#disney world has better queues

[spiritsofprogress]

Universal is pretty sweet actually

While I’m usually more of a Disney parks fan I was at Universal for part of my spring break and I’ve realized how harsh I’ve been on these parks and how “a bunch of screens” is really reductive. While they’re not filled with dark rides there’s a lot there to love.

I still have my fair share of criticism like for one thing they have stopped giving paper maps (despite supplying tickets) and force you onto the app if you want to know your way around.

Another being just how little there actually is (if there were more stores and restaurants or shows would’ve loved to know like maybe on a map or something) each park has a few rides making the waits INSANE at times. Then they took out a bunch of classics (Jaws, Twister etc) but then there’s just… no replacement, there’s just space and an empty facade as far as I’m aware. They keep closing and taking away like the Poseidon walkthrough was one of my favorite things and it’s gone for no real good reason as far as I know etc.

Goods-

The theming in the parks is insane and I absolutely adored it. Every inch of both parks is so themed and its own little universe (in a world where Disney is stripping the theming from hotels and ruining sight lines, bare minimum queues etc this was refreshing). Every queue was fantastic and filled with detail, so waiting was a little less horrible with so much to observe.

Streetmosphere! MGM (Hollywood studios) and Disney used to similarly have this and have lightly brought back some characters out and about but not really. Alternatively universal had a BUNCH — a guy at the cab just walking in, blues brothers, all the classic cartoons out to meet and greet etc etc. preformance and walk about interaction was abundant— so adding this to their theming I was absolutely losing my mind.

Like the rides may be so so , all are enjoyable but you know what I mean- but what really hits it out of the park for me is how throughly they’ll tell a story. Starting in the queue and even continuing as you exit with details and employee behavior etc

“All screens” but I’ve noticed even screen heavy rides will tend to have a full set piece or two or it will be a healthy mix of both. Kong for example starts and ends in full sets and with animatronics. (They’ve changed it and it’s better than I remember but still the best queue I’ve ever been in)

Also a huge love for far side lmao. Seen a few in at least two lines.

[ciaossu-imagines]

As you lovelies might have seen on other posts, depending on how the shuffled queue puts these out, I spread the Disney love from the Disney day of the event around to all my various fandoms! For The Outsiders, I loved thinking about and then writing about what Disney World hotels each Greaser would love the most, if they ever became rich enough to go to modern day Disney World! I hope you wonderful people enjoy!

I really do strongly headcanon Darry as being someone who is into architecture. He might not know all the technical terms and all the different styles and such, but he appreciates them all and does want to learn more about architecture. He went to work helping build houses, so houses and architecture and buildings became an interest of his that spun into a passion. Because of his love for architecture, his favourite Disney hotel is one that has some unique architectural features. He really loves the Animal Kingdom Villas, even if he can’t afford to stay in them. He’s especially a fan of Kidani Village.

Sodapop just can’t relax and feel right if the hotel’s too fancy-smancy, unlike his brothers. He prefers simple and comfortable and a less fancy atmosphere suits him best. Not only are the cabins at Fort Wilderness simple and rustic, but the resort also allows him to go trail riding and to really be around and interact with horses in a very rustic, nature-filled setting. It’s not something he really gets much of but it’s something he truly loves, so that has to be his favourite by far.

Ponyboy actually does have a taste for the elegant and fancy of bygone ages. There’s just something that really hits him, emotionally and mentally, about that architectural style and those kinds of surroundings. Because of that, he definitely would prefer a statelier hotel. I think the Grand Floridian really attracts Ponyboy’s attention and he would be really pulled to everything about that hotel. The others might tease him about it, but everything about it just hits him perfectly.

Steve cares more about a hotel’s amenities than what the hotel itself looks like. He isn’t going to be someone who spends a lot of time just lazing around in the room and only cares about whether he’ll have fun and interesting things to do. Because he is someone who really loves sports and being physical, it’s no surprise that his favourite Disney World hotel ended up being the All-Star Sports Resort. He really likes the arcade at that one, but also the theming and the jogging trails there. He and the boys also definitely goof around at the playground and get told off by at least a handful of parents.

Dally honestly doesn’t give too much of a shit about the hotel he stays at. He really doesn’t. He’ll be fine in any of them, especially since he’s mostly using them as a place to lay his head and has plans on stealing everything he can from them anyway. What matters the most to Dally is the parks since that’s what he’s there for. His favourite land in Disney World is Hollywood Studios so he does prefer the hotels that are within walking distance of that land. Out of those, I think he has a mild preference for the Boardwalk Inn, mostly for its pool. He really enjoys that waterslide and definitely races with the other boys to see who has the fastest time going down it.

Johnny is a lot like Soda in that he can’t really get comfortable in a lot of the hotels. They’re just a little too fancy for him and he’d enjoy roughing it just a bit more. He’s also like Soda in that he loves Fort Wilderness, but Johnny, who is used to sleeping on the ground, actually prefers the campsites at Fort Wilderness. He finds camping fun and it’s made all the better by the lush forest and all the interesting things that the resort has going on. He’d also be a big fan of the recreation options at the resort as well, especially the trails, the nightly bonfires, and he’d actually turn out to enjoy and be fairly good at archery.

Two-Bit really enjoys the novelty and fun of the really heavily themed resorts. He doesn’t want fancy luxury but instead would opt for smaller rooms but more fun surroundings. Because of this, he’s really fond of Disney’s ‘All-Star’ resorts. However, his absolute favourite has to be the Pop Century Resort, for it’s bright colours and whimsical theming. Plus, it has the Skyliner, which Two-Bit really does enjoy just a tad too much as he rides it every day they’re there.

[disneyparksattractionstournament]

Favorite Disney Parks Attraction Showdown: Round 3 - Group B

fantastic vs space mountain

Videos and propaganda under the cut!

Fantasmic!: Disneyland, WDW Hollywood Studios, Tokyo DisneySea (2011-2020)

Propaganda:

(Disneyland old version) "Peter Pan is more magical, the end. But also, Disneyland's is far superior simply BECAUSE they utilize a daytime walking space and turn it into a theater. It's brilliant. Or I should say it WAS brilliant..."

Disney World:

Disneyland:

Tokyo DisneySea:

Space Mountain(any version, excluding Paris, that has its own entry): WDW Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland

Propaganda:

"They said “we should make a roller coaster but it’s dark so you feel like you’re in space and there are stars and stuff” and they were absolutely right."

"when I was a kid I was absolutely obsessed with this ride. this fact was tortuous to my poor mother, who had absolutely no appetite for rollercoasters but was understandably reluctant to let her single-digit-aged child queue and ride alone (I have other immediate family members, but my older brother wasn't old enough to be entrusted with watching me and my dad was. a very hands off parent, if you catch my drift.) a vote for Space Mountain is a vote for underappreciated mothers who endure rollercoasters that make them feel sick for their autistic kids."

