Orlando - worst ride at WDW?

There's loads of threads on the "bests" - perhaps we should also include warnings of the worsts?

For example, today at Animal Kingdom we cut short our time in the Africa section to make sure we had time to ride Dinosaur. What a mistake! Dinosaur is the worst Disney attraction I've ever seen! The pace of the cars and flash style of lighting of the ride make it impossible to see and appreciate the animatronics (if they were worth seeing). You get only glimpses of the dinos, instead of a good look, so the annoying storyline narration really makes no sense. My resident dino expert said the light flashes were too quick for him to see if the narrator correctly identified the various dinos, and it was no fun not getting a good, long look at the creatures.

Also, the family ahead of us insisted on bringing a very young child on the ride despite multiple warnings from staff. I wish the staff had just said "NO!" to this poor little kid, because the kid was terrified by the whole experience and screamed from start to end.

What would you nominate for worst, and why?

Hands down - The Enchanted Tiki room.... I can't stand the song, nor the voices. I've always hated it, even the first time I saw it right after the park opened :D

I vote for "it's a small world". I can't stand the song, nor can I get it out of my head after the ride ends. It may be O.K. for small kids, but not for adults, IMO.

The horrors.... I'm dating myself, but I went on that ride as a very young child at the World's Fair in NYC (where Walt tried it out).

It's the last ride I go on before I leave for home, and I throw money in there as well, with a wish that I'll return soon. I even threw money over the construction walls when it was being refurbished :)

Hi,

Stitches Great escape for me.

Have not been on Dumbo ,Astro Orbiter , Peter Pan ,Winnie the Pooh ( might try them when I go back to WDW in January for 2 weeks ( running the half marathon)

Regards

TBS

Yeah, stitch is pretty bad.

The others you mention aren't bad, with Peter Pan being the best. All you list are geared toward very young children, and the worst I can say about them is that they're boring/benign.

But, IMHO, you should try each one once, even those we say are bad. :)

Good luck with the Marathon ^^

Carousel of Progress. Hands down. I love Disney and am a proud Cast Member, however that ride needs to be majorly refurbished or shut down soon!

More horrors and another one from the world's fair that I don't miss when it's open :)

The horrors.... I'm dating myself, but I went on that ride as a very young child at the World's Fair in NYC (where Walt tried it out).It was at the Pepsi Cola pavilion. I remember it well. While we're on the tangent of 64-65 World's Fair songs, I'll give you two more:

From the GE Pavilion:

"There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
Shining at the end of every day,
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
And tomorrow's just a dream away."

But my absolute favorite was from the DuPont Pavilion:

"Better things for better living through chemistry,
That's the promise of DuPont!"

Particularly apt song for the 60s. ;)

Don't ask me why I still remember these songs after all these years. But I most certainly do!

It's the last ride I go on before I leave for home, and I throw money in there as well, with a wish that I'll return soon. I even threw money over the construction walls when it was being refurbished :)I loved that Fair! My parents use to give me $5 almost every weekend to go the fair. It was $1 for the bus (with a transfer pass for the return), $1 to get in, and $3 for lunch and snacks. What fun it was!

More horrors and another one from the world's fair that I don't miss when it's open :)Oh my goodness, that's the GE ride! Is WDW where old World's Fair exhibits go to die?

No, the World's Fair was where Walt tried out his concept for Disney World :D

I was only 5 or 6 for the fair, so my parents had to take me - but I still remember it vividly.

You really need to get yourself to Disney World to get on It's a Small World and Carousel of Progress - you will be brought right back to the World's Fair ^^

Oh, and they're still using that song for the ride. They changed it for a while, and now it's been returned to the original.

Stich!

Dumbo is my vote.. not because of the ride.. but because of the seemingly long endless lines to get to a ride that is so simple.. Maybe for a kid, its definitely worth it flying in an elephant to wait.

