Soaring' at EPCOT has always been in my top five attractions on Walt Disney World property. It is always the first ride I prioritize a fast pass and I will wait in line if needed. I've experienced it many times and I still felt the thrill and emotion. When I heard that they were reimagining the the ride to go from being California scenes to incorporate locations from around the world I was pretty excited. I will admit I set the bar pretty high and was stoked to check it out.
Unfortunately, I’m just going to throw it out there. I’m not a fan of the new ride. Not only am I not a fan, the more time that has passed since experiencing it, the more I tend to dislike it and long for the original. We made it a point to experience the attraction twice because I wasn’t in love after the first go around and I wanted to give it a second chance.
I normally like (Frozen boat ride) or tolerate (Test Track) when changes/updates are made to the parks but I just can’t seem to get on board with this particular change. In the original iteration, they jumped from one scene to the next. For Soarin around the World, they use CGI effects to transition between the various scenes which come across as over the top and quite fake. Also as you flew through vast landscapes it seemed realistic and you could get lost in the moment. Now the reimagined version is just an abrupt tour of various world landmarks.
The scents also seemed a little lacking in the newer version. They used this feature twice in the new Soarin’, and only one really made sense (didn’t know the Taj Mahal smelled like jasmine) but I know they used it at least three times if not more in the original iteration and they were more memorable (lemons, pine, etc.).
Finally, the newer version lacks the wow/emotional moment. The original Soarin’ had a few powerful moments where it just left the guests in awe but the reimagined version is just one cut to the next. The only thing that really comes close is the waterfall scene. It also seems that the curved screen worked well with the wide open landscapes in the past, but with all the new scenes being structures they look oddly crooked (the eiffel tower for instance looks like an arc).
I had hopes that California Adventure would keep the original version given the content, but nope, they have also made the switch. Having said that, Soarin’ was always on my must do list when attending Epcot or California Adventure. Now, I wouldn’t wait more than 30 minutes to ride it and will be saving my Fastpasses for other attractions.
Have you been to ICON Park Orlando? This area located off I-Drive has a variety of things to do, see, and eat. From the Iconic Wheel to fun museums, to themed restaurants and bars this is a spot that always has something fun to get into. Recently we went on a little day date to explore a variety of attractions and used the Play Pass ticket. Read on to learn more about why the Play Pass is an amazing value, and see all of the fun things we tried…
While Disney World is already picture-perfect, you need to be photoshoot-ready behind the camera, too! Here are a few things to keep in mind as a photographer on your next Disney World trip…
As Walt Disney once said, " Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world. It is something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing and adding to." With many new park updates announcements some get us more excited that others and we have been anxiously anticipating a new addition to the World Showcase at Epcot. The France pavilion is one of our faves and we love the movie Ratatouille, so we thought this development would be a great addition. This week we were offered the opportunity to preview this new area early with an Annual Pass Preview reservation. Read on for all the details of the new area…
One big event that draws crowd every fall is the Food and Wine Festival. This year marks the 25th year of this special event, but with 2020 being the year of change we knew this year’s festival may look a little different. While there is still a festival planned this year it is scaled back from previous versions and being called Taste of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. So come along as we explore what a “mini festival” at Epcot is like…
With the parks closed for the last few months we have been anxiously awaiting to see what they would be like once open again. Well yesterday we were fortunate to get that chance as we attended an Annual Passholder preview day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. Honestly leading up to this visit we have had so many thoughts in our head. While we weren’t concerned about Disney properly handling safety we did wonder:
Can we last in a park, in the heat with a mask?
What will crowds be like? Will they comply with rules?
Will Disney still feel magical?
At the end of the day is paying for a ticket to Disney still worth it?
