America

Going down the Summit Plummit

itemprop="discussionURL"0

Disney’s Blizzard Beach

Opened in 1995, Blizzard Beach is the newest water park at the Walt Disney World Resort. The theme of the park is based on a Disney legend. After a heavy snowstorm in the area, a businessman wanted to open Florida’s first ski resort. However, the snow did not last long. What remained was a mountain with water-filled ski jumps and a chairlift. The ride was about to close when an alligator was seen sliding down a ski jump and landing in a pool of water. The ski area was then reopened as a water park.

Melt Away Bay, Cross Country Creek, Tike’s Peak and Sky Patrol Training Camp

At the base of Mount Gushmore, we can find most of the family friendly offering. The toddler pool Tike’s Peak is slightly off the mountain and hence a good area to let your kids play safely. The Sky Patrol Training Camp on the other hand snugs neatly onto the mountain and offers a variety of fun activities for older kids. Surrounding the mountain is the Cross Country Creek offering a relaxing journey throughout the park. Finally, the family can come together to experience Melt Away Bay, the park’s large wave pool.  

Downhill Double Dipper

Probably the most fun slide at Disney’s Blizzard Beach is the Downhill Double Dipper tube slide. Here we race down a series of steep drops and experience a very fine airtime on the crest of the second downwards chute. It is also a very good slide to race against friends and family.  

Snow Stormers and Toboggan Racers

Snow Stormers and Toboggan Racers are the two mat slides of Disney’s Blizzard Beach. While Toboggan Racers is a mat racer slide, where you race against your fellow sliders down a chute with multiple waves, Snow Stormers is a more classic slide guiding us through seven serpentines on our way down.

Runoff Rapids 

Runoff Rapids are the park’s classic tube slides located at the back of the artificial mountain. While two of the slides offer a very chilling slide down a course with multiple serpentines and a few jumps, the third of the pack does it in pitch blackness.  

Slush Gusher and Summit Plummit

Slush Gusher and Summit Plummit are the park’s two kamikaze style bodyslides. While Slush Gusher offers a pleasant slide down multiple hills next to the ski jump tower, Summit Plummit takes it one step further and lets you go down the sky jump. These huge kamikaze slides always require a lot of courage and Summit Plummit – although you are not actually taking the jump – is a very breathtaking experience. Thankfully, you don’t have to walk all the way back up to go again, as the run off ends nearby the park’s chairlift.  

Teamboat Springs

Teamboat Springs is the large family raft slide and starts on top of the mountain. The slide goes down a very gentle slope at the back of the back. The slide consists of alternating left and right turns, sparkled with an occasional jump in between and topped off with a nice double drop finale. It is a very family friendly ride, but a very fine experience too.  

Pictures Disney’s Blizzard Beach

Conclusion Disney’s Blizzard Beach

I had a blast at Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Due to the “cold” weather – at least for the locals –, there was basically no one else in the water park, hence I could experience all of the slides in a very timely matter. I truly love the theme this water park is going for and I’m quite excited to come back one day.

What is your opinion about the water park Disney’s Blizzard Beach?  Just write it in the comment field below the report or visit our social media channels:

          

Disney's Blizzard Beach

On Expedition Everest

itemprop="discussionURL"0

Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the park famous for its entrance sign meme, is one of the more visual stunning theme parks in Orlando. Opened in 1998, the park focuses on a limited number of wildlife experiences, an elaborated selection of rides and outstanding shows.

Tree of Life and It’s Tough to be a Bug!

Once you entered the park through the Oasis, you will find yourself in front of the Tree of Life, a large artificial Baobab tree featuring all kinds of animals modelled into its trunk and branches. The Tree of Life is also home to a theatre showing It’s Tough to be a Bug, a 9-minute-long 3D film starring the characters of A Bug’s Life. Interestingly, the attraction premiered first. Like the animated feature film, the attraction nowadays is a bit dated. In its heydays, the attraction was a visual stunning experience featuring top of the notch animatronics and never to be seen animations. The edutainment aspect of the movie makes it interesting, yet partly boring. The big musical finale is nice to see.

