Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Opened: June 4, 1999
Location: Fantasyland on the end closest to Tomorrowland
Extra Magic Hours: Morning, Evening
FASTPASS: Yes. FASTPASSes are distributed to the right of Mickey’s PhilharMagic instead of next to the attraction. Return times are usually 40 to 60 minutes in the future, making it a relatively low priority.
Type: Dark ride
Similar To: Peter Pan’s Flight, Snow White’s Scary Adventures
Requirements: None
Scary Factor: Very low. It is at times dark and blustery, but there’s nothing here intended to be scary.
What to Expect: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is similar to other Fantasyland dark rides like (the now defunct) Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Peter Pan’s Flight, only the theme is obviously based on Winnie the Pooh. Riders board slow moving four-person “hunny pot” vehicles that move slowly through several scenes featuring Winnie, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Owl and other characters from the series. This is a lighthearted ride with some neat special effects, especially the scene with Tigger.
Where to Sit: With two rows of two to three people each, it doesn’t really matter. Riders sitting in front will have a better view of what’s ahead, but most of the action is off to the sides with doors in between the various rooms.
When To Go: Visit early in the morning, late in the evening, or with FASTPASS. I recommend getting here no mater than 9:35am to experience waits of ten minutes or less. By 10am, wait times are often 20 minutes and only go higher. Waits decrease in the evening after families leave or head to Main Street for the Fireworks and Parade. If Magic Kingdom is open after 10pm, plan to visit then if you can’t get there early or use FASTPASS.
Expect to Wait: Expect waits slightly shorter than Peter Pan’s Flight, but still in the 40 minute range by lunch and 50+ minutes in the afternoon, unless the Magic Kingdom is less crowded than usual.
Length: 3 minutes
Rating: 6/10
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt: Pooh’s Hunny Hunt opened at Tokyo Disneyland on September 4, 2000. It is the only ride in the world to use a “trackless” local positioning system to move ride vehicles. With a rumored budget of over 130 million dollars, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt is one of Disney’s most expensive rides and is only found in Japan. Hopefully a similar ride will be built in the United States soon. Read all about it here.
Commentary: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is superior to Snow White’s Scary Adventures in almost every way, but it is still not particularly exciting or engaging for most adults. The ride is definitely cute, but it isn’t worth waiting a long time for unless you have kids that will particularly enjoy it. There’s nothing scary about the ride and most youngsters thoroughly enjoy it. Adult riders who have an affinity for Winnie the Pooh will enjoy it as well. Expect long lines in the afternoon, so use a FASTPASS or return late into the evening if you can’t make it before 9:30am.