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This is a guest post from my Disney-BFF, Suzannah from Zannaland and Orange Blossom Moms:
Maybe it’s because I’m a local, but even when I wasn’t, I always had a love for the slower-paced rides at Walt Disney World where you just got to sit back, relax, and let your cares (and the heat of the day) melt away. Here are my top 10 picks (in no particular order):
1. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. To me, this will always be the “WEDway People Mover” because that was its original name and what I grew up calling it. No matter what we’ve come to the park to do or how busy it is, there is usually no line or a very short, fast-moving line for this attraction. You sit, you ride, you get amazing views of the Magic Kingdom including Cinderella Castle and the very cool Progress City model in one of the inside portions of the ride. This is easily our family’s always-do attraction.
2. Carousel of Progress. Right next to the People Mover, this attraction is famous for being designed by Walt Disney himself and featured at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. It’s guaranteed to cool you off and have you come off singing along to “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow…” Sure, the last scene is a little dated and the animatronics could use some TLC, but knowing the history of the attraction makes it a special place.
3. Spaceship Earth. When I was little and EPCOT had first opened, this was the ride I dreaded in comparison to my favorites Horizons,Journey into Imagination, and World of Motion. However now it’s one of the last remnants of the original Epcot and I have grown very, very fond of it.
4. Universe of Energy. This was the ride I really dreaded when I was little. Let’s just say I wasn’t too fond of dinosaurs. But again, with time I grew to love and appreciate it. It’s been updated to include Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy so while it was once known for being *gasp* boring, I recently revisited it and was thoroughly entertained. Almost 40 minutes in length, many guests admit to using it to take a nap…as long as you appreciate the amazing 80′s animatronic dinos and moving theatre, I won’t tell.
4. The Great Movie Ride. Over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this is always a nice, air-conditioned way to relax and experience some of the most memorable movies of all time, right before your eyes. There’s a bit of action in the middle to keep you on your toes, but all in all, it’s a great, well, movie ride!
5. Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream. Also in the Studios, this is a self-paced walking tour through Walt Disney history, archives and props. It’s amazing to see how Mr. Disney got his start and how that little animated mouse turned into a theme park in California, and of course, then Walt Disney World. There is a movie at the end detailing Walt’s life which never fails to bring me to tears.
6. The Walt Disney World Railroad. This is always one of my personal favorites. Chugging along around the perimeter of the Magic Kingdom really conjures up thoughts of Walt’s love of trains and just how magical a place you are currently riding through. The 20 minute round-trip journey is also a scenic way to get to other areas of the park. If you’re using a Disney stroller, you can leave it at the station (with your personal belongings taken out) and pick up a new one at your next stop. If you’re using your own stroller, you just need to fold it up while you ride.
7. Impressions de France. This 20-minute film is over in the France pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. It is definitely a hidden gem and I know many Disney fans who’ve never seen it. Unlike the 360? films in Canada and China, this film is 180? and you get to sit down. The real treat is the gorgeous scenery from around France and the classical music that accompanies the film. Recently enhanced to an all-digital film, it is one of my very favorite attractions.
8. Finding Nemo – The Musical. This amazing musical takes place in an indoor theatre, set between Dinoland, USA and Asia. Composed by Tony award-winning Robert Lopez and featuring puppets from the designer of the Lion King musical, I’ve only ever heard wonderful reviews of this show. There is also a special Finding Nemo Reserved Seating Package available.
Book a reservation for lunch at Tusker House from 1:00pm – 1:40pm and get reserved seating to Finding Nemo – The Musical’s 3:15pm show.
9. Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. When Animal Kingdom first opened, we would often take this train ride over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and then just stay on the train back to Harambe. Rafiki’s Planet Watch is always interesting, but if your tired little ones aren’t up to the trek back there, the train can be a fun distraction. It’s about 15 minutes over and back to the Harambe station.
