I will soon be heading off to Walt Disney World in Florida for the first time since 1996. We chose to wait until the kids were really old enough to enjoy the trip, and now at 6 and a bit and just a tiny bit over 44” tall we figure they are ready. Disney’s thresholds for attraction heights are 44” and 48”, so when the kids passed the 44” mark, a whole world of rides opened up!
Before 1996, we went pretty often. Things didn’t really change hugely between visits. This time, there is going to be a massive amount that has changed and I am looking forward to seeing it all. For example, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has opened, as well as Universal’s Islands of Adventure. A number of attractions have closed in the parks I am familiar with, as well as a whole generation of new attractions that have opened.
What will be most different though is sharing the experience with a pair of excitable 6 year olds with enormous imaginations.
Temperatures will be in the upper-80s, so i am really looking forward to that – just my kind of temperature.
Rides I am looking forward to experiencing for the first time:
- Expedition Everest (at Animal Kingdom)
- Mission: Space (at Epcot)
- Kraken (at SeaWorld)
- Test Track (at Epcot)
- The many coasters at Universal Islands of Adventure
Of course, there are the old favourites to look forward to as well:
- Splash Mountain (at Magic Kingdom)
- Haunted Mansion (at Magic Kingdom)
- Tower of Terror (as Disney-MGM Studios)
- Back to the Future (at Universal)
Sadly, Pirates of the Caribbean is closed for rehab, apparently to include Jack Sparrow and Barbosa from the movie. Shame, that is a great attraction.
What are your favourite rides at Disney or Universal? What tips do you have for “Disney with Kids”? Leave me a comment, let me know…
