My Thoughts On The New Opening Process For Disney's Animal Kingdom!

Hi everyone! Apologies for the week without a new post on the blog. I've been away for a week (not to Disney), and I will admit I was very disorganised, so therefore couldn't find the time to write anything- I was either too busy or too tired! Now that I'm back, however, posting will resume as normal.

Today I'm going to talk about an interesting news story from the past couple of days that really grabbed my attention. What with all the awesome stuff going on at the D23 Expo this past weekend, this story, for what it is, has gone relatively unnoticed. This news is that Disney's Animal Kingdom has seen a drastic and pretty unique change to how it opens each morning. The traditional rope drop by the Tip Board on Discovery Island has gone, and has been replaced by a new system which sees guests let into the park 15 minutes prior to the official opening time. They are at this point allowed into the park, and are given the opportunity to do some of the park's awesome attractions before the time that the Animal Kingdom's official opening arrives. At present, three attractions are participating in this system, namely Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and TriceraTop Spin.

I know, I was a little surprised by that last one too, but what I should imagine Disney are trying to do here is to firstly cater to all age groups and demographics with these early openings, and also to distribute crowds around the park as equally and evenly as possible. TriceraTop Spin may be a low capacity, moderately themed cycle ride, but it is an attraction that ticks both of those boxes. Indeed, I happen to really enjoy TriceraTop Spin- it's a fun take on a classic Disney ride system.

Whilst I'm not sure how this new opening effects or is effected by morning Extra Magic Hours at the park, what we do know is that park wide Fastpass distribution still doesn't begin until official park opening. Unfortunately, this leads us onto yet another thing we don't know about this system, which is how it'll work with Fastpass+ when that's fully implemented. Obviously I have no idea, but I expect that Fastpass+ reservations won't be offered for the 15 minutes prior to the park's posted opening time, as that quarter of an hour isn't inside the official park opening times. Therefore, it's not officially considered to be open, even though it is. Just like you can't get a Fastpass on the current 'Classic' Fastpass system for after a park closes, even if it doesn't actually end up closing at the official time, I'm guessing that the same will apply for before the park is officially open.

After this news having been around for a day or two now, it's becoming apparent what the majority of us Disney Fans think about it. From what I've read, opinions are pretty mixed, with a lot of people like myself being torn as to what they think about this innovative new opening procedure for AK. I personally am intrigued as to how this unique new system functions, and am interested to see how it works over time and how it deals with different crowd levels. I still heavily favour the traditional park opening ceremony and rope drop which is sadly featuring less and less in the parks, but I am always all for Disney trying out new things, especially with how they manage this vital part of the park day.

It seems to me like they are definitely doing this in the interest of enriching the guest experience. I can see no way that this could be a cost cutting initiative for them- surely opening attractions earlier will cost more in wages and power- and instead I see it as their way of distributing the crowds as equal as is feasible prior to park opening. Opening just the three attractions located pretty much equidistant from each other should achieve this, making traffic flow more balanced and less chaotic for when the remainder of the park opens- something which will really help this wonderful park that is- despite its status as Walt Disney World's largest park- typically quite congested.

I'm still not entirely sure how this system will provide the most efficient way of opening the park, but I do have compete confidence that Disney, thanks to their years of experiences running theme parks, will know exactly what they're doing and get it completely right. I also see several advantages and disadvantages for how we tour this park. I am concerned that maybe it could produce slightly disproportionate wait times in the first few hours of park operation, and could also jeopardise the plans of people who already have breakfast ADRs planned for the park. But I know that Disney will have most certainly taken these things into consideration when planning the change, so there'll be no problem. Besides, there's the trump card of more park time equals more experiences- definitely a massive win here! In my opinion, just one extra ride on Everest, the Safari or even TriceraTop Spin is a big bonus!

Now it's your turn- I want to hear your opinion if you want to share it! Do you welcome this change? How do you predict it will influence your touring of Animal Kingdom? Maybe you've visited the park recently and experienced this new opening system for yourself- in which case I'd love to know your thoughts! If you want to share your opinion, you can do so by commenting, Tweeting me @BloggerDisney, posting on the blog's Facebook page, or emailing me at worldofdreamsblog@gmail.com
I'd love to hear from you!

Thank you for reading! Please also check out the wonderful We're Going To Walt Disney World Podcast! I'm also now on Instagram; with my username being bloggerdisney. I hope you have a magical day!!!

Monstrous Summer All Nighter Is Happening Now At The Magic Kingdom!

Hi everyone! As I reported a couple of weeks ago, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is open for a full 24 hours today for only the second time in its history. It opened at 6am this morning, and will continue to be open throughout the night, finally closing at 6am tomorrow. The event kicks off the 'Monstrous Summer' being celebrated at the parks this year, featuring a series of exciting events, with this one a contender for the best, to celebrate the release of Disney and Pixar's newest movie, Monsters University. Today's event, which is also featuring at the two parks of Disneyland California, is in full swing as I write this, having gone just over 12 hours quite recently.

