Disney has many nuances that are best discovered and experienced at a leisurely pace. But sometimes guests ask me to recommend the highlights of a particular park because they only have a short time to visit. What’s good and not so good can depend on the ages of the visitors, but usually the whirlwind visit is a side-trip where the travel had another main purpose such as a business trip. Therefore, this is from the fun-loving but rushed adult’s point of view. Park-Hopper Pass at the ready, here you go:
- Hollywood Studios: Go straight to the Great Movie Ride, then Rockin’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Muppets 3D, Sounds Dangerous, and finish off with Fantasmic. Skip the stunt show (too long) and the shows based on the Disney movies (you won’t get it anyway). Want to feel young again? Eat lunch at the drive-in movie restaurant. Complete with ’57 Chevy’s.
- EPCOT: Brianiacs delight. GM Test Track is fun, if a little contrived. Honey I Shrunk the Audience is very funny. The ATT World’s most impressive feature is it’s view from the entrance to the Park…the theme of communication loses something in translation. SPACE! is good if you are good at keeping things in your stomach IN your stomach. Then go over to The World exhibits. The USA one is very rich in US history, most of the others are more tourism focused. The Mexico ride is kind of low budget, the Norwegian one is more thrilling. The 360 movie of China is impressive, but you have to stand the whole time. The movie of Canada, not so thrilling, eh. EPCOT’s fireworks are the best, except on July 4th. Then Magic Kingdom rules!
- Magic Kingdom: The premier park is also the most child-oriented park. So the adult on the run passes FantasyLand and goes to Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean (warning, not politically correct), Jungle Cruise, and Space Mountain.
- Animal Kingdom: Go straight to the Safari ride. It is a fairly good representation of what a real photo safari is like in an African wildlife preserve. Next, head over to “It’s Tough to Be a Bug”. Kids scream, but adults laugh. Don’t forget to read the movie posters on the wall, they are more than clever! Dinosaur is a rough ride through prehistoric times, and it’s funny too. While you’re in that neighborhood, go over to the old time carnival area, play (and win, it’s easy) one of the skill games and give that giant stuffed elephant you get to the first kid that goes by. You’ll make her day, and yours! Cool off in the river ride if it’s hot, and stop for dinner on the way out at the Rain Forest Café.