Disney Parks Attraction Scorecard: 2010 - 2019

At the close of another decade, was Disney CEO Robert Iger and his board good for the development of the Disney theme parks during that time? Were the last ten years filled with memorable, iconic attractions, lots of clones, or were the parks let to stagnate because it was more important to purchase the rights to iconic intellectual properties? The answer may be surprising. Going park by park, let's take a look at what was added to the parks and rank some of the newest attractions.

Excluded from the list and the ratings are attractions that first debuted at another park (The Little Mermaid), a light redressing transformation of one park attraction into another (such as California Adventure's Orange Stinger into Silly Symphony Swings), scene additions to films (Wonders of China changing its name to Reflections of China), pay to play additions (Savi's Workshop), traditional Disney character meet and greets, parades, theater shows, and scavenger hunt games. It most certainly doesn't include the Company's focus on trendy merchandise and limited edition snacks nor does it include park maintenance and upkeep. Using the classic "A" through "E" Ticket designations, here are the decade's scores both for each park and the individual attractions that opened during that time.

A special thank you to the Touring Plans site for the chronological list of attractions when my memory failed me.

Character interactions? Sure, but put attractions first.

Disneyland: "B" Ticket
It's really not a surprise that Walt Disney's baby has mostly been left to exist on nostalgia and good will for the last decade. Until the debut of the Star Tours like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ("D") in May of this year, the last attraction of any significance was Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in 2007. Prior to that? Indiana Jones Adventure in 1995! 

This past decade, the park has existed on meet and greets (everyone from the Frozen sisters to Marvel and Star Wars characters), parades (Mickey's Soundsational Parade), and nighttime shows. Sure, they did have money to spend if they wanted, and they did, but it was invested next door in Disney California Adventure. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a strong addition, but it does not make up for a decade of neglect to the original Magic Kingdom. Hopefully, Rise of the Resistance will open a new decade of significant artistic and financially successful growth.

What were they thinking?

California Adventure:  "D" Ticket
In mid-October of 2007, Robert Iger announced a significant investment into the dismal, laughing stock of the industry theme park with this stunningly honest assessment, "Any time you do something mediocre with your brand, that's a withdrawal. California Adventure was a brand withdrawal." Changes came early in the decade. World of Color ("A") opened to great reviews in 2010. The Little Mermaid  ("D") and Buena Vista Street (if it were an attraction itself, I'd give it an "E") arrived in 2011, but the best was yet to come. The magnificent Cars Land and it's centerpiece Radiator Springs Racers ("A") came in 2012 and with it the crowds Disney wanted from the opening of the park. 

From that point forward, however, it's been a mixed bag of success and failure. Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: BREAKOUT! ("E") earned it's mixed reception. Fans of the newly focused park decried losing it's in-theme Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and expressed concern this would be the beginning of California Adventure becoming a catch-all park. They were right. Although there transformation of Condor Flats into Grizzly Peak was a good move and very well done, Pixar Pier is not just a step backward but a fall down the ladder.
 
Let's take a look at The Walt Disney World parks and see if they fared any better this past decade.

It's sweet but should have been so much more.

Magic Kingdom: "B" Ticket
Much like Disneyland, this park remained focused on drawing from loyal commitment from its glory days. Facing stiff competition from Universal Orlando and its striking creative and financial success with Harry Potter, Disney suits allowed the Imagineers some breathing room as they created a brand New Fantasyland, rebutting at the end of 2012. Enchanted Tales with Belle ("C") and the Little Mermaid Ride were pleasant additions, placeholders until the arrival of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ("D") in 2014. The expansion should have been much more than it is. When guests talk most about a themed restaurant, you know the mark was missed. 

The previous decade gave visitors a Stitch inspired replacement for Alien Encounter, an Aladdin spinner in Adventureland, and two new theater presentations, Mickey's Philharmagic and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. All very telling. Two decades in a row of minimal investment into Florida's beloved and flagship Disney park. You've got to go back to Splash Mountain in 1992 to see something of substance.

The original EPCOT Center was incredible.

I guess it is time to let it go.

Epcot: "B" Ticket
Frozen Ever After ("D") replaced Norway's Maelstrom in 2016. All else amounted to changes in live entertainment and more character greetings. Mission Space came in 2005 and Soarin' before that in 2003. That's a decade and a half of limited investment into what was once the most unique and compelling theme park Disney Imagineers ever designed! I could go on seemingly forever with how I feel about that (and I guess I did here after my September trip), but I won't in this article. It's Spaceship Earth, The American Adventure, Soarin' and Test Track that keep this park rated as high as it is.

Kylo Ren saves the day at the Studios?!?

Disney's Hollywood Studios: "D" Ticket
As troubling the lack of care I see in Epcot, things are just as bad at the Studios. But this has always been a park that has suffered from a lack of clear vision and ongoing care and investment. Before looking at the decade, let's look backward to the one before it. Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show screamed into the park in 2003 and a cloned Toy Story Mania came two years later. Earlier than that, you have to go back to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster in 1999 and the iconic Tower in 1994 for anything worth writing home about.

As for this last ten years, replacing one very minor attraction for another (The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow) was the order of the day until Toy Story Land came into being at the end of the decade. Slinky Dog Dash ("D") should have been a highly themed "E" Ticket but instead is a very fun, lightly themed thrill ride. Alien Swirling Saucers ("B") adds to the fun but is a carnival ride pure and simple. 

The simple Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy ("B") is pure filler, a peacemaker for kids too small to ride the neighboring thrill rides. The only reason the Studios rates higher than Epcot is due to last Summer's opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and its headliner attractions. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run came first but Rise of the Resistance ("E") is the one every guest really wanted. With the original and still greatest Twilight Zone Tower of Terror there and Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway coming soon, the attraction line up will remain much too light but still enjoyable- if you can get reservations for the headliners. 

