If you’ve spent time on our site, you’re aware of the importance of Genie+ reservations to plan your day and spend as little time in line as possible. Well when you go through your plans before 11am…what do you do before lunch? What do you do in the evening before dinner? What about that awkward time between 8pm and fireworks?
These attractions are not just amazing experiences, but they are also great to put into a relaxing day plan!
When you think about an ‘Overlooked’ Disney experience, it actually has a definition and criteria:
- You can’t get a Disney Genie+ reservation for it
- 9 out of 10 dentists would recommend it! (a little #StepsToMagic Humour)
MAGIC KINGDOM
THE TOMORROWLAND TRANSIT AUTHORITY PEOPLEMOVER
“Paging Mr Morrow, Mr Tom Morrow. Please contact Mr Johnson in the control tower to confirm your flight to the moon.”
The TTA is a peoplemover system in Tomorrowland, themed as an urban mass transit system in the future, riders are taken on a ride around the second floor of some of the most popular attractions in the land. When I think about Walt Disney World, the TTA is one of the first things that pop into my mind, and it’s hard to explain until you’ve taken the trip on the Other highway in the Sky! (Monorail being the main one)
LIBERTY BELLE RIVERBOAT
Filled with nods to the past, the riverboat that takes guests on a trip around the Rivers of America is an overlooked and underrated attraction within the Magic Kingdom on a number of fronts.
First, the Liberty Belle isn’t an all-day attraction and closes around dusk every day. If you can score a seat on the final trip of the day…it’s pure magic! You get a sunset behind Splash Mountain and a nighttime photo of the Haunted Mansion on the same loop.
Secondly, the feeling like this piece of Americana has been left unaltered and de-franchised (although there was a successful Princess and the Frog tie-in at one point) it’s not as popular with trip planners. We, on the other hand, absolutely love the Riverboat and use it as an opportunity to recharge and get off your feet for 20 minutes and figure out the next adventure.
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TOM SAWYER ISLAND
Upside – Great photos, fun adventures through caves and Fort Langhorn.
Downside – You have to wait for the raft to go from the mainland to the Island…and then wait on the other side for the raft to take you back across the Rivers of America.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! Should you prioritize it over anything else in the Magic Kingdom? Probably not. This is on the list because of the exclusiveness of the activities on the island and that the rafts have a capacity of 20-30 guests and the lines can get incredibly long during the busy season.
Oh, and the paint brushes are no longer being hidden on Tom Sawyer’s Island in the morning, so don’t rush to the rafts. Some travel books still promote that Cast Members hide paint brushes around the island and if you find them…you get a free soda. Completely outdated information, so just know that things change often at Walt Disney World!
If you want free soda…head to Club Cool in EPCOT and get some Beverley😉
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EPCOT
Future World has always had a special place in my heart due to the classic futuristic feel that is often replicated by never duplicated. Keep an eye out as EPCOT’s Future World turns into a fully-reimagined area, with neighbourhoods and everything!
CANADIAN PAVILION
#FunFact Every pavilion around the World Showcase is staffed with Cultural Representatives from that country. In 2007/08 I had the opportunity to be one of the lucky participants from Canada to be in the Canadian Pavilion for a contract that changed my life forever.
On my first night in the park after getting fitted with my lumberjack costume, I went with my fellow Canadians to check out the O Canada film…and wow! Let’s just say that you have to go into it with a comedic sense of style and understand that those up north still have things like Starbucks and roads;) It’s definitely worth checking out!
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DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM
DISCOVERY ISLAND TRAILS
Recently re-opened, this escape to a garden paradise takes you into a world that most guests don’t even know about! It’s a self-guided tour that brings you to some of the coolest wildlife encounters at the park, including the Flamingos, Ring-Tailed Lemurs, and Red Kangaroos!
It also gives you a close-up view of the Tree of Life, which boasts more than 300 animal carvings into the base.
Definitely overlooked and worth the investment of time! It’s better with a Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar btw;)
Related Article: Top Tips Before You Go To the Animal Kingdom
THE BARK-O-LATOR
Stop by the Meet and Greet for Dug and Russell from Up! and you’ll get a chance to experience the Bark-o-Lator from the movie! Yes…you can actually bark into the collar and you’ll find out what the translation is! #Epic
Related Article: Top Tips Before You Go To The Animal Kingdom
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DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
WALT DISNEY PRESENTS ONE MAN’S DREAM
Last on our list is actually my favourite!
Walt Disney Presents: One Man’s Dream brings you to a time when Walt was creating all the magic that we enjoy today! Photos, displays, videos, sketches and so much more is jam packed into a self-guided area within Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I can honestly spend hours and hours just wandering and taking in all the amazing artifacts and mementos.
If that doesn’t provide you with enough to check it out, then there’s also a 15-minute film tribute in Walt’s Own Words, hosted by Julie Andrews. I’ve watched this film like a hundred times and each time a tear comes to my eye because of how amazing of an icon Walt Disney was. So go watch it and let us know if he also inspires you to follow your dreams!
Final Thoughts
Still wanting more ideas for experience on your next Disney World vacation? I love sharing more and more content to keep your trip planning juices flowing to build the excitement!
