I'm puzzled - what is it about the Winnie the Pooh ride?

[Rubygoose]

We'll be in WDW in just under 2 months from now. This will be our first trip to WDW, but we've been to DLR 4 times. I'm trying to go into this trip with an open mind and not compare WDW to DLR, but at the same time, we'll only have 4 park days in WDW so in order to optimize our time, we need to skip many of the rides that are the same or very similar in both coasts. I think I'm starting to get a handle on all of this FP+ stuff, but one thing that is confusing me is the Winnie the Pooh ride. A friend of mine who lives in Florida mentioned that this is one that I shouldn't miss and that the average wait time is 50 mins. Also, a lot of the stuff I'm reading online puts this one at the top of the list for attractions to get FP+ for or to do first thing in the morning. huh? In DLR this ride is almost always a walk on. It's cute, and my kids like it, but I wouldn't put ever put it on my list as a 'must-do' attraction. The last time we rode it, there was a relatively large man with his wife in the back of our beehive who joked about maybe he was going to be stuck in his seat and would have to endure another ride through! So, what is it about Winnie the Pooh at WDW? Is it just a newness factor? I really don't get it!?

 

[Airship Ariadne]

I think those are old sources...when we went in 2007 and 2010, it did have huge wait times (comparable to Peter Pan) but when we were just there this Dec the posted wait times (and times listed in the MDE app) were never beyond the 20-40 minute range that I noticed...of course, we weren't interested in it, but it kept coming up in the "short" or "moderate" wait lists.

 

[richmo]

I don't get it either. Definitely not a newness factor as it has been there a long time. Same with Peter Pan. Both rides not bad by any means, but I don't get the long waits.

 

[richmo]

I think those are old sources...when we went in 2007 and 2010, it did have huge wait times (comparable to Peter Pan) but when we were just there this Dec the posted wait times (and times listed in the MDE app) were never beyond the 20-40 minute range that I noticed...of course, we weren't interested in it, but it kept coming up in the "short" or "moderate" wait lists.

Well, I just did a quick look at an unofficial wait times app. Winnie the Pooh is at 50 minutes, Peter Pan 60. I would consider those long waits for rides that aren't "E" ticket.

 

[RustManFan]

I also think that people who haven't been to WDW in years (since they were kids and are now adults) are doing this ride for the first time. I know when it was new and we rode it there was a huge wait time. (40 minutes I would guess)

My DD, DS and I walked on it at DL in October 2013

I would much rather wait for Peter Pan myself.

 

[merina888]

My kids consider this a must do every trip. There's something about Pooh and riding in a honey jar that they love. Plus we love the music from the Pooh movies and I sing it to my kids all the time. So yes, this does tend to have a long wait.

 

[hiroMYhero]

If you've ridden it at DL, then you shouldn't feel it's a must-do in MK. When we have ridden it, mainly because of non-existent lines in DL, I look for hidden Mickeys. I have no idea what is going on ride-wise because I'm searching for Mickeys. I would not wait 50 minutes to do that, though.

 

[RebeccaRabbit]

I understand why Pan gets long waits, because it has really low capacity and is (imho) so cute for an accessible-to-everyone type of ride. Pooh is OK but would be skippable to me personally, and no way I would wait 50 minutes for it. We did it once or twice with FP, but then skipped it on subsequent trips. I've never seen the DLR one so can't compare, but if you're not wild about that one, I'd say save your precious FP for something else.

 

[nighttowll]

Honestly, what confuses me is not that it gets long lines, but your report that it doesn't get them at Disneyland.

We love WTP, but it is all about nostalgia for us. There is nothing really about the ride itself that draws us in. It is just our love for WTP. That is the only reason I can really see for its popularity. So many people grew up on WTP and have passed their love down to their kids and grandkids. It is one of the number one go to decorating ideas for baby rooms for instance. I think the fact that it is a classic that has been around for a very long time makes it appeal to more people, which leads to a longer line.

Why this same nostalgia appeal does not create the same lines at Disneyland I'm not sure. Probably, a more locals verses toursists thing, as I'm sure it would get old very fast if we went all the time.

 

[mesaboy2]

I think the difference is due to less demand (therefore shorter waits) and directly related to three things: location, location, and location.

ETA: Too late, HMH.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Honestly, what confuses me is not that it gets long lines, but your report that it doesn't get them at Disneyland.

We love WTP, but it is all about nostalgia for us. There is nothing really about the ride itself that draws us in. It is just our love for WTP. That is the only reason I can really see for its popularity. So many people grew up on WTP and have passed their love down to their kids and grandkids. It is one of the number one go to decorating ideas for baby rooms for instance. I think the fact that it is a classic that has been around for a very long time makes it appeal to more people, which leads to a longer line.

