December 18, 2024 • 29 mins
First things first, pardon the audio. We tried something different during the recording and it came out...ok, not the best, but ok enough for this short episode, lol. With that said, we keeps things chill and discuss our favorite rides to do at night at Disney World! We hope you enjoy the show!
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Randy, Dack, and Ryan
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello, the seatbelt check is around the corner. You actually were telling the truth
(00:04):
I do that quite a lot. Your people are always surprised. Welcome aboard
To those guests who've just joined us welcome
Hey guys, welcome back to escape to the magic we are your hosts
(00:29):
My name is Ryan and I am dad and we are doing something a little different tonight
We are recording
What's the best way to put this
We're like not in studio. We are holding our microphones for the first time. Yes
Trying something new. Hopefully the audio comes. Yeah
(00:49):
So if this if this episode if it ends up being released then we know that then you know as a listener that
It came out. All right
This is more of our relaxed. Yeah, this is a very relaxed episode. Yeah, we just had some free time tonight
We're like, let's get together and record
Let me ask you a question just as we start off here. Yeah, if you had your choice between
(01:12):
Parks in the morning or parks at night, which do you prefer parks at night? Absolutely percent. That's a question
That's there's no debate in that. Yeah, I think you're right
I think it just the lighting and everything like that in the parks is so much better at night. You
Know as you get to that point where crowds are I'm saying all things being equal, right?
(01:33):
So in the morning, let's say you had low crowds cooler weather
Same thing in the evenings, right? You have lower crowds
Typically cooler weather but just adding that ambiance of the lighting at night. I think
Brings the parks to another level
Well, I think the lighting does provide an amazing ambiance for sure doesn't you can't replicate that obviously in the morning because there's no
(01:57):
There's no darkness sure, right? I
Mean, that's pretty obvious. Call me call me captain obvious from here on out, right?
But there's just something about night. Yeah, I think there's just something about night the sound
You know scientifically carries better at night. So I think the music is more audible at night. Yeah, so
nighttime is just
(02:17):
It's worth that. Yeah for sure. So so that got me thinking. I'm glad you answered that way because I feel the same way
So it gets me thinking
What if we were to choose our top?
Attractions to ride at night. So our favorite attracts our favorite
Attractions to do at night. Yeah at Disney World. Yeah, what are you some of your favorites? So maybe we go
(02:39):
Let's go park to park
Maybe start with one of the tougher ones in Animal Kingdom since it's number one. It's
rarely open
past dark and
So if it's dusk, yeah, so obviously you're gonna have Everest Animal Kingdom
Expedition Everest animal kingdom. Yeah
(03:00):
with the non-functioning yeti
So, I mean, yeah, I mean that's that's one attraction I
Mean the Safari is rarely operational
Past a certain hour. Yeah, they do they do have a ride that is right at dusk
that one is kind of nice because
(03:22):
The animals tend to be a little bit more active right before that's where mornings win at Animal Kingdom
Okay, not true. That's true. I think mornings at Animal Kingdom are are
superior to
evenings at Animal Kingdom
But if you throw in Pandora at night, so Pandora there at Animal Kingdom where flight of passage resides and where?
(03:45):
Navi River Journey, which both are indoor attractions, but the land itself is amazing at night
But that's not what we're talking about. Yeah talking about the attractions the actual riding on the attraction
So what else is there animal kingdom? So you have Everest you have dinosaur dinosaurs indoors. Yeah, really Everest is
Your just Everest Everest in the Safari ride Kilimanjaro safaris
(04:09):
It's probably your only two attractions that you're riding outside at night
Yeah, when was the last time you were at Animal Kingdom at night? It's been a few years. It's been several hours
operational hours have been
Just they don't stay open late, right, you know, so anyway, okay, so let's say for Animal Kingdom
I'm gonna throw Safari out Kilimanjaro Safari
(04:32):
I'm throwing it out. All right, because you're really not at night
You're more
Early evening dusk type of thing. Yeah, so just really just really just Everest. Okay. All right
You want to finish a magic Kingdom? So let's finish. Okay. Yeah, so let's go to
Hollywood studios. Oh Hollywood studios. All right best attractions to do at night. Well you have I
(04:54):
Mean Tower of Terror, even though it's an indoor attraction
When you go up the elevator
Those doors open. It's true a different experience. I would say that's a very nice
Slinky dog at night awesome is awesome. Yeah
Let's see that's really it Toy Story mania is inside Star Wars rise of the resistance is inside
(05:19):
Star tours is inside rock and roll goes here's inside. Maybe this wasn't such a great
Episode okay, so like let's come up with episode. Yeah
So really and truly it's it's just slinky dog dash
as your and
Twilight or Tower terror Twilight Zone, so
(05:39):
Wait a minute. Is that it have your outdoor right? Star Wars is inside
Alien swirling saucers, but that doesn't I mean
That on your list. Yeah outside good call
I mean it is covered but it is outside
The other one is Mickey and Minnie's runaway railroad and Millennium Falcon, but because they're both indoor right?
We need to we need to correct something every single time you say Mickey and Minnie's runaway railroad
(06:04):
railway
Listen you're on a train. It's a real on a train. Yes, okay
Dude speaking of that. Did you hear that?
