Thursday, March 22, 2012

My Favorite Disney Attractions

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This week’s Destination Disney topic is
Top 10 Disney Attractions

With all the rides, shows, and exhibits at Walt Disney World, it’s really rather hard to narrow a favorites list down to just 10.  But, alas, I must.  So, here is my list, in no particular order . . .

 

  1. MomPicturesDays&5 074Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom
    ~ There have been a few times when this attraction has been closed during our visit, and I’m always left feeling disappointed.  I know it gets mixed reviews, and there are things (think: the last scene) that could maybe use an update); but, to me, this is a classic attraction and on my personal “Do Not Miss” list.  I think part of what attracts me to this one is the fact that Walt Disney himself imagined and created this one!  Special stuff, indeed!

  2. Photo1390FourBySixThe Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios
    ~ Oh my gosh!  To me, this is a thrill ride at its finest!  This ride makes me scream and laugh all at the same time!  It’s usually our first stop at Hollywood Studios.  Ashley usually rides this with me, while Gracie and Brian hit up the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.  The picture here shows us with our best “terrorized” faces on.  I’m sure I probably look like that on the ride too – with some laughter mixed in for good measure! 

  3. Day 3 Disney World 006Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios
    ~ If someone were to poll my family for our collective favorite Disney attraction, I’m sure Toy Story Mania would be the winner.  Everything about this attraction just screams “fun” –from the queue full of larger-than-life toys, to the actual ride.  Yep, we love it!

  4. Soarin’ inside the Land Pavilion at Epcot
    ~ You’ll likely need a Fastpass for this one, as the lines are usually pretty long; but it’s so worth the wait!  We were fortunate enough, on our last trip, to grab a Fastpass and jump in line.  We got 2 trips on this one in a very short space of  time.  That doesn’t happen often.  We all love this one too.  Ian wasn’t too sure about having to take his shoes off; but he loved the ride!

  5. Festival of the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom
    ~ Disney certainly has a way with shows, and I think this one might just be my personal favorite.  There is so much going on during this show – music and singing, dance, acrobatics, audio-animatronics, audience participation – and it’s just so colorful!  If you’ve never seen this one, I urge you to add it to your Must-Do list for your next trip.  You’ll thank me for it!

  6. MomsPicsDay5 033Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom
    ~ I love this ride because, no matter how many times we ride it, it’s never the same twice!  Sure, the back-story and the corny jokes might be the same, but the real thrill here is the live animals!  We’ve seen so many of them over the years and I still am amazed every time we get up close and personal with them.  This is a homeschool field trip at its finest!

  7. Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom
    ~ This is sort-of a new favorite for me and my family, as we’ve  developed a recent fascination for the pirates movies.  I’m kicking myself over avoiding them for so long! We consider Jack Sparrow a personal friend now; so we just have to stop in and wave “hi” to him when we’re in the area!

  8. MomPicturesDays&5 105 (2)The Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom
    ~ This is another ride that we used to avoid but now we insist on riding every time.  We enjoy the updated, interactive queue and the effects inside the ride.  My all-time favorite part is at the very end, when the happy haunts join you in your doom buggy.  I don’t know why, but it fascinates me every time!

  9. “it’s a small world” at the Magic Kingdom
    ~ I think the rest of my family probably cringes every time we walk past this ride, for fear that I’m going to insist we ride it again.  They all complain about the song being stuck in their heads for the rest of the day.  But, to me, it’s another classic Disney ride that I simply must ride! 

  10. MomPicturesDays&5 060 (2)Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom
    ~ Another classic, what can I say?  It’s certainly no Kilimanjaro Safaris, but it still has it’s appeal!  Sure, we could all take a turn as a skipper on this one – we’ve heard the corny jokes over and over again.  But, you know what? They still make me laugh.  I remember riding it on my first trip to Disney, and I’ll keep riding it as long as it exists. 


 

And now, I’ve run out of numbers – but not out of attractions.  Here are a few honorable mentions:

  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic & The Hall of Presidents at MK
  • Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo & Friends & Gran Fiesta Tour at Epcot
  • Star Tours, the Magic of Disney Animation, Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream & The Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios
  • Pangani Forest Exploration Trail & Maharajah Jungle Trek at Animal Kingdom

What are your Top 10 Disney Attractions?  I’d love to know.  You can post about them on your blog and then link up here.

10 comments:

Jennifer said...

Love your list, and glad I wasn't the only one to need at least one Honorable Mention. LOL

Jessica Sanders-Parmer said...

It was really hard to leave the Haunted Mansion off my list, I'm glad it made it on to yours. : )

Elyse Oslé Rinehart said...

I have two favorites because of family memories. One of my favorites is Expedition Everest.  It was brand new when my husband and I went for our honeymoon to Disney World and I think we rode it three times: once in the front, in the back, and in the middle (we wanted to see if one spot was more fun than another).  Even though I got terribly sick on our honeymoon we made sure to come back to Animal Kingdom in order to ride it one more time before we left.

My other favorite ride is Space Mountain.  First, it was the first roller coaster both me and my husband rode on when we were 10, almost 11 (we were both down at WDW for the first time when we the exact same age.  To the month. Crazy, right?)  Also, when we were down in 2009, I rode Space Mountain even though I thought I might be pregnant (which I was, barely. Kaelyn has been a daredevil ever since!).

Beth D. said...

We just experienced the Festival of the Lion King for the first time this past trip and absolutely love it!  I do not know how we never made time for it on other trips!

DebSays said...

What a great list! They are many of my favorites too! I am so glad you started up DD again. Would love to participate next time.

Amy said...

Great list! I left Jungle Cruise off of my list, but it would be right up there if I had just a couple more! Thanks for hosting!

MapleMouseMama said...

Great list Heidi and even more so your honorable mentions :-)  It is so hard to narrow it down to just ten.  Thanks for including me in the meme.  It was such fun to do!

Suz

Unknown said...

Love your list. Well except for the Tower of Terror. :)

Susan said...

I love your choices!!
I love your blog and chose you to be tagged! Tag your it! I was tagged with 11 questions and I in turn had to tag 11 people with 11 different questions. I chose you as one of my 11. I can't wait to read your answers. Check out my page for full rules and details. Susan-
http://journalingmywaythrough2010.blogspot.com/

Cass said...

Oh, I can't wait to get to Epcot next time and try Soarin! Great list!

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