Attraction Review- Toboggan Racers

If the unlikely event did occur that the temperature in Florida did plummet faster than the Tower of Terror, there is no question that Blizzard Beach could easily function as an actual Ski Resort! Such is the level of incredible detail put into the park that it's more than fair to say that the park IS truly a Ski Resort- the depth of theming and storytelling is that great. Of course, this is certainly true for every single Disney Park and Resort worldwide, and is a quality that you won't find anywhere else. The themed environments Disney creates are so immersive that they truly become the places they represent in the minds of every person who has the fortune to experience them. Blizzard Beach could function as a Ski Resort in the same way that Cinderella Castle could be home to a princess and the Land Pavilion really is a place where scientific research is carried out.

A prime example of how this is true for Blizzard Beach is the Toboggan Racers, one of three attractions served by the Purple Slope. Nestled right at the centre of the mountain's front, Toboggan Racers is a 250 foot 8 Lane slide which guests descend on mats similar in looks to real toboggans. As with the neighbouring Downhill Double Dipper attraction, this slide is a race to the bottom, and is therefore a great attraction to experience with family or friends. There are however some fundamental differences between the two attractions, most notably that you're not timed on Racers, whereas you are on the DDD- this makes it harder to determine who's won; not that it's necessarily a bad thing! In addition to this, you ride Racers on mats and the DDD on rings, and Racers is considerably less intense. These, alongside several other minor differences make these two attractions which are similar in concept starkly different as well, and it's therefore worth experiencing both!

Only one set of guests can experience this thrilling waterslide at one time, so it's therefore a pretty slow loader. Once one 'race' starts, the next set of competitors must line up, ready their mats and be given brief instructions as to how the attraction should be safely experienced before they in turn can have their own race. Therefore, this attraction is a painstakingly slow loader, although it has to be said not as slow as many other waterpark attractions. You know, I'm sure, what that means- long lines! Being a waterpark, Blizzard Beach is notoriously quiet in the first and last hour of park operation, so if you're really keen to experience Toboggan Racers, go at one of these times. I will say at this point that this is nowhere near Blizzard Beach's best attraction, so it's better to prioritise others, such as Summit Plummet, above it, experiencing those before it. It does however depend on what your specific preferences are! Another thing that should be mentioned is that Toboggan Racers shares its mat pickup with the neighbouring Snow Stormers, with no clear system as to how to distribute them. This creates a crowd around the mat pickup, with riders for each attraction in that crowd. As you can imagine, it's not unusual if complete confusion ensues! This is yet another reason to go at quieter times of day, when the mats are more frequent, and there's not so much of a mad rush!

Here's how I rate this attraction in the following areas, as well as a short explanation:

Thrill~ 8/10
Whilst the view from the top of this attraction is impressive, this attraction doesn't boast the best sensual thrills in the World. However, this short slide's two drops paired with the head first fashion in which you lie on your mat do together make this attraction pretty thrilling for what it is.

Scariness~ 7/10
Again, the fact that your descent of this slide is head first pushes the rating up here. The drops themselves aren't particularly scary at all, and the slide has no corners, which would make for a pretty tame ride if it weren't for the aforementioned factor.

Theming~ 7/10
As I mentioned before, Toboggan Racers is a great example of just how strong Blizzard Beach's backstory is, with every aspect of its theming reflecting this. Whilst the name conveys the attraction's own theme perfectly, I do feel that the theming elsewhere on the attraction doesn't quite live up to this. Nevertheless, it IS more than enough to be able to enjoy this fun attraction for what it really is.

Educational~ 1/10
Regrettably, there really isn't much to be learnt from experiencing this attraction. It could be said that the spirit of fair competition could be learnt from riding it, but even that's a bit of a long shot.

Fun~ 8/10
It's pretty much a given that you'll enjoy your experience on Toboggan Racers. Not only is the ride itself properly fun, the previously mentioned competition is too- my family and I always enjoy challenging each other on a number of things on this slide, not just who gets to the bottom first. Such is the versatility of the experience, and notably your moderate control over your mat, that there are countless ways to challenge your friends, family or even yourself. One of our personal favourites, if I recall rightly, is if you can keep one eye closed for the whole slide, as is who goes the furthest at the bottom. These are great ways to keep the attraction fresh and exciting, leading me nicely onto...

Repeatability~ 9/10
Yes, you're always going to follow the same course, and yes, the control you have over your mat isn't as great as for example Runoff Rapids, but the fact that this attraction is themed like a race makes it worth repeating simply to improve your standing, or indeed to achieve anything else as a participant. Again, it's great fun to be creative and think of unusual factors, such as the two listed above, whilst of course staying within the boundaries of both safety and rules. I just want to stress that when I say 'be creative' I certainly don't mean try to ride your mat as a surfboard, instead things such as who can go furthest at the bottom of the slide. Not to sound patronising, but you must lie on the mat as instructed to by Cast Members for the safety of yourself and other guests.

Interactivity~ 7/10
Again, you do have some control over your mat, but certainly not enough to feel you have complete control. Whilst I'm certainly not touting this attraction as dangerous, on the contrary, it's perfectly safe, I am saying that you do have some ability to influence things such as your speed whilst descending the slide. Whilst it's nothing to write home about, it is without a doubt one of the attraction's coolest features.

And finally, my overall rating of Toboggan Racers~ 8/10
Every park has minor attractions, whatever they may be, which make a day at that park feel complete. For me at least, Toboggan Racers is one of the Blizzard Beach attractions which does this. Of course, it's no Summit Plummet or Teamboat Springs, but it is a nice little attraction which combines excitement and fun to make an experience that can be enjoyed on any trip to this wonderful waterpark. It's attractions like this which complete the mix at parks like Blizzard Beach, and I for one feel that the parks would be at a loss without them.

So, what's your opinion? Am I being a little too kind about this attraction, or are my comments spot on? (I hope they are!) Please share your opinion on Facebook or in the comments below. Alternatively, you can email me on worldofdreamsblog@gmail.com- I'd love to hear from you! Please also check out the awesome We're Going To Walt Disney World Podcast!

Thanks for reading, I hope you have a magical weekend!