Hi all,
Before I discuss Disney Quest, I need to let you know of a change in the way you will be posting comments. Because we have been getting a lot of junk email, we have had to implement a new procedure. After sharing your thoughts, there is one more box that needs to be completed before you press “Post.” At the moment, you need to write the word “blog” (without quotes) in this field (this word could change periodically). This will let the computer know that a real person is writing us and not some automated program that generates spam. If you don’t complete this field correctly, your comment will end up in a “junk” folder.
Thanks for your help and understanding.
Jack
Disney Quest is an indoor amusement park offering interactive games, cutting-edge technology, virtual reality, and 3D encounters. It opened at Downtown Disney on June 19, 1998 and was to be the first of many such venues to be built in major cities across the country. The idea was to bring Disney magic to people who couldn’t visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World on a regular basis.
The concept called for modular construction within each building so that new rides and attractions could be continually added and updated. In addition, having multiple locations would greatly reduce research, development, and construction costs as the same game(s) could be duplicated multiple times.
A second Disney Quest opened in Chicago a year later on June 6, 1999. However, attendance ebbed and flowed and never met expectations. The venue closed on September 4, 2001. Construction that had already begun on a Philadelphia branch was halted and plans for a Disneyland and Toronto location were abandoned. This next picture is an artist’s rendering of the Chicago location.
Original plans called for attractions and rides to be replaced or updated every two to three years, but when the multi-location concept died, so did this strategy. For the most part, the Florida Disney Quest is unchanged since opening day. A number of rumors have circulated indicating that this venue will close sometime soon. One announcement suggested that an ESPN Zone would take over this space. But at the moment, no firm plans have been made public.
Disney Quest is located at the Westside section of Downtown Disney, across the way from Cirque du Soleil. Tickets can be purchased at windows to the left of the main doors. Prices are $43.67 (Ages 10+), $37.28 (Ages 3-9), and children under 3 are free. This price entitles the user to unlimited use of all games and attractions. Children under 10 must be accompanied by someone 16 or older. No strollers are allowed inside.
Hours of operation are as follows:
Sunday – Thursday: 11:30am to 10:00pm
Friday – Saturday: 11:30am to 11:00pm
Disney Quest is housed in a five-story, windowless building. When you enter the rotunda on the ground floor, be sure to notice the columns topped with the heads of various Disney characters. And beneath a sky-painted dome is a stylized Mickey Mouse head surrounded by the immortal Mary Poppins word, SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS. Don’t forget to pick up a guide map in this area.
Past the turnstiles are two magic elevators or “Cybrolators” waiting to whisk you off to your adventure. During your ride, the Genie from Aladdin entertains you with a variety of antics. A short time later you will be deposited on the third floor Venture Port where the fun begins. Traditional elevators are available to carry you from floor to floor, but these are often slow. It’s much more expedient to take the stairs.
I have to admit, I’m not the best person to review Disney Quest. Video games and virtual reality never held much appeal for me. Ms. Pac-Man is the only game that ever retained my interest for more than a few minutes. But I appreciate Disney Quest and understand its appeal to those of you with better hand-eye coordination than myself. For this article I’m going to start on the top floor (5) and work my way down, giving you a brief highlight of some of the more compelling attractions and games.
Let’s start out with “Invasion! An ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter.” This attraction is based on the now-extinct Magic Kingdom attraction, ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. Here, four intrepid astronauts are seated inside a rescue vehicle with a mission to save human colonists. One player is the designated pilot and maneuvers the spacecraft while the other three shoot at hostile aliens. A 360 degree screen surrounds the team.
“Ride the Comix” is located on both the fifth and fourth floors and is one of the most visually compelling attractions for non-players. Here, four space craft jut out over an open expanse as if they were getting ready to blast off for a flight into deep space. In this game, teams of six are instructed by Mistress Khan on the subtleties of a laser sword and then sent off to do battle with super villains. Players wear virtual reality helmets and are a kick to watch as they swing their swords at seemingly invisible prey.
The main eatery for Disney Quest is also located on the fifth floor and is called Food Quest. Hot dogs, hamburgers, wraps, pizza, and salads are available. The hours are 12 noon to 9pm. A number of tables are available nearby. For many years, this venue was run by The Cheesecake Factory, however, when their contract expired they opted not to renew and Disney took over operation of this site.
On the fourth floor is “Sports Arena Arcade” where you compete with family and friends on sports-themed video games. Also on this floor are a number of games geared specifically for kids ages 2-7.
Wonderland Café, also on the fourth floor, is open from 2pm to 9pm and offers grab-and-go items, desserts, beverages, and snacks. Beer and wine can be purchased here as well.
On the third floor we find “Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam.” In this game, twelve players stand on movable platform joysticks and use their bodies to maneuver their ball (projected on an overhead screen) around a playing field. There’s a 48-inch height requirement for this attraction.
“Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters” is an updated version of the classic bumper cars attraction. In this game, two people team up. One person drives the vehicle while the other shoots asteroids (rubber balls) at the other cars. To gather more asteroids, the driver maneuvers the vehicle over the balls. This sucks them into the cabin where they can be loaded into a cannon and shot. When a vehicle is hit, it spins uncontrollably for several seconds before control can be regained. There’s a 51 inch height requirement for this attraction.
On the second floor is “Animation Academy.” At this attraction, guests sit at Mickey inspired desks complete with electronic drawing pads. A cast member directs you step by step and teaches you to draw a Disney character like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Winnie the Pooh. You’ll be surprised at how well you do when given the proper guidance. Session times are posted on a nearby board. This is a very popular attraction so arrive early. Animation Academy is similar to an attraction by the same name found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Also on the second floor is “Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride.” Wearing virtual reality helmets, guests fly through the alleys and streets of Agrabah on a magic carpet. During the flight they collect gems and search to find the magic lamp and save the Genie hidden in the Cave of Wonders.
One of the biggest draws at Disney Quest is “CyberSpace Mountain.” With the help of Bill Nye the Science Guy, guests design their own roller coaster with the aid of a touch-screen computer. Make it as tame or as exciting as you like. When you’re done, your design will be downloaded into a two-person motion simulator which has the ability to pitch, yaw, tilt, and spin. Climb aboard and experience your creation first hand. For those of you with queasy stomachs, pay heed. Depending on your design, you may go upside down several times. If you find that you really enjoyed your ride, a video can be purchased of your design complete with footage of you and your companion. Guests must be 51 inches to ride.
On the first floor is a great family adventure, “Virtual Jungle Cruise.” Guests sit in a rubber raft and use real paddles (with sensors) to maneuver their craft down a projected prehistoric river. Along the way they encounter a number of obstacles including a dinosaur or two. As the water rages, so does your raft, pitching this way and that. And to add a touch of realism, you just might get a splash of water in the face.
On every floor are dozens and dozens of classic video games like Asteroids, Tron, and Pac-Man. Group