For that for the Jollywood nights, they have an ice skating show now what no yeah right in front of the
The Chinese theater there so easy. Yeah anyway, so really so in terms of nighttime riots a tower of terror and slinky dog
(06:32):
Yeah, and that's it and alien swirling saucers. Okay
All right, let's go to Epcot. So
Now I mean this is gonna be a pretty pretty slim pickings list as well
Your your rides are gonna be frozen ever after three capo. Yaro's Guardians. These are all inside all indoors
(06:53):
Let's see you of course you have test track that you go outside
mission space indoor
Uh golly that's really it
Soarin indoor indoor spaceship spaceship earth is indoor door
This was not a they knew what they were doing though building a park in Central, Florida with the heat
(07:16):
You have to have a lot of you have to have a lot of indoor stuff
So it's a really test track test track and and it's very limited out
Yeah, yeah, but the fun the fastest part is outdoors. Yeah, so I would say
That's better at night when you when the doors open so you're on the on the attraction and you've done the the first
75% and you get up to the ramp at the doors open you should yes, it's more fun at night. I would agree
(07:41):
Yeah, okay. All right. Let's go to the
The big boy here magic kingdom. So this is gonna give us a few more
Pull up my list here. I
Mean several of these are our outdoor as well here
So you got Astro orbiter? It's outdoor. Okay barnstormer big Thunder
(08:02):
I'm just gonna go the outdoor ones Dumbo
Golly junk jungle cruise yeah, yep
That one was not on my original list
See you got pirates, but that's inside seven dwarfs mind train. Okay space
Mountain is indoor Tron. That's an amazing one out outside. That's it. So Tron is our last
(08:27):
so basically Tron
Seven dwarfs mind train
Sorry, I'm jungle cruise
Big Thunder barnstormer
Big Thunder barnstormer Astro orbiter, okay
So yeah, not a whole lot of option
(08:49):
I mean, yeah, obviously more options at Magic Kingdom, but overall when speaking about the four parks not a ton of outdoor attractions
Yeah, which again, we're not gonna be complaining because when you go there there in the summer
Like you want you want these distractions to be indoors. So
You especially want the cues to be indoor the cues to be indoors now if you're factoring in
(09:09):
Outdoor cues with some of these attractions like for example, Honda mansion, which is entirely indoors
But a lot of the queue is outdoors the queue at nights a lot of fun
The queue at night is a lot of fun because they have a few little
Easter eggs and it's obviously it adds to this. Yeah for sure for sure. So
(09:29):
Well, man, let's
So out of what maybe ten told you and probably ten. All right, so let's talk about
Let's maybe talk about our top three top three
For me all all three for me. You're gonna come out of the Magic Kingdom. Okay, so it's gonna be
No, it's not I'm sorry
(09:50):
Sorry
So my top three would be Big Thunder
Slinky dog dash and Tron
Those would be my top three outdoor rides to ride at night Tron
Slinky dog dash
Tron slinky dog dash
And Big Thunder Mountain in that order
Uh, just man
(10:13):
This happened on our uh
On our tournament
As it came down to me
Of Big Thunder versus Tron and what?
Do you remember this? I do remember this. Yeah
And our scenario was it's it's the end of the night
You're right smack dab in the middle of the park and you can either go to Big Thunder or you can go to Tron. Yeah
(10:37):
You've already answered this question. I already have remember what you answered. I answered Big Thunder
And I think it ended up winning the tournament because of that
It wasn't trying to win the tournament. Maybe it was
I thought you chose Tron. Did I?
I don't know go back and listen to that our uh
So not only are we idiots. We have poor memories. Yeah, that's
(10:58):
Okay, no shocker there. Yeah
No, no, no, but I think if you're not ranking them so Tron Big Thunder and seven dwarves or Slinky dog
Slinky dog for me for you. Okay. Yeah
Yeah, I mean Tron is it's got to be included
uh
So Tron obviously the newest attraction in Magic Kingdom
and if you haven't done it yet, it is one of those attractions that
(11:20):
Is probably a thousand percent better at night
Oh, yeah, even I mean during the daytime. It's a fun attraction and again a good portion of it is indoors
But the way the lighting concepts like it does feel like you're in in the in the digital world, right?
That they put you in the grid
Yeah, I totally agree. It's just the way they design that and the lighting I mean it took five years to design it
(11:43):
So yeah, uh not design it but build it. Um
I think it's one of those rides also that um
Um, it's so great at night that even if you're just standing
underneath the attraction
watching it as it comes over that big big bank and turn and and
That's when everybody starts doing the superman move where they they kind of sit up in their chairs and and you see them all
(12:07):
Come around and stand up stand up
Yeah, but and then the canopy or whatever you want to call that covering it's it's changing from blue to orange as well
And I just think again from an outdoor at night perspective
I can't think of a better
Area than the whole tron area and then to actually be able to experience the ride and be on it as all of that
(12:31):
Is going on
Just takes it to the next level. Yeah, so here's what i'll say about about the tron outdoor part
The music is amazing. The lighting is amazing
and again, i'm not trying to knock it but I did feel like
There was something a little lacking and I can't put my finger on it. But I think just walking up the ramp
You you see the sign tron you see the lighting you see the coaster itself
(12:55):
But I think there there's not a lot going on around
Okay around tron, right?