10. The Liberty Belle Riverboat. This delightful steamship sails down the Rivers of America toward Frontierland and is a great way to get some fabulous views of the Magic Kingdom and Tom Sawyer Island as well. Guests are free to move about the ship as it sails, or you can just stay in one spot and drink in the scenery.
So while you may not spend your whole trip to Walt Disney World doing only relaxing things, it’s definitely a good idea to toss the FastPasses aside for a moment and enjoy some of the slower-paced attractions to rejuvenate your family’s pixie dust. Do you have a favorite relaxing attraction that I missed?
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(Catch up here first: Disney Social Media Moms Day One & Two and Cinderella’s Castle Part 1)
#castlegirls
Finally! We are driving away from our private Disney Junior dinner to watch The Magic, Memories & You (a super cool multi-media show ON the Castle) and Wishes (the fireworks show). But as guests of Cinderella herself we don’t have to stand with sweaty vacationers breathing down our necks–oh no!
Steve waltzed us right in the middle of the only green space in front of the castle! He just opened up a gate in the middle of the sidewalk and in we walked. We were literally LAYING IN THE GRASS as we watched the shows. Not only that we were snacking away on buckets of popcorn, Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars and bottled water. If I had been on the outside looking in, I would have been tweeting pictures of us to see if anyone could figure out why we were famous. It was that cool.
Me & Crystal on the lawn waiting for Wishes!
After the show, we ran up to our room (IN CINDERELLA’S CASTLE!) to change clothes and dump our cameras. For some reason we were too excited to take pictures. Plus it was dark. Then we headed down to our private viewing area to watch the Main Street Electrical Parade. Of course, some of us couldn’t watch it without asking Steve some more questions about security, the scheduling of performers and kidnapping. You know, the usual Disney questions.
All this time, Les had been an honorary member of the House of Hills. But after the parade, Steve let him pal around with us. We hit up the new AMAZING queue at The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh (did you know the new movie is coming out July 15?), rode Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear (where Steve told us how to score BIG!) went shopping and got a tour of the new Fantasyland expansion. (Gotcha! He didn’t give us a tour, just explained it all in massive detail while looking at the map.)
Then Les had to leave because we were going down to the Utilidors! Never heard of that particular attraction? That’s the underground world of the Magic Kingdom! The place where Cast Members can fix plumbing, dump trash, get away from the Small World song and can travel through the Kingdom without being seen! HOW COOL IS THAT?
This is a very top secret place and no cameras are allowed. We even had to have special nametags to get in! But at this point it was like 2am, so I don’t think anyone cared anyway. Not that the Magic Kingdom was quiet. Oh no! The parks are being cleaned, fixed and readied 24 hours a day. It never closes.
While we were in the Utitlidors, Steve told me my new favorite story…
When Walt Disney died in 1966, they were in the middle of planning “the Florida project” or the Magic Kingdom of Disney World as we know it. Walt’s brother, Roy postponed his own retirement to head up the project and make sure that his brother’s dream would become a reality. And he did it–the Magic Kingdom was ready a full month early AND under-budget! Can you imagine?
The day of the opening ceremony, Roy Disney was supposed to speak and open the park to the public and media. Well, he apparently got emotional about his brother’s passing and said, “I’m not going up there without my brother.” The PR guys and others around him were like, “Well, there’s nothing we can do about that! It starts in FIVE minutes! You have to go out there.” Roy crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair and said, “I’m not going without my brother.” For the next few minutes there was mild chaos as they tried to figure out who could give the speech. Finally, an insightful Cast Member walked up holding Mickey Mouse’s hand and led him to Roy. Roy stood up, took Mickey’s hand and walked out to give his speech.
