Snow White's Scary Adventure to Close

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Fastpass: No

Ride Duration: 2 mins 50 seconds

Year Introduced: October 1971 (Updated to be less scary in 1994)

Closing Date:  May 31, 2012

   Today Disney announced that Snow White's Scary Adventure will be closing at the Magic Kingdom (Disney World) on May 31, 2012.   This will make way for a new Princess Fairytale Hall, a meet and greet for Disney Princesses.    


      This iconic ride took the guest through the 1937 classic animated movie Snow White.   Though the ride itself was dated, it was an original from the opening of the park and was on our family’s ride list each trip. 


   After May 31st, those of you still wanting your Snow White fix will have to wait until this porition of the new Fantasyland area opens sometime in 2013. Here you will get to experience the Dwarf’s cottage and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. 

    The fans of Snow White's Scary Adventure seem to be more disappointed about what the replacement is rather than seeing the ride close.   In a discussion today on twitter there seemed to be some disgust in the replacement as meet and greets seems to be eating up more space in the parks.   Remember the good old days when characters just roamed the park and you could walk right up to them without waiting in a line?

 

So, goodbye Snow White’s Scary Adventure you will be missed and welcome to Princess Fairytale Hall.  Let us know what you think!   Are meet and greets eating up too much park real estate?   What will you miss about Snow White's Scary Adventure?    

Rate a Ride: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Fastpass: Yes

Ride Duration: 3 minutes and 30 seconds

Year Introduced: July 1994

Height Restriction:  40 inches

"You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension, a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Twilight Zone.” Or, you have at least crossed into the DisneyDayByDay review area of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

As you enter Hollywood Studios, you’ll be treated to the typical innocent and fun theme park music, but there…in the background…you’ll hear something else…almost sounds like screaming, people in fear for their lives, people falling from the sky.  Hmmm, maybe we shouldn’t even travel down Sunset Boulevard.  How can such an iconic street name end in fear?  Well that’s just what we will find out.

Muster your courage if you dare and head to the end of the street. That’s when you’ll see it… a 199 feet tall tower.  In fact, this attraction is the second tallest attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort. What’s first, you may ask?   Stay tuned and you just may find out.   Why 199 feet?  I mean come on, 200 feet would probably have made for easier measurements. Well, FAA regulations require any building at 200 feet or higher to have a red light beacon on top and how scary would a tower of terror be with a blinking light on top of it?

When you step into the queue willingly, or not, be sure to take some time and look around. This is one of the most interesting queues on property. You will walk through the gardens of the hotel, in their decaying state. Background music plays melodies from the past launching you into the 1930’s/40’s era of the hotel.

Onto the ride, you board an elevator with 20 other people and choose your seat.  As the elevator doors close you ascend quickly and the doors to the elevator open where you’re treated to a ghostly encounter.  Just when you think it’s safe, the lights go out and the real fun begins!  You’ll be pulled up and down through a variety of drop sequences.   Just when you think it’s over you will rise and fall again.   The Imagineers who designed the ride had cables attached to the bottom of the elevator and it’s actually pulled down at a speed slightly faster than free-fall.  In other words, as you fall you lift from your seat slightly.  The motors used can generate torque equal to that of 275 Corvette engines and reach their top speed in 1.5 seconds. Yes, that’s fast and yes that’s fun.

Be sure to take a look at your picture as you exit the ride as this is proof that you were there and you have survived a great ride at Walt Disney World.  Now you have permission to yell at your kids or friends who forced you on the ride and get in line to do it again. 

Rating: 4.5 / 5 


Rating Comment:   Our seven year old son who will go on anything is slightly afraid of this one.   And if you do have any type of motion sickness the up and down motion of this ride will affect your experience.  

And as promised, the tallest attraction at WDW is now Expedition Everest at 199.5 ft.  We will make this our next DisneyDayByDay Rate A Ride post.   

Rate a Ride: Kali River Rapids

Ride Location: Animal Kingdom (Asia)

Fastpass: Yes

Ride Duration: 5 minutes

Year Introduced: 1999

Height Restriction: Must be 38 inches tall 

 How many times have you secretly fantasized about being the chosen one?   Were you passed up when the captains were picking their dodge ball teams?  Did your boss pass you by for that promotion? Well somehow, someway, I am always the chosen one on this ride.   Welcome to Kali River Rapids, the wettest ride at Disney World, excluding the water parks of course.  

As you enter the queue you are transported to an Asian country complete with ancient ruins and a temple.   As you approach the loading area you will be welcomed to “Kali Rapids Expeditions” where they warn you about illegal logging in the area, so be on the lookout.   

