Welcome back to another Disney Top 5! It’s been several months since you last heard from me. After years and years of being a MousePlanet regular, I took a break from posting, but I’m back in action now and ready to get back to it. As always, my brain is chock full of Disney opinions and, considering it’s been a while, those thoughts and opinions are just bursting and ready to be crafted into more Disney countdowns for you all to read.
The physical look of MousePlanet may have changed over the past few months, but one thing has never altered, and that’s my passion for all things Walt Disney World. If you were a regular reader of my articles, you might remember that my twin sons were enrolled in the Disney College Program from 2022-2023. After completing their programs, they couldn’t get enough. They have since moved to Orlando, transferred colleges to the University of Central Florida, and are part-time cast members at Disney. What this has meant, of course, is that we have been visiting them and, by proxy, our favorite vacation spot, Walt Disney World, more than ever before. If we weren’t die-hard fans before–and trust me, we were–at this point we’re practically regulars and I’m definitely not complaining.
Of course, the more time I spend in the most magical place on Earth, the more opinions I develop. In my tenure here on MousePlanet, I used to write a yearly piece on my current Walt Disney World opinions—new things that I noticed or experienced, resorts we stayed at for the first time, or ones that we returned to after long absences, dining options that have changed or been added, brand new or refurbished attractions, etc. For my return to the world of MousePlanet, it was time for an updated list of things I felt about Walt Disney World, especially given our new status as much more consistent visitors. Some of these choices concern relatively new developments, and some concern things I’ve always known but have recently been reinforced. So, let’s look at my Top 5 Walt Disney World opinions–July 2024 edition.
5 – Yehaa Bob Jackson is an American Treasure and is the True Embodiment of Disney Magic
I realize this is a big statement, but I’m unwavering on this one. Having a resort night, is something we love to do on any Disney trip. We were staying at Port Orleans French Quarter this past Easter weekend and decided to walk over to our old family favorite, Port Orleans Riverside. We stayed at Riverside 4 or 5 years in a row when the kids were little. We loved it, and it was our go-to Disney hotel for many years until we started to get spoiled by the fantastic collection of Deluxe resorts. Anyway, we walked into the Riverside main building, the Sassagoula Steamboat Company, and there in the cozy River Roost Lounge was the master himself, Yehaa Bob Jackson, doing his thing, banging away on that old piano, singing songs, getting the entire audience involved and generating a true Disney World communal moment. If the purpose of Walt Disney World is to bring families together for some good old-fashioned fun, then there’s nowhere better on Disney property to end up than sitting there in the lounge with your loved ones and bearing witness to the “Yehaa Bob Experience.”
For those who don’t know, Bob Jackson has been performing at Riverside since 1997. He has an extensive musical pedigree, which includes a degree from the esteemed Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and has released a dozen different CDs, including a Christmas album, a collection of gospel music, several albums of original music, and, naturally, a Disney Sing Along CD. But the people who know and love him best are the guests who pull up one of those comfy seats or a table in the lounge, order some drinks and snacks, and watch as Bob instantly transforms that otherwise ordinary room into a clapping, singing, and sometimes dancing room of happiness. He is the real thing, and if you haven’t seen him, you’re missing out on what will inevitably be one of the happiest 90 minutes of your life.
4 – Journey of Water Inspired by Moana is a Work of Art
If you’ve been to Epcot over the last few years, you certainly got used to one thing – walls. As the multi-year transformation of Walt Disney World’s second park took place, the center of what was once known as Future World was wholly walled off. It wasn’t pretty. It produced some congestion, and it lasted forever. The first piece of this transformation to be revealed (although technically part of World Nature) was Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, which opened to the public in October 2023. We first explored this new area a month later on our BoardWalk Inn Thanksgiving weekend trip. I had seen some photos posted online and got positive reviews from MousePlanet’s own Alan Dalinka and my cast member sons, who were at press and cast previews, respectively. But I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did once I got there.
The Imagineers hit one right out of the park for Disney’s first attraction based on the already beloved 2016 film. Journey of Water is a pure joy to experience. I’m a big fan of Moana, but that is optional for enjoying this attraction. Disney has managed to, once again, create an area that completely takes you out of your surroundings and brings you into a little slice of magic. I challenge you to walk through Journey of Water and not feel transformed. The music, the sounds of the trickling or splashing water, the gardens, the laughter of guests as they interact with the water features, and the impressive stone carvings and rock work all combine to make this one of the most remarkable and joyous places that Disney has put forth in some time.