An unbelievable journey.

Animal Kingdom: "C" Ticket
If you are spotting a trend with the Florida parks, it will continue when you look at the statistics for Animal Kingdom. Looking beyond 2006 and the opening of Expedition: Everest, it's easy to see this park as well as the other three were largely ignored in favor of foreign investments until - thankfully- Harry Potter rightfully earned a full day away from Central Florida vacationers. Competition is a good thing! For better or worse, Rivers of Light came in during the decade. 

But it was the Memorial Day weekend opening of Avatar / Pandora in 2017 that finally brought something new and incredible to this beautiful but undernourished park. Flight of Passage ("E") is my current favorite attraction on the property. It's exhilarating! The smaller Na'vi River Journey ("D") is lacking, but it is a beautiful if peaceful water excursion. In our family, the park is still not worth the price of a one day ticket or a full day. I may be the lone exception to this view. What will the next decade hold?

Did Disney's overseas parks do any better? Depends where you're looking... (A note about the Tokyo Disney Resort: It is owned by the Oriental Land Company and not Disney, but I included its here for a bit of fun. The Chinese parks are a partnership between Disney and the Chinese government. Disneyland Paris is now fully owned by the Company.)

No rescuing needed at this park!

Tokyo Disneyland: "A" Ticket
This one surprised me. Very much! Seems as if Oriental Land Company is now looking to the American parks for direction.  Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek opened in 2009, so it is ineligible. (And Pooh's Hunny Hunt opened to widespread acclaim in 2000.) Beyond the park's immaculate upkeep, there were changes to classic attractions. The Jungle Cruise found an evening focused upgrade, but not much else came into play during these years. Guess what did open? The simple Stitch Encounter ("C") theater show in 2015. Even though I have not seen this for myself- and this is true for all the Asian parks- it certainly cannot be something more than another version of Turtle Talk with Crush. Lots of fun, but nothing extraordinary. The park will certainly benefit from next year's opening of the sure to be exquisite Beauty and the Beast attraction. 

This park sets the standard for Imagineering in Asia.

Tokyo Disneysea: "B" Ticket
Although Toy Story Mania is extremely popular, it is a clone of the California Adventure original and therefore also not considered. 2017's Nemo and Friends SeaRider, a reworking of the opening day Stormrider, also is ineligible, and neither is the Japanese version of Soarin' which opened this year. These are solid additions to filling out an already strong attraction roster. Much like the Beauty and the Beast additions to its next door neighbors, this park will also benefit by the Fantasy Springs addition, bringing Frozen, Peter Pan, and Tangled to life.

In Japan, seems the focus was in strengthening the brand by keeping parades and shows fresh and by building new building additional hotels to create a more fully realized resort for the crowds sure to come in the following decade. How did the Chinese parks fare? Let's look at Paris first.

The castle gallery in Paris.

Disneyland Paris: "A" Ticket
1995. Let me say it again. 1995. The most beautiful of Magic Kingdoms has been without a major new attraction since that year when Space Mountain debuted. Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast replaced Le Visionarium in 2006. The park touted parades and shows, seasonal events, and a refreshed Star Tours. 

In a shrewd and potentially unethical but highly profitable decision, the Walt Disney Company allowed this park to struggle and age for decades- until they could buy out the rest of the shares for reduced prices in 2017 and own it all. Once that happened, seemingly every part of the park was refurbished or enhanced, including a brand new take on Phantom Manor. Maintenance and upkeep should be a standard part of the Disney park experience, nothing worthy of praise. Will they begin the new decade with a long deserved "E" Ticket to the first park? It's long overdue.

A Parisian original Headed to Epcot in 2020.

Walt Disney Studios Paris: "B" Ticket
Much like the Disneyland and California Adventure comparison, this second French park received the money for new attractions. The big budget Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy ("E") and the surrounding area opened in 2014. Cheaper filler attractions are found in Toy Story Playland from 2018. An exact line up of what was built in Hong Kong years earlier. What was prior? Moteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular came 16 years earlier. Very big expansion plans have been recently announced, but otherwise, the park remains a poorer stepchild to the masterpiece next door.

From looking at the facts so far, it seems as if the parks were not a priority for The Walt Disney Company for the last decade unless they were threatened by competition or significantly decreasing attendance. Back to the Chinese parks...

So much more than another version of the Haunted Mansion.

Hong Kong Disneyland: "E" Ticket
Entering the new decade, the park celebrated its fifth anniversary, but the future of the park was at risk. Government officials and visitors seemed to instinctively know that Disney once again delivered an inferior product, another "brand withdrawal". It's a Small World opened in 2008, but it did not deliver an uptick in attendance. The park relied on special events to draw crowd that continued to decline. In the midst of a cultural clash and an ongoing heavy competition with the mainland, Hong Kong officials insisted Disney step up their game and invest heavily into the park to ensure its success. So they did. 

A proposed package of additions was approved, all funded by Disney. These were strategically designed to give the park its own identity in order to compete with the coming Shanghai Disneyland.  The easily built Toy Story Land opened at the end of 2011 with a roster of attractions that would later open in Paris: RC Racer ("B"), Slinky Dog Spin ("B"), and Toy Soldier Parachute Drop ("B"). A little more than half a year later, Grizzly Gulch would open with its premier attraction, Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars ("E"). Think Expedition: Everest meets Big Thunder Mountain Railway. A very solid line up was definitely coming into play, but the finest attraction of the bunch would come next: Mystic Manor ("E") in 2013. Fairytale Forest, simple gardens with a Disney touch, came in 2015.

Without the legal restrictions imposed in the States, Hong Kong Disneyland was actually the first Disney park to bring in Marvel attractions. The Iron Man Exerience ("E") joined the roster in 2017, with a reworking of the old Buzz Lightyear system, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! opening two years later. Although bid additions are coming in the new decade, the one we are finishing shows Hong Kong Disneyland is serious about earning its place among Disney theme parks.