Um like a lot of the other like like big thunder's got splat what a splash mountain. It's got t-hans right there
Yeah, hana mansion's got stuff going on around it. Like there's there's things that are going on around these other attractions
That's one we didn't mention
And we totally skipped tiana's, uh, bayou adventure
(13:18):
On our head. We did
It's primarily outdoors or indoors, but it has an outdoor
Drop. Yeah, right. So well, we haven't done we haven't done it yet. So let's keep it up. So yeah
And even when it was splash that was not necessarily my favorite thing to do at night. So I think we're okay
I don't know. I have to amend my because splash mountain splash mountain at night was pretty cool
(13:40):
I've i've done splash mountain at night with you when it was freezing
That's right
Um, anyway, so okay. Sorry, I think tron obviously needs to be included in that in that list. Um,
I think for me. Yeah, I mean big thunder because the entire attraction was outdoors
Yes, and you get a nice view of the castle all lit up. Yes
(14:04):
Um several different views of the castle
I think there's the one where you're on the lift as you're going up the I think it's the first drop
Yeah, and then there's another couple of times where you're winding around actually when you're
Looping around and you come close to the rivers of america and all that and you can kind of see across
(14:25):
Tom soyors island to the castle. I think that's a beautiful view
Let's digress for a second. Do you I wonder what do you think is going to happen? So when they
Build this new car's land
You think they're going to factor in taking the consideration
the view the vantage point from big thunder like are they gonna
Intentionally not block the castle because people know because that ride big thunder has such a just kind of this nostalgic and
(14:52):
well known view of the castle
I really do think that they'll take that into consideration because I think the imagineers in general
Really take into account sightlines. I think they've done. Yeah, you're right an amazing job of figuring out sight lines and just different ways that they can
Not only use them to their advantage as far as like maybe hiding things that they don't want to or
(15:19):
Taking that sight line so that it blurs out what they don't want you to see maybe it's the back of a building maybe it's
Tower of terror when you're standing in Epcot and you want to you know have that hidden view
But it's there but you have to figure out a way to yeah, so that's a funny
That's a funny entity. I wonder how many people know that when you're standing at you know, you're looking
(15:40):
at the World Showcase from
You know not the entrance of Epcot but you enter Epcot and you kind of walk towards the entrance of World Showcase
I wonder how many people know that you can actually see Tower of Terror
So if you're right there, yeah, if you're looking straight across the country straight across the lake
in
That's in the World Showcase is
(16:01):
Morocco and there's a certain coloring. It's kind of this beige reddish
Sandstone type of coloring
Well, if you look very carefully you will see that actually there is the outline of the Tower of Terror
And again, just to give you an idea of what that is
The Tower of Terror and again to my point. I think that the Imagineers do such a great job of realizing. Oh my gosh
(16:28):
There's this building. There's this object that is part of this sight line or this view
how do we make sure that we
Account for that and so back to your original question. Yes, I think somehow they'll have to figure out
How to blend in the new Cars Land
Or whatever it's going to be called
(16:51):
That was the old Tom Sawyer Island. Yeah, and still give great
Views of the castle. No, I think you're right. I think they'll take that into consideration and they won't jack with it
Yeah, yeah now what I think will be awesome is just as we continue down this rabbit hole
It's supposed to be this outdoor
off-road
I think that'll tie. Yeah, I think that'll tie so beautifully into
(17:15):
The scenery of Big Thunder Mountain for sure. Yeah, for sure
So I think they'll be able to work with that and still show the castle and because there are just some
Phenomenal views of the castle at night on Big Thunder. Yeah, there are
Just beautiful and I don't know. I've never been able to to do this
But if if you could ride Big Thunder during
(17:38):
Happily ever after the reason why I've never done it is because I wouldn't give up watching it
I've never after
But I've heard if there's a fireworks show going on
And you're able to be on Big Thunder as the fireworks are going off with the castle in the background. It's just
Breathtaking. I bet it is. Yeah, I want to say that I've seen it
(17:59):
on Big Thunder. Yeah, my
my wife and girls have because
They're not as big happily ever after fans as I am and so they've been on Big Thunder as the fireworks are going on
While you're down while I'm down watching, you know tearing up watching the show. Yeah, that's right. Okay. Yeah
All right. So back to the original so Tron Big Thunder Mountain
(18:22):
Let's talk about Slinky Dog just for a minute just to give it its I mean for me
It's gonna come in a third place, but just to give it its
Proper respect
You know again the theming in Toy Story Land itself is just so phenomenal
with the toys and the
Christmas lights
And the Christmas lights yeah, and they get the background music and the loop music that's going on so good
(18:46):
They did such a great job with that land
But then when they start to light it up, it just takes it to the next level
I think at night I think Toy Story Land is one of those lands that's better at night than it is during the day
Just because again, they did such a great job with the ambiance and the lighting and the scenery and everything like that
so being on Slinky Dog and
(19:07):
It's a very bright and colorful has a lot of flashing lights on it
So I think it's a good solid third place team if you will okay our rides at night, okay?
I would say for me. I would probably replace Slinky Dog with
Tower of Terror
Despite the fact that the outdoor portion of Tower of Terror you may have
(19:33):
five seconds to
Right, but it's those five seconds that when you're you know being pulled up and being pulled down
And when those doors open you get it seems it seems like you're up higher
Maybe and I wouldn't know my eyes are yeah your eyes are always closed. Yeah, you got the kung fu grip on the handlebars
(19:55):
The just there's no smile from Dakin tower so
But no, I think when those doors open you see that you see the lights from
Hollywood Studios
You know on the ground floor
It's it's really cool. It's a really cool feature. Yeah, I mean if you don't have a problem with heights
I'm sure that's a phenomenal view no because you're you're you're strapped into a cage that
(20:18):
Like there's literally no chance of you
Falling oh you're falling
You're being pulled down. There's a difference. Yeah. Yeah, no I I can respect that because again
I
mean I
Wish I I didn't have the fear of heights that I do because I I've always wanted to ride in that big balloon
(20:41):
There at Disney Springs that goes up. Oh, you there's no way yeah
Really?
I'm saying from a view perspective to be able to have that aerial view
Yeah, or like if you were able to get on top of the contemporary hotel. There's a restaurant up there
So to be able to just see across the Magic Kingdom or to see across all of you know
(21:03):
Hollywood studios or Epcot or whatever it is I think that would be
Spectacular yeah
So dude, let's do this real fast
We kind of we kind of hit on it for a second. Let's go through the lands real fast
Which land is better at night?