One of the best things about these kinds of events is that Disney couples the unique celebrations, which I'll explain in a minute, with awesome and exclusively unique merchandise and food, which is I'm told already proving a huge hit on both coasts for this event. Not only is there the attraction of having the opportunity to spend (or at least attempt to spend) 24 hours in the world's best theme park, but by offering these unique items to guests exclusively on this day, Disney are giving them great ways to remember this rare magical experience which is an opportunity seldom encountered in life. The fact that this event is such a massive thing is, taken on its own terms, more than a good basis to create great memories for all those lucky enough to attend it, but when the opportunity to take home these 'one day only' souvenirs also arises, it makes for some pretty strong memories.

The Magic Kingdom has already seen Sulley and Mike, stars of Monsters University, be Grand Marshals for the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, with social media buzzing with news and views about this awesome appearance. Also planned for the next few hours are special late night character meet and greets, dance parties by Cinderella Castle, as well as many other exciting things. I'll be reporting tomorrow on all the goings on!

I really wanted to share that the Disney Parks Blog (which has had a cool makeover to celebrate this event) has been blogging live all day from the parks. Each update comes complete with a cool feature showing the time on both coasts at which it was posted, with posts from all of the blog's top authors a ubiquity today. Particularly intriguing is Stephen Miller's coast to coast expedition, with the Merchandise Communications Manager on his way to Disneyland from Orlando International Airport as I write this. To check out the Disney Parks Blog team's awesome live blogging, please click here! It's definitely worth taking a look!

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to check out the awesome We're Going To Walt Disney World Podcast! If you yourself are at the parks for today's unique event, I'd love to hear about it! Please feel free to comment below! Thank you and have a magical weekend!

World of Dreams Photo of the Week

Hello everyone! I hope you had a good Earth Day on Monday, and congratulations go to the marvellously beautiful Disney's Animal Kingdom, which turned 15 on the same day. As I'm sure you're aware, I was planning to dedicate an independent post to this, but have elected to tie it into this post due to the Blog Writing app I've begun using recently crashing as I attempted to publish my work. Hopefully this won't happen again!
Disney's Animal Kingdom will always have a special place in my heart, as it opened just over a month after I was born, and in turn celebrated its own 15th a month after mine with an amazing special Opening Ceremony worthy of such a great park. The ceremony, which can be watched here featured popular music from the park's rich selection, alongside appearances from Josh D’Amaro, Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Doctor Jackie Ogden, Vice President of Animals, Science and Environment, and of course all the Disney Characters decked out in their best safari gear. From what I've read and seen, it truly sounds like it was a day to remember- and here's to the next 15 years of what is widely regarded as Walt Disney World's most beautiful park!
I selected this Week's Photo in light of this, in order to celebrate this great milestone for the Animal Kingdom right here on the blog. In my opinion, the viewpoint from which I took this picture is the very best in the entire park, with a spellbinding composition showing the wondrous Tree of Life with Expedition Everest in the distance. The Discovery River provides a great leading line for the image, exquisitely directing the eyes immediately to the Animal Kingdom's two most iconic landmarks. I'm surprised that more people don't actually stop on the bridge from which this image was captured, such is the awe-inspiring panorama that becomes visible as you cross it. As I'm sure you can tell, I have heavily edited this photo, doing so with the intention of emphasising the leading line and creating an effect which fits into this park's unique atmosphere.




Before I sign off today, I would like to invite you to check out the We're Going To Walt Disney World Podcast. Covering all things Disney, this sensational podcast is presented by Ed, Quinn and Hope, whose interesting discussions always teach me something! Show 29 has just been posted, and I am a guest in that episode- something I'm very excited about! In my segment, I talk a bit about myself and some of my Disney Interests, and thoroughly enjoyed doing so! I would just like to say a big thank you to Ed, Quinn and Hope for having me on the show, which is also available for download on iTunes. If you listen to Show 29, I hope you enjoy it, and that my segment is as fun to listen to as it was to record!
Thanks for reading, and have a magical day!

Attraction Review- Kali River Rapids

I'll be honest, there aren't many places that I can visit, get drenched with freezing cold water, and yet still somehow have an enjoyable experience. Whilst this of course excludes swimming pools, Waterparks and the like (I make no secret of the fact that I love swimming, especially at Typhoon Lagoon), it certainly speaks volumes for a place if people actually visit it in the knowledge that they may well leave soaked through, and are still enthusiastic about it.

Naturally, Walt Disney World is one of the only places where this is true for me, as I'm sure it is for many of you. More specifically, I'm talking about an attraction over in the Asia area of the Animal Kingdom, the abundantly popular Kali River Rapids. Disney's first ever river rapids type ride, Kali River Rapids whisks adventurous guests around the winding Chakranadi River in 12 passenger circular rafts, which spin freely throughout the journey. This is due to them not being attached to a track at any point of the course, with even the lift hill using a conveyor system, and therefore makes this ride one of Walt Disney World's most unpredictable, especially with regards to how soaked you will get on this ride. Whilst some people do somehow survive without taking home half of the Chakranadi in their trainers, you will more often than not get wet, and completely soaked if you're going backwards down the attraction's sole drop. My advice would be to bring a heavy duty poncho with you to the park if you don't want to get wet, and not to buy one from Disney. I hate to criticise them, but whilst the design of the poncho is pretty cool, the price is a bit too high. Yes, the Disney ponchos are remarkably durable, but if you're just going to use it for Kali, buy a cheap one outside the parks. There are some great poncho tips on this DisBoards Thread if you want to learn more.

