I’ll admit it…I love lists. I love lists of almost any kind: shopping lists, to-do lists, best running backs, pros and cons, best movies of last year, etc. I’m a firm believer in the axiom that you can use a list to deal with anything life throws your way. When your kids want to know why they can’t do something that every other teen in America is doing, you pull out your list of reasons. You’ve got a list of excuses for your friends, your spouse, and your boss.
What I’m particularly fond of is the list that offers the “best of” something or the “top 3.” Every December, our local paper publishes a “best of” for the year and I’m on that thing like white on rice. Deep down, I’m just looking to see if the author of the piece agrees with me or if they’re totally wrong (those are, after all, the only choices).
The difficulty in producing a Best of Disney World list is, even after many, many trips to the World, I still haven’t stayed at every resort or dined in every restaurant. It’s something I aspire to but haven’t quite accomplished yet. That, coupled with the many and frequent changes at Disney World, will render any list arguable. But that’s OK because we’re talking about opinions, right? And opinions are great because we’ve all got them and they’re never right, nor are they wrong. In the situations where I haven’t personally experienced something, I’ll just rely on feedback I’ve read or received from others.
The boys at the MouseStation have laid claim to the “Top 3” tag so I’ll need to go with the “Best of…” designation. So here’s my list of the “Best of Walt Disney World”. Please read on to see if you agree with my selections or you’re totally wrong—those are the only choices, after all.
Best Value Resort – Pop Century
Pop Century gets a slight edge over All Star Movies. The theming of both is really great but Pop is just a bit newer and gets the slight nod for its coolness factor.
Best Moderate Resort – Port Orleans French Quarter
I’m going with Port Orleans – French Quarter as the choice here. I will forever have a warm spot for the Caribbean Beach Resort, the site of our first on-site stay. I still love it there, but French Quarter gets additional points for being quite a bit smaller (more intimate if I can use that term) and has a charm that’s very attractive to me.
Best Deluxe Resort – Beach Club
This is a tough one because there are features at each one that would persuade me to recommend them all. For mostly personal reasons, I’m going with the Beach Club in a close one over the Boardwalk. Location is critical to me and you can’t beat a resort that allows a short walk to my favorite park, Epcot, and a slightly longer one to the Studios. I’m well aware that others may favor the Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian or the Contemporary for the very same reason—its proximity to the Magic Kingdom and the monorail. I give a few extra points to the whole Boardwalk area, my favorite place, especially when it’s all lit up in the evening.
Best Attractions
You know, I didn’t know it would be this difficult to pick my favorites in each category. It’s not hard coming up with a “Top 10” list but, narrowing it down to a single choice is very difficult. For the parks, I decided to use the criteria of being pressed for time and only being able to visit a single attraction—which one would it be? Here goes…
- Magic Kingdom – Mickey’s Philharmagic noses out the Haunted Mansion; and I would have no problem if your choice was Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
- Epcot – Soarin’. It wasn’t even close, although I considered Mission:Space and Spaceship Earth.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. I often argued that the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is the best themed attraction in the world. It’s still number one for me, at least until I have a chance to experience Toy Story Mania.
- Animal Kingdom – Kilimanjaro Safari. I know many folks would immediately pencil in Expedition Everest here but, if I had time for only one, it’s Kilimanjaro Safari.
Best Attraction Technology – Turtle Talk with Crush
This is another tough one. There was a time when I was completely enamored with Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. The Imagineers there did a wonderful job of convincing you that the theater had been shrunk down and was being carried by young Adam. The simulator technology on Star Tours and Body Wars also amazed me. Now, there’s the newer technology in Turtle Talk with Crush and Monsters, Inc. – Laugh Floor to think about. Again, I haven’t seen Toy Story Mania yet so I’m going with Turtle Talk with Crush as the winner.
Best 3D Film – Mickey’s Philharmagic
Once again, I have to go with Mickey’s Philharmagic but, I have to give an honorable mention to Muppetvision-3D for its staying power. After all these years, it’s still funny.
Best Live Show – Festival of the Lion King
A very tough choice here but I’m going with the Festival of the Lion King in a close call over Finding Nemo: The Musical. They’re both great but Lion King just has a bit more energy going for it.
Top Restaurant for Families – Cape May Café
My choice is the Cape May Café at the Beach Club with a shout out to Chef Mickey’s, the 50’ Prime Time Café and the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.
Best Counter Service – Sunshine Seasons Food Fair
I had never eaten at the Columbia Harbour House until we took the Keys to the Kingdom tour. It’s a wonderful place that offers a real change of pace from the typical burgers, fries and nuggets. The Liberty Inn in Epcot is also nice but the top spot for me goes to the Sunshine Seasons Food Fair in The Land pavilion. A great assortment of soups, salads, sandwiches, Asian and desserts—something for everyone.
Best Character Breakfast – Chef Mickey’s
Chef Mickey’s has to be the clear winner here. The families with little princesses may argue for Cinderella’s Royal Table but I’m sticking with breakfast with the Big Cheese and his closest friends.
Best Fireworks Show – Illuminations: Reflections of Earth
I give Illuminations: Reflections of Earth the nod over Wishes, based predominantly on the soft spot I have for its musical score (yes, I sing along—even to the instrumental parts).
Best Fireworks View
Let’s talk about Wishes first. Some may argue for the beach at the Polynesian, the observation desk at the California Grill, or even a Fireworks Cruise; viewing from a pontoon boat in the middle of Bay Lake. For my money, nothing beats standing in the middle of Main Street. You can hear the soundtrack perfectly and the fireworks, in my opinion, work best when they’re symmetrical to Cinderella’s Castle.
I also think that Illuminations: Reflections of Earth offers a large number of “favorite spots”. For convenience, I enjoy watching from the bridge between France and the United Kingdom or from the wall in Morocco. To see it the way it was intended, however, you need to be dead-center in Showcase Plaza—the area by the water that joins Future World and World Showcase. Symmetry is, again, at the forefront of the reasoning but, if you’ve never seen it from this spot, you’ll be surprised at how everything centers on the America pavilion.
Fantasmic! is sort of an easier choice. I maintain that there are no really bad views but, I have noticed that if you are seated to the far right or left, you may be able to see the boats as they emerge from backstage a good while before the accompanying music begins—a minor annoyance. For the very best seat, I have heard that prime seating is approximately 60 seats to the left of center in the middle row. That’s where the sound and production board was while the show was put together and rehearsed.
Best Dinner Show – Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
I know that there are fans of Mickey’s Backyard Barbecue and the Luau at the Polynesian but, for my money (and it’s not cheap), the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is the best of the bunch. Yeah, it’s corny but I like that about it. And you can’t beat the killer ribs (and what is it that’s so good about their bread and butter?).
Well, that’s a partial list but there’s so much more to do. In the next column, we’ll provide a look at where you can find the best parade, pre-show, burger, pizza, seafood, ice cream, fixin’s bar, Italian food, restaurant theming, wings, steak, sushi, cocktails, outdoor dining, coffee, milkshakes, muffins and so much more. In my opinion, of course.
Now I will absolutely guarantee that some of you will write in to take exception with some of my choices and propose your own. I also guarantee some of your choices will force me to reexamine my own and admit, probably begrudgingly, that I was wro…, er… you were right. Either way, I’d love to hear your choices for these categories and any additional categories you can think of.
That’s my opinion. What’s yours?