So we have
(21:23):
You know all the lands at Magic Kingdom you have Toy Story land you have World Showcase you have
The neighborhoods the new neighborhoods at Epcot you have animal King well animal Kingless. Yeah animal Kingdom. It's just Pandora
It's just Pandora. I mean that is the clear winner of animal Kingdom. Yeah, so
So if you go to
Let's go the same direction we did before so next would be Hollywood Hollywood studios
(21:48):
To me that's gonna be a tough argument between
Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story land okay. I think both of those lands do such a great job at night
Yeah, I would have to lean for me personally I would lean
towards Galaxy's Edge just because
again the way they do the lighting up the
(22:11):
Spires or whatever they're called
of
Galaxy's Edge it just looks so cool the way the Millennium Falcon
Yeah, yeah, it's pretty impressive. Yeah, yeah, and not just that but the way they have the other
ships
Yes, all lit up. Yeah, so I would say I would agree with that and I think to Sunset Boulevard
(22:32):
Hard to be hard to beat yeah, you know hard to beat
All right, so Epcot World Showcase is amazing at night. Yeah to me. That's the clear one. Yeah, I'll tell you what you get a nice
I don't want to say
Super cool like just a nice cool evening at Epcot
walk in the World Showcase
With the lights lit up the fire
(22:55):
The lanterns lit up around around the lake there that is an amazing absolutely experience. Yeah getting some
got a little cooking from
From Germany Germany. Yeah, I do know how to pronounce it. Yeah, you know
Or some baguettes from Le Hall. That'd be nice anyway
(23:16):
So magic Magic Kingdom to me is gonna be a harder one to nail down as to which land I
Like the most at night
Like Main Street at night. It's gotta be Main Street, dude. I think that's the only answer
It's pretty amazing Main Street. I love this is gonna sound crazy, but I love the
(23:37):
the
Tangled bathrooms there in the back
Yeah, that's an
That area used to be nicer. It's it's an it's it's still a nice area
Yeah, but back before it became the popular bathroom hangout like listening to the tangled soundtrack back there
You could almost take a little there used to be not very crowded
Yeah, you could actually get a little nap in on one of the benches now. It's definitely a gathering spot
(23:58):
Now it's a gathering spot. It's a stroller gathering spot. Yeah, it's a pinch point because you have it's a small world
You have Peter Pan all right there
and what you brought up earlier about
The back of Frontierland where you have Splash Mountain and you have Big Thunder Mountain and just that whole area
Even some of Tom Sawyer Island is lit up
That's a very peaceful relaxing area to be back there, especially when crowds are lower and not so
(24:26):
Busy that's a great area to be yeah and again
the way Disney does their backlighting with all the
The spires and the caverns of Big Thunder are just so good
That'd be a cool documentary that they should put on Disney Plus is how they light things up. Yeah, that'd be fun documentary
(24:48):
Alright so of all the lands which one you like if you had to choose one
Alright, Dak you get to spend the next four hours of your night in one land
Which land are you picking?
Or one part of a park? Yeah
As far as spending time
I'll say this the one that I would choose that I like the most that to me
(25:13):
Brings the most emotion and feeling is I'm gonna incorporate the hub you have to with yeah
Main Street you have to write your name on the back of your head
With yeah Main Street you have to write just
There's so many times that I've been on trips where I just sit down and just
(25:35):
Listen to the loop music that's going on at night. You're about to cry right now. I'm about to cry
No, it's just so
Peaceful. I love it. I love Main Street at night with the lights
Especially like after the show. Yeah, and people have kind of cleared out to me
It's the best and I would say pro tip and we've talked I think we've talked about this before but you and I went to a
(25:57):
passholder party
To put 2017 2018 it's been a while, but it was one of those passholder parties that started at 10 o'clock
So after the park closed it was from 10 to 1 o'clock
I remember I think you and I by like 12 o'clock had done all the rides. Yeah, and I don't think there were
(26:18):
A thousand people in the park at that time. No, it was empty. It was empty and I think
Having pretty much Main Street in the hub pretty much to ourselves. Yeah
Was pretty cool. Yeah, I've heard your wife tell a story of her having a late evening
Dining reservation and being some of the last literally some of the last people out of the park
(26:42):
And so Main Street was basically empty for him. I've experienced that a few times
Luckily, you know not an experience that everybody gets to have
Everything's got to be it's got to line up and you have to be willing to wait for a while
Yeah, even after the park closes, they're not gonna necessarily kick you out. They will shepherd you towards the exit
(27:03):
That's right. But if you just take your time
There's a chance that you can can be one of the last people out. So yeah
So I guess coming back to our original conversation
Land I would say definitely Main Street in the hub
I have to throw in because I just love them the little firefly lights they have in the trees
That's like a dream of mine to do in my backyard. So that's the next evolution of my home
(27:27):
My Disney home home
And then for me, I think just thinking about it more
I think Tron still would win my best ride at night
I love Big Thunder Mountain. It's my favorite ride of all of Disney parks, but I think just
again
Tron checks enough boxes for me to name it my number one night ride
(27:52):
Okay, I'm down. I'm down with Tron being the number one night ride
I would say for me
Yeah, Main Street in the hub
Great place to be at night World Showcase great place to be at night
If you had to choose between the two
If you had to choose between the two
Oh
That's tough. Yeah, I think for different reasons. Yeah, so
(28:17):
hard to
Hard to not choose Main Street in the hub
Because that is classic. That's just classic to me. That's classic Walt, right? That's just Disney
Through and through yeah, and I think you know, they typically will keep the
The projection mapping going on on the castle and so it has different
(28:38):
Looks and lighting to it as well. And so yeah to me
It's just a winner
Well best things we like about Disney at night. There you go. There you go. Well guys, we appreciate it
Hopefully you've enjoyed this shorter episode, but check us out on all of our social media accounts Facebook to talk and
What's the other one?