In the evening, the Tree of Life awakes. It then becomes an impressive backdrop of a projection mapping show showing various animals, which the guest might have encountered on their day at Disney´s Animal Kingdom. Unlike other evening spectacles, Tree of Life Awakening is not based on a Disney IP.

Pandora – The World of Avatar

Pandora – The World of Avatar might be the most ambitious themed area so far ever created in a theme park. The area features a bunch of floating rocks and a vegetation never to be found in a place before. It’s just astonishing! The overall theme fits in perfectly with the trilogy of movies, where two still needs to be published. It was a weird IP choice back in the days, as the first movie just had an impact due to its 3D effects in a time when 3D movies where actually popular.  

Avatar Flight of Passage

The main attraction of Pandora – The World of Avatar is the flight simulator Avatar Flight of Passage: An attraction unlike anything else. Where most flying theatres just simulate a flight using a machine of some sorts, Avatar Flight of Passage simulates the flight on a living being. Storywise, the guests are experiencing a flight on a banshee – a keystone species for the planet Pandora – using their avatars. The flight sequence itself is fast paced and full of surprises. Additional effects increase the immersion.

During the flight, I was sensory overloaded and just wanted to leave the attraction. The simulated breathing of the banshee is a nice feature for sure, yet a very unpleasant one for me. I understand, why many people love this attraction, as the quality of the attraction is top notch, and the overall experience is great; it was just a little bit too much for me. I might give the ride another chance in the future, but if the waiting time is high, I will for sure give it a miss.     

Na’vi River Journey

The dark ride Na’vi River Journey is the second ride in the realm of Pandora – The World of Avatar. The ride itself is a rather calm, but very impressive one. The boat ride guides us through a series of caves and into a bioluminescent rainforest – which is quite impressive. The main draw of the ride is the Na’vi Shaman of Songs – probably the most interesting animatronic figure by Disney so far. Na’vi River Journey for sure is a dark ride, which you should not miss when visiting Walt Disney World.

Africa

The African themed section of the park is probably the most immersive one. The port village of Harambe serves as the starting point for the Kilimanjaro Safaris and is home to the Festival of the Lion King show.

Festival of the Lion King

One of the biggest attractions in the Africa section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the Festival of the Lion King. The show features a central stage visible from all sides. Here, various actors sing, dance and perform circus acts. During the show, floats featuring puppets of Pumbaa, Simba and other animals are driving into the arena. The meerkat Timon is the only character of the Lion King, who plays along on the main stage.

Festival of the Lion King is a great variety show offering a colourful experience for all park guests. The floats are a great idea to bring Simba and Pumbaa to the action, the singing and dancing is just fine, and the circus acts are an impressive sight. I just expected the show to be a bit closer to the musical and was therefore a bit surprised. It’s a very fine show, don’t get me wrong, yet it could be even better.

Kilimanjaro Safaris

The guided Safari Kilimanjaro Safaris is the highlight at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. During the 18-minute (or longer) expedition, we explore the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, home to 34 species. As we drive through the 110 hectares of picturesque open plains, shady woodlands and rocky wetlands, an expert guide tells us all sorts of fascinating facts about the African wildlife and helps us to identify the animals. Due to the nature of this attraction, it is not easy to spot all animals, which is why the Kilimanjaro Safaris is best to be experiences multiple times.

Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail

Just after you exit Kilimanjaro Safaris, you immediately find yourself on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. This trail is probably one of the highlights at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as you can take a glimpse on some African animals, e.g., your favourite meerkat and warthog.

Wildness Express Train

I don’t fully understand the reason why the Wildness Express Train is still in operation today. The train ride leads you to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and back. It is the only mode of transport available to this area of the park. Here you can inform yourself a little bit about conservation, learn to draw some characters and/or visit a small-scale petting zoo. For a normal day visit at the park, there is no real reason to visit this corner of the park and therefore no reason to take the train.