I thought I loved it in the daytime, and then we went back that evening to see it at night. This is the truly fantastic thing about Journey of Water, and—please forgive me—but it’s a whole new world after dark. The water takes on an entirely different look and feel once the sun goes down. The lighting here is some of—if not the—best use of lighting I’ve ever seen in a Disney attraction. You enjoyed watching the leaping water during the day; now watch them as they are individually lit and seem like living things as they leap from spot to spot. You gazed into the crystal clear ponds and streams earlier in the day, now stare at them as they are bathed in soft colored light from below. Did you think the 15-foot-tall Te Fiti statue was impressive, with the sun beaming on her? Look at her in awe as she is beautifully lit up at night. And all this while the occasional view of Spaceship Earth is peering through the trees at you in all its sparkling glory. Simply stated, as I said above, Journey of Water is truly a Disney work of art.
3 – Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter is Still a Hidden Gem
Maybe there are better terms to describe one of Walt Disney World’s 21 resorts than hidden. After all, it’s not a secret place. It’s listed right there on the website with all the rest. You can’t miss the entrance to the place. It’s not like there’s no sign. So, why does it feel like the French Quarter sort of flies beneath the Disney radar? Our first trip as a family to Walt Disney World was in 2003, and we stayed over at Caribbean Beach for a quick 4-night stay and loved it. On our second trip, which would be much longer, a friend suggested checking out French Quarter and, despite Hurricane Charley barreling right through us, we had a fantastic week there. We were just three then, my wife and I and our 5-year-old daughter. Once it came time to bring our twin boys along, we needed to abandon French Quarter for the extra bed at resorts like Riverside, the Yacht Club, and several other higher-end Deluxe resorts. In 2022, when we finally returned after COVID, it was just four of us, so we happily booked a week at French Quarter after an 18-year absence. We were thrilled to be back. This past Easter we stayed at French Quarter again, and it just solidified that—as far as the Disney Moderate resorts go, this would now be our go-to resort.
The big difference with French Quarter is its size. Its neighbor, Port Orleans Riverside, has just over 2,000 rooms. French Quarter has just over 1,000. That’s a huge difference, and you can feel it when you’re there. French Quarter feels calmer and quieter than the rest of the resorts in its class—Riverside, Caribbean Beach, and Coronado Springs. Plus, it’s much more compact. You can walk around the entirety of the resort in a matter of minutes. Do you forget something at the main building or just want to fill up your refillable mug? It’s just a short walk from every building. The food court never seems overwhelmed, and neither does the pool. The architecture is beautiful. The buildings are all colorful and are decked out with black wrought iron railings and details mimicking what you might see in old New Orleans. As far as getting to the parks, one of the best things about French Quarter is that there is one and only one bus stop, as opposed to the 4 or 5 next door at Riverside. On one trip to Riverside, it took my sons and me about 30 minutes to get off Riverside property once we boarded the bus to Magic Kingdom by our building. That doesn’t happen when you’re at French Quarter. Things are a little bit simpler there. The cast is amazing. I’m struggling to remember her name, but the bartender at the pool bar is just incredible. Seek her out, have a drink and engage her in some conversation. She’s one of the best! There’s the boat to Disney Springs giving you easy access to more dining and shopping options and, of course, the new drone show–more on that to come. And oh yeah…the Mickey Beignets, which you cannot get anywhere else on property are to die for and are worth paying a visit to this resort all by themselves. Suffice it to say that we like French Quarter more than we like some Deluxe Resorts, and that’s quite a statement.
2 – Disney Dreams That Soar is Worth the Trip to Disney Springs
I’ve long had a rather unpopular opinion about Disney Springs…I don’t care for it that much. I didn’t care for it too much when it was Downtown Disney. That’s not to say the transformation into Disney Springs wasn’t impressive. Disney did a beautiful job with the 2015 overhaul. I’m a big Disney bubble guy. Keep me in the Disney bubble when I’m there. I don’t want to go to Walgreens. I don’t want to go to Publix or Target. I don’t particularly appreciate going into the Swan and Dolphin because their lobbies have CNN on the TV instead of classic Disney cartoons. When I go to Disney Springs, I confine myself to a few places: the giant World of Disney store, Disney’s Pin Traders, The Art of Disney, Disney’s Days of Christmas, and the Marketplace Co-Op. I don’t need to go to Anthropologie or the Levi’s store when I’m at Walt Disney World. I’m not going to the movies, and I’m not going bowling. Springs has some excellent restaurants, but I’d still rather dine in a park or at a Disney resort. That said, I am a big fan of Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar. The guy is only in one of the 5 Indiana Jones films and only for about 40 seconds, and they managed to build an entire bar/restaurant and backstory all around him!
