What are the absolute worst WDW attractions?

[DisneylandKid]

Since I've never been to WDW, I was just wondering what the worst attractions there are? For what reasons?

[Nigel2]

The mexico attraction leaves much to be desired since it is so dated. Malstrom is nice but if it has a huge wait then it isn't worth the wait. There really aren't alot of bad rides but lesser clones is a different matter.

[Sheila]

Originally posted by Nigel2
The mexico attraction leaves much to be desired since it is so dated. Malstrom is nice but if it has a huge wait then it isn't worth the wait. There really aren't alot of bad rides but lesser clones is a different matter.

I'd be inclined to say Journey Into Your Imagination but since it went into "rehab" (hopefully this means "hiatus") last week, I'll have to take it off the list.

I definitely agree with you that El Rio del Tiempo has to be the worst ride. I've done it once and refuse to go on it again. Cheesy bad videos and cheap figurines. Ewww...

Sheila

[mad4mky]

I think both the Malstrom and Mexico attractiions are awful.

Both times I have been at WDW, I have walked right onto the Mexico ride...which makes it a nice ride to go on, relax and get cool. Both times, the Malstrom line has been long...and the ride is stupid. Trolls indeed...(I kept waiting for a Billy Goat to try and cross my bridge!).

It's funny how everyone has a different opinion. I thought the Coke exhibit at Epcot was just ok...all three of my girls said it was their favorite. They loved getting to taste different sodas from around the world. (Sorry, this isn't a ride, but an attraction...but I wanted to mention it).

[stinkyface]

i would have to disagree. i think both the mexico and norway rides are okay- at least they're rides, something in short supply at world showcase. and i don't think they are quite as outdated as some of the w.s. films. would it be so hard to update Canada?

[Nigel2]

When we went to EPCOT it was starting to pour as WS opened so we headed for norway since that looked like a cool ride (about 5 years ago) so we get there, no line great. We go in and it starts to pour in sheets. Great...so we went on. From the promos I thought it was like pirates but what I saw on tv was basically the whole ride, all 2 mintues of it. So we got out saw the movie then went to the giftshop, ok... it was still rainging and we were trapped. So we opted to wait, the we went on about 4 more times (I can state the whole movie now). Journey into ... wasn't so bad (but I really like eric idle so that helps) Living seas is rather dull if one of the tanks is empty. But the manatees are cool (and delicious) Eventhough I wouldnt say its the worst alot of the "clone" attractions at WDW aren't as good as disneyland.

[coronamouseman]

Epcot World Showcase could use some rides to balance out itself against Future World. There have long been rumors of a Switzerland (Matterhorn) or Japan (Mt. Fuji) mountain-based bobsled or toboggan ride or perhaps you could even work in a Jules Verne-based attraction in the France area (Journey to the Center of the Earth or 20K Leagues under the Sea from DisneySea?) Right now about all you can do in World Showcase is watch movies, shop and eat (the last two activities are undoubtedly favorites of Disney management because they are extremely profitable!)

Unfortunately, one of the worst single rides in WDW is the train around MK - the only special look you get at anything is at Big Thunder Mountain and otherwise all you see is the surrounding jungle, non-animatronic figures of people and animals and a "spectacular" view of the back of the buildings in Fantasyland from what seems a mile away in the forest. The train is only good for traveling to/from Frontierland - the station near Tomorrowland is so far away from anything it's almost totally useless. At least the one at Disneyland (1) gets you from one end of the park to the other easily and (2) offers some exhibits not seen elsewhere.

[efoxx]

I had a hard time with this one, it was good to read some of our posts first. over all I like most of the rides and shows, but here is a list of what I like least and why.

MGM
sounds dangerous...funny once, then a good place to take a nap

backlot tour...catastrophe canyon is sooo not scary or even exciting.

MK
tiki birds was really old and not interesting, but I like under new management.

tom sawyer,'s island is not nearly as fun as DL

I am glad they still have the cable cars.

epcot

the only thing that comes to mind is journey into your imagination.
it is soooooooooo bad. and the original show was Wendy's (my wife) favorite. this is perhaps the best example of how management can screw up.

by the way, I am one of the few people who miss horizons.

AK
all I can say is see what I wrote about Journey into your imagination.
even my kids who love zoo's and animals. who think dinos are cool, who have watched bugs life hundreds of times finds this park rather boring. half day at best.

my opinion only
Efoxx in Chi

[mad4mky]

Oh, I did forget about that Backlot Tour. Yuck. I guess I got spoiled with Universal Studios/Hollywood. You wait forever to get onto that stupid tram...and its boring.

And I do agree with efoxx...there is not a whole day's worth of stuff to do there. My kids also got bored. We went back to our room to swim and nap after half a day there.

[Nigel2]

Oh I hated Dinosaur/Countdown when you compare it to indy it just seems so lame. If (like it would ever happen) they put a Mt. Fuji attraction in you would probably ride logs down it. (It takes a little research but I think its japan that does the log riding fest). I think one of the major reasons that most of the attraction in the WS are so lame is because the country's torist board had to probably pay for the attraction, mexico is the worst, it basically is a flat out ad for them. But Americas is the best because they weren't trying to get you to visit them, just teach you some history.

