It’s only been a couple of weeks since summer officially started, and it’s certainly been a busy one at the theme parks.
For months, Disney has been teasing and promoting several new attractions and entertainment options set to debut at the parks this summer with its ‘Awaken Summer’ campaign.
And now, most of those new attractions and experiences have opened.
We take a look at the some of the new attractions and rank them from best to worst.
THE BEST
Soarin’ Around the World – Epcot
New locations and new scenes abound in this updated version of the hugely popular attraction, Soarin’.
Instead of just flying over California, guests can now fly high above the Pyramids, Sydney Opera House, and The Great Wall of China. Spoiler alert: gone are the artificial scents of oranges used when flying over California groves. Instead, the new international scents include grass over Africa and roses over India.
It helps that Disney filmed the new scenes with special high-definition cameras. You get a sharper view of the locations, and it’s breathtaking. Soarin’ Around the World also utilizes several interesting transitions to get from scene to scene.
There are also a couple of Hidden Mickeys to be on the lookout for.
The one disappointment with the new Soarin’ is that the queue was not updated to include the new international storyline. So if you’re standing in line for a long period of time, that part might feel too familiar.
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The updated Star Wars fireworks show can be summed up with one word: amazing! It’s more than just a fireworks show, however; it’s a breathtaking pyrotechnic, fan-pleasing, nighttime spectacular. Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Rey and other Star Wars favorites are featured in this show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Scenes from the films are projected onto the Chinese Theatre as lights and smoke fill the sky along with a booming soundtrack. Spotlights are used to change the colors on the theatre and during one scene laser projections form as Emperor Palpatine shoots lightning toward the crowd. Fireworks shoot off throughout the performance and fire, yes fire, emits from the top of the Chinese Theatre.
Get there 30 – 40 minutes before the show starts, because the best spots fill up quickly. (Tip: Don’t stand right up front by the Chinese Theatre. You’ll miss some of the effects.)
Nighttime Kilimanjaro Safaris – Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom now remains open after the sun sets, which definitely creates a new type of experience.
One of the best things to come from the extended hours is nighttime Kilimanjaro Safaris. If you’ve ever been on the ride, you know how fun and thrilling it can be to try and spot the various animals along the expedition. But venturing out onto the savanna at night is so much better.
Now you can see the nocturnal side of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, which takes you deep into the wilds of Africa.
The nighttime safari experience lets you see animals that are relatively scarce during the day. During one trip on the safari, four lions were out in plain view and walking across the rocks in their habitat. Usually the lions are hard to spot during the day, especially when their sleeping. Hyenas and hippos can also be seen during the nighttime experience.
Disney has also created special lightning to mimic the feeling of both the sun setting and the moon rising. Combine that with the nighttime sounds of the wild, it’s truly a unique experience.
Tree of Life Awakens – Animal Kingdom
The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom lights up at various times throughout the night, as part of the new nighttime experiences at the park.
Some of the creatures carved onto the 145-foot tall icon come “alive” when dancing fireflies awaken their spirits. There are several different scenes projected onto the tree’s trunk throughout the night. You might see a fox or a young doe traveling through the forest as a whimsical soundtrack plays. The technology Disney used to create this effect is really amazing.
There are no set times for the segments, which are about five minutes long.
Frozen Ever After – Norway pavilion, Epcot
Frozen Ever After is better than Maelstrom -- let’s just get that out of the way. Also, if you’re not a fan of Frozen you might not like the new attraction -- let’s also get that out of the way.
Frozen Ever After is by no means the best attraction Disney has ever built, however, it does have some of the best animatronics. Disney used animated faces for the characters of Anna, Elsa and Kristoff to replicate the look from the film. During one scene, Elsa has some very complicated hand movements and the animatronics are so smooth, it looks life like.
The boats are carried over from Maelstrom, so is the track. The dip from the old ride is still there but used in a different way.
There is plenty of music and singing throughout the ride--that was to be expected--including a snippet from “Let it Go.”
THE WORST
The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic – Animal Kingdom
This attraction is listed as a limited engagement. Thank goodness.
The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic is a big disappointment. It’s shown in the Discovery River Theater and uses the same lighting effects created for Rivers of Light. Beyond that, Jungle Book is nothing more than a Bollywood-style dancing act on stage with some water and light effects. Not much happens in this show, and depending on where you’re seated, you won’t see much.
Jungle Book is filling the spot held for the nighttime show Rivers of Light, which was delayed to give teams more time to work on it. That’s a shame, because the short preview that members of the media were allowed to see in April was 10 times better than the entire Jungle Book show.
Rivers of Light was an incredible display of towering water fountains, dancing lights and music. It will be a must-see when it actually debuts.