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Favorite Low-Profile WDW Attractions

Walt Disney World: Favorite attractions that are not obvious "must-do"s.

From Mike Saperstein
Posted June 9, 2011 at 3:58 PM
The recent "Favorite Disney World Park" post, along with our just-completed WDW trip, got me talking to my wife about the best low-profile Disney World attractions. Meaning our family's favorite attractions that other people don't always consider major or "must do".

Anyway, here are ours, interested in seeing others':

DHS: Disney Channel Live
Animal Kingdom: Flights of Wonder
Magic Kingdom: Hall of Presidents
Epcot: Living with the Land (close second: Kim Possible)


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Terri Pierce
Posted June 10, 2011 at 3:36 PM
MK: People Mover and Carrousel of Progress

DHS: Used to be backlot tour, now I suppose One Man's Dream. I suppose thats not a "high profile"

EPCOT: The mexican boat ride! Love that thing, why? No clue. I only like riding in the front seat though. Also love living with the land but fam hates it.

AK: Mind is blank. only been twice.

From Mark Fairleigh
Posted June 10, 2011 at 7:04 PM
MK: Hall of Presidents/Carousel of Progress - love 'em both.

Epcot: Living with the Land - love the relaxing ride through well-crafted scenes and wonderfully interesting farms.

AK: Dinosaur! - I say low-profile because it's oft-overlooked as one of the best rides in Orlando.

HS: Sorry, nothing to list here as I've only been there once and left early.

From Albino Pygmy
Posted June 10, 2011 at 7:20 PM
MK: Tom Sawyer's Island, nice place to relax and have some overpriced ice cream.

Epcot: Virtual Shuffleboard! Ok, it's not really called Virtual Shuffleboard, but it's one of the games you can play after you get off what's left of SSE.

AK: Jungle Trek in Asia, the scenery is great to walk through.

DHS: Sounds Dangerous. Ok, I kinda thought it was neat, and a good place to take a quick nap when they cut out all the lights. Best part is that you can snore and nobody would hear you :)

From Anthony Murphy
Posted June 11, 2011 at 8:24 AM
MK: People Mover and Carrousel of Progress

DHS: One Man's Dream and Muppetvison (just because there are so many 3D Shows out there)

EPCOT: Living with the Land hands down! Actually, that whole pavilion

AK: Flights of Wonder, Marajahah Jungle Trek, and Pagani Forest Trail

From Lauren Hayhurst
Posted June 12, 2011 at 8:45 AM
Good question! Definitely has to be:

AK- Flights of Wonder - I actually got picked to go up on stage with my video camera and was able to film really up close - it was cool!

DHS- Prime Time cafe - always go for a cocktail in there and have a little down-time, spend ages trying to take the perfect photo of the luminous ice-cubes.

MK - People Mover, never used to bother but my mum always loved it - now I do too! nice to have a rest and see Tomorrow Land from a different perspective.

EPCOT- Mo-Rockin, the band in Morocco, really good to listen to whist nibbling on something at the Tangierine Cafe.

From Thomas Crain
Posted June 12, 2011 at 9:42 AM
Animal Kingdom: Hands down the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Beautiful scenery, story-telling, and architecture.

DHS: Gotta hand it to the Great Movie Ride. Despite riding it tons of times, I've never once waited in line or had a full car.

Epcot: Ellen's Energy Adventure. I LOVE THIS RIDE. The only way to start the day at Epcot. I listen to the main theme every-day.

Magic Kingdom: Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Wonderful ride with great views for the whole family.

From Carrie Hood
Posted June 13, 2011 at 7:28 AM
Magic Kingdom: Tomorrowland Transit Authority... or as I still call it, the Peoplemover. Rarely ever a line and a good place to relax off for feet for a few minutes. The other one is the Country Bears, it doesn't tend to have a long line and the show still amuses me.

Epcot: Maelstorm at Norway. Rarely a line more then 10-15 minutes long when we go and it's a childhood favorite.

Hollywood Studios: The Backstage Tour is always a favorite along with Muppetvision 3D. Yeah everyone has a 3D show now, but DHS has the muppets!

AK: Wouldn't know, I've never been impressed with the park so we rarely ever go.

From KJ Simpson
Posted June 13, 2011 at 8:06 AM
I love this question.

MK- Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Funny how most of us have picked the same thing. For me it's nostalgia. It was the first attraction we did, the first time we took my daughter. Now it's tradition.

Epcot- Maelstrom! Does this qualify, given the fact that it offers Fast Pass?? My other favorite- Kim Possible missions. An often overlooked, completely new and fun way to visit World Showcase. It's a bit time consuming, and I wouldn't recommend it if it's your first time to Epcot- but it rocks!

HS- One Man's Dream. I hope they don't close this. I heard it was scheduled to close last year, but some influence from D23 kept it open, at least for the time being. Does anyone know if this is true?

AK- DiVine. I think she's one of the best attractions anywhere in the parks!

From Terri Pierce
Posted June 13, 2011 at 9:30 AM
KJ- when we went in October One Man's Dream was still open. However due to the "influence" of my sister we just looked around and didn't stay for the movie.

From Dan Babbitt
Posted June 13, 2011 at 9:48 AM
MK: Tomorrowland Transit Authority. I love going this ride especially during the night parade or during the Wish's!

AK: Wildlife Express Train. You sit down and get out of the heat! Also you see backstage into the cages and what not.

EPCOT: Journey into your Imgination with Figment...I know I know but now lines and you get out of the heat!

