Attractions to skip? About This Page:

[Canada Amy]

Which ones at DL and DCA are a complete waste of time or too frightening for young kids to bother? I'm thinking:

1) mr. Toad
2) roger rabbit
3) bugs land (only if we have extra time)
4) Casey Jr. Train
5) Donald's boat
6) Pinocchio
7) Snow White (did it once at wdw; will do if girls decide they aren't bothered)

[GingerJ]

Absolutely skip Mr. Toad and Roger Rabbit, unless you are an enormous fan of either movie.

I did Casey Jr train ride in December after dark, and it was nice. They've added some scenes from Arendelle, so your choice (you can also see the same scenes on the Storybook Land boat ride).

Donald's boat is basically just a walkthrough; do it if you like Donald, or it's easily skipped if you're low on time.

Snow White was nice, still maybe a little scary for very small ones. But you might want to see it for nostalgia reasons, since the one at WDW is gone.

bugs land is all about the little kids; do it if you have really small ones. Otherwise, you can get some cute pix there and see "it's tough to be a bug" (unless it's been co-opted for a movie preview, as it was last time I was there).

Pinocchio...I did that and it was meh. A dark ride that you should see if you loved the movie but, again, you can skip it if you don't have much time. Also, if the girls haven't seen the movie, it won't mean much to them at all.

Have fun!

[KimmyAnn1147]

1) mr. Toad, yeah, can be spooky
2) roger rabbit ditto above
3) bugs land (only if we have extra time) Very pretty at night. The flick's flier's ride is nicer than the other 2 IMO. Worth a walk through after dark.
4) Casey Jr. Train Cute classic, but stinky with exhaust.
5) Donald's boat Great Kiddie play area. We like to have some coffee and snacks in Toon Town and let the kid explore this, Goofy's house, and Chip and Dale's treehouse. Not a skipper unless you are low on time.
6) Pinocchio Not missing much. the Queue is the best part of this ride, for all the carved and painted woodwork.
7) Snow White (did it once at wdw; will do if girls decide they aren't bothered) ditto pinocchio, also, the flow of the story is weird and it's spooky


I thought Monster's inc was "whatever", and the out-of-the-box rides at paradise pier are pretty whatever.

[Canada Amy]

Thanks, ladies. That's very helpful feedback. Our girls are 7 and turning 10. We have been watching Disney movies lately to get more excited about the themed lands. We watched Bug's Life last week (first time for girls that they can remember), so we will check out Bug's Land at some point.

Good to know about Pinnochio. Youngest kind of hates dark rides! I'm hoping she'll be braver this year. A couple of dark rides at wdw ruined her when she was 4. She's even petrified of Ursula and hasn't been willing to go back on Little Mermaid! I've been telling her that Ursula isn't very scary at DL!

Our girls won't do most of the thrill rides, so I end up doing single rider much of the time, funny thing is, they love star tours! Oldest may brave Hyperspace mtn.

I was never into roger rabbit or Pinnochio. I hear Mr. Toad goes to hell. No thanks!

What about Alice in Wonderland? Is it creepy?

Since my baby is a "young 7" and gets more excited about characters and theming, we will enjoy Toontown. Never got to see it at wdw!

[Alaskan Mom]

I found my grandsons loved the bugs land although your 10 year old might be a little too old. We love Alice and I don't remember it being creepy, my DD is scared easily and liked Toad, and Snow White at 9 years old. My DD and grandsons really liked all the Toontown stuff including Donalds boat because it gave them a chance to run and climb and let off some steam.

[Canada Amy]

Originally Posted by Alaskan Mom

I found my grandsons loved the bugs land although your 10 year old might be a little too old. We love Alice and I don't remember it being creepy, my DD is scared easily and liked Toad, and Snow White at 9 years old. My DD and grandsons really liked all the Toontown stuff including Donalds boat because it gave them a chance to run and climb and let off some steam.

I hear Toontown gets packed by late morning, so it may be the first thing we do. On the other hand, we want to take advantage of emh's for the headliners. Hubby and girls' first priority will be everything Star Wars.

[GingerJ]

Originally Posted by Canada Amy

I was never into roger rabbit or Pinnochio. I hear Mr. Toad goes to hell. No thanks!

What about Alice in Wonderland? Is it creepy?

Since my baby is a "young 7" and gets more excited about characters and theming, we will enjoy Toontown. Never got to see it at wdw!

Toontown is great! I skipped it my first few visits because I imagined it was like the old Mickey's Toontown Fair in MK--not at all! It's a cool little "town" with lots of sight gags (push or pull on everything--try to open doors, ring doorbells, etc. to find funny sound effects).

Mr. Toad: my exact thoughts after riding it were "boring and pointless." Some people love it, though, inexplicably.

I don't recall Alice being creepy, although it is dark.

I do love Monsters Inc., Mike & Sulley to the Rescue, though! Never long lines, and not a bit creepy. A little dark (literally, as in low light) but never total darkness. If they like the movie, they'll enjoy this. And Sulley often shows up at a storefront area nearby!

In fact, the Animation Building is an awesome place to meet characters. There's at least one character most of the time, and Princess Sophia seems to be there constantly, from what I could see.

Anna and Elsa are in that building, too, and best of all--very short lines! No need to rush in at rope drop as I did. The lines were never more than about 20 minutes, so they take their time with visitors. The Frozen Singalong nearby (where the Muppets were) is slightly different from the one at DHS.

