. One group thought to jump the large group in the pre-show area to the singles line, but when it came time to load the cars they wanted to be seated together. Disney cast members wouldn't bow to their complaints.
*Go Disney Cast Members!*

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror -- fast pass -- Must ride -- This is a dropping ride. Every time you ride it, the computer does a different sequence of drops. It's dark and can be scary with the 'electricity people'--which scared my daughter far more than the drops. Great view.

Fantasmic! -- Must see show -- Night time show -- laser lights, dancing water, special effects, and fireworks. This show fills up quickly. During peak season, they will have the show twice a night. They open the gates 90 minutes before the show. During the summer months, it is HOT waiting for the show. . . and crowded when everyone wants to leave!

And that's it for WDW Hollywood Studios!

Later, Peeps!

Weighty Wednesday -- Fair Food

I'm talking pretty much anything fried and/or on a stick here.

Fair food is the most evil, most expensive, most heart-attack-waiting-to-happen type of food there is.

I'm sure you could find healthy food at the fair, but why bother? IT'S FAIR TIME, right?

With the amount of money we spent on fair food we could have enjoyed a nice steak dinner at a good restaurant.

AND I still managed to lose 1.2 pounds this week.

Look, I enjoyed lots of evil food because I planned for the fair.

I tracked all week.

I walked once or even twice a day all week.

I saved all my weekly points for the fair.

You can eat horribly evil fried food and still lose weight--you just have to know what else you've eaten during the week. If I hadn't been so focused on tracking, I probably wouldn't have made the good choices during the week, but I made good choices, which allowed me to splurge a little bit.

And if I hadn't gone to the fair and eaten evil food . . . I probably would have lost a little more weight.

What did I eat?

Fried armadillo eggs -- Jalapeno pepper stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in sausage. My only regret as it wasn't spicy enough and they dumped liquid smoke all over it--YUCK!

Fried Ravioli

Fried cheese on a stick

Apple Fritter--fried, of course

Apple fries --really good, fried and then doused in cinnamon sugar

Fried cheese curds -- the fryer wasn't as hot as it should have been, which meant they were very greasy, good but greasy

Pretzel -- the only thing NOT fried

And a frozen lemonade that actually wasn't frozen--uber sweet

And this doesn't count samples of beef jerky and a smoothie . . .  I think that's the list.

Remember, the three of us 'shared' this, so it wasn't as if I ate it all myself. Yeah, I felt stuffed like a Build-A-Bear with too much stuffing!

Would I do this again?

No. The Fair only comes once a year and we already went. I'm good for another year.

Later, Peeps!

WDW Rides -- Animal Kingdom

*These blogs are taking me far longer than I anticipated. I'll post them when I get each one completed. Sorry, but I can't stick to a schedule with them.*

The Animal Kingdom is probably one of the most missed parks at WDW. Many times people only have a few days to spend and this park is knocked off the list in favor of the other parks. To attract more guests, Disney has added some spectacular rides to go along with their view of conservation education, along with Wilderness Explorers adventures for the kids/parents to complete various challenges throughout the park to win badges.

When you get into the park, be sure to pick up a Times Guide along with a map. This weekly guide (Sun-Sat) posts important information for various shows, restaurants, and other entertainment along with the daily hours when the parks open and close.

 Front

Back

 

I'll post the map and then continue on with the ride breakdown following the clockwise pattern I've been using.

--to tell you the truth, I really, REALLY, REALLY don't like the current Disney maps for any of the parks. They are hard to read, hard to decipher, hard to even see what is what, and they face true north, which means if the entrance to a park is any direction other than south (at the bottom of the map), you have to keep turning the map to figure out where you are! The biggest problem is they numbered everything--shows, attractions, rides, food and stores--so if you need to find something you constantly have to consult the map legend. So instead of just looking for a knife and fork symbol on a page, you have to look at the legend and then back to the map to figure out where everything is.
If an old pro like me (visited WDW 10 times in the past 10 years) has a hard time finding things, I can't imagine how a newbie would fare!

HATE THEM!

Here's a current map of Animal Kingdom:

And here's an older version of the Animal Kingdom map:

The main thing to remember about the Animal Kingdom is that the Tree of Life is the center of the park. It is the hub to all the spokes.

