Peter Pan's Flight - Why So Popular?

[PlutoTheDog89]

Long lines, (little to) no restrictions, family ride and it's a low capacity, slow-moving ride.

We always go late at night - usually during late-night EMHs. By then, most of the families have left and we get on in around 20-30 mins. This past trip we managed to get a 4th FP+ for it. It's then that we noticed that we always wind up ending our trips with Peter Pan. Probably why we always enjoy it - it's nostalgic.

 

[ShellieMimi]

I always thought it was the flight over London that gave it the "wow".

But lately, I've wondered each time I ride it, what it would be like if they wanted to remake it as *the same ride it is now*, with all the same scenes, same characters, and the same track layout, but just using current technology. Would that spoil it?

I don't think so. I think it would actually add a great deal to it. The neon paint, for example, has gone from "classic" to "dated" IMO.

 

[coasternut22]

I think you need to look at Disneyland's PP to truly understand it's popularity. At DL, there is no fastpass and it is surrounded by several dark rides, yet it is still the must-do rope drop attraction. I think the number one reason is capacity. As stated before, it is popular because it has long lines and you need to plan for it, so therefore it becomes a must do, which increases its popularity. Second, it is unique... it flies. Snow White, Pinocchio, and Toad all have similar ride structures so nothing really stands out. Alice is a bit different as it goes on two levels and goes indoors and outdoors. My guess is that is why Alice has the second longest waits of the dark rides.

But overall, I think the low capacity and uniqueness causes its popularity.

 

[Starlord22]

It is a classic and my mom's favorite so I usually always go on at some point. I do think the new queue is nice. I like the ride but it was never my absolute favorite and I always find my self commenting about the wait when we walk by lol

 

[mousefan73]

This ride is simple classic beauty. Less is more. Though the details are amazing.

 

[MKMK]

Agree with everyone on this thread .. we return simply because it brings back wonderful memories when we were young coming to Disney with our parents.

But ... given a choice ... we really, really miss Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. No logic or reason other than it was our favorite growing up.

 

[mawatcha]

Does anyone else get really emotional on the ride? I normally get teary on it. It's the one ride where I truly feel like I've been transported back to childhood for a moment, it's magical.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Does anyone else get really emotional on the ride? I normally get teary on it. It's the one ride where I truly feel like I've been transported back to childhood for a moment, it's magical.

I think a big reason for this is that not only do people have nostalgia towards the ride, they have nostalgia towards the movie. It really is unique in not only ride structure but also in the fact that there just ISN'T many attactions left with that known film backstory. One of the reasons BOG is so popular as well. i actually can't think of anything else that qualifies except maybe the castle dwarves mine train does a bit, but the modern tech is kind of distracting. Hasn't got the old fashioned charm.
It's not my favorite but it's a treat to ride. Line really is always long. But

 

[mousefan73]

One of my best Disney memories was being "stuck" for 15-20 minutes during a ride stop. We were above the mermaids. And to top it off it was a Halloween party night. We sat and really dug the details in while eating our candy. Think I ate 1000 in chocolate calories

 

[mickeysgirl17]

The OP has a point though. Back in 2006 and all the way through to 2012 (my most recent trip), there was no rush to get to peter pan at rope drop. It used to be fine riding until about 10:15 or so with waits less than 20 min. The rush used to be splash/space. Now it's mine train and peter pan. So not sure what has changed since other than the queue. I like the ride but i personally don't see why it's gotten this popular.

 

[melanielll]

Or - to solve the hair dilemma - wear hats!

 

[Sundowner2]

My oldest and I adore Peter Pan. The movies, the stories, the books, just everything Peter Pan. Hence, our willing to wait in line for the ride. Its magical.

 

[GPC0321]

First of all, forgive me if this is an ignorant question but why is Peter Pan's Flight so popular? I'll be making my first trip in about 7 years to Disney World with my girlfriend. I've been to Disney World and the magic kingdom 11 or 12 times as a kid and remember the ride very well and never remember it being a significant attraction. Am I mistaken or has the new queue drawn people in that much? Thanks!

When I started planning last Easter's trip to WDW after a 17 year hiatus, literally the first ride that came into my head and made me smile in anticipation of experiencing it again was Peter Pan's Flight. I cannot honestly say which of my childhood visits it was that I remember riding it, but that feeling of flying over London had stuck with me (I'm 43 now!). I also remember, on maybe my 2nd or 3rd trip to WDW as a kid, standing in line with my cousin for what seemed like hours (long before the cool queue!) to ride it.

I think it's so remarkable that the ride does EXACTLY what the story of Peter Pan is meant to do. It takes us back to our childhood. For me, it's the first thing I want to ride when I get there, because I feel like it's ushering me back to that simpler time when I was a kid and everything was so magical and fun. That's the whole point of a trip to Disney, to me, and this quaint little ride that has been around since we were all kids is the perfect portal to whisk us back in time in a flying pirate ship. What could be better than that?

I will admit, though, that when I was on it last Easter, I was more aware of its age and lack of sophistication. I could hear the mechanics of the ride creaking and groaning over the music, the "flying" perspective wasn't as convincing anymore. Probably all proof that I'd been in the "grown-up world" too long without a visit to Disney! LOL! My imagination was rusty. I think it COULD be updated to be a bit more visually and technologically impressive, but that could run the risk of disappointing a lot of people who depend on it for the charming nostalgia.

 

[Jamie77]

I think it's so remarkable that the ride does EXACTLY what the story of Peter Pan is meant to do. It takes us back to our childhood. For me, it's the first thing I want to ride when I get there, because I feel like it's ushering me back to that simpler time when I was a kid and everything was so magical and fun. That's the whole point of a trip to Disney, to me, and this quaint little ride that has been around since we were all kids is the perfect portal to whisk us back in time in a flying pirate ship. What could be better than that?

I think this is what I'm going to do on my next trip. Go to Peter Pan first so that I can enter the portal to childhood before I can fully enjoy the MK. I was kind of disillusioned the last time I went there solo due to the heavy crowds. Usually crowds don't bother me but they got to me that year since I couldn't find any spot that wasn't discovered by someone else.

 

[GPC0321]

I think this is what I'm going to do on my next trip. Go to Peter Pan first so that I can enter the portal to childhood before I can fully enjoy the MK. I was kind of disillusioned the last time I went there solo due to the heavy crowds. Usually crowds don't bother me but they got to me that year since I couldn't find any spot that wasn't discovered by someone else.

Crowds can definitely suck some of the magic out. It's one of the reasons I like park hoppers. An entire day at Magic Kingdom would probably have me in a knot. I like being able to hop into and out of it as needed.

 

[Amelia :)]

At DLP the ride vehicles are twice as big (2 rows), PP is also next to Pinocho and Snow White, dark rides that load at the same speed, yet still PP's queue is 5 times longer. It's just a much loved classic.

 

[Klayfish]

I'm not a big Peter Pan fan at all, frankly didn't care for the movie. But I really do enjoy the ride...except....

The have to, must, need to, do something about the acoustics. You can hear "Fire, Mr. Smee!!!" throughout nearly the entire ride and I find it distracting.

 

[Liljo22]

Classic ride but the big draw is the unique ride system. There is just something about flying a pirate ship over London/Neverland.

 

[igrsod]

We rode it for the first time in years. It was our longest wait on our whole trip. After it was done, my daughter piped up... it wasn't worth that long of a wait. I agreed. Later that day the wait was double.
I would only ride it again, early in the day or with a FP. It is cute and fun for the whole family, but the wait is crazy.

 

[AllieBoo]

One of my favorites, definitely due to the nostalgia aspect of it. I remember riding it when I was a kid