Disneyland version: "Man... I feel bad for people who have only been on the Disney World version of Space Mountain. Like sure, it's alright. It's still enjoyable. It's just... Nowhere near as good as Space Mountain COULD be and IS at Disneyland. I can't speak for the ones outside of the States as I haven't been to any of them, but I can definitely 100% say that Disneyland Space Mountain is at better than at least the one at Disney World. I'm not even sure how to explain what makes it better. You just kind of have to experience it to know. But like the one at World just feels a lot jerkier and idk almost a bit painful? Just less satisfying in general. While I can't say the Disneyland one is completely smooth, it's not painful in anyway and just feels more magical. OH YEAH AND THE MUSIC. I always forget that World's doesn't have any music and it's always a big disappointment. Like hello? You're just going around the track in silence which is so awkward. The music is a huge part of the experience. It adds to the magic of the ride! Anyway, yeah... This is your sign to try Disneyland at least once if you've only ever gone to Disney World."

Here is a history of the ride, since a ride through is really hard to see:

And here is one comparing all the versions:

[arithmeticanimaniac]

tag someone you want to know better

tagged by @romanceyourdemons

favorite color: bright pink (also any happy color)

last song: the last song i deliberately played was either “Almost Like Being in Love” by Nat King Cole or “September in the Rain” by Dinah Washington, but the last song that came up on shuffle was “Juliet” by LMNT

last movie: either around the world in 80 days (2004) or inception (2010)

currently watching: the last season of archer (2009)

other stuff i watched this year: lmao i actually have a lot of half baked reviews in my drafts but i never posted them because i’m almost always at my queue limit so here’s my chance to do a rapid fire round of reviews (based entirely on whether i enjoyed them)

how to marry a millionaire (1953) 👍 too many people forget what a comedic genius marilyn monroe was

Love Sarah (2020) 👍 🥲 a bakery, romance, grief and healing, intergenerational bonding, what more could you want

My man Godfrey (1936) 👎 boring

bringing up baby (1938) 👎 it has its moments, blueprint for disney channel show shenanigans

memories of the sword (2015) 👍 sooooo melodramatic

The Dig (2018) 👍 haunting

the misfits (2021) 👍 it is Not Good, but inexplicably charming

Free guy (2021) 👍 responsible for the resurgence of mariah carey in my playlist

Papillon (2017) 🤷🏻‍♀️ hard to get through but not bad

Chungking Express (1994) 👍 i’m not usually an atmospheric film type, but wow

The Lost City (2022) 👍 i had fun

The French dispatch (2021) 🤷🏻‍♀️ tried watching this multiple times, fell asleep each time but the fact that i tried multiple times means it goes on this list

most of the movies in the DCAMU (2013-2020) 👍 i saw a gif from Teen Titans: the Judas contract (2017) which led me to watch 11 of these 16 movies lmao curse you tumblr

Blue crush (2002) 👎

the Batman (2022) 👎

Lost in the stars (2022) 👍 the whole thing could’ve been avoided if (spoilers) were lesbian, but anyways it made me want to visit hainan and shanghai

Dumplings (2004) 👍 i mean i can’t eat dumplings anymore without gagging but

the burning sea (2021) 🤷🏻‍♀️ i remember laughing at the cheesiness (idk how accurately they translated from norwegian), but solid disaster movie

alive (2020) 👍 korean filmmakers really know zombies, but mix in quarantine era

Palm Springs (2020) 👍 went into this blind expecting white lotus lol (very much not white lotus)

The babysitter: killer queen (2020) 👍 i can only do horror if it’s campy horror

the menu (2022) 👎 well made movie, not for me

blockers (2018) 👍

joy ride (2023) 👍

Spider-Man: across the spider-verse (2023) 👍

king arthur: legend of the sword (2017) 👍 i don’t care i enjoyed its ridiculousness

Austenland (2013) 👍 it’s so bad!! i laughed, i cringed, i awww’ed

the tuxedo (2002) 🤷🏻‍♀️ better enjoyed in highlight clips

Matilda the musical (2022) 👎 if i hadn’t seen the danny devito version i might have enjoyed this

heathers the musical (2022) 👎 the off bway actors were better

Mayhem (2017) 👍 samara weaving and steven yeun! another movie apollo threw a covid dodgeball at

Charlie Chan at the wax museum (1940) 🤷🏻‍♀️ could’ve been good, hard to watch with the yellowface and racism

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) 👍

shows i dropped this year/didn’t finish: justified (2010), killing eve (2018) , gannibal (2022), beef (2023), doom patrol (2019)

currently reading: bel canto, but mainly just a lot of medical articles

currently working on: finding a new job because hellooooo 2 year itch

current obsession: ok so if you look at english language sources, most say that pregnant onions are toxic and therefore not edible. however, the medicinal value of pregnant onions is apparently not uncommon knowledge in other cultures (fuck yeah china and south africa). so a family friend gave us a few mature plants that make into soup and i picked off the little seedlings and have been tending to them. that led to spending more time tending to my other plants (i have a lot more loquat trees than i remember) and now i’m trying to air layer some stuff. TLDR; gardening

tagging anyone who wants to do this :)

[earlgreytea68]

In my opinion, everything about Disney has gone downhill over the past ten or so years. Disney used to literally be known for its impressive get-it-done-ness. They ran an operation like clockwork. You would go to Disney World on vacation and you know how the cliche is it's the happiest place on Earth? It really would be the happiest place on Earth because it weirdly just worked? Like, they had cracked something about managing all those people in an enclosed space and keeping them in a good mood, because lines made sense and the payoff for those lines made sense and it was all expensive but you felt you were getting a really impressive product for that money.

I am not saying this as a person who went to Disney as a kid and has starry-eyed memories. I've been to Disney many times as a grown up. I went about seven or so years ago, for instance, to celebrate a friendiversary with a friend I'd met ten years earlier. We did a day at Disney and a day at Universal. The difference between those two experiences was stark. The day at Disney was a delight. Everything was easy to navigate and maneuver and pleasant. The day at Universal was a nightmare. The ticket situation was confusing and mishandled and the crowds were outlandish, it felt like you could barely move and it was so unpleasant, we couldn't wait to leave. And I just kept saying, There was no way Disney had that much less people in it, they were just managing the crowds better. It was also easier for us to do the things we wanted at Disney, it was the FastPass system, I think it was called, and you were allowed to prioritize two things you wanted to do, and that made total sense. It was truly impressive to me.

I went to Disney a few months ago, and it was, to be frank, miserable. It was so miserable an experience that while I was there I literally decided, you know what? I think I'm done with Disney. I was never one of those people who went to Disney every year or anything, but, as I said, every time I did go to Disney, I had a great time. This trip was miserable. First of all, everything is of course extremely more expensive because that's life right now. But second of all, Disney feels like it has aggressively decided to make all of its systems worse. For instance, admission to the park requires some complicated fingerprinting system that never once worked correctly for me, and every single time I entered the park they had to call over security to show me creepy surveillance footage they had taken of my previous entries to the park, and I never understood the reason for this, I HAD A PAID TICKET, JUST LET ME IN, WHY ARE YOU TRACKING ALL OF MY MOVEMENTS THIS WAY????? On top of that creepiness, they have abandoned the FastPass system that actually, you know, worked and was pleasant to this Genie-Plus, Lightning Lane system that was a complete nightmare. It required us to get up every morning at 7am and literally sit there refreshing our apps hoping to get good entry times for in-demand rides. Oh, and you had to pay extra to even hope to get these times. And then once you got to the ride, you had to immediately jump back onto the app to refresh again to see if you could get a time for the next ride. You might never get a time for any ride, actually. There was no guarantee, even for the extra money. And for some rides, you had to pay extra extra money to get into the queue for them. I spent the entire trip to Disney scrolling through apps trying to get on rides instead of actually enjoying anything about the experience. It especially stood out as being nightmarish to me because they had had a perfectly well-functioning system in the FastPass system, as far as I could tell. Like, what was the motivation for replacing it?

