Disney World Blog Discussing Parks, Resorts, Discounts and Dining | Only WDWorld

Chester & Hester's Primeval Whirl At Disney's Animal Kingdom

2010-03-15T21:43:00.000-04:00

Chester & Hester's Time Machine
At Disney's Animal Kingdom, Dinoland has the serious Dino Institute, and the not-so-serious Chester & Hester's Dino Rama which is a full-on tribute to the larger than life Tourist Attractions along Route 66 in its hey day.

As the story goes, Chester & Hester, did not want to be outdone by the Dino Institute and the fancy time machines that they had. So, they quickly created their own time machine like contraption to lure in the gullible tourists.

Exciting Little Roller Coaster
Although you may not travel back in time, you will get a fun filled ride. The "time machine" ride vehicle spins as it travels along the track. This makes the sharp turns and twists of the track even more thrilling. Even without a big hill, the spinning and quick changes of direction make this a roller coaster worthy of checking out.

Added in the spring of 2002, the Primeval Whirl uses bright colors and playful artwork of various dinosaurs to entertain the riders. The mood is light and fun. The props comically depict the dinosaurs realizing that their extinction is at hand.

Usually this roller coaster will have the shortest wait time of any roller coaster in Disney World. It is often 20 minutes or less.

A word of caution to those who do not like rides that spin. Although it does not spin as much as the Mad Tea Party, the Time Machines do make several rotations as they make their way around the roller coaster track.

While you are riding Primeval Whirl make sure that you read the signs and take in all of the details. There is a lot to see and rarely do you notice all of it the first time that you ride.

Recommended Attraction
Definitely put this whimsical roller coaster on your list of attractions to do during your next trip to the Animal Kingdom. The over the top theming and quick turning ride vehicle make this a recommended attraction.

Disney World Storytelling: The Hollywood Tower Hotel

2010-02-24T16:51:00.003-05:00

The Hollywood Tower Hotel

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios takes place in the 199 ft tall Hollywood Tower Hotel. Visible from quite a distance, the scarred exterior of the hotel makes you want to know how it got that way.

As the legend goes:
The Hollywood Tower Hotel was the place that the stars of the silver screen liked to come to relax in the 1930’s. In its day it was amongst the elites. On the wall next to the Concierge Desk hangs the famed AAA 13 Diamond Rating given to the hotel. This would be the only 13 Diamond Rating ever given out.

Then on that fateful Halloween night in 1939, 5 unsuspecting guests were riding the Hotel’s maintenance service elevator when it was struck by lightning…and they were never seen from again.

Unbelievable Theming

The Disney Imagineers set the bar high for storytelling and theming when they created this attraction. It starts with the overgrown gardens and dry fountains you pass in the outside queue while waiting to enter the building. Take the time to notice all of the little touches they have added to make this look like a hotel that has been abandoned for 70 years.

Inside the Hotel, en route to the ride, you experience three rooms: The Lobby, the Library, and the Boiler Room.

The Lobby

You spend the least amount of time in the Lobby and that is unfortunate because there is so much to take in. Much of the furniture and artifacts in the room are either authentic from the 1930’s purchased from Hollywood area auctions and estate sales or especially reproduced to match furniture from that era.

Details abound as you gaze around the room
The before mentioned AAA 13 Diamond Rating plaque does indeed hang on the wall (as shown in the picture above in the upper right-hand corner). There are references to characters from Twilight Zone episodes in the signs and material used as props in the room. This is all just to create the mood and set the scene, allowing you to escape into this fantasy world for a brief moment in time.

The Library

Once you enter the Library, you are told the story of the Hollywood Tower Hotel and the event that changed it forever. The Twilight Zone theme blends seamlessly into the story as it is told. Now you understand that you will be reliving the event that caused the disappearance of the 5 guests and led to the downfall of the Hotel. This is when fear sets in.

Boiler Room

In the final queue before you board the elevator to take you to the Twilight Zone, you find yourself in the Boiler Room. Again the details are amazing. Can there be a more ominous setting than a basement boiler room?

