Best Disney Ride Round 1 - Disney World Splash Mountain Region

Well, the first Disney World region featured a couple exciting upsets.  The Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover won its matchup against Dinosaur, a result that makes me very happy.  I can't express how much I love the People Mover, and how much I miss it at Disneyland.  While it faces an uphill battle in the next round, I am happy it won.  In a more stunning upset, Peter Pan's Flight beat out Big Thunder Mountain by a score of 3-2.  I will admit that Thunder Mountain at Disney World is fun, but not as good as the Disneyland version.  And I had an absolutely amazing experience on Peter Pan when I went, so this result makes me smile.  In other results, Space Mountain, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Toy Story, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train all won going away.  And one of my other favorites, Mission:Space, won a close match against Journey into Imagination, which was really surprising to me.  The next round in this region shapes up to be quite entertaining.

But let's move on to the final region in the first round.  The top seed in this region is Splash Mountain, which is supremely better at Disney World than at Disneyland.  There are some interesting matchups in this region, the most notable of which is Star Tours against Pirates of the Caribbean.  While Star Tours is the same at both parks, Pirates is far inferior at Disney World, resulting in this being a first round matchup as opposed to one in the later rounds.  The Haunted Mansion versus the Kilimanjaro Safaris should also yield an intriguing result.  And with that said, let's get to the voting!

Once again, if you are viewing on a mobile device, use the following link to vote.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VMBYTPZ

And if viewing on a computer, vote below!

Create your own user feedback survey

Here is what the bracket looks like after the last round of voting.

Best Disney Ride - Disney World Space Mountain Region

Voting in the first round of the Disneyland regions is done!  The Matterhorn region showed that the heavyweights were just no match for the smaller rides.  Five of the eight matchups were shutouts, and two more were won by a 5-1 result.  The closest result was the 8-9 matchup which saw Soarin' take down the Grizzly River Rapids.  That's not too surprising because I don't think every one likes water rides.  I believe the second round matchups in both Disneyland regions will be much more competitive.

But now it's time to get to the Disney World brackets, starting with the Space Mountain region.  Yes, Space Mountain in Disney World is also a 1 seed.  This shouldn't be surprising.  There are some intriguing matchups in this region, however.  The 8-9 and 7-10 matchups could both be close.  In the 8-9 matchup Soarin' goes up against the Great Movie Ride.  Both rides have their charm and they are both great for all audiences.  Meanwhile, the 7-10 matchup pits one of my favorites, the People Mover, against Dinosaur, which is a fun ride that utilizes the same ride system as Indiana Jones.  I think my recent experiences on some of these rides might sway my voting a little bit, but that's ok because choosing the best ride asks you to take into account not just the ride itself, but the experience you have riding the ride.  I encourage you to think about all your ride experiences when making your selections.

For those on a mobile device, use the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BV869NC

And for those on a computer, you can vote below.

Create your own user feedback survey

Here is what the bracket looks like after the last round of voting.

Best Disney Ride Round 1 Part 2

One region is in the books, and, there weren't too many surprises.  Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Star Tours, and Haunted Mansion all swept their respective matchups.  Radiator Springs Racers and Jungle Cruise also won pretty big.  The most surprising result in this region would have to be Mr. Toad's Wild Ride beating Peter Pan.  While Mr. Toad's is one of my favorite rides, I actually expected Peter Pan to win because it is more popular based on ride length every time I go to Disneyland.  But apparently other love the wacky adventures of Toad, Badger, and Rat as much as I do!

And now we move on to the next Disneyland region, the Matterhorn Region.  I suspect the top seeds will again advance easily in this region, but that's why we vote!  So let's get right to it!

If you are viewing this on a mobile device, use the following link to place your votes.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WZ9M9K3

If you are viewing this on a computer, you can place your votes right here on the page.

Create your own user feedback survey

And here is what the bracket looks like after the first round of voting.

Best Disney Ride March Madness Style!!!!

Many of you are used to me doing my own take on March Madness.  Past brackets have crowned the Best Cartoon Character, Best TV Sitcom, and Best Disney Movie.  This year I've decided to stay with the theme of Disneyland versus Disney World which has been the subject of my recent posts.  So we are going to crown the Best Disney ride!!