(28:59):
Instagram
Yeah, yeah, the grant we're trying to post a little bit more maybe we're trying to post a little bit more
so anyway, as always give us a
Five star review share it with your friends and family and check us out for a new episode every Wednesday morning
Take care
Hello, the seatbelt check is around the corner. You actually were telling the truth
(00:04):
I do that quite a lot. Your people are always surprised. Welcome aboard
To those guests who've just joined us welcome
Hey guys, welcome back to escape to the magic we are your hosts
(00:29):
My name is Ryan and I am dad and we are doing something a little different tonight
We are recording
What's the best way to put this
We're like not in studio. We are holding our microphones for the first time. Yes
Trying something new. Hopefully the audio comes. Yeah
(00:49):
So if this if this episode if it ends up being released then we know that then you know as a listener that
It came out. All right
This is more of our relaxed. Yeah, this is a very relaxed episode. Yeah, we just had some free time tonight
We're like, let's get together and record
Let me ask you a question just as we start off here. Yeah, if you had your choice between
(01:12):
Parks in the morning or parks at night, which do you prefer parks at night? Absolutely percent. That's a question
That's there's no debate in that. Yeah, I think you're right
I think it just the lighting and everything like that in the parks is so much better at night. You
Know as you get to that point where crowds are I'm saying all things being equal, right?
(01:33):
So in the morning, let's say you had low crowds cooler weather
Same thing in the evenings, right? You have lower crowds
Typically cooler weather but just adding that ambiance of the lighting at night. I think
Brings the parks to another level
Well, I think the lighting does provide an amazing ambiance for sure doesn't you can't replicate that obviously in the morning because there's no
(01:57):
There's no darkness sure, right? I
Mean, that's pretty obvious. Call me call me captain obvious from here on out, right?
But there's just something about night. Yeah, I think there's just something about night the sound
You know scientifically carries better at night. So I think the music is more audible at night. Yeah, so
nighttime is just
(02:17):
It's worth that. Yeah for sure. So so that got me thinking. I'm glad you answered that way because I feel the same way
So it gets me thinking
What if we were to choose our top?
Attractions to ride at night. So our favorite attracts our favorite
Attractions to do at night. Yeah at Disney World. Yeah, what are you some of your favorites? So maybe we go
(02:39):
Let's go park to park
Maybe start with one of the tougher ones in Animal Kingdom since it's number one. It's
rarely open
past dark and
So if it's dusk, yeah, so obviously you're gonna have Everest Animal Kingdom
Expedition Everest animal kingdom. Yeah
(03:00):
with the non-functioning yeti
So, I mean, yeah, I mean that's that's one attraction I
Mean the Safari is rarely operational
Past a certain hour. Yeah, they do they do have a ride that is right at dusk
that one is kind of nice because
(03:22):
The animals tend to be a little bit more active right before that's where mornings win at Animal Kingdom
Okay, not true. That's true. I think mornings at Animal Kingdom are are
superior to
evenings at Animal Kingdom
But if you throw in Pandora at night, so Pandora there at Animal Kingdom where flight of passage resides and where?
(03:45):
Navi River Journey, which both are indoor attractions, but the land itself is amazing at night
But that's not what we're talking about. Yeah talking about the attractions the actual riding on the attraction
So what else is there animal kingdom? So you have Everest you have dinosaur dinosaurs indoors. Yeah, really Everest is
Your just Everest Everest in the Safari ride Kilimanjaro safaris
(04:09):
It's probably your only two attractions that you're riding outside at night
Yeah, when was the last time you were at Animal Kingdom at night? It's been a few years. It's been several hours
operational hours have been
Just they don't stay open late, right, you know, so anyway, okay, so let's say for Animal Kingdom
I'm gonna throw Safari out Kilimanjaro Safari
(04:32):
I'm throwing it out. All right, because you're really not at night
You're more
Early evening dusk type of thing. Yeah, so just really just really just Everest. Okay. All right
You want to finish a magic Kingdom? So let's finish. Okay. Yeah, so let's go to
Hollywood studios. Oh Hollywood studios. All right best attractions to do at night. Well you have I
(04:54):
Mean Tower of Terror, even though it's an indoor attraction
When you go up the elevator
Those doors open. It's true a different experience. I would say that's a very nice
Slinky dog at night awesome is awesome. Yeah
Let's see that's really it Toy Story mania is inside Star Wars rise of the resistance is inside
(05:19):
Star tours is inside rock and roll goes here's inside. Maybe this wasn't such a great
Episode okay, so like let's come up with episode. Yeah
So really and truly it's it's just slinky dog dash
as your and
Twilight or Tower terror Twilight Zone, so
(05:39):
Wait a minute. Is that it have your outdoor right? Star Wars is inside
Alien swirling saucers, but that doesn't I mean
That on your list. Yeah outside good call
I mean it is covered but it is outside
The other one is Mickey and Minnie's runaway railroad and Millennium Falcon, but because they're both indoor right?
We need to we need to correct something every single time you say Mickey and Minnie's runaway railroad
(06:04):
railway
Listen you're on a train. It's a real on a train. Yes, okay
Dude speaking of that. Did you hear that?
