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Scapp70's Top 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (10 - 1)Jan 04 '07 (Updated Jul 06 '07) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line This is the last in the five part Walt Disney World series. It took me a little while - and I hope you visit the first four parts to this Top 50 list, as well as the other Disney related links at the bottom of the review. 10. It's A Small World is another classic that went virtually unchanged over the years once the boat makes its way through the main entrance. Even if you had never gone on this ride, chances are that you know the theme song to this attraction. In fact, the other day when I dropped off my son to his kindergarten class, I heard the music to It's A Small World over the PA system. The ride may not be as technically on par with some of Disney World's newer rides, but the puppets and marionettes that symbolize each culture around the world is just as endearing. Some of the people that I have went to WDW over the years have told me that they'd wait for me outside of the ride because if they hear that song one more time their farts would start sounding like the songs. But me, I can't get enough of the song. 9. Cosmic Ray's Cafe located in Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland is probably my favorite place to stop and have a quick snack in the Magic Kingdom. The food is pretty good; they have the usual burgers, fries, and chicken in a basket, hot dogs, plus BBQ ribs, and even some kosher dishes. The highlight that brings me back everytime is the entertainment provided by audio-animatronic character Sonny Eclipse, an alien who sings lizard lounge tunes and tells corny jokes while you eat your quick snack. I could stay and listen for a long while if my party allowed it. There is something relaxing, and almost nostalgic about Sonny Eclipse. The atmosphere is retro-futuristic, as in how the future looks from the 1950's. I recommend a stop here for everyone - I know I'll be there everytime I go down. 8. Cinderella Castle is an odd choice, I'll admit - especially inside of the top ten, but the castle is the most nostalgic part of the most magical place on earth. This is the symbol that when you see it in front of you, it makes it real that you are in Disney World. The castle has been dressed up from time to time over the years, and no matter how it looks from year to year, it the most magical part of the Magic Kingdom for me. There's not much to do within the castle, there is a store and a restaurant, but most of the time you are just walking around it or through it, so that you can get to Fantasyland. The Magic Kingdom would not be the same if there was no Cinderella Castle. 7. Philharmagic is one of the newest attractions at Walt Disney World, opening on October 3rd, 2003. The parks have an ample amount of 3D shows, and this one is the best one yet. This show isn't just for the eyes, but Disney Imagineers have added features to stimulate the senses of touch, audio and smell as well. Philharmagic incorporates some very well known characters such as Donald Duck, who is the star of the show, Aladdin, Jasmine and Carpet from the movie Aladdin, Peter Pan and Wendy from Peter Pan, Simba from The Lion King, Lumière from Beauty and The Beast, Ariel from The Little Mermaid and the hero who saves the day, Mickey Mouse. The lines for the show could get a bit crazy during the peek months, but there are relatively no lines during the off season and this attraction can be enjoyed over and over again. 6. Disney Quest tends to get overlooked by visitors to the Walt Disney World resort. That's always great for me because it never seems too crowded. Even the "elevator ride" to enter can be most of the time ridden by just me and my small family group. Disney Quest is and has always been a highlight for me and mine. This place is totally indoors and has five floors of video game fun for the entire family. Even grandma can enjoy this virtual world of real entertainment. Disney Quest has virtual rides of some of their most famous rides from the park, like Virtual Space Mountain, Virtual Jungle Cruise and my favorite Virtual Pirates of the Caribbean where you and your group board a pirate ship and attempt to sink the other family pirate ships that are playing as well. One person is at the wheel steering, and the others will be firing canons at will at the other ships, that's right, you aim and fire virtual cannons and other families. The pirate ship, the wind, and the giant screen all around you put you in the center of the video game. Downstairs they have some fun for the younger kids, and upstairs there is food, including a Cheesecake Factory. I like it that it's not so crowded, but I still try and tell the people that I know are going to WDW to stop by and have fun, they never listen to me. 5. Pirates of the Caribbean holds a special place for Disney fanatics due to the fact that this is the last attraction that the legend himself, Walt Disney, had major input with the fruition of this classic. Since I started going to Disney, this ride had gone through some minor and somewhat major changes. The last change was to incorporate movie pirate Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and the evil Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) from the Disney blockbuster movies Pirates of the Caribbean. To see the famous actor's faces is certainly a plus and definitely a welcome change even amongst the strictest purists. The attraction is a boat ride down a waterfall that takes you back through time. Pirates are causing havoc for the residents of this town as they are in search for gold and treasure. You even find yourself in the middle of a war at sea with canon fire and guns exploding around you. 4. Soarin' is one of the newest experiences at WDW. I've only encountered the attraction for the first time on a WDW vacation in December '05. This was surprisingly entertaining. The ride is only made up of a huge screen with different outdoor Californian scenes that you are "soaring" over but with the wind and smells and the slight tilting of the seating it can fool the senses and it only takes a small effort to imagine that it is real. Only Disney could provide such magic. Many people are turned off by the long wait that the lines have and walk the other way, but with a Fastpass and just a little patience; you'll see it was worth the wait. Click on the link to read the detail of the attraction. 3. The American Dream is an attraction that I discovered relatively late in my frequenting of Disney World. The ride is in a huge theater with American historical iconic statues decorating both sides of the theater. The production is said to house the most sets and audio-animatronic characters anywhere in Disney World. This attraction is housed in the American Pavilion in EPCOT's showcase area. The show tells the story of the USA through song, still pictures and a discussion between Ben Franklin and Mark Twain. People all of the world come to Disney World and go on all of the same rides and attractions. I'm not sure what the people from other countries feel about this show, but for me, it is just about my favorite. It fills me with a feeling of a patriotic fever for my country and chokes me up everytime; it's quite an experience to say the least. 2. Splash Mountain is most likely a highlight and favorite for most of the people that frequent the Magic Kingdom theme park. The combination of log flume, and the wonderful Disney storytelling audio-animatronics that bring Uncle Remus's stories back into a three dimensional setting is the expected thing to do from the Imagineers at Disney. Even waiting on the long line has its charm as you listen to the ambient music from the 1940's film Song of the South, and even outside the ride where they have music playing through the many speakers, you know that there's something special inside. 1. Haunted Mansion is another attraction that will be on most Disney fans top ten list. The Haunted Mansion is one of the rides that have changed the least since it's opening, and that's a huge part of the ride's charm. The ride is not so scary for the bigger kids and adults, yet this fact does not take away from the attraction's appeal. The sets are grand, the ghosts are plenty, and the theme song, Grim Grinning Ghosts is addicting. There is a seance, a dinner party, a huge graveyard and ghosts of all shapes and sizes. Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 1) – 50 - 41 Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 2) – 40 - 31 Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 3) – 30 - 21 Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 4) – 20 - 11 Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 5) – 10 - 1 ~~~~~~~~~~Some More Disney-Related Epinions From Scapp70~~~~~~~~~~ The Music: Disney’s Music From the Park Disney’s Greatest - Volume One Disney’s Greatest - Volume Two Classic Disney Volume One Classic Disney Volume Two Classic Disney Volume Three Classic Disney Volume Four Classic Disney Volume Five Disney's Christmas Favorites Vol. 1 Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse Disney: The Music Behind the Magic: 50 Songs Celebrating 50 Years of Walt Disney Records The Parks: Soarin’ Haunted Mansion Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Mickey's Backyard BBQ Families First Vacation Homes The Books: The Haunted Mansion – From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies Popping Up Around Walt Disney World The Movies Scapp70’s Top 10 Favorite Disney Animated Movies Toy Story (3-Disc Ultimate Toy Box DVD Set  |
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