Believe it or not, there are people in the Walt Disney World parks every single day who are not Disney Parks superfans. Maybe they were dragged there by their friends, or maybe their significant others begged them to take a trip. Either way, Disney isn’t a second language to them. It’s not an unconditional love.
And so, sometimes, it can be hard to convince those people to experience an attraction.
Some attractions are fairly obvious as to why they’re fun to ride. Space Mountain is a roller coaster in the dark. Splash Mountain is a log flume with music. Flight of Passage literally gives you the sensation of flight.
But others are a bit harder to explain. Other attractions have a kind of fun that is not quite as obvious at first glance.
These are the six attraction that, try as you might, it’s difficult to make seem fun.
Living with the Land
Image: frankfranc, Flickr (license)
To those outside the Disney bubble, a 15 minute tour through the history of agriculture might not seem like a must-do vacation experience. And frankly, even some Disney lifers can be initially put off by this ode to 1980s edutainment.
But, this is a fight worth having, because once guests board the iconic green rafts, the serenity of the first half of the ride combines with the fascinating greenhouse portion in the back half to create a memorable and unique ride.
Getting people on the ride so that they understand that is, of course, the challenge. One helpful suggestion: Emphasize the boat-ride element, rather than the investigation of agriculture’s history and future.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover
Image: Jennifer Lynn, Flickr (license)
It’s not necessarily hard to convince a friend to try the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. After all, its position high atop the Tomorrowland thoroughfares — combined with a glimpse at Space Mountain — is enough to make the sale on its own.
The difficulty is actually going one step further and explaining how this attraction is one of the most beloved at Walt Disney World.
For many, the TTA is not only a must-do attraction, but a unique favorite. If you’ve ridden it before, that greatness is self-evident. But if you haven’t, that can seem like absolute lunacy. Sure, it has a great view, but isn’t it just a glorified tram?
I think, ultimately, the way to explain its appeal is thus: It’s the most fun you’ll have at Walt Disney World without having to wait in a line. That sentence should be enough to convince your friends of the TTA’s enduring appeal.
Walt Disney World Railroad
Image: daryl_mitchell, Flickr (license)
Trains are cool. Everyone, from about age-four onward, is able to appreciate that fact on a core level. Still, the idea of a train as an amusement park ride is a bit more foreign to most — at least so long as it’s not of the runaway variety.
Walt Disney World’s railroad has the added obstacle of not really having anything of substance to see on the ride. It’s essentially just a moderately scenic system of transportation from one part of the park to the other.
Yet, if you ask a Disney fan to name their favorite attractions, there’s a decent chance the railroad would be on that list. Why? In part, because it’s a calm respite from the otherwise hectic Magic Kingdom.
But, that idea can be hard to communicate to someone who hasn’t experienced the train before, or has only done so begrudgingly. Without truly experiencing it, it sounds like a train to nowhere that moves only slightly faster than one might be able to talk.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Image: jared422, Flickr (license)
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon in the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room. That’s basically the entire plot for this attraction — it’s laid out helpfully in song right at the top of the show.
And yet, that description sells the attraction short, particularly to any friends who haven’t seen it before. It’s so much more than that, really.
It’s a cool place to sit for a few minutes in the Florida sun. It’s a piece of mid-century Americana brought to loving, garish life by Walt Disney himself. It’s one of the birthplaces of audio-animatronics, which shaped the course of Disney’s history.
Above all, it’s a zen-like space committed to keeping you relaxed during a vacation that can be largely about doing the opposite. Charm and calm cannot be explained, only felt. Yes, this show is just robotic birds mouthing along to pre-recorded music. But once you’re inside, the Chuck E. Cheese effect is not as pronounced as you might have thought — even if it’s hard to convince others of that fact.
Country Bear Jamboree
Image: aloha75, Flickr (license)
The Country Bear Jamboree is kind of like a trick. On its surface, it’s simply an attraction where several robot bears sing songs to you. That concept might sound better suited to a day care center than a major theme park.
Yet, while its form might indicate that this is an attraction for kids, the actual songs the bears sing really can only be appreciated once you’re an adult. That has always been the problem for the Country Bear Jamboree: By the time you’re old enough to truly appreciate it, you think it’s not an attraction made for you.
Similarly, that is the struggle in trying to explain this attraction to your friends. Helpfully, in the modern age, we’re able to circumvent this struggle a bit by simply playing the songs. Yes, it might sound like a kid’s attraction, but once listen to “Blood on the Saddle” is enough to make anyone want to see the iconic show.
If you haven’t yet seen it, go. You’ve already waited too long.
Impressions de France
Image: harshlight, Flickr (license)
“Thanks for coming to Epcot with me. Let’s go see a 30-year-old travelogue film with no plot and no Disney characters, featuring an ostentatiously poetic narration set to a score of classical music. It’s arguably the best show in the park.”
I get it. That quote up there isn’t the most obviously appealing thing in the world. No one’s idea of a vacation to Walt Disney World involves seeing an art-house movie in an aging theater.
But once you’ve seen “Impressions de France,” it’s hard not to be flabbergasted by others’ trepidation at experiencing the film. It’s a towering masterwork from the Walt Disney Company, and a rare example of art triumphing over commercial interest.
It may seem dry to an outsider, but it is as engaging an experience as one can find anywhere at Walt Disney World. It’s a cinematic poem dedicated to the beauty of France. And, if your friends are still being weird about seeing it, even after you’ve spent 20 minutes trying to explain how wonderful it is, just tell them you’ll buy them some French pastries afterward at the Boulangerie.
You can’t be above bribery at Walt Disney World.