I wasn't able to put as much time into compiling the bracket as I have in the past.  My detailed breakdowns and analysis of the seeding process pretty much boils down to which rides I like best and think are most popular.  You may not like where some of the rides are seeded, but that's why you have the opportunity to vote!

I broke the bracket into two halves, the Disneyland side and the Disney World side.  I seeded the rides on each side from 1 to 32.  (Don't pay attention to the overall seed numbers on the bracket site that I used.)  So when we get to the end of the tournament, there will be two rides from Disneyland and two rides from Disney World in the Final Four, with the championship pitting the best from each coast against one another.  I realize that Disney is doing their own version of this very bracket, but I know you all would much rather vote in mine.

Without further ado, let's reveal the bracket and open the first region of voting!!




I'm starting the first round of voting on the Disneyland side in the Space Mountain region.  Space Mountain is naturally the top seed on this side of the bracket and should be considered the favorite.  The rest of the region has some tough choices, though, especially in the 8-9 matchup with Mr. Toad's and Peter Pan.  I look forward to seeing how the voting plays out!

For those of you on a phone or tablet, use the following link to vote:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FD5XLTC 


Create your own user feedback survey

Disneyland vs Disney World Part II

In my last post I focused on the differences between the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.  In this post I will look at the remaining parks in both resorts.  For WDW, that is Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.  And for Disneyland, that means California Adventure.

Let’s start with some of the rides that are similar between the two resorts.  Star Tours at WDW is located at Hollywood Studios.  The ride itself is exactly the same as it is at Disneyland.  The one major difference, though, is the line queue.  You get to walk through the forest moon of Endor complete with AT-AT at WDW.  It’s pretty cool!  Toy Story Midway Mania is also the same in both parks, with the line queue being more exciting in Florida.  The ride itself is great!  It’s totally worth the wait in both places!  Advantage Disney World for the line queues, but a draw for the rides. 

And, then there’s Tower of Terror.  It is similar in both places, but the Florida version adds an extra twist when the cars move along a track before getting to the big drop.  At first I thought it was cool, but then it takes you into an unsettling dark room and I wasn’t a fan of that.  The second time I rode it at WDW, I focused more on the details of the ride and what I realized is that the story is not as tight as it is in California.  The story, as told on the ride, is much stronger at Disneyland.  And for that reason, I like the Disneyland version better.

Now for some differences, starting with Epcot.  Epcot is a beautiful park which is split into two areas, Future World and World Showcase.  Future World features two really innovative rides.  Test Track is a really cool ride in which you get to design your own car and then simulate the specs while on the ride.  It’s a fun slot car race type ride.  I thought the whole premise was clever and the ride is a lot of fun.  Also in Future World is Mission:Space, which simulates a mission to Mars.  I absolutely loved this ride!!  The ride vehicle is very detailed and actually gives each rider a task as if you really are a flight crew.  And you really feel the G Forces if you choose the Orange side.  You can choose the Green side if you get motion sickness, so you can still enjoy the ride.  These two rides are a definite plus for WDW.  The rest of Epcot just continues to add to the mystique.  Spaceship Earth, which is the ride located in the big geodesic sphere, is also a ton of fun and gives guests a chance to put themselves in a video that they can send to themselves.  The Seas pavilion in Future World has a wonderful aquarium and two Finding Nemo inspired attractions, which can also be found at Disneyland. 

After you finish exploring Future World, though, you head over to World Showcase and proceed to sample all kinds of delicious food and drink.  Walking around this section of the park is incredibly relaxing and romantic.  Nothing at Disneyland can compare to this.  It is really geared more towards adults, however, so don’t be surprised if the kids get bored in this section of the park.  But overall, Epcot gives a huge edge to WDW.

I’ve already discussed a few rides from Hollywood Studios, but there’s one more big one that’s a lot of fun.  Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a thrilling indoor roller coaster complete with an Aerosmith soundtrack.  It’s definitely a must.  The Great Movie Ride is another unique ride to the park and is a must see for any movie lover.  The rest of Hollywood Studios includes some fun stunt shows and a great Fantasmic experience in its own theater.  Although, I will say the best thing we saw at this park was the Star Wars fireworks show which was absolutely beautiful.  Everyone should see that show if possible.