For that for the Jollywood nights, they have an ice skating show now what no yeah right in front of the
The Chinese theater there so easy. Yeah anyway, so really so in terms of nighttime riots a tower of terror and slinky dog
(06:32):
Yeah, and that's it and alien swirling saucers. Okay
All right, let's go to Epcot. So
Now I mean this is gonna be a pretty pretty slim pickings list as well
Your your rides are gonna be frozen ever after three capo. Yaro's Guardians. These are all inside all indoors
(06:53):
Let's see you of course you have test track that you go outside
mission space indoor
Uh golly that's really it
Soarin indoor indoor spaceship spaceship earth is indoor door
This was not a they knew what they were doing though building a park in Central, Florida with the heat
(07:16):
You have to have a lot of you have to have a lot of indoor stuff
So it's a really test track test track and and it's very limited out
Yeah, yeah, but the fun the fastest part is outdoors. Yeah, so I would say
That's better at night when you when the doors open so you're on the on the attraction and you've done the the first
75% and you get up to the ramp at the doors open you should yes, it's more fun at night. I would agree
(07:41):
Yeah, okay. All right. Let's go to the
The big boy here magic kingdom. So this is gonna give us a few more
Pull up my list here. I
Mean several of these are our outdoor as well here
So you got Astro orbiter? It's outdoor. Okay barnstormer big Thunder
(08:02):
I'm just gonna go the outdoor ones Dumbo
Golly junk jungle cruise yeah, yep
That one was not on my original list
See you got pirates, but that's inside seven dwarfs mind train. Okay space
Mountain is indoor Tron. That's an amazing one out outside. That's it. So Tron is our last
(08:27):
so basically Tron
Seven dwarfs mind train
Sorry, I'm jungle cruise
Big Thunder barnstormer
Big Thunder barnstormer Astro orbiter, okay
So yeah, not a whole lot of option
(08:49):
I mean, yeah, obviously more options at Magic Kingdom, but overall when speaking about the four parks not a ton of outdoor attractions
Yeah, which again, we're not gonna be complaining because when you go there there in the summer
Like you want you want these distractions to be indoors. So
You especially want the cues to be indoor the cues to be indoors now if you're factoring in
(09:09):
Outdoor cues with some of these attractions like for example, Honda mansion, which is entirely indoors
But a lot of the queue is outdoors the queue at nights a lot of fun
The queue at night is a lot of fun because they have a few little
Easter eggs and it's obviously it adds to this. Yeah for sure for sure. So
(09:29):
Well, man, let's
So out of what maybe ten told you and probably ten. All right, so let's talk about
Let's maybe talk about our top three top three
For me all all three for me. You're gonna come out of the Magic Kingdom. Okay, so it's gonna be
No, it's not I'm sorry
(09:50):
Sorry
So my top three would be Big Thunder
Slinky dog dash and Tron
Those would be my top three outdoor rides to ride at night Tron
Slinky dog dash
Tron slinky dog dash
And Big Thunder Mountain in that order
Uh, just man
(10:13):
This happened on our uh
On our tournament
As it came down to me
Of Big Thunder versus Tron and what?
Do you remember this? I do remember this. Yeah
And our scenario was it's it's the end of the night
You're right smack dab in the middle of the park and you can either go to Big Thunder or you can go to Tron. Yeah
(10:37):
You've already answered this question. I already have remember what you answered. I answered Big Thunder
And I think it ended up winning the tournament because of that
It wasn't trying to win the tournament. Maybe it was
I thought you chose Tron. Did I?
I don't know go back and listen to that our uh
So not only are we idiots. We have poor memories. Yeah, that's
(10:58):
Okay, no shocker there. Yeah
No, no, no, but I think if you're not ranking them so Tron Big Thunder and seven dwarves or Slinky dog
Slinky dog for me for you. Okay. Yeah
Yeah, I mean Tron is it's got to be included
uh
So Tron obviously the newest attraction in Magic Kingdom
and if you haven't done it yet, it is one of those attractions that
(11:20):
Is probably a thousand percent better at night
Oh, yeah, even I mean during the daytime. It's a fun attraction and again a good portion of it is indoors
But the way the lighting concepts like it does feel like you're in in the in the digital world, right?
That they put you in the grid
Yeah, I totally agree. It's just the way they design that and the lighting I mean it took five years to design it
(11:43):
So yeah, uh not design it but build it. Um
I think it's one of those rides also that um
Um, it's so great at night that even if you're just standing
underneath the attraction
watching it as it comes over that big big bank and turn and and
That's when everybody starts doing the superman move where they they kind of sit up in their chairs and and you see them all
(12:07):
Come around and stand up stand up
Yeah, but and then the canopy or whatever you want to call that covering it's it's changing from blue to orange as well
And I just think again from an outdoor at night perspective
I can't think of a better
Area than the whole tron area and then to actually be able to experience the ride and be on it as all of that
(12:31):
Is going on
Just takes it to the next level. Yeah, so here's what i'll say about about the tron outdoor part
The music is amazing. The lighting is amazing
and again, i'm not trying to knock it but I did feel like
There was something a little lacking and I can't put my finger on it. But I think just walking up the ramp
You you see the sign tron you see the lighting you see the coaster itself
(12:55):
But I think there there's not a lot going on around
Okay around tron, right?
