Overlooked Disney World Attractions You Should Try Again Soon
When you visit Walt Disney World, you know everything you want to try, right?
You want to ride the classics like Pirates of the Caribbean, the best attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage, and the new rides like Tron Lightcycle / Run.
While all these options remain terrific, I’d like to remind you of some other choices.
Here are nine overlooked Disney attractions you should try.
Country Bear Jamboree
In 2024, Magic Kingdom will overhaul Country Bear Jamboree and totally change the show’s identity.
The current classic country and western selections will vanish, replaced by Nashville spins on beloved Disney tunes.
I quite like this change, as it will reinvigorate an attraction that is more than half a century old.
Still, I feel strongly that Disney diehards should give the original version of Country Bear Jamboree another chance before it departs forever.
DINOSAUR
Speaking of attractions that might not be around for much longer, Disney just announced a re-theming of DinoLand, U.S.A.
As part of these changes, this area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom will offer new Indiana Jones experiences.
While Disney didn’t confirm specifics, the presumption is that Disney will re-theme DINOSAUR as well.
As longtime MickeyBlog readers know, DINOSAUR employs the same tech as Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland Park.
So, converting this attraction seems like an easy thing to do. Sadly, it would mean the end of DINOSAUR, though.
While Dinosaur the movie wasn’t very good, DINOSAUR the ride has always provided terrific bang for the buck. You should give it one last chance.
Enchanted Tales with Belle
I recently wrote a Worth the Wait about Magic Kingdom, and I dinged Enchanted Tales with Belle.
The time you spend walking through the attraction makes it a dicey proposition at Magic Kingdom, a park with so many great offerings.
So, I’m clearing my guilty conscience a bit by suggesting it here. Is that hypocritical of me? Maybe. Nothing’s ever finite at Magic Kingdom.
You’ll find dozens of attractions here, all of which are entertaining in their own ways. There’s a reason why it’s the most popular theme park on Earth.
Enchanted Tales with Belle deserves acknowledgment for its novelty. It’s legitimately the only experience of its kind at Walt Disney World.
Cast members retell the story of Beauty and the Beast in an interactive way that feels like an elementary school play.
For families with young children, this option is one that can provide memories that last a lifetime.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
Everyone rides It’s a Small World because it’s among the most iconic rides in theme park history.
What fewer people realize is that the Mexico pavilion at EPCOT offers something similar…and I would argue something better.
I should mention that I’m a Donald Duck fan, as I have strong memories of my late father performing an exceptional Donald Duck impression.
Still, when I think of Disney, cartoons are the first things that come to mind.
As the troublemaking friend of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck embodies Disney storytelling for me.
A boat ride akin to It’s a Small World that throws in cartoon animation (and live-action sequences!) of Donald Duck is a huge winner in my book.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
Here’s another Animal Kingdom attraction that may be on the way out.
Disney confirmed a Zootopia show coming to the Tree of Life area, but park officials didn’t reveal a precise location.
Fans worry that what Disney intends to do is replace It’s Tough to Be a Bug! with this Zootopia experience.
As a Zootopia fan, I’m sure it’ll be great, but A Bug’s Life is arguably the least represented of all Pixar films at the parks.
A Bug’s Life will be a non-factor if this show ends. So, enjoy it while you can, just in case!
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
The newest attraction on this list remains criminally underrated after several years in operation.
Disney introduced Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy in 2019 as a way to lure guests to the other side of the park.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios had recently opened Toy Story Land and would introduce Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge soon afterward.
Park officials hoped that a Cars show with whizbang special effects would lure guests to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror/Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster side.
While those two attractions remain wildly popular, the Racing Academy concept hasn’t proven appealing, a statement that frustrates me.
This show is legitimately one of Disney’s best in terms of visuals, and the Cars brand is quite popular, too.
Give Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy a chance. It’s better than you think.
Muppet*Vision 3D
Speaking of Hollywood Studios shows, here’s another that delivers precisely what it promises.
You’ll watch Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo engage in daring cinematic exploits.
The 15-minute show is really just The Muppets’ Greatest Hits, but who wouldn’t want to watch that?
For generations now, children have adored The Muppets, and this presentation embraces everything that’s good and pure about the franchise.
Don’t take Muppet*Vision 3D for granted!
TriceraTop Spin
Walt Disney World hosts three variants of this same spinner ride concept.
At Magic Kingdom, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Dumbo the Flying Elephant provide similar ride experiences.
However, you’ll wait a fraction of the time at TriceraTop Spin because, well, DinoLand, U.S.A. is dying.
No matter what Disney tries, it cannot lure guests to this section of Animal Kingdom. That’s why Imagineers will re-theme it.
Before that happens, you can ride something fun, and the wait is typically ten minutes or less. That’d be a short line at Six Flags, much less Disney!
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Ah, the classics.
Perhaps no ride better signifies Walt Disney’s natural optimism and love of technology better than Carousel of Progress.
Since the beginning in 1964, this hidden carousel ride has hosted four different stories.
One takes guests back to Walt Disney’s childhood, as it shows what life was like in turn-of-the-20th Century America.
Later scenes reveal the progress society has made with daily living, with the final act hinting at what’s coming next.
In a way, Carousel of Progress offers the best overriding story at Walt Disney World. At a minimum, it’s the most Disney thing at the parks.
I say this because it IS the story of Walt Disney’s life, followed by the story of the life we’ve experienced societally since he died.
You should ride the Carousel of Progress more often than you do, my friends. It’s a profound attraction.
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Feature Photo: Disney