When you enter the park, you cross the Oasis, which has lots of nook and crannies housing various types of animals from colorful parrots, to fish, to giant anteaters. Many times, cast members will be stationed throughout this area with various cages, filled with anything from small mammals to tarantulas, or bones, or other interesting educational things.

Once you pass over the bridge you enter:

DISCOVERY ISLAND : There are various trails you can wander, exploring hidden coves containing various critters off the beaten path (tamarin, otter, porcupine, or lemur), or simply play spot the animals carved into the Tree of Life.

It's Tough to be a Bug! -- is a must see 4-D show. If you have timid children, you might want to hold them in your lap since it's dark, and Hopper can be scary!

CAMP MINNIE-MICKEY: Mainly a character greeting area. BE WARNED! Some of the character greeting lines are just as long as riding Expedition Everest! There will also be various locations throughout the park that will have character's pop up from time to time. Yes, this info is on your times guide.

The Festival of the Lion King show is here, too, but I've never watched it.

AFRICA

Kilimanjaro Safaris -- Fast Pass -- must ride This line can seem very long, but each truck holds around 32-40 guests so it goes fairly quickly. Just make sure you take a potty break before going in line. The road is very rough--cement molded to make it seem like mud--which does make for a jarring ride if you have neck or back issues, but it's worth the ride. The truck traverses various parts of Africa and, in the Disney way, as a tourist you don't see the enclosures unless you look for them.

Pangani Forest Exploration Trail -- a walk-thru path that takes you past gorillas, hippos,  various birds, etc.

Wildlife Express Train (5-7 min. ride) takes you behind the scenes of Africa to . . .

RAFIKI'S PLANET WATCH : After disembarking from the train, animals highlight an outdoor discovery trail to . . .

Conservation Station -- animal encounters, interactive exhibits  and view the veterinary facility. Sometimes they are doing surgery/dental on an animal and will explain what's going on while they are doing the procedure--not for the squeamish.

Affection Section -- petting yard. Your basic goats and sheep, and sometimes something a little more exotic.

ASIA

Flights of Wonder -- bird show. Never saw it.

Maharaja Jungle Trek -- a walk-thru path that takes you past tigers, bats, Komodo dragons, etc.

Kali River Rapids --Fast Pass -- must ride --VERY WET! -- turbulent river raft ride that takes you through parts of Asia. Personally, I would save this ride for the heat of the day when I'm about to leave the park. . . unless you brought a change of clothes and a towel. If you can get out of a wheelchair, you can ride this ride. It is rough, but there is a high back to help you protect your neck.

Expedition Everest --Fast Pass -- must ride -- seriously fun rollercoaster. It goes forward, backwards and forward again, but don't let that scare you! The best, and scariest, part of the ride is the ride up to the top of the mountain, as the track has no sides! The view is fantastic! You can see the Kali River Rapids ride and clear to Blizzard Beach. The ride isn't too rough, or too fast, but it's too much fun! There is a singles line, which is just to the left of the gift shop exit.

DINOLAND U.S.A. : Many parts of Dinoland are like a county fair with various games to play.

The Boneyard -- dinosaur dig-site playground. Let the kids get dirty while the parents recover!

Finding Nemo -- A musical show. We did see this and it's a pretty good show. It's in a black light dark for most of the time, but the various characters are fluorescent, which makes them glow. They advise you to get in line 30 minutes pre-show time, but if the park isn't crowded, then don't worry about it. The show is 40 minutes long.

Primeval Whirl-- Fast Pass -- four people per car. This ride will jerk the snot out of you. Personally, it isn't worth it, especially if there's a line.

TriceraTop Spin -- think Dumbo ride with dinosaurs.

DINOSAUR--Fast Pass -- must ride -- Each car seats three rows of four. You are sent back into time to retrieve a dinosaur, right before the meteor shower destroys life on this planet. It's a dark, and can be very scary,  ride especially for little kids. If you have ear plugs, you might want to wear them--especially children. Very loud. Very dark. Very scary. Very jerky. Very fun. It can hurt your neck or back as the jeep evades dinosaurs and meteors.

