Six of My Favorite “Underrated” Attractions
Walt Disney World is well known for its famous and classic attractions, but sometimes that means Guests will pass by some of the lesser known attractions on the way to the big headliners. While you may not have time to visit every attraction in the parks, if you find yourself with some extra time on your hands, these are definitely worth a visit.
The Aquarium at the Seas with Nemo & Friends
Nemo may seemingly be the star of the show at this Epcot pavilion, yet many new Guests don’t realize that there’s much more to this pavilion than the ride-through attraction. No, the real stars are the aquatic animals that reside in the main aquarium; one of the largest in the world. While you may be tempted to exit straight through the gift shop and back out to Future World, you should instead take the escalator leading to the second floor and marvel at the sea life that surrounds you as you venture into the viewing area. You’ll see fish of all sorts, a few sharks, and even a sea turtle or two. You’ll even find a pair of manatees off in their own pool, happily cavorting among the leaves of chewed up lettuce. There is much to see and explore at the Seas pavilion, and if you’re still all about Nemo, you can even find the real life counterparts of him and Dory in the smaller aquariums. This is also a great place for kids to explore…you’ll find some imaginative “under the sea” play areas…as well as a few Kidcot-style interactive stops where your kids (and you) can learn more about our underwater cousins. (But we still miss the Hydrolators!)
Maharajah Jungle Trek
With the opening of Pandora, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has truly become a park to be enjoyed day and night. Along with other headliner attractions like Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids, there’s a lot to do in Disney’s newest park. But tucked away amongst the animals and foliage are quite a few hidden gems, and our favorite is the Maharajah Jungle Trek. This walk-through outdoor exhibit takes you to the exotic world of Asia, and along the way you’ll see tigers, bats, and even a Komodo dragon. But it’s the tranquility that’s the real draw here; you can take your time and stroll through at your leisure, and even rest on a bench by a beautiful jade fountain. The theming throughout the trails is incredible, and there are lots of surprises waiting to be discovered. And there’s no better way to pass the time if you happen to be waiting for your FastPass+ time to arrive for the nearby Expedition Everest.
Living with the Land
This attraction was once quite popular and was, in fact, at one time one of the most popular attractions in Epcot, with wait times typically well over 45 minutes. But as Test Track and Soarin’ opened, Guests started to migrate away from Living with the Land in favor of its larger cousins. Today, that means you’ll often find little or no wait for this attraction (except on the busiest days). But don’t let the lack of line fool you; this is a wonderful attraction, and along with the aquarium at the Seas pavilion, perfectly embodies the original concept for Epcot. Fans of Living of the Land have their own favorite scenes…and there are lots to choose from. Some enjoy the cool mist of the waterfalls throughout the rainforest segment, while others can’t resist the charm of the prairie dogs as they pop their heads in and out of their burrow holes in the dessert. Then of course there’s the tranquil setting of the farmhouse where goats bleat in the distance. (By the way, take a close look at the mailbox to find a very significant address number!). Then there’s the greenhouse itself, and it’s always full of surprises. Hidden Mickeys abound…some freshly planted (look in the lettuce beds), and some that have been around forever (keep an eye out for those test tubes in the science lab). Living With the Land is relaxing, educational, and bursting with all of those classic details that Disney is so good at. I just keep wondering how much lemonade that Nine Pound Lemon can make!!
“it’s a small world”/Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room/Carousel of Progress
I’m going to combine these three entries into one because they’re all on the list for the same reason. Many is the Guest (and occasional guide book) who dismisses these three attractions as “corny” and “outdated.” And thusly misinformed, the first-time visitor quickly crosses them off their to-do list. But all these attractions also share something in common; they all have strong connections to Walt Disney. They were all near and dear to Walt’s heart, and if there are any attractions that typify that true Disney ideal, it would be these three. Sure, they may be idealistic, and some say a bit naive in their central message, but that’s the true magic of Disney – to be able to be naive and to let yourself believe that we can live in world filled with peace, dreams, innovation, and good old-fashioned fun. So, if you routinely pass over these attractions in favor of big thrills, do yourself a favor and go check them out with a new frame of mind. You just may find your eyes opened up to a whole new world, and for a moment – even a brief one – you can get back in touch with that innocent child that lives in each one of us.
And that’s the true magic of Disney.
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I agree for the most part. We watched the Enchanted Tiki Room show for the first time in years. It’s one of those do it once every 5 years or so. 🙂 We always enjoy The Land and ride the boats every time we’re in Epcot. I know a lot of people find the C of P boring, but this a not to be miss attraction for us. Unfortunately, I see the day coming Disney will be doing away with it.
Thanks Norm! I know the Carousel of Progress is always surrounded by rumors that it will close…but I think we’ll be fine, it was one of Walt’s favorite of course! But here’s the bigger question…aside from the Christas scene (which tops pretty much everyone’s list), which scene or character is your favorite??
Tim, you are 100% correct when you wrote about how important the Enchanted Tiki Room, It’s a Small World, and the Carousel of Progress are to Disney parks. I hope that all true Disney fans realize this–they help set Disney apart from all other theme parks. I know our family never misses riding all three every time we go and that is at least once a year on our vacation from Illinois to Florida.
