Are these rides worth using valuable time for?

[MacDalton]

I was just wondering your opinions of these rides. This is our third trip to DW and we have our list of "Must-Do"s, but we thought we'd like to try some new things. Please keep in mind that we have ONE day at MK (we are actually visiting my parents for this trip). What do you think of:

Jungle Cruise
Tom Sawyer Island
Cinderella's Carrousel
Indy Speedway

Thanks for your help. Oh, yeah, My kids are DS 11, and DD 6.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Hi!

My kids love the speedway and the Jungle Cruise, so I would put them on the top of your list.

We've never done the island.

As for the carrousel, it's really nothing special in my opinion. It's hard to get my 3-year-old past it without her wanting to ride, but to me, a carrousel is a carrousel. If there is little or no wait, I'd ride.

Have fun!!!

 

[OhMickey]

IMHO...

I would ride the jungle cruise. We enjoy this ride.

I would do Carousel IF there is not a wait. I would not plan this into our schedule.

I would do Tom Sawyer IF we needed down time. I wouldn't plan this into our schedule.

I would not do the Indy Speedway.

 

[elemusing]

If you have never done the Jungle Cruise, you should at least once. The first time is the best cause you haven't heard all the corny jokes. Utilize fastpass and you won't have to wait too long.

Ride the carrosel only if there is no wait.

Skip the island unless the kids are really wanting to do it and the 11 year old is prepared to really keep up with the 6 year old unless you are gung ho about chasing after them . . there are alot of "caves", etc to explore.

Now for the speedway - if you are going to do it (the kids will love it) Do it FIRST thing at opening or you will waste ALOT of time standing in line for it. The line moves VERY slowly and even when you think, "oh it doesn't look that long" you will wait at least 30 minutes for it or more. We never ride it unless we can catch it as one of our first rides at opening.

Enjoy your day!
Angie

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by MacDalton
I was just wondering your opinions of these rides. This is our third trip to DW and we have our list of "Must-Do"s, but we thought we'd like to try some new things. Please keep in mind that we have ONE day at MK (we are actually visiting my parents for this trip). What do you think of:

Jungle Cruise
Tom Sawyer Island
Cinderella's Carrousel
Indy Speedway

Thanks for your help. Oh, yeah, My kids are DS 11, and DD 6.

I would do the JC at night. We walked right one and the whole took about 10 minutes. It was cooler looking at night too.

We love TSI, it's a good place to brerak away from the crowds mid day, but maybe skip it if you're running short on time. I use it as my break spot , as opposed to just sitting at an outdoor cafe.
On our last trip, it was just us, two adults, and we sat and played a game of checkers and felt like we were the only ones there.

Cindy's Carrosel, it's gorgeous and magical but still, it's just a merry go round. Unless you are way into Merry go rounds, or have a little princess traveling with you, skip this one. Lines can actually get long. Unless you go for this late at night.

Indy Speedway, again, the later at night or earlier in the AM the shorter the lines. Kids seem to love this.

Get there when the park opens, plan sit down breaks during the day and stay until it closes. You should really get to everything unless you are going at an EXTREMELY crowded time of year.

 

[erikthewise]

If you haven't done Tom Sawyer Island before, definitely do it this time. Your children will almost certainly love it at this age, but your son may reject as "just for kids" when he reaches 14 or so. If you're putting in a long hot day at MK, it's an especially good idea.

Jungle Cruise you also manage to do at least once every three trips.

Speedway I'd say skip unless you can just about walk on or you've done everything else you wanted to do. You just can't win with this ride. Going first thing may work but this ride isn't worth the "first thing" treatment -- use it for Space Mountain or something in Fantasyland. Sometimes there is only one lane open early so even a short line can take a while to get through.

Carousel is great if you get a short wait but not worth a long one.

 

[Micca]

Yes to Jungle Cruise. This is a Disney classic, and it's filled with hokey humor

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Definately a yes for Jungle Cruise, it is funny and a classic.

I've never had to wait very long for the carousel, although it looks like a huge crowd the carousel holds allot of people so don't be fooled.

Indy Speedway was pretty disappointing a ride and a long wait. I'd skip it unless your child really likes it.

Never been to the Island.

Hope you have a fabulous trip!!