Asia

The Asian themed section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is dominated by the artificial Himalayas of the Expedition Everest roller coaster and many temples. The area has a great atmosphere and is home to two of the parks main attractions.

Feathered Friends in Flight!

Feathered Friends in Flight! is probably the most impressive bird show I’ve seen outside of the one at Parc LePal in France. It starts with a very fun running gag before the edutainment part of the show takes over. During the show, you learn a lot about the different birds and their behaviour.

Kali River Rapids

Unfortunately, I could not test the large scale Intamin rapids ride Kali River Rapids during my visit, as the ride was currently scheduled for maintenance. The atmospheric immersion of the ride speaks for itself, and I really wanted to experience the large drop during the ride for myself.

Maharajah Jungle Trek

The trail Maharajah Jungle Trek focuses on the presentation of Asian animals. Next to the graceful Asian tigers, you can find gibbons, Komodo dragons and many more species in a very immersive area of the park.

Expedition Everest

When the roller coaster Expedition Everest was built, it was the most expensive roller coaster ever created – a fact many websites are still stating even after all these years. Truth is, the ride is pretty impressive with its massive mountain structure, its steel bridge lift hill and the large drop going down the mountain.

The ride on Expedition Everests starts with a small lift hill after a right-hand curve directing towards the artificial Himalaya. A wide left-hand bend, we now move over hill and dale before approaching the main lift hill. Once on top of the mountain, we follow the path through a hole till we encounter a dead end at the other side. Without having any other chance, we now travel backwards. After passing a switch track element, we then run through a curve in pitch darkness. After an encounter with the Yeti, our journey continues straight forwards. With momentum, we now take the large drop out of the mountain. Close to the ground we then pass through a left turn before we climb upwards and continue our way through the mountain for another time. On the other side of the mountain, we then race though a tapering helix before entering the mountain once more. Here, we have another encounter with the Yeti. Shortly after, we reach the brakes, and our wild ride soon comes to an end.

Expedition Everest is probably the most impressive of all roller coasters at Walt Disney World. The scale of the coaster itself speaks for itself. The large drop and the tapering helix are my highlight of the ride. You cannot do anything wrong with a ride on Expedition Everest, especially when the waiting times are low.  

Disney KiteTails

I love a good musical and of course the updated version of the Finding Nemo musical should not open before summer 2022. In the meantime, Disney’s Animal Kingdom presented Disney KiteTails, which of course was suspended due to high winds on the day of my visit.  

DinoLand U.S.A.

DinoLand U.S.A. is often criticked as Walt Disney World’s less ambitious themed area. The main areal of the land resembles a typical fun fair with a bunch of gaming booths and seemingly transportable rides. As always in Disney parks, a Telecombat style of ride shall not be missing, which in this case is the Tricera Top Spin. The area used to be home to the two Primeval Whirl roller coasters, which have not yet found a replacement.

DINOSAUR

The main attraction of DinoLand U.S.A. is the dark ride DINOSAUR. This Intamin enhanced motion vehicle ride is one of the best dark rides in existence. To fit the theme with the long-forgotten Disney movie Dinosaur, we are in a time travel rescue mission. Our goal is to bring an Iguanadon to our present time before a fatal meteor will hit earth. On our way, we encounter many other dinosaurs and some aggressive ones as well.

DINOSAUR is a very impressive dark ride. The use of the enhanced motion vehicles makes our ride a rather wild one. In combination with the immersive surroundings and impressive animatronics, DINOSAUR for sure is a ride which should not be missed. 

Pictures Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Conclusion Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is indeed a very immersive theme park. The atmosphere at the different sections of the park is just great. Unfortunately, the park lacks a bit in its number of attractions. During my visit, many of the park’s signature attractions could not be experienced, as they were either currently upgraded, under maintenance or just got suspended. The park could easily benefit by focusing a bit more on the animal exhibits such as similar parks in Europe do. The attractions on their own are a good reason to visit the park, yet currently there is something missing. 