The final park at WDW is Animal Kingdom.  The feature here is the animals.  So the Kilimanjaro Safaris is an absolute must.  It is a 20 minute ride through an open animal encounter.  You get to see everything from lions and cheetahs to giraffes and elephants.  After getting your zoo fix you can then ride Expedition Everest, a really unique mountain roller coaster.  I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but there are definitely some surprises on this ride!  Also at Animal Kingdom is Dinosaur, a ride back in time to the prehistoric world.  The ride vehicles and track is pretty the same as Indiana Jones, but not as good.  I love dinosaurs, but this ride is just ok.  The rest of Animal Kingdom has some really amazing shows including Lion King and Finding Nemo.  I’m not usually a fan of shows, but these two were totally worth it.

So now let’s switch coasts and look at the second park at Disneyland, California Adventure.  This park features a unique blend of adult thrills and children’s fun.  I’ve already discussed Tower of Terror and Toy Story, but another feature ride of the park is California Screamin’, an amazing outdoor roller coaster.  I’m pretty sure this is the longest coaster ride in any of the Disney parks and includes a loop and lots of air time.  I always have fun on this ride.  The other big ride is Radiator Springs Racers, which is located in the beautifully designed Cars Land.  This ride is similar in style to Test Track, but takes you through Radiator Springs in a really fun dark ride atmosphere before going outside for a race through the hills.  When you’re done riding the Racers, you should make sure you enjoy Cars Land, because it is really beautifully done.  Another unique attraction at California Adventure is World of Color, the nighttime show.  It is a blend of water show, light show, and video show.  It’s really cool.

Other rides at California Adventure include Soarin’ over California, a fun flight simulator type ride, and Grizzly River Rapids, a water ride.  Both rides are fun and have counterparts in Florida, but they were closed when I went so it is hard to compare them.  Other parts of the park are similar to Epcot in the sense that you can sample some good food and get your drink on at places that are unique to California such as a Napa Valley winery and a bread factory.  It’s a nice way to relax during the day.

Ride-wise, it’s easy to give the edge to WDW because there are just more of them spread among the four parks.  The rides there are innovative and fun and really do a much better job keeping guests entertained while in line.  The rides at Disneyland are also fun, but they just can’t compete with the quantity at WDW.

So let’s look at some other aspects of the resorts.  WDW has over 150 restaurants on property.  That’s a ridiculous amount of options and you can pretty much find any type of food that suits you.  Disneyland can’t compete with that.  But with all those parks, rides, restaurants, etc., WDW is just plain huge.  And with that sheer size comes some issues.  Trying to park hop or even get back to your hotel takes a lot of time.  Even walking within the parks is a huge task.  The Disneyland resort is much more intimate and much more conducive to seeing in a short amount of time.  I can understand why people spend a week at WDW, whereas it is perfectly feasible to spend a weekend or even a day at Disneyland and do it all.  For that reason I give Disneyland the edge.

One other thing I was surprised about at WDW was the lack in merchandise diversity.  It seemed like every store was filled with the same stuff, even across the four parks.  I assumed there would be a lot more choice, especially when it came to the pins.  As an avid pin collector I was looking forward to see what WDW had to offer.  What I found was quite disappointing.  I really feel like the pin selection at Disneyland is much more diverse and you see something different in every store.  Also, the pin displays at WDW were much smaller compared to Disneyland.  I expected the opposite to be true considering everything else is bigger there.

And, finally, Disneyland has a sense of history that WDW just can’t contend with.  Walt had a hand in everything with Disneyland, but unfortunately he passed away before WDW was finished.  When you walk through Disneyland you know that you are walking in Walt’s footsteps, and that is something that is just indescribable.  Maybe it’s because I grew up going to Disneyland, but I really do think it is the better park.  Don’t get me wrong, WDW is incredibly fun and you will have an amazing time there, but after going there recently, I would be ok with not going again for another decade.  As fun as it is and as magical a time as I had with my wonderful girlfriend, it’s just so overwhelming.  And I really would only want to go during off-peak times anyway.  Disneyland, on the other hand, I could go at anytime, and when I leave I’m ready to go back again immediately. 

