The Maz Top 3: Future World

I am beginning a series of posts that will be titled “The Maz Top Three”. As the title implies this will be a top three list of anything in the World of Disney. I will post the top three with my thinking behind the choices. That Top three list will be then posted to the right column until I post a new Top 3.

I figured I would start this Maz Top 3 list with a softball topic for myself. The Top 3 attractions in Epcot’s Future World. Future World is one of my favorite parts of WDW. There is always so much going on there, I think it’s great. But as I thought about this more, I realized it was not going to be easy. There are many attractions in this part of the park. But coming up with a top 3 would actually be tough. At least for number three it would be tough. And since I have not ridden the new Spaceship Earth, it is not being considered.
After much thought, my third best Future World ride is Ellen’s Energy Adventure. My first instinct was Test Track, but bottom line, I drive that fast everyday and go through most of the same obstacles, I live in ‘burbs of Philly. As for the Universe of Energy, I have really enjoyed this ride over the years. Today is no different. First off, the whole idea of an attraction about Energy with Solar panels on it’s roof is very enlightening. Someone put there ideas where their roof was. The entire pre-show is great. I never grow tired of watching it. Ellen is really, really funny. And Bill Nye the Science guy as a neighbor is pretty cool. I used to watch his show all the time. And Jeopardy w/ Alex and Jamie(Stupid Judy) and Bert Einstein are some of my heroes. Especially Jamie Lee Curtis in Trading Places. Well the pre-show is funny and educational and still relevant in today’s world. The only question I come away with is why we have not done more to improve our energy issues? I’ve been watching this movie for years with all of it’s great ideas, why have they not been put more into play? Anyway, after that great Pre-show, you move into the big loading area and you’re on your way. With all of the newer animatronics, like in the Dinosaur attraction, the Dino’s in this attraction look tame, but it’s a great show none the less.
My second most favorite attraction in Epcot’s FW is Mission Space. I have only ridden this attraction a total of six times, but that was enough to convince me. This is a very good replacement for Horizons. The building itself with the big globe out front just yells out, ‘this is the future’. Especially at night. The first time I had ridden this attraction was right after one of the incidents that they had in 2006. So, not only was I going to try out a new attraction, I was going to find out if I have any hidden medical issues. As you walk into the front of the building you are given a choice to either ride the Orange side or the Green side. One side spins and is the ride as it was designed and the other side does not spin and is less intense. The queue, as you wait, is all space and space station based. There are a number of scale models of space ships and other off-world vehicles. There is also a great cross-section of a space station living module. One of my most stupid complaints is that when we usually go to the parks the lines are not that bad. For attractions with a very cool queue, we tend to pass it up and get to the ride because of no line. I need to spend more time on lines.(as I said, stupid complaint) Gary Sinise is your celebrity Command rep. and he guides you via video monitors through what you are going to do on this journey. Next you are led into your loading corridor and lined up on the correct number. After a short wait you are led into your command capsule. After you are strapped in, the front console moves towards you and the door closes. As you wait for the ship to take off, you can play with all of the switches and dials and knobs. Then comes the countdown, the monitor lights up to see over-head and then your on your way. Look Out Birds! This is a great thrill ride. Your adrenaline is rushing as the blast clouds fill the screen and then you feel the ‘ship’ take off. Then into orbit where gravity seems to disappear and then off to Mars. I won’t ruin the rest, but this is a great, great attraction.
My Top Epcot Future World attraction is Honey I Shrank the … Just seeing if your awake. My real top attraction is of course Soarin. This is the wind-glider attraction that was created in Ca. and then brought to Fla. This is such an incredible rush of a ride. Here again I can’t really comment on the queue too much. We kinda fly through it each time we have gone on it. Although from what I hear, this s one of the more fun lines to wait on with video games. Once you get all the way down the corridor, you line up and watch a quick pre-flight film hosted by Kronk. Then you go through the door to the ride room and find a seat. Once strapped in the lights go down to dark and your are lifted up into the air and then music and film begin to start. Wow, it’s like your flying for real as the wind blows past your head. It’s a sensory overload. You get the full effect as if you were really flying and the scenery is incredible. Throw in the great musical score and the smell effects and this is a very memorable attraction. Did I mention the Hidden Mickey’s, there are two that I know of. There is a rumor that they are filming a Florida version of this movie right now. We’ll see.

So that is my Epcot Future World Top three. Let me know if you agree or disagree and what your list would be.