Disney Attractions We Appreciate More during the Pandemic
Disney attractions speak for themselves in terms of quality and enjoyment.
Of course, Coronavirus has changed the math a bit about which rides we love.
Some of them seem better than ever as everyone stresses over safety concerns.
Here are some Disney rides we appreciate more during the pandemic.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Most attractions at Walt Disney World and Disneyland reside in ride buildings.
Walt Disney wasn’t averse to outdoor attractions, as he proved with Mad Tea Party, among others.
However, hot weather caused a pragmatic approach to ride design at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Later, potential rainfall forced something similar at Walt Disney World.
So, many of your favorite attractions take place inside, where the cover protects you from the elements.
From what we’ve learned about Coronavirus, we prefer the safety of the great outdoors.
Ergo, a ride like Expedition Everest shines through right now.
You get to board an impressive ride vehicle and go on safari…or at least a close approximation.
All the while, you’re out in the sun, and Disney has protected you from other riders. The new plastic barriers prevent the spread of droplets.
You can watch the animals in peace and without concern, valuing the brilliance of the zoologists that Disney hired to create Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Photo: Disney
You’ll see dozens of animals on your journey, and none of them will know about COVID-19. Doesn’t that make you a bit jealous?
Haunted Mansion
While others may focus on the loss of the Stretching Room or the high-touch entertainment in the line queue, I care about something else.
Back in the 1960s, Imagineers introduced a trick for theming purposes. They created the mystique that the Ghost Host possessed mystical powers.
Photo: Disney
To prove his ability, he and his fellow Happy Haunts would close the door on the Doom Buggy.
As far as Imagineering feats go, the ingenuity here is nothing special. The handlebar in front of you latches in place automatically.
However, during a pandemic, the brilliance of this technique shines through. You don’t have to touch the handlebar at all!
The automated closure negates the risk of a high-contact spot.
As long as you keep your hands to yourself, your bare skin never touches anything during the entire rice!
Disney has since duplicated the concept on other Omnimover attractions like The Seas with Nemo & Friends and Under the Sea ~ The Voyage of The Little Mermaid.
Still, I appreciate the technique the most on the Haunted Mansion since it was first. Also, Doom Buggies are cooler.
Kali River Rapids
Independent of pandemics, summers in Florida are still hot.
Ordinarily, everyone wants to ride Kali River Rapids after a few sweaty hours at the parks.
Unfortunately, a bit of self-fulfilling prophecy causes crowds to swell in the early afternoon.
During a regular summer day, you’d spend an hour waiting to ride Kali River Rapids, and you’d feel sticky and gross while you wait.
With no FastPasses available this summer, we’re back to regular standby lines.
This aspect has proved a blessing for fans of wet rides. You can usually board Kali River Rapids in 15 minutes or less.
In fact, many guests have experienced walk-on lines, which kind of bums me out.
The waiting queue for the attraction spells out its strong conservation message.
I won’t lie, though. If I could just run onto the boat, I would, too. This situation is borderline unprecedented during the 21-year history of the park.
Now, you can appreciate the glorious aspects of Kali River Rapids without standing next to sweaty strangers. And you still get wet when you need it!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Have you watched a lot of livestreams lately? If not, you should follow MickeyBlog’s Facebook page, because we’ve shown a ton of them.
Presuming that you do, though, you know that Park Passes have come with a hidden benefit.
Many Disney classics don’t come with their standard extended lines. With crowd capacities so low, guests rush to the popular stuff.
You can ride something like Test Track or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train without
This strategy comes with an advantage for the more tactical. Some of the best rides ever are basically walk-on at times.
Several streamers have discovered that they can jump on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and keep riding to their heart’s content.
Seriously, people are doubling or tripling their time on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad during the pandemic.
While doing so, they remember that it’s one of the best roller coasters ever. Plus, it’s an outdoor experience. So, you feel safer, too.
Of course, you should remember only to scream inside your heart, though.
Avatar Flight of Passage/Na’Vi River Journey
Speaking of which, you may not claim much familiarity with these two attractions.
After all, Pandora – The World of Avatar opened only two years ago. Since then, these two attractions have featured some of the most extended lines at Walt Disney World.
However, the pandemic has changed everything. According to recent data, both rides feature wait-times of 20 minutes or less.
On one recent day, Avatar Flight of Passage tracked at a nine-minute wait. Folks, it takes that long just to walk through the line queue!
So, the benefit here is obvious. Guests get to experience both rides…more than once!
I’m not joking when I say that I once spent 11 days at Walt Disney World. I felt like I won my vacation by riding Avatar Flight of Passage twice.
Photo: DigitialSpy.com
The thought of people riding this attraction three or four times in one day blows my mind. I wouldn’t have believed it possible.
Until March of 2020, wait-times for both rides generally exceeded 100 minutes. A three-hour wait for Avatar Flight of Passage seemed standard.
Now, you can visit Pandora as often as you want while soaring through the skies or sailing the seas.
Photo Credit: UndercoverTourist.com
During your rides, you’ll understand what Disney has accomplished in bringing the vision of James Cameron to life.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Okay, this one isn’t a ride. Think of it as a bonus mention instead.
We’re coming up on the first anniversary of Star War: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
To date, crowds have caused challenges in exploring the lands of Batuu. Admittedly, everyone expected this turn of events.
Still, the pandemic has provided park guests with a shocking opportunity. You may take your time and explore Black Spire Outpost at your convenience.
You won’t feel crowded or rushed during your visit, either. With park capacity low, you can spend all day on Batuu if you prefer.
Also, your chances of riding Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance are currently better than they ever have been before. So, that’s a lovely bonus.
