What is DisneyQuest?
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FortForever
Disney since Day 1
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Unfortunately, it's a shadow of it's former self. It was amazing at first. Now due to close next year, I believe.
It's 4 stores of video games and virtual reality type rides. I used to love it, once upon a time. If you have free passes, absolutely visit as it may be your last chance. I would go even if we could get in half price, just for old time sake. Some of the rides are very, very fun.
It's 4 stores of video games and virtual reality type rides. I used to love it, once upon a time. If you have free passes, absolutely visit as it may be your last chance. I would go even if we could get in half price, just for old time sake. Some of the rides are very, very fun.
It is a combination of things:
- All the classic video games. Everything from the original space invaders and donkey kong on. My kids discovered a love for Q-bert. I remembered how much I loved (and how bad I was at actually playing) Joust.
- Many of the current video games and other games (like sports games) you'd find in an arcade. Just, instead of paying to play each time, it's an all-you-can-play thing (you press a button on each game that acts like entering coins or whatever).
- Immersive video games. Some of these are really good - the Pirates of the Caribbean game is as good as anything else I've seen, and lots of fun to play as a family/group. Some are really dated - the Aladdin game uses a head-mounted display system from the 1990s, which compared to the Oculus Rift is just pitiful (but shows you how long it took to make real progress in VR systems). There's a virtual jungle cruise game that's fun (you ride in a simulated raft that you paddle). Cyberspace Mountain lets you design a roller coaster and then ride it in a simulator (think Sum of All Thrills, but a little bit different). There's a bumper-car game where you shoot balls at the other cars to make them spin. I know I'm forgetting at least one.
- They also have a "create" zone where there are animation classes given several times a day, and you can create toys and CDs (some for an extra cost). There's a small (and not very good) snack bar, also.
As others said, though, it's dated, and honestly is not being kept up well. There's a whole lounge on the 4th floor sitting empty, and the food offerings in the snack bar are really pitiful. I noticed lots of small things in need of maintenance/repair/paint. Honestly, it's not being kept up to the Disney standard. But, it's still a lot of fun. Our family had just a few hours there on our final day this last trip, but we could have easily spent several more. I would recommend going if you have kids who like video games, or like them yourself.
If you care about history:
DisneyQuest was created in the late 1990s (I believe it was '98), and was intended to be the first of a whole chain of DisneyQuest locations that would be located in all sorts of cities. I think they opened one in Philadelphia or maybe Chicago briefly, but shut it down shortly after - people weren't willing to pay Disney vacation prices for just the one experience, and it was basically a giant flop. They put a lot of work into developing the original VR games that are there, and they represented the pinnacle of VR technology at the time. The Orlando location has made enough to be profitable enough to continue operating. But, the model was supposed to involve those original games (and new ones continuously being developed) being installed into dozens of locations, and with only the one operating location, they could not justify R&D costs to develop new games. They did install the Pirates of the Caribbean game a little later, but other than that, there was nothing else significant added in all the years since (they have brought in new arcade games). They maintain things enough to keep it operating, but nothing more.
At one time, it had even more - like a remote control car game on the bottom floor, a comic swordfighting game (parts of those are still sitting empty, along with signs that point to the no-longer-existing ride), and an Aladdin genie "experience" on the initial elevator ride (originally, even entering the building was an experience). Instead, it's been left to just slowly hang on since then. They still get people coming in, and I still find it a lot of fun. It shows you something by how unique many of the immersive games are even today that they did a good job with the original design of most rides, even if the overall concept didn't work out. But, the current state is pretty sad if you knew the original, and the idea of what it was going to be at the time.
There were recent plans to convert the building into an NBA experience or something (and it was supposed to be closed this year), but those evidently fell through, so it's again in limbo, just hanging in there. I am not sure there are any concrete plans to close at this point, but it's widely understood that if a good option for another use of the building comes up, they'll be closing it down.
- All the classic video games. Everything from the original space invaders and donkey kong on. My kids discovered a love for Q-bert. I remembered how much I loved (and how bad I was at actually playing) Joust.
- Many of the current video games and other games (like sports games) you'd find in an arcade. Just, instead of paying to play each time, it's an all-you-can-play thing (you press a button on each game that acts like entering coins or whatever).
