The Running Thread - 2018

[Jules76126]

Epcot - Figment. My sister loves it so we always ride it, but I really feel like it needs a face lift. Although that is like many things EPCOT.
AK - I don't care for it's Tough to Be A Bug or coaster. I have ridden both, but will gladly skip in the future.
MK - Country Bear Jamboree is a skip. I think the last time I saw this was 10 years ago and that is still too soon. I always don't like the Speedway. The smell gives me a major headache. I am in the camp - replace it

 

[kski907]

Whoa Whoa now! COP is the greatest attraction of all times! I realize I am part of a small few who think that, but it is great! I LOVE the COP. I recently purchased a COP T-shirt and watch BigFatPanda's YouTube video of it multiple time a week. So much history in that ride. As in actual history and then Disney history. It's the one ride I told DW that I would drop everything and take a solo trip to WDW for 1 day if it was closing suddenly. BTW her choice of that scenario is the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. This would be a good fun Friday Qotd for next week...

I feel this way about Figment and I am probably in the minority on that too. We had vacationed during the art festival last year and they had an activity where you find Figment in artwork around the showcase. It was neat to see that they actually incorporated some of that artwork in to the ride this trip.

I agree in the history of COP. My mom actually got to see it at the worlds fair in 1964. She is also a big fan.

I love this about Disney everyone finds an attraction they are passionate about one way or the other.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

ATTQOTD:
I think any ride that looks like it can be found at a fair or carnival... but I completely understand these rides are for families with smaller kiddos that love them, so I wouldn't suggest getting rid of them!

I am tempted to share what I think the most overrated ride in WDW is (big house. ghosts. getting stuck literally every single time I ride it...) but I want to keep you all as friends.

 

[roxymama]

ATTQOTD: It's a Small World. I know, I know, it is a classic, but I cannot even ride it because that song gets stuck in my head and is maddening.

I'll ride it double for you so that you don't have to! (that's how this works right?)

ATTQOTD:
Not a big fan of the speedway either. The exhaust plus the wait outside always seems extra hot to me.
Prime-Evil Hurl (I spelled it right...not a typo)
And I know it's not currently open but that Stitch hot dog smell is still in my nose from a decade ago.

Sad sidenote: I missed the boat ride in Mexico this year because I had an adult coffee beverage and they said I couldn't go on the ride with it. It was like deciding between my two favorite children. I ended up sadly sipping my wonderful drink while watching my family go on without me. Such a sad sad sad day. (This story has a happy ending in China when I got some duck buns and forgot about my sadness.)

 

[roxymama]

I feel this way about Figment and I am probably in the minority on that too. We had vacationed during the art festival last year and they had an activity where you find Figment in artwork around the showcase. It was neat to see that they actually incorporated some of that artwork in to the ride this trip.

I agree in the history of COP. My mom actually got to see it at the worlds fair in 1964. She is also a big fan.

I love this about Disney everyone finds an attraction they are passionate about one way or the other.

The original Figment ride was a masterpiece. I watch low quality youtubes of it to reminisce. There's rumors that a big part of the track/ride scenes are still back there behind the walls when they shortened the ride. This excites me to no end. If you want something fun to do, search youtube for old videos of people sneaking into the old imagination pavillion imageworks upstairs. I know it was illegal but SO COOL!!

Ok - sorry for the geek out.

 

[surfde22]

Fun Friday QOTD: What do you think is the worse attraction / show that is currently open at WDW?

I vote for Stitch as well, even if it isn't open now. Everything about it is bad. Also not a fan of the current iteration of Figment.

 

[McNs]

ATTQOTD - Figment is just odd. And Country Bears Jamboree doesn’t work for foreigners - couldn’t understand half of what they were saying and the other half didn’t make sense.

 

[Barca33Runner]

I guess it’s time to join back in now that we’re 20+ pages into this thing.

ATTQOTD:

This is like attraction Festivus. “I got a lot of problems with you rides and now you’re going to hear about ‘em...”

The biggest tear down/there’s got to be something better for this space is the Speedway. It smells awful, isn’t exciting, has nothing to do with Tomorrowland anymore, and takes up so much useable space. Like I said, there’s got to be something better for that space.

Other things that IMO gots to go:

-The carnival games at AK (the whole area feels cheap, but the carnival games are the most out of place. The rides at least displace a few guests from other lines.)
-It’s Tough to be a Bug-Poor tone. Scares kids.
-Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular-So hard for me to say it because I love Indiana Jones so much and the attraction is one of my most vivid childhood memories of Disney World, but it’s so stale and outdated. Indy deserves a better footprint in the parks and if they need to remove this attraction to do it, so be it. I’d be ok if they leave it as well. Nostalgia and the fact it can still soak up a crowd.

Things that need a revamp:

-Figment-I Love Figment and he deserves better. That could be revamping the ride or tearing it down/repurposing it and just making him the Epcot mascot and a bigger presence all over the park. Not sure how many people under 35 even get the Flubber and Honey! I Shrunk The Kids references in the queue at this point.
-Haunted Mansion-Fine. I’m a hater. But I absolutely believe they could use new technology and better audio and visual effects to bring this closer to the original intent of the ride. The beauty is in the details and everything feels old and musty (not in the good or intended way) on this attraction.
-Tower of Terror-I know. I like to destroy things people love. I’ve never understood the place of the twilight zone theme. My nieces and nephews are terrified of the ride and they would absolutely love it if it were themed to something a) from within a generation of their lifetime, and b) more enjoyable than creepy. Doesn’t have to be mission breakout and I get that a lot of people like the fact that the scheming scares others off, but it could be a better ride with a more immersive story.

