Walt Disney World: It's Not Just for Kids » Controversy

Are some WDW rides just for kids?

Hedy — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:23:28 +0000

Jen has brought this point up before, but I figured I’d explore it in more depth. You all know I’m unapologetic about adults meeting the characters, but what about “kiddie” rides?

The gold standard of these rides, even among all these rides in Fantasyland, is Dumbo. For some reason, Dumbo has a reputation for being a line that moves very slowly-the Unofficial Guide (Ding!) has a touring plan they labeled the “Dumbo or Die” touring plan for a reason. Dumbo is slow loading, and popular. It’s also so classic that there’s a “must do” sensation-people who are dying to ride on Dumbo usually aren’t placated by the nearby Magic Carpets of Aladdin, nor by the TriceraTop Spin at Animal Kingdom. To be perfectly honest, I had to Google to find out the name of the latter attraction. Dumbo appears to be in a lot of Disney promotional material, both official and unofficial (who remembers Kimmy Gibbler and her sneakers on Dumbo from the Disney World episode of Full House*). So, should children have a special ability to ride Dumbo, or other “kiddie” rides like Winnie the Pooh, or Buzz Lightyear?

I don’t think so. As with my thoughts on characters, I believe that any paying guest (or guest under the age when they need to pay admission) should be able to ride any ride they choose to ride. As Dumbo is among the rides open during Magic Kingdom’s Extra Magic Hour (EMH), I think it would be nice if anyone who wanted to ride Dumbo, regardless of age tried to get there early, but not necessary.
While Universal Orlando is not Disney World, they do have an interesting policy regarding their Pteranodon Flyers attraction at Islands of Adventure. Only children between the heights of 36″ to 56″ may ride this ride. Adults may only ride when accompanied by a child of that height. While this limitation addresses the fact that this ride is a slow-loading ride, it does not address the fact that unaccompanied adults might be interested in riding the ride. (In my opinion, the irony of this policy is that it’s mainly themed around a movie franchise that people who are taller than 56″ remember. I find it further ironic that this policy exists given that Jurassic Park is rated PG-13). Because I enjoy being contrary, I probably wouldn’t care about this ride, save for the fact that I can’t ride it.

How about you? What are your thoughts?

*I was all excited when my nephews got into Full House a couple of years ago. They adored the Disney World episode, but the blank look I got when I asked if they got why Steve was Aladdin reminded me that I am old. LOL

Hip hip hurray! This post is in the Disney Blog Carnival 2: The Sequel!

April is Autism Awareness Month

Hedy — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:51:11 +0000

This post is, and isn’t about adults at Disney World. I cannot stand it when people at a bus stop get all whiny because they’re loading on a scooter. But, if you roll your eyes at a physically disabled person, there are usually people who will call you out on it. But what about the kid you see sitting down at a table service restaurant flapping his hands? What about the young woman you see who keeps mumbling to herself? Do you show as much compassion to them? Do people care?

I honestly think that people as a whole stink at showing compassion to those with invisible disabilities. As such, I’m going to encourage you to read the awesome Kathleen Kelly’s piece on “There’s a Monster in the Closet” not to debate the causes of or prevalence of autism, as there are many places to do so, but rather to encourage you all to go through your vacation, and your life, with common courtesy and empathy for others.

Earth Day Turns 40 on April 22, 2010

That Other Park in Orlando…

Hedy — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:05:46 +0000

I’m dyed-in-the wool Disney Girl. It started when I was carrying a plastic Mickey around as a toddler, and continues to the stuffed and Disney Princess Easter Basket I hear I’m getting for Easter-LOL. As for that Other Park in Orlando, I was dragged there once when I was 12. My feeling on it were that, in the immortal words of Bucky Katt, it did what a Hoover does.

However, as time went on, I heard about Islands of Adventure (IOA) and how well themed it was, I admitted that not liking it at age 12 was not a good reason to blacklist it. I went on my first Universal/IOA trip Fourth of July weekend 2008, and I stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel. While I found the service at the Hotel lacking, on the whole I found I liked Universal, and really loved the Express Pass on-site hotel guests get. Also, Universal has a good grip on the adult market-they have snarky asides in their shows (“I don’t have to be nice to you, this isn’t Disney World”), plenty of booze, and fun.

After that trip, I stated the next time I would go was after Harry Potter World (AKA the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) opened. However, Universal was giving away a free pass during the 2009 Superbowl (I knew only watching commercials during the Superbowl would pay off some day). I stayed at Royal Pacific Resort, which was an awesome resort, and had a great time.

And the night time I was going to Universal was with my family in 2011. But the ads for Harry Potterland got me, as well as going when it opens (I’m sure my great-nieces and nephews will care!) got to me, and I’m off to Universal, staying at the Royal Pacific Resort again, in August.

I’m going to have a Universal Planning for Disney People post coming up soon!

Characters

Hedy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:20:45 +0000

For some weird reason, I feel like this is the definitive Adults at WDW topic. Now, there are a million different viewpoints on this topic, from mine to a child’s; from my dear/Disney sister-in-law, to the then 11 year old Sharpay, who would shield her face every time she saw a character. So I am going to stage a bit of a role-play between myself, and the family which was in front of me at Pixie Hollow in October of 2009.

Hedy has gotten to Pixie Hollow at five minutes after opening time, having secured an early morning ADR purely so that she may be on time to this momentous occasion of meeting Tinkerbell. She sees a 60 Minute wait sign, but has been prepared for this for months. As such, she people-watches, and sends out a handful of Tweets.

The line is possibly the slowest Hedy has seen in her WDW career, and Hedy has been here on December 26 in a vyear before Fastpasses. She smiles to herself upon seeing two college-aged girls ahead of her. With hipster hair, facial piercings, and tattoos, they don’t look like something out of the promotional DVD. However, they are chattering away about how the cut class to come to see Tinkerbell for one girl’s birthday. Aww.

Hedy hears the parents behind her muttering. Their two princesses look about five and seven, and are waiting very patiently, giggling and chattering to each other. “Look at all these adults!” One parent says. “It’s disgraceful. What are they doing here? There have got to be ten adults here! They were at the meet and greets last night too! It’s ridiculous! Why won’t they just let the kids go in?”

Well, here’s why! I love the characters too! And since Disney World is for everybody I can meet characters. If I wanted to justify it, I could play the “I paid more to get in this park that your kid did” game, but I won’t as I am an adult. I love character meals, meet and greets, and I am a total autograph addict (and have been since 1993, thank you very much). And I love that Walt Disney World lets me do that.

Do you have any thoughts or experiences on being an adult at Walt Disney World around the characters?

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