Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [77]
Takeoff is amazing—0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds—and then you’re quickly thrown into your first total flip. The maze-like track will make a total of three inversions and at one point you rip through an “O” in the HOLLYWOOD sign. The coaster is smooth and fast and offers uneasy riders one comfort: since the whole ride takes place inside a building, you never go very high, so there’s no plunging sensation. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is more about speed than big drops.
The Scare Factor
Loud, fast, and wild, especially at takeoff, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is for older kids and teens. With a 48-inch height requirement, suffice it to say that this will be much too much for kids under 8.
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Beauty and the Beast—Live on Stage!
Map Location 2
The Theater of the Stars is modeled on the Hollywood Bowl, and it’s the perfect setting for this appealing 30-minute show. The costuming, choreography, and production are first-rate. The plot is drastically compressed, but since about 99.9% of the audience has seen the movie, it’s not a problem. Beauty and the Beast is a good choice for the afternoon. The theater is covered and large enough to seat 1,500, so if you show up 20 minutes before showtime you should easily get a seat.
Fantasmic!
Map Location 19
Fantasmic! may be the best show in any Disney park. It has everything—lasers, fireworks, lighting effects, music, fountains, a 6,900-seat amphitheater, 1.9 million gallons of water, 45 cast members, and a 50-foot fire-breathing dragon. The show plays at closing every night during the on-season and twice nightly on extremely busy days. During the off-season, it may play as rarely as twice a week so make sure to arrange your touring plan so that you’ll be in Hollywood Studios on a night when Fantasmic! is scheduled.
The Scare Factor
In Fantasmic!, every Disney villain you can think of shows up for the cartoon Armageddon and the middle scenes of the show are emotionally wrenching for preschoolers. Mickey saves the day, of course, and most kids adore the show. The noise is enough to frighten some babies and toddlers.
Insider’s Secret
One problem that arises with all Disney’s theater-style attractions is especially acute in huge venues like the Hollywood Bowl, where Beauty and the Beast plays. Let’s say you arrive 30 minutes before the stated showtime and find yourself a terrific seat. As others file into the theater, cast members encourage you to move over and make room, and this goes on all the way until the split second the show starts. Ironically, those who came earliest often end up politely sliding their way into the far corners of the theaters, while stragglers end up with the best seats. And if you try to avoid this by swooping in at the last minute, you may not get a seat. Try this: instead of staking out aisle seats in side sections (where you’ll find yourself being pushed to the walls), arrive early and sit along one of the aisles in the center section. You’ll still be asked to keep sliding, but at least you’ll end up near the middle of the theater.
Mickey performs in his role as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, fighting off a horde of evil Disney characters with a variety of special effects, including the projection of film images onto a screen of water. For a while it looks like the bad guys are winning, and these dark scenes are upsetting for some children. In due time, however, Mickey’s imagination conjures up images of happiness, love, and friendship, and the good-guy characters show up in force. Children of all ages rate the show highly, and it’s surprisingly moving, even for adults.
Helpful Hint
At Fantasmic!, sit at least 15 rows from the front to avoid being sprayed with water.
Insider’s Secret
Fantasmic! is always packed, but one surefire way to guarantee you get in is to purchase a Fantasmic! Dinner Package. It includes a meal at one of three Hollywood restaurants (the Brown Derby, Mama Melrose, or Hollywood & Vine) plus access to a priority-seating area of the Fantasmic! theater. Prices