Since we've ridden this ride numerous times, we've become a tad jaded . . . until this last year when we had a couple of newbie British girls behind us screaming the entire time. I don't think I've laughed so hard in years. It made the ride really, really fun.

And that's it for this particular park.

I'll do Hollywood Studios next . . . hopefully, I'll have it written by Thursday.

Later, Peeps!

Walt Disney World -- Wrap Up

Alrighty then . . .

Onward to Walt Disney World. Sorry, it's a little blurry, but this map will give you a good idea of the parks, various onsite hotels, and an idea of how they are situated.

 

Stay on Property

 

Now this advice isn't nearly as beneficial as it was at Universal Florida, though I wished they would do something similar with the Express Passes.

 

Anyhoo, staying onsite does have some advantages: Extra Magic Hours, Transportation . . . and the new, but questionable, My Magic+ bracelet, though I believe this bracelet is intended for day trippers in the future.

 

As I've mentioned before, many of these parks have 'soft' openings. For example, the Magic Kingdom has a little show above the entrances where the train comes into the station. Once everyone is greeted, the Mayor says his spiel, old timey characters dance and sing, and Disney characters arrive by train, then everyone is allowed to pass through the tunnels and into Magic Kingdom--ten minutes before the park opens.

 

Don't kill everyone trying to be first to Space Mountain, because they won't let open the line until the park 'officially' opens. Actually we use this time to get in line (that crosses the Future World plaza), while the hubs goes to get some Fast Passes for later. Just make sure return time is compatible with your schedule before you get them.

 

Many of the hotel properties have their own ambience. Granted these are the more expensive hotel rooms, but you are paying for convenience and the overall Disney experience. For example: The Animal Kingdom Lodge has African wildlife in their 'backyard'. For a premium room, you can have coffee on your balcony while watching the elephants, giraffes, etc. roam around. Or the Wilderness Lodge, which has it's own geyser, and gives the feel of being at Yellowstone . . .  sorry, no bears, moose, buffalo, or elk, except for the topiary variety.

 

Many of the hotels that are close to the parks offer a variety of transportation. The Magic Kingdom hotels: The Grand Floridian, Contemporary, or Polynesian can arrive at the Magic Kingdom by monorail; Wilderness Lodge and the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds provide boat transportation for their guests. Some hotels are walking distance from various parks. And all hotels provide bus service.

 

If you are doing a Disney Cruise/Disney Park package deal, remember that if you stay in a cheaper stateroom on the cruise, you will be in a hotel that is farther away and can only be reached by bus. The better the room on the cruise, the better the hotel room.  

 

Transportation

 

One of the benefits of staying on property is the transportation, especially if you don't rent a car. Even if you do rent a car, sometimes you just want to ride a boat or the monorail, jus because. Every hotel has transportation to all the parks, including Downtown Disney and the two Water Parks.  

 

If you want to go to another hotel, let's say for dinner, you will either have to drive your car, or take a bus to the Ticket and Transportation center to transfer to a different bus to take you to the hotel.

 

Or you can play with the various transportations:

 

Wilderness Lodge via boat to Magic Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom monorail to Ticket and Transportation to monorail to Epcot

Exit International Gateway to boat to Disney's Hollywood studios for Fireworks show.

Take bus back to Wilderness Lodge.

 

It can be done. We've done it a couple of times, BUT I will say that three parks in one day is very exhausting, plus you lose time in the parks while waiting for the various transportations if your timing is off and you miss the bus/boat/monorail.

 

Extra Magic Hours

 

You need to check the Times Guide that comes in your hotel packet for Extra Magic Hours.

 

Sometimes you can get this information from the website to help you plan your days prior to your vacation, but I won't list them here for the simple reason they've been known to change due to the  lengthening or shortening of the park's hours.

 

It's been my observation that the Extra Magic Hours in the morning are the best. True, you are there with tons of other park guests who are staying at the hotels, but the parks are far emptier than they are during the day when day trippers are visiting. I've also discovered that the evening Extra Magic Hours are so crowded because everyone pours in from the other closed parks. So chances are you won't be able to ride many rides, UNLESS you do it during the various fireworks and shows. 

 

I'm not a fan of the evening Extra Magic Hours, can't you tell? But then again, I'm a morning person, so it's no hardship for me to get out of bed early to head to the parks.   