I think maybe they've fixed some parts of the Genie-Plus, Lightning Lane nonsense thing since my trip, and I hope they did, because it was truly awful. Which is sad. I was at Disney with my nieces and nephew and I wanted to enjoy the trip with them and instead I was just stressed and over it the whole time. And you might think that's inevitable, it's Disney, but it was not how my previous Disney experiences were. Even one of my sisters, who IS one of those people who wants to go to Disney anymore, was like, "This was a terrible trip, I think I'm done with Disney." It was just truly awful and so much of the awfulness was due to Disney aggressively making the user experience worse.

Anyway, why I am writing this very long thing, who cares? The reason I'm writing this is because I just feel like this is what late-stage capitalism is. I have no economics degree and no actual data, lol, I'm just making everything up, but the longer I've survived under capitalism, the more dubious I've become that it actually benefits consumers in any way. It's all just a race to the bottom, to the lowest common denominator. Disney's monopoly is shameful, and so you might be like, no, no, they have a monopoly, that's not what capitalism is supposed to be. Except that, looking around our landscape, it seems to me to be exactly what late-stage capitalism looks like, we've got consolidation all around.

I feel very old, because I hate saying things like, Everything used to be better. Especially because it is demonstrably not true and that are definitely some things better today!! But Disney World specifically used to be better, and now it owns basically all the IP that makes money in the whole country, so it's just like shrug, whatever.

I will also reblog the original post without all this commentary because this turned out to be ridiculous lol

the reason Jenny Nicholson's review of the starcruiser hotel is so damning imo is that she went in completely non-cynically. if you've watched her previous videos it's apparent she loves both star wars and theme parks; she's basically the ideal customer for an experience like this. she was clearly trying to engage with the story elements and experience everything the trip had to offer, she likes kitschy animatronics and special effects - and she still had such a bad time! it's blatantly obvious the actual customer experience was an afterthought to things that would make good photo ops and tiktoks, and the whole trip relied on the functionality of an app that seems thrown together last minute. as someone who also loves star wars and theme parks, it's a real let down - but this is basically what disney has been doing since they bought the star wars ip, so I guess I'm not surprised.

[planet-crait]

For those of you who don’t know me, I am a Disneyland girlee. I grew up at the parks and they hold a special place in my heart. But today’s announcement for the Lightning Lane Deluxe Pass is just outrageous.

For those not familiar Disney parks offer services called Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass.

The Multi Pass is a pass for a wide selection of rides where you can reserve a time to skip the line at certain attractions. The Single Pass is similar but it is for only one ride and this is reserved for the most popular and sought out rides. multi pass and single pass rides do not have any cross over. Single pass ride prices go from $10 to $30ish depending on the ride and day while multi pass can swing from $19-$38 depending on the park and day.

I’ll be trying out the system for the first time for a trip to DisneyWorld later this year and can dive more into then but I wanted to give a quick overview before explaining my issues with the Deluxe Pass. The single passes and multi passes seem pretty expensive since right? Well the delux pass feels even more insane with Disneyland the price can range from $300-$400 dollars for a single day at both parks and at Disney world can range from $129-$450 for one park for one day. The pricing is absolutely outrageous for not much better benefits.

The deluxe pass lets you skip the line for any LL ride (either standered Multi Pass or Single) once per ride without having to make a reservation. For Disney world this service is only available to deluxe resort guests and again is only for one park. They’re charging that much on-top of the ticket price and not even allowing park hoping? It seems they’re limiting how many people can purchase this service in a day but I have to wonder what is the limit? How badly is this going to screw with the lines at the parks? Will it slow down lightning lanes significantly and frustrate people who purchased? Will it make the standby lines even worse by even further prioritizing the lightning lane lines and make the standby queue even less accurate?

Most days the standby lines move pretty well overall but I’ve been a couple of times that have been he’ll because cast members where over prioritizing the lightning lane lines causing the wait times to be 30 minutes plus MORE then the posted time. I’ve heard Disneyland Paris has had this system for awhile and I haven’t heard complaints about it causing problems but like I said I’m going in December to DisneyWorld and will be able to find out how bad it is or if it’s a low enough number of people it’s not messing up wait times and such too badly.

Even if it doesn’t this just feels so greedy especially with the recent changes they made to DAS passes (disability access services I can dive into this if people want to know more). The parks will always hold special memories to me, but stuff like this is beyond frustrating and make Disney parks feel more and more like the elite rich are the only ones who can visit and enjoy the parks. Capitalism time and time again kills amazing things and it hurts that this is happening to a place so near and dear to my heart.

We’ll see how this system affects the parks and hopefully it won’t be as bad as I fear. All we can do is wait.

[parksaversnews]

Disney Updates Their Accessibility Services at Disneyland and Disney World

For families and individuals with disabilities, visiting theme parks can often be a daunting experience filled with long lines, sensory overload, and accessibility challenges. However, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts have long been at the forefront of providing inclusive experiences for all guests. In 2024, Disney has implemented significant updates to its Disability Access Service (DAS), making it easier than ever for guests with disabilities to navigate the parks and enjoy the magic without barriers. And making it harder for those who try and take advantage of the system. We'll delve into the details of the updated DAS service, exploring the registration process, ride reservations, and the various accommodations available to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests with disabilities. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney enthusiast, this article will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make the most of your Disney adventure. These new updates take effect on May 20 at the Walt Disney World Resort and on June 18 at the Disneyland Resort.

The Disability Access Service (DAS) Explained

The Disability Access Service (DAS) is a program designed to assist guests who have difficulty tolerating extended wait times in conventional queue environments due to a disability. This service allows eligible guests to reserve return times for attractions, enabling them to explore other areas of the park or take a break while waiting for their turn to ride.

Eligibility and Registration

To qualify for the DAS, guests must have a disability that makes it challenging to wait in traditional queues for an extended period. This can include cognitive disabilities, such as autism or ADHD, as well as physical or sensory disabilities that may be exacerbated by prolonged standing or exposure to environmental factors. The registration process for the DAS has been streamlined in 2024, offering two convenient options: - Pre-Arrival Registration: Guests can now pre-register for the DAS through live video chat up to 30 days in advance of their visit through a secure online portal. This option allows guests to complete the registration process from the comfort of their homes, reducing stress and saving time on their arrival day. - In-Park Registration: For those who prefer to register on-site, dedicated Guest Relations locations are available at the entrance of each Disney theme park. Trained Cast Members will guide guests through the registration process and answer any questions they may have. During the registration process, guests will be asked to provide information about their disability and how the DAS can assist them in enjoying the parks. It's important to note that Disney does not require medical documentation or proof of disability, as the program operates on a self-reporting basis. These new regulations won't start until May 20th, 2024 for Disney World and June 18th, 2024 for Disneyland.