Creating A Ride The Disney Way

Having a free-fall style elevator ride with randomly programmed drop sequences is thrilling enough to make people want to ride the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Designing an entire Hotel with a sordid history and immersing you within that story makes this a Disney attraction…and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Bird's Eye View Of The Magic Kingdom

2010-02-17T14:50:00.001-05:00

The Astro Orbiter found in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom, may not get much publicity, but it is home to some of the best views in all of Disney World.

In 1994 the Astro Orbiter replaced the former StarJets on top of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) Station as part of the major Tomorrowland redesign to become the fanciful version of the “Future That Never Was.”

Although the ride itself has similarities to the Dumbo ride, the major benefit is its rooftop perch. This gives the riders fantastic views of the Magic Kingdom when they “fly” their rockets to the highest position. The riders can reach heights of nearly 80 ft above the Tomorrowland walkways.

While rotating at 11 revolutions per minute on the 40 ft long arms, these 2 person rockets give the impression that you are flying much faster than you really are due to the nearby rotating planets and moons that are part of the structure.

Day or night the best part of the ride is the view. These are perspectives that you can’t get from anywhere else in the Magic Kingdom. Whether you are looking at Cinderella Castle, Space Mountain, or even the Contemporary Resort the perspective that you get from the Astro Orbiter is one of a kind.

Underappreciated Magic Kingdom Attraction

The Astro Orbiter rarely lands on anyone’s must see attraction list, but should be. Its major drawback is the same problem that plagues the Dumbo attraction, it cannot handle large quantities of people. With only 12 rockets that typically hold 1-2 people each, the lines can move very slowly. To avoid the crowds, plan on riding the Astro Orbiter near park opening or late at night, and see the Magic Kingdom from a whole new vantage point.

Ride Along With Us As We Tackle Disney's Expedition Everest

2009-10-08T06:24:00.011-04:00

Disney World's newest roller coaster, Expedition Everest, is considered by many to be its best.

Expedition Everest certainly gives Disney's Animal Kingdom the signature E-Ticket attraction that it was lacking.

For those of you that have never experienced Expedition Everest, or those who cherished the memories of your last ride, here are some pictures taken while riding this incredibly themed roller coaster.

The Experience
The ride vehicle is designed to allow the guest to "believe" that they are traveling through the mountains on an old train.

You get a great view of what is to come when you make your grand ascent.

You are also reminded, and warned, that this is sacred Yeti territory. Coming here is not recommended by the locals who know to fear the yeti.
At the ride's highest point you come to a complete stop. Apparently the Yeti has ripped out the track, so you will not be able to go any further.

After a significant pause at the top, you start going backwards down the mountain.

This is probably the most thrilling part of the ride and you will swear that you go upside down during the high speeds turns, but you do not.

The train comes under control and stops somewhere deep inside the mountain, you will see the shadow of the Yeti. Then it is time to race forwards down the rest of the mountain.

Almost at the end you will get to see the infamous Yeti and he is not too happy to see you.

The last picture shows the train safely near the end getting ready to return to the station.

Conclusion

This is a truly thrilling attraction that is incredibly themed. It will not rank as the fastest, most thrilling roller coaster in the country, but it will rank for a great ride experience.

The Disney Imagineers hit a home run with their detailed storytelling and exciting ride experience.

This is certainly an attraction that you will want to ride again and again.

Disney's Hollywood Studios Backstage Tour Takes Us To Catastrophe Canyon

2009-09-28T06:11:00.007-04:00

Catastrophe Canyon has been a part of Disney World since Disney’s Hollywood Studios first opened on May 1st, 1989.

Although the Studio Backlot Tour itself has changed several times during the past 20 years, the one constant for the attraction has been Catastrophe Canyon.

Catastrophe Canyon adds an exciting element to the Backlot Tour. The premise is that you are on a live movie set and you get to experience the special effects first hand.

Catastrophe Canyon
The 200 seat open air tram you are riding in pulls in to the Canyon set during your Backlot Tour.

Once the tram comes to a complete stop, you are introduced to the set and they demonstrate how they can make it rain on a movie set with special sprinklers creating realistic rain.