- Immersive video games. Some of these are really good - the Pirates of the Caribbean game is as good as anything else I've seen, and lots of fun to play as a family/group. Some are really dated - the Aladdin game uses a head-mounted display system from the 1990s, which compared to the Oculus Rift is just pitiful (but shows you how long it took to make real progress in VR systems). There's a virtual jungle cruise game that's fun (you ride in a simulated raft that you paddle). Cyberspace Mountain lets you design a roller coaster and then ride it in a simulator (think Sum of All Thrills, but a little bit different). There's a bumper-car game where you shoot balls at the other cars to make them spin. I know I'm forgetting at least one.
- They also have a "create" zone where there are animation classes given several times a day, and you can create toys and CDs (some for an extra cost). There's a small (and not very good) snack bar, also.
As others said, though, it's dated, and honestly is not being kept up well. There's a whole lounge on the 4th floor sitting empty, and the food offerings in the snack bar are really pitiful. I noticed lots of small things in need of maintenance/repair/paint. Honestly, it's not being kept up to the Disney standard. But, it's still a lot of fun. Our family had just a few hours there on our final day this last trip, but we could have easily spent several more. I would recommend going if you have kids who like video games, or like them yourself.
If you care about history:
DisneyQuest was created in the late 1990s (I believe it was '98), and was intended to be the first of a whole chain of DisneyQuest locations that would be located in all sorts of cities. I think they opened one in Philadelphia or maybe Chicago briefly, but shut it down shortly after - people weren't willing to pay Disney vacation prices for just the one experience, and it was basically a giant flop. They put a lot of work into developing the original VR games that are there, and they represented the pinnacle of VR technology at the time. The Orlando location has made enough to be profitable enough to continue operating. But, the model was supposed to involve those original games (and new ones continuously being developed) being installed into dozens of locations, and with only the one operating location, they could not justify R&D costs to develop new games. They did install the Pirates of the Caribbean game a little later, but other than that, there was nothing else significant added in all the years since (they have brought in new arcade games). They maintain things enough to keep it operating, but nothing more.
At one time, it had even more - like a remote control car game on the bottom floor, a comic swordfighting game (parts of those are still sitting empty, along with signs that point to the no-longer-existing ride), and an Aladdin genie "experience" on the initial elevator ride (originally, even entering the building was an experience). Instead, it's been left to just slowly hang on since then. They still get people coming in, and I still find it a lot of fun. It shows you something by how unique many of the immersive games are even today that they did a good job with the original design of most rides, even if the overall concept didn't work out. But, the current state is pretty sad if you knew the original, and the idea of what it was going to be at the time.
There were recent plans to convert the building into an NBA experience or something (and it was supposed to be closed this year), but those evidently fell through, so it's again in limbo, just hanging in there. I am not sure there are any concrete plans to close at this point, but it's widely understood that if a good option for another use of the building comes up, they'll be closing it down.
markmcalear
Mouseketeer
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I am happy that it is staying open for now!!
My kids love it in there. Our next trip is August 2017 so hopefully it will still be open then.
My kids love it in there. Our next trip is August 2017 so hopefully it will still be open then.
craedaisy12
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Its a fun experience to at least try once! My DH love arcades so I took him and he had so much fun. We enjoy the pirate ride and you can even play Fix it Felix Jr!! I think your kids will love it. Theres a Buzz Lightyear Astroid Blaster the 2 -13 yo will enjoy!
Klayfish
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Keyser has a great description, very well said. It's basically 4 stories (in a 5 story building) of video games. Lots of them are old school, from the early 80's to the 90's, so if you grew up in that age, like I did, it's quite nostalgic. They also have a lot of newer games, as well as several virtual reality experiences. Virtual Space Mountain is one...you design your own roller coaster and then go into a simulator and ride it. It can flip, roll, etc...
As others have said, it's a shadow of what it once was. The elevator used to be a ride in itself. Now it's just a regular elevator. The lounge/food area is ALWAYS completely empty. It's day is past and it'll be closing soon. But if you've got a free pass, definitely go. I was an arcade addict in the early and mid-80s, so I do enjoy some of it.
Yes, they were going to put a DisneyQuest in Philly. I lived in town when that was going on. They even cleared the spot, in the middle of center city and were about to start construction when the plan got scrapped. Left the city with a gaping open lot in the middle of town and lost a ton of cash.
As others have said, it's a shadow of what it once was. The elevator used to be a ride in itself. Now it's just a regular elevator. The lounge/food area is ALWAYS completely empty. It's day is past and it'll be closing soon. But if you've got a free pass, definitely go. I was an arcade addict in the early and mid-80s, so I do enjoy some of it.