Kali River Rapids is a slow loader, and is for obvious reasons very popular on hot Florida days, which are plentiful. Therefore, you will on occasions have to wait a considerable amount of time to board your creatively named boat and begin your adventure. In spite of this, during your wait you will be treated to one of the most elaborately and thoroughly themed queues in the whole of Walt Disney World. The line contains many beautiful artefacts, and in my opinion just pips Everest's as the park's best, meaning that encountering a long line here isn't necessarily as bad as if you were waiting for an attraction with a plainer queue.

My only big complaint with the queue for this awesome ride is that the immersion is slightly blighted by the sound effects which can be heard about midway through the line. Seeing as the ride seeks to highlight the problem of deforestation, a chainsaw sound effect can be heard in the distance for a good stretch of the queue, and regularly proves to be a distraction to guests. Whilst I do get that the Imagineers were merely looking to explore this aspect of the attraction's theme to initiate the storytelling, the sound is so realistic that it leaves many guests to believe that there is actually a construction project going on nearby in the park. Indeed, almost every time I go through this line, I begin to wonder if this is really the case, before remembering that the noise is merely an element of the theming. I have also spoken to several other people around me in line who reported being similarly fooled by this clever sound effect. This certainly says something for the Imagineers' ability to create immersive and convincing themed environments, even if the effect doesn't have its desired impact on guests' understanding of the developing storyline. I understand that it would prove difficult to do this, too.

It's a given that Kali's line will always be at its peak during the warmer hours of the day, as droves of guests seek escape from the searing heat which Animal Kingdom has a reputation for. With any other, drier attraction, the simple solution to this problem would be to visit either at the beginning or end of the day, when the attraction is understandably much quieter. However, due to the amount of freezing cold water which is one of the main 'joys' of the Kali River Rapids experience, it's considerably more uncomfortable to ride it at the beginning or end of the day, the time when temperatures are at their lowest. Whilst this isn't the case every day, especially in the May to September period, the temperatures in Florida can fluctuate quite dramatically, so if Kali is a priority for you it's well worth checking the forecast a couple of days before you visit the Animal Kingdom, and adjusting your touring strategy accordingly.

Of course, you would then think that Fastpass would be the way to go to get on Kali at a time when it's actually warm enough without waiting too much. There are two reasons why that might not be the best idea. Firstly, there are other attractions in the Animal Kingdom which you're much better off getting Fastpass for due to several factors, namely Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris, and to a lesser extent Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl. Secondly, whilst getting a Fastpass for Kali is usually surprisingly simple, actually using it isn't. The two lines don't actually split until about a third of the way through the standby line, and most of the time that they run side by side there is little or no division between them. The part where the two do split has no partition whatsoever, and I've never seen a Cast Member managing that part of the line. This leads to embarrassment for Fastpass guests who must often squeeze past those in the standby line, as well as anger for the Standby guests, especially those who don't understand the Fastpass system and believe the Fastpass holders are attempting to jump the line. Whilst this only relates to my own personal experiences, and I'm sure it isn't always the case, I have found it to be a problem in the past, so thought it was worth mentioning.

As with every Walt Disney World attraction which offers Fastpass, both the Standby Line and Fastpass itself have their pros and cons, it's ultimately your decision how you get to experience this awesome attraction!

Below I have commented on how I rate Kali River Rapids in the following areas, and why (I have rearranged the order this week, to make the article flow better):

Theming~ 10/10
There's no other way to put it- the theming of Kali River Rapids is perfect. I consider landscaping and horticultural features to be a massively important part of aesthetics, especially in environments like the Disney Parks, and therefore believe that Animal Kingdom is Walt Disney World's most beautiful park. As with every Disney Park, everything comes together wonderfully to create a stunningly realistic environment which immerses you in the enchanting stories from the moment you set foot in the park to the moment which you depart it. And while Animal Kingdom is the most beautiful park, I think that Kali River Rapids and the surrounding area is the most beautiful part of it, even more so than the Oasis, which also holds a special place in my heart. When I visit Kali River Rapids, I feel so very immersed in the story, and have fond memories of actually thinking that my hotel room was part of the queue on a very hot day the first time I visited WDW- it's that believable! I'm not saying that other Disney Attractions don't boast believable environments, every single one does so, rather that Kali does more so than some of the others.
It's a bit like staying at a Disney Resort, for (a pretty bad) example. I'm sure that we all want to stay at a Deluxe Resort on our Disney trips, as they boast more amenities, better facilities and richer theming. However, for whatever reason, we may not be able to stay at the Contemporary, for example, and so will opt to stay at a Moderate or Value Resort, such as Coronado Springs or Art of Animation. Whilst, when given the choice, we might still want to stay at the Deluxe, we're still thrilled to be staying at the Moderate or Value, as they're still Disney, still out of this world. Not a very good example at all, I know, especially since there aren't to many limitations with regards to experiencing attractions, but I hope you get what I'm saying! Anyway, the theming on Kali River Rapids is simply sublime (let's just ignore any misleading sound effects for the moment), and is, as I say about many parts of Walt Disney World, a real testament to the talent of the awesome Imagineers. The central theme of the attraction is a focus on conservation of the rainforests rather than the animal inhabitants themselves, highlighting the problems caused by deforestation and other forms of habitat destruction, thus fitting with the theme of the park itself. This message is perfectly conveyed by the striking juxtaposition guests encounter as their raft floats out of the lush rainforest, and picks up pace (showing the effects of deforestation on the river itself and other aspects of the local geographical landscape), as it passes through an area which has been 'destroyed' by loggers, before plunging down Kali's famous 30 foot drop.