They point out the sprinklers and lure you into a false sense of security before the real action begins.

After the rain stops, the tram is shaken unexpectedly by a simulated earthquake and fire starts to break out on the set.

The tram is really moved about during the earthquake, and you begin to be drawn into the action surrounding you.

The fire builds and spreads to an oil tanker truck.

You can really feel the heat of the flames as the fire builds.

Then torrents of flood waters start rushing into the canyon.

It builds quickly and appears that a giant wave will overtake the tram and wash you away. The effect of the flash flood is exciting and thrilling. If you are on the left side of the tram you are the closest to the action and may get a little wet.

You think that a tidal wave is going to overwhelm the tram and wash you away.

Then magically the water flow reduces to just a trickle and then stops altogether.

Once the tram gets underway again they take you to the back of the set to see how it was constructed. You get to see the powerful pumps and water canons that were used to create the simulated flash flood.

Sadly the tram then carries you back to the real world again and your Disney World experience of being in the movies is over all too quickly.

Jay Rasulo Announces Upgrades To Star Tours Attraction During D23 Expo

2009-09-12T16:20:00.002-04:00

Breaking News Story From The D23 Expo:

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sept. 12, 2009) /PRNewswire/ — Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and adventures that will be delighting Disney guests for years to come, at the first D23 Expo. Most notable among the announcements were the confirmation of an all-new Star Tours attraction.

"Storytelling is the DNA of Disney dreams and we're always exploring new ways to tell new stories in new places," Rasulo told a crowd at the Anaheim Convention Center in California before taking them on a "behind-the-magic" tour of their favorite Disney destinations.

Rasulo announced that a new 3-D version of the tremendously-popular "Star Tours" attraction will debut at the Disneyland Resort and Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2011.

Based on the iconic Lucasfilm "Star Wars" films, the attraction will include immersive new elements that will take guests to many familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.

Here is a video clip showing what the new Podrace sequence for the next generation Star Tours may look like:

In an exciting scene from the new Star Tours, guests aboard Starspeeders will join in a high-speed pod race through the desert canyons of Tatooine. 2009 © Lucasfilm Ltd.TM and Disney © All Rights Reserved.

Can't wait until this long needed update to the Star Tours attraction occurs.

The Extremely Popular Toy Story Mania At Disney's Hollywood Studios

2009-09-10T06:02:00.006-04:00

With the upcoming release of the Toy Story Mania Video Game for the Nintendo Wii only a week away, let's take a look at the continuing popularity of the real Toy Story Mania attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Ever since it opened Toy Story Mania has been drawing large crowds. In a theme park that has few rides amongst its attractions, this is one that appeals to the whole family.

This is without a doubt the ride that gets the most attention at park opening of any of the Disney World theme parks.

The Lines

The first picture is not the ride line, but rather the line to get a FastPass in order to ride later at about 9:05 am on a day that the park opened at 9:00 am. The line already extends to the One Man's Dream attraction.

Fortunately this line moves quickly and only took about 10 minutes to obtain a FastPass. The return time for the FastPasses was already at 11:05 am - 12:05 pm.

By that time the stand-by line was already at a 60 minute wait and the FastPass line was continuing to grow.

The last picture was taken at approximately 9:20 AM as the line to obtain a FastPass now extends well beyond the One Man's Dream attraction. By gauging the distance to the "Pixar" Overhead Sign, you can see how far you are from the Toy Story Mania attraction.

The Attraction

The Toy Story Mania attraction is great fun for all ages. The nature of the attraction, with the guest trying to earn points as they complete, leads to people wanting to experience this again and again. Unfortunately, it is a victim of it's popularity and it is now very difficult to ride multiple times in a day.

The Challenge

The challenge for Disney World management is to come up with another attraction or two that has the universal appeal that Toy Story Mania does for Disney's Hollywood Studios. By placing such attractions on the other side of the park near Star Tours, it would certainly help balance out the traffic for the park.