Directly From Disney

Here are four new things Disney is wanting everyone to know about with these new changes:   - We’re adding more Cast Members and investing in specialized training on each coast to help guests identify and better understand the recommended tools and options, based on their needs. - The Accessibility Services teams at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort are here to assist guests with questions they have about our services. We encourage guests visiting to engage with us pre-arrival through our website and virtual video chats. - We are teaming with Inspire Health Alliance’s health professionals, to help our Cast Members, as needed, determine eligibility for appropriate accommodations and ensure that these accommodations are provided only for the guests for whom they are intended. - We will be making efforts to preserve the Disability Access Service (DAS) for those it’s intended to accommodate -- only those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time. To help with this, we are also extending DAS enrollment for eligible guests from 60 days to 120 days and adjusting DAS party size to include no more than four, except for immediate family members. For Guests visiting from April 9 through June 17, 2024, please be aware: - Pre-arrival conversations to determine eligibility for DAS are available 2–30 days prior to your park visit. - In-person conversations to determine eligibility for DAS will be at Guest Relations locations. - You can book up to 2 one-hour return windows for select experiences using our DAS Advance planning option. DAS is valid for the length of the ticket or up to 30 days from the start of registration. Once the service has elapsed or when a new ticket is issued, Guests will need to re-register.

Ride Reservations and Virtual Queues

Once registered for the DAS, guests can reserve return times for attractions through the My Disney Experience app or at designated Guest Relations kiosks throughout the parks. The app allows guests to view real-time wait times and reserve their preferred attractions with ease. For highly popular attractions with virtual queues, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, DAS guests will have the option to join the virtual queue directly from the app, eliminating the need to physically wait in line.

Accommodations and Accessibility Features

Disney Parks have implemented a wide range of accommodations and accessibility features to ensure a seamless experience for guests with disabilities. These include: - Accessible Queues: Many attractions now feature accessible queues designed to accommodate guests with mobility challenges, reducing the need for extended standing or navigating narrow pathways. - Companion Restrooms: Spacious and private companion restrooms are available throughout the parks, providing a comfortable and inclusive environment for guests who require assistance or need to attend to personal care needs. - Sensory Guides: Disney offers sensory guides for each attraction, providing detailed information about potential sensory triggers, such as loud noises, flashing lights, or sudden movements. These guides help guests make informed decisions and prepare accordingly. - Rider Switch Service: For guests who cannot ride certain attractions due to their disability, the Rider Switch Service allows members of their party to take turns experiencing the ride without having to wait in the regular queue multiple times. - Assistive Listening Devices: Guests with hearing impairments can request assistive listening devices at Guest Relations locations, ensuring they can fully enjoy shows, attractions, and other audio experiences. - Mobility Rentals: Disney offers a wide range of mobility rentals, including wheelchairs, ECVs (Electric Convenience Vehicles), and strollers, to accommodate guests with varying mobility needs.

Planning Your Disney Adventure

With the updated DAS service and the array of accommodations available, planning your Disney adventure has never been easier. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your visit: - Utilize Disney's Resources: Disney's website and mobile app offer a wealth of information on accessibility services, including detailed guides, park maps, and real-time updates. Familiarize yourself with these resources before your visit to ensure a smooth and well-planned experience. - Make Advance Reservations: If you plan to dine at Disney's table-service restaurants or attend special events, make reservations well in advance to secure your preferred dates and times. This will help minimize stress and ensure a seamless experience. - Explore Alternative Experiences: While attractions are a major draw, Disney Parks offer a wide range of alternative experiences, such as character meet-and-greets, shows, and interactive exhibits. These can provide a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the parks and offer a more relaxed and sensory-friendly environment. - Utilize Disney's Disability Services: Disney's Disability Services team is available to assist guests with any questions or concerns they may have regarding accessibility. Don't hesitate to reach out to them for personalized support and guidance.

FAQ's

How long does DAS last? DAS lasts for the length of the ticket or up to 120 days, whichever one is shorter. Once the service is completed, Guests will need to re-register for the program. Does DAS transfer from Disneyland to Disney World? DAS is only valid at the Resort you registered at. You cannot transfer DAS from Disneyland to Disney World or any other Disney Park. So Guests will need to register at Disneyland and Disney World separately. What if someone is found to be lying about their medical history to obtain DAS? If a Guest is found to be lying about their medical history to obtain DAS, they'll be banned from both Parks. Any Passes/Tickets they currently have will be terminated without refund. When using DAS do you have to ride the attraction at the exact return time listed? No. Guests can return anytime after the listed return time up until the Park/Ride closes.

Conclusion

Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts have long been committed to providing inclusive and accessible experiences for all guests. With the updated Disability Access Service and the array of accommodations available, guests with disabilities can now navigate the parks with greater ease and confidence. We hope this new information has equipped you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make the most of your Disney adventure moving forward! By taking advantage of the resources and services available, you can create cherished memories and experience the magic of Disney like never before. So, pack your bags, gather your loved ones, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with wonder, excitement, and inclusivity. Disney's commitment to accessibility ensures that the magic is within reach for everyone.   Read the full article

[thegreatallie]

I just found out how DIRECT my boss is

So. I work for this small company. We have a product in the accounting field that's highly specific and specialized but has the potential to revolutionize a specific type of audit. My job is to check the outputs before sending them to clients to make sure our software is working correctly.

My job is work-from-home. As in, by necessity. The company is based in Nebraska and there are no offices. It's perfect for me to just roll out of bed and get to work, but sometimes I admit I do tend to get distracted and dawdle. I'm working on it and so far it hasn't caused monetary harm to the company.

But the other day, I was dawdling. No clients were using our software so I had nothing to review, and nobody had any special projects for me to work on. In my downtime I'm trying to learn Python, but instead I got distracted by the books on my shelf by the desk. Over in Nebraska, the tech team was working hard to get the new version of our app up and online.

Then, out of the blue, my boss messaged me: "Is the V1 app so slow you cannot do your job?"

I nearly had a heart attack. I mean, read that and tell me it doesn't feel like the most passive-agressive thing you've ever read. Like she caught me dawdling somehow 1.1k miles away and was trying to light a fire under me. I panicked, but there was nothing waiting for me to do, no messages I hadn't read. I messaged apologetically something like, "I'm sorry, am I missing something in the queue?"

She replied, "No, we're just having trouble with the V1 and I wanted to know if it was affecting you."

Y'all. She just. Asked a question with no hidden meaning and wanted a straightforward answer. I don't know why that's so rare in my life but when I realized I'd completely misread the tone, I laughed. I've never been happier in a job before. I'll admit, working at Disney World had better benefits, but working here hardly feels like work at all.

[thedavesnews]

Didneyland Debut

Disney Resort #3 in the books. Still funny to me California came after Paris. Then again, had Covid not shut the world down it still world have been 3rd as I was training to run the Castle to Chateau (a half-marathon in both Paris and one of the US Disney parks in a calendar year). I guess I was just destined to visit Paris 1st.

