Flik's "not-so-Fun" Fair....

[roymccoy]

Well, we just got back from DCA's new Flik's Fun Fair and I gotta tell you, if this is the future of Disney, sell your shares now. We went in with a very good and happy attitude...I mean, how many days do you get to see something new at Disney? First of all, the area is not all that big. It doesn't surprise me that they were thinking of banning strollers. There are four rides. Here is my report for each:

Heimlich's Chew Chew Train - Looked like it was going to be a really neat ride. The "Heimlich" cars (ala Alice and Wonderland) come around and pick you up and you're on your way! They got the same guy to do the narration that did Heimlich's voice in the movie. Okay...here we go...we go past a big styrofoam watermelon...we go past some candy corn lying on the ground...we go into what I thought was going to be the "meat" of the ride, a building..but it's not a building..it's an overhang and it's got some cookies laying against it...then you're back at the station....I kid you not. It was THE LAMEST "ride" I have ever been on. It makes SuperStar Limo look like Rock n' Rollorcoaster. Imagine that you are at the top of Alice in Wonderland, after you have finished the ride and you are coming down, down, down and into the mad-hatter tea party scene...THAT ride is better! Unfortunately, it ended up being the best ride of the four.

Tuck and Roll's Bumper Cars - Can't give a report about this...my four year old wasn't tall enough! Isn't this area supposed to be something for the little kids?? I asked the guy why my 41" daughter can ride Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Soarin' and the Matterhorn but she can't ride the bumper cars at the kiddie park? He said that the restraining harness is made in such a way that little kids can get hurt. Oh yeah...they have to be 47" if they want to ride alone!

The lady bug "teacup" ride - Wow...you don't see this at every church carnival. At least the 4 year old could go on this but you want to know something funny? There was NO restraint of any kind on this ride and she was flung from side to side and back and forth. A problem I noticed is with the theming of the rides. They wanted to give the illusion that you are small...like a bug. There are big tree's, big water hoses, etc. and the cars on this ride were built with high sides to them...so you feel like you're small. Problem is, the 4 year old couldn't see out and got motion sick. Another little girl threw-up and the mother was screaming at the the ride operator to stop it and the ride operator said that she didn't know how. It's okay though...the ride is only about 45 seconds long.

Flik's Flying Invention - You ride around in what's supposed to be old cartons...like in the movie. Chinese food cartons, milk cartons, etc. Problem again is that the sides are built up too high and the kids can't see out. Actually, my 5'7" wife almost couldn't see out. I guess this ride was okay, but again, every church carnival's got one.

We left our sroller by Heimlichs when we came in. Little did we know that an employee had moved it over to the other side of the Fair to an area designated for strollers. Everyone was walking around saying that their stroller had been stolen. Also, I can't imagine how long the wait times could be on these rides if the park was crowded. There are only two cars on Heimlichs Train, eight "ladybugs" on the spinner, and eight Flying Flik cartons. Also, the seatbelts that are used on the rides are made out of really cheap plastic.

If Disney is thinking that Flik's Fun Fair is going to pack em' in....they're even more out of touch than I thought.

Roy

 

[Michelle]

Hmm, interesting, I hope to check it out next week myself.

I really did not expect it to be more than some "carny" type rides based on the description from Disney. We'll see what my daughter, who loves these types of rides, thinks of the new area.

Thanks for the report, Roy!

 

[IandGsmom]

Ok we heard that you did not like it but what about your daughter...this seems like its more for the little kids than us adults which is great with me since last year when we went my twins could onlt ride Soaring and 2 others in the whole park.

 

[roymccoy]

The way my 4 year-old daughter would say "Daddy, can we go on Splash Mountain now??" after every Flik's Fun Fair ride reminded me an AWFUL lot of the way she says "Daddy, I ate some carrots...can I have some ice cream now?" To put it mildly, she wasn't overly impressed. I loved it when we were riding Heimlich's Chew-Chew and she asked me "when they were going to put in the ride."

Out of the mouths of babes....

Roy

 

[WDW2002]

Well with a name like Flick's Fun Fair wouldn't you think the rides would be like those at the Fair??

 

[roymccoy]

WDW2000....have you been to FFF yet? Why don't you reserve judgement until you see it. I don't think you'll be too impressed.

Roy

 

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by roymccoy
WDW2000....have you been to FFF yet? Why don't you reserve judgement until you see it. I don't think you'll be too impressed.

No, I have been to FFF, however, I do not have expectations for it to be more then a few "fair" rides. I am not judging it (or you) just saying all you have to do is look at the name to know what type of rides would be in there.

 

[roymccoy]

Well, let's put it this way....I expected more out of Disney, ESPECIALLY with the marketing push that FFF is getting here in Los Angeles/Orange County.


Roy

P.S. WDW2000...I can't wait to hear what you think about it, when you go.

 

[Planogirl]

Thanks for the review Roy. This definitely sounds like something that was thrown together quickly just to have more for the kids to do. Oh well, at least the Tower of Terror is on the way!

 

[KaitlinsMom]

Wow - that is a bummer -

I also live in Southern Cal and it's been talked about like "Disney knows that there are not enough good kids rids and California and here's what we are doing to make it better"

Sounds like they didn't make it much better. The only reason me and my 4yr old go to California is to see the Electrical Parade. Otherwise, it is Disneyland for us.

Thanks for the review -

 

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by roymccoy
P.S. WDW2000...I can't wait to hear what you think about it, when you go.

I'll let you know but you'll have to wait until next April.

BTW, my screen name is WDW2002, not to be confussed with another poster whose screen name is WDW2000

 

[c&m]

We were lucky enough to get in to FFF last week. While I thought the theming was great and how wonderfully it was built, my DDs (ages 3 and 6) were not overly impressed. They spent about an hour (if that) there (half of it lining up to get on a ride). They were anxious to move on to the more exciting rides like King Triton's carousel and the River Rapids, and the Redwood playground.

It's too bad that it isn't more exciting for the preschoolers. If FFF was designed to attract the preschool crowd, why install a bumper car ride for bigger kids??? I saw so many preschoolers stand outside the ride crying or complaining that their older siblings could ride on it and they could only watch. I must agree also that Heimlich's Chew Chew train was very lame, even for my preschooler. It would have been more exciting if it had a better track like Casey Jr's Circus Train in DL.

Overall, I was disappointed with this area.