Hiya friends! Welcome back to another edition of Muting and The Mouse where we escape into the magic, no matter how far. This week we will be adding some theming into your life. Disney is known for its well themed and designed lands, rides, restaurants and resort hotels. Any corner you turn, you continue to dive into the story that Walt Disney World provides you. I have talked about my favorite themes briefly in some of the lands and restaurants in previous posts, but let’s dive deeper. Disney does a really nice job of making you enter the story of the land. For example, in Toy Story Land you enter Andy’s backyard. But even further than that, the rides immerse you into a story, a time, a place, and an overall theme that has you right in the middle of the action. But that is not all. How did you get onto the ride? How did you get ready for what lies ahead while waiting? The answer lies right there, in the queue. Disney has some really cool lines that they have you waiting in as you are about to get on the ride or see the attraction. They all add to the experience in my opinion and I suggest really taking the time to look around and see what the line queue has to offer. Some rides have interactive queues, some have decorations, some have artifacts, some have movies, and some just have you remembering things from when you were a child. Each ride queue is different and unique to the story of the ride. It was difficult to narrow it down to five, but I am going to just go with my instincts on which ride queues are my favorite. We really could narrow this list down to theme, interactive components, etc; but I am just going to go with my overall favorites! I hope you enjoy my favorite line queues based on themes.
5. The Haunted Mansion
“Welcome Foolish Mortals”, to our first line queue. Coming in as number five is the eerie green awning leading up to a spooky mansion. As you walk up to the mansion, you start to hear the ominous music, you see a horse pulled hearse, and you start to feel spooked. As you walk up, you enter into an interactive garden area of the queue. This has some tombstones and interactive games that are fun to read and take part in. Make sure you try to find the bride’s engagement ring that is hidden. As you continue on into the ride, you come into a foyer and the theming is on point. This ends the queue as you enter the stretching room. The spooky lights and cobwebs add to it all and you find yourself on the ride. The interactive muder mystery and little riddles on the tombstones add to the haunting fun that lies ahead.
4. Frozen Ever After
Yoohooo, you have arrived at our next queue. As you make your way into Frozen Ever After, you find yourself walking right into Arendelle. You see pictures on the walls of your favorite characters and one room has some nice nods to Kristoff and his ice business. As you continue on, you are in the square of Arendelle. The dim lighting has you walking around the square seeing the different buildings in Arendelle. As you zig and zag through the line you start to notice you are coming up to “Wandering Oakens Trading Post”. You enter into the shop and you notice no one is there, but look around at all of the items in the store. All of a sudden, you are greeted by Oaken from the Sauna. This is a funny and cute way to get you to interact and participate in the big summer blowout. This line is both fun and well themed and really has you enter the Frozen story.
3. Toy Story Mania
“Howdy, Partner!” That is right, our next queue is found in Toy Story Land. The land isn’t the only thing itself that is themed well. The rides and the queue take you right into a toy box. The fun lies in the queue that leads you to the ride if you ask me. As you enter the line, you walk through the outdoor portion and you start to notice childhood games. To the left and to the right you see all of your favorites. Uno, Checkers, Candyland, Barrel of Monkeys, decks of cards, Dominos, etc. You even see Tinker Toys, Crayons, Etch-a-Sketch, and many fun, bright colors. As you get closer you start to see Mr. Potato Head. This adds some fun interaction as he comes to life. He comments on what he sees and sings and tells you what to expect. As you enter the ride vehicle, you are in Andy’s room and the decor and fun continues on. This ride queue really takes you back to being a kid and it’s everything I love.
2. Flight Of Passage
Sivako! Rise to the challenge as you enter into the beauty of Pandora. This line queue is visually stunning. The ride is one of my favorites, but this queue really puts you right in the story. As you walk into the queue you notice the floating mountains all around you. The colors, the stunning waterfalls, and the music all add to the ambiance that is Pandora. As you walk up the mountain into the caves, you start to see all of the technology at the base. From screens, to beds, to even Avatar link testing, you see it all. The most stunning part of the queue is seeing an avatar being studied as it floats in a chamber of water. Really take time to look all around you. As mentioned the beauty here is what makes this queue one that is worthy of number two at all of Walt Disney World. Mix that with the technology you see in the queue and you really are immersed in the world of Avatar.
1. Rise of the Resistance
“May the Force Be with You” as you enter into this line queue. Now maybe it comes in at number one because of the excitement of getting into a boarding group, but it still is an epic line to wait in, nonetheless. As you enter into the queue you see all things Star Wars. You see the suits, the guns, the nuances of the world. To me, this comes in at number one because the queue is part of the ride itself. As you get into the pre show, the stage is set for the ride. You exit that pre show and enter into the first part of the ride. From there, the queue becomes part of the ride experience. You exit into a hanger and you are greeted by Storm Troopers. The view is stunning and really puts you in the story of Rise of the Resistance. As you are greeted by members of the First Order you are entering a hallway on the way to your ride vehicle. The Cast Members add to the immersive queue and before long you find yourself on the ride. If you love Star Wars, really take time to look all around in the various rooms and parts of the queue.
As you can see, there are many different types of ride queues. Each has fun components that the whole family can enjoy. Whether it is interactive, it contains artifacts, it contains games, or is just really well decorated; everyone can enjoy waiting in line. Now I do realize that right now we do not want to partake in all of the touching on some of the interactive sections, but Disney has thought of it all. You can even play games right on your own phone while waiting in some lines. Download the “Play Disney Parks” app on your phone and enter right into interactive games while waiting. Some are specifically for the attraction you are waiting for which adds some fun. It is a fun way to get kids (and adults) involved in something else other than waiting in a long line. Disney does a fantastic job of adding the fun in line so at times, you do not even feel like it is a line at all. I know I have caught myself thinking that the lines went fast just because of how many cool things that happened in the line itself. Just remember, when you are at Disney, have fun and enter into the story because that is what it is ultimately there for. It helps you enter into the magic and keep you in the story. Let us know what line queues are your favorites. Let us know what we missed in the comments below, and as always, continue to escape into the magic, no matter how far.
Muting & The Mouse 