What's So Great About Dumbo?

[Susan555]

Okay, let me preface this by stating that I understand why the park planning guides recommend hitting Dumbo first - I know it's a super-slow loading ride and that the lines will build up much more quickly for it than for other rides.

Now, what I do NOT understand - why is it so darned popular? I remember going as a child, and we all knew who Dumbo was - but is that still the case? My 5 and 7 year old kids have never heard of Dumbo, and when I showed them a photo of the ride and told them about how you should go to that ride first to avoid the long lines, they were perplexed. My 5 year old asked me WHY someone would want to ride a "dinky" (her word) ride like that when there are so many cooler things to ride. Both of my kids said they wouldn't want to ride it even if there was no line, because it looks like a "baby ride."

So am I missing something here? Is there something remarkable and magical about this ride that I'm not getting? We're planning our MK itineraries, and so far Dumbo is NOT on the list.

 

[jayandstacey]

No, you're not missing anything.

But what IS first on your list? Whatever it is, and whatever makes it so great, is often what makes Dumbo great for a 3 year old.

And I think that part of the reason it is always pointed out so strongly is that parents of 2 and 3 year olds often have the same reaction - that it is a waste of a ride. So they leave Dumbo until later, when the line is too long, and they end up not riding it. And in doing so, they miss what may have been the best single attraction for their kid, the one who isn't old enough to make (or help make) those decisions.

If your kids don't want to go - skip it. Means shorter lines for us with wee ones

 

[briar_rose_59]

Honestly, I think most of the people that are willing to line up for that long for it, have really small children or aren't necessarily all that into the "cooler" rides.

 

[dydrmr81]

For me it's just because it's a classic Of course, I like to ride every ride regardless of how exciting it is. Just because.

 

[perdidochas]

Okay, let me preface this by stating that I understand why the park planning guides recommend hitting Dumbo first - I know it's a super-slow loading ride and that the lines will build up much more quickly for it than for other rides.

Now, what I do NOT understand - why is it so darned popular? I remember going as a child, and we all knew who Dumbo was - but is that still the case? My 5 and 7 year old kids have never heard of Dumbo, and when I showed them a photo of the ride and told them about how you should go to that ride first to avoid the long lines, they were perplexed. My 5 year old asked me WHY someone would want to ride a "dinky" (her word) ride like that when there are so many cooler things to ride. Both of my kids said they wouldn't want to ride it even if there was no line, because it looks like a "baby ride."

So am I missing something here? Is there something remarkable and magical about this ride that I'm not getting? We're planning our MK itineraries, and so far Dumbo is NOT on the list.

Well, kids get to control Dumbo..... (Aladin's carpets is the same ride)

 

[MaeDaisy]

It's a classic. Two big reasons I can think of why even adults without youngsters might like it are: 1) it brings back the magic of riding it when they were kids or 2) if they have never been to Disney before, it's like a rite of passage. I went for the first time ever this past December, and there was no way I was going to leave without having done Its a Small World, Dumbo, and Space Mountain. I probably will never do IASW again (unless the kids really want to) because it is so dang long, but at least I can say "Yep, I've done it."

My kids are 10 & 7 but neither are into the big rides, so Dumbo was great for us. Especially my son, who gets really scared. It just goes around nice and leisurely, and he was able to control how high or low we went. We rode it twice, but both times there were no lines (a late EMH and MVMCP).

 

[kribit]

Like others have said it's a classic. In any Disney vacation video, they always show some family enjoying their trip while on the Dumbo ride.

We have pictures of my brother and I in the 80's riding it. Brings back such nice memories.

 

[lorrainesy]

It's not the ride, it's the state of mind. It's a true "disney feeling"

 

[Micca]

My 5 and 7 year old kids have never heard of Dumbo,

And you call yourself a parent?

 

[DisneyWacker]

When my 4yo saw the Dumbo ride, she called it Hefalump. Go figure with the times!

haha

 

[scorp111]

The quintessential Disney Experience

 

[quiltymom]

According to DD - because you can FLY!!! It's the same with Peter Pan.

We were coming of a SWAirlines flight a few years back, and the first thing DD said to the people waiting to get on was, "I just flew like Peter Pan!"

Whenever we watch Dumbo, she says she wants to fly like him. It's the only reason we have to ride it so much. But I don't mind - it's better than the rocket jets! (I get sick on that one!)

 

[SmallWorld71]

Dumbo is featured on all the Disney planning videos and most of the commercials and it is the first ride many people, especially children think of when they think of Disney. I have been going to Disney World periodically for 30 years and to me it's not a true Disney trip if I do not go on Dumbo or It's a Small World. They bring back happy childhood memories and now I'm passing those memories on to my own children.