Good luck with the Marathon ^^

Hi,

Thanks for that Mary2e!^ ( looking forward to escaping the Scottish winter!:D)

Regards

TBS

Hands down - The Enchanted Tiki room.... I can't stand the song, nor the voices. I've always hated it, even the first time I saw it right after the park opened :D

We call this attraction "The Enchanted Air Conditioned Room." The show is irrelevant.

Carousel of Progress. Hands down. I love Disney and am a proud Cast Member, however that ride needs to be majorly refurbished or shut down soon!

I LOVE that ride!

The responses here have been interesing, but not quite the direction I meant for this thread when I said "worst" - I meant production quality, but others clearly are thinking in terms of "most annoying."

Dinosaur (the ride) was just so poorly done that it really stood out from the Disney norm. The most annoying Disney attraction ever is the criminally altered Tiki Room; which is nothing more than a long wait for a long commercial for Disney movies. The fool that approved the changed should be drawn and quartered! I loved the old Tiki Room.

Small World is great - about once a decade.

Anybody else remember the Disneyland (CA) attraction with the little booths where you learn about inventions coming in the future, like telephones with pictures and other amazing uses of plastic?

The responses here have been interesing, but not quite the direction I meant for this thread when I said "worst" - I meant production quality, but others clearly are thinking in terms of "most annoying."

Dinosaur (the ride) was just so poorly done that it really stood out from the Disney norm. The most annoying Disney attraction ever is the criminally altered Tiki Room; which is nothing more than a long wait for a long commercial for Disney movies. The fool that approved the changed should be drawn and quartered! I loved the old Tiki Room.

Small World is great - about once a decade.

Anybody else remember the Disneyland (CA) attraction with the little booths where you learn about inventions coming in the future, like telephones with pictures and other amazing uses of plastic?

I don't mind small world.. my small kids get a kick out of the ride.. we can do it 5 times on a trip.:D

I vote for "it's a small world". I can't stand the song, nor can I get it out of my head after the ride ends. It may be O.K. for small kids, but not for adults, IMO.

I agree. And whenever I see a turn coming up ahead I hope and hope it is the end of the ride just to be denied and hear the song start over yet again.

I agree. And whenever I see a turn coming up ahead I hope and hope it is the end of the ride just to be denied and hear the song start over yet again.

Funny.. on the last turn, sometimes there's a backlog of boats, then you end up having to hear the song over and over anyways.:D

I vote for "it's a small world". I can't stand the song, nor can I get it out of my head after the ride ends. It may be O.K. for small kids, but not for adults, IMO.

I was there 2 days ago, and agree. I think this ride would be great after dropping acid, or maybe after a good joint (having never tried either). However, sober, I found the endless bright colors and incessant repetition of the theme song painful.

The most annoying Disney attraction ever is the criminally altered Tiki Room; which is nothing more than a long wait for a long commercial for Disney movies. The fool that approved the changed should be drawn and quartered! I loved the old Tiki Room.



Enchanted Tiki Room caught on fire a few days ago:

http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/january/193660/Fire-breaks-out-at-Disneys-Enchanted-Tiki-Room

Ok.. www.themeparkinsider.com conducted a poll.. which for some reason I cannot find now.. but the worst ride voted is Narnia in Hollywood Studios.. Stitches at Magic Kingdom was listed as one of the worst rides, and the Enchanted Tiki Room was the 5th worst ride.

Is this what you saw: Vote of the week: What is the worst theme park attraction in America?
(http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201101/2284/)

Enchanted Tiki Room caught on fire a few days ago

Plenty of suspects here.

Is this what you saw: Vote of the week: What is the worst theme park attraction in America?
(http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201101/2284/)

Yes. This is the one.. I guess the Enchanted Tiki Room moved up to third worst attraction.

Enchanted Tiki Room caught on fire a few days ago

Plenty of suspects here.

Heard this story.. was it vandalized.

