Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
208
round; there are even a few benches for the littlest tykes in the family. The ride is longer
than you might expect, but the lines can get lengthy as well, so check back a bit later if
your timing is off the first time around.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Frommer's Rating:
B+ for younger kids and parents
Recommended Ages:
2-6
This is a favorite of the preschool set, a fact that will quickly become apparent when you
see the line wrapping around, and around, and around. Much like Magic Carpets of
Aladdin (p. 199), the Dumbo vehicles fly around in a circle, gently rising and dipping as
you control them from inside the elephant. If you can stand the brutal lines—extending
well beyond the barely covered queue (there are gigantic fans, though I have yet to see
them actually running) and out into the blazing sun—this ride is almost sure to make
your little one's day.
it's a small world
Frommer's Rating:
B+ for youngsters and first-timers
Recommended Ages:
2-8
Recently refurbished to spruce up some of its older displays, it's a small world is one of
those rides that you just have to do because it's been there since the beginning—it's a
classic (built for the 1964 World's Fair before being transplanted to Disney), and in this
day and age it's nice to see that some things don't change (or at least not too much).
Besides, it's a big favorite of younger kids. And as much as some adults pooh-pooh it, I'd
take bets they come out smiling and singing right along with their kids. If you don't
know the song, you will by the end of the ride (and probably ever after), as the hard part
is trying to get it
out
of your head. As you sail along, you'll pass through the countries of
the world, each filled with appropriately costumed audio-animatronic dolls greeting you
by singing “It's a Small World” in tiny Munchkin voices. The cast of thousands includes
Chinese acrobats; Russian kazachok dancers; Indian snake charmers; French cancan girls;
and, well, you get the picture. To truly experience everything Disney, this one's a must.
Mad Tea Party
Frommer's Rating:
C+
Recommended Ages:
4-adult
Traditional amusement park ride it may be, but it's still a family favorite—maybe because
it is so simple. The mad tea party scene in Alice in Wonderland was the inspiration for
this one, and riders sit in giant pastel-colored teacups set on saucers that careen around
a circular platform while the cup, saucer, and platform all spin round and round. Occa-
sionally, the woozy Dormouse pops out of a big central teapot to see just what's going
on. Tame as it may appear, this can be a pretty active, even nauseating, ride, depending
on how much you spin your teacup's wheel. Adolescents seem to consider it a badge of
honor if they can turn the unsuspecting adults in their cup green—you have been
warned!
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Frommer's Rating:
B
Recommended Ages:
2-8 and their parents
When this replaced Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in 1999, it drew a small storm of protest from
Toad lovers, but things have quieted since then. This fun ride features the cute and cud-
dly little fellow along with Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger. You board a golden honey pot and
ride through a storybook version of the Hundred-Acre Wood, keeping an eye out for
6