Both Paris and Anaheim versions of the Disney Resort have 2 parks built in walking proximity from each other and a central shopping/hotel area. It's a great design if you are staying on property. The transportation within Anaheim on a regular business day was very manageable. Our hotel provided a heads up on the bus system which we didn't use the 1st day opting to walk to the nearest Disney parking lot (Toy Story) and taking that shuttle as many other local non-Disney hotel guests were doing.

The rides themselves for the most part were better in Disneyland except for Big Thunder Mountain and Jungle Cruise. California's Jungle Cruise was short. This doesn't make it bad per say but it makes it not the best version although our skipper was funnier than some I've had in other parks. I was pleasantly surprised for the most part regarding the resort itself. For all the heads up I got that Disneyland was small and both days were half days I really don't know what you're doing in the parks. We missed things and we spent FULL days in both with Genie+ getting us expedited access to rides.

Here's the other part of that...the lines in DL were SHORTER than anything we see in WDW these days. 30 minutes seemed to be the average longest time I saw. Obviously there were outliers but those notwithstanding lines were reasonable, IMO. Had we more time Genie would have been an after thought likewise to WDW where we have AP and can do a single ride here and there as we want.

For all the goods DL has over WDW their app and physical security are just awful, truly and abysmally awful. The scanners at the entrances are most likely from the original opening. Do the parks not share technology updates? I'm legitimately asking. This caused so many issues on run day (that update coming in a different post) and having to take things out of pockets, including my medal, was kind of embarrassing since I know there are better ways.

Also, the app. Why is the app so bad. You can't add friends/family without having to know their ticket numbers which is an incredibly cumbersome way to link your party together. That and you have to scan barcodes instead of tapping the turnstile. DL does at least use Magicbands so that's a plus over Paris. I'm assuming for the app it's a privacy law thing? I can't explain why it's so bad other than it's not allowed to have the connections allowed in other states. Even the race announcers talked about it on the stage. I love the mouse but I'm also fair in pointing out the flaws.

Obviously there we positives from the visit as noted above but let's see what else we enjoyed! The Incredicoaster was so amazing. Perfect theming and the queue video talking about the retheme was 4th wall breaking but also really funny. Violet seemed miffed and Edna was just taking it stride which kind of seems against her don't look back mantra. Honestly, the entire Pixar Pier was gorgeous. I got to see it at night and lit up my words will not do it proper justice but you can find photos online of it I'm sure.

Characters just roam around in DL and that was something that we're not used to seeing. At WDW those handlers are extremely tethered keeping everyone back until the character reaches the proper location for the official line to get their moment. I liked the random encounters we had and the characters just took it in stride. Maybe it's the culture at DL. Maybe it's just a different clientele? I never saw any issues with it in DL like I've seen in WDW. Then again, Photo pass was few and far between in DL as well. Most cast members took personal photos with your own phone/camera for free. Refreshing but also odd. It's not like Disney to miss out on a way to monetize guests. They sure as hell don't miss that in WDW.

Anaheim doesn't allow fireworks during the week. If Orlando tried to enforce we'd riot. DL was dumb enough to have a mug that said "It's all about fireworks" when they don't even have them. So dumb. If they won't do fireworks they should consider going the route of Paris and have drone shows. Honestly, the drone shows in Paris were killer. It was innovative and fit a culture that isn't obsessed with blowing shit up.

All the said I want to see if I can compare the parks I've been to thus far and update once park 4 happens. Which park would be #4? Shanghai is the currently leader. All because of Zootopia. If you didn't know that and you're reading this...you either don't know me or haven't read enough of my entries :P

Best of from my current experiences at 3 Disney Resorts

Big Thunder - Paris Pirates - DL Space Mountain - Paris (did not get to ride Land's version) Security - WDW Shopping - WDW Nighttime Show - WDW (Happily Ever After) Hotel - WDW (Polynesian cause Moana...) Castle - Paris Haunted Mansion - DL with Nightmare overlay Philharmagic - WDW Soarin - WDW (over the world) This is just one person's opinion but I'd like to think it's valid since I've done 3 parks and have seen the various cultures that go with them. In either event I'm going to do a post on the return of RunDisney to Disneyland. Make sure to come back and give it a read!

-Dave

Adventure awaited

[whitepolaris]

Just saw the video on "Public Freakouts Unleashed." If you're going to take big better make sure you get the evidence to back it up.

Hope he never has kids and women/men stay away!

[mica-dmss]

Blog Post 08

Semiotics and Politics: Battle for Representations

For a narrative to unravel, a hero must tend to an objective. We experience his journey across his world, as we share his interactions and aspirations. We bond with him by immersing ourselves into his every action and reaction to his environment. We, as the spectators, manage to 'become' him, by seeing through his lenses.

However, we cannot read his mind. We don't have any leads for this, either; we would have to interpret his actions for ourselves. This leads to the question of: what encourages his actions and story as a character?

To prove against the odds and make a name out of himself, we discover what the purpose behind his actions are. Folklorist Vladimir Propp observes this through his extensive knowledge on Russian narratives; function 'XXVII' details the hero's aim in becoming a changed man, recognised for his courage from a "mark, brand, or by a thing given to him", proof of his accomplishment through adversity (Propp, 1968, p. 62). Thus, function 'XXXI' grants the hero his wish, and pays him handsomely - either money, a kingdom or a princess' hand (Ibid. p. 63-64).

Through Propp's papers, we may understand his 'motive'. However, what could be the hero's 'motivations' behind his character?

Queue the character function of the princess, arguably the least represented archetype in narrative history. In recent discussions of narratology within media, much criticism of representations have been brought to light, particularly within the film industry. The most notable theory to come out in recent century involving glimpse into feminism is Laura Mulvey's (1975) analysis of the 'Male Gaze' in her essay, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema (1975).

Since her breakthrough, many film and feminists theorists acknowledged the idea of consciousness within perceiving certain representations in film, and has now become a current means to identify and improve representations in media as a whole. This blogpost will feature a condensed timeline of theories revolving around representations of gender and race, including psychoanalytic relations to the correlation between film and its audience.

Firstly, introducing the arguments of film bias by Laura Mulvey (2016), who both analyse the power relations of real life connected to film. Mulvey focuses on the how the identity of consumers of popular culture text influence and relay their interpretations (Understanding Gender & Sexuality in Popular Culture, 2016, p. 8). Moreover, I will also examine the progression of current media representations following the analyses of Mulvey's work.

To start my exemplar timeline involving gender, I will refer to the older works of Disney and how the shift within their princess line-up may be correlated to the reception of feminist theory. Novelist Bridget Whelan (2012) explored Disney's representation of women overtime and noticed how the depictions of their first princess characters correspond to the novel standards of women in the 20th century. Citing Deborah J. O'Keefe's book titled Good Girl Messages (2000), Whelan explains that novels written for girls coinciding with the 'first wave' Disney princess films suggested a popular viewpoint where, in O'Keefe's words, girl heroines must possess a "sweet voice so low it could hardly be heard"; "misty, lisping and inaudible, and even better for her to be dead" (2000, cited in Whelan, 2012, p. 23-24).