I enjoy the parks as they are and really, other than the first three things I listed, am fine with the others remaining as is; but I like when Disney keeps up with the times and doesn’t rest on their laurels.

 

[michigandergirl]

Finally caught up! I came down with an awful cold after Dopey, felt like I could have slept for days, but now I'm feeling better and might even go for a run this weekend.

ATTQOTD: There are so many attractions that need to go or need a redo...Stitch, Country Bear, Spaceship Earth, Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise...

@LSUlakes here are my Dopey times - these are all personal worsts, but I couldn't be more proud - I had so much fun!!!

5K - 52:46
10K - 1:28:12
half - 2:53:16
full - 5:42:24

And here are a couple of races to add:

April 22 - michigandergirl - Gazelle Girl half marathon - 2:05
May 12 - michigandergirl - Fifth Third River Bank Run 25K - 2:35

Thanks!

 

[FFigawi]

Fun Friday QOTD: What do you think is the worse attraction / show that is currently open at WDW?

The new FOP ride in Animal Kingdom. It's absolutely terrible. You won't like it at all. Just stay away*

*

Spoiler

and leave more FP for the rest of us

 

[Jules76126]

Finally caught up! I came down with an awful cold after Dopey, felt like I could have slept for days, but now I'm feeling better and might even go for a run this weekend.

ATTQOTD: There are so many attractions that need to go or need a redo...Stitch, Country Bear, Spaceship Earth, Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise...

Whoa whoa whoa- Spaceship Earth does not need a redo I did my first CP program there and it was the year it went down for refurb and changed to its current iteration so definitely has the nostalgia factor. One of the last nights it was open, after we had closed for the night, they let us walk about and talk photos with the ride scenes. It was so cool and a great memento. We just had to promise not to post them anywhere. I doubt they will do a major haul anytime soon. It is such a pain to update and the space can't hold anything but a slow moving ride due to gravity and the way the sphere is built. But I wouldn't mind more things to look at on the descent down like there use to be.

 

[baxter24]

ATTQOTD: Like most have said, not a fan of Stich. But if I am really honest, I’d have to agree with @KSellers88 and say Small World. I know it’s such a beloved attraction, but that song just wears on me. The ride always backs up towards the end and you are inevitably stuck in one room just listening to the same lyrics over and over again. The worst part is that my little kids still like it so I think it’s sadly still a must-do for our family for the next few years.

 

[JeffW]

ATTQOTD: There are so many attractions that need to go or need a redo...Stitch, Country Bear, Spaceship Earth, Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise...

I was with you until you said Jungle Cruise. Don't go messing with the punniest ride at DW

 

[jennamfeo]

The new FOP ride in Animal Kingdom. It's absolutely terrible. You won't like it at all. Just stay away*

*

Spoiler

and leave more FP for the rest of us

Take all the FPs for that ride you want. I want nothing to do with it.

 

[gjramsey]

LOL, I also have a people mover shirt lololol. Love it as well, found memories of being on that ride with my dad as a kid. It's relaxing and a great way to people watch. DD does not like the dark parts, like going into Space Mountain.

My youngest really likes the Peoplemover as well, but does not like Pirates. On Sat, Space Mtn went down right before our FP time, so we had time to kill before our next FP. The wife and I headed towards Pirates, and the boys stayed in Tomorrowland, and got to experience the Peoplemover go into Space with the lights on. They were both excited and shocked to see how much goes on during the ride and all that is in there to support it!

I think it was in the 1970s the last time I rode COP......

 

[michigandergirl]

I was with you until you said Jungle Cruise. Don't go messing with the punniest ride at DW

I agree the CM’s are entertaining, just wish there was more to look at, especially since the wait times are usually high.

 

[Baloo in MI]

@Baloo in MI have you done dxa2 previously? I have been debating the associated 10 or the AA marathon 10K 2 weeks earlier, but I don't think my husband would green light both. As a non-runner I have a love-hate with the AA marathon (my house is not on route, but close enough to be on the map, and on the other side of the course was our OB, and there was an emergency appointment that I didn't make causing much stress and anger at the race), but it is close enough to walk to so I feel like I should make amends with the race. but dxa2 looks like a prettier route. I also realize I could just run either route by myself on another day, but likely will not.

I ran it in 2015. You are right it is a beautiful course. It is point to point (Dexter to Ann Arbor). They bus you from AA to Dexter. The course is a bit hilly but views of the river and all the trees I hardly noticed. I thought it was organized well and had a nice finishers medal. It was three years ago but I would recommend. If you do the AA Marathon please let me know what you think.

 

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD: I would have gone with the Tommorowland Speedway but since that was picked I have to go with Animal Kingdom’s Rivers of Light show. It was freezing and we got misted the whole time. I would be fine with that (like Fantasmic in DL) if the show made any sense or was at least entertaining. We had left AK to go to the expo and I talked the family (who were all wet and cold) into going back to AK specifically to watch this show. Even my youngest daughter was giving me the stink eye! Not a fan!

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

I'll throw in a honorable mention to Country Bear Jamboree.

Am I the only one here that will defend Country Bears? I love that show! If anyone fights me on this one there's gonna be some blood on the saddle...

 

[LSUlakes]

So, I am kinda thinking about running (walk/run) my half on Sunday. The problem is the race starts at 7 and I have to make FP+ for a friend at 6. How bad would it be to do make 4-5 days worth of FP on a phone starting at 6? Other suggestions?