 

[MinnieGi]

My kids 2 & 6 love Dumbo, Magic Carpets, and Triceratops Spin. They are really all the same ride. They like them b/c they like to control the "car" going up and down and back and forth as in the case of Carpets and Spin.

Now 6yo DD can pass Dumbo if the line is too long but Carpets and Spin are must dos as there lines are always much more reasonable. DD is also now liking some more thrill rides so instead of lining up for Dumbo we lined up for BTMR.

I personally have a great memory of riding Dumbo a few years back with 3yo DD while the fireworks were going off. It was so beautiful!

 

[CaptHook34]

Dumbo is a great ride for kids. They can control there height while in the air. Its always on the dvds and commercials.

 

[autumnbaby9]

First off I have a question....How in the world can your children not know who Dumbo is? Sounds to me like you need to pull out the classic Disney Films and do a review before you go (this is fun to do even when not assigned as Homework ). My DD6 has known who Dumbo is since she was 1 1/2.

Everytime I go to WDW or DL I have to ride Dumbo at least once(Usually first off) because it just puts me in a Disney frame of mind. While on Dumbo I am no longer 25 years old I am magically transformed into a 4 year old. It just makes a wonderful start to a vacation.

Plus it is one of the rides that Walt helped put into motion

 

[Susan555]

First off I have a question....How in the world can your children not know who Dumbo is? Sounds to me like you need to pull out the classic Disney Films and do a review before you go (this is fun to do even when not assigned as Homework ). My DD6 has known who Dumbo is since she was 1 1/2.

Well, we don't own any of the classic Disney cartoons, and the kids haven't seen any of them except Snow White, which they watched at a friend's house. They actually don't know the Disney version of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, etc. We've read other versions, but not the Disney ones. I guess that may sound strange, but it just never came up. We've not been to Disney, and Disney just isn't a big part of our lives. They have seen, and enjoyed, the newer movies - Cars, Monsters, Inc, Nemo, Toy Story, etc. When they watch TV, they choose Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network over the Disney channels, so perhaps if they watched Disney more they would know more of these things. My daughter actually got some Disney pencils as party favors a few weeks ago and didn't know who Goofy and Donald were. She did know Mickey and Minnie.

I really never thought this was odd or unusual - go figure!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Well, we don't own any of the classic Disney cartoons, and the kids haven't seen any of them except Snow White, which they watched at a friend's house. They actually don't know the Disney version of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, etc. We've read other versions, but not the Disney ones. I guess that may sound strange, but it just never came up. We've not been to Disney, and Disney just isn't a big part of our lives. They have seen, and enjoyed, the newer movies - Cars, Monsters, Inc, Nemo, Toy Story, etc. When they watch TV, they choose Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network over the Disney channels, so perhaps if they watched Disney more they would know more of these things. My daughter actually got some Disney pencils as party favors a few weeks ago and didn't know who Goofy and Donald were. She did know Mickey and Minnie.

I really never thought this was odd or unusual - go figure!

I don't think your odd or necessarily unusual but I would get into somewaht of a Disney mode if you have a Disney trip planned. Not that your kids won't have a great time even if they don't know the characters (there are many Disney rides that have nothing to do with Disney movies old or new) but it will enhance the experience if they do have at least some knowledge. Dumbo is a fun ride as others have said. Even my kids who are 10 and 12 now love it. I doubt my 12 year old son would admit it but he does. Although we are partial to Disneyland's version since their Fantasyland area is so quaint and lovely and Dumbo offers great views of it.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I love Dumbo! I love the movie and the ride (I'm 42, not exactly a kid!). DH and I rode it together before we had kids and now we love riding it with them. Sure, it's not too exciting. It goes around in a circle while you control the up and down movement. But, there's just something about flying on Dumbo in Fantasyland that really says Disney! It's one of the trademark rides and DL and WDW. It's not for everyone, but some of us love it!

 

[Susan555]

I don't think your odd or necessarily unusual but I would get into somewaht of a Disney mode if you have a Disney trip planned.

We're going to check out one of those Disney storybooks at the library - the kind with condensed versions of the classics. I'll read some of it aloud to them and my 7 year old can read the rest to his sister. We'll focus on the ones that they need to know about to appreciate the rides - Peter Pan, Dumbo, Snow White, Alladin, Cinderella, etc. There's no way they would sit through the movies (which may also sound odd, but trust me) - so this is a good, quick way to get them acquainted with the classic Disney stories.