Photo by Mark Willard on the Disney Parks Blog.

Shanghai Disneyland: "E" Ticket

The youngest in the Disney park family opened in 2016 to mostly very mixed reviews. Where it is good, it is spectacular! Where it's bad, it is very bad, revealing lots of filler to be found in the park, particularly in Fantasyland, the weakest of all the park's lands and the least inspired version of the land in any castle park. Standouts worth mentioning- meaning not duplicates of earlier developed attractions- include the award winning Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure ("E") and the original version of the much anticipated TRON Lightcycle Power Run ("E") that is coming to Florida's Magic Kingdom.  

There are more attractions to be found. Other park originals include Voyage to the Crystal Grotto ("C"), and Camp Discovery's Challenge Trails ("D"). A more recent addition in 2018 is yet another Toy Story mini-land, whose only unique attraction is a reworked spinner. Next decade's Zootopia land will inspire and bring in another "E" Ticket attraction. "Authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese" indeed.

Marvel is the next decade invasion.

What's the final scorecard?

Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland - "E"

California Adventure and Disney's Hollywood Studios - "D"

Animal Kingdom - "C"

Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Tokyo Disneysea and Walt Disney Studios Paris - "B"

Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris - "A"

What did we discover by looking back at the last decade and Disney's investment into its parks? The facts speak for themselves. 

In the last ten years, the Chinese parks were the ones with the most significant investment in major new attractions. The Tokyo Disney Resort is still stellar and will continue to be so for decades to come. Things will change in Paris, Orlando, and California with continued investment in new attractions in each park, making next decade's ranking something that should look very different.

Regardless of the rankings and ratings, one fact rings true: No secondary theme park can hold the emotional legacy of a Magic Kingdom. When families remember their trips together, these are the places that first come to mind. Walt Disney was a genius. 

(Images copyright The Waly Disney Company.)

Disney World After A Decade Away: Day Three - Epcot

Our second (and last day) at Epcot occurred on the third day of our trip. The kid's favorite park, the Magic Kingdom, would comprise the next to come. Therefore the photograph seen above is from the day before, a clear misrepresentation of our activities. But it's a darn nice photo with a story all it's own. More on that later.

With an early morning Fast Pass of 8:30am the next day for the Magic Kingdom's arguably most popular attraction, Splash Mountain, we'd have to plan our last Epcot day really well in order to be rested for the morning. With two little kids, the whole game plan changes. No complaints here, though. We love being with them! All four of them.

The only way to travel to Epcot.

In my mind, there's only one great way to get to Epcot, and that's via the monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center. Love, love, love seeing the park from that elevation. The problem is, unless you're staying at the hotels on that circuit, you've got to do a little work to get there. But it was worth it. The lagoon sparkles from that high, the countries seem inviting, and guests riding the "Highway in the Sky" get a great idea of the vastness of the park. 

We arrived in the park a bit later than we planned, making me wonder if we could still use our first Fast Pass of the day. We were almost thirty minutes late to the hard to get Test Track, and I'd heard some horror stories compared to showing up late at Disneyland for your reserved spot. Turned out, it wasn't a problem, and our second ride was just as much fun as the first.

A nice perk in Future World.

Gotta admit here- I needed a cup of Joe, and I wasn't the only one. Off to both Club Cool (for all of us), and then a stop at Starbucks (for the adults). I find Club Cool very fun. Really fun, actually, and certainly worth ten or fifteen minutes or more to look around and taste some strange and incredible flavors of Coke products all over the world- and all for free. I expect this to go away by the time Future World gets its makeover.

My son-in-law was particularly excited to drink Inca Cola (I think that was the name) as he'd first had it while serving the people of Peru during a mission trip. I enjoyed all the melon flavors, and even the infamous Beverly from Italy was better than I remembered. I'm a gin and tonic guy, so maybe my taste buds have moved to move bitter flavors as I've gotten older. The kids loved the whole experience as they're always game for trying something new.

Still needed my coffee, and I really did not want to wait in that line, but we did. Another surprise of excellent and speedy service. 

Take note of this- after a couple of days in the parks, today was the first time I purchased something for myself. An Epcot Starbucks "You are Here" mug. Too cool to pass up as I have the original one already, a gift from my daughter after their first trip. Where was all the really great and unique stuff to buy? In days past, I had no problem finding souvenirs that had to come home with me. Not this trip.

With all the changes, I was glad to see this original park mural.

Now that we had some hot liquid in us, it was time for something to eat, but that Fast Pass thing meant a delay to ride Spaceship Earth first before the time limit expired. The grand old gal still holds up well- no, not Judi Dench, the attraction. Pretty sure it would have been a disastrous decision to replace this with the once proposed Time Racers roller coaster. (Really, don't believe me, look here for some concept art of a transformed Future World. Don't forget to enlarge the image.) But then again, the Universe of Energy is (misguidedly) becoming a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, so what do I know? 

Guttenberg's printing press changed the world,

bring God's Word, the Bible, to all.

The experience into the sphere is just classic EPCOT Center. Great Imagineering of old. Thankfully, the suits have some respect left for those who came before them, mostly choosing to leave the iconic attraction alone. Yes, the descent is truly horrid. Really bad and just uninspired. Hopefully that will change done day soon. Yet, nothing in all of Future World is as epic to me as this landmark ride. Is it fast? No. Is it cutting edge? No longer. Is is great? Yeah!

Hopefully the Ratatouille expansion will mean 
more terrific places to grab a bite.