 

[Kallison]

Definitely the Island, it is awesome. Jungle Cruise is corny but a classic and usually not a long wait. Speedway is always a loooong, slow wait while breathing in fumes. We skipped it last trip, but we've done it before. Carousel, we do once in awhile, but we figure we can do that anywhere. BTW we did JC during fireworks that was cool. We then jumped off and ran to Pirates, Splash and Big Thunder with NO waits all before closing.

 

[jaysue]

Jungle Cruise for sure

Speedway - probably - especially if they have both lines open coming off the bridge

Tom Sawyer Island - I would not - I would be worried about getting my kids to leave once we got there since they may see it as a neat playground

Carroseul - should be able to get on after 1 or 2 cycles - it is quite nice!

thanks
jaysue

 

[HaleyB]

Jungle Cruise is one of our all time favorite rides. We go on it every time.
Island... We like it BUT only if it is not crowded. It is a nice change of pace for a little while.
I love the Carroseul. It is beautiful and we have never had more than a few minute wait.
Speedway we avoid if possible. There are much more unique rides that we like to do first thing, it is not worth the wait to us. Our local little theme park has one that is just as fun.

 

[DazedandConfused]

We went this Feb and while I have never done the speedway on my many previous trips because I can't figure out what the appeal is because they are little cars on a track but... it was the highlight of my son's trip. If you ask my 6 y.o. what his favorite ride was he will definately say "the race cars" even over Buzz which he did 8 times! We did the speeedway at night, in the pouring rain and did it 3 times in a row and then stood in line the next night and did it one last time! My 3 y.o. also loved this ride. They didn't care at all for jungle cruise but I loved it! I've done it every trip before but this time our guide was so funny...I was laughing so hard, I was crying! We always do the carousel, it's part of the magic for me but is is a just merry go round so if is was a long wait, I would probably skip it. We too, have never made it to the island. I think it all depends on what you're kids are interested in as to what you could skip. HTH. Have a great trip!

 

[Steffy]

My family loves the jungle Cruise. Last time was the first time I got them to try it. We had a great guide. He was really funny.

I've never done the other three attractions. My DGD did the carousel. It was okay. She was 3. She hasn't asked since.

We've always put the island on our "to do" list, somehow, we always return to the hotel for a swim and nap instead of using the island.

Each time we say we'll do the speedway and each time the line stops us cold. We've not missed it... usually walk around the corner and do Goofy's barnstormer instead...

 

[afsi3838]

I would use these rides as "in between times" of fastpass rides. I don't really care for the speedway or tom sawyer's island. However, i do highly recommend the jungle cruise (esp. at night), makes me giggle!!!

 

[Musky]

JC and TSI are classic attractions that are unique to Disney. While they may not be your cup of tea, it's a shame not to try them. I think your kids might really enjoy TSI. The speedway and carousel, on the other hand, are just like the speedway and carousel in any amusement park anywhere in the country. I wouldn't waste my time standing in line for them unless you have an awful lot of it to waste!

Musky

 

[MacDalton]

Ok, it sounds like JC is now on our list, and maybe the Island. DS just read one of the tom/Huck books at school and is really looking forward to it. It may not be "cool" enough for him next time. If the lines are low, late at night, we may try the others, but not give them any special effort. Thanks for all the input. I'm looking forward to JC. By the way whatever happened to Safari Steve?

 

[slo]

I would absolutly do the Jungle Cruise - it is a staple of WDW

TSI - This will be my 9th trip to WDW and we have never done tis because we just can't be bothered.

Cindy Carousel - we do this because my DD loves it. Ask your DD what she thinks - let her decide

Indy Speedway - I wish we could pass on this, but my DH is huge racing fan and he feels the need to go on this every single trip. The wait is always long and the outcome is really not that great. I would ask DS and see what he thinks

I hope this helps at all

 

[wilderness01]

I wish we could skip it but my boys LOVE the Indy 500. My daughter just said she likes it but doesn't love it! That line is always long, even in the slow season.

The kids liked the Island but it is not a must do every trip.

The Jungle Cruise is also not a must do every trip. It is a do every 3rd trip. We liked it better before AK opened with the safari. I know it is not a subtitute, it is just our opinion.

The ride that goes round and round and round (Cindy's Carousel) is a must do every trip. Our daughter just loves it. It makes me dizzy! At least it is usually a short line.