Rocket Ship (Orbitron)


   

Best time to ride: First or last hour
Loading speed: Inordinately slow
Rating: Basic rocket ride available at any fun fair

Like Dumbo, this ride attracts the youngsters. The excess loading time is due to the insistence on safety which Disney maintains; the single ride steward has to escort each guest off and out of the ride before making their way back to the entrance to admit each person. Having waited for some time, you get a very short ride. Avoid this ride unless there's no queue and you have nothing better to do.
 

Best time to ride: Just about anytime
Loading speed: Once every 20 minutes
Rating: In the summer this is an interesting and very gentle ride. Get the top deck if you can find a space.
 
The boat is loaded from the quayside near to the L'il Nugget. Although the ride is cable controlled, you do feel as though you're on the real thing. What makes it better, though, is the ubiquitous music and commentary which seeps throughout the boat. It's a good photo opportunity, too, but head out of the Frontier area when you emerge as the 600 people coming off the boat tend to go either to Phantom Manor or Big Thunder
 

Paddle Steamers


 

Dumbo

 

Best time to ride: Before 10 and after 6
Loading speed: Terminally slow, owing to each ride vehicle having to be checked, cleared and refilled
Our rating: Pleasant but unoriginal
 
Expanded to one and a half times its original size to try and reduce the queuing, this ride still becomes clogged with little ones who move only slowly and require supervision. Despite being a pleasant ride, it's not Disney's best and similar rides can be found in any funfair. However, persuading a fixated five year old that it's a waste of good riding time to ride Dumbo is likely to be somewhat difficult and the 'baby swap' system becomes invaluable!
 

When to ride: 12.30pm or last hour the park is open
Loading speed; Slowish, can be up to an hour
Rating: A little like driving a bad tempered, impossible-to-steer lawn mower that's stuck in a rut...
 
This noisy, smelly and most un-Disney-like ride enjoys a huge following amongst the pre-teenage fraternity. Youngsters are allowed to 'drive' the vehicle providing an adult accompanies. The vehicle is held to a central metal rail so you have no choice over the direction in which it goes but the steering throws the cart sharply to one side or the other. This neck wrenching experience, makes you feel less than enamoured at having to wait the hour or more the queue can extend. Disney have been opening the ride at 12.30pm so ride it first, or last thing. The same sort of ride can be found in many other theme parks and fairgrounds so it doesn't hurt to give this one a miss.

Autopia