Time for a bit of food, and France won the draw- easily. Wasn't breakfast, and it was way too early for lunch, but we truly needed a snack to hold us over until our 3pm reservations. Again, crowded but fast, and delicious food! My daughter's Quiche Lorraine was a standout, easily matching the delicate and distinct flavors of Paris. (She really knows what to order in a restaurant!) The cast members were friendly and even a bit talkative, taking time to engage the kids at their level. Again, very old school Disney. The grandkids themselves are quite relaxed speaking to adults, and politely and sweetly responded, keeping the conversation going. 

Being in World Showcase already, I was thrilled for a bit of time there. Of course, we weren't the kids, and although they didn't complain, we realized at their ages, there really isn't a lot for them. There were the Kidcot Fun Stop stations, where coloring pages were the order of the day. We didn't do these. We did keep exploring, pointing out the interesting things to look at all around. There's really only a few rides, so I certainly understand the need for some in theme attractions on the side of the lagoon in the U.K. and France. There's the two boat cruises so close to each other in Mexico and Norway, and then not another ride to be found in World Showcase. (Attractions, shows and character greetings, yes. Rides no.)

Were additional rides planned? Yes. Germany's Rhine River cruise, rumors of gondolas for Italy, a Mt. Fuji thrill ride (inspired by Disneyland's Matterhorn) and Meet the World theater show for Japan were all once on the docket but never built. Instead the suits let the park wilt away, preferring to rely on the Food and Wine Festival and other events to draw in the crowds. Bad move, and with the successful competition of Harry Potter attractions at Universal, they've finally seen the error of this mindset- even if it is only the financial loss they took.  Finally, new attractions are coming to this side of the park. (Thank you, Universal! Keep the pressure on.)

Since the suits have recently committed to Ratatouille, that will help bring some variety. I'm not thrilled about the cartoon invasion of Epcot, but I do understand it to some degree. (The suits did not ask for or take my bold suggestions on how to save Epcot. I wish they had.) As of this date in time, the Rat film is my favorite of the Pixar movies, and I am happy I'll find a trackless adventure with Remy to enjoy. Honestly, though, I wish they had let the gifted Imagineers go through with those non-character rides and saved the characters for the Magic Kingdom. Since this is the chosen direction, at least Ratatouille fits its location.  

More Italy- at least more pizza- but no gondolas.

Admittedly, I am really looking forward to a charming, music filled dark ride of Mary Poppins in the U.K. pavilion. It's about time she's honored with an attraction. After all, it's one of Disney's landmark films and one of the most loved. (More details about Imagineer Tony Baxter's original concept can be found here.) It's what will come next that concerns. If the announced Future World additions are any indication, eventually only the settings for the attractions will differenciate this park from the Magic Kingdom. (Post trip, I found myself thinking about how I would build Epcot, particularly World Showcase. I thought about sharing it as part of my trip report. However, instead I'll save it for a separate post. No doubt I'd have been great Imagineer!)

The lightest crowd we saw all day.

We spent a good part of our day exploring the World. The crowds were heavier than our first day visit, and the weather much hotter, so we tried to get inside a few more shops as we toured. The bazaar in Morocco was fun, and the candy shop in Germany was packed with people anxious to buy sweets.

One of our great plans was to let our daughter and son-in-law have a date while we took the kids. (Or was it us who wanted the date with our grandkids?) They chose an Epcot day and a chance for a meal in one of the restaurants in World Showcase. After much deliberation, they chose Canada's Le Cellier. (An excellent choice in my mind.) We decided for our date, a meal inside the German Biergarten with a live band sounded like fun.

Afternoon heat brings cute rosy faces ready for the AC!

We all opted for a late afternoon meal, and went our separate ways, but planned to meet up later in the evening. It had been much more than a couple of decades since we ate at the Biergarten, and I had heard mixed reviews on the food. The fun aspect of it all was the deciding factor.

"Date night" with Grandma and Grandpa.

Gladly, there was nothing to be concerned about! My meal was just first class! I tried the schnitzel, the meatballs, the ham, the salads and the vegetables. All absolutely delicious. (So were the desserts!)

My good friend Len Yokoyama told me it has been years since he photographed this location. I tried my best to get some good shots for him, but in this area, I failed miserably. Sorry, Len. Rest assured not much has changed from what I can tell. When you do get there again, I know you'll get much better shots than I did.

Do not miss this meal and show!

The restaurant was less than a third full it seemed, but it didn't stop the band from going all out. What a great show it was! The band put their hearts into it, making it fun for both adults and children. We discovered from talking to some of the staff that many of these performers were part of the original team that came from Germany to serve in Florida back at the park's opening year. Wow!

Who is having more fun?

We also discovered that you can stay on beyond the meal and enjoy as many shows- and all the beer you want- for as long as you want. That is something not widely known. 

Nothing could match the opportunity to dance a bit with our little dates.

Beyond the wonderful time together, it was smart to get out of the heat and blaring sun. The rest did us well, and we were ready to get back to the outside world for some additional adventures. I did once again notice that indoor locations and inexpensive places to eat were all too often not synonymous. Is it greed on the part of the Company, poor planning, or has no one thought of that? On this note, I will tend to believe it is, unfortunately, the first option. 

You might think of me as cynical, but you must remember, I have been following Disney park trends for years, and I've seen the move away from the Company offering the guests the best of experiences into viewing the popular theme parks (especially the four in Florida) as purely money-printing machines. 

Frozen- and lines- Ever After.

Checking our Touring Plans app and the official Walt Disney World Parks app, we discovered Frozen Ever After had a 40 minute wait. The kids were certainly willing to wait that long for one last ride on it. They knew we weren't coming back to this park, so off we went. Due to a variety of reasons including poor planning on the part of the suits who took the cheaper way out, it actually took over well over an hour to ride. About 75 minutes actually. But we all looked past the wait and enjoyed the cruise for what it was. Yes, the snowgies remained the big hit.

Onward we went. Mission: Space showed a 15 minute wait, so that would be our next and final destination. Of course, we just couldn't pass by China without a look. The film was starting in 5 minutes. I just had to see it.