Yes, they were going to put a DisneyQuest in Philly. I lived in town when that was going on. They even cleared the spot, in the middle of center city and were about to start construction when the plan got scrapped. Left the city with a gaping open lot in the middle of town and lost a ton of cash.
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It's 5 floors of gaming fun. We use to go every other week for supper when the Cheesecake Factory Express was in there. They use to have the vest burgers on property. Now the food is Disney food.
Many of the game machines are broken, but there are plenty of games. 5th floor has the food, skee ball, some arcade games, use to have a ride the comics game but that shut down. 4th floor has more remnants of ride the comics, can't remember if it's 4th or 5th that has a game where you "kick some alien butt" as the tv "preshow" says. It's a simulator of an aircraft. You go and rescue fellow pilots while destroying aliens. It's graphic with blood. There's dessert on the 4th floor.
One of the floors has a Buzz lightyear bumper car game where you shoot asteroids at other bumper cars. If you hit the target, their car spins uncontrollably.
There's a human pinball game. You go on a stand that looks like a pogo stick. You're ball moves on the pinball game based on your movement of your pogo stand.
There's a jungle cruise game on the 1st floor. You sit in a raft and row. You also get splashed.
There's a POTC game too. It's 3D. You shoot virtual pirate ships with pull string cannons.
2nd floor has an Aladdin magic carpet ride.
I think 3rd has a virtual roller coaster ride. You actually go upside down if you build corkscrew or loops into your ride.
Many of the game machines are broken, but there are plenty of games. 5th floor has the food, skee ball, some arcade games, use to have a ride the comics game but that shut down. 4th floor has more remnants of ride the comics, can't remember if it's 4th or 5th that has a game where you "kick some alien butt" as the tv "preshow" says. It's a simulator of an aircraft. You go and rescue fellow pilots while destroying aliens. It's graphic with blood. There's dessert on the 4th floor.
One of the floors has a Buzz lightyear bumper car game where you shoot asteroids at other bumper cars. If you hit the target, their car spins uncontrollably.
There's a human pinball game. You go on a stand that looks like a pogo stick. You're ball moves on the pinball game based on your movement of your pogo stand.
There's a jungle cruise game on the 1st floor. You sit in a raft and row. You also get splashed.
There's a POTC game too. It's 3D. You shoot virtual pirate ships with pull string cannons.
2nd floor has an Aladdin magic carpet ride.
I think 3rd has a virtual roller coaster ride. You actually go upside down if you build corkscrew or loops into your ride.
erinch
Parsing the same ee cummings poem for 20 years
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Back in the 80s, I was a youth leader with a bunch of snotty Jr. High boys. I developed one skill. I could whip their behinds at Galaga. And also Centipede. So Disney quest is a fun quarter free trip to classic arcade games . On the top floor are a bunch of games like skeeball that give tickets for little prizes. And those are an extra charge or used to be. The create activities also charge, or used to.
NYUBwayBaby
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I know there was one in Chicago. When we were moving we passed through Chicago and the plan was to go for my birthday but it had already closed.
The BF and I went to DisneyQuest the day we arrived last time since it's part of the water parks and more ticket option. We had fun playing the arcade games, but if it wasn't a part of that package we wouldn't have paid to gone. When it first opened it was really cool but now it just kind of... makes me sad.
The BF and I went to DisneyQuest the day we arrived last time since it's part of the water parks and more ticket option. We had fun playing the arcade games, but if it wasn't a part of that package we wouldn't have paid to gone. When it first opened it was really cool but now it just kind of... makes me sad.
BrianL
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It really has fallen a lot but the Pirates of the Caribbean game alone is worth popping in for a few hours. You have the passes. I would say it is not worth paying admission for, but with a WPF&M ticket or any kind of pass, sure, give it a shot. I love the concept of DQ, but it really needs to be updated if they're going to keep it around.
Jobie
Earned Me Ears
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It's a failure...
I kid, I kid (no seriously it is)
The original concept was to be a "Virtual Theme Park", where the key attractions were video game based. The concept was great, a large arcade with all of the latest and greatest games, along with key attractions that were made with the latest technology for interactive experiences you cannot get anywhere else. However, with how quickly technology changes it is hard to keep up to date and impressive.
