Plan Your Florida Vacation
The aim of this blog is to provide as much information about things to see and do whilst you are on the holiday of a lifetime in the vacation capital of the world - The Sunshine State of Florida.
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Disney Quest
Posted on June 27th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Patty Bensur
Authors WebsiteWe visited Disney Quest for the first time on our last trip. I had no idea what to expect and just like everything in Disney World, we were once again greeted with the WOW-factor! We began our “quest” on the elevator that took us to the 3 rd floor. Well, this was no ordinary elevator ride! During our assent, we were visited by the Genie from Aladdin who proceeded to entertain us during our trip! Again, like always, I found myself wondering “How do they do that?!”
We exited the elevator and entered “The Zone”! (Actually there are four “Zones”, the Explore Zone, the Score Zone, the Replay Zone and the Create Zone)! Our first encounter was with Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters. This was pretty cool, though it took me awhile to figure it out. Of course, my 10-year old son, on the other hand, was a pro in seconds! You ride in these bumper car spaceship type vehicles and battle with the other vehicles by scooping up cannon balls and firing them at each other.
Next, we tried Invasion which is a virtual reality ride where you have to try to rescue people who were captured by aliens. I wasn’t much use to those poor people, but fortunately for the captives, I had my 13-year old daughter as co-pilot. She was the hero!
The Comix was interesting to watch – my husband and kids did this one without me. You put on a virtual reality helmet and enter into a cyber battle with your laser sword. They looked pretty goofy swinging their swords through the air at nothing! Well, it looked that way to me, of course, but they were thoroughly engaged in their encounters with comic book villains!
I never thought I could draw! Well, in the Animation Academy, I found out that I had some hidden talent! This was great – an instructor took us through the process of drawing a Disney character!
The Virtual Jungle Cruise was great fun. We climbed aboard a raft and plunged down a raging river back in the age of the dinosaurs! It was quite an adventure as we dodged some scary obstacles along the way.
The Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam was where I shined! You stand on a moving platform that you maneuver with your feet and you control a pinball up on the screen trying to get the most points possible to beat out the other players. I totally impressed my kids when I won by a landslide! What – no prize?
It was about now that I discovered the Replay Zone and well, I was hooked! I thoroughly enjoyed playing all my favorite arcade games from my university days. Only this was way better because no tokens needed and I could keep playing to my heart’s content. I enjoyed revisiting many classics including Pacman, Frogger, Space Invaders, and Centipede. I never made it to the remaining virtual reality rides, but maybe next time!
Here’s what’s left for me to try when we go back:
Cyber Space Mountain allows you to design your own roller coaster on a computer. When you’re finished with your creation, you get to take a ride.
Pirates of the Carribean – Battle for Buccaneer Gold must be very good as there was a VERY long line for this one. You put on a head piece and enter the world of pirates in a race for gold.
Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride is another virtual reality ride where you put on your helmet and enter Agrabah and go for a ride with the characters from the beloved film Aladdin.
Our entire family really enjoyed our day at Disney Quest. There’s definitely something for all ages! Give it a try on your next trip!
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DisneyQuest - Indoor Interactive Theme Park
Posted on April 17th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Michele Chamberlain
Authors WebsiteDisneyQuest - Indoor Interactive Theme Park - a great place to visit in the event that you should experience “rain” during your vacation! If you’ve got anyone between the ages of 7-17, they’ll love Disneyquest. In fact, many adults will probably love Disney Quest too.
DisneyQuest is an “indoor interactive theme park” located in Downton Disney with over 250 attractions, ride and games for all ages. It is a five-story, windowless building; where the entrance is on the first floor and you then enter an lift (elevator) which takes you to the third floor. Be prepared (if visiting with younger guests) that when entering the lift and the doors shut, it goes dark. A voice and character then appears on the lift wall as the lift goes up. My two children were very apprehensive as they did not know what what going to happen, but it is that quick is over with before you know it and the doors open on the third floor.
Once inside DisneyQuestion, there are different zones:-
Replay Zone - Blast each other with asteroid cannons while riding out-of-control bumper cars on Buzz Lightyear’s AstroBlaster. My son and husband really enjoyed this ride.
Create Zone - Become a Disney Imagineer for a day in this studio! Create a custom song at Radio Disney SongMaker. Design your ultimate roller coaster and ride it on a 360° pitch and roll simulator at CyberSpace Mountain. Learn the secrets of Disney animation in the Animation Academy, give yourself a virtual makeover with the help of the Magic Mirror, and design your own bizarre plaything at Sid’s Create-a-Toy. Most of The Create Zone, which is located on the second floor, will be a favorite of the younger children. My children (agre 6 & 9) especially loved this area and created their own songs at Radio Disney SongMaker. You then get the opportunity to purchase them on a CD to take home. They have not stopped playing them since!
Score Zone - Become part of a human pinball game on Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam or battle super-villains as you fly through a 3-D comic book world on Ride the Comix.
Explore Zone - Located on the 1st floor - Jump into a virtual adventureland where you’re immersed in exotic and ancient locales. Become a plundering pirate on a quest for gold on Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold. Grab a paddle and shoot the rapids on a Virtual Jungle Cruise, then fly through the streets of Agrabah on Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride.
Food and Drinks, if required, can be purchased at the FoodQuest and Wonderland Cafe inside DisneyQuest.
If you have a “Magic your way” ticket with extra options (such as water parks), or an “Ultimate Ticket”, entrance is included so you do not have to pay the entrance fee. Otherwise entrance is :-
- 1 Day DisneyQuest® Ages 10+ (Adult) $40.00 plus tax
- 1 Day DisneyQuest® Ages 3-9 (Child) $34.00 plus tax
Same-day re-entry is allowed with ticket and hand stamp at exit
I would advise not visiting Disney Quest with very young children and babies as strollers are not allowed inside Disney Quest.