Home of Mulan. Is that the future?

Surprisingly, the kids paid close attention to the film. At one point at the beginning of the film, my granddaughter said to me, "This is where Mulan lives!" Who said Epcot is no longer educational? This is certainly the wave of the future I believe- a place where Disney's well-known international characters live. 

We ventured into the display on Shanghai Disneyland. I took some photos of concept art I hadn't seen, but I'll save those for later. I was looking for the Terra Cotta Warriors, but I finally realized they were replaced by this promotion of the new Asian Magic Kingdom. 

Always a favorite view!

One more unexpected stop. The kids saw the Mexico pavilion, so we asked about another cruise with Donald. Of course, they said yes- they love the duck- so we jumped into a ten minute line. It really was ten minutes too, as it was close to meal time, just after 5:30pm or so. Diners were filling the available spots at San Angel. 

Shades of Coco.

The tropical moonlit night next to the indoor pyramid does make for quite an enchanting location to dine. I've always loved the smoking volcano seemingly just beyond that thatched hut. Those Imagineers let no small detail go unfinished if it meant a better attraction or restaurant. For those of you that haven't seen the place, just think of it as Epcot's Blue Bayou.

Cramming them in.

Waiters were much busier than I had seen them before in previous trips. It was certainly noisier! The whole place seemed less relaxed and more hectic. Then I realized why. The tables of the restaurant were pushed much closer together than the last trip to the World, squeezing in maybe 50 or 60 more diners to an already crowded location. Such a shame. 

Will the Three Caballeros head to Brazil next?

Finally making it to Mission: Space, the journey was a great amount more fun the second time for our granddaughter as she knew what was coming. Then the unexpected happed. We got a text from our daughter and son-in-law. Their expensive but excellent dinner was over, and they were heading back to the hotel. It was after 6pm, so we thought about it and decided to join them after a short stop or two.

He is the cutest- not Mickey!

While I purchased some Mickey pretzels, the kids had a short break and enjoyed the water pad. It was still hotter than Hell, (well not really I guess), and this made for a refreshing break. My wife sat with them for a moment so I could enter the Mouse Gears shop, and look for a souvenir or two. After looking around, I left with one Epcot 35th Anniversary mug complete with the original Future World pavilion logos, a couple of key chains for the kids, and a small compass magnet. Nothing else captured my eye. Wow, things had changed. 

Maybe another trip one day-

and maybe even an improved Journey with Figment!

Time for us to go. We headed toward Spaceship Earth and the exit, knowing I would not be returning to Epcot this trip. I gave that some thought and realized we'd been on all the attractions except viewing the Canadian travelogue. In what was a first for me, I had not seen Illuminations on this visit, nor had I spent any time in World Showcase at night. Do you remember that top photo? That was as close as I'd get to my beloved World Showcase at night this trip. No matter. I'll do it next vacation here if there was one to come. 

As a Grandpa, my main desire was to hang out with the kids. I happily did so, looking out for them to make sure they were well rested for their first day at the Magic Kingdom. They are sweet and patient kids, not over-indulged at all, and very appreciative of all they got to do. I wanted them to have a blast the next day! That day was the most important vacation day to them, so it was important to me as well. This was my priority more than anything else I could do. The incredible blessing of doing this trip with them was more than enough. (Special thanks to my daughter and son-in-law.) Guess I've grown up a bit.

Tomorrow, I'd return to the Florida Kingdom after almost a decade. Couldn't wait to see the charming New Fantasyland and to eat dinner at Be Our Guest. Most of all, I couldn't wait to experience those classic Disney attractions with my grandkids, and see their faces. That is the real magic.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Disney World After A Decade Away: Day Two- Epcot

Epcot needs work. There, I've said it and gotten if off my chest. I love EPCOT Center, and I love or used to love Epcot. After not seeing the park for almost ten years, I couldn't wait. Normally, this is the park which begins and ends our vacation to Walt Disney World. Not this time. That's all due to Fast Pass and difficult to get rides where I wouldn't wait 200 plus minutes without a reservation. One disclaimer here: This might be the lengthiest trip report post in the series. EPCOT Center transformed my idea of what a Disney park experience could be, and it has remained my favorite Florida park since its opening. Be forewarned, or just sit back and enjoy it.

After a very satisfying day at Animal Kingdom (aside from not being able to ride Expedition: Everest), I was just itching to get to the second Florida Disney park. As my long time favorite, this one probably has the most blog posts I've ever written about any park save perhaps the original kingdom, Disneyland. I just love Epcot. Have I already mentioned that?

I have this image as a Mac wallpaper.

In the early years of the park, Future World was home to some of my favorite attractions in any Disney theme park: the playful Journey into Imagination, the elegant Horizons, and the warmly humorous World of Motion. Many critics from newer generations of guests mistakenly thought they all felt alike. 

Each one was a lengthy, robot filled experience, but the similarities ended there. Successfully standing on their own, each one had a unique perspective, catchy theme song, and differently flavored presentation.  No wonder Future World just mesmerized me. These were amazing attractions! Disney Imagineers succeeded in hitting each one out of the park. Was there anything the Imagineers couldn't do? It's a different situation these days.  

Our first Epcot day didn't start out as I hoped. We missed the resort bus, not once but twice. When the second time came around, the bus arrived three minutes earlier than scheduled- and we were still getting breakfast snacks at Saratoga's bright and airy quick service snack location. Missed by mere seconds. Thankfully, the next one also came early, and we were right there. 

The lines for security and the park entrance were very long. Efficiency reigned at the gates, and the line moved quickly. As I was first one through, I waited and took the photo at the top of this article. Yet, standing there in front of the park, something just felt different. I could be wrong, but in hindsight, all I can attribute it to was the lack of the original epic and majestic soundtrack playing in the background. Those symphonic medleys signaled you were about to enter an incredible place. This visit, I couldn't even tell you what was playing, if anything at all. 