A couple of things were going against it:
1) Home video games surpass the arcade experience. Today's home games far surpass what you are able to do with a game that is designed to take your money away every so many minutes. An arcade game is built with how to give you enough entertainment where you feel like you had fun and makes you want to spend more to keep having fun. By making the arcade games free, you lose that hook. There is no longer a risk of losing, because you just have to hit the continue button rather than insert more quarters. Home games get around this by making more complex games. Having an arcade game free, takes away some of the fun. Also, with fewer and fewer arcade games being made, it is hard to keep it up to date.
2) The unique experiences aged quickly. They did not keep the main attractions up to date and they did not keep adding in new ones. The jungle cruise and pirates games are fun, but they look old. They should have been updating these games art assets to keep the graphics up to date. Once it looks aged, it begins to lose its appeal to the target audience.
When it opened, I am sure Disney Quest was impressive. However, the first time I went was back in 2006, and it lost a lot of its appeal. The most impressive part to me was the elevator ride with Genie when you first went in and the bumper cars game. I was in there this past October, and they didn't do the Genie in the elevator anymore. I was very disappointed.
I kid, I kid (no seriously it is)
The original concept was to be a "Virtual Theme Park", where the key attractions were video game based. The concept was great, a large arcade with all of the latest and greatest games, along with key attractions that were made with the latest technology for interactive experiences you cannot get anywhere else. However, with how quickly technology changes it is hard to keep up to date and impressive.
A couple of things were going against it:
1) Home video games surpass the arcade experience. Today's home games far surpass what you are able to do with a game that is designed to take your money away every so many minutes. An arcade game is built with how to give you enough entertainment where you feel like you had fun and makes you want to spend more to keep having fun. By making the arcade games free, you lose that hook. There is no longer a risk of losing, because you just have to hit the continue button rather than insert more quarters. Home games get around this by making more complex games. Having an arcade game free, takes away some of the fun. Also, with fewer and fewer arcade games being made, it is hard to keep it up to date.
2) The unique experiences aged quickly. They did not keep the main attractions up to date and they did not keep adding in new ones. The jungle cruise and pirates games are fun, but they look old. They should have been updating these games art assets to keep the graphics up to date. Once it looks aged, it begins to lose its appeal to the target audience.
When it opened, I am sure Disney Quest was impressive. However, the first time I went was back in 2006, and it lost a lot of its appeal. The most impressive part to me was the elevator ride with Genie when you first went in and the bumper cars game. I was in there this past October, and they didn't do the Genie in the elevator anymore. I was very disappointed.
amandals2007
DIS Veteran
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- 961
we LOVE it and go 2-3 times a visit. love playing all the games for free basically since we get the water park and more option. it pays for itself by going in there. we are going to miss it so badly when its gone
seasonality
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What is the cost if you don't have the waterpark and more option? Was hoping to send DH and DS there while I take the girls to BBB in Disney Springs. Are they somewhat close to each other?
Skywise
DIS Veteran
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"No one can be told what DisneyQuest is... they have to see it for themselves" - Morpheus from The Matrix
Being a big gamer I really REALLY want to hit this before it closes just to catch the Pirates of the Caribbean game. Was going to do it when I was there around the 4th of July but I had to bend to the family's schedule and couldn't fit it in even though we were at Disney Springs. Next trip is early November so I'm going to try then and keep my fingers crossed.
Being a big gamer I really REALLY want to hit this before it closes just to catch the Pirates of the Caribbean game. Was going to do it when I was there around the 4th of July but I had to bend to the family's schedule and couldn't fit it in even though we were at Disney Springs. Next trip is early November so I'm going to try then and keep my fingers crossed.
Belle & Ariel
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I think it is $40 but they often have signs posted you can go in for half price. I think that is in the evenings. It opens about 11 and is open till 10 or 11 depending on time of year. It is fun but I can't imagine spending more than 3 hours there.
grammimouse
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Do they still include passes for DisneyQuest in the travel package that they send ?
BrianL
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They do not send the vouchers with a package anymore. A Water Park Fun & More Ticket will still work even though it doesn't say so.
Prices are different for kids and adults. My daughter's ticket (for 3-9 year olds) was $39 + $2.54 tax. I'd guess adults were about $5 more (we had non-expire water park and more tickets for the rest of us, so we didn't have to buy them).
While DisneyQuest and BBB are both in Disney Springs, they are literally about as far apart as you gat in Disney Springs. The BBB building is on the far east end of the marketplace (east) side, and DQ is at the far end on the Westside (just before Cirque du Soliel). I'm sure your husband and son would appreciate being in DQ rather than at BBB, but they really are a pretty good hike between them - think of it like walking across most of a theme park.
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