Best Ride Vehicles at Walt Disney World

STUDIO_ROCKNRCOASTERRIDE_7071496091Let’s talk about ride vehicles!  There are so many different kinds of rides and vehicle types at Walt Disney World, there’s something for everyone!  Imagine for a minute you’re on your most favorite ride!  Now answer this:  Does your favorite ride also contain your favorite ride vehicle?

I’ve been spending a lot of time running lately in preparation for the Glass Slipper Challenge – which means I’ve had a lot of time to daydream about Walt Disney World.  I started thinking about which rides and attractions I like the most and then I was thinking more specifically about each ride’s vehicle and realized that some rides I love, actually have vehicles I…hmmmm….let’s say “dislike”.

It’s true!  For example – I love Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but find getting in and out of the limo verywd001wdw201414578668651 awkward and the harness very restrictive – I know it has to be secure for safety reasons, but that restraint makes me very glad I’m not claustrophobic like my friend Heather!  Space Mountain is so near and dear to my heart, but those rockets are ridiculously uncomfortable.  I guess what I’m getting at here is that I’m about to name my most favorite ride vehicles which, in some cases, have nothing to do with my overall feelings about the ride in which they reside.

Best Ride Vehicles at Walt Disney World:

DoomBuggy – This timeless classic is the Model T of the ride vehicle world.  Basic black, smooth and rounded, they glide gently along, keeping you safe from the ghosts and ghouls of the Haunted Mansion.  Turned backwards, they easy you comfortable downward through the cool and eerie darkness.  This mode of attraction transportation is about as perfect as can be!RM-PeopleMover-Seat

PeopleMover – These beauties represent omnimover awesomeness.  Maybe I love the fact that their blue upholstery matches my eyes.  Maybe it’s how you can sit facing forward or backward.  Maybe it’s the cars’ boxy shape.  Whatever the reason, the humble PeopleMover vehicles rank high on my list of favorites.RM-Jungle-Cruise-Backside-of-Water

Jungle Cruise Boats – Happy little sailing vessels with snappy names and shady awnings.  What else needs to be said?  Plenty of room for everyone – party on the rivers of the world!RM-TSMWM-Vehicle

Toy Story Midway Mania Cars – Have I mentioned lately that Rex is my TSMWM spirit guide?  Of all the vehicles in all of Disney World, this is the one I most want to take home!  Think about it!!!  Armed and dangerous on my morning commute – cut me off and bam!  Dart to the tire.  An armory of virtual missiles at my disposal.  I’d add projectile goo – because when you are driving slow in the fast lane?  You deserve goo to teach you a little bit of a lesson.  Driving down the highway, wind in my hair, launching an array of items from my vehicle’s cannon….livin’ the dream, baby!

I really want to know!  What is your favorite ride vehicle and why?  Which one would you most love to take home?

 

Disney World Attraction Vehicles – Which Would You Own?

Disney's Test Track CarA while back, one of my favorite Disney podcasts, Mighty Men of Mouse, had a debate over the merits of owning a Disney World ride vehicle as transportation.  Which one would it be?  Why would one pick that particular vehicle for the daily commute to and from work?  I liked that idea!  It got me to thinking….  Lots of times, I tweet what I’m pondering and this time was no exception.  Last night while I was mentally tallying the pros and cons of Clammobiles, service elevators, hang gliders, flying elephants, magic carpets, mine trains and the like – imagining the merits of each for going to work, tooling about town, leisurely exploring country roads, off road riding through fields and turn-rows (we DO live in the country, after all) – I threw out the query to the fun Disney community I hang out with on Dinoland's Primeval Whirl Twitter…

The answers were GREAT!  But….they were as all over the place as my thoughts on this topic.  If I were going to own a Disney ride vehicle as a mode of transportation….which would I choose?

Before I announce the winning vehicle, let’s see who weighed in with a vote:

DisneyPrincess83 (@OzGoofyPrincess) instantly jumped right in! (I can always count on her to play along with my “what-if” questions!)  Her initial thought was the Friendship Boats because she’s from Australia “so they might come in handy.”  I’d hear back from the SevenDwarfsLoadingPrincess later in the debate…

Jason @JasonLiving was decisive with his choice of Doom Buggy (Haunted Mansion).  Now, since I know Jason in person (and have since he was about 6), I can say there’s no better or more suitable choice for him.  Doom Buggies are a bit creepy yet edgy and fun at the same time.  Jason likes stuff like that.

@CaptainAlabama just wanted to know if the cars at SciFi Dine-In would count as an option.  I’m guessing the Cap thinks the colorful retro convertibles (with fins!) would be a standout on the roads where he lives.  They would be eye-catching just about anywhere!

Rob @singleriderline also favored the Doom Buggy, but also thought perhaps the Kilimanjaro Safari truck would make good transportation.  I suggested Rob would be happy with BOTH sinceSailing on WDW Jungle Cruise Doom Buggies would be perfect for solo or duo travel while the safari trucks would allow you to take a whole bunch of friends out on the town….or on safari.

Safari Mike (@JamboEveryone) piped up with a vote for the WEDWay PeopleMover (a.k.a. the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover).  Cars propelled by linear induction (moving along by magnetic force) produce no pollution and are environmentally safe – Mike is all about conservation (Radio Harambe podcast), so this transportation choice makes perfect sense.

At this point, I heard from Dutch Lombrowski (@DutchLombrowski) which was GREAT since he happens to be one of the hosts of Mighty Men of Mouse – the podcast that inspired this discussion!  Dutch, like Mike, also favored the TTA.

Then the Princess (@OzGoofyPrincess) threw out another option – One that, I’m sorry to say,Animal Kingdom's Dinosaur Ride never occurred to me – the “Dinosaur Buggy” (as she called it).  I know many people don’t care for Dinosaur (the ride in Animal Kingdom) but the ride vehicles (exactly the same as used for Disneyland’s Indiana Jones ride) are brilliant.  They’re a technological marvel of highly programmable maneuverability that would, during home use, offer the owner a virtually unstoppable mode of transportation.  The Princess thought they’d be perfect for battling Sydney traffic.  Heck, they’d be perfect for just about anything!

So, while I’d been thinking about the blue Caddies from Rock’n’ Roller Coaster and the swinging cars from the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as possible options, I must agree with the Princess’s second vote – especially once she mentioned not only the 100% all terrain maneuverability of the vehicle, but the possible advantage of time travel capabilities.  Mind blown, I salute the Princess and her imagination!

And the winner is….

The Dinosaur Cars!!!

Thanks to everyone who played along!

Your turn – which vehicle would you choose?