Reviews - Magic Kingdom

A few weeks ago me and my family went to WDW and decided to review all the rollercoasters that we went on. Here they are: this is Magic Kingdom:
Each review is out of 100

Walt Disney World Railroad: 15
- Only good for getting around
Pirates of the Caribbean: 29
- Good unexpected drop
Splash Mountain: 65
- Good drop in the dark
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: 47
- Lame in the daytime, good at night
The Haunted Mansion: 55
- Theming is great
Space Mountain: 69
- Good apart from the anti-climatic beginning
Buzz Lightyear: 43
- A lamer version of MIB
Tomorrowland Transit Authority: 21
- Not even good for getting around. The view inside Space Mountain gives it a higher mark

> A few weeks ago me and my family went to WDW and decided to
> review all the rollercoasters that we went on. Here they
> are: this is Magic Kingdom:
> Each review is out of 100

> Walt Disney World Railroad: 15
> - Only good for getting around
> Pirates of the Caribbean: 29
> - Good unexpected drop
> Splash Mountain: 65
> - Good drop in the dark
> Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: 47
> - Lame in the daytime, good at night
> The Haunted Mansion: 55
> - Theming is great
> Space Mountain: 69
> - Good apart from the anti-climatic beginning
> Buzz Lightyear: 43
> - A lamer version of MIB
> Tomorrowland Transit Authority: 21
> - Not even good for getting around. The view inside Space
> Mountain gives it a higher mark

There are a few "new" roller coasters to me on this list. I guess my track record just increased.

Those are some pretty low ratings for some of the Disney attractions you mention. My question is what is a 100 point ride in your opinion or if there are none what is your highest rated ride? I'm curious what you're making your comparison to.

Buzz Lightyear at 43 (4.3 out of 10 since more of us use 10 point scales) is pretty low compared to how the general public feels about this ride. Now if you compare Buzz Lightyear to Top Thrill Dragster or a ride that it really does not compare to I can understand your low rating.

I'm not even sure if the Magic Kingdom Railroad deserves a rating. For a railroad sure, for a coaster I'd give it a zero.

Eric

We arent really comparing the rides to anything. As we left each ride we just gave it a mark out of 100. That's all. We based our opinion on what we thought was good/bad/etc. I'll put all the other parks up soon.

> We arent really comparing the rides to anything. As we left
> each ride we just gave it a mark out of 100. That's all. We
> based our opinion on what we thought was good/bad/etc. I'll
> put all the other parks up soon.

Well that answers my question. A comparison of same park rides. Nothing really rated that high at Magic Kingdom in your opinion.

You forgot the Monorail. The back seat gives great airtime.

Adam

How can a begining be 'anti-climatic'?

> How can a begining be 'anti-climatic'?

At the beginning the car goes into a tunnel with blue flashing lights. There is an increasing sound much like the one on Incredible Hulk Coaster. We are thought the car would shoot forward but it didn't. The noise stopped and the car went around a sloped corner and then into the chain lift.

> How can a begining be 'anti-climatic'?

> At the beginning the car goes into a tunnel with blue
> flashing lights. There is an increasing sound much like the
> one on Incredible Hulk Coaster. We are thought the car
> would shoot forward but it didn't. The noise stopped and
> the car went around a sloped corner and then into the chain
> lift.

Comparing Space Mountain (1977) to Incredible Hulk (1998) is just not a fair comparison.

Space Mountain was state-of-the-art for its time and is a themed coaster. Incredible Hulk while it desperately attempts to incorporate a theme and tell a story is frankly just a multi-looping steel coaster in the end. Space Mountain is designed so a family can ride with younger children. Incredible Hulk has a 54 inch height limit restricting all children from riding.

I personally like the start to Space Mountain at MK. It is a better start than most roller coasters and goes with Disney's theme.

Being fair and comparing Magic Kingdom attractions I'd give (scale 1 to 10) Splash Mountain 10, Space Mountain 8, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 8, Buzz Lightyear 7, Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh 7, Haunted Mansion 5, Pirates of the Carribean 6, Tomorrowland Transit Authority 3, Railroad 2. Finally, I wouldn't bother to try to compare any MK roller coaster with that of the ones at IOA, with maybe the exception of Flying Unicorn.

Eric

Its a good point but it is a just an opinion. Space Mountain is a good ride but more could have made of that beginning. I'll put Animal Kingdom up this evening.

> Its a good point but it is a just an opinion. Space
> Mountain is a good ride but more could have made of that
> beginning. I'll put Animal Kingdom up this evening.

I respect that and I think we should expect a lot from Disneyland with the re-introduction of Space Mountain this year.