Read on for a full review of our park experience including plenty of info on new safety measures and changes…
While we find Disney’s Animal Kingdom to have some of the best dining options in the parks (like Tiffin’s!), on our last visit we decided to try something a little different: a pizza joint. Pizzafari is located in Discovery Isle and offers a dinner option that is a cross between quick service and table service. We were in the mood for carbs and the price seemed reasonable so we ventured over to try out this spot. Read on for a full review of the Family-Style Dining offering…
While we love strolling Epcot’s World Showcase and sampling food and drink along the way, once in awhile we love booking a table service meal in one of the countries. Morocco has always been one of our favorite stops for flavorful cuisine. The menus can seem a bit more adventurous for some, which we find can actually lead to less kids and a quieter atmosphere. Having opened in 2014, Spice Road Table is a newer addition to the pavilion and has quickly become one of our favorites. Read on to hear more about this great dinner spot…
Throughout the year there are a few different seasons that bring some extra magic to Disney parks. One of those times happens to be in the spring when Epcot hosts the International Flower & Garden Festival. We had been to this festival years ago, and boy has it grown! (Food booths didn’t even exist back then!) While the 2020 festival season was cut short we were lucky enough to visit a little bit in the beginning and wanted to share the offerings this year. From beautiful gardens, to fresh food, and springtime merch, read on to hear what this festival has to offer…
This past Christmas we tried something new and booked a visit to Disney’s Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day (make sure to check out our recap article on 5 lessons learned). We knew we wanted a cozy holiday meal, and decided to book a mid-day reservation at Liberty Tree Tavern. This colonial-style table service restaurant is known best for family-style Thanksgiving meals. More recently they have also added some a la carte options too which we decided to explore this time. Read on to hear about this hearty dining option…
Throughout the year there are a few different seasons that bring some extra magic to Disney parks. One of those times happens to be in the winter when Epcot hosts the International Festival of the Arts. This was the one festival we had never attended before this year (can you believe it?) We couldn’t wait to see an artistic spin on the park and see all of the offerings available. While we are sad to say yesterday was the last official day, we still wanted to provide an overview of our thoughts and all of the reasons this is our new favorite festival that we can’t wait for again next year…
Christmas is magical. Disney is magical. So if you put the two together you should end up with something extra magical, right? But on the other hand we have heard Christmas Day can be one of the busiest days of the year, where the park can hit max capacity and close. Since this was our first holiday season in Orlando we decided now was a good a time as any to find out what it is really like to visit Walt Disney World on Christmas day. Read on to hear about our experience and some lessons learned for future Christmas Day adventurers.
Once again it is that spooky season at the parks, and it is time for another Disney Friends Blog Hop! Being October, what is more appropriate theme than Halloween? We will be discussing Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (if you are looking for a great overview of the party in general make sure to start with our article from last year first: “10 Tips for Adults to Enjoy Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.”) While every year many people report on what is new at the party, this year we wanted to dig in a little further… We were able to attend the party quite a few times and do some experimenting on different aspects of the party. Curious to learn more on what we discovered? Read on, if you dare… (then check out the end of this article for other fun Disney Halloween articles!)
If you haven’t heard already, a brand new land is opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios later this month: Star War’s Galaxy Edge! This past weekend we were lucky enough to be able to explore this new world before the official opening on the 29th as part of Annual Passholders preview days. We scored a reservation on the very first day for a 1-5pm time slot to be able to enjoy the area with lower crowds. So come along as we give an overview of the new land as well as share five tips to help you enjoy your first trip to Batuu…
It is time for another Disney Friends Blog Hop! The theme for this month is “Summer”. We weren’t super sure what to write about as we had never actually been to Walt Disney World during the summer season (hard to believe right?). But that fact has recently changed. Since we moved to the Orlando area, it was a no brainer for us to become Disney Annual Pass (AP) holders. We decided to celebrate acquiring those little yellow cards by taking on a little bit of a crazy challenge: hitting all four parks in one day….in the middle of summer. Read on to hear about our long day and for a few of our tips for surviving the heat… (Also make sure to check below for a list of other fun Disney blogs in this hop to go check out!)