Actually, I thought the Enchanted Tiki Room wasn't bad.. I like it better under new management.:D

In its day, I would say the "great" movie ride at the studios
Perhaps universe of energy at EPCOT

In its day, I would say the "great" movie ride at the studios
Perhaps universe of energy at EPCOT

Agree with Universe of Energy. I remember liking the ride when I first rode it 20 years ago. When I rode it last year, the story now seems kind of jumbled and I feel like it was more educational back then.

But the worst ride at Disney is the Backstage Tour at Hollywood Studios. They removed the faux-neighborhood and most of the actual studio portions of the ride. So now you go through Catastrophe Canyon, see a bunch of junky cars strewn about, and hear the sounds of the speedway they built practically on top of the ride. It was pathetic.

So I have to step in and defend the honor of Dinosaur (or Countdown to Extinction, as I will always remember it). I think the OP's experience was unfairly colored by the too-young rider in the row in front of them.

For my money, this is one of the best presented Disney attractions ever. The queue is nicely-themed and the pre-show perhaps the best acted and best set-up backstory ever. The loading area is exceptionally well-detailed, and the ride itself is phenomenal especially when you consider the ride vehicles and track are recycled from the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland.

It has action, suspense, humor... what more do you want?!

In its day, I would say the "great" movie ride at the studios
Perhaps universe of energy at EPCOT

Haven't you ever ride on body wars before? I haven't gone go to Disney World for a long time and I won't go back to Disney World anymore. Just for the children only.

Ok.. www.themeparkinsider.com conducted a poll.. which for some reason I cannot find now.. but the worst ride voted is Narnia in Hollywood Studios.. Stitches at Magic Kingdom was listed as one of the worst rides, and the Enchanted Tiki Room was the 5th worst ride.

I can second Narnia. My aunt knows a little about Chronicles of Narnia (due to her children and grandchildren) and we went in. It's not even a "ride" - it's basically a movie trailer presented on multiple screens with a few special effects. If you're really into the Chronicles, then I guess it makes sense, but it seems to have been largely put together as an afterthought.

Haven't you ever ride on body wars before? I haven't gone go to Disney World for a long time and I won't go back to Disney World anymore. Just for the children only.

Actually, I really like Disney, a lot of really good rides and attactions. A few weak ones as discussed.

Journey into Imagination with Figment is a ride. I thought it was going to be about all the senses. It's mostly a sing-along about starting with your senses and then imagining things. It is poor for all ages.

Innoventions West pavilion has an exhibit called Smarter Planet. It's a self serving technology company's view of how to reduce future energy use by having everyone use expensive to produce, expensive to run automation devices. Some may work for the rich, some may not be practical, some already are known to not be practical. Stuff like this is an embarrassment to not just Disney, but the host country.

I was surprised that several rides and attracts at WDW are watered down versions of ones at Disneyland. Splash Mountain is Small World goes to the Briar Patch with a couple short drops in the dark, and a medium drop in daylight. Its cars with side-by-side seating and a lap bar aren't fun like flume rides seating passengers one behind another. Pirates of the Carribean, WDW version, is another one I felt embarrassed about. I watched foreigners getting off with a ho-hum-yeah that was a waste of my life attitude.

Journey into Imagination with Figment is a ride. I thought it was going to be about all the senses. It's mostly a sing-along about starting with your senses and then imagining things. It is poor for all ages.

Innoventions West pavilion has an exhibit called Smarter Planet. It's a self serving technology company's view of how to reduce future energy use by having everyone use expensive to produce, expensive to run automation devices. Some may work for the rich, some may not be practical, some already are known to not be practical. Stuff like this is an embarrassment to not just Disney, but the host country.

I was surprised that several rides and attracts at WDW are watered down versions of ones at Disneyland. Splash Mountain is Small World goes to the Briar Patch with a couple short drops in the dark, and a medium drop in daylight. Its cars with side-by-side seating and a lap bar aren't fun like flume rides seating passengers one behind another. Pirates of the Carribean, WDW version, is another one I felt embarrassed about. I watched foreigners getting off with a ho-hum-yeah that was a waste of my life attitude.

