ADVENTURELAND

This attraction is based on the 1960 film, "Swiss Family Robinson". The movie is about a family that is shipwrecked on a deserted island and how they create a new life for themselves around their new home, a fantastic tree house fashioned from salvaged items and whatever they could find on the island.

The Disney imagineers have created this tree house with amazing detail. Naturally, the tree is not real, but the creativity involved in it’s construction is certainly genuine. The attraction doesn’t have any animatronics, music or lights, but kids like to scamper around in what must be the greatest treehouse ever built. A path that has many stairs and footbridges takes you through the treehouse, so you can observe it’s numerous rooms and features. If you’re looking for high-tech pizzazz, you’ll be disappointed.

Don’t wait too long for this attraction, your time is probably better spent in line. If your kids need to run around, take them to Tom Sawyer’s Island.  Visitors must climb many stairs in single file, so the line moves particularly slowly. Unlike rides where you are seated, you can move through this attraction only at the speed of the slowest person. There are spots for people to rest and let other people pass, but if time short skip it. 

          Jungle Cruise

This is probably the most popular attraction in Adventureland. The ride simulates a ten-minute cruise through the jungle on a riverboat. Along the way, the Captain of the boat will point out all the perils of the jungle including headhunters and crocodiles as well as the more innocuous creatures like butterflies and bathing elephants. The riverboat Captains are half-guide, half stand-up comedian as the tour is replete with Disney-esque jokes, e.g. "I think that elephant forgot to pack his trunk". 

The ride provides a pleasant break from marching around the park, and unlike other water-based attractions, you won’t get dowsed. (You might get caught by a light sprinkle, but not more). Kids flip for this ride, so you should try and make time for it. However, lots of other people feel the same way, so lines can get long. Go first thing in the morning.

          Pirates of the Caribbean

This ride has practically become synonymous with Disney itself. It’s been a staple of the park for years and has remained practically unchanged since it’s opening. Like the "It’s a Small World" ride, it’s become a right of passage to Disney visitors and has to appreciated as such. The ride generally shows it’s age with low-tech animatronics and some politically incorrect moments (Wenches), but it’s still a great Disney adventure.

The ride itself is a water-borne trip that covers the life of a pirate. You’ll see a pirate’s cove, a battle and an entire pirate village. While you observe the action that takes place on both sides of the boat, cannonballs splash around you and pirates will hoist the Jolly Roger. Of course, the ride ends in a chorus of " Yo-ho, Yo-ho, a pirate’s life for me". Fortunately it’s not as catchy as "It’s a Small World", and you won’t create too many little pirates.

This ride is Disney’s first audio-animatronic attraction. It has undergone numerous revisions and is now hosted by flighty characters from recent Disney films.  Zazu from the Lion King and Iago from Aladdin now guide you through an aviary of animatronic birds. The best that the attraction has to offer besides air-conditioning is the song, " In the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room" it’s annoying but you won’t be able to get the tune out of your head no matter how hard you try.

Save it for the next trip if time is short.