Now typically the favorites belonging to my husband and I would be categorically similar – too similar to warrant their own posts – being as we fall within the same age bracket with the same over the top love of all things Disney. That said, our MK loves differ in their origins greatly enough that our favorites are reflected. My husband is a facts and statistics guy, putting great emphasis on the nostalgia of the parks and the detailed history of the rides. His first visit to the kingdom was on our honeymoon and my only regret is that we did not participate in the Keys to the Kingdom tour because I truly believe that backstage magic would have been immensely meaningful to him. It will happen, though, eventually, when our visits become less centered on our little ones as they are these days. Never the less, he’s been hooked since that very first visit, doing his own research between each trip on the behind the scenes fun facts about each ride and its origins within the Disney family, however after all that research I believe his favorites have changed only slightly in all these years.
His top choice when asked is one that we admittedly have only recently started to come back to – Space Mountain. We are usually fortunate that my mom and grandmother join our adventures so we did have a small few opportunities to slip off and do the big big kid rides, however the wait times on Space Mountain are typically so high that a ride on this coaster wouldn’t fit in these grown up sneakaways. That said, the bigger two have reached Mountain height and it is a new ball game. Lightning Lane is a must for this thrill imo (although there is a somewhat interactive queue as well as the possibility to shorten your wait as a single rider). Nevertheless, this ride has become my husband’s number one. Space Mountain was the world’s first completely indoor roller coaster and although you only travel at speeds of around 30 mph it feels like you are flying much faster as the ride takes place in darkness with only neon racing lights periodically reminding you that your eyes really are open. You are on a ‘space ship’ seated single file making this ride even more thrilling since you truly are alone in the darkness, not to mention that even I, at an optimistic 5’2”, feel the need to duck out of fear of low ceilings in the constructed outer space. This has quickly become a trip requirement for our increasingly thrill seeking kiddos.
A’s second favorite was surprisingly Splash Mountain, mostly due to the anticipation of the inevitable plunge (I swear after all this time he asks “is this it?” on every uphill climb) and the suspense of whether our flume will get soaked or splashed. However he also enjoys the MK vantage points that this ride allows as well as the fact that this ride is such a classic. Most of your ride throughout the briar patch has you secretly climbing with characters from the story set out to distract you so the drop is, as always, a surprise, however if you scan the horizon on your floats outside of the mountain you have a pretty great view of Frontier land – which A appreciates. Additionally, in the ever changing environment that is Walt Disney World, Splash Mountain seems to be standing the test of time (however now that I’ve said that I’ve surely put a magical curse on the old fave) and he respects that history. He also is like a kid in a candy store now that this favorite aligns with our B’s. The two of them would ride this and Big Thunder over and over again – a bond that makes my love for MK grow with each visit. Will this change with the Princess and the Frog overlay? I’m not sure. If the format of the ride stays similar as it did with the Frozen takeover of Maelstrom then probably not. It’s the anticipation….and the drop that does it for him!
A’s third favorite speaks to the detail oriented side of my husband, however I must say it again surprised me. He chose the iconic Haunted Mansion as his final choice. He claims, his words, that as many times as he’s ridden this ride (which is a lot because this is usually a more than once an MK day choice for our family – it makes for a perfect mini-man nap) he sees something new and exciting each time. I can attest to this – there is so much to see, so many intricate details that each ride feels new and different. Is it spooky? Ehh – our six year old would say yes. However he’s been riding it by choice for years and he is not one to venture into spooky situations. It’s spooky but it’s also cartoony at the same time – the ghosts seem almost goofy and for us it is exciting to find that new detail with each ride – although admittedly at this point it takes some pre-ride research. Either way, this slow moving, cool dark option with periodic entertainment during the waiting line is in my opinion a good option for a midday break from the heat. (Magic Mom Moment – check out the pet cemetery at the exit of the ride for another reference to the memory of Mr. Toad. Also, there’s an excellent photo op just in front of the invisible horse where you can capture the whole mansion in the background while your family poses.)
When asked for a list, my husband requested a Magic Kingdom honorable mention. I quickly denied his request until I heard which ride he wanted to include, upon which I decided that it should be allowed. The People Mover, is in our opinion a Magic Kingdom ‘hidden gem’. Its entrance is, in fact, somewhat hidden and often confused with the entrance for the Astro Orbiter, however once you find it – you must try it. You weave along the ground beneath the space ship that is the center of Tomorrow Land then take a moving walkway up to the ride cars. They are standard 4 (or 6 with little’s) cars with two bench seats facing each other and no tops allowing for the incredible view that you will experience. That said, mom to mom, hang on to your little ones as it does go quite fast and does enter some very dark spaces, it’s safe but I’ve definitely spazzed once or twice. The amazing thing about this ride, since it really isn’t thrilling or designed after a classic Disney film, is that it provides the rider with little snippets of almost each ride located in this Land. You travel through Buzz Lightyear’s Spin – even being able to see the riders aiming their weapons at the point earning targets, through the gift shop after Stitch’s Great Escape, and even into the ground level of Space Mountain (the sound and light effects make you feel like the ships are zooming all around your head). You get a unique view of Walt’s original vision for EPCOT and more than one breathtaking view of Cinderella’s Castle and its surroundings. This ride is definitely not a kid magnet so some persuading does need to occur for those younger fans, however you have not truly experienced an evening in the Magic Kingdom until you have ridden this favorite at night – try during the Fireworks for some added excitement. (Magic Mom Moment – we turn this ride into a mission – using the awesome vantage points to make a list of the rides that we need to ride next!)
Disney Wife - Happy Life! 