Spieling attractions are becoming few and far between at Walt Disney World, which only adds to the intrigue and excitement of the few rides where Cast Members still spiel. If you’re headed to one of these thrilling live attractions, it’s important to understand the differences to this kind of show so you can make the most of the experience and avoid tragic disruptions.
1. Not staying awake
This may seem like an obvious thing to do on an attraction, but many guests sit down on a ride only to find themselves overcome by the exhaustion of the heat, humidity, and hours on their feet. If you’re accustomed to spending your day seated at a desk in an air-conditioned office, the strain of a theme park vacation may be more than you bargained for.
If you need to doze during a ride, make the effort to head for a 3D show or lengthy automated dark ride. At 45 minutes, Ellen’s Energy Adventure is an excellent pick if you want to get off your feet and let your eyes glaze over for a bit (sorry, Ellen, but that’s one long adventure).
Spieling attractions are the worst pick for a nap, for several reasons. Most notable is that it’s simply rude. These Cast Members work hard to provide you with a live show. They’re often just inches away from you, doing all they can to make the attraction come to life. If you’re asleep, they will notice. If you’re on Jungle Cruise, you can quickly become the butt of your Skipper’s jokes. On the Great Movie Ride, you’re hijacked by criminals who may not take kindly to being ignored. The unexpectedly bumpy nature of Kilimanjaro Safaris can leave you lurching around painfully if you’re not paying attention.
Give your Cast Members the attention and respect they deserve, and give a little extra attention to what’s happening on these attractions.
2. Not setting expectations with kids
Spieling is a challenge for even the most seasoned Cast Members. While the audio won’t stutter or stop for a whiny child on an automated attraction, you may find that your tot’s temper tantrum does impact the flow of the show when someone is spieling. While CMs will do all they can to ignore disruptions, sometimes this is easier said than done.
Make the extra effort to get your kids excited about the ride before you board a spieling attraction. If they’re hesitant to board, or curious about what’s ahead, encourage them to speak with the Cast Members outside. This will give them something besides the dubious word of their parents to go on. If you have small children who are terrified to get on the ride before you’re even seated, it’s often better to bail than to force them screaming into the seat for a live show.
3. Failing to applaud
If you’re wondering whether it’s appropriate to applaud for a spieling attraction, the answer is yes. Even if you’re the only one. Even if you feel a little weird. Go ahead and do it. On the Great Movie Ride, Cast Members provide lead-ins for your applause when they cry “ta da!” after saving you on Anubis, and at the end before you disembark. If you leave your hands in your lap at either of these points, you’re practically insulting your tour guide.
On other attractions, the opportunities for applause aren’t as obvious, so you can get away with skipping them. However, your hardworking Cast Members will certainly appreciate the gesture if you do put your hands together or at least thank them for their efforts.
The Great Movie Ride and Kilimanjaro Safaris each run 22 minutes, while the Jungle Cruise lasts for about 10. What was a brief interlude in your day is something these spieling Cast Members repeat, often for hours on end. Let them know you enjoyed your time, however you can.
4. Not listening to the rules
While you should naturally pay attention to the rules on any attraction for the sake of your safety, this is especially important on spieling rides. On Great Movie Ride (as on most Disney attractions), you’re advised to avoid flash photography. On other rides, your flash simply disrupts the show. Taking flash photos is disrespectful for the other guests on the attraction, but it won’t stop the audio animatronics from performing just as they always do.
On Great Movie Ride, you’re warned against flash photos because it can make it difficult from your tour guide to see. There are points in this attraction where he or she needs to get on and off the vehicle in areas that are otherwise very dimly lit. More than one Cast Member has gotten a twisted ankle in the scenes even in the best circumstances. Flashing your camera about only make the situation more dangerous.
On Kilimanjaro Safaris, you’re surrounded by live, free-roaming animals. Yes, they’re really real. Yes, they can come right up to the truck. And yes, if you’re ignoring the Cast Member’s warning to keep your children seated, they could very easily fall out of the vehicle and land on the savannah. Pay attention, follow the rules, and always do as your spieling Cast Member advises.
5. Not noticing the little things
Timing is critical on a spieling attraction. Having a live Cast Member might make it seem like there’s more room for spontaneity, but those CMs have to work with animatronics and special effects that are on a very particular timer. Trying to make idle conversation with a spieling Cast Member is usually a bad idea. It’s difficult for your guide to maintain a conversation with a single guest while providing a satisfying experience for everyone else.
On an attraction like Kilimanjaro Safaris, the Cast Member needs to keep an eye out for free roaming animals, maintain the proper distance from other trucks, make sure guests stay in the vehicle, and listen to the radio for alerts or other warnings. All while spieling and driving. So asking a lot of questions isn’t really appropriate, even if you are up front.
Great Movie Ride is more about the show. Here, deviating too much from the script will disrupt essential conversations that your tour guide needs to have with characters like the Wicked Witch. If you’re really itching to chat up a spieling CM, Jungle Cruise is the easiest place to do it, though even this can get in the way of the show.