Thrill~ 9/10
Thanks to the amazing theming, Kali scores highly for the sensual thrill, as guests are enthralled by the beautiful landscape which surrounds the river. The kinetic thrills are also in the limelight here- with the boats free to float and spin pretty spontaneously along the river there's never a dull moment.

Scariness~ 8/10
Apart from the deforestation and drop section, this ride is *relatively* calm, with just the occasional splash to worry about. The section in question is fast moving and turbulent, and is made worse if you're facing backwards. Thankfully, this usually won't last long, as the rafts are constantly freely spinning due to the river's fast and winding course. Facing backwards at any point of this ride can be intimidating, let alone when going down the drop, when you'll experience a double whammy of not only going down backwards, but being the ones in the boat who get absolutely drenched courtesy of the huge wave created by the raft's decent. Uncertainty plays a sizeable role here too- not only do you have little indication of when you'll be facing backwards, when you are you have little or no idea, depending on whether you've ridden Kali before or not, where your vessel is headed, and if you will be randomly doused by ice cold water, but hey, that's half the fun. If you think about it, in this sense, Kali's actually scarier than Expedition Everest, which by the way you get a great view of just before the big drop.

Educational~ 10/10
Perhaps it's less so than Epcot, but there's no mistaking the fact that Animal Kingdom is an educational park. As I discussed earlier, Kali's strongly themed to promote conservation, and to shine a light on the shocking problems caused by deforestation for the beautiful environments we love our planet for, and the fascinating creatures we share it with. As I'm sure you're well aware, deforestation is a very big, very real dilemma faced by every single precious rainforest on our planet, and is tragically causing their areas to decline at an alarming rate. Not only is this bad news for us, as less trees means more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, hence speeding up climate change, it's even worse news for the thousands of species, many still undiscovered, who exclusively call rainforests their home. I'm extremely passionate about preserving our amazing planet, and am therefore ecstatic to see Disney endeavouring to educate their guests about these issues, by highlighting them in attractions in their parks. I just really hope that as many Animal Kingdom visitors understand what Disney are doing here as possible, so that deforestation might be done less, or even stopped altogether.

Fun~ 9/10
The great thing about Kali is that it perfectly balances a very serious conservation message with an incredibly fun attraction that everyone can enjoy. Whilst not everyone sees getting soaked through with water as a particularly enjoyable activity, especially at colder times (see above), the unpredictability and thrill of Kali makes it unmissable.

Repeatabilty~ 8/10
Whilst it's the same basic ride every time, as I have mentioned, it's extremely unpredictable as to which direction you'll be facing at different points of the ride, and can therefore give you a different experience every time you ride Kali. This also means that you'll pick up new little details almost every time, especially since the theming of this ride is so good. This is especially true for the queue, which has so much to look at that it's impossible to take it all in on just one walkthrough. I would recommend that you ride Kali as much as you can, as the spinning boats can lead to you missing out on parts of theming, and there's so much to look at throughout the whole experience.

Interactivity~ 6/10
Whilst neither the queue or ride have any interactive elements, there is a neat little system where guests exiting or watching the ride from a bridge can control jets of water which are directed at riders as their boat approaches the unloading platform. Unlike similar features at non Disney parks, this is completely free, and merely involves pressing a button. It's immensely fun to control, especially as the jets come from the trunks of some beautiful Elephant statues, though admittedly it's not quite as amusing if you're on the ride! In most instances, the raft will be stationary for a short time, so those guests on it are like sitting ducks.

And finally, my overall rating of Kali River Rapids~ 10/10
The numbers say it all, Kali River Rapids is truly a superb attraction. Whilst many people complain that it's far too short, I think that it's a great length, and that Disney have done a great job with it. Whilst it could maybe be ever so slightly longer, this really doesn't bother me- it's just such a well designed experience.

So what are your thoughts? Do you share my concerns about the Fastpass Line, and are my ratings accurate enough? Please don't hesitate to share- it's always a treat to hear from you! You can on the Facebook Page, in the comments, or by emailing me at worldofdreamsblog@gmail.com
Thanks for reading, I hope you're having a magical week!