Um like a lot of the other like like big thunder's got splat what a splash mountain. It's got t-hans right there
Yeah, hana mansion's got stuff going on around it. Like there's there's things that are going on around these other attractions
That's one we didn't mention
And we totally skipped tiana's, uh, bayou adventure
(13:18):
On our head. We did
It's primarily outdoors or indoors, but it has an outdoor
Drop. Yeah, right. So well, we haven't done we haven't done it yet. So let's keep it up. So yeah
And even when it was splash that was not necessarily my favorite thing to do at night. So I think we're okay
I don't know. I have to amend my because splash mountain splash mountain at night was pretty cool
(13:40):
I've i've done splash mountain at night with you when it was freezing
That's right
Um, anyway, so okay. Sorry, I think tron obviously needs to be included in that in that list. Um,
I think for me. Yeah, I mean big thunder because the entire attraction was outdoors
Yes, and you get a nice view of the castle all lit up. Yes
(14:04):
Um several different views of the castle
I think there's the one where you're on the lift as you're going up the I think it's the first drop
Yeah, and then there's another couple of times where you're winding around actually when you're
Looping around and you come close to the rivers of america and all that and you can kind of see across
(14:25):
Tom soyors island to the castle. I think that's a beautiful view
Let's digress for a second. Do you I wonder what do you think is going to happen? So when they
Build this new car's land
You think they're going to factor in taking the consideration
the view the vantage point from big thunder like are they gonna
Intentionally not block the castle because people know because that ride big thunder has such a just kind of this nostalgic and
(14:52):
well known view of the castle
I really do think that they'll take that into consideration because I think the imagineers in general
Really take into account sightlines. I think they've done. Yeah, you're right an amazing job of figuring out sight lines and just different ways that they can
Not only use them to their advantage as far as like maybe hiding things that they don't want to or
(15:19):
Taking that sight line so that it blurs out what they don't want you to see maybe it's the back of a building maybe it's
Tower of terror when you're standing in Epcot and you want to you know have that hidden view
But it's there but you have to figure out a way to yeah, so that's a funny
That's a funny entity. I wonder how many people know that when you're standing at you know, you're looking
(15:40):
at the World Showcase from
You know not the entrance of Epcot but you enter Epcot and you kind of walk towards the entrance of World Showcase
I wonder how many people know that you can actually see Tower of Terror
So if you're right there, yeah, if you're looking straight across the country straight across the lake
in
That's in the World Showcase is
(16:01):
Morocco and there's a certain coloring. It's kind of this beige reddish
Sandstone type of coloring
Well, if you look very carefully you will see that actually there is the outline of the Tower of Terror
And again, just to give you an idea of what that is
The Tower of Terror and again to my point. I think that the Imagineers do such a great job of realizing. Oh my gosh
(16:28):
There's this building. There's this object that is part of this sight line or this view
how do we make sure that we
Account for that and so back to your original question. Yes, I think somehow they'll have to figure out
How to blend in the new Cars Land
Or whatever it's going to be called
(16:51):
That was the old Tom Sawyer Island. Yeah, and still give great
Views of the castle. No, I think you're right. I think they'll take that into consideration and they won't jack with it
Yeah, yeah now what I think will be awesome is just as we continue down this rabbit hole
It's supposed to be this outdoor
off-road
I think that'll tie. Yeah, I think that'll tie so beautifully into
(17:15):
The scenery of Big Thunder Mountain for sure. Yeah, for sure
So I think they'll be able to work with that and still show the castle and because there are just some
Phenomenal views of the castle at night on Big Thunder. Yeah, there are
Just beautiful and I don't know. I've never been able to to do this
But if if you could ride Big Thunder during
(17:38):
Happily ever after the reason why I've never done it is because I wouldn't give up watching it
I've never after
But I've heard if there's a fireworks show going on
And you're able to be on Big Thunder as the fireworks are going off with the castle in the background. It's just
Breathtaking. I bet it is. Yeah, I want to say that I've seen it
(17:59):
on Big Thunder. Yeah, my
my wife and girls have because
They're not as big happily ever after fans as I am and so they've been on Big Thunder as the fireworks are going on
While you're down while I'm down watching, you know tearing up watching the show. Yeah, that's right. Okay. Yeah
All right. So back to the original so Tron Big Thunder Mountain
(18:22):
Let's talk about Slinky Dog just for a minute just to give it its I mean for me
It's gonna come in a third place, but just to give it its
Proper respect
You know again the theming in Toy Story Land itself is just so phenomenal
with the toys and the
Christmas lights
And the Christmas lights yeah, and they get the background music and the loop music that's going on so good
(18:46):
They did such a great job with that land
But then when they start to light it up, it just takes it to the next level
I think at night I think Toy Story Land is one of those lands that's better at night than it is during the day
Just because again, they did such a great job with the ambiance and the lighting and the scenery and everything like that
so being on Slinky Dog and
(19:07):
It's a very bright and colorful has a lot of flashing lights on it
So I think it's a good solid third place team if you will okay our rides at night, okay?
I would say for me. I would probably replace Slinky Dog with
Tower of Terror
Despite the fact that the outdoor portion of Tower of Terror you may have
(19:33):
five seconds to
Right, but it's those five seconds that when you're you know being pulled up and being pulled down
And when those doors open you get it seems it seems like you're up higher
Maybe and I wouldn't know my eyes are yeah your eyes are always closed. Yeah, you got the kung fu grip on the handlebars
(19:55):
The just there's no smile from Dakin tower so
But no, I think when those doors open you see that you see the lights from
Hollywood Studios
You know on the ground floor
It's it's really cool. It's a really cool feature. Yeah, I mean if you don't have a problem with heights
I'm sure that's a phenomenal view no because you're you're you're strapped into a cage that
(20:18):
Like there's literally no chance of you
Falling oh you're falling
You're being pulled down. There's a difference. Yeah. Yeah, no I I can respect that because again
I
mean I
Wish I I didn't have the fear of heights that I do because I I've always wanted to ride in that big balloon
(20:41):
There at Disney Springs that goes up. Oh, you there's no way yeah
Really?
I'm saying from a view perspective to be able to have that aerial view
Yeah, or like if you were able to get on top of the contemporary hotel. There's a restaurant up there
So to be able to just see across the Magic Kingdom or to see across all of you know
(21:03):
Hollywood studios or Epcot or whatever it is I think that would be
Spectacular yeah
So dude, let's do this real fast
We kind of we kind of hit on it for a second. Let's go through the lands real fast
Which land is better at night?