This is evident in the narratives of Disney films Snow White (1937), Cinderella (1950) and Sleeping Beauty (1959). 'Leading' characters within these films all suffer from a fate of 'death-like comas', who then require to be rescued by their suitors (Whelan, 2012, p.24). Snow White is poisoned and falls into an eternal slumber, much like Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, who suffers from a curse and is also put into slumber. (figure 1 and 2) While Cinderella may not have suffered a physically ill fate, she was nonetheless "rescued from a socially inactive state - a state of poverty and servitude", to which she was conditioned to possess a voice that fell on deaf ears (Ibid. p. 24) (figure 3).

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Thus, this evidence from Disney persuades a notion with underlying messages about the standards of women's place in society, by conveying their concept of "princesshood" akin to 'contemporary' standards of ideal girlhood (Ibid. p. 23-24). However, why must the first princesses of Disney relay such standards? What was the interest in silencing female characters, in their own stories no less? Are they not the heroines themselves?

Mulvey (2016) proposes the reasoning for this practice within film, titled the male gaze. She claims that within a patriarchal culture, the woman stands as 'signifier' for the man to live out his "phantasies and obsessions"; a stage is set up in posing a silent image of the woman "tied to her place as bearer of meaning, not maker of meaning" (Mulvey, 2016, p.26). In short, the only purpose of a woman in the world of patriarchal entertainment is to merely contribute her appeal, and nothing more. Mulvey cultivated this theory after extensive analyses featuring the inner-workings of the male's psychosexual development.

Famous for his founding of psychoanalysis, neurologist Sigmund Freud analysed and developed a psychological term called 'scopophilia'. In Mulvey's papers, she delves into Freud's findings of scopophilia by explaining how he "isolated scopophilia as one of the component instincts of sexuality, which exist as drives independently of the erotogenic zones" (Ibid. p. 28). Thus, scopophilia came to represent a habit in "taking other people as objects, subjecting them to a controlling and curious gaze", hence the strong resonance to Mulvey's implications in her theory (Ibid. p. 28). With scopophilia applied, Mulvey communicates that such gaze of a spectator is only possible within a world "ordered by sexual imbalance", which divides males and females into 'active' and 'passive' roles; "the determining male gaze projects its phantasy onto the female figure which is styled accordingly" (Ibid. p. 30). This analysis in behaviour likely explains the predicament in which women are placed in regarding film, as the media form is used as a means to project deep-rooted desirable imagery of certain representations to society; Female representation is a subjection to be objectified.

Although this particular presentation seems formulaic, Sarah Rothschild (2013) offers an explanation as to why depiction of women are often sexual: Women were generally overlooked and therefore underrepresented, previously "undefined" within fairy tales (Rothschild, 2013, p. 2). Rothschild points out that throughout literature and film media, the princess' character has "long been a model for emulation and explication", thus embodying 'extreme femininity' that stems from "socially desirable behaviour" (Ibid. p. 1-2). Furthermore, Rothschild states that the princess character instils these desirable behaviours upon the "girls and women in the culture that produces her" (Ibid. p. 1-2).

With this, we can assume that the sexualised depiction of women within past films partly resembles historical trend of femininity, and consequently part of psychological desires involving women. Rothschild strengthens Mulvey's statement regarding how many princess stories have reflected cultural expectations, roles and responsibilities from girls and women in the time periods they were released in (Ibid. p. 2). Rothschild further added that with Disney's aforementioned first three princess releases, the studio had adapted animation into the film industry by valorising feminine representation with romance (Ibid. p. 2). However, what has this entailed in its future animations?

Overtime, representations of gender have become more engaged with in the field of politics, business, and sports, with media now following suit. The debate on having accurate representations of minorities within entertainment has grown stronger in voicing criticisms directed at societal perceptions that are now deemed obsolete. Disney and its massive competitors have slowly come to terms with this and have eventually redirected their princess narrative, through their most recent additions to their princess line-up: Brave (2012), Frozen (2013), and Moana (2016) all contain its latest princess characters possessing traits that contrast to its first three princesses - showing their own skills, aspirations and ambitions (Figure 4, 5 and 6). Rothschild points out this progression of representation by identifying how these products "offer heroines who combine their independence and achievement with only a secondary interest in romance" (Ibid. p. 2-3).

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Sources:

Brave (2012) Directed by B. Chapman. [Feature film]. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Cinderella (1950) Directed by C. Geronimi. [Feature film]. New York City, NY: RKO Pictures.

Frozen (2013) Directed by J. Lee. [Feature film]. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Mayher, J. (2016) Understanding Gender & Sexuality In Popular Culture. Indiana University Bloomington: Cognella.

Moana (2016) Directed by R. Clements. [Feature film]. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Propp, V., Scott, L. and Wagner, L.A. (1968) Morphology of the Folktale. 2nd edn. Austin: University of Texas Press.

Rothschild, S. (2013) The Princess Story: Modeling the Feminine in Twentieth-Century American Fiction and Film. New York: Peter Lang Publishing Inc.

Sleeping Beauty (1959) Directed by W. Reitherman. [Feature film]. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Pictures.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) Directed by D. Hand. [Feature film]. New York City, NY: RKO Pictures.

Whelan, B. (2012) ‘Power to the Princess: Disney and the Creation of the 20th Century Princess Narrative’, Interdisciplinary humanities, 29 (1), p. 21.

[thehappilyeverafter]

Disney World and Universal Studios Learnings and Tips

This document captures my general lessons/takeaways for future visits to theme parks from spending nearly every day for a week visiting a theme park.

Wear contacts to make sunglasses significantly more convenient.  It’s annoying to switch normal glasses and sunglasses when constantly going indoors and outdoors.

Wear a hat with a large brim + neck flap for sun protection.

Need an easy way to stow hat + sunglasses when going indoors. Constantly putting things in and taking things out of a backpack is annoying.

A fanny pack may help in the future. 

A carabiner on a backpack was helpful this trip for stowing the hat. Although it may be useful to add a ring to the hat to make it easier to clip.

Probably better to use one of the following than a normal 28L backpack, especially in Universal when many rides require backpacks be stored in smallish lockers. 

Use 1 or 2 fanny packs instead of a backpack.

Also helps avoid back sweat.

Use a sling instead of a backpack.

Also helps avoid back sweat. 

A backpack/tote hybrid 

Smaller + has handle for easy carrying in hand to give back a a break e.g. in lines.

A smaller backpack.

Wearing sunscreen sucks! Prep (stylish) sweat-wicking outfits with long sleeves (ideally with UV protection) to avoid applying sunscreen to arms.

Sunscreen on legs is not as bad, but also sucks. Bring stylish, athletic, light sweats (e.g. black, slim) to avoid having to wear sunscreen with shorts.

A sunscreen stick is a must for applying on the face + neck.

Essentials for a day in a theme park:

Sunscreen stick, sunscreen lotion (or spray), sunscreen lip balm

Hand sanitizer

Sunglasses (preferably non-rx in combo with contacts)

A few sandwich bags

A towel for wiping sweat (or just a collection of paper towels from the bathroom).