I'm looking forward to what you've got to say about Animal Kingdom.

Eric

> You forgot the Monorail. The back seat gives great airtime.

> Adam

Only if you have a girl with you.

Mike B.

> We arent really comparing the rides to anything. As we left
> each ride we just gave it a mark out of 100. That's all. We
> based our opinion on what we thought was good/bad/etc. I'll
> put all the other parks up soon.

> Well that answers my question. A comparison of same park
> rides. Nothing really rated that high at Magic Kingdom in
> your opinion.
>

This guy doesn't know anything, Eric. Stich's Great Escape is firmly in my top ten steel.

-sparky

I think Splash Mountain should have a better score. It has alot of characters to look and which makes it fun for everyone and the last drop is awesome. I took a behind the scenes tour of WDW and one of the rides was The Haunted House. I found it was very interesting ride. It is hard to score WDW since they are geared toward family fun, but I love Disney.
> A few weeks ago me and my family went to WDW and decided to
> review all the rollercoasters that we went on. Here they
> are: this is Magic Kingdom:
> Each review is out of 100

> Walt Disney World Railroad: 15
> - Only good for getting around
> Pirates of the Caribbean: 29
> - Good unexpected drop
> Splash Mountain: 65
> - Good drop in the dark
> Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: 47
> - Lame in the daytime, good at night
> The Haunted Mansion: 55
> - Theming is great
> Space Mountain: 69
> - Good apart from the anti-climatic beginning
> Buzz Lightyear: 43
> - A lamer version of MIB
> Tomorrowland Transit Authority: 21
> - Not even good for getting around. The view inside Space
> Mountain gives it a higher mark

> This guy doesn't know anything, Eric. Stich's Great Escape
> is firmly in my top ten steel.

> -sparky

I don't know sparky, don't forget about Small World. Of course it is nothing compared to Peter Pan's Flight.

> How can a begining be 'anti-climatic'?

> At the beginning the car goes into a tunnel with blue
> flashing lights. There is an increasing sound much like the
> one on Incredible Hulk Coaster. We are thought the car
> would shoot forward but it didn't. The noise stopped and
> the car went around a sloped corner and then into the chain
> lift.

> Comparing Space Mountain (1977) to Incredible Hulk (1998)
> is just not a fair comparison.

> Space Mountain was state-of-the-art for its time and is a
> themed coaster. Incredible Hulk while it desperately
> attempts to incorporate a theme and tell a story is frankly
> just a multi-looping steel coaster in the end. Space
> Mountain is designed so a family can ride with younger
> children. Incredible Hulk has a 54 inch height limit
> restricting all children from riding.

> I personally like the start to Space Mountain at MK. It is
> a better start than most roller coasters and goes with
> Disney's theme.

> Being fair and comparing Magic Kingdom attractions I'd give
> (scale 1 to 10) Splash Mountain 10, Space Mountain 8, Big
> Thunder Mountain Railroad 8, Buzz Lightyear 7, Many
> Adventures of Winnie The Pooh 7, Haunted Mansion 5, Pirates
> of the Carribean 6, Tomorrowland Transit Authority 3,
> Railroad 2. Finally, I wouldn't bother to try to compare
> any MK roller coaster with that of the ones at IOA, with
> maybe the exception of Flying Unicorn.

> Eric
>

Hey Eric,

I think that you have good points about WDW. I have not been there in a long time, so I cannot comment on Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Winnie the Pooh.

I actually remember Space Mountain as being a fantastic indoor coaster. It is all about the effects here, since it only does, what? 30mph.

However, I have to comment about Haunted Mansion 5. I believe that the Haunted Mansion is one of the greatest darkrides ever made. If you ever read about how the imagineers made this one with low technology, it is pure genius! I read online how all the special effects were done, and actually duplicated some of them (on a small scale) for a Halloween party one year. My friends were amazed at my pumpkin head that followed you and the ghost that appears and disappears (these illusions only work a certain distance from the viewer, hence the "doom buggy". Personally, I would put both Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion at 10 (I consider them classics).

MarathonRunner

hhhmmmmm... here's what I think....

> Walt Disney World Railroad: 15
> - Only good for getting around

What else is a *transportation ride* ment to do?

> Pirates of the Caribbean: 29
> - Good unexpected drop

Awesome ride... Love it

> Splash Mountain: 65
> - Good drop in the dark

Agreed.

> Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: 47
> - Lame in the daytime, good at night

Lame in day and night. Need to sit in last row to get a decent ride... if it doesn't kill you first ;) (CA/FL, it's all the same)

> The Haunted Mansion: 55
> - Theming is great

Love it. The dog scene at the end is the best.