World of Dreams Photo of the Week

Now, you may be surprised to hear this, but this week's photo is from... a parking lot. Yes, a parking lot! The Magic Kingdom's, to be exact. Now, I know that I say this at least once a week, and probably sound like a broken record, but at Disney, everything is so amazing. In accordance with this, the parking lots really aren't mere parking lots, like you would find elsewhere, but are so much more. Clever kinetics, attractive landscaping and preliminary storytelling are all present in the Disney lots, creating an exciting environment perfectly designed to build anticipation of the many whimsical adventures which await you in the park.

With this week's photo, I have tried to epitomise everything the Disney parking lots represent. Although you can't see the park itself, this photo was taken whilst I faced toward the Magic Kingdom, and showcases the beautiful sky visible late in a sunny Floridian day. Late afternoon/early evening is my favourite time to enter the Magic Kingdom, as the beautiful skies always make the already wondrous settings of Seven Seas Lagoon and the Park's seven lands so much more magical and stunning. I think that the whole of Walt Disney World, and the Magic Kingdom in particular, looks so much more beautiful at sunset.

In this image I was also lucky enough to capture two of my favourite elements of the Disney parking lots. Firstly, there are the colourful signs detailing which zone of the lot you have parked in. In the case of the Magic Kingdom, the parking lot is divided into two sides: heroes and villains. Unfortunately, we were directed to the Villains side that day (boo), but I made sure that I told nobody(I don't want my reputation ruined!) Although quite confusing, this unique two sided system at the Magic Kingdom, which is still fairly new, is great fun to park in, adding a whole new dimension to the lot. The other awesome thing in the picture is the tram. Although it's just a means of transporting guests from one side of the vast parking lots to the other, the trams really are great fun to ride, and a really special way to approach a park. Oh, and they make tearing yourself away from it a little easier!

The only thing that I have changed about this photo is to slightly tweak the saturation, in order to fully emphasise and credit the true beauty of the sky, as this photo was taken on a pretty bad camera! I hope you like it!

Thank you for reading! I would also like to thank everyone who has been making kind comments about this Blog, especially on Facebook. It's a truly great feeling to be able to share my passion for Disney with all of you, and know that my work's appreciated!

I hope you're having a magical week!

Attraction Review- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Before I start today, I would just like to give you a massive apology for the lateness of this post. I would have published it last Friday, as per normal, but it seems that Blogger had a problem with their servers, and I was unable to access my account for several days. Obviously this is all out of my control, but I will endeavour to prevent this happening again.



One of the things I love most about Walt Disney World is how the wonderful theme parks are still full of classic Disney Attractions. For me, the Magic Kingdom shows this better than any other park, creating a perfect balance of both old and nostalgic, and new and exciting attractions. The thing Disney does so well with these classic and nostalgic attractions is to maintain the high standards which have come to be expected of the Disney Parks, whilst still retaining the charm and character of the attraction in question.

When looking at the Magic Kingdom in particular, many such attractions spring to mind, with the task of picking out just one outstanding attraction almost impossible. Each one has, obviously, always been a guest favourite, a crucial factor in the longevity of any Disney Attraction. The Magic Kingdom attraction I'm looking at today, however, perfectly epitomises all these points, having been a Tomorrowland staple since it opened in July 1975, 4 years after the park itself. I am of course referring to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, or the TTA as we Disney Fans affectionately know it.

This incredible attraction takes guests on an interesting tour around Tomorrowland, including glimpses into several of Tomorrowland's exciting attractions, such as Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. Narrated by Mike Brassell, this attraction represents a mass transportation system of the future as imagined by the Disney Imagineers, and is actually considered to be a genuinely feasible prototype for future transportation systems. Indeed, the same ride systems used in this attraction are used in the Inter-Terminal Train at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which was built by the Disney Imagineers for the Airport. It still functions and operates today as a means of transportation around the airport.

Guests board the TTA at a second floor station below the Astro Orbitor attraction, with the entire attraction taking place above Tomorrowland. Your adventure around this magnificent area of the Magic Kingdom takes place in one of the attraction's 32 ride vehicles, which are extremely pleasant, and lovely and comfortable for your 10 minute journey.

The TTA really is one of those remarkably rare attractions which are absolute perfection, however it is unique amongst the small group of attractions of this pedigree. When you think of such attractions, the Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest, among others, spring to mind. These Imagineering masterpieces are state of the art, utilising some of the most complex and mind boggling technologies known to man, creating a stunning attraction. The TTA, on the other hand, is about as technologically advanced as the WDW buses!

Weirdly enough, instead of being a criticism, this is actually a compliment! It is the blissful simplicity of the attraction which is one of the crucial ingredients to its winning formula, and when combined with the setting, atmosphere and theming which Disney does so splendidly, it makes the TTA pretty much unbeatable. On its own, the ride is very basic, nothing special. If you took just the track and vehicles and placed them in an empty parking lot, it would be nowhere near as enjoyable. Whereas, when you put it into the whimsical setting of the Magic Kingdom, it instantly makes the attraction so much more than a track and some vehicles.