Hyperion Theater, also close, will have a Frozen musical sometime this year, and you can find a fun retelling of Frozen at the at the Fantasy Faire, in front of the castle at DLR...I understand it now alternates with Tangled. Lots of Frozen stuff! Olaf does meets and greets in Hollywood Land, and there's a touch of Frozen in the fireworks and World of Color, too. If they're Frozen fans (I am!) they'll find lots to love!

[Canada Amy]

Originally Posted by GingerJ

Toontown is great! I skipped it my first few visits because I imagined it was like the old Mickey's Toontown Fair in MK--not at all! It's a cool little "town" with lots of sight gags (push or pull on everything--try to open doors, ring doorbells, etc. to find funny sound effects).

Mr. Toad: my exact thoughts after riding it were "boring and pointless." Some people love it, though, inexplicably.

I don't recall Alice being creepy, although it is dark.

I do love Monsters Inc., Mike & Sulley to the Rescue, though! Never long lines, and not a bit creepy. A little dark (literally, as in low light) but never total darkness. If they like the movie, they'll enjoy this. And Sulley often shows up at a storefront area nearby!

In fact, the Animation Building is an awesome place to meet characters. There's at least one character most of the time, and Princess Sophia seems to be there constantly, from what I could see.

Anna and Elsa are in that building, too, and best of all--very short lines! No need to rush in at rope drop as I did. The lines were never more than about 20 minutes, so they take their time with visitors. The Frozen Singalong nearby (where the Muppets were) is slightly different from the one at DHS.

Hyperion Theater, also close, will have a Frozen musical sometime this year, and you can find a fun retelling of Frozen at the at the Fantasy Faire, in front of the castle at DLR...I understand it now alternates with Tangled. Lots of Frozen stuff! Olaf does meets and greets in Hollywood Land, and there's a touch of Frozen in the fireworks and World of Color, too. If they're Frozen fans (I am!) they'll find lots to love!

Thanks for all the tips, Ginger! They do enjoy frozen, though they are over the craze. We will definitely do everything frozen themed. Got to do Freezing the Night Away on the Wonder in November.

We watched Monsters on the weekend so they'd be more excited for that ride. Youngest wants a Boo teddy now. We even watched both Brother Bear movies recently and we're pleased to discover just the other day that the challenge course at DCA is themed after that.

We won't miss a single show at either park. Jedi training at least once is mandatory for them too!

Thanks for clarifying about Muppets. I knew I heard it was gone. We love the singalong at HS, so will enjoy this. Too bad about muppets. My youngest was hoping to see it. I personally am over it.

[GingerJ]

Originally Posted by Canada Amy

Thanks for all the tips, Ginger! They do enjoy frozen, though they are over the craze. We will definitely do everything frozen themed. Got to do Freezing the Night Away on the Wonder in November.

We watched Monsters on the weekend so they'd be more excited for that ride. Youngest wants a Boo teddy now. We even watched both Brother Bear movies recently and we're pleased to discover just the other day that the challenge course at DCA is themed after that.

We won't miss a single show at either park. Jedi training at least once is mandatory for them too!

Thanks for clarifying about Muppets. I knew I heard it was gone. We love the singalong at HS, so will enjoy this. Too bad about muppets. My youngest was hoping to see it. I personally am over it.

The challenge course is a bit more about Up! than Brother Bear these days--you can earn Wilderness Explorer badges and sometimes meet Russell, I understand.

Don't know if you know this, but the sign up for Jedi training is at the exit to Star Wars Launch Bay (fun place!), first come, first served.

[KimmyAnn1147]

I would not advise doing toon town at rope drop, get a few headliners in first. Although it can be busy, I've never seen it really really crowded, like Disney Park crowded. We've had our best times there in late morning after doing some more popular rides. Gadget's Go-Coaster is a great first coaster if your kids are ready for it. The theming is very light-hearted and cute and the whole coaster ride is visible from start to finish from the queue, so no sense of surprises. My DS 7 has yet to try it, but DNeph loved it at age 6.

The challenge course is another great place for a picnic lunch if you are bringing food into the parks.

[joelsmom]

Yes, some of the attractions you listed can be spooky and are dark and even a bit bumpy. Your girls are younger than my son, but when we went to Disneyland, we vowed to do absolutely everything we could. There is just something so magical about that park, and we didn't want to miss any of it.

In the end, only you and your family can decide what will work for you. Good luck with it, but my advice would be to do as many things as you can conceivably do.

[Canada Amy]

Originally Posted by joelsmom

Yes, some of the attractions you listed can be spooky and are dark and even a bit bumpy. Your girls are younger than my son, but when we went to Disneyland, we vowed to do absolutely everything we could. There is just something so magical about that park, and we didn't want to miss any of it.

In the end, only you and your family can decide what will work for you. Good luck with it, but my advice would be to do as many things as you can conceivably do.

I hear you! really want to do as much as we can and savour it all! That being said, I will still skip attractions that have the potential to frighten my youngest. If we take her on something that upsets her, we are doomed for many other attractions! I've learned the hard way!

I am more open to doing the attractions we usually skip for lack of interest at WDW. Completely concur on wanting to see the differences! Besides, I want to do a few more Passporter articles on the differences from World to Land : )

Our "other" list of non-Disney attractions is growing by the day! 9 days and still running out of time!

[jackandjennasmom]

We love the Alice ride,( not scary at all) the lines are always long though. Monsters Inc is really cute. Your daughters might like the Storybook Canal boat ride,but the last time we rode it we couldn't understand anything the guide was saying and the lines are really long for it too. Do not skip Toontown, even if you don't get to ride anything,there is a lot to see and discover there.