So if I had to pick one, I would choose Disneyland.  I hope you enjoyed my comparison.  Please feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Disneyland vs Disney World Part I

Recently, I went on a trip to Walt Disney World.  It was my first time there in over 21 years.  There have been quite a few changes since I was last there.  And there are many differences to Disneyland, which I consider my home park.  Now that I’ve been to both resorts within the last year, I feel qualified to discuss the differences between the two and the pros and cons of each park.

Let’s start with the Magic Kingdom, which is essentially a copy of Disneyland.  First, the Magic Kingdom is a lot bigger than Disneyland.  Disneyland is essentially a circle which is pretty easy to navigate, and you don’t have to walk more than a few feet to get from one attraction to the next.  Magic Kingdom is not like that at all.  There were stretches when we were walking and the only thing nearby were restaurants or shops.  And with all the forks and different paths, it was quite easy to get lost or not know where you were.  We almost missed an entire section of the park because we couldn’t figure out how to get there.  Advantage: Disneyland

Now let’s look at the individual rides within the park, starting with the big rides.  Space Mountain at Disneyland is my favorite ride.  It is so much fun and I have the entire experience memorized.  Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom is very different than its California counterpart.  First, there are two tracks in Florida, which are slightly different than each other and very different from Disneyland’s.  I have to say they are much better.  Disneyland’s track is very circular, to say the least, while Magic Kingdom offers two tracks that have much more variety.  Secondly, the cars are quite different between the two.  Disneyland cars can sit riders side by side and have music in the headsets that is timed to the ride making it seem more thrilling.  The Magic Kingdom cars sit riders single file, have no music, and are rather uncomfortable.  Finally, the Magic Kingdom takes your picture at the beginning of the ride, while Disneyland snaps it at the end.  Overall, I have to give the edge to Magic Kingdom due to the longer and better track, although I much prefer the cars at Disneyland.

On to another mountain ride, Splash Mountain.  The edge here is clearly with Magic Kingdom.  First of all, the logs are much more comfortable in Florida, and you can sit side by side.  Also, they don’t sit so low in the water, so water doesn’t constantly splash in from the sides.  It makes riding at night much more pleasant.  Finally, the ride is a little longer and the storytelling feels a little more complete.  Disneyland’s Splash Mountain is a fun ride, but I enjoyed it a lot more at Magic Kingdom.

Next up, we have Thunder Mountain.  This ride feels almost identical in both places, with one glaring omission.  There is no dynamite chewing goat at Magic Kingdom.  For that reason alone I have to give the edge to Disneyland.

Pirates of the Caribbean is next on the list.  Pirates at Disneyland is iconic and a wonderful ride.  It’s an 18 minute cruise with some fun drops and state of the art animatronics.  Pirates at Magic Kingdom is a five minute rushed copy that doesn’t come close to living up to the original.  It’s a very disappointing ride.

Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom, however, is a slightly longer cruise than Disneyland.  I love the Jungle Cruise.  It’s one of my favorite rides.  Both rides are very similar with only small differences between the two.  For instance, there are no piranhas at Disney World.  And even with the added length, many of the scenes were the same at Magic Kingdom.  But I have to give the edge to Disneyland for a couple reasons.  First, it’s the original, and second, I’ve never had a rude guide there before.  Our guide in Florida was kind of rude and sarcastic in a mean way.  It really ruined the experience and we never made it back to try it again.

The next ride to compare is Haunted Mansion.  I kept hearing how the Haunted Mansion at Disney World was much better than Disneyland, but, honestly, they felt pretty much the same to me.  The order of some of the scenes was a little different, but both rides are equally enjoyable.

Comparing It’s a Small World is another clear advantage for Disneyland.  That ride is a classic, and as annoying as you might think the song is, you can’t deny the charm and good feelings the ride produces.  Bringing the ride from the 1964 World’s Fair, it was a remarkable achievement for its time, and it has withstood the test of time.  The ride at Magic Kingdom is a disappointing copy.  It’s shorter, darker, and less charming.

The Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is an interesting ride to look at.  The rides are nearly identical in both places with only a couple noticeable differences.  The first is that the laser guns at Magic Kingdom are affixed to the cars whereas the guns at Disneyland are tethered by a cord and can be moved around easier.  Magic Kingdom, however, does have one video scene that is fun and adds a layer of storytelling to the ride.  But the guns on the Disneyland version give it the edge in my book.

The Tomorrowland Autopia at Disneyland and the Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom are really only similar in the fact that you get to “drive” cars around a track.  But the track at Disneyland is far superior and much more enjoyable than Magic Kingdom.  There is more scenery and props and it feels longer.  Another notch for Disneyland. 

The final ride I will be comparing in this post is Peter Pan.  I rarely ride Peter Pan at Disneyland because the line is always long, but from what I remember, it is identical to the one at Magic Kingdom.  So this one is a wash.

The standings after looking at rides that appear in both parks is 6 for Disneyland, 2 for Magic Kingdom, and 2 ties.

Now, there are some rides and attractions which are only featured in Magic Kingdom.  These attractions include the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, and Stitch’s Great Escape.  There are also two attractions which used to be at Disneyland but no longer are like the Country Bear Jamboree and the Peoplemover.  The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a great ride and gives Magic Kingdom a significant boost.  The Monsters Inc Laugh Floor is also very fun and interactive and something I would be inclined to do again.  Stitch’s Great Escape is not very enjoyable overall.  I would not do that again.  And I very much miss the Peoplemover and Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland.  Peoplemover was one of my favorites and I continue to lobby to bring it back.  Overall, this set of rides gives an edge to Magic Kingdom.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t look at rides at Disneyland which are not featured at Magic Kingdom.  That list begins with Matterhorn and Indiana Jones.  Those two right there should be the cherry on top for Disneyland, but then you add Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride on top and you make an even stronger case.  These are three of my favorites with the Matterhorn being such an iconic experience at Disneyland that it felt weird without it at Magic Kingdom.

Taking all this into account, I have to give Disneyland the overall edge in this instance.  If I had to choose between just Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, I would choose Disneyland.  That doesn't mean I didn't love my time in the Magic Kingdom, as sharing the visit with my lovely girlfriend made the entire experience absolutely incredible. There will be more on that and looks at the other parks that make up both resorts later, but for the sake of time, I will end this post here and call it Part I.  Look for Part II sometime in the near future.  I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave your opinions and thoughts in the comments.

Living the Cubicle Life

So for the next year I am working in temporary cubicle space instead of my private office.  Our building is being renovated so we all have to move out until construction is done.  We have been in the cubicles for a few weeks, but today was the first day full of student meetings.  After today and the first few weeks I have some observations about life in the cubicles.

First, there's really no windows in the cubicles, or in the building we're in.  This might not seem like a big deal, but it really is.  When you can't see outside for a lengthy period of time, it really wears on you.  I had to just go stand outside a couple times today to make sure it was still there.  Casinos can get away with not having windows because people are distracted with the gambling and the drinking.  Buildings with cubicles need windows so people don't go insane.

Second, I get very restless throughout the day and sometimes I just need to stand up.  In an office, that's no big deal and people don't notice most of the time.  In a cubicle, everybody sees when you stand up.  And when the people next to you are meeting with students, it gets awkward quick.

Finally, I play music during the day.  I like to sing and dance along to the music.  In an office, no one can see or hear you, most of the time.  Sometimes I do just belt it out and then the people in the hall could hear me.  But I've managed to keep my singing under control for the most part.  I sing just soft enough to not be heard.  Either that or people are just too nice to say anything.  The dancing, however, got the best of me the other day.  Like Gloria Estefan said, eventually the rhythm is going to get you.  And it got me.  So I started dancing because I was feeling it.  And everybody noticed.  Not that that's a bad thing, but still, everybody noticed.

So those are just a few things that I have observed.  Check back throughout the year for more!