Thanks Darryl! There’s definitely a lot of nostalgia that goes with those attractions…and I’m always humbled when I think about how near and dear they all were to Walt Disney. It’s almost like he’s sitting next to me in spirit. That’s one of the things I love most about Walt Disney World (compared to other parks)…there’s so much history here, and everything you see is grounded in a wonderful backstory, much of which literally paved the way for all the advances we see today in film, TV…everywhere. (And who doesn’t love the Christmas scene in COP? I swear a get a winter chill every time I see it, even when it’s 98 degrees outside!)
I think you hit the nail on the head with your Six Underrated Attractions. I’ve been going to Disney since 1972 and have enjoyed each and everyone of these attractions. My favorite out of the six is Living with the Land and I remember when you had a “live guide” to tell you about the land. Now it’s recorded. Second would be the Aquarium. Thank you for letting people know that not all good things come in big exciting packages. Some come in “smaller” unpretentious ones are they are the best.
Thanks Lois! Yes, I remember the Cast Member guide well…I always rode with the slim hope that perhaps they’d slip in a Jungle Cruise, but alas, they always stuck largely to their script. But they were great! (As all Cast Members are!)
I too enjoy the 6 “underrated” attractions. I know Disney is changing fast (too fast for me) but I hope they will forever keep these attractions. Thanks for such a great magazine!
Yes, that’s the eternal conundrum with Walt Disney World, welcoming the new while saying goodbye to the old. It’s sad when one of your beloved attractions closes, but then again I can’t imagine Disney without many of the new additional over the years (I still maintain that Flight of Passage is the greatest attraction ever created by human hands!). I was very excited to see the new plans for Epcot and to see that they will be keeping the spirit of discovery, innovation, and exploration alive…and not transform it into a thrill ride park (I have enough trouble handling the backward section of Frozen!!)
Love Maharajah Jungle Trek, and often sing to the tigers (tho I’m sure they can’t hear me…) Song of choice? “Hunting Tigers (Out in Indiah), made famous by the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band (yes, that really is their name…)
Thanks R.A.! Is there anything more peaceful than sitting on a bench by the jade water fountain, listening to the wildlife chattering about in the forest? Knowing that there are crowds of people not that far away queuing up for Expedition Everest? It’s always a wonderful thing to find that relaxing oasis in the middle of the park, and for a moment being able to imagine that you’re there all by yourself!
Tim, nailed again!!
You never cease to capture everything that my family and I think and feel as we wander through the parks, and that definitely includes your extra delights above!
Firstly the aquarium: the budding Vet in our family (namely our 6 year daughter, Erin) got a real buzz when we took her there for the first time 2 years ago and my wife and I never miss a beat looking at these majestic creatures. For me, being in the infrastructure development game, I just love to marvel at the sheer size of that tank!
The Maharajah Jungle Trek along with the Pagani Forest Exploration Trail (now the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail) are two of our favourite ‘let’s take a nice quiet stroll for some downtime’ moments in what is very much a fast-paced Theme Park these days. These can be quiet often the cooler parts of the park on hot days as well.
Living with the Land: Tim, you’ve touched on something very close to my family’s heart here. This entire pavilion, anchored in our minds by this very attraction, has become our favourite at Epcot. In fact, a new family tradition we started two trips ago is to always have a healthy hearty lunch at Sunshine Seasons on our first day at Epcot which is always our first park day at WDW. We are, however, ALWAYS mindful NEVER to ride Living with the Land on an empty stomach – quite the opposite to what you normally hear of theme park rides. This is simply because of how hungry going through the green houses makes us looking at all of those delicious fruits and vegetables! As for my favourite part of the ride? Well apart from the green houses, for me it’s right at the very beginning with the storm breaking through the rainforest. Coming from Queensland in Australia, an area synonymous with this kind of climate and ecosystem, it makes me feel so relaxed.
As for your last three, one of them we have ALWAYS done (It’s a Small World), one of them we have only always done since they got rid of the annoying Iago (sorry Iago fans – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room) and the last one, we have always done since we discovered it by accident on our third or fourth trip to WDW (Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress). Rest assured however, these guys are mainstays to us and are ALWAYS built in to our schedule.
Thanks again Tim! Keep up the great work!
Thanks Luke!! We’ll definitely talk more about other Disney Hidden Gems (and there are SO many to choose from!), but thank you so much for adding your perspective, I always love to hear other people’s thoughts…and to be reassured that I’m not the only one who LOVE “it’s a small world” (ooh la la!!). It’s funny, my trips on Living With the Land always end with a stroll over to Sunshine Seasons for a cheese platter (and yes, perhaps a piece of carrot cake…hey, it’s a vegetable, right???). I think if I were to pick an under-appreciated scene from any of these attractions it would be the rainforest in Living With the Land…mostly because I think it doesn’t come immediately to mind when you mention Living With the Land. The first thing I always think of is the greenhouse section (deservedly so, since that’s the heart of the pavilion), and oddly sometimes catch myself thinking “oh, yeah, the rainforest!” when we first enter. And I LOVE that part….they could do a whole attraction on rainforests and I’d be in 100% (that’s a hint Disney!!) But as I said, much more to come!!!! Thanks again Luke!!
Each one of these are a favorite of our family and they’re attractions we hit on each trip! Honestly, I’d live in the Enchanted Tiki Room if I thought I could get away with it. Great music, entertaining company, and ready access to Dole Whip? Sounds like heaven…