> Space Mountain: 69
> - Good apart from the anti-climatic beginning

WHAT? ... Houses the best drop in Florida... Hearing the train get lifted off the track and the upstop wheels banging around at the top of your space journey isn't climatic???

> Buzz Lightyear: 43
> - A lamer version of MIB

cute, kiddie version of MIB

> Tomorrowland Transit Authority: 21
> - Not even good for getting around. The view inside Space
> Mountain gives it a higher mark

*Paging Mr Tom Morrow* Fun Fun Fun .... weeeeeeeeeee

I'm glad you didn't do Philhar with these rankings, I can just imagine the steam coming out of my ears now... as it is the best non-coaster attraction... mmmmm warm apple pie smell. just a little word of advice. Do Stitch's Great Escape before Philhar.. you don't want to get the smell from Stitch stuck in your nose all day... trust me. ;)

> A few weeks ago me and my family went to WDW and decided to
> review all the rollercoasters that we went on. Here they
> are: this is Magic Kingdom:
> Each review is out of 100

> Walt Disney World Railroad: 15
> - Only good for getting around
> Pirates of the Caribbean: 29
> - Good unexpected drop
> Splash Mountain: 65
> - Good drop in the dark
> Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: 47
> - Lame in the daytime, good at night
> The Haunted Mansion: 55
> - Theming is great
> Space Mountain: 69
> - Good apart from the anti-climatic beginning
> Buzz Lightyear: 43
> - A lamer version of MIB
> Tomorrowland Transit Authority: 21
> - Not even good for getting around. The view inside Space
> Mountain gives it a higher mark

What about the Rockin Rollercoaster with the Areosmith theming?

> What about the Rockin Rollercoaster with the Areosmith
> theming?

That is not at Magic Kingdom. That ride is at Disney MGM Studios.

Eric

What in the world? The only two 'rollercoasters' on that list are Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain. The rest are NOT rollercoasters.. Dont try and claim that they are.

Not to be rude but you gave terrible ratings splash mountain should of gottin 9+ and abviously your picky lol.

Wow. I was just at Disney World this past weekend and had an absolute blast there. I am very sad to see a review like this. I hope this is not typical of the new generation. Disney rides are classics, from Pirates to Space Mountain. Granted, they are aging, but to a lot of us these rides take us back, and truth be told they are STILL some of the best rides out there. From a white-knuckle thrill-ride perspective, maybe not, but from a family fun perspective it doesn't get much better.

I am anxious to hear what you say about Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom. That ride is great. The other rides you can't miss at Disney are Tower of Terror and Mission Space. Those two will give even seasoned thrill ride vets the ride of their life. IMO of course. :)

BTW everyone, I got a close up look at Expedition Everest. Let me tell you...it is MASSIVE!!!! This thing towers over the park. Hell when I was at Blizzard Beach the mountain structure stuck up above the trees and dominates the landscape. I think this one is going to be a big winner.

Pete

> I am anxious to hear what you say about Dinosaur at Animal
> Kingdom. That ride is great. The other rides you can't miss
> at Disney are Tower of Terror and Mission Space. Those two
> will give even seasoned thrill ride vets the ride of their
> life. IMO of course. :)

This "seasoned vet" loves Disney and you don't go to Disney to be wowed with thrills, (though they exist) your wowed with a park experience that is second to none.

> BTW everyone, I got a close up look at Expedition Everest.
> Let me tell you...it is MASSIVE!!!! This thing towers over
> the park. Hell when I was at Blizzard Beach the mountain
> structure stuck up above the trees and dominates the
> landscape. I think this one is going to be a big winner.

Pete, size is not will make this a winner, though I do hope the bottom helix was still exposed for your viewing pleasure. That did look very exciting, but this ride will have that Disneyesque experience plus some exciting elements from what I could see. Size will not make it great, the Imagineers will.

Ed

I am pretty seasoned myself, but I love Disney as well as I stated beforehand. It's the Disney magic that does it...the theming, parades, fireworks, music, employees...it's still the best in my book. IOA is right there with the theming and ride quality, however they do not have some of the other aspects that make Disney special.

As for Everest, trust me I am looking forward to everything about this ride. I know Disney will be out to dazzle with top-notch theming as well as a great ride. With $100M on the table I'm sure it will be amazing from start to finish.

I do have one question...I saw the track that was being used for the new Space Mountain in Cali. It looks like the new Vekoma track that is used on Everest, yet I read that Everest will be the first to use the new track system. Can anyone confirm that the new track will be used at Space Mountain? It certainly does not look anything like the old Vekoma track.

Pete