Friday, June 03, 2011

Ten Worst Attractions of DisneyWorld 2011

The Tonymation family just returned from another grand Walt Disney World vacation. Mickey was happy to see the family had once again grown since last we visited him. I was joined by my wife, son, two beautiful daughters, and we brought my youngest sister along as a graduation gift.

I posted my top ten favorite and least favorite attractions in the parks about 4 years ago. I thought it would be cool to revisit the lists and update them.

I reference my old list from 2007, and track where the attractions used to be in comparison to the new list.
Be aware that this is just my humble opinion and I'm sure will not line up with the opinions of every WDW fan.

Tonymation's Top Ten Worst Attractions of Walt Disney World


10. American Idol Experience - Hollywood Studios
I have to be honest. I have never experienced this attraction. But, that being said, I have no desire to EVER visit this attraction. This says volumes about the attraction as an idea. It was opened after the show it is based on, had peaked in popularity, and it will only become more dated and irrelevant each year that passes.
New to the list

9.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid - Hollywood Studios
I love this film, and I used to love this attraction back in the day when it was what the imagineers intended it to be. Now, it has been shortened down to fit more showtimes per day. An entire song was removed, and the entertaining spotlight on Sebastian featuring a puppet of his likeness, has been reduced to a mere cameo. In fact, the show is just a hodge podge of cameos of the characters in the film. Half of the attraction is footage from the actual film. It's a shame.
Moved down 4 spots from #5

8. Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour - Hollywood Studios
This attraction has been gutted thanks to the Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show. It has been reduced to the pre-show, and ride through an alley they call a "boneyard", their props and wardrobe building, and the catastrophe canyon. For those that rode it in its original state, it is a sad skeleton of what it once was.
Remained at #8

7. Stitch's Great Escape - Magic Kingdom
What used to be a pretty intense attraction called Alien Encounter, is now the tame and eventless attraction starring Stitch. I wasn't a big fan of the original attraction, but at least it was entertaining. I could recreate this attraction at home by merely turning the lights off, blowing on your face, and spritzing you with a water bottle. I love Stitch, so let's give him a more worthy attraction please!
Moved down 3 spots from #4

6. Ellen's Energy Adventure - Epcot
If the goal of an attraction is to be long and boring, this one has hit the mark. Hey everyone, come in, sit on the floor and watch Ellen dream about being a stupid contestant on Jeopardy. Bill Nye the Science Guy shows up, and after you ride the endless and tiresome attraction, she's a genius. The end.
Remained at #6


5. Dinoland in Animal Kingdom - Animal Kingdom
Yes, this entire section of Animal Kingdom makes my list of worst attractions. You have an entire section of this not so interesting park devoted to a carnival theme. Who was in on this meeting?!!! The poster child attraction, Primeval Whirl, is a jerky ride that, by centrifugal force, slides you back and forth into your neighbor so you can get up close and personal with perfect strangers in the hot sticky Florida sun.... yay.
Moved up 2 spots from #7

4. Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian - Hollywood Studios
Disney, let's face it. You let Harry Potter slip through your fingers, and missed out on Lord of the Rings. This was a knee-jerk reaction to capture the fantasy audience that appeared to be spending money on any and all fantasy IPs. Well here's the deal... you managed to make one of my favorite book series look lame on the big screen by skimping on the costume design, and changing characters that were already well written. Then, you blame it on the Narnia IP and let it go to FOX. Let's all just forget the whole thing ever happened, and close this attraction.
Moved down 1 spot from #3

3. O' Canada - Epcot
This is one of those 360 degree "circle vision" movies, and it was recently revamped to be hip and edgy. The older film had no celebrities in it, and made Canada look like a nice retirement home for the elderly. Now they spiced it up by adding Martin Short as host, and some new clips of extreme sports, to make it look like a dream vacation for a teenager. My main problem with it is that you have to stand up through the entire show. When I go into an attraction, I like to enjoy air conditioning and take a load off of my feet. The imagineer that thought it would be a great idea to cram a bunch of sweaty, smelly, hot, exhausted people into a standing room only theater to watch a film about a country, must have been either insane, or just loves to torture tourists.Moved up 7 spots from #10

2. Journey Into Imagination with Figment - Epcot
Let's be honest here... this ride is supposed to be about imagination. Tap into that brain of yours and create, people. This is the inspiration for the attraction. Yet, we see bland walls that are supposedly an imagination lab for the first half of the ride. The premise gives this ride the potential to be one of the coolest attractions at DisneyWorld. Unfortunately, it is one of the dullest. The imagineers that created this ride should be ashamed of themselves. Where is the creativitiy! This attraction makes it so high on the list because of what it COULD be.
Moved down 1 spot from #1

And my number one worst attraction of Walt DisneyWorld is...

1. Sounds Dangerous - Hollywood Studios
I'm honestly surprised that this attraction still exists.
Summary: you listen to a not so interesting story unfold in a pitch black room. Did I mention it stars a comedian that has no acting ability? Seems like somebody at Disney thought it would be a good idea to create a comfortable place for teenagers to make-out.
Moved up 8 spots from #9

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for my top ten best attractions list coming soon.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I agree 100% with this list, its really to bad they cancelled the Alien encounter theme and replaced it with stitch. 1 it had no place in disney really (AE) and 2 at least it was scary which was completely different for Disney and all the laughs you got from people being scared in the happiest place on earth was just priceless!

As for Imagination with Figment, I went day one for that and was really disappointed as i like figment but they made him look really stupid and the ride was sooooooo boring. Took a good character and made him look like a burnt out bulb.

Unknown said...

This is my comment

DJB said...

This list is right-on. We just saw "Journey into the Imagination with Figment" at Epcot 09.10.15. I can't believe Epcot removed "Honey I Shrunk the Audience", and kept this.