Sneak Peak: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Earlier today Walt Disney World revealed the last piece of New Fantasyland as they allowed invited media guests to preview Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Snow White’s Scary Adventures closed in 2012 and since then fans have eagerly awaited the return of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The new ride is the centerpiece of New Fantasyland and will officially open to Disney guests on 28th May.
The ride took four years to complete and having now ridden it, I can comfortably say that it is a family-friendly ride with just the right amount of thrilling drops and tight turns to excite every member of the family. The ride is beautifully crafted and the attention to detail is superb as you enjoy your ride from a dwarf’s perspective.
The whole experience begins even before guests step into a mine car. Guests are lured up a tree-lined hill past the Dwarfs’ thatched cottage and toward the faint sounds of “Hi Ho” coming from within the mineshaft.
Guests then have the chance to play with some of the interactive features of the attraction, such as a game where sorting some virtual gems into a treasure chest is the order of the day. There’s also an interesting station where guests can wave their hands under several animal carvings to trigger musical notes and colored jets of water. It’s fun but before long it’s time to head deeper into the mine and to the ride car.
The first thing to notice as you enter the ride car is that it is small and something of a squeeze. Anyone trying to bring a bag on the ride would be well advised to find a locker to store it in beforehand. Once you’re strapped in via the safety bar coming down across your lap, it’s time to set off to explore the mine.
The ride itself lasts just over two minutes and during that time you will experience some fast moving drops as well as some slower speeds as you go through the more visual elements. The ride is absolutely appropriate for children and have no fears about upside down loops or other scary features. There are none. If you’ve ridden Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, this is a breeze!
New technology is very much part of the ride however, as adding to the sense of motion is the fact that each mine car vehicle subtly sways right and left in order to make the turns feel even tighter. This does make for an extremely smooth ride though so you don’t need to worry about any jerkiness that you might have experienced at Big Thunder previously!
The ride is a great mix of fast pace and then slow before it picks up speed for the finale. After 30 to 45 seconds of rapid twisting and turning on the journey to the mine, the ride changes pace as you gently enter the dark tunnel. It’s here that guests get to see the Seven Dwarfs happily at work. Glistening jewels and special effects line the mine shaft as the dwarfs are brought to life with the help of advanced audio-animatronics that were developed by Disney.
Animations from the classic “Snow White” film were recreated using 3D computer graphics in order to give the dwarfs lifelike features. The detailed facial expressions are a delight while the singing of the famous working song gives guests the perfect ambiance to really get involved in the experience.
Guests then leave the mine shaft to head back to the dwarfs thatched cottage home. The roller coaster again pulls out the stops as you race there via another series of fast paced turns and drops before you eventually plummet to your end destination. It’s here you need to keep a close eye on the cottage as there is a surprise or two in store as you glance through the window to see Snow White dancing with a dwarf or two. And, be careful, because a nasty witch maybe lurking about as well!
The ride is sure to become a hit with park guests as soon as it opens and coupled with the inclusion of Disney’s new FastPass+ line skipping technology, visitors will hopefully be able to enjoy Disney’s newest ride without many long, hot lines.
More photos at www.FloridaLeisurePhotography.com
