Adventureland (Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney)
Lush foliage, evocative drumbeats, and Colonial buildings combine to conjure up vivid images of Africa and the Caribbean. Reached via a wooden bridge from the central hub, Adventureland is an exciting and entertaining fusion of the exotic and the tropical.
One of the first attractions you come across in this Land, the Swiss Family Treehouse is a great way to start your tour of this area of the park. The large, man-made replica of the elaborate treehouse described in the beloved 19th-century children’s tale is magnificent to behold.
Replete with little details and small signs, the tree is reminiscent of the ingenuity and Christian values of the fictional castaways. Climbing the tree provides you with a splendid overhead view of this section of the park.
The exhibit also offers a refreshingly shady and breezy educational tour that is certain to capture the interest of pre-teen kids.
The Jungle Cruise boat ride takes its guests around a variety of animatronically designed settings of deepest Africa, India, and South America. A much sought-after ride, it owes a huge part of its popularity to the immense entertainment value of the “boatman” whose often wacky and infectious humor never fails to amuse.
The recently improved Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management is an amusing and cleverly animated attraction. It is also a pleasant way to spend 20 minutes or so out of the heat.
Featuring characters from Aladdin and The Lion King, it is certainly worth a visit, just to see the walls change shape. The Pirates of the Caribbean is an extremely entertaining and remarkably detailed voyage. This thrilling journey takes you on a seemingly realistic cruise through crumbling, underground prisons, past fighting galleons of the 16th century, and through scenes of debauchery and mayhem.
The colorful characters and loving detail have ensured that it remains one of the best of the original rides. Following the runaway success of the film version, this ride has recently been given a facelift and now may be too scary for young children. Although it has been said that it is not as good as the version presented in Disneyland Paris, the Audio-Animatronic effects are well done and the ride is a favorite with park visitors.
In another popular ride, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, four-passenger carpets circle around a giant replica of a genie’s bottle; the carpets move at the “command” of the riders, while whimsical camels “spit” at the airborne guests.
At the exit, you will find one of the most interesting stores in the park. An excellent selection of essential Disney accessories and memorabilia is available for purchase here.
TOP TIPS
• The Swiss Family Treehouse’s pinnacle offers some spectacular picture opportunities of the rest of Adventureland.
• Most Magic Kingdom parades begin in Frontierland, near Splash Mountain, so this is the best place to watch them.
• Try to arrive there about 45 minutes before the parade begins to get a good viewing spot and wait for the Disney characters to arrive.
• Daytime parades run from the Splash Mountain area to the Town Square and the nighttime parades usually perform this route in reverse.
• To visit Splash Mountain first, board the train at Main Street before the park opens. The train departs at opening time and reaches Frontierland 7 minutes later. This station is next to Big Thunder and Splash Mountain.
