Every time I'm fortunate enough to visit the parks, I try to do at least one or two things that I've never done before. Sometimes it's something small (like sampling a new selection at La Cava), while other times it's something big (or towering- I finally braved Tower of Terror on my last visit! Never again).
Some things that I've never done have a prominent place on my must-try list; but others? I'm perfectly fine with letting certain things languish on the never-been side of things (looking at you, Stitch...). I've included some of those here as well. Feel free to convince me otherwise, if you think I'm making a mistake by willingly skipping some of these. This is by no means an exhaustive list- there are things in every park that I've never done, not all of which are listed here. This is just the highlight reel.
Without further ado- here's a park-by-park breakdown of what's still on my list...
Magic Kingdom To Do list:
Never done, but in no rush:
- Astro Orbiters. The heat has always kept me away, baking in the hot sun, up so high (surely, it's hotter up there, right?)... oh- perhaps I should have taken advantage of those cold temps on my last visit.
- Country Bear Jamboree. I have to assume I saw this during my 1977 visit, but I have absolutely no recollection of it. I have never, on any subsequent visits, had any desire whatsoever. Am I missing something great? Please let me know. I'm open to persuasion.
- Stitch's Great Escape- no explanation necessary.
Epcot To Do list:
Never done, but in no rush:
- The Circle of Life. I pass by this entrance every time, and every time I think maybe this will be the trip. But, it never happens. When I'm in my favorite park, with so many things to do, there's just not much compelling me to see an animated environmental fable- which by this point, I would imagine is a bit outdated. I'm not outright opposed to seeing it, but I don't believe I've ever heard or read anything that would draw me in. Extra time? I'd usually rather take another spin through Living with the Land.
Animal Kingdom To Do list:
Two are at the top of my list here:
Never done, but in no rush:
- The actual attraction of Kali River Rapids. Even when it's ridiculously hot out, I have little interest in walking around wet. It never fails to make me uncomfortable, so I pretty much always avoid water rides.
- Primevil Whirl. I've been on countless wild mouse coasters, and this one never did anything to draw me in. To be honest, it's taken me a while to warm up to Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama. The Disney Hipsters have made me reconsider my original impression of this area, and I'm trying to approach it with more of an eye for the backstory, and an appreciation of the depth of story here- something often lost on the casual visitor. What do you think on this one?
Hollywood Studios To Do list:
Never done, but in no rush:
- Lights, Motors, Action. It always just seems too hot, too loud, too smelly, and I have little interest in cars. I'm also always timing it poorly- I suppose I would consider it if I was looking for something to do, and I approached the entrance just as a show was getting ready to start. That never happens
- Disney Junior Live on Stage. The sea of strollers outside is enough to keep me at bay.
So, there's my list. I hope I can update it and cross a few things off after my next visit. What do you think about these never-experienced attractions? Do you have a list of your own? Tell us about it in the comments...
Photos in this post are via the official Disney Parks website.
I checked on the Disney website just to be sure, but I've actually done everything a the Magic Kingdom except for Storytime with Belle because I don't have kids and they didn't have it when I was a kid. In my honest opinion, you aren't missing a ton with Splash Mountain. Drops usually make me very sick, so I avoid them. It's cute inside and all, but you can somewhat see inside while on the Railroad if that is any colsulation. And you are right, there are almost always issues like referbs or down time or whatever that make it difficult to go on. Stitch is awful, so I wouldn't bother. The Astro Orbiters make me sick because you are going around in a circle that is much smaller than it looks. I did it at night so it wasn't hot, but I got really dizzy. And the Country Bears are cute and different and all but not my favorite. My grandpa loves them though. Haha One thing in MK that I just did for the first time this year was the Frontierland Shooting Gallery. I guess I never noticed it or was just in a hurry, but my husband and I played in May, and it was so much fun! I was actually a way better shot than he was despite all his video game playing, and you get lots of shots for how little you pay.
ReplyDeleteI've only done Circle of Life once, and actually it was way better than I anticipated. If you like the Lion King at all, you may find it entertaining and humorous. And there are some beautiful views of landscapes from all around the world. The screen is huge, so at times it was almost majestic with all the background music and whatnot. Maybe I'm just sappy but I was pleasantly surprised.
The Kali River Rapids are really fun, in my opinion, especially in a large group. I suggest going on a really hot day or bringing a poncho that you can slip on just for the ride. Sometimes I even wear the shorts I put on over my bathing suit at a water park because they dry quickly. And then I just bring an extra t-shirt in case I get too wet. Or what a perfect excuse to "have" to buy the Disney tee you've been oogling!
I like Fantasmic because it is really different from all the other nightly shows. And I actually enjoy Lights, Motor, Action, as well. You get to see live car chases and learn how they film a lot of the tricks you see in movies. I don't always do this, but my husband and dad really enjoy it, so I always go with them. It's always their favorite part of the day. Aside from Star Tours, that is.
This was such a fun post! It's made me consider what I may be missing at Disney. Better start making a list for next time!
Thanks for the response, Mandi! I'll keep this in mind during my next visit...
DeleteThe Astro Orbiter is super fun at night!
ReplyDeleteI've always thought it looked really cool at night- that might be the way to go for me!! Thanks for the thought :)
DeleteGirl! We need to go to WDW together because I'm with you on 90% of this list! And for the same reasons. I think we could be WDW BFFs.
ReplyDeleteAnytime, Patty- I'd love to be there with you! :)
DeleteThe Astro Orbiter is fun but the line takes forever! Also, be choosy about who you ride with. I went on it once and, in a spectacular lack of clear thinking, partnered with my brother-in-law while our kids rode together. At the end of the ride my brother-in-law and I could not get out of the orbiter partly because it wasn't meant to hold two adults and partly because we were laughing so hard!
ReplyDeleteHa! That's a good insider tip- I'll definitely keep this in mind!
DeleteFantasmic is amazing. I cry every single time. You must see that.
ReplyDeleteAlso Flights of Wonder is really cute. I love the little skit that goes along with the birds, and I'm not sure of a bird fan either. Um, what else? Astro Orbiters is fun but I do agree with an above commenter. It's a tight squeeze and I was also laughing the last time I got off of it! Why does that happen? You can get some great shots of the Castle though. I like to do this at night, and sometimes there is a dance party happening in Tomorrowland and you can listen to Miley Cyrus while you wait. :)
I wouldn't worry about Circle of Life. I can guarantee you know more about saving the environment than this movie because it is so outdated.
Great list! If you think about it, you haven't missed that much!
I'm not a fan of drops either! I did ToT a couple times and Splash Mountain a couple times but that's it for me. I also have a To Do list on my blog. Hoping to knock some more off there during my upcoming trip!
ReplyDelete