What is your opinion about the Disney’s Animal Kingdom?  Just write it in the comment field below the report or visit our social media channels:

          

Disney's Animal Kingdom

A visit to the movies

itemprop="discussionURL"0

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios is Disney’s most versatile theme park. When the park opened in 1989 as Disney MGM Studios, it focused primarily on its leitmotif of film. There were large live sets – including those where the film Newsies was shot – a studio train that ran directly through this set, three sound stages, the Great Movie Ride, Star Tours and a large stunt show. Over time, the focus shifted from film production and edutainment to a much more experience-orientated overall experience. In this respect, there is not much left of the old park; however, a world-class amusement park has been created, which we will now take a closer look at.

Hollywood Boulevard

When you enter the park, you find yourself directly on Hollywood Boulevard, which epitomises the glory days of Hollywood and is therefore much more attractive than the original in Los Angeles. Shopping and strolling is really fun here.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Right at the end of the path is a replica of the famous Chinese Theatre, where Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is shown and where the Great Movie Ride used to be. We crowded into a small cinema hall to watch a new Mickey Mouse cartoon, which quickly becomes reality. Mickey & Minnie are currently on a picnic outing, while we are travelling by train with Goofy. Before we know it, Goofy is travelling in one direction and we in another. Micky and Minnie rush to the rescue to stop our runaway railway. What follows is a wild ride through various comic scenes, which are mainly supported by projection mapping and can change at lightning speed. Finally, we waltz and conga dance with Daisy before almost ending up in the scrap press. As absurd as it may all sound, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is great entertainment and a fantastic homage to classic American cartoons.

Echo Lake

To the left of Hollywood Boulevard is Echo Lake. The main attraction here is the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, which was not running during my visit. The large stage at least promises a breathtaking show with Indiana Jones.

Star Tours

Two years after Star Tours opened at Disneyland, the attraction was also presented at Walt Disney World. Here, however, not in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland, but fittingly in the MGM Studios. The ride has had a makeover in 2011. Instead of only travelling to Endor, there are now a variety of elaborate experiences that, coupled with the fun simulator ride, invite you to take numerous repeat rides. Since 2019, however, waiting times at this Star Wars attraction have decreased significantly, but more on that later.

Grand Avenue

Today, as the home of the Muppets, the Grand Avenue themed area feels a bit like a foreign body between Star Tours and the nearby Star Wars Galaxy Edge themed area, which are thematically set in the same universe. The main attraction in this area is Muppet Vision 3D.

Muppet Vision 3D

The 3D film Muppet Vision 3D is just as chaotic as the Muppets themselves. Even if the effects no longer blow anyone away these days, it is the charming and out-of-control Muppets that carry the film and give it a great sense of humour. The additional effects used in the cinema enhance the action even more.

Star Wars Galaxy Edge

Star Wars Galaxy Edge is by far the most immersive themed area that has been created in a theme park to date. You feel like you’re in the middle of one of the Star Wars films. There is also a fantastic bar here, Oga’s Cantina, and a really great restaurant, Docking Bay 7.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

The Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance dark ride is hard to put into words. After standing on our feet for almost three hours, we immediately enter the first pre-show, where we are prepared for our mission. We are immediately drawn into a spaceship, which after a while falls into the clutches of a First Order Star Destroyer. We briefly enter the Stormtrooper hangar and at this moment at the latest, the whole wait is more than worth it. The oversized room is simply overwhelming. Unfortunately, we only spend a short time here because we have been captured by the First Order. We are then gradually led in smaller groups to other rooms to await our interrogation. Shortly afterwards, however, we are freed by the resistance and soon board a captured fleet transporter to make our way to the escape pods. What follows is a wild and, above all, surprising ride through numerous scenes, with each subsequent scene adding to the previous one. In the end, we reach the escape pods and we can flee.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is by far the best dark ride in the world. The ride is stunning in every respect and should be considered more of a 15-minute experience, which definitely does justice to a much longer wait. After my first ride, I couldn’t stop grinning, at least until the end of the day.