I knew was we had to get going. That darn Fast Pass reservation for Frozen Ever After was looming. So, finally our entire party came through the security check, and off we went. 

An old favorite!

Spaceship Earth looked terrific, but the arcs of Innoventions / Communicore and the ghastly colors they painted them loudly spoke one thing: No one had a clue of what to do with the future. My suspicions were confirmed as we approached the Energy (closed) / Wonders (closed) / Test Track / Space plaza. The lush flowers and various greenery couldn't hide a sense of disjointedness. Perhaps it was partially the fact the open attractions were only on the right side, making the area feel unfinished. Walking down the avenue, the small splash pad seemed out of place as well, giving a local mall feel to a once great theme park.

New found love for this ride- with some conditions.

Better, much better! It's nice to have two options.

Our initial Fast Pass was for Mission: Space (Green). Definitely not our first choice, but it was all that was available for the early morning time frame. After riding the original (Orange) attraction long ago, I couldn't stand it. One and done. Not only did it make me sick, I found it to be unfulfilling. Expensive simulator and nothing more. 

Grandma and her traveling buddy.

First timers.

Ten years later and with two little ones in tow, the magic revealed itself. Our grandson loved it. The concept of flying a space shuttle around the earth and all the in-house effects made it a winner in his eyes. In fact, it was the sole attraction in Epcot that he requested returning to multiple times...until he rode Test Track and Soarin', then it seemed to be a three way tie... at least for this park! Lesson to be learned: It's best not to assume because we don't enjoy an attraction that someone else will not as well. 

A darker pyramid outside,
but a lighter less cultural experience inside.

Time for the sisters. While heading toward Norway, we came upon Mexico.  Seeing we had 20 minutes to go, we once again played our game of "Could we fit in _________ attraction before we have to get on our Fast Pass ride?" We went for it.

Gorgeous orchids all over Mexico.

Walking inside the pyramid (which seemed painted a different exterior color, more darker than in the past- and a new sign for idiots reminding them not to climb up the pyramid), it was clear there was no line at all for the Gran Fiesta Tour. Had to do it. In less than one minute, we were onboard. The little guys were happily watching Donald Duck's adventures. I enjoyed seeing the Audio-Animatronic trio. It was still a screen for the finale during my last trip to the World. A very big and unexpected improvement when I first read about it. Even better live. In person, this addition completes the story. These three dimensional characters were just what the attraction needed. 

Ah, El Rio del Tiempo! How I miss it!

The conclusion of our happy cartoon voyage brought about very pleasant and bittersweet memories of the Mickey Mouse Revue but more importantly El Rio del Tiempo. More innocent times for sure! Admittedly, the nerd I am, I found myself singing along with the old theme song in my head, wishing for the cultural splendor that used to be the focus of each World Showcase ride. I could see the direction the park was going. Could I live with it or would I ruin what should be a great day by fighting it all?

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Time for Frozen Ever After. I'd seen the videos, heard the rumors, and been informed about the lengthy queues. The attraction itself left us a family divided, but the new interior village area (the line) was something all of us found to be quite nice. Of course, the little guys loved the attraction! (How can you not love Olaf?) The splash down was a nice touch in the Florida heat, but I found myself highly critical of the work that was done to transform Maelstrom into the home of Anna and Elsa. 

The opening two scenes were fairly strong, nicely staged, and instantly engaging. The story seemed well set, but when it came time to ascend to the ice palace, from there on out, the attraction's weaknesses became glaringly apparent. 

Could Disney not afford at least a crop of fake pine trees for the ascent to the mountain top ice palace? Guests should never be able to so clearly see the interior walls of an attraction when they are so close to the ride vehicle. There was nothing to hide them- just a small attempt to do so by painting them black. Once at the summit, an ice skating Olaf and tongue tied Sven were sweet (and it was good to see Kristof), but these scenes just felt incomplete and barren. So much was lacking! Honestly, it was clear these had been given so little money and an equal amount of attention. 

Finally, it was Elsa's big moment. Up close she looked pretty good and moved effortlessly, but in the reverse descent, bad use of screens and poor film quality made for a much cheapened experience. Couldn't they have been more creative here? I'm not quite sure how I feel about those animated faces. Altogether, the experience was fun, shorter than I hoped, and less than the property deserved. (I know, I should just let it go, but I hoped for more.) 

Snowgies for Bita!

The highlight of it all for us was a view at the charming little "snowgies" (my cute little granddaughter's favorites) and a look at big old Marshmallow before a forward swoop down to Arendelle and the grand finish to our new Norway adventure. 

The attraction earned a hearty thumbs up from everyone but the slightly disappointed grandpa who (quietly) ranked it much lower than everyone else. Still cute and enjoyable but so much less than it should have been. Beyond the cultural faux pas of a mismatched location to story, if you're going to shove another character invasion into World Showcase, doesn't Disney's biggest animated hit in decades deserve a full-scale, epic "E Ticket" attraction- and one with much better capacity? I believe so. 

How the suits handled this decision concerns me when regarding the plans for future attractions. With Ratatouille coming to France, the iconic  Mary Poppins to the U.K. pavilion, and the rest of the coming World Showcase attractions, I wasn't hopeful. The new standard seems to be "good enough". 

Holdovers from the Flower and Garden Festival.

What will be this park's standout? It's Pirates of the Caribbean? It's Great Movie Ride? It's Kilimanjaro Safaris? Is Epcot now doomed to second rate attractions, tired films, and 2-3 minute thrill rides? 

The still powerful American Adventure aside, currently there is not one single ride in the park that is consistently well crafted beginning to end which displays what great work the Imagineers can do when given the opportunity. The closest is Spaceship Earth and that level of excellence is compromised by a less than great descent back to the boarding station.