Earplugs because some rides/queues/shows are unbearably loud. Universal in particular in run by deaf people.

Florida rain is no joke! But also weather is unpredictable and it didn’t rain at all on some days when rain was forecasted. Still, it’s probably better to bring a poncho just in case.

Lightweight, disposable ponchos strike a good balance between volume + weight, and weather readiness. 

Disney also sells ponchos for $12 in stores.

A bag with head/arm holes also works in a pinch.

To avoid doing laundry using a machine, try experimenting with detergent that allows one to hand wash clothes in a sink/tub.

Genie+ is definitely worth it (low ~$20 per person) for busier theme parks with more attractions i.e. Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

[jaynaneeya]

Comparing Rides that are at Both Disneyland and Disney World

Disclaimer: I've taken over 20 trips to Disneyland, starting with one when I was 4, and just took my first trip to Disney World a few weeks ago. Also I haven't ridden Jungle Cruise at Disney World, so that's not on this list. Here goes

Astro Orbitor: This ride sucks at both parks (it's basically a super uncomfortable version of Dumbo), but at least at Disney World it's up higher so you get a better view. Disneyland just needs to get rid of it.

Autopia/Tomorrowland Speedway: This ride also sucks at both parks, and it smells terrible, but at least Disneyland's is off by itself, and you get a more scenic tour, and from what I recall the cars work better, so Disneyland wins.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Awesome at both parks, but different. Disney World's does this rocking back and forth thing that makes it feel more like a runaway train, but Disneyland has a more epic climax with exploding dynamite. I'm calling it a tie.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters/Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin: WAAAAAAY better at Disneyland. Disney World's shooters are attached to the car, making it impossible to aim, while Disneyland's detach. Also Disneyland's light up when you hit something; I could not for the life of me figure out what I was doing at Disney World. This could just be lack of experience on my part, but I'm virtually positive it's because that version of the ride is vastly inferior.

Disneyland/Walt Disney World Railroad: Disneyland's has four stops to Disney World's three, but what really pushes Disneyland over the edge is the Grand Canyon thing. Disney World's has no equivalent diorama. Come on, what's the Railroad without an epic fight between a T-rex and a stegosaurus?

Dumbo the Flying Elephant: The ride's pretty much the same at both, except Disney World has two carousels and Disneyland only has one, so I'm giving this one to Orlando.

Haunted Mansion: This one pains me because I freaking LOVE Disneyland's version of this ride, but Disney World has some extra stuff at the beginning that's pretty cool. Although only Disneyland's has the Hatbox Ghost, and it just makes me happy to know that you're walking underneath the railroad without knowing it (which is not the case in Disney World). So Disney World wins, but narrowly.

it's a small world: Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the way Disneyland awkwardly incorporated some of the Disney characters into this ride. Like, it works for a few, but they tried too hard. Disney World doesn't have this, so Disney World wins.

The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure/Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid: Apart from its name, this ride is almost exactly the same. I didn't see the cameo of The Incredible Mr. Limpet at Disney World (if it's there, it's not in the same place as the Disneyland one), but I think they might play more of the song Under the Sea at Disney World, so this is another tie.

Mad Tea Party: The theming is different, but the basic ride concept is the same. I feel like the location makes a lot more sense at Disneyland though; it's next to another Alice in Wonderland attraction, instead of the Tomorrowland Speedway. So I'm giving this one to Disneyland.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: This one's a little tough. I really like how at Disneyland you're rocking for pretty much the whole ride, instead of only part of it at Disney World. The scenes are in a different order, and I think the story makes a bit more sense at Disney World. Also the queue at Disney World is freaking awesome. So Disney World takes it.

Peter Pan's Flight: The rides are a little different, but I don't feel like one is clearly superior to the other. I'm giving it to Disney World for the interactive queue.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The entire bayou scene, including the restaurant, is absent from Disney World (makes sense, as Disney World doesn't have New Orleans Square), so only Disneyland has the part where you get to wave at people eating and watch the old guy snoring in the rocking chair and wonder who's playing the banjo. Disneyland has two drops to Disney World's one. After the drop(s), the rides are pretty much exactly the same until the end. Disneyland has an extra scene where drunk pirates are shooting at each other, including my very favorite pirate in the entire ride (the guy riding the cannon and trying to sing along who doesn't really know the words). I was livid to find that they'd eliminated him from the Disney World version. Disneyland wins HANDS DOWN.

Soarin' Around the World: This is the same in both parks now, but the California version was better. So past Disneyland wins this one.

Space Mountain: Disneyland's is way more comfortable because you're sitting next to someone, instead of single file, basically straddling the person in front of you like at Disney World. Disney World's does have astronauts, but that's pretty much the only thing to recommend it. Disneyland's is a much smoother ride, and it's also darker; at Disney World you can kind of see the track, which ruins the illusion of flying through space for me. But all of this is nothing compared to the music. Disneyland's Space Mountain music plays from speakers right next to you, is perfectly timed to fit the ride, and makes the whole experience about 1000 times more epic. At Disney World there is some music playing from speakers in the ride, but you can barely hear it. Mostly you just hear roller coaster noises and other people screaming. Disneyland wins BY FAR.

Splash Mountain: The opposite of Space Mountain. At Disneyland you sit single file uncomfortably, and at Disney World you sit next to someone. Also Disney World has an additional drop, and the story is easier to follow. Best of all, the front of the log comes up higher, so instead of your socks getting soaked like at Disneyland, it's mostly your top half that gets splashed, which is usually what you want. At Disneyland, I generally get the most splashed at the Slippin Falls at the beginning, which means I'm shivering for most of the ride. At Disney World, I always got the most splashed at the final drop, which is as it should be. Disney World wins by a landslide.

Star Tours: Almost exactly the same. A tie.

Tower of Terror: Yes, I know, I know, Disneyland technically doesn't have this anymore because it's the Guardians of the Galaxy ride now, but I'm doing it anyway. Disney World's is more interesting than Disneyland's used to be, since there's some horizontal movement to get to the elevator shaft, while Disneyland's loads you directly in the shaft. Also Disney World's has a randomized series of drops, while Disneyland's was the same every time. So I would say Disney World's is better than Disneyland's old version, but Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout is better than either. I do hate to admit it, because I really loved the old Tower of Terror at California Adventure. But there it is. So for the purposes of this contest, Disney World wins.

Toy Story [Midway] Mania: Essentially the same ride. The theming is different, and I think the queue is a little more interesting at Disney World, but for all intents and purposes, it's a tie.

Final Score: Disney World - 8, Disneyland - 7, Tie - 4

See? I'm not THAT biased.

[disneyparksattractionstournament]

Favorite Disney Parks Attraction Showdown: Round 1 - Group D1

Videos and propaganda under the cut!

Space Mountain(any version, excluding Paris, that has its own entry): WDW Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland

Propaganda:

"They said “we should make a roller coaster but it’s dark so you feel like you’re in space and there are stars and stuff” and they were absolutely right."

