I love Disney World and all the parks but sometimes, you come across an attraction that just disappoints you. Now I'll make no attempt to hide the fact that this was inspired by WDW News Today's Not Top 10. In which they counted down their Top 10 worst Disney World attractions and you may see some of the same attractions on this list. Anyways, let's get started.
6. The Studio Backlot Tour (In It's Current State) - Hollywood Studios
Now some of you may be wondering why with a picture as awesome looking at that, why I would put this attraction on here. Simple, it was taken out! In it's heyday before Lights, Motor, Action came along The Studio Backlot Tour was one of the greatest things to do at MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios). It was so much fun, not only would you get to see how they make movie but you'd get to watch some scenes and interact along with it and during this scene that I used for it would soak the passengers in the trams. I loved that. Oh and I'd be remiss if I forgot to mention that it involved a certain director of a film known as Revenge of The Fallen. Yes, Michael Bay was involved with this attraction. I'll let Wikipedia explain.
A film also loops with director Michael Bay telling guests how some of the special effects scenes from Pearl Harbor were filmed. While guests are waiting, four volunteers are chosen to be used in the first part of the attraction.
Honestly, when I first went on this, I didn't even know who Bay was and that was probably for the better. Though I do see his influence with that picture up top. Even though I don't think he was involved. This is an attraction I loved and always loved it when you got wet on this thing but when that taken out, it just didn't feel the same. Still, for all the qualms I have with it, it isn't as bad as the others on this list. It just feels like it's a former shell of what it once was.
5. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - The Magic Kingdom
What is it that disappointed me about this attraction? Well that can be summed in three words: Dumbo rip off. Just as with Dumbo The Flying Elephant you control the carpet and how you want to fly it. It just feels unneeded when you have a classic attraction such as Dumbo that already does this. Don't get wrong, I'm not saying that there shouldn't be an Aladdin attraction but why not make it a dark ride or a rollercoaster? It just seems lazy to copy a pre-existing attraction. Of course Disney knew the formula would work but again I just go back to it feeling lazy. Also why do you have Genie do the Spanish voice over for the safety tips? That seems odd. I don't know. At the end of the day, it just seems like a cop out on Disney's part to take the easy route. Now I can see why they'd choose to make a ride based around Carpet such as this because he flies. But still, I can't wrap my head around this one.
4. Tomorrowland Speedway - The Magic Kingdom
Now I've talked about this attraction in the past and I said that it was a letdown when I went on it and I still stand by that. I don't care that it's an opening day attraction, it's not a very good one. I mean I can get the appeal of driving around a speedway but it's so controlled that it does not feel like the real thing and let's not forget that the steering wheel is so stiff that it's hard to use. This one is just boring, really and when you come off an attraction bored. There is something wrong. The best Disney attraction like their films are able to get some kind of emotion out of their audience be it happiness or anger but when your bored on an attraction, that is just sad.
3. Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management - The Magic Kingdom
Go figure, 2 attractions that have elements of Aladdin in them. I like Aladdin and I like The Lion King but I'm not the biggest fan of Iago or Zazu. Enchanted Tiki Room was and is to this day a classic Disney Parks attraction but Under New Management. Yeah, not so much. I wanted to like this and I liked it the first time I saw it but each trip after the first time I saw it, it just became clear that it didn't work. I get the idea of pairing Zazu and Iago together as they are two opposing personalities but they don't gel off of each other and the more that I learned about Enchanted Tiki Room, it felt as though this incarnation was mocking classic Disney and that feels more like something that would be done by DreamWorks and not Disney. Also the Iago and Zazu audio-animatronics did not age well.
Iago looks creepy in this close up. |
Thankfully, the original show was brought back in time for Disney World's 40th anniversary and no more Iago and Zazu. Even if they got rid of Iago and Zazu due to Iago catching on fire. This is one of those attractions that in this form that I feel like it does not work. Now I'll admit that I haven't seen the show since it reopened but I just hope that it's better than this.
2. Sounds Dangerous! - MGM Studios (Hollywood Studios)
Oh, I should've known better regarding this one. This attraction is often considered the worst thing that Disney World had to offer. I'm not even sure why I decided to do this. It was probably Drew Carey that drew me in. I love Whose Line Is It Anyway but this didn't have any of the humor that made that show work. It's really just an audio show where you hear all these random noises if you choose to put on the RaidoShack headphones they supply. I think the big problem here is that Disney was using a star in the wrong way, which they have done before numerous times. I don't know if any retooling could have worked to make this thing better. The plot is that your watching a test pilot for some new undercover show starring Drew Carey as the fictional character of Foster but majority of the time, the screen is blank because as stated this is an audio show. On paper, this seems like a concept that could have worked but something went wrong along the way. I don't know what but something just didn't gel. There is one nice thing that I can say about this attraction, it was a great place to go and take a nap.
1. Kali River Rapids - Animal Kingdom
My favorite type of rides are water rides. I especially love river rapid rides and each time I saw an ad for this one, people were soaked. I was excited to go on it. Well, I went on it and let's just say that I got more water on me from a water bottle than this ride. It also doesn't help that with all the turning and supposed splashing that the story is hard to follow. I like Disney doing stories but this one just seems incomplete and while this isn't the worst ride that I've been on, it was the most disappointing for a lot of reasons and I stated the big one at the top of this paragraph.
Now while these rides disappointed me, that does not mean I'd discourage others from giving them a try. While yes this is a negative countdown, this is me recanting my experiences on these attractions. Who knows, maybe someone else out there had a great time on these rides. Still, there so many other great things that the parks have to offer. Peace!
Phew for a second there I thought you were gonna put "It's a Small World" on the list, cos I'd have to end our friendship right there if you did :P.
ReplyDeleteSure it's a dull, monotive song mixed with creepy smiling dolls and music that'll drive anyone crazy, but it'll always be my ride solely because I use to ride it non stop when I went to Euro Disney when I was 2 (to the point where my parents didn't bother getting off the ride lol).
But yeah, I agree with your list. I'd have added Lights, Motor, Action (mostly cos I've seen a much better version done in America), Mad Tea Party (only if you're by yourself, since you can't get any speed up)Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros from Epcot (becuase that ride was boring as when I first went on it, despite how amazing the rest of Epcot is)and Primeval Whirl (since it's just a generic roller-coaster).
Then again I have been to four of the five Disneys (Japan exclude, but not for long), so I've been on every ride at least twice lol.
Anyway enough of my rambling, good list man, keep up the good work.
Well, I'm one of the few that'd defend Primeval Whirl. It's not the greatest ride in the world but it's okay. I actually like Gran Fiesta Tour because it's relaxing. Mad Tea Party is a ride where it can be boring if you do it by yourself. As for Small World, I think the only thing people dislike about that attraction is the song.
ReplyDeleteYou've never seen classic old school Tiki Room Moviefan? Wow! Classic Tiki Room is awesome even if it is dated with the 50s and 60s Tiki craze. A really good list!
ReplyDeleteNo, sadly I've never seen classic Tiki Room. All I have ever seen is Under New Management but that will be rectified during my next trip to Disney World. Glad you enjoyed the list.
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