Category Archives: attractions

Attraction Profile: Mickey’s Philharmagic

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Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is consistently one of the busiest amusement parks in the world. Undoubtedly one of the most congested areas of Magic Kingdom is Fantasyland. It is also the biggest section of Magic Kingdom and connects Tomorrowland to Liberty Square behind Cinderella’s Castle There also isn’t much shade and it gets very hot. There is everything here that Magic Kingdom has to offer. Great rides, popular characters, signature dining, quick service restaurants and wonderful attractions. It can be difficult to navigate and certainly gets overwhelming. There are so many decisions to be made. And they need to be made quick, as wait times fluctuate rapidly. One decision we never regret is to make sure we head into Mickey’s Philharmagic.

Mickey’s Philharmagic is a gorgeous production. Guests enter the theater for an orchestra performance. Through some hijinks, Donald Duck ends up on a musical adventure through some of the greatest Disney movie musical numbers. This show is an absolute must for any fan of Disney music. You will find yourself singing along and dancing in your seat. It is wildly entertaining.

Mickey’s Philharmagic also offers a great benefit that many of the attractions at Walt Disney World share. They provide a cool place to have a seat while enjoying the show. The queue is almost entirely inside and the wait is almost never more than 15 minutes. All together it can be a solid break of about 20 minutes to a half hour.

Best and worst rides at Magic Kingdom

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Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is a massive amusement park. There are so many iconic attractions that it is not possible to get to everything in one day. There are some rides that are universally accepted as the best of the best. Everything else can be a matter of personal taste. I will give you a few ideas here that I hope can help you decide what might be best for you if there just isn’t enough time. These are all tough choices to make, as there really are so many classic rides.

Best of the Best

These are the attractions that you should make sure to experience. Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain are all top picks here. They are fantastic rides and well worth the wait. Mickey’s Philharmagic is a fun adventure through the music of Disney Movies. Peter Pan’s Flight often has a long line but the ride does justify the wait. Even though the characters are dated, children love the ride through the sky.

Things that can be skipped

I honestly do not like typing this. But there are several rides at Magic Kingdom that just aren’t worth the wait. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is so dated that it is just not that enjoyable. Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios is such a better ride. Tomorrowland Speedway has a slow moving line that is entirely in the sun. There is often a strong odor from the engines of the cars. The ride itself is just ok. It’s a Small World is iconic and classic and boring (yikes). It is something to experience once at some point, but I wouldn’t miss out on other rides for it. Jungle Cruise is in the same boat (pun intended). These rides certainly appeal to many people, but I have found that many others just don’t like them. Lastly, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a fun little coaster, but the wait is often so long that it is just disappointing. Again bested by Hollywood Studios, Slinky Dog Dash is much better.

Everything Else

Haunted Mansion

There are still plenty of rides left over and choices to be made. These rides should be considered based on available wait times and personal preference. This list is not exhaustive but includes Pirates of the Caribbean, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Haunted Mansion

The Mountains of Magic Kingdom

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Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is one of the most visited amusement parks in the world. It is ever changing with new and innovative attractions. But for many fans, Magic Kingdom was built on the three mountains. Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

These three mountain rides are classic Disney rides. They are thoroughly enjoyable. They are long rides and are totally worth the wait. Disney made rides that accommodate small children while at the same time provide a thrilling experience for all ages. And it is nearly impossible to pick which ride is your favorite.

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain is a traditional log ride that Disney elevated into an icon. While the theming is changing to Princess and the Frog, I am sure the ride itself will remain almost the same. There are various little drops and lifts throughout the ride that keeps building the anticipation. And that famous drop that everyone can see from Frontierland looks so scary but is so fun. So Disney again perfected that part of the ride. Kids especially build a healthy anxiety for the drop which culminates in inevitable laughter and a splash of water. So for anyone hesitant to enjoy this experience, the drop isn’t bad at all and most of the time most of the riders don’t get too wet.

Splash Mountain

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

This coaster is a major thrill ride that lets kids that are at least 40 inches tall get in on the fun. It really is great. Kids are laughing and screaming the whole time. This ride should be avoided for people with motion sickness. It is fast and does seem like an out of control railroad. Guests slide and move and lean in the car as the coaster careens down the mountain. The ride is much longer than most roller coasters. It also provides amazing views of Magic Kingdom.

Space Mountain

Unlike the other two mountains, Space Mountain is made for bigger kids and the minimum height requirement is 44 inches. The ride is much faster and much scarier. It is mostly in darkness, with limited lights and flashes. The ride car is somewhat unusual, as it fits 3 guests in a single line in the rocket themed car. It certainly causes some anxiety for parents as they can’t sit next to their kids to make sure they are safe. That is something parents should prepare for because it can be a bit stressful to put your kid in alone in front of you. But the ride is totally worth it. Like Thunder Mountain, the ride is longer than most roller coasters. The photos Disney takes of the passengers on their mission to space are also some of the best of any ride.

Not So Secret Indoor Playgrounds in EPCOT

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Walt Disney World is known for having exciting and innovative attractions with the most recognizable characters. There are so many things to do that there never seems to be enough time. Some families run from attraction to attraction while others try for a more relaxing pace. Both of these families should find themselves at the an indoor playground for a relaxing and cooling time.

Disney Dads want to make sure they maximize their Disney World vacations by taking every shortcut and planning accordingly.  But they also know sometimes kids just want to run around. You might think kids wouldn’t want to waste time in a playground when they could be going on a ride. But they enjoy it so much it is worth a stop.

Mission: Space

There is an indoor playground within Mission:Space. You can just walk into the exit to get there without going on the ride. And since Mission: Space isn’t exactly meant for little kids, many people do not know about this area. It is a great place for younger ones to burn off energy and take a break from waiting in lines. Parents can sit and get out of the heat and the sun. It’s also a great place to wait out a passing storm.

While it’s not a playground, there is another indoor play space exiting Journey into Imagination with Figment.

ImageWorks: The What If Labs

This area has music, lights and sounds tied to the attraction. Kids can just run around and try things out without needing close supervision. There are instruments and computers to explore. It usually isn’t very crowded like some of the other interactive areas (like Test Track).

Disney Dads know that their Walt Disney World vacations are endless fun for their children. Even when their fun is just running in a playground.

Kite Tails at Animal Kingdom

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Walt Disney World is full of attractions and entertainment. It can be a little overwhelming at times. There is so much to do and vacationers want to catch everything. There are massive parades and small street performances and everything in between. Then obviously there are the rides and shows. With such a busy day, it is easy to miss things or not even know they are happening. Sometimes we plan on going to a performance, but get lost in the day and miss it. Side note, My Day on the Disney Genie App allows you to put show times onto your schedule so you won’t forget them. Kite Tails at Animal Kingdom is one of these performances that can should be seen, but can be easily missed.

Kite Tails

Animal Kingdom is such a large park that it can take a long time to get across. So in order to get to Kite Tails, it does take a little bit of effort. But it is worth it. Kite Tails is a prototypical Walt Disney World Show. It is short at about 15 minutes. But it is creative, magical and beautiful. It seems so simple, yet it is elegant and wonderful. Parents can be intrigued by it, and children love it and they love the characters brought to life.

A lot of attractions at Walt Disney World have such high expectations, that they inevitably leave many guests disappointed. Kite Tails is a fun and quick performance that is enjoyable and it is perfect for what it is. Walt Disney World is constantly creating new shows and working hard to give guests the best they can offer. Remember that when planning your vacation and reading online reviews.