{i totally stole this pic off the Orlando Sentinel site...}
And as he gave his speech, he wanted everyone to know that this new theme park was not part of their family legacy. It wasn’t about his dad. Or him. It was about Walt. It was Walt’s dream, his baby, his love. So he changed the name then and there to WALT DISNEY WORLD. Not Disney World in the vein of Disneyland. But WALT Disney World so everyone would know it was Walt’s dream come true…
Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney… and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place… a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn — together. ~Roy Disney October 25, 1971
But the really romantic part of the story is that Roy died just two months later. What an amazing story of devotion, loyalty and making others’ dreams come true! We all had tears in our eyes as he told the story!
We finally left the utilidors and walked through a vacant Magic Kingdom to our room (IN THE CASTLE!). But before we went to bed we had to put on our Cinderella’s Castle Suite ROBES and pose for a picture in front of the castle. WHO GETS TO DO THAT?!!
The next morning I got up first (well, after Amy who was doing #b90days in the foyer) and after I got dressed (in my new Cinderella shirt), I went outside to see the park all by myself. But I got out there about 5 minutes too late and the park had JUST opened. Anyway, there was a Photo Pass girl in front of the castle and we had a little impromptu photo shoot just for me!
Then we were off to the races! Steve had of course retired after our all-nighter. But never fear, we had another amazing guide to hang on to–Michael! He took us to Cinderella’s Royal Table for breakfast where I had the most amazing stuffed french toast I’ve ever seen in my life…
are you kidding me?!
And this is where we realized we had been breathing Pixie Dust for a little too long. When you arrive at Cinderella’s Royal Table, the first thing you do is get your picture taken with Cinderella. Well, when we saw her, we were gushing about staying in her suite. We told her thank you and gave her hugs and cheek kisses. We thought she was really THE CINDERELLA. And that SHE really set up the suite for us. That she REALLY knew we had just come from HER HOUSE!
But it gets worse. When Snow White came to our table, we jumped to our feet (a table of SIX women with no kids at Disney World!) and told her we slept in the suite. She said (in her most wonderfully sweet and precious Snow White voice), “Oh, are you the b-loggers?” As if she was trying out a new word she’d never heard before!
Snow White and the B-loggers
We laughed hysterically and then proceeded to make fools of ourselves explaining blogging and why we got to sleep in the Castle. And with each additional Princess (Belle, Jasmine and Ariel) we continued to talk, to explain our blogs and thank them for their hospitality–AS IF THEY WERE REALLY THE REAL PRINCESSES!
Amy explaining the internet to Belle
We knew we were crazy but we couldn’t help ourselves. The magic had fully penetrated our being. There were no kids to play act in front of. We were just six twiterpated women who were having Princess dreams come true. I’m pretty sure if they had offered us Princess dresses to wear the rest of the day we would have donned them in a nano-second!
Michael taking us backstage
Finally, Michael drove us to our park of choice–The Animal Kingdom and got us set up on the Kilimanjaro Safari. After that we were on our own to enjoy the parks as peasants. It was tough coming down from the royal heights, I have to admit.
The coolest part about talking to Michael, Steve and our other Castle Cast Members is that they kept saying, “WE”. Even if it was in reference to something that took place before they were born…”When we built Magic Kingdom” or “when WE started Epcot”. I asked them about it and they said it’s just part of their vocabulary–not because they were trained to say it but because they really feel that they are part of a big family. A group of people who are making dreams come true. For families, kids and even b-loggers!
And now a few extra pictures I haven’t shown you yet…
White Chocolate Pumpkin Carriage filled with Chocolate Covered Strawberries in our suite!
Glass Slipper Towel in our bathroom
Turndown Service. Probably by GusGus.
This is hard to see--the inside of the fireplace had fireworks--one was a hidden Mickey!
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...
And one final picture of me…
Me & Steve, Magical VIP Tour Guide
This whole experience has secured my dream of being a VIP Tour Guide at Disney when I retire. One day it will be ME leading crazy groups of people through the parks! Only I’ll look like Tour Guide Barbie. Ahem.
Most pictures by me. Some by Crystal and Amy. Don’t steal ‘em regardless, ok?
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I am not a Disney employee. The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent Disney’s positions or opinions
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