[LPnerd]

I am sorry to hear so many of you disin WS. I think the whole point of the place was to bring us closer together with all the people of the worldthrough understanding their cultures. Not everything has to be a rollarcoaster to be fun. You guys ever hear the saying, " Knowledge is Power". No ? Oh well. I think Mex. did the best they could with what they had. It was nice when it first opened. relaxing , informative, and the resterant is a good place relax and have a decent meal.
I love WS and go frequently to help my son gather info for whatever co. he has to do a report on for school. He got the best info from Norway, the cast members were so helpful and informative. His report was so good it got displayed in our town Libary. ( sorry, had to brag. LOL)
having said that, The living seas is soooooo lame! which is very disapointing because the subject invites alot more to be done . Prime example of Eisner UNDERachievement.
MGM hmmmm, I really don't like that muppet show. I love muppets and ms. Piggy but that show is slow. Many people love it I hear.
AK is a joke unless you go in the winter. Then the whole place changes. You get to see some animals! That ride out to, and the petting....don't bother. DULL DULL DULL
Mk tiki birds and sawyer island just plain ole suck.LOL
Everyones taste is different and thats why the parks are so great! Lots for all to love, not much to poo-poo.

[efoxx]

once again I am impressed with LPnerd's comments.

I have lots of friends say that their kids hated WS, and I have read the comments here. I don't get it, both our kids love WS, and so do we. yeah it's not "exciting", but it is informative, interesting, and incitful. i will agree that like many other parts of WDW, an update would be nice, but we still like it the way it is.
oh well everybody has their likes and dislikes, if we all liked the exact same things, can you imagine the lines?

Efoxx in Chi

[Gemini Cricket]

I really didn't enjoy Spaceship Earth. I was disappointed that the entire ride was just a commercial for AT&T.

MK's "Legend of the Lion King" was trite. Puppets and guys in costumes... They should have gone for a dark ride with primo animatronics.

MK's "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" was really bad too. The ride was filled with figures that barely could be considered animatronic. The cardboard cutouts in line lacked taste as well. Kind of a Disneyland Gummi Glen Boat Ride from several years back.

[LyricSaison]

I like the Conservation Station at DAK. Every time we're there Jesse talks on excitedly about how he's going to see the goats. Mind you, Jesse isn't my child. He's my 29 year old boyfriend.

I find the Mexico ride boring and offensive. "Come to Mexico - we'll try to sell you cheap stuff while castoffs from 'Small World' dance!"

Test Track doesn't really thrill me, but I'll go on if I get a Fast Pass or there's not much of a line. I once got stuck on the outside ramp during the fireworks, which was nice.

I loathe any character meeting station - a waste of good attraction space.

[Crispy]

Well, I have to say, that Malestrom and the Mexico Boat ride are probably not that great comparable to other attractions, but we always do them because they are some of the few attractions in World Showcase. We always eat dinner at the San Angel Inn on the banks of the boat ride, so we usually do the boat ride while wait for our meal. I like it. It's dated, and they need some new films in places.... but it's relaxing and nice. As for the Malestrom.... it's a fun ride, but it's so short, that's its main weak point. By the way, does eveyrone else on here do the same thing we do.... when we enter te theatre for the movie, we go right out the exit door. I think most people do that now... I feel sorry for the Norweigen castmembers that have to work in the movie portion of the attraction.

Someone mentioned the Canada film earlier. It seems like a year or so ago there was a newspaper article written about the Circle vision Canada film.... the Canadian government sponsors the pavillion and they thought the film was old and too stereotypical. I think there was a disagreement between Disney and the Canadian government because Canada wanted to hire someone else to make the new film, and Disney wanted to have creative control over the film... I guess that's why they still have the same film, today.

As for the Living Seas... it's not a bad attraction.... it's just paced weird. There is all this build up where you feel like your on a destination to something big, then all of a sudden, the attraction is over.... First you watch a film, then you are herded into a circular shaped room with projections on the wall. Then finally you reach the moving cars which go down one corridor, and then it's over. It kinda has a feeling of reading a book and stopping in the middle or something. I also find it interesting that Disney now let you bypass the film portion of the attraction. I thought it was one of the most well done films at WDW. I've been wondering how long this attraction is going to be around since it no longer has a sponsor.

I think everyone already covered the New Journey into Imagination ride. I don't think there's much that needs to be said about this, except I think this is a prime example of how out of touch Disney is with the public these days. Figment had become sort of the mascott of EPCOT. kids loved him, and they sold tons of Figment merchandise. So why did they eliminate him from the storyline. And let's just take a look at the attraction rehab.... first they start out with an elaborate attraction with many audioanimatronic figures.... the new attraction contains no animatronic figures. The new ride is what??? a third long as the original. It seems like if you are going to gut a whole building and put in something new, that you'd put in something BETTER than what was there before. I mean, I don't think I would ever take a Rolls Royce to a dealer and trade it in for a Hyundai. And hate what they've done to the building, in general. They've destroyed the architecture. Once you used to walk into a large open atrium topped by a crytlan pyramid dome. Now, they've blocked out the atrium and you walk through waht feels like dark caverns. Anyway, I'll stop my venting.... but is it any wonder that that this attraction get the worst ratings of all of EPCOT from guests in exit polls?