With such a perfect attraction on offer, you'd think that lines for it would be longer than the time it's taking Disney to build a fifth WDW park (and that's a WHOLE other topic), but I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised by the reality. The TTA is actually one of the easiest attractions at WDW to get on! Although it's very popular, especially amongst Disney fans, lines for the PeopleMover are almost always a walk on, and if not, under 10 minutes. I've visited the Magic Kingdom at one of the busiest times of year, and still only waited 5 minutes for the TTA at the busiest time of day! For a ten minute attraction, that's a great time return (200%). Therefore, you can visit the TTA pretty much whenever you want!

Here's how I rate the TTA in the following categories, and why:

Thrill~ 9/10
Whilst the TTA is awesome, it's not thrilling in the traditional way, but more sensually. The raised track is the perfect vantage point to take in the exquisite sights, sounds and smells of Tomorrowland, which combine to make it one of my favourite themed areas in all of Walt Disney World.

Scariness~ 6/10
This attraction has no speed or drops, but does feature a fairly lengthy segment in the dark, and I mean DARK, as you go through Space Mountain. This can be pretty scary, as you can't see a thing, and can hear the Space Mountain cars whizzing all around you, creating a cool but scary effect. It's not really all that bad, but can be scary, especially for guests who are uncomfortable in the dark.

Theming~ 9/10~
Like I previously mentioned, the theming is such an integral part of this attraction. We all know that a good theme should really make you feel like you are wherever its portraying, like you are living, or visiting, that world. Whilst not WDW's most elaborate, the TTC's theme does this perfectly, transporting you to the dream version of the future which the whole of Tomorrowland represents so well.

Educational~ 7/10
The clever narration on the TTA does inform you of Tomorrowland's many attractions, just not in a particularly factual way. You do, however, pass a model of 'Progress City', which was Walt Disney's vision for a futuristic city, the concept which inspired Epcot, the theme park we know and love today. This is an awesome touch, and provides an awesome opportunity to learn about the city, if only very briefly. The attraction also represents a very probable future mode of transportation- very interesting to learn about, especially since PeopleMovers could be a massive part of our everyday lives in 50, or even 40 years time.

Fun~ 10/10
Fun is one of those vital elements that every attraction must have to be at all successful, and fun is the element which the TTA is richest in. Only Disney could take a prototype transportation network and turn it into an enjoyable attraction- and they've done so incredibly well. Another great thing they've managed to pull off is making the tour of Tomorrowland dimension of the attraction fun; instead of simply promoting each attraction. Also, the TTA is great for people watching, and has great views in general, including two segments of the ride which offer unmatched views of the Hub and Cinderella Castle, providing a great opportunity to snap a quick picture. And who could forget the ingenious joke which is cleverly incorporated into the attraction during one of its indoor sections. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I will say that it involves a certain person... called Tom.

Repeatability~ 10/10
Due to the length of this attraction, and the amount to see, you could ride it 1000 times and still not have taken it all in! The clever gags and spectacular theming will make you want to ride it again and again, it truly is one of those attractions which makes you want to get right back in line after disembarking! It's also really good for repeat rides if you enjoy people watching, as that's always constantly changing, of course.

And finally, my overall rating of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover~ 10/10
The TTA is, quite simply, one of my all time favourite attractions. It's wondrous, fantastic, awe-inspiring, everything I could possibly ask for in a Disney attraction. I love its charm and nostalgia as well, they are two of the defining principals of the TTA, and I also love everything else about it, to be honest!
It just goes to show that the magic is everywhere in the Disney Parks, and that the spirit and charm of a great attraction never falters. It's what sets aside Disney attractions from the rest.

Now I would love to hear what YOU think! Are my views valid, or am I a little too positive? Are you also a big TTA fan, or do you not see what all the fuss is about? Please share on Facebook, in the comments below, or by emailing worldofdreamsblog@gmail.com. I love hearing from my readers!

Thanks for reading, and may your day be full of magic!

World of Dreams Photo of the Week

New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom is truly breathtaking. With this multi- million dollar expansion, Disney have taken all the things which made the Classic Fantasyland amazing, and made them even better still, creating what now is by far the Magic Kingdom's best themed area. One of my favourite parts of the expansion is Storybook Circus, which is a, you guessed it, circus themed area. I think that the Imagineers have got Storybook Circus just right, and I really enjoyed exploring it last October- the details are incredible.

The centrepiece of this unique area of Fantasyland is the new Dumbo attraction. Unlike the old Dumbo, which was located near the old Snow White's Scary Adventures, this new Dumbo features two versions of the attraction right next to each other, both served by one of Disney's innovative interactive queues. My family and I were lucky enough to get a Surprise Fastpass for Dumbo on our last trip, and, despite the fact that we are way to old for it, we rode it! It was great fun, and brought back memories of when I first visited a Disney Park, which was Disneyland Paris in 2005. Dumbo was the first thing I rode there.

This week's photo is of the 'spoke' of the Dumbo attraction, taken from the Fastpass queue just before boarding my 'Elephant'! I have edited it slightly to improve the quality, but haven't done so in any other way, as the beautiful colours which Dumbo is painted in don't need enhancing!