How To Deal With It

In the mean time, Toy Story Mania is worth your time. So, join the crowds and get a FastPass at opening and use it to ride later in the day. It is usually best if you send one member of your party to get the FastPasses and let the rest go to another attraction. This is more productive for your family and it reduces the overall traffic to this crowded area at opening.

Don't be stressed out. Expect that there will be crowds and just make it part of your plans to get your FastPass and come back later in the day.

Best of luck, and remember that you can always pick up the Wii version next week and then you only have to wait in line behind your own family for a chance to play.

Unlocking The Secret Code In The DINOSAUR Attraction At Disney's Animal Kingdom

2009-09-05T07:45:00.006-04:00

When visiting the Disney World theme parks, you have to be on alert to catch all of the special surprises that are hidden in the attractions and surroundings. If you are rushing from one attraction to another you may miss the best parts of Disney World: the Details.

Many of you are familiar with hidden Mickeys (Mickey Mouse head shapes that are worked into various items throughout Disney World), but there are many other secret surprises out there for guests who have a sharp eye and an inquisitive mind.

Here is one for you to look for during your next visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom:

In the final stage of the ride queue for the DINOSAUR attraction, you will notice a lot of pipes. As you descend the stairs to the floor level where you will board the ride vehicle, look back in the direction in which you entered that room. You will see three pipes running horizontally across the room over what appears to be a large electric transformer. You will notice that there are words and chemical symbols on the pipes.

Take a look in the picture (you probably need to click on it to expand it):

The surprise is that these chemical names refer to the ingredients for ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise in a tribute to McDonald's who was one of the original sponsors of the attraction.

Instead of taking the rumor at face value, let's investigate a little further to see if it is true. By researching each of the ingredients listed here is what we get:

Red Pipe: Ketchup

Lycopersicon lycopericum (should be Lycopersicon lycopersicum) = tomato
C6H12O6 = Sugar or Corn Syrup
CH3COOH = Vinegar
(C6H12O6) = Another Sugar (part of the symbol is blocked by the pipe clamp)
NaCl = Salt
Allium cepa = Onion

Yellow Pipe: Mustard

CH3COOH = Vinegar
H2O = Water
Brassica juncea = Mustard Plant
NaCl = Salt
Curcuma Longa = Turmeric
Allium sativum = Garlic

White Pipe: Mayonnaise

Glycine soja = Soybean Oil
Ovae = refers to Egg, in this case Egg yolks
CH3COOH = Vinegar
H2O = Water
NaCl = Salt
C6H12O6 = Sugar (or Corn Syrup)
Citrus limon = Lemon Juice

Conclusion

If I was on the show Myth Busters, I would have to say that this Myth has been CONFIRMED. Those chemical names and symbols on the 3 pipes actually do refer to the ingredients for Ketchup, Mustard, and Mayonnaise.

This is just another example of the great level of detail that the Disney Imagineers went to make the attractions realistic and fun for their guests.

So next time that you are in line to ride DINOSAUR, point to the red, yellow, and white pipes and amaze your friends. You get extra points if you print this out and are able to translate each of the ingredients for them.

President Barack Obama Officially Joins The Hall Of Presidents

2009-07-03T10:13:00.002-04:00

This July 4th weekend marks the re-opening of the Magic Kingdom's Hall of Presidents attraction after its most extensive refurbishment ever.

Besides the obvious addition of our 44th President, Barack Obama, there is:

A new 20 minute long opening documentary written by noted Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and narrated by Morgan Freeman.
George Washington has a speaking role for the first time.
Abraham Lincoln now recites the entire Gettysburg Address.
New Digital audio, video, and lighting to bring the performance to life.
Never before seen realism in the new President Obama audio-animatronic figure.

Here is an excellent video from DisneyParks that discusses some of the activities that went into the refurbishment along with actual footage of the new President Obama audio-animatronic figure in action.

For a video clip of President Obama himself recording the audio for his Hall of Presidents' figure go to: Only WDWorld Videos.

This extensive refurbishment looks like the Disney Imagineers have done a great job updating one of the Magic Kingdom's original attractions, dating back to October of 1971.