Someone else wrote:

[B]MK MK

I am glad they still have the cable cars.

If you're speaking of the Skyway from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, that was removed a couple years ago. It was removed 5 years to the day, that the Disneyland skyway was removed.

As far as Animal Kingdom, the Rafiki's Planet Watch/Conservation Station was quite a puzzle to us. When they said that the train ride gave you a backstage view of where they take care of the animals... i thought it would be kinda like the backlot tour at MGM where you pass windows and you can see the wardrobe department and stuff. Instead it was like... "You that that building way back there... that's where they keep the eephants." Then when the train finally got to Conservation Station.... "Why the heck did they have to put it so far away??????" Anyone else think that is an incredible long walk? Then once we got there, there building was small compared to the number of people that come on the train and there weren't amny exhibits to do there." it had that whole "pointless feeling" that Living Seas kinda has. Except Living Seas has cool exhibits at the end and a lot less walking.

Okay, I'm finished with my b****ing now. Sorry, but I had to put in my $.02

Mr. Crispy

[efoxx]

that was me.
I knew that, I guess that I had a senior moment. I still love the skyway, and wish it was still there.

we always watch the movie in Norway, once per trip, (I like the scenery) the rest of the time we skip it.

I think it was mouseplanet that told the story about Canada. what a shame, once again good stuff goes to waste because of egos and money.

by the way am I the only person that misses horizons? I mean I am looking forward to space, but I did like the other show too.

Efoxx in Chi

[Crispy]

I liked Horizons. But it's not so much that particular attraction that I miss as much as that genre. That is to say, the omni-mover type attractions that use audio-animatronics to tell a story. The previous "World of Motion" and the former " Journey into Imagination" as well as Horizons were examples of that type of attraction. Each of thos have been replaced with other type of attractions. The lone example of that genre of attraction exists as Spaceship Earth. It's the last omni mover/animatronic based attraction in Epcot. And who knows how long before Disney decides to see if they can fit an LIM launch coaster in that huge silver ball. In general, the animatronic-based attractions seem to be on their way out. There have been reports of plans to replace the Great Movie Ride when Disney's contract with MGM runs out. Then we have things like the closure of Country Bears at DL, years before a replacement will open in it's spot. Add to that the closure of Timekeeper at WDW simply to save money and the fact that Carousel of Progress' days seem to be numbered. Not to mention that Golden Dreams at DCA was originally planned to be an animatronic attraction similar to "The American Adventure" at Epcot. Instead it was scaled down to a movie. No, animatronic based attractions are no longer the staple of Disney entertainment that they once were.

Mr. Crispy

[Nigel2]

Heck some of the countries in the WS lack any form of educational value (btw is there any from of an attraction from WS) but everything is so outdated also. It kind of irritates me the way the make Norway sound a whole lot larger than it really is, I could lay down in the stave chruch and hit both sides of it. But the problem with the countries paying for the attractions is that if the country has a smaller economy or the tourist board doesn't want to pay as much they get a lame attraction. The living seas isn't so bad, but when we went they were (rumored) about to go into rehab for a while. Could someone tell me what was so special about "The Land" that it always had a huge wait that was almost as long as test track.

[LyricSaison]

The Land has a pretty nice, peaceful and educational trip through the greenhouses of EPCOT. Thinking about it now, I can't exactly name what is so great about it even thoug I'm always excited to go on it. I even took the "Behind the Seeds" tour of the greenhouses - well worth the $6 or whatever the low price was.

[mad4mky]

At of our whole WDW trip...my oldest daughter thought "The Land" attraction was the best. She is a vegetarian, and love all the innovated things they were doing to grow crops and plants. Every body has a diffrent view of things.

Now "Food Rocks" was totally idiotic. But, again, my kids thought it was great. My husband even fell asleep during it. (which is amazing, since it is sooooo loud!).

[LyricSaison]

Food Rocks is corny, but I'll see it again and again for just one line - "Every fried knish like a secret wish". I swear I can't order or make knishes without thinking that.

[Nigel2]

Speaking of the tour, why is it 6 dollars?

[efoxx]

"sorry folks but there's a buck to be had" the Simpson's.

it's all about the money.

actually a horticulturist who works in the green house, not a regular cast member give the tour, so I imagine the overhead for the ops is a bit higher. but it really is a great tour, if your into plants and gardening. I highly recommend it. we loved it, and I definitely have a black thumb (plants have been known to tremble in fear if I even stop to look at them). the added bonus is a brief glimpse behind the scenes.

EFox in Chi

[Lacrosse Boy]

well, about that Mexico attraction, i like it. it reminds me of "take flight." One thing that gets me is that people want all these flip you around rides, etc. While I like these, I also enjoy the calm and quiet ones. Walt Disney wanted to have a place that parents and kids could enjoy together. Let's not lose this philosophy.

[Nigel2]

But I don't think Walt invisioned it to be an ad from the tourist board of each country.