Most Underrated Walt Disney World Experience

[sunshine1]

Ones Mans Dream: all the history of Walt and WDW.

Touring the hotels.

 

[bryanb]

Hopping on the boats that travel between Disney Springs and Port Orleans (and other resorts), preferably right at dusk. What a relaxing way to get around and the views are great.

 

[Tonyz]

Here's a few:

- Walking from the Beach Club to International Gateway
- Taking the boat to The Poly/Gran Floridian
- A nice stroll down Main Street and taking in all the little details
- Looking at all the artifacts and architecture of Animal Kingdom Lodge, particularly the lobby
- After the stampede to Soarin', a nice relaxing trip down Living with the Land
- Exploring the World Showcase pavilions... especially Japan, Norway, China, and Morocco
- One Man's Dream
- Standing on the bridge near Splash Mountain and waving to the boats as they start and end their trip
- it's a small world... I fell so in love with that ride on my last trip!
- A train ride around MK
- Walking around Adventureland at night
- Taking in the beauty that is Animal Kingdom

 

[kaytieeldr]

I like this little shortcut, too. But I wouldn't say that the air is fresh when all of the smokers are gathered there polluting the air.

Hmm. Must have been a non-smoker day as we didn't go past any that day. Will keep that min mind for future trips

Just for general information, according to this map http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/MK.htm there are two officially designated smoking areas on that path. There are only four such spots in the entire park.

With that in mind, I'm adding that the Designated Smoking Areas are an underrated experience.

 

[rainboots]

Wishes fireworks cruise out of the Polynesian. It was the pinnacle of our trip. So relaxing, we got a tour of the lakes, and a fabulous view of the fireworks! There were 10 in our party, we could spread out & just relax after a busy park day. All of our lakes are frozen, and we are all boaters, so it was heaven to just be on a boat!

 

[msk]

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. On our 10 day trip last May, my grandchildren insisted on going to MK every day just to play this game. They had so much fun! It is a great way for the adults to sit and relax while the kids try to solve the mystery in each land.

 

[PALionKingfan]

I have one for each park.

MK - The Tomorrowland Transit Authority
EP - O' Canada
HS - The Tower of Terror queue lobby
AK - The Maharaja Jungle Trek
Disney Springs - Getting a free chocolate at Ghirardelli's, especially around Christmas when they give out the Peppermint Bark. (Note, I have not been here since the switch to Disney Springs so I am not sure if they still do this.)

 

[PACVII]

Most underrated Walt Disney world experance?

Stopping on Main Street and watching my children and now grandchildren face as you enter the park. Just taking one minute to enjoy your family and life toghter. All year I rush to work come home late and never tell my wife how lucky I am. When I go to WDW I stop and enjoy every second I can. When I cross through the arch onto Disney property I block out the outside world. Stop worrying about as much as I can and take my wife's hand and try to hold it as much as I can to make up for the rest of the year when I don't. Everyone spends so much time thinking that spending time apart is making your family better, working and trying to get that next promotion, that next rise or bonus but all in the end what makes you better is spending time as a family. I wish I would have realized this 40 years ago but happy I have it now.

 

[rastahomie]

I'm sure others have mentioned this already (I haven't read the entire thread) but for me, it's this: just sit still for a while. Sit on a bench and people-watch. Listen to the conversations they're having. Enjoy the foreign accents. Breathe in the atmosphere and let it all wash over you. Stop rushing to here and there to catch this attraction or that performance, and just be present.

 

[maryj11]

We are nuts for the People Mover too. Our whole family. I can't describe why. We would never skip it any day we are at MK.

I put my feet up. We have a snack. What is it about that ride??? It's not nostalgia. It's just the perfect combination of relaxing and kitsch and nice breeze.

We have to ride it every time. It is just our way of taking a relaxing break.

 

[thegajone]

Most underrated Walt Disney world experance?