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is the second of the two dark rides in the Star Wars Galaxy Edge themed area and is usually seen as the weaker of the two attractions. However, Smuggler’s Run is actually a really strong attraction that is definitely worth experiencing. Here, a crew of six experience a breathtaking mission in which each passenger has their own task to complete. The highlight here is that we are in a simulator and can steer it ourselves to a certain extent, which can lead to some really funny driving manoeuvres. Depending on how well you have steered the Millennium Falcon at the end, you get paid accordingly at the end of the ride. It’s great fun!

Toy Story Land

In 2010 and 2011, Toy Story Land opened in the Disney countries in Paris and Hong Kong as a collection of several rides in a small themed area, including a compact Intamin roller coaster. Here in Florida, it took until 2018 for Toy Story Land to move in – but in typical American fashion, it’s not just the toys that are a little bigger here.

Alien Swirling Saucers

The Alien Swirling Saucers ride is similar to an oversized demolition derby, where you are constantly transported through several discs in a circle. However, the gondolas also swing sideways due to the constant changes in direction and lateral acceleration. What marvellous fun!

Slinky Dog Dash

Slinky Dog Dash is an interesting family rollercoaster from Mack Rides. The ride itself seems extremely slow and repetitive due to its tame launch and an almost endless sequence of hills. However, this impression is very wrong.

After leaving the station, the Slinky Dog makes its way directly to the first launch area. We then approach a right/left turn via an ascending straight, which then leads us towards the ground. This is followed by a wave close to the ground before we enter an upward helix. A small double down is followed by another left and right turn, after which we slowly run out of steam.

After we have come to a standstill, Slinky Dog prepares to be shot down with a rubber band. So we keep travelling backwards to gather as much energy as possible for the imminent launch, which is then initiated with all kinds of sound effects. After a large hill and a turning curve, we reach the most striking part of the ride. At a lofty height, we now ride over hill and dale at an ever-increasing pace, which not only gives us a little airtime, but also a great tingling sensation in our stomachs. Shortly afterwards, we enter a left-hand bend, whereupon another right-hand bend immediately sends us into the brakes.

To my own surprise, Slinky Dog Dash is one of the best family rollercoasters I’ve ever experienced. Although the forces during the ride are limited, the ride has a thoroughly solid layout and a great four-hill finale.

Toy Story Mania

The Toy Story Mania interactive dark ride is one of the most popular Disney attractions in the world. The ride is like a visit to the funfair, where you play one game of skill after another at the individual stands in order to achieve the highest possible high score.

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Studios is characterised above all by the Hollywood Tower Hotel, which towers above it. The other attractions in this area are the big evening show Fantasmic, which was not shown during my visit, and the indoor rollercoaster Rock Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

Tower of Terror

The Tower of Terror freefall tower has always been one of the most interesting rides Disney has ever built. Here in Florida, the ride is also a little different to the three subsequent models, as the cars leave the lifts for a short time and travel through a mysterious room as if guided by a ghostly hand, which certainly leads us into the Twilight Zone. Shortly afterwards, the tried-and-tested and still outstanding free-fall spectacle begins, which remains unrivalled for the time being. Quite simply, a great attraction!

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Fans of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Avec Aerosmith from the Walt Disney Studios Park near Paris can look forward to a slightly different version at Hollywood Studios. Instead of the many different light shows, here you ride through numerous black light stage sets that line the side of the track, while we roll over three times and race through numerous bends. Unfortunately, this makes the ride a little less coherent overall, but it is still much better than the ride through the void, which you can experience on Avengers Assemble Flight Force – the follow-up Marvel overlay of the Parisian rock legend.

Pictures Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Conclusion Disney’s Hollywood Studios

I really enjoyed my visit to Hollywood Studios. Apart from a few corners, everything in this park is just right. Of all four theme parks in Walt Disney World, this one offers the most breathtaking rides and the most well-rounded portfolio.

What’s your opinion on Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park? Simply write it in the comments field below the report or visit our social media channels:

          

Disney's Hollywood Studios