Theme park favorites bring chills, thrills and smiles

Dewayne Bevil | Theme Park Ranger

October 5, 2007

My list of theme-park favorites evolves. Sometimes an attraction gets tired; sometimes it's just me. Who knows what tomorrow holds? Next year's list I could be swooning about Toy Story Mania or the Simpsons ride, but here's what's tops now:

Rides

My long-standing favorite is The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. No one should venture to Islands of Adventure without experiencing this 3-D ride, which is an amped-up simulator that joins Spidey against several supervillains. Spins, close calls and fireballs lead up to a fabulous faux freefall. It's creative, exhilarating and true to the Marvel spirit.

The Tower of Terror at Disney-MGM Studios takes the prize for theming. From the intentionally "dirty" lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel (staffed by the best-dressed cast members) through the retro pre-show and stark loading areas to the stomach-sinking effects of the elevator shaft, the Tower stands above other attractions in its overall look.

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My current favorite coaster is SeaWorld Orlando's Kraken, which has just enough severe twists and drops to thrill but not make you ill.

Kraken's neighbor Journey to Atlantis qualifies as most underrated. It's more than the watery plunge that nonriders see, but I don't want to reveal more.

The best new/old coaster you've probably not been on yet is the Starliner at Cypress Gardens. The transplanted wooden relic offers vintage fun not otherwise available in Central Florida.

Two roller-coaster moments stand out at Islands of Adventure: acceleration from the tunnel of Incredible Hulk and the illusion of feet-meet-feet collision of Dueling Dragons.

Although Soarin' at Epcot is a California travelogue, the flight over orange groves takes me back to the scent of pre-freeze, pre-canker Central Florida. Sigh. You can't help but smile, even if it's a grin of superiority as we ride past Disneyland's wee-little Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Shows

I'm a fool for "Festival of the Lion King" at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's heavy on the pageantry but offers genuine singing, fire-twirling, inventive costuming and folks representing tumble monkeys.

Under "borderline guilty pleasure," I place Disney-MGM's "Beauty and the Beast." Maybe it appeals to my inner princess, but the cast sells this show so much that by the end I usually have chills.

"Blue Horizons" at SeaWorld Orlando successfully juggles playful dolphins, birds, high divers and acrobatics.

I've recently become fond of Mickey's PhilHarmagic at Magic Kingdom. It's a 3-D movie/greatest hits package of Disney tunes. Note to Imagineers: How about a singalong version?

Intangibles and others

Two stand-out lines are "It's called a salute to all nations . . . but mostly America" (Sam the Eagle in MuppetVision 3-D at Disney-MGM), and "Prepare to forfeit your souls. Death is only the beginning" (A mummy at Revenge of the Mummy, Universal Studios).

The open-jaws entryway to Gatorland scores as a top icon, even though it's still being rebuilt from last year's fire.

I like to watch kids interact with costumed characters, but give me the Blues Brothers at Universal Studios. (I'm also fond of the Mystic Fountain at Islands).

My favorite new technology in action is the articulated heads at Walt Disney World. See Mickey blink! See Mickey's mouth move! It sounds minor, but it has a major impact when those heads are in action at the "Dream Along With Mickey" show at Cinderella Castle.

I recently was talking about Blinking Mickey with a longtime cast member. She said "Somewhere, Uncle Walt is smiling."

Me too.