Back to the trip report. By this point in time, we hadn't yet eaten. Where to go? Holding reservations for the Mexican restaurant on the lagoon, we wanted something different- and fairly cheap. After thinking through what was nearby, we opted for The Land food court. Would have been great to sit inside Odyssey and enjoy a meal, but like some of the park's attractions, this restaurant was shuttered long ago.

This sign has changed multiple times over the decades.

I was again reminded how big this park was, as it took us a bit longer to get there than I expected in my head. I'm fairly certain the distance from Mission: Space to The Land is about as long as from the Haunted Mansion to Space Mountain at Disneyland. Anyone care to check the facts and report back?

Unexpected magic.

A blast of air conditioning hit us from one of the open doors in the breezeway. Seeing it came from a character greeting spot- with Baymax no less, I was intrigued. My grandson and I love Big Hero 6, for the record, so we popped in. God smiled on us once again, as it seemed He did most of the trip, and I caught a nice photo. This quick glimpse was enough to please us and satisfy a desire we once had for this meet and greet (the only one we seriously considered). However, an almost hour long wait was not worth it.

Reading these blog posts, you may be tempted to think I only saw the negative changes in the parks and didn't have a great time. Nothing could be further from the truth! It was in many ways it was a Grandparent's Dream Trip, and there is still much to love about the Vacation Kingdom of the World. In fact, we'd return in a minute if we could. As a Disney theme park lover, I am highly critical of what the suits do to their parks, particularly Epcot. In the new Disney era where profits sometimes overrule thematic consistency or providing guests with the best experience possible, I still expect the best. And I'm a detail guy. Enough said for now on this topic... until I share insights I realized in the next Future World pavilion.

Love these!

Always someplace I look forward to visiting, The Land didn't disappoint. Even with its changes, and there certainly are several here, there's much to see for just about everyone. Walking to the railing inside the pavilion, I was once again hit by that wide open expanse and those terrific balloons. With so few visits to the world in the last couple of decades, one benefit is that many things feel fresh to me. 

The scale and scope of Epcot and actually of all Walt Disney World is just impressive. There's no way around it. It can make for some difficult touring in the hot and humid Florida weather, but that uncomfortable reality aside, it's pretty mesmerizing. Many Disney park fans love to argue which resort is better, Florida or Southern California. They're both just very different- and each lovely in their own ways, with their own set of pros and cons. I will admit the only time I have felt the same sense of grandeur at the Disneyland resort as I have in Florida comes when I view the Cadillac mountain range in Cars Land. It's no small feat of extremely creative Imagineering to make a place seem so vast in such little space. In my mind, it is the new crown jewel of the Company's parks in California. Will Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge be as good? That's yet to be seen.

Well done, Disney.

Let me get my one negative observation about this pavilion over with. The Land Grill Room is now a character meal location. I began to realize that many places we used to enjoying dining at in the past had now become a premier guest experience. In every park. This may come at the cost of offering dining experiences that impress for the average, cash strapped visitor. Perhaps it is a shrewd and financially lucrative decision on the part of the suits, but it lowers the over all experience and creates a caste system among guests. We were not going to pay $35 per person for lunch, even if it was with the Company mascot and his chipmunk friends. 

With crowds being thick, you would expect Disney would construct another indoor counter service location at the other side of Future World to help serve the crowds, keeping them happily full, rested and refreshed by the air conditioning, and ready to reengage. At least for the issue of health and helping guests avoid heat stroke or dehydration. Oh, they did build it. It's just closed like too much of the park. 

Passing by the location of our family's traditional first meal at EPCOT Center, we traveled down stairs to the large and very busy food court. I didn't expect much.

Surprisingly, our fast food meal was in reality pretty darn good. (In fact, we didn't have a bad meal or snack anywhere on the property.) Fast, fresh, and hot when it needed to be. Expecting mall court blandness, I was very pleasantly surprised by the high quality and seasoning of my Chinese entree. The crowd flow seemed well managed, and the staff was pleasant and helpful. The bright and airy space remained very clean thanks to the hard work of the crew. A very positive experience.

A simple bus ride can be memorable.

Grabbing a quick Fast Pass for Living With The Land boat ride, we found ourselves cruising the waterway in a matter of minutes. I still appreciated the educational aspect of the attraction. It's something that made EPCOT Center unique and entertaining in its own distinct, still magical way. The slow and steady removal of that focus leads to a downgrade of the park experience. It's one of a few reasons I bemoan the changing of Universe of Energy to something lesser.

Adding any legally usable Marvel character attraction levels the playing field with Disney's competitors. At some point as a consumer you have to ask yourself, "Ultimately, what is the Disney Difference compared to Universal?" Sadly, it's certainly not as much as it used to be as time goes by. By the early evening, I even found myself here at my favorite park with a case of "screen fatigue"- a common complaint with fans visiting Universal, meaning too many attractions rely on film and its effects, 3-D or otherwise, as the main delivery vehicle of the attraction storyline. This was not something I expected at Disney and particularly Epcot!

The Seas with Nemo was just a depressing experience, aside from a great cast member playing Crush to a clever and engaging young audience- including him answering my sweet little granddaughter's question. I won't say more about the once stunning pavilion with its unexpected hydrolators and great exhibits. It's yet another downgrade from what once was.

A Figment fail.

Next up was Imagination, an even a worse, more discouraging, experience. In its current state, it is a breathtaking- and not in a good way- reminder of how Disney management has left Epcot to rot for close to 20 years. The ride- a disaster which turned the once charming purple dragon full of childish delight into a snarky prankster. The lackluster Image Works made things worse, and why would I sit inside a theater to watch Pixar animation that I own on DVD? 