I would love to hear your opinions on the photo! Do you think it's a good angle, or should I have focused on the whole attraction? Please share your views in the comments!

Thank you for reading, I really appreciate your support! Have a magical day!

World of Dreams Photo of the Week

This week's photograph is the first featured on this Blog from the wonderful Disney's Animal Kingdom. I captured it by chance whilst on my way to ride Dinosaur in Dinoland USA, hence the poor quality, which I apologise for. The image shows one of the imaginative decorations which adorn the park, and which make a massive contribution to the opinion held by many that Animal Kingdom is the best themed Disney Park in the entire world.
This decoration is a Tortoise cleverly incorporated into one of the pillars outside the Disney Outfitters store on Discovery Island, the hub of the park. I had to take a picture, as it really shows how incredibly detailed the work of the Disney Imagineers is, and exactly how they have created a consistent themed environment, leaving 'no stone unturned', so to speak. I have adjusted the saturation of the photograph to really bring out the vibrant colours- I hope you like it!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!

Attraction Review- Primeval Whirl

This week I have chosen to write about an attraction which is by no means Walt Disney World's most popular. Primeval Whirl, which can be found in Dinoland USA in the beautiful Disney's Animal Kingdom, has more than its fair share of critics, who argue that it's ugly, and say that it really doesn't fit into the theme of the park. Whilst I can see the justification behind these views, I think that Primeval Whirl is a pretty good attraction when taken on its own terms.

One of the Animal Kingdom's two rollercoasters, Primeval Whirl, you may be surprised to learn, actually shares many elements with the Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain. Both are 'Wild Mouse' coasters, which are rollercoasters which don't feature big drops and inversions, but rather small, swift drops, and sharp turns. The other similarity between the two attractions is the fact that both have two 'sides', both featuring a duplicate of the same attraction, a mirror image if you will. Both sides share the same line, but one side, as with Space Mountain, is often devoted exclusively to Fastpass holders. The only real difference between the two sides, due to their being a mirror image of one another, is that they set out in opposite ways. For example, at the top of the lift hill on the left hand side, your car turns right, whereas on the right hand side, it turns left. The thing that makes Primeval Whirl unique within Walt Disney World is that the cars spin whilst going round the track, turning a pretty dull, uneventful coaster into a considerably more exciting one.

The two sides give the attraction a fairly reasonable capacity, but, due to it being very slow at loading, it is not at all unusual for Primeval Whirl to experience long waits. It's not a particularly long ride, so I wouldn't recommend waiting more than 20 minutes for it, as it's really not worth it. If you're desperate to ride Primeval Whirl, I would advise doing so early in the day, when all the crowds are riding Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris and Dinosaur, the Animal Kingdom's 'Big Three' attractions, or riding it at a time when the nearby Finding Nemo The Musical is showing, which can hold huge crowds. If these times aren't feasible, grab a Fastpass, they work pretty well for Primeval Whirl.

Here's how I would rate Primeval Whirl in these areas, and why:

Thrill~ 8/10
This lighthearted attraction will always thrill you, just not as much as some of its fellow Animal Kingdom attractions. Whilst it doesn't particularly stimulate your every sense, its extravagant decorations really make the charm of this attraction. The ride itself is pretty thrilling too, and is definitely worth checking out at least once!

Scariness~ 8/10
Like the Tower of Terror, which I reviewed last week, perhaps the scariest element of Primeval Whirl is the uncertainty as to what will happen. Whilst the cars all travel along the exact same track, they spin randomly, depending on how much motion and weight they have, really adding another dimension of thrill and scariness to the ride. The scariest part by far is the several sharp corners which the car travels around after ascending the lift hill, which really make it feel like your car is going to fall off the track. Primeval Whirl does feature some small drops, but none of them are particularly scary, unless your car happens to be travelling backwards at that point! The Dinosaurs featured are merely cartoons, not full sized animatronics like the ones in the neighbouring Dinosaur attraction, and are not scary in any way.

Theming~ 6/10
The theme for this attraction is unfortunately neither strong, nor well executed, and is one of the main reasons that Primeval Whirl has proven to be unpopular within the Disney Community. The backstory, however, is pretty cool, with guests seeing cartoon Dinos fleeing in a comical fashion from the meteorite which caused their extinction. Unfortunately, the maintenance stairs, and other parts of the ride's infrastructure are visible for all to see, and, whilst I appreciate that the attraction is supposed to represent a ride one might discover at a fairground, that really isn't made apparent, and ruins immersion in the story anyway!

Educational~ 1/10
The only way imaginable that Primeval Whirl can be classed as 'educational' is the fact that it features a reference to the meteorite which supposedly caused the Dinosaurs to go extinct. Even this isn't a set in stone theory, but merely the most commonly accepted one.

Fun~ 9/10
What Primeval Whirl loses in theming and education, it makes up for in fun. The lighthearted feel, and the clever humour incorporated into parts of the ride make this attraction a must see for anyone who likes to have a good time whilst experiencing Disney attractions.

