Around the World
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It's been about a month since the Happiest Celebration on Earth officially kicked off here at Walt Disney World. In that time I've been able to see pretty much all of it and have, of course, formed a few opinions. So here, in descending order of preference, are my opinions of the major additions at Walt Disney World for The Happiest Celebration on Earth.
Disney-MGM Studios
New for the celebration at Disney-MGM Studios is easily my favorite part of the
celebration - the Lights! Motors! Extreme Stunt Show (LMA). I've been excited about this show since I first heard about it
going into the Walt Disney Studios Paris. I'm a sucker for the cheesy western
stunt shows of Universal Studios and Knott's Berry Farm. And I'm an even bigger
fan of the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. But LMA really takes things to a new
level with cars and motorcycles being at the center of the action. I would not
have thought cars could do what they do in this show so consistently, multiple
times per day. While I'm sure it must happen, I've never even seen two
cars come in contact in the 10+ times I've seen the show. Add to that the
motorcycles, explosions, and the other surprises (plus a little bit of humor)
and I'm hooked. If you've seen the Indy stunt show, I promise you it hasn't
prepared you for what LMA is. It's as different from most stunt shows as Tower
of Terror is different from most freefall rides. Go see it!
More Info: LP Lotion - Lights! Motors! Action! Preview
Epcot
At Epcot the new attraction is Soarin' imported
from Disney's California Adventure. Soarin' is a unique simulator ride that
takes you on an air tour of California. It lifts you up to 40 feet in the air
giving a wonderful sensation of flight and it's accompanied by a great
soundtrack. As a native of California I've ridden Soarin'
Over California dozens of times at DCA. I remember getting off after my first
ride in January 2001 and thinking that it was almost a perfect Disney ride. It's
accessible to almost everyone (who meets the high requirement). It manages to
give a bit of a thrill without putting a strain on the body so young and old
alike can enjoy it. And it's something completely new and different. Four years
later I still feel the same way. Soarin', to me, is still a wonder. Living so
close to the parks for so many years can take a lot of the anticipatory
excitement out of rides, but Soarin' is one of the few that I still get excited
about each time. While I've heard there is a very minor difference at the end,
the ride itself is essentially the same as its California counterpart. But I find the
setup more enjoyable. While California's queue is themed to a hanger with a few pictures on the walls and not much else, Florida's queue is an
airport with huge screens showing some of America's wonders and trivia. Neither
is incredible, but I definitely prefer Florida's.
A related but less heralded improvement for the Celebration is the Land Pavilion itself. The new decor I can take or leave, but the new food court - mmmmmmmm! Sunshine Seasons is definitely a cut above the old food court, especially for us vegetarians. I actually have choices - lots of choices - when I visit. I've yet to have anything I don't love whether it's the Tofu and Noodles at the Asian Shop, the vegetarian Cuban at the Sandwich Shop or the tabbouleh at the Wood-Fired Grill Shop. The Land was always my favorite quick service place to eat at Epcot, so there was a bit of fear with my favorite changing. But I needn't have worried, the new food court is awesome!
More Details: Sunshine Seasons at The Land