 

My Magic+ bracelets



We didn't stay at any of the hotels where they were testing the new My Magic+ bracelets, but we wanted to try them out. These bands can work in tandem with your Smartphone. Talking with various guests, some like it, some don't. There are some bugs that need to be worked out of the system. One gentleman couldn't get his to work AT ALL, but his entire family had no problem with their bands, and they were all tied to the same credit card. He had to resort to using his plastic room key card to get into the park, etc.

 

Last we heard, in August, Disney was planning to do a full launch in October.

 

Anyway, these bands will be replacing the cards for everything. Right now the cards have a microchip in them that allow you to use them as a room key, to enter the park, and purchase items, since there is a credit card attached to them.



The theory behind this idea is also supposed to give you the option of preplanning your fast passes.

 

The problem with this plan is that it forces you into a rigid touring idea. You can't freestyle to another park, or even another section of the park you're in, if you want to take advantage of your fast pass that might be scheduled later that day, plus you can only pick one park to preschedule your four passes.

 

One lady we talked to wanted to change her FP times for a particular ride--but the only FP's left were at times that didn't work for them--late at night or when they would be eating dinner at another park.

 

If you can still generate FP's at the kiosk instead of preplanning, then I'm good with it.

 

Tomorrow, I'll break down the rides of the various Disney World parks.

 

I will tell you this--NONE of the Disney rides are as hard on your body as the Universal Florida rides are.

 

Later, peeps!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



My Sis C is Visitin'

I thought I would have the first installment of my Disney World blog ready this morning, but my sis, C, came into town for a few days.

So I'm visitin'.

Today we're going with Mom to visit the cemetery where many of our patriarchal family members are laid to rest, and the town we spent a few months living before moving to Tulsa, which is where I'm basing my Goblin's Apprentice stories (I need to remember to take the good camera!), and Woolaroc, the lodge of Frank Phillips (founder of Phillips Petroleum).

Hopefully, I can finish the blog to post on Saturday, but we have a swim meet so I'm not making any promises!

Busy Weekend!

Later, Peeps!

Universal Florida Rides -- Universal Studios

Today, I'll explore the other Universal Park --Universal Studios Florida

This is the entrance to the second park.

Here's the map.

 

I tried to find a nice current map from Google, but was unable to find one. So this is just a camera shot from the map I picked up this last summer. Sorry about the folds and glare, but at least it's the most current map.

 

Okay, the entrance is at the bottom left corner of the map, and through the large arches pictured above. 

 

As in the other park, the map is broken down into sections, but I'll simply work my way, clockwise, around the map. This park has tons of shows that we never bothered to see. I'll post them on the list, but if they aren't rides, they don't exist.

 

Just kidding. They exist, but we don't bother with them.

 

Many of the show attractions have Express Passes, which allow a ratio of so many express pass holders versus standby. The more crowded it is, the worse the ratio is for the standby patron. Many times even with the Express Pass, it would take 30 minutes before we even got to the door to get into the queue.  

 

Disclaimer: I am simply trying to give the blog reader an idea of what to expect from these various rides. If you have a health issue--I am not a doctor, nor do I play one here on this blog--please follow your physician's advice and use your best judgment

 

PRODUCTION CENTRAL

 

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem -- Express pass -- DO NOT MISS This 3-D ride is too much fun. This space used to house the Jimmy Neutron ride, the benches are the same, but the story is different. There are about 4 rows of benches with 4 sections that seat 4-6 people per section. There are also seats at the very front that do not move with the action if you have health issues.

Shrek 4-D -- Express pass -- This is an auditorium sort of seating, with the action happening with each seat. There are stable seats in the front, just ask an employee.

Hollywood Rip Ride RockIt! -- Express pass -- Singles line -- Must put loose articles in lockers. This ride looks far worse than it is. The idea of going straight up and then straight down is terrifying, but it isn't that bad. I will mention that I did feel like I would slip out of the lap bar when it was heading straight up. Don't forget to choose your music!  It's a long coaster ride, but it's broken up into a couple of different sections--which gives you a 'breather' before the next drop. 2013 was the first year they had the Express Pass line open, and it went fairly smoothly. In the past, we would just hit the singles line and meet up at the picture/video area after the ride.