It’s funny, back in the day we went on a date where we both were able to see our first 3D movie, which happened to be “Avatar”. While it may not be one of the top movies from a story perspective, it most definitely was a milestone in visual movie technology at the time. When Disney announced it was creating a new world based on the movie it seemed a bit odd and unrelated at first. But overtime we got used to the idea and we realized a storyline about the environmental could fit in well at the Animal Kingdom and the source material could lead to new technology and creativity for the Imagineers. After many years of waiting, anticipation kept growing as opening date approached. And this winter it was finally time for us to take a visit to “Pandora – The World of Avatar”. Read on for our review and lots of beautiful pics…
One of the amazing things about Disney is how the parks are always innovating new experiences for guests to enjoy. With every visit we can usually count on a new food to try or event to attend, and every once in awhile there may even be a new or updated attraction. But on our last trip there was an entire new world for us to explore: Toy Story Land! The Toy Story movies are one of Andrew’s all time favorites, so we couldn’t wait to see how this franchise translated into a new area in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Here are all the details of our first time visit and a very honest review...
For many years Disney’s Animal Kingdom had been known as just a partial day park. Even so it had grown on us over the years with the exotic theming and the ability to explore nature trails had become a very relaxing and enjoyable experience for us. Recently there have been some newer additions to the park to include some offerings that have even extended the park hours longer than before. On our recent trip to the world we were excited to check out some of these newer offerings and for the first time stay in Animal Kingdom later than a 5pm close time. We decided to book a dining package to experience the River of Lights night show for the first time. Read on for a review of our meal and the show…
When we traveled to Walt Disney World a couple of years ago during the holiday season we had such a fantastic time that we decided to plan to visit again this year! One of the highlights for us during this time is attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP). This is a an after hours special event (just like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party), and while a party like this may sound like it’s just for kids, we actually think it’s an even better event for adults with later hours (and the perfect way to kick off the holiday season!). So read on for our reasons MVMCP is a must do (and a few planning tips!).
After all the years visiting Walt Disney World, we had actually never made it to Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival. Recently some work travel popped up for Andrew in Orlando, and we decided to plan a quick weekend trip. After a late night at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party we woke up on Saturday to head over and check out the festival. It was an unusually hot day, but beautiful and sunny. We weren’t sure what to expect but made sure to show up hungry. Read on for a recap of our day, plenty of foodie pics, and five main lessons learned...
Last weekend we planned a somewhat last minute trip to Walt Disney World and decided a great way to enjoy the time of year was to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. When an event is called “Not So Scary” and includes trick-or-treating you would assume it is just for kids. But in true Disney fashion this special ticketed event is for everyone and a great way for adults to kick back and feel like a kid again. Being a limited experience it is best to get the most our of this event, so we have created a list of the best ways to enjoy this event as adults. Read on and get ready to party!
Happy Christmas in July everyone! Even though it is the middle of summer we can't help but think about planning an upcoming Walt Disney World trip this November. We absolutely love Christmas (almost as much as we love Disney!), so to combine our favorite time of year and our favorite place is simply magical! Read on for our top six reasons to visit the Walt Disney World resort during this holly jolly time (early November-New Year's). Confession: We may or may not have been listening to Christmas music while compiling this list...
Soaring' at EPCOT has always been in my top five attractions on Walt Disney World property. It is always the first ride I prioritize a fast pass and I will wait in line if needed. I've experienced it many times and I still felt the thrill and emotion. When I heard that they were reimagining the the ride to go from being California scenes to incorporate locations from around the world I was pretty excited. I will admit I set the bar pretty high and was stoked to check it out.
If we had to choose our favorite Epcot festival, it would be the International Festival of the Arts (presented by AT&T). While all of the festivals have food, this one has food that looks beautiful. There are so many opportunities to interactive with art and it is the best way to buy a memorable piece for your home. This week we were invited by Disney Parks to a Media Event to get a sneak peek at new additions to this year’s event. Let’s dive in and explore all the fun new artful offerings…