DHS: Mulch Sweat and Shears. Awesome funny group that plays on Streets of America.

From Nick Markham
Posted June 13, 2011 at 3:20 PM
MK- Carousel of Progress: A great way to pass the time in between big rides and also very well done show. It's just a classic!

EPCOT- Spaceship Earth: It may be the icon of the park, but it isn't a star attraction. Still, a pretty fun ride.

DHS- The Great Movie Ride: Gotta love seeing classic movies from the past. Also, the integration of live actors is a nice surprise!

AK-Festival of the Lion King: It may have been a bigger attraction a couple years ago, but these days, it is a hidden gem that never fails to entertain families.

From Rob P
Posted June 14, 2011 at 3:11 AM
Country Bears : I still like this show. Cheesy, maybe, and a little tired now but still fun. Especially at Christmas.

From Kelly Muggleton
Posted June 14, 2011 at 7:06 AM
Oh it has to be the Great Movie Ride! I love it - and I always ask to try and see the Western 'show'. Alien used to make me jump back in the day but now I am all grown up its just another scene to relax...until we get to the Wizard of Oz and I decide to sing!

MK - probably the lowest key attraction...playing a game of draughts (checkers) outside the candy store on Main Street. Its a grand tradition for us.

Animal Kingdom - either of the forest trails. Great way to see the animals for as long as you like without lining up for the Safari.

Epcot - dont go enough to even really have a favourite main attraction let alone low key.

From Flavio de Souza
Posted June 14, 2011 at 10:04 AM
MK: People Mover and Carrousel of Progress
EPCOT: Living with the Land
AK: Marajahah Jungle Trek
DHS- The Great Movie Ride
Disneyland LA: Mr. Toad
Disneyland Paris: Dragon under the Castle

From Terry O'Neal
Posted June 14, 2011 at 11:31 AM
When is everyone going to Hollywood Studios where they can get on Great Movie without waiting an hour? Queue line's the worst, and it makes me want to just get the ride over with. If it was 15-20 minute wait, might change my perspective.

Magic Kingdom - Astro Orbiter
EPCOT - Living with the Land
Hollywood Studios - Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Animal Kindgom - Pangani

From Barbara Sims
Posted June 14, 2011 at 11:59 AM
I always visit in Feb and Oct and the wait for The Great Movie Ride is generally 15 min if not less. I love to watch the movie trailers while in the queue.
AK--Flights of Wonder
Epcot--American Adventure
MK--Carousel of Progress and People Mover

From Terry O'Neal
Posted June 14, 2011 at 5:42 PM
The movie trailers are great once. It's when the 60 minute line makes the trailers repeat 8 times apiece when I start to want to get out of there. Must just be bad timing on my part. Hopefulyl next we go it's a shorter wait. Thanks Barbara.

From Rob P
Posted June 15, 2011 at 1:00 AM
I love the Great Movie Ride too but know exactly what Terry's saying about that line and the loop of film clips.
The way that the line snakes back and forth it sometimes feels like you're never going to get to that door and when you've learned every line in every clip, because you've seen it so often, you know you've been waiting far too long.
Shorter lines or longer movie clips are the order of the day.

From Kelly Muggleton
Posted June 15, 2011 at 1:55 AM
We always do the Great Movie Ride towards the end of the day - around 5pm. Usually its a 10 minute wait absolute max.
Agree with the movie trailers...how easy would it be to update this? Add in a Disney movie montage perhaps?

From Terri Pierce
Posted June 15, 2011 at 1:40 PM
They moved the alien on the great movie ride. I wish they would put it back.

From Scott B
Posted June 16, 2011 at 7:11 AM
Wait, they moved the alien? To where? Is he part of the Wizard of Oz section? (that would be....interesting)

Last time I was on the Great Movie Ride (GMR at DHS for those in the know), the ride stopped for a solid 15 minutes right when we were in the Wizard of Oz section. It was fun at first and then it stopped being fun.

Oh and to stay on topic of this thread, I feel like many of the trails at Animal Kingdom are under the radar. Many people are there to go on rides and see shows, but some of the trails are so incredibly themed and populated with amazing animals. That is why I feel like Animal Kingdom is really a park of discovery. I feel like there are lots of nooks that people are walking right by.

From Robert Niles
Posted June 16, 2011 at 11:04 PM
At first I was going to second Tom Sawyer's Island, but then I remembered that, as the premier attraction in the world's largest theme park, it hardly could be considered low profile. :^)

If you've not had the pleasure of visiting Tom's island, well, it's like the Jungle Cruise if you added caves, a restaurant and literate crew people, then removed all those pesky hippos.

(TH takes the flame bait in three, two, one...)

From Manny Barron
Posted June 17, 2011 at 11:45 PM
I don't get tired of that Alien trailer playing in the queue room for the Great Movie Ride, the others well I could do without.

From Adam Dodds
Posted June 20, 2011 at 9:48 AM
The People Mover is now called the Peoplemover. That said I love Country Bears and can't explain why. Also love the Liberty Bell Riverboat and HoP. In Epcot I love Living with the Land and Kim Possible (despite my hate for the show) and in the studios I'd say it would Backlot tour for the Villians exhibit and One Man's Dream. DAK it's totally the animal trails. Once I discovered those, my favoritism for Animal Kingdom shot up.

From Rob P
Posted June 29, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Almost forgot............Davy Crockett's Canoes at Disneyland are an absolute must-do.

From Laura Willis
Posted June 29, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Epcot: Maelstorm at Norway. Not sure why but I love this ride. Must be all the little surprises!

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