Theme Park Tourist

Is Disney missing the boat with some of its biggest franchises?

Here are five Disney attractions that had almost immediate problems.

Everyone visits the resorts. Everyone rides the rides. You’ll no doubt find the time for that. But, if you want to make your trip unique, and if you want to see a side of Walt Disney World that many will pass by, you have to get off the buses and out of the parks. In fact, some of the best parts of Walt Disney World are best experienced by boat or by bike.

We all know that Walt Disney World is a place full of incredible and unique experiences. If you’re going for the first time, you’re no doubt looking forward to conquering Space Mountain, navigating the Jungle Cruise, exploring World Showcase, or flying high above Pandora.

But while those are the moments that grab all the attention, a Disney vacation is so much more than that. In fact, the best parts of a trip to the Vacation Kingdom are so often much smaller than that — not as grandiose, but no less vivid.

Here is my ranking of the best individual Disney parks in the world.

DECLASSIFIED DISASTER: Disney California Adventure – Part II: Way back in Part I, we explored the conception and design of Disneyland’s infamous second gate and what guests saw there that made them not want to return. Today, we’ll pick up after the park’s grand $1.2 billion redesign to explore the reborn Disney California Adventure… and how just a few years after its re-opening with a brand new Californian story, Disney may be re-making old mistakes…

MODERN MARVELS: Radiator Springs Racers: Since 1955, guests have been sitting behind the wheel and hitting the open (er, not-so-open) road at Disneyland. So when Disney’s California Adventure needed a boost, California car culture was an obvious theme… but maybe not in the way you expect. Dig into Disney’s automotive history, from cars to – well – Cars, as we explore how this larger-than-life E-Ticket at Disneyland Resort set a new standard for the industry.

We brought back our expert panel of industry professionals to explain why DVC is more popular than ever.

When you visit Walt Disney World, you’ll want to stay onsite.