This is another episode in our ongoing series “Overrated/Underrated”. In this installment, we will give our opinion on which rides at WDW we think are underrated.
One of the big draws of Walt Disney World are the rides and attractions. However, not all attractions are created equal. Some are iconic and are always popular draws (although many of those popular rides are overrated in our opinion, but that’s the subject of another article… literally!). On the other hand, some of frequently overlooked, as judged by the fact that they rarely have long wait times. This article is dedicated to those rides which, in our opinion, are “hidden gems”. We hope that this article inspires you to give these attractions another look.
MAGIC KINGDOM: Mickey’s PhilharMagic
This attraction is a short 12-minute 3-D movie depicting Donald Duck losing and then trying to find Sorcerer Mickey’s magic hat. During his search, he ends up photo-bombing (video-bombing?) several popular Disney films. This provides an opportunity for the audience to experience a medley of some of the most popular Disney movie songs while getting some stereotypical Donald hijinks.
Honestly, it is a nearly perfect combination of classic Disney characters, classic Disney movies and songs, high quality 3-D animation, and surprises. Disney really went back to its roots when they developed this ride, and the imagineers proved that this is a winning formula. Given all this, we are surprised it doesn’t get the same level of attention as other rides at the Magic Kingdom. Wait times are not very long for this attraction. You are rarely waiting in line for more than one cycle of the movie, and, if you have good timing, you might be able to walk right into the theater and into your seat.
One the one hand, we are glad that this ride doesn’t have the hour+ wait times that other Fantasyland attractions have. On the other hand, I feel bad for all those people who just walk past this ride assuming that a ride with a short wait time can’t be any good. They are really missing out on a beautiful slice of Disney magic.
EPCOT: Living with the Land
This ride really encapsulates the original mission of Future World at Epcot as a showcase of technological innovation. Living with the Land is a boat ride that explores the history of agriculture throughout history through a series of set pieces with narration. Then the ride transitions to a tour of the working agricultural labs that explain how science is being applied to this ancient discipline to produce food efficiently and sustainable.
It is fascinating to see the amount of scientific research in this area. If this planet is going to sustain an ever growing population, we really do have to think long and hard about how we are going to feed all those people with our limited set of planetary resources. For those of us whose main connection to food production is going to the supermarket, you really leave the ride with a new appreciation for the issues that face our food supply chain.
Now, I’m sure the above sounds like a boring theme park ride. And, yes, it probably isn’t as thrilling as Soarin’, which shares the same pavilion. However, the attraction is entertaining in its own right. The first part of the ride has some great set pieces that showcase Disney animatronics. The second part of the ride highlights many of the different foods that Disney grows on-site. It is fun to see our favorite foods in their rawest, purest forms as the ride winds its way through the greenhouse. Much of the food that you see here is used in restaurants throughout the parks. “Farm-to-table” is a culinary trend these days, so it is pretty neat that WDW has been practicing this trend for decades!
While most people coming to the Land Pavilion will make a bee line to Soarin’, I urge everyone to take a few minutes also to appreciate Living with the Land. This will give you a real taste (no pun intended) for what Future World is supposed to be about.
ANIMAL KINGDOM: Tree of Life
For the record, we aren’t talking about It’s Tough to be a Bug, which happens to be located inside the Tree of Life. We are talking about the Tree itself!
The Tree of Life is the main icon of Animal Kingdom, not unlike Spaceship Earth or Cinderella’s Castle. Most people just take a quick picture of it, either by itself or with their family, before moving on to something more exciting. However, if you take time to follow the walk paths that surround it, you will be rewarded by an up close and personal view of the artistry that went into the Tree’s design.
If you look closely at the tree, you will notice that the tree itself is made up of literally hundreds of carvings of various animals. Walking the paths gives you an appreciation of what it took to create such a masterpiece from many different points of view. There are several benches where you can sit and admire the Tree and the surrounding flora and water features. Because the paths are not heavily travelled, this literally is an oasis in the middle of an otherwise bustling park (which is appropriate since the hub area of Animal Kingdom is called the Oasis). Even our family, who are frequent visitors to the park, pretty much ignored this area for the longest time.
This actually brings us to an important point. More than any other park, Animal Kingdom is a park where it pays to stop and smell the roses. There are so many little nooks and crannies that you can explore that most people don’t bother to visit. We can probably do a whole article on some of our favorites, but we will save that for another day.
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS: Muppet*Vision 3D
The Muppets are a strange IP. They contain so many characters that are well known and iconic. I mean, who doesn’t know who Kermit the Frog is, or Miss Piggy, or Gonzo? Plus, they have perfect style of humor that has universal appeal across all age groups. Despite that, it feels like Disney doesn’t really know what to do with them, so their popularity has waned somewhat, especially among people who didn’t grow up with the Muppet Show and associated movies. Hence, this ride doesn’t have the popularity that it should have, by rights.
Even if you aren’t a hard core Muppet fan, this ride truly is a hidden gem. Muppet*Vision 3D is, as the name implies, a 3D short film where we get an inside look at Muppet Labs to learn more about their “new” 3D technology. As typical for attractions like this, mayhem ensues. The show is quite funny as they poke fun at 3D technology in general, so it operates on a very meta level. Plus, there are some physical effect whose inventiveness elevates the attraction to the next level.
The ride also has a really great preshow. Rather than just sequestering everyone in a holding area to wait for the next show, they have an awesome preshow film/safety announcement which is almost as entertaining as the show itself. If you are fan of the Muppets, you’ll find a ton of Easter Eggs in the line and preshow areas, so take your time and explore.
While some familiarity with the Muppets will help you get the most out of the show, the attraction itself will universal enough to appeal to everyone. And if it gets you to queue up the Muppet Movie on Disney+, all the better!
Honorable Mentions and Conclusion
Magic Kingdom: Enchanted Tiki Room. This is a classic that will leave you singing and smiling, and rarely has a line. However, this one has its own cult following among hardcore fans, so that kept it from the underrated top spot.
Epcot: Spaceship Earth. Another classic ride that harkens back to Future World’s roots. However, it is hard to call it underrated as it is usually pretty busy, given its location.
Animal Kingdom: Maharajah Jungle Trek. A fascinated walking tour featuring tigers! If you don’t like the fact that we picked a non-attraction as an underrated attraction, feel free to go with this one.
Hollywood Studios: Star Tours. This used to be the premier Star Wars area of the park, but with Galaxy’s Edge getting all the love, Star Tour definitely feels orphaned.
So there you go. Those are our picks for most underrated rides/attractions at each park
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