This past Spring, we stayed at Saratoga Springs on two separate trips. One of the real benefits of staying at this resort is the walkability to Disney Springs. I made my obligatory walk over there once, and that was it. However, during our Father’s Day weekend stay, something happened in the sky that would probably get me to go back to Springs, and that’s the fantastic drone show Disney Dreams That Soar. This is only the second drone show ever performed in Walt Disney World. The first was way back in 2016 and was also in the skies over Disney Springs. I never got to see Starbright Holidays, probably because it only ran for about two months, so this was my first and only drone show experience. We watched Dreams That Soar from Saratoga Springs on a couple of nights, one night while swimming in the pool! I was not disappointed. The show is awe-inspiring. It’s terrific at the start when you see the 800 drones launching into the sky, almost like an alien invasion or a caravan of light. They all go dark once they get to the proper altitude, and the show begins.
The show features a wide range of Disney properties, from Peter Pan to Figment and the Guardians of the Galaxy to Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. Two of my favorite moments were Carl’s house from Up…
…and the Death Star from Star Wars.
I’d probably head back to Saratoga Springs even if I weren’t staying there to watch this show. However, on my next trip in late August, I might journey to Disney Springs West Side to see the show where it’s meant to be seen and also so I can adequately hear the soundtrack–the big negative to watching from Saratoga Springs. Anything that can get me to go to Disney Springs has to be good, and Disney Dreams That Soar is better than just good. It’s only scheduled to run through early September of 2024, but I hope that changes and it sticks around for a while. It’s that good.
1 – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the Best Disney Attraction Ever
I tend to stay clear of statements like that, even if I genuinely believe in them. The Yacht Club is the best Disney hotel. Yes, I know that people will disagree with me in favor of their favorites. And that’s fine. Disney is a big enough universe. There’s room for lots of opinions. And this is an opinion column, after all. So let’s restate that heading: I think that Rise of the Resistance is the best attraction that Disney has ever built. This in no way takes away from the pure glee that I feel whipping around turns on Big Thunder Mountain or the instant transformation from adult to child that hits me as I soar over London on Peter Pan’s Flight. But let’s remember a few things here. I was 9-years-old when Star Wars soared into theaters in 1977. From the moment that giant star destroyer took over the entire screen in the opening scene of Star Wars, I was hooked. I was the perfect age. All we did was play Star Wars that summer and I’ve been playing Star Wars ever since. In 2019, when I first walked into Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios, I finally had what I didn’t know I had always wanted: a real-life, full-size, actual Star Wars playground. On that first visit, Rise wasn’t open yet. But I’ll never forget turning that corner and getting my first glimpse of the Millennium Falcon. I could feel the 9-year-old boy inside my head jumping for joy. And when I walked into the cockpit…let’s just say…it was a moment.
That said, imagine my delight when we finally returned in 2022 and got to experience Rise of the Resistance. That’s the key word here: experience. I don’t view Rise as a ride or an attraction. It is a full-blown experience. When you consider the multiple areas and sections you pass through, the cast members, the special effects, the screens, the animatronics, and everything else you must go through to get to the end, you know exactly what I mean. Walking off of that shuttle and stepping out into the hangar of an Imperial star destroyer and seeing that enormous room filled with stormtroopers, TIE fighters, and that view into “space” is, hands down, the best Disney attraction moment there is. Even my wife, who is not the passionate Star Wars fan I am, was pretty blown away. There’s simply nothing else that compares to Rise of the Resistance. It’s extraordinary, and if this is the future of Disney attractions then we’re in for a very bright future.
Disney fans are full of opinions. And so many people in the online Disney universe tend to express just how many things they see wrong with Walt Disney World. Is it perfect? No, of course not. But I have always stayed positive as long as I have been writing online, whether here on MousePlanet or going way back to my Jim Hill Media days. The reason for that is simple.
First and foremost, I’m a pretty positive guy—always have been. Second, in my humble opinion, there are just too many positive and happy things going on at Walt Disney World for me to waste time with the negative. That’s why this list is all positive.
We’ve been back and forth to Walt Disney World to see my sons quite a bit over the last two years. As I mentioned above, we’re starting to feel more like regulars than ever before. People used to ask me the same question all the time, “You’re going back again?” I’m not too fond of that question. Yes, I’m returning to a place I love where I have a great time…again! What’s so wrong with that? Now, people don’t ask anymore. They know. Chris goes to Disney. It’s what I do. I ski. I go to concerts. I go to Comic Cons. I love the beach, and yes, I love seeing my sons and being at Walt Disney World. I don’t see any of that changing anytime soon.
That’s all for this time. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time with another Disney Top 5.