It's been awhile since we've hit Disneyland.. SoCal is on our radar for this July.. depending if my wife is comfortable or not.. We are thinking of hitting Mayan Riviera for 2 weeks before hitting the West Coast for 10 days.

I remember that there is a space mountain (riding in 2's, whereas WDW is riding single line fashion), and that there is also a splash mountain. My wife remembers a Pirates of the Carribean, and if I'm not mistaken another Haunted house? Soarin is at California Adventure park (I think this is what its' called).

MCO is unfortunately not a natural stopover so can't use my airline miles to double up on MCO and CUN.. so I think if we do the trip it'll be YYC-CUN, CUN-LAX, LAX-YYC.

Never understood the merry-go-round. I mean, you have this....everywhere!! Nothing special about this ride and you can find the same ride......anywhere.

Never understood the merry-go-round. I mean, you have this....everywhere!! Nothing special about this ride and you can find the same ride......anywhere.

Did I hear right? They are adding another Merry-Go-Round in Magic Kingdom expansion?

I know another Dumbo ride is going in..

So I have to step in and defend the honor of Dinosaur (or Countdown to Extinction, as I will always remember it). I think the OP's experience was unfairly colored by the too-young rider in the row in front of them.

For my money, this is one of the best presented Disney attractions ever. The queue is nicely-themed and the pre-show perhaps the best acted and best set-up backstory ever. The loading area is exceptionally well-detailed, and the ride itself is phenomenal especially when you consider the ride vehicles and track are recycled from the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland.

It has action, suspense, humor... what more do you want?!Decent production quality? Not to see all of the "men behind that curtain" aspects of the ride?

And let me be clear on one point: I can probably tune out crying kids better than anybody else on FT - I spent close to 20 years working in a pediatric hospital, and if crying bothered me, I'd never have gotten any work done. It was the judgement of the park/staff allowing a child that young on the ride that bothered me.

I compare Dino-whatever to the production quality of Disneyland's Haunted House and Pirates, and find it pathetic. I don't want to see the wiring, motors, etc. I want immersion - a ride where I don't see the guts making things happen, and if you are saying that for a ride made from recycled bits it's pretty good, I counter that with I simply don't care, I think for the price Disney charges, they should have done better.


Enchanted Tiki Room caught on fire a few days ago

Plenty of suspects here.
I was in Pennsylvania that day, and I can prove it. :D

Never understood the merry-go-round. I mean, you have this....everywhere!! Nothing special about this ride and you can find the same ride......anywhere.Merry-go-rounds are a reminder of the days when riding on a moving contraption was the height of daring-do! They predate cars by at least 15 years.

For some people, like my mother, a merry-go-round was as exciting as she wanted a ride to be. We got her on Space Mountain once (she didn't know what it was until too late) and she didn't forgive us for that for years.

Merry-go-rounds are a reminder of the days when riding on a moving contraption was the height of daring-do! They predate cars by at least 15 years.

For some people, like my mother, a merry-go-round was as exciting as she wanted a ride to be. We got her on Space Mountain once (she didn't know what it was until too late) and she didn't forgive us for that for years.

LOL!

Put my 5 year old in it.. and my wife couldn't believe I did that..:eek:

I actually liked Dinosaur. It's meant to be a thrill ride, not a slow let's-name-the-dinosaurs science lesson. If that's what you're looking for, then Universe of Energy and Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure are your best bet.

I actually liked Dinosaur. It's meant to be a thrill ride, not a slow let's-name-the-dinosaurs science lesson. If that's what you're looking for, then Universe of Energy and Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure are your best bet.

I like Dinosaur in AK as well.. between this, Mount Everest, and Kali River Rapids.. makes my day at AK worth it.. plus the shows in between like Lion King, and Nemo..

Universe of Energy at Epcot starring Ellen is actually one of my favorite sit down and relax rides..