TOP TEN "PRINCE-LY" ADVENTURES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
By Paula Hughes Court
Why do thoughts of Walt Disney World first bring to mind images of
Cinderella, Snow White and girls in princess dresses? What about
the little princes in the group? Or in my case, a rough and tough five-
year-old nephew who is more interested in pirates and laser guns
than tiaras and ball gowns. On a recent family trip to Walt Disney
World with my daughter, Claudia and nephew, Trevor, we set out to
discover the best “prince-ly” adventures for boys age 4-9. As to be
expected, the top attractions at Walt Disney World for boys involved
bugs, dinosaurs, lasers, bad-mannered monsters and cars.
WALT DISNEY WORLD'S MAGIC KINGDOM
BUZZ LIGHTYEAR’S SPACE RANGER SPIN
First place goes to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, an exciting,
interactive ride where space rangers shoot moving targets with
lasers. Each individual car features two laser guns and a control
stick that spins the car for better aim while players compete for the
highest scores. Hint: Try to hit Zurg for a big boost in points.
Immediately upon disembarking, check out the photos of your group
on the computer screens. Take advantage of FastPass for this ride
because the boys in your group will want to ride it at least twice.
STITCH’S GREAT ESCAPE
How could any boy resist the cute but obnoxious Stitch? While
seated in a large circular theater, you'll be entertained by a
misbehaving Stitch as he bounces on your shoulders, touches your
hair, and burps a nasty smelling hot dog. The grandmother in our
group was completely repulsed by Stitch's bad behavior which made
the kids love it even more. Note: The height restriction was recently
raised to 40".
TOMORROWLAND INDY SPEEDWAY
This is another not-to-be-missed ride for boys of all ages (Dads
included!). Small children are allowed to drive the cars as long as an
adult accompanies them and works the gas pedal. The line moves
fast, so don’t be put off by a large crowd.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Boys love this classic Disney ride filled with rowdy pirates, loud
cannons and, of course, the pirate song which they'll sing the rest of
the day.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
DINOSAUR
After boarding a 12-seat Time Rover, you'll head back 65 million
years to
rescue the last dinosaur from extinction. Older children love the
excitement of this ride, but the realistic dinosaurs can be terrifying to
smaller children. Take the warning seriously to secure purses and
belongings because the ride tilts, swerves and careens wildly. The
height restriction is 40" and children under seven must be
accompanied by an adult.
IT’S TOUGH TO BE A BUG
Bug’s Life’s Flik and Hopper star in this 3-D adventure set inside
Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life. A few younger children may be
frightened by the realistic special effects. If your child scares easily,
you might want to prepare them for a few of the scarier special
effects, such as the spray of water, stinkbug smell and the sting of
the hornet from the seat back behind you. Also tell younger children
to sit on the front of the seat so they can enjoy the pleasant 3-D
effects without feeling the "bugs".
KILIMANJARO SAFARIS
This is by far the best ride at Animal Kingdom and it's great for all
age groups. The open-air safari vehicles take you on a ride through
a simulated African safari filled with free-roaming animals such as
rhinos, gazelles, giraffes, hippos and elephants. The lions are kept
in a separate enclosure, but the fences and moats are completely
hidden from view. Be on the lookout for poachers and hold on tight!
The back seat of the vehicle gives the bounciest ride.
THE BONEYARD-DINOLAND
Take the boys here to let them run off some energy while adults rest
their feet, but be prepared to stay a while. Small children can spend
hours digging for dinosaur bones in the sand-filled boneyard, while
older children enjoy the slides, caves and rope climbing.
MGM STUDIOS
LIGHTS, MOTORS, ACTION! EXTREME STUNT SHOW
This action-filled show is a must see if you've ever wanted to know
how they film stunts in the movies. The new 30-minute show features
cars, motorcyles and watercraft all driven by professional stunt
drivers. All boys will love the speeding car scenes, explosions and
fires.
EPCOT
TEST TRACK
Test Track is the longest and fastest thrill ride at Walt Disney World
reaching speeds of up to 65 mph on a nearly mile-long track. Young
Nascar lovers can experience first-hand the thrill of racing as they
speed along a simulated world of automobile testing.
FAMILY TRAVEL FUN.COM