"when I was a kid I was absolutely obsessed with this ride. this fact was tortuous to my poor mother, who had absolutely no appetite for rollercoasters but was understandably reluctant to let her single-digit-aged child queue and ride alone (I have other immediate family members, but my older brother wasn't old enough to be entrusted with watching me and my dad was. a very hands off parent, if you catch my drift.) a vote for Space Mountain is a vote for underappreciated mothers who endure rollercoasters that make them feel sick for their autistic kids."

Disneyland version: "Man... I feel bad for people who have only been on the Disney World version of Space Mountain. Like sure, it's alright. It's still enjoyable. It's just... Nowhere near as good as Space Mountain COULD be and IS at Disneyland. I can't speak for the ones outside of the States as I haven't been to any of them, but I can definitely 100% say that Disneyland Space Mountain is at better than at least the one at Disney World. I'm not even sure how to explain what makes it better. You just kind of have to experience it to know. But like the one at World just feels a lot jerkier and idk almost a bit painful? Just less satisfying in general. While I can't say the Disneyland one is completely smooth, it's not painful in anyway and just feels more magical. OH YEAH AND THE MUSIC. I always forget that World's doesn't have any music and it's always a big disappointment. Like hello? You're just going around the track in silence which is so awkward. The music is a huge part of the experience. It adds to the magic of the ride! Anyway, yeah... This is your sign to try Disneyland at least once if you've only ever gone to Disney World."

Here is a history of the ride, since a ride through is really hard to see:

And here is one comparing all the versions:

Aquatopia: Tokyo DisneySea

[she-toadmask]

Getting fixated on shit is weird like

I was in line for Doctor Doom's Fearfall last week and just intensely appreciating the sheer amount of effort put into that queue for what is just a drop tower and then I was like 'you know maybe I'll go read his TVTropes page and see what's up'

And then my brain just went 'we are thinking about him now' and I have lost it a little bit because Bruce Banner/The Hulk is also very cool (the queue for Hulk doesn't feature him anymore but the lore is that stuff so shhhshhshssssshsshh) but I still am just like

What if I were to try to make a list of the issues where he (either) appears and just read them all because cool shit

This happened with Venom the other month kind of I just looked for when he showed up in one of the Spider-Man animated series and watched a playlist of all his appearances and was just like 'yes venom is cool we are looking for canon venom content right now' and I don't understand

Also it's really really interesting that in both the live-action Fantastic Four movies Doctor Doom got his origin changed and connected to the other four when the link is a purely personal/social one with Mr Fantastic in the original comic shit

Also comics are fucking wild so much shit has happened because they've been around so long that one character can do a lot of shit in their existence

[turtleduckscribbles]

Taking a road trip to the Roller Coaster Capital of the World last summer naturally got me thinking about whether or not the Links would enjoy these modern mechanical feats of ingenuity. Enjoy these long overdue LU Links + Roller Coaster Headcanons! 🎢

~ ~ ~

Wind - learning to love them. Adopted as Wild's unofficial riding partner, which makes Wind feel like a Kewl Kid™. Secretly apprehensive of going upside down for the first time, but puts on a brave face and rides anyways. Proceeds to shout about how "totally gnarly" the ride was afterwards, where everyone in his vicinity must suffer through a play-by-play of his entire ride experience. Will invariably (and illicitly) reach into the water to give you an extra splash on water rides, so watch out.

Sky - loves them. The fast launch coasters remind him of flying, and he loves that wind-whipping-through-your-hair sensation that nothing but loftwing flight can replicate. Rides with his hands in the air the entire time, which Wind tries to copy but only with partial success. Screams to his heart’s content, so expect to get an earful if you sit next to him. He and Zelda would absolutely be one of those disgustingly cute couples that lather on the PDA while waiting in line, where Legend pulls faces in the background.

Wild - lives for them. The more inversions, the better. (Think AT's ‘The Smiler,’ or ‘X2’ at Magic Mountain.) What you would call a proper “thoosie.” Enjoys terrorizing the others in the queue before boarding. (Wild: “You know people have fallen to their deaths on this, right?” Wind: “Wait, really? Do you think we’ll be okay??😨” Twi: “No they haven’t, can it Wild.”) Complains about trim brakes and stapling every time without fail. Excessively entertained by the ride photos, esp Twilight’s faces in them. Knows where all the cameras are and poses in the most ridiculous ways you can imagine.

Warrior - likes them in moderation. Will go on the high intensity rides but starts to feel woozy after too many, so don’t ask him to marathon them. Spends ten minutes fixing his hair after each ride, in which he's often left behind. Jokes about holding a worried Legend’s hand to convince him onto the big rides, which predictably triggers threats and a shouting match. (Nobody comments when Legend still chooses to sit next to him, though.) Enjoys mocking everyone’s pics at the ride exits, including his own.

Hyrule - loves them, especially the chaotic spinning rides. Likely to get sick after repeated runs, but always forgets and rides them anyway. (Just don’t feed him right before he rides, lol.) Probably the loudest screamer next to Sky. Enjoys the big coasters but is just as enthralled by the carnival games, skyrail, and bumper cars. Enjoys a quick stop at the petting zoo as much as any roller coaster. He's the quintessential friend to take to a theme park because he's down for anything and everything.

Time - used to enjoy them more, but now prefers the mellow rides. Jokes it’s because of his changing biochemistry as he ages. Partial to classic Disney-style family rides, esp the ones where he can sit passively and observe the corny scares and funny animatronics (or, better yet, a lazy boat cruise whiling the time away with Malon). Will ride the big baddies if pressured, though he’ll make sure to groan about it. Classic wooden roller coasters give him a headache. Remains straight-faced on all the rides so he looks utterly bored in all the photos, much to Wild’s chagrin and Twilight’s disbelief.

Legend - the most wary when it comes to roller coasters. Finds it hard to place his life in the trust of something he has no control over. Plays it off as nbd to save face, but privately he’s nervous. The only one who can really convince him to ride is Hyrule, maybe Warrior if Legend feels he has something to prove. Insists on being in the middle seat whenever possible. Keeps his eyes closed the entire time. Point blank refuses drop towers or anything that’s too tall. Carnival games remind him of her and he avoids those as well, claiming they’re all a big scam.

Twilight - mostly indifferent but tolerates them. Claims that a quick ride on Epona is more liberating than any roller coaster could be, and it's all he needs in life (commence eye-rolling from Wild). Feels more concerned over securing the loose articles in his pockets than over the coasters themselves. (Wild, after the ride ends: “Uh-oh, Twi, your shadow crystal’s missing!” Twi: “What?!” Wild: “Haha sike, it’s right here.” Twi: 😑) Enjoys browsing through the western-themed shops in the ghost town section of the park. Will go on the rides to appease Wild, but regrets it almost every time after the relentless teasing at the photo booths.

Four - doesn’t really care for them. It doesn’t help that he’s too short for the extreme rides anyways. May or may not have stuffed his shoes before to reach the height limit. More fascinated by the operating tech than the actual ride experience itself. Not above riding the kiddie attractions, where he goads Time, Twilight, or Legend to join him. Is an outright menace at go-karts and bumper cars. Loves cotton candy and insists upon getting some whenever they go.