Why is Dumbo so popular?

[flortlebap]

I just don't get it! All it does is move up and down and round in circles, but kids LOVE it. The line for this thing beats Splash Mountain most days! What's the big deal?

Don't get me wrong, we'll probably be one of the Dumbo or Die park goers this time with 3 under 5s. But I still have no idea why

 

[Judge Fudge]

I wonder if most kids have even seen the movie. LOL
I think it's a parent hyped thing, so the kids get into it also.

 

[flortlebap]

I wonder if most kids have even seen the movie. LOL

I wonder that about a lot of the attractions at Disney... and 99% of them at Universal

 

[Robo]

I just don't get it! All it does is move up and down and round in circles, but kids LOVE it. The ride for this thing beats Splash Mountain most days! What's the big deal?

Don't get me wrong, we'll probably be one of the Dumbo or Die park goers this time with 3 under 5s. But I still have no idea why

You said "The ride for this thing beats Splash Mountain most days!", what would likely be more accurate is, "The LINE (waiting) for this thing beats Splash Mountain most days!"

Dumbo is an incredibly SLOW-LOADING attraction.
The queue area is rather small and all visible.
So regardless of when you walk by (after, say, the first 30 minutes after opening), there will be a long line (but not so many will have actually ridden the attraction that day).

Yes, it IS considered "the thing to do" (a long-standing tradition, actually) by most parents with young kids.

The Dumbo ride has become an "icon" of Fantasyland- and Disney parks, in general- (along with the castle) and with that much media over the years, it has remained very popular.

 

[Skylarr29]

Dumbo is just iconic of what Disney represents: Fantasy. I still ride Dumbo as an adult just because of the sense of nostalgia I get.

 

[Evil Queen]

This is a must do for us, and I can't figure out why......

We will be waiting in line again this trip (we do hit Fantasyland first to beat some of the crowds) and we are me, DS23, DS22 and DS10.

Something about riding Dumbo, Peter Pan and Splash Mountain tells me I'm REALLY at WDW.

 

[flortlebap]

Oops... will edit and remove the typo

Evil Queen... I think it's hilarious that you and your grown kids still ride! We're only doing it for the 5 year old, I had no idea that there was adult appeal too!

 

[MsLeFever]

Because little'uns can SEE this ride they want to go on it first - they don't know how wonderful Pooh is unless they've ridden before. Plus they always seem to include lots of images of it on the travel DVDs!

 

[Evil Queen]

Oops... will edit and remove the typo

Evil Queen... I think it's hilarious that you and your grown kids still ride! We're only doing it for the 5 year old, I had no idea that there was adult appeal too!

We figure we're there for fun, and fun we will have. Plus, Dumbo, in general is one of my earliest memories of Disney.

Plus my 10 yr. old doesn't do many of the thrill rides , so I also figure, I got to get some type of rides out of him.

 

[phisigprincess]

Probably because it's a classic. Like one of the PP, it's iconic.

 

[DebIreland]

Because little'uns can SEE this ride they want to go on it first!

This is so true! I never thought of that before. They can't *see* the actual ride in a lot of cases but with Dumbo, there it is in all its glory open for them to see!

Also, I guess for the real smallies it's such a non-threatening ride so it's a safe bet to take them on it.

 

[Plantlady]

My kids have seen Dumbo the movie, and I still couldn't convince them that we should ride the ride, not even the four year old wanted to ride it!

Crazy kids. I wanted to ride it, because it's DUMBO! Walt Disney himself probably rode it at Disneyland. It's a classic.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I just don't get it! All it does is move up and down and round in circles, but kids LOVE it. The line for this thing beats Splash Mountain most days! What's the big deal?

Don't get me wrong, we'll probably be one of the Dumbo or Die park goers this time with 3 under 5s. But I still have no idea why

I am having a hard time understanding how anyone with 3 children under 5 doesn't "get" the appeal of Dumbo!
They're little kids! They can't go on the thrillers, so they need something cute, exhilarating (for them), and not too scary/dangerous. Dumbo is an adorable baby elephant, and many kids have heard the story/seen the movie. Again, I fail to understand how someone with so many young children can't see Dumbo through THEIR eyes!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I can't wait to ride Dumbo myself, but my dd5, that is all she talks about when we bring up Disney. And of course my dd2 will love it. I think my dd5 started with Dumbo when she saw it on the planning DVD. We've only been once before and did not get to ride it. This time we will be there for the park opening and go straight for Dumbo

 

[disneyfreak74]

Because it is DUMBO!!! It is what the kids see in commericials!!! It is what YOU remember riding as a child!!! I can't wait til in the morning!!!!! I'll be the one DRAGGING DD3 to Dumbo!!!!

 

[flortlebap]

I am having a hard time understanding how anyone with 3 children under 5 doesn't "get" the appeal of Dumbo!
They're little kids! They can't go on the thrillers, so they need something cute, exhilarating (for them), and not too scary/dangerous. Dumbo is an adorable baby elephant, and many kids have heard the story/seen the movie. Again, I fail to understand how someone with so many young children can't see Dumbo through THEIR eyes!

That's easy for me to answer - I've never been to Disney with kids before! Only one of the three is mine (DD1), the others are my nieces. And I fully expect us all to try Dumbo and enjoy it this time around!

It's the wide appeal to adults too I don't understand... it's just a small ride, so why is *that one* the one with the biggest draw in Disney?

 

[lisadisney2003]

I think for those of us that have been going it is just one of those classic Disney World experiences. Now that I have a daughter, we HAVE to ride every trip!!

 

[gpuckett]

Dumbo is the only ride I still remember riding at Disneyland when I went as a 4 yr old. 1975. I still remember being able to "control" the flying.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Because little'uns can SEE this ride they want to go on it first - they don't know how wonderful Pooh is unless they've ridden before.

Exactly!! My DD is a bit scared of anything too fast or too high. I think being able to see Dumbo (and all the little kids having a great time on the ride) made her feel comfortable about trying it.

She has seen the movie, and Dumbo is now her favorite ride at WDW. When we went to evening EMH in June all she wanted to do was ride Dumbo over and over again!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

As someone said before it is because they can see it. When you walk through the castle into Fantasyland it's one of the first rides you see. You see the Carousel first, but most kids have seen a Carousel before, so it's not a big deal. Then you glance over and there is Dumbo, it's a really cute ride, little cartoon elephants that fly, and where else can you ride little flying elephants it's magical. Once they see it they HAVE to ride it. Last trip my DD was 7 and we still HAD to ride Dumbo.