We’re here with a series of quick posts, “Disney in a Minute,” bite-sized nuggets of information that can better help you understand a Disney term or planning topic. Enjoy!
What is an Attraction?
About two years ago, I saw a charming off-Broadway musical called The Other Josh Cohen. Toward the end of the show, a character mentions having been on Space Mountain, calling it a roller coaster. Another character immediately castigates him and says, “It’s not a ‘roller coaster,’ it’s an ‘attraction.’”
That pretty much sums up the situation.
Disney does not call the things you do and see in the parks by words like “ride,” “roller coaster,” “show,” “train,” or “movie.” All those things are, per Disney nomenclature, “attractions.” Attractions can be in motion like Space Mountain or Dumbo the Flying Elephant. They can be stationary like Country Bear Jamboree or It’s Tough to Be a Bug. They can be things you walk through or past like the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail or Maharajah Jungle Trek. Even Epcot’s Kidcot Fun Stops, where kids sit and color, are classified as attractions.
Some attractions are headliners or major attractions, Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios, for example. Others are minor attractions, like the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival at Epcot. There are even a few things like the Aerophile ballon and the Vintage Amphicars at Disney Springs that Disney calls attractions even though they’re not in a theme park.
So why do you care that Disney calls things attractions rather than some other word? Well, you don’t necessarily, but knowing this does sometimes help you understand what people are talking about.
For example, the Walt Disney World website currently lists 172 things under “Attractions” home page link. It can be helpful to know that not all 172 of those items move and they’re not all time consuming. You might also miss a lot of the things to do at Disney World if you asked someone about “rides.” They could tell you about only things with vehicles that move rather than things that provide entertainment like The Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular at Hollywood Studios or the film in the Canada pavilion at EPCOT. “Attractions” covers everything.
Let us know what Disney topics you think need just a bit more explanation.
The post Disney in a Minute: What is an Attraction? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.
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Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), disney in a minute
), so when I found out a guide book was being produced for Batuu, the fictional planet where the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land in Disneyland and Walt Disney World is located, it had triggered my curiosity as to what type of book this would be. Would it be a typical Disney guide book written in a matter-of-fact way? Would it be written as a behind the scenes look at the land, similar to those Imagineering Field Guides from a few years back? Turns out the book is written in character, as if someone living in the Star Wars universe was planning a trip to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu. I love that idea. Is the Traveler’s Guide to Batuu a compelling book, or does the novelty wear off quick? I’ll get in to that later, but first let’s take a look at the book.
The cover of Traveler’s Guide to Batuu features a nice design that isn’t too busy with graphics. The aurebesh font (the writing system used in the Star Wars universe) helps the book have an appropriate feel.
Here you can find a map showing where Batuu is located in the Galaxy. You’ll notice it’s located in the Outer Rim, not too far from familiar Star Wars locations like Endor and Mustafar.
Everything in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has a story to it, but it’s not obvious if simply visiting the land in real life. The Traveler’s Guide to Batuu fills in all the bits a pieces you may not know about, including the names of all the various shops and stations found throughout the land, as well as information about each location’s proprietor.
To keep with the theme of the rest of the book, attractions such as Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, are not outright referred to as rides. I enjoyed reading these descriptions from the point of view of a random galactic citizen.
If you’ve visited Galaxy’s Edge you no doubt heard “Bright Suns” as a greeting or “Til The Spire” as a goodbye. There’s many more phrases the inhabitants of Batuu will say and this helpful page lists them all.
Packing lists are a staple of many travel guides and the Traveler’s Guide to Batuu is no different. This is one of my favorite details in the entire book. Don’t forget to bring your grappling hook.
Another detail I love, even the About the Author page is appropriately themed.