Kali River Rapids is raft ride seating 12 people in pairs similar to what you will see at other theme parks but of course complete in Disney style.   Your raft will flow through a rain forest, temple ruins, and finally into an area where loggers have cleared the forest.   Listen closely for the sound of chainsaws as they continue their work.

 Along the way your raft will spin and drop down a few waterfalls.  And here is where my “chosen one” moment kicks in.    If you are at the top of the raft on the way up then you will be at the bottom on the way down and the gush of water will greet you.   I’ve been soaked on this ride each time my family has gone on it so I know the feeling.   A poncho may help, but when the water goes over your shoulder and into the poncho, what’s the point.

  

Overall the ride is a little disappointing as for the 5 minutes you are on the ride, much of it is spent just on the assent up the hill causing my son to want to go again.    It is fun and a quick way to cool off in the hot summer days, so if the line isn’t unbearable give it a try and see if you can be the chosen one, or two.

Tips:   Ziplocs to put your electronics in would be a good idea. If you don’t have one you can stop by a gift shop and ask for a bag.   There is a covered area in the middle of the raft to put bags and such, but there is no guarantee they won’t get wet.   Shoes are also required on the raft so be sure to bring along a pair of sandals or flip-flops to slip on before the ride. Soaking wet tennis shoes and socks are no fun to walk the park in the rest of the day. The Florida summer sun will quickly dry your clothes, but if you plan to go on the ride in the fall or winter, you may want to bring an extra pair of clothing.  Lockers can be found at the front of the park near guest services (not close by the ride) and run between $9 and $7 a day with $5 deposit which is returned when the key is returned.  

Rating:  3.5 / 5

Rating Comment:     Overall it's a fun ride if you are in the mood to get wet and the line isn't long or you have fast passes just wish it was a little longer.   

Please let me know what you think of this ride by rating it on the right hand side of this blog.   Slip on your sandals and hang on tight… you just might be the next chosen one??? 

Rate a Ride: Test Track

Ride Location: Epcot Future World 

Fastpass:  Yes  

Ride Duration: 4 minutes 

Year Introduced:  December 1998   

Height Restriction:   Must be 40 inches 

Tip:  Line does get long and moves slow after 10am when fast passes begin to kick in.   During long waits if you can break up into the single rider line you will definitely find a shorter wait.    

It’s time to feel like a crash test dummy.   Welcome to Test Track a General Motors sponsored attraction where you get to experience what crash test dummies experience daily at their testing facilities.   In this attraction you will enter a prototype automobile that goes through  a series of vehicle tests including; hill climbing, maneuvering sharp turns, anti-lock brake testing, extreme condition testing, and finally acceleration.  

Be sure to watch as you enter the corrosion room as you might see a hidden Mickey, that is if the acid doesn’t get in your eyes. 

The best part of the ride is the last 12 seconds or so as you accelerate from 0 to 65 miles per hour in about 8 seconds.   Oh and I forgot to mention this is done on the outside of the building so get ready to feel the wind in your hair.  Not sure what that feels like since most of mine has fallen out. 

DBD Rating 4 out of 5

  
Rating Comments:   This is our 7 year old sons favorite ride, but I could do without most of the bits and pieces leading up to the final spin outside.   Let us know what you think by using the poll on the right side of this page. 

Rate a Ride: Dumbo the Flying Elephant

·         Ride Location: Magic Kingdom

·         Fastpass:  No

·         Ride Duration: 90 seconds

·         Year Introduced:  1971 (Opening Day), 1993 (Replaced to increase capacity)

·         Tip:  Be sure to make this your first stop in the morning when the park opens as wait times are long towards mid day.  

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is an original attraction at the Magic Kingdom.   Though the ride system was completely replaced in 1993 to increase capacity. Soon there will be two Dumbos with the Fantasyland expansion.  

Dumbo is modeled after the 1941 classic movie with the same name.   Dumbo is a hub and spoke style ride system where the ride vehicles rotate around a central hub.   Much to the delight of smaller children, the elephants can go up and down by using the lever inside the ride vehicle.  The ride is very short at 90 seconds but the lines can get extremely long on busy days due to the limited capacity.  

Dumbo will soon find a new home in Storybook Circus with the Fantasyland expansion.   So if you love flying close to the castle you don’t have much time left.  The move will also double Dumbo in size with the addition of a second Dumbo.  Look for this all to come sometime in 2012 (no official dates have been released).   

Rating:  (3 out of 5)

 Rating Comment:   Although short and simple this iconic ride is a must for families with small children and first time visitors.