Why this same nostalgia appeal does not create the same lines at Disneyland I'm not sure. Probably, a more locals verses toursists thing, as I'm sure it would get old very fast if we went all the time.

Plus, WtP in DL is not located in Fantasyland nor remotely close to Fantasyland. It's located across from Splash Mountain in Critter Country and the area dead-ends there. The WtP location used to be Country Bears so I think some still equate that area with that and those with little ones don't trek all the way over there.

 

[Badgerfan]

I agree, if you are pressed for time, I would not wait 50 min. to ride Pooh. However, while both Pooh rides (WDW, DL) are similar, the one at WDW is better. It is a bit longer, and I don't remember the ride bouncing with Tigger while we rode it at DL. At DL the kids were fine with just riding it once, where at WDW our kids request to ride it several times during our trip.

Like I said, I would not wait 50 min. but if it's under 30, I would give it shot. Think of Pooh's version at WDW to be a better experience then DL the same way Pirates and Space Mt. are better at DL.......... although to a smaller degree with Pooh.

Hope that helps a little.

Have a great trip!

 

[kruegeme]

I've never understood the wait times for either WTP or Peter. We only do these rides early in the morning when you can walk onto them otherwise they are skipped. They are not must do's for either child - DD(8) / DS(6) - and never have been.

The one attraction I can see about WTP is the interactive queue area. There is something for the kids to do pretty much all the way up to getting on the ride itself.

Personally, I would recommend using your FP + options for something else unless you just don't have any other options available on the days you are visiting.

 

[mesaboy2]

I agree, if you are pressed for time, I would not wait 50 min. to ride Pooh. However, while both Pooh rides (WDW, DL) are similar, the one at WDW is better. It is a bit longer, and I don't remember the ride bouncing with Tigger while we rode it at DL. At DL the kids were fine with just riding it once, where at WDW our kids request to ride it several times during our trip.

Like I said, I would not wait 50 min. but if it's under 30, I would give it shot. Think of Pooh's version at WDW to be a better experience then DL the same way Pirates and Space Mt. are better at DL.......... although to a smaller degree with Pooh.

Hope that helps a little.

Have a great trip!

And the version at Tokyo is far better than either, with longer waits to match.

I've never understood the wait times for either WTP or Peter. We only do these rides early in the morning when you can walk onto them otherwise they are skipped. They are not must do's for either child - DD(8) / DS(6) - and never have been.

The one attraction I can see about WTP is the interactive queue area. There is something for the kids to do pretty much all the way up to getting on the ride itself.

Personally, I would recommend using your FP + options for something else unless you just don't have any other options available on the days you are visiting.

It boils down to two things: low capacity combined with high demand--anyone in the park can ride them. Pan is worse than Pooh, and its low capacity means a FP will often save a good chunk of time.

 

[katrina1122]

The WDW version is super cute and your car even bounces like Tigger. The DL version is just meh.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Definitely do not use a FP+ for it. Pooh used to have consistently high waits for most of the day...now it's one of those rides that it's very easy to ride a various times. We usually do hit it early, but not first thing. We can typically pretty much walk on it, or close to up, up until 11:00 or so. If you have little kids, it has a fun interactive queue where the kids can separate from the parents and not hold up the line playing with stuff.

 

[ktlm]

We have always walked directly onto Pooh at DL and being a WDW vet, that always surprises me a little even though I am used to it! I think it is entirely a matter of at WDW it is in Fantasyland where the little kids always go. At DL, it is hidden back in a corner in Frontierland near no other rides that are for the under 40 inches preschool group. Also, at DL, there are more dark rides in Fantasyland than at WDW, so parents don't go out of their way to travel all the way over to Pooh.

Its a cute ride. We do like to ride it and will ride it several times at DLR since there isn't a line. We will wait 20 minutes for it at WDW, but usually not much more than that

 

[IWannaBuildASnowman]

I love the Pooh ride, and the wait is half the fun. We'd never FP that one, a half hour wait is just fine with us.

 

[mousefan73]

The Pooh ride and PPF are rides that really ANYONE can ride.. There is almost zero fear factor ( PPF is dark but nothing scary) and for elderly, getting in and out is not an issue.

also PPF is a "classic" ride.

Pooh we noticed really settled down late evenings.. Alot of little ones had crashed by then.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

i enjoy this ride for some reason . Maybe as a child i loved watching the cartoons but i do find the lil hopping section fun and cant really ride a ride like this anywhere else .