Stopping on Main Street and watching my children and now grandchildren face as you enter the park. Just taking one minute to enjoy your family and life toghter. All year I rush to work come home late and never tell my wife how lucky I am. When I go to WDW I stop and enjoy every second I can. When I cross through the arch onto Disney property I block out the outside world. Stop worrying about as much as I can and take my wife's hand and try to hold it as much as I can to make up for the rest of the year when I don't. Everyone spends so much time thinking that spending time apart is making your family better, working and trying to get that next promotion, that next rise or bonus but all in the end what makes you better is spending time as a family. I wish I would have realized this 40 years ago but happy I have it now.

I get goosebumps when I enter the front gates at MK and walk up Main Street, and my eyes start to well up when I see the statue of Walt holding Mickey's hand. I even get goosebumps just thinking about it.

I love this thread and some of the attractions listed so far. People Mover, Carousel of Progress, Living With the Land and the monorail are some of my favorites of those listed. I also like trying a snack from each country in World Showcase.

I know it's not the point of the thread to list one of the most popular rides as being "underrated", but for me it's Splash Mountain. I've been to quite a few amusement parks and ridden some of the tallest, fastest and most thrilling roller coasters and rides on earth, but to me Splash Mountain is the most perfect ride on the planet. The pacing is perfect, the themeing is immaculate and there's a nice thrilling climax. The visuals, the music and sounds, and even the smell of it all put a smile on my face every time. To me, that ride is the perfect representation of MK and WDW; it is the epitome of happiness at an amusement park.

I'm a coaster enthusiast, but give me Splash Mountain over any coaster out there.

 

[Tashsco]

Another one for the people mover. Get to see the park from a different perspective. Same thing for the Magic Kingdom railroad. Great way to see the park and get from one area to another

 

[TinkFan74]

My daughter and I love renting kayaks in Fort Wilderness we get such a kick out of watching the birds and turtles, luckily we have not come across any alligators. This activity is also a good deal at about only $6-$7
My daughter could spend all day at the Affection Section of AK petting the goats.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Some great things in this thread. We always do the People Mover, it's so fun, my goofy teenagers have a blast on it. Also riding the Main Street vehicles, they are so fun especially when there isn't a line and the nice driver brings you back down to the front.

Our last trip was a daughter/mom trip. It was a little warmer than we expected and my daughter was in a wheelchair so we had a very relaxing trip. One of the highlights of our trip was talking with CMs. We met a wonderful character handler named Michael, we actually ran into him a few times and each time he had something special to share about the Magic Kingdom. It's the one thing my daughter still talks about, the various stories from the CMs.

One thing I will definitely do on our next trip is bus roulette. Hopefully my family will be up for it because this idea is fantastic.

 

[Micca]

Great thread, I've 'liked" about 85% of the posts (and appreciated the remaining ones.) I see so many fans of COP, Enchanted Tiki Room, TTA and others. This is why WDW is so different from other theme parks: It's not that other parks don't have terrific, sometimes superior attractions, but they don't have the magic or the mojo of these simpler attractions. And there's not much the competition can do--they can go faster and higher, but some things just can't be better.

 

[goofy Jr. 88]

If it was up to me, Carousel of Progress would be an E - ticket attraction.

Also love TTA people mover, living with the land.

And another vote for the water taxi from POR to Disney Springs

 

[ryukage]

I'd say the animal trails at Animal Kingdom are underrated. I can spend hours casually moving from space to space, enjoying the animals.

 

[Grand Admiral]

A basic ride like Astro Jets can be fantastic when viewed through the eyes of a child. It was the only ride he specifically pointed and asked to go on.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Last trip DH said his favorite ride was napping at the resort and that he wanted to make sure he always had a fastpass for it!

 

[ottjdub]

Throwing out the touring plan and not having every park, meal, and ride scheduled months in advance.

Living on the edge and not having everything planned ahead of time is very underrated. If you remove the stress of having to be some place at some time and just walking the park you will bring out the true Magic of Disney. Just let yourself go and enjoy!!! Yes, you might not get too everything you want too BUT you will discover areas of the park that you would have raced through just to make your next FP+ in time. Disney isn't going anywhere and you can always go back again and again and again and again. HINT HINT Julie!!!!