TRANSFORMERS: The Ride--3-D -- Express pass -- DO NOT MISS! Use your pass if you have one or go during early admission. We rode this ride three times before the park 'officially' opened. 3-D with a little 4-D water sprinkling you. Each car seats eight, four in front, four in back. Front is the best! The cars spin, jerk and careen in various patterns according to what is on the 3-D screen. The front has the best view, but it doesn't have any neck support. The back seat has better support. You can brace yourself against the seat, but if you've never ridden it you can't anticipate the direction it will go next.

NEW YORK

 

Twister...Ride it out -- Express pass -- We did this one a few years ago. Nope. Got nothing. I can't remember much about it. I think you stand while stuff happens in front of you, and you will get a little wet . . . but don't quote me.

Revenge of the Mummy -- Express pass -- Singles line -- Must put loose articles in lockers. DO NOT MISS. If you can go through the regular line, without waiting for forever, do it. Some of the pre-ride stuff is fun to see. This is a rollercoaster. Forwards, and backwards, with fire, scarabs and an evil mummies. This has some jerking, like most rollercoasters, but it does have a good lap bar and neck support. The lap bar was super tight, so if you over tighten it, it will get tighter as you ride the ride.  

The Blues Brother's show -- Never saw it. Street show

Delancey Street Preview Center -- Never saw it Review and rate shows under consideration

 

SAN FRANCISCO

 

Beetlejuice's Gravyard Revue -- Express pass -- Never saw it. The map calls it a Rock-n-Roll spooktacular.

Disaster! -- Express pass -- Saw this one a long time ago. I can't remember much about it. I think it's a tram ride similar to the one at Disney Studios.

 

As you walk from Disaster around the lake to MIB, there is a wall on your left. This section will eventually connect to Islands of Adventure, via the Hogwarts express train , to Universal Studios park. What the station theme will be in this park is anyone's guess.

 

WORLD EXPO

 

Fear Factor Live -- Express pass -- Never saw it

Men in Black Alien Attack -- Express pass -- Singles line -- Must put loose articles in lockers. MIB training. Cars seat three in front, three behind. You shoot at aliens and earn up points. The cars spin and move. This can be rough on you if you do have a bad neck or back, even with the high seat backs.

The Simpson's Ride -- Express pass -- DO NOT MISS. You will be directed to a holding room for eight people to watch the pre-ride show. Eight people per car, four in front, four in back. You place your loose belongings on the floor next to the walls as the car rises up into the air. All around you is a movie screen as you experience the Simpson's Ride.

*Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl -- coming soon! It looks like an octopus ride, with cars that spin on the end of the tentacles.

 

This whole section between The Simpson's Ride and the Animal Actor's is now Simpson themed. There's Moe's Tavern, Duff brewery, Taco's from Bumblebee Man, Lard Lad donuts, etc. Spend some time and enjoy!

 

WOODY WOODPECKER KIDZONE-- IMO: this entire section needs overhauling. Very few people go here and it's outdated.

 

Animal Actors on Location -- Express pass -- Never saw it

A Day in the Park with Barney -- Express pass -- Never saw it

Curious George Goes to Town -- Never saw it

Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster -- Express pass -- kiddie coaster, never rode it.

Fievel's Playland -- Never saw it

E.T. Adventure -- Express pass -- Ride your bicycle to save ET and see his home planet. Cute, if you saw the movie, but your kids/grandkiddos won't get the references.

 

Don't miss the Party Zone-- at the end of the lake, the road splits with the left taking you to Terminator and the right taking you to Transformers. Throughout the day, there are short shows in this Party Zone. We've always managed to see the Despicable Me characters, but there's also HOP, SpongeBob, and Dora & Diego.  

 

HOLLYWOOD

 

Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show -- Express pass --  Never saw it Sounds interesting though since I've been watching Face Off on the ScyFy channel.

Terminator 2 :3-D -- Express pass -- Part movie, part show, action moves through the audience. Set show times. It's good, but if you have other things to do, then don't waste your time.

Lucy - A Tribute -- Never saw it

Studio Brass Band -- Never saw it Street show

 

And that's it for today's blog!

 

I'll work on the Disney Parks next!

 

Later, Peeps!