So we have
(21:23):
You know all the lands at Magic Kingdom you have Toy Story land you have World Showcase you have
The neighborhoods the new neighborhoods at Epcot you have animal King well animal Kingless. Yeah animal Kingdom. It's just Pandora
It's just Pandora. I mean that is the clear winner of animal Kingdom. Yeah, so
So if you go to
Let's go the same direction we did before so next would be Hollywood Hollywood studios
(21:48):
To me that's gonna be a tough argument between
Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story land okay. I think both of those lands do such a great job at night
Yeah, I would have to lean for me personally I would lean
towards Galaxy's Edge just because
again the way they do the lighting up the
(22:11):
Spires or whatever they're called
of
Galaxy's Edge it just looks so cool the way the Millennium Falcon
Yeah, yeah, it's pretty impressive. Yeah, yeah, and not just that but the way they have the other
ships
Yes, all lit up. Yeah, so I would say I would agree with that and I think to Sunset Boulevard
(22:32):
Hard to be hard to beat yeah, you know hard to beat
All right, so Epcot World Showcase is amazing at night. Yeah to me. That's the clear one. Yeah, I'll tell you what you get a nice
I don't want to say
Super cool like just a nice cool evening at Epcot
walk in the World Showcase
With the lights lit up the fire
(22:55):
The lanterns lit up around around the lake there that is an amazing absolutely experience. Yeah getting some
got a little cooking from
From Germany Germany. Yeah, I do know how to pronounce it. Yeah, you know
Or some baguettes from Le Hall. That'd be nice anyway
(23:16):
So magic Magic Kingdom to me is gonna be a harder one to nail down as to which land I
Like the most at night
Like Main Street at night. It's gotta be Main Street, dude. I think that's the only answer
It's pretty amazing Main Street. I love this is gonna sound crazy, but I love the
(23:37):
the
Tangled bathrooms there in the back
Yeah, that's an
That area used to be nicer. It's it's an it's it's still a nice area
Yeah, but back before it became the popular bathroom hangout like listening to the tangled soundtrack back there
You could almost take a little there used to be not very crowded
Yeah, you could actually get a little nap in on one of the benches now. It's definitely a gathering spot
(23:58):
Now it's a gathering spot. It's a stroller gathering spot. Yeah, it's a pinch point because you have it's a small world
You have Peter Pan all right there
and what you brought up earlier about
The back of Frontierland where you have Splash Mountain and you have Big Thunder Mountain and just that whole area
Even some of Tom Sawyer Island is lit up
That's a very peaceful relaxing area to be back there, especially when crowds are lower and not so
(24:26):
Busy that's a great area to be yeah and again
the way Disney does their backlighting with all the
The spires and the caverns of Big Thunder are just so good
That'd be a cool documentary that they should put on Disney Plus is how they light things up. Yeah, that'd be fun documentary
(24:48):
Alright so of all the lands which one you like if you had to choose one
Alright, Dak you get to spend the next four hours of your night in one land
Which land are you picking?
Or one part of a park? Yeah
As far as spending time
I'll say this the one that I would choose that I like the most that to me
(25:13):
Brings the most emotion and feeling is I'm gonna incorporate the hub you have to with yeah
Main Street you have to write your name on the back of your head
With yeah Main Street you have to write just
There's so many times that I've been on trips where I just sit down and just
(25:35):
Listen to the loop music that's going on at night. You're about to cry right now. I'm about to cry
No, it's just so
Peaceful. I love it. I love Main Street at night with the lights
Especially like after the show. Yeah, and people have kind of cleared out to me
It's the best and I would say pro tip and we've talked I think we've talked about this before but you and I went to a
(25:57):
passholder party
To put 2017 2018 it's been a while, but it was one of those passholder parties that started at 10 o'clock
So after the park closed it was from 10 to 1 o'clock
I remember I think you and I by like 12 o'clock had done all the rides. Yeah, and I don't think there were
(26:18):
A thousand people in the park at that time. No, it was empty. It was empty and I think
Having pretty much Main Street in the hub pretty much to ourselves. Yeah
Was pretty cool. Yeah, I've heard your wife tell a story of her having a late evening
Dining reservation and being some of the last literally some of the last people out of the park
(26:42):
And so Main Street was basically empty for him. I've experienced that a few times
Luckily, you know not an experience that everybody gets to have
Everything's got to be it's got to line up and you have to be willing to wait for a while
Yeah, even after the park closes, they're not gonna necessarily kick you out. They will shepherd you towards the exit
(27:03):
That's right. But if you just take your time
There's a chance that you can can be one of the last people out. So yeah
So I guess coming back to our original conversation
Land I would say definitely Main Street in the hub
I have to throw in because I just love them the little firefly lights they have in the trees
That's like a dream of mine to do in my backyard. So that's the next evolution of my home
(27:27):
My Disney home home
And then for me, I think just thinking about it more
I think Tron still would win my best ride at night
I love Big Thunder Mountain. It's my favorite ride of all of Disney parks, but I think just
again
Tron checks enough boxes for me to name it my number one night ride
(27:52):
Okay, I'm down. I'm down with Tron being the number one night ride
I would say for me
Yeah, Main Street in the hub
Great place to be at night World Showcase great place to be at night
If you had to choose between the two
If you had to choose between the two
Oh
That's tough. Yeah, I think for different reasons. Yeah, so
(28:17):
hard to
Hard to not choose Main Street in the hub
Because that is classic. That's just classic to me. That's classic Walt, right? That's just Disney
Through and through yeah, and I think you know, they typically will keep the
The projection mapping going on on the castle and so it has different
(28:38):
Looks and lighting to it as well. And so yeah to me
It's just a winner
Well best things we like about Disney at night. There you go. There you go. Well guys, we appreciate it
Hopefully you've enjoyed this shorter episode, but check us out on all of our social media accounts Facebook to talk and
What's the other one?
(28:59):
Yeah, yeah, the grant we're trying to post a little bit more maybe we're trying to post a little bit more
so anyway, as always give us a
Five star review share it with your friends and family and check us out for a new episode every Wednesday morning
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