Repeatability~ 3/10
Primeval Whirl is very much a ''once you've seen it, you've seen it'' attraction, but there are a couple of reasons why you may wish to revisit it. Firstly, the random spinning makes every ride different, but you may only notice a distinct difference if you and your party sit in different places in the ride vehicle the second time you ride. There is also the possibility that you may wish to try both sides of the attraction.

And finally, my overall rating of Primeval Whirl~ 7/10
Whilst Primeval Whirl is in no way Walt Disney World's best attraction, there is no doubting the fact that it is still great fun! I love to ride it whenever I can, and, for me, it is as much a part of the Animal Kingdom as all the other attractions are. I do think that it deserves some much needed TLC, but, with rumours ubiquitous that the Imagineers are readying a replacement, the future is uncertain for Primeval Whirl.

What are your thoughts on Primeval Whirl? Do you always try to ride it, or have you never ridden it before? Do you think it should be replaced with something better, and if so, what? Please share your opinions in the comments below, or on the Blog's Facebook Page!

Thanks for reading, and have a magical weekend!

World of Dreams Photo of the Week

The photograph I have selected this week is of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which can be found in the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland. I captured this image of 'The Wildest Ride In The Wilderness' whilst riding the Walt Disney World Railroad, which passes right by Big Thunder Mountain, presenting an exceptional opportunity to photograph what I consider to be one of Walt Disney World's best themed attractions. I was torn as to how I should edit this photo, so I have made two edits of the original, and posted both. I hope you like them!

Thank you for reading, and have a magical day!

As The Official Opening Of New Fantasyland Approaches, Sightings Of A Dragon Are Reported In WDW...

Thursday December 6th is going to be a big day for Walt Disney World. On a day which has certainly already cemented itself in WDW history, the resort will see not one, not two, but three major new Official Openings; with the Animal Kingdom the only theme park not to have an attraction making its debut. All three have been going through soft openings, or 'Dress Rehearsals', but are being officially opened on Thursday.

Firstly; The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow will be opening in Hollywood Studios' Soundstage 4 (where the Journey Into Narnia walkthrough attraction was housed). As with Narnia, the Captain Jack attraction will be a walkthrough, and Disney have promised that it will include content from every Pirates of the Caribbean movie. They are also claiming it to be 'a first of its kind sensory experience', and that, if you haven't experienced this attraction; 'you don't know Jack... Yet'. As always, the detail which has gone into both the concept art and the attraction itself are stunning, in a way that only Disney can pull off. If you want to see for yourself, WDW Magic have a great selection of photos.

Next, we head over to Epcot, where the long awaited and eagerly anticipated Test Track 2.0 will be starting its engine! Closed for refurbishment since spring this year, the re-imagined Test Track, now presented by Chevrolet is the second attraction to be premiering on Thursday. The old, moderately popular queue has been replaced with a futuristic queue, where you get the opportunity to design your own car, before boarding an equally futuristic 'SimCar', which will take you on a thrilling adventure around Test Track's amazing circuit. Upon exiting the ride, guests will have the opportunity to make a commercial for their car design, have their picture taken with it, and race it around a virtual track. It sounds like another awesome Disney attraction!

Last, but certainly not least, there is 'the big one'. The second, biggest phase of the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland will be opening, comprising of the Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast areas. The Storybook Circus area (first phase) opened last March, and the second phase has been doing Soft Openings, meaning that I was fortunate enough to get to experience both on my recent trip in October. Having actually been there, I can tell you that the New Fantasyland area is absolutely stunning- another spectacular feat of Disney Imagineering. The theming is superb, the attractions equally so, and from what I've seen, I wouldn't be surprised if Fantasyland knocks Frontierland off its perch as the Magic Kingdom's most popular land, especially after the third phase (Snow White) opens in 2014.
Thursday will see several additions to Fantasyland, the most notable of which being Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, and the Be Our Guest Restaurant. Gaston's Tavern, a counter service restaurant, will also be opening, alongside Enchanted Tales With Belle; an interactive storytelling experience, and several gift shops and snack carts.

Although all of these things are exciting additions to the Magic Kingdom, they have been overshadowed in recent weeks by rumours of a Dragon heading 'back home' to New Fantasyland. The Dragon rumours first surfaced back in June, when Imagineers were spotted testing an actual flying Dragon (which I believe they now have a patent for) at an airfield in California. At the time, it was speculated that the Dragon was for the upcoming Avatar Land at the Animal Kingdom, but ever since Disney have begun dropping hints through a blog post and a Tumblr Blog, people are certain the Dragon is headed to New Fantasyland. Lots of ideas are being bounced around- including the possibility of Epcot's Figment being somehow involved! Disney have, in their usual style, been feeding us little tidbits of info about this- and the links above are really worth a look, the story they've created for this is incredible, especially the interview with an 'anonyMOUSE' source. Sightings of the mysterious beast have begun appearing all over the place now- and I for one cannot wait for the reveal!

I'd love to hear your views on this! If you want to share your views, please feel free to leave a comment below! Thanks for reading, and have a magical day!