Due to a surprise that Test Track had only a 30 minute wait (via the app), we cruised over for an all family thrill ride. It's certainly still a rush! I found I preferred the original version that was more like a testing facility and less like Tron. By a large margin actually. The test crash ending that leads to the high speed portion of the ride was an excellent and clever touch. 

More variety like this please.

The world is much more than Europe.

It was time to remove ourselves from Future World and go into my favorite half of the park. World Showcase beckoned, and we began in Canada this time, passing by another splash pad.

The first thing I noticed was the new DVC kiosk. Yes, nothing like Disney pushing even more product on you to remind you that you're in a theme park. I so appreciated that reminder on my around the world journey. Victoria Gardens looked as beautiful as I had remembered, but I don't recall it being accessible only to guests of Le Cellier. Or did I misunderstand? It wouldn't surprise me at all to see that this had changed. The kids explored the hedge maze in the U.K., and we caught a small glimpse of Alice before moving on. Unexpectedly, we walked right by France and headed straight for Morocco as my son in law had wanted to see it last trip but they'd run out of time. 

Perhaps the most richly detailed in all of World Showcase.

Don't get me wrong. I love the recreations of the European nations. Yet, we need something more and different in the park. Morocco and its richly detailed buildings were a solid reminder of this need. Exploring its courtyards and market stalls seemed to remind me of what was planned for Star Wars, but the contrast was refreshing after the previous locations. The Spice Road Table was basically empty. Could it be the prices? Probably, as the Tangierine Cafe seemed full of eager diners. 

A trio of photos from the Japan Showcase,

one of my favorites.

Just love the Japan showcase. There's still quiet nooks to explore and layers of experience awaiting if you take the time to find it. Was there really a need for a new restaurant? Perhaps, but the necessity of a people-eating attraction is even greater. We love hiding back by the tea house late after Illuminations. It's a whole new world after dark. Couldn't wait to return to the Land of the Rising Sun, but it never happened. Next trip.

Alfredos no longer.

Walking all the way down into Germany, we stopped in Italy after bypassing the American Adventure. We decided to view a later show. Italy seemed hot, so hot, much like what we had experienced in Venice years ago. Little shade, few trees, no grass. A perfect recreation minus overpriced gondola rides and the very unique stench of the water. (But we still loved it the real location!) Sticking our head in Via Napoli, we discovered the place was just packed, and to our surprise, it seemed it was with visitors from international locations. Pizza is a universal food!

By this point, it was almost time for dinner. Our reservations were for La Hacienda de San Angel, and it was late afternoon, so a good time for a break and a meal. Winding our way back to Mexico, we stopped at the entrance, gave them our names, and began a meal marked by incredibly gracious and attentive service. It felt very old school Disney from thirty years ago. My wife and I were very, very impressed.

Lovely lighting was the highlight of the bland atmosphere.

Frankly, from a visual perspective, the new waterside restaurant was nothing special to look at. There are many excellent environments to be found in our restaurants in Denver that surpass the surroundings of this new eatery, but only one back home has food as delicious as what we discovered here. From the queso fundido to the corn soup to the melt in your mouth main entrees, we delighted in each course. The drinks weren't bad either!

Three beautiful ladies- not one a Disney princess.

Our early evening dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel was a definitely a mixed bag experience. The food? Incredible. So was the price, though. The atmosphere? Pedestrian. We might return again, although I hear the waterside restaurant in the pyramid may have rebounded from awful food to decent. I hope so. The atmosphere is enchanting.

The ending of our evening at Epcot came about in a manner we didn't expect. Post-dinner, our timing was perfect for The American Adventure. The show is still an incredible and inspiring one. My son-in-law had never seen it, missing it during his initial visit. His take? Very, very good! 

My grandson sat next to me, and at the ripe age of six, he had some great questions and observations. One example of what he quietly whispered in my ear: "You mean two brothers fought on different sides of the war? And only one came home? The other died?"  Of course, he also recognized one of the characters walked up the steps. Pretty observant kid! I believe even the most "adult" focused attractions can be enjoyed by kids if they are prepared for it. Or they can be taught to sit quietly and use "indoor voices" if they must speak. Walt never aimed just for kids- or teens needing thrills- and I wish the suits would remember that when planning new additions to the parks, especially this one. 

Burned out bulbs and all but still a beautiful sight to behold.

Even though I'm quick to say Epcot needs something more than 2 minute thrill rides and lengthy travelogues, our follow up attraction was Impressions de France, the most beloved of the three World Showcase films. (China's is Number Two, leaving Canada at the bottom by quite a distance.) The music still tears me up at times. The quality of the film seemed fresher than I remembered. The Eiffel Tower ending needs a reshoot however to highlight the twinkling effect now in place. 

Due to the Touring Plans app, we discovered Soarin' Over the World had a twenty minute wait. Without a Fast Pass for it on either day, off we went- but not before I snapped a couple of photos. I'd intended to return to the countries after seeing Illuminations. Major mistake on my part. I had misread some information, believing it started later than it did. 

After our flight, including a view of a badly bent Eiffel Tower, we realized our mistake as we were exiting The Land. Cast members were also closing down the pavilion. That's Disney's mistake and shows how things have changed since the first few years at the park. Back then, everything opened and closed at the same time- a sign of giving guests their best. No longer.

Goodnight Spaceship Earth- until tomorrow.

Everyone was tired by this point in time, so we took advantage of an early and empty bus, returning home via a quiet and quick drive. Our next day was also an Epcot visit, one which included Grandparents' date night with the kids while Mom and Dad had their own. That one, too, had an unexpected ending, but more about that next post as well as my final verdict on the state of Epcot.

One last note before signing off. Upon returning home to Saratoga Springs, we received an email survey asking us what we thought of our dinner experience and what we thought was needed to round out the park offerings. Interestingly, one of the main options was a Brazilian Steakhouse. Prepping guests for a new country, I'd say.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)