Take a stand for these park hot spots
If theme-park stories had soundtracks, I would pick “Stand” by R.E.M. for this one. I’m borrowing this idea of “favorite places to stand” from a D23 session that included a roundup of panelists’ top places to be at Epcot.
While their answers trended toward the sentimental, the list in my head was geared toward peoplewatching or the extreme theme view. So now I have singled out fave locations in each of our seven theme parks and, for grins, a runner-up. It’s not a ride ranking. With apologies to Jerry Seinfeld, this is where to go to do, well, nothing.
I’d love to hear your personal selections and then check them out. I accept sitting as well as standing suggestions. Where shall we be to just … be?
At I like to sit on the stone-cold floor of the American Adventure and listen to the Voices of Liberty. Breaking: You can feel patriotic and not be standing. Runner-up: The back corner of Rose & Crown (but within earshot of Carol Stein on the piano).
At Magic the rocking-chair perches in front of Town Square Theater allow subtle observation of excited families as they enter the park — usually before meltdowns begin. Runner-up: The windowless, door-free stretch room of Haunted Mansion. At Disney’s Hollywood
benches along Sunset Boulevard are strong in the people-watching game, accompanied by distant screams from Tower of Terror. Runner-up: The outdoor part of the second level of PizzeRizzo restaurant, where you get a good look at a mix of attractions, including the under-construction Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which causes you to dream of future days. At Disney’s
you’ll find someone — usually a coasterphobe — to talk with at the bottom of the first hill of the Expedition Everest ride. Runner-up: Watching the tigers at the Maharajah Jungle Trek.
At I’m a fan of staying completely dry in the midst of underwater viewing. A prime example is Dolphin Cove. (Related: Moment of silence for the glory days of pearl divers of SeaWorld.) Runner-up: The porch behind the back of Fins Gifts and near the climactic loop of the Mako coaster, a blend of serene and scream.
At Universal stand under the fiery dragon atop the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts ride and watch folks try to get a good photo of it every 10 minutes. Runner-up: Chill on the New York street set’s stairs between the Transformers ride and the Blues Brothers show.
At the upper deck of Me Ship, the Olive gives an overview of all the lands plus a watercannon opportunity that aims at passing passengers on Popeye and Bluto’s Bilgerat Barges. Runner-up: The back patio of Three Broomsticks restaurant, so close to the hubbub of Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but so calm it’s as if you wore a cloak of invisibility.