Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...
Written: Jul 16 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Pretty scenery; Neat suspended car concept to simulate flight
Cons: Lines go by slow; Ride goes by fast
The Bottom Line: Some people consider this to be the greatest Disney dark ride there is. It may not be that, but it certainly is one of the best...
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| cactus_matt's Full Review: Peter Pan's Flight |
There’s something that simply enamors people with Peter Pan’s Flight. One of the original rides at Disney World, it probably also remains one of the most popular to this day.
The outside façade is a typical Fantasyland medieval-tent affair. The line… well, it’s really long. Almost always. The queue area is typically extended out as far as possible and the typical wait time is about 45 minutes. I’ve tried everything from going during parades to during lunch and it seems that everyone had the same idea. Unless you head there first thing in the morning, you’re almost definitely going to be met with an extended wait. Fastpasses get sold out quick, too, so get yours early if that's what you plan on doing. I’m telling you, there’s something about this ride.
The loading zone consists of a backdrop of two-dimensional cutout scenery and a constantly moving walkway from which you board one of many constantly moving, miniaturized pirate ships. The ships usually hold about two adults and one small child. I’ve seen people try to fit three adults, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Don’t lean too far back or you might hit your head on the fiberglass sail behind you. The slightly larger one in front lowers with the safety bar and only slightly constricts your view. The ships run on a track off the ceiling, so that you’re given the sense of flying.
You first launch off into a nursery, where Wendy is telling stories to Michael and John. One of the first things you see is a small child’s table and tea set. Why a nursery for two young boys would contain this is beyond me… maybe it was Wendy’s when she was younger? From here, you head out the window, where a looping clip of Peter Pan’s voice boasts “Come on, everybody, here we goooooooo!” Looping over and over and over and over. Years ago, a friend and I were unfortunate to have the ride break down just as we’d taken off. Already too far gone to exit, we were forced to listen to a full ten minutes of Peter Pan chanting “Come on, everybody, here we goooooooo!” What a nightmare.
To the tune of “You Can Fly,” you burst out through the window and into the London night, bidding farewell to Nana the dog barking below. What follows is probably the most acclaimed part of this ride, a scenic view high above London. Nice display of simplistic beauty. Cars and street noises echo from the city below, adding a superb effect. The scene ends, however, with a cheap white rotating ball meant to represent the moon, adorned with the silhouettes of Peter, Wendy, and the Boys.
The “moon” signals your entrance into Never Neverland, where right off a tiny pirate ship in the distance apparently takes aim and fires a cannon at you. Another looping sound effect echoes as Captain Hook repeatedly yells “Fire, Mr. Smee!” Everything in Neverland is done under blacklighting, giving the ride a strange romanticism. Loop around to see a meeting of the Lost Boys. At times, you come very close to the scenery, and it’s a wonder that people don’t reach out and grab it. Continue on, and to the right you’ll see three mermaids in a wading pool, one of which was converted into Ariel after the popularity of “The Little Mermaid.” Round another corner and pass by the Indian Powwow.
Out into a clearing and you’ll see Wendy being forced to walk the plank of the pirate ship as Peter and Captain Hook do battle atop the mast. The crocodile lingers hungrily below. If you look closely, under the ship’s sail you’ll be able to see an unconscious pirate, part of the next scene.
Which leads us into the next scene. On the other side of the sail, Peter has commandeered the ship and defeated the pirates. Out in the water, you’ll see Captain Hook trying to escape the crocodile’s jaws and Smee attempting his rescue in a rowboat. A small model of the now flying pirate ship, bedecked in gold and pixie dust, highlights your exit. A voice tells you to leave the safety bar alone, cause it’ll lift up on its own. That’s it, ride’s over, get off.
It’s very short. The ride lasts approximately two minutes and forty-five seconds, which is by far a small fraction of the time you’ll probably spend waiting in line. I think that’s the norm, though, isn’t it?
Like Snow White’s Scary Adventures, this ride has begun to look somewhat outdated. A lot of Neverland looks to be made of paper mache and tinfoil. Most of the characters are static and don’t possess any animatronic properties. However, the theme of this ride is a lot more enjoyable than Snow White’s and the whole flying concept takes it a cut above the rest.
If it wasn’t for the wait, I’d probably give this ride a five-star rating. No other overly big complaints here. Just a lot of fun. Heck, Michael Jackson liked Peter Pan’s Flight in Disneyland so much that he built his own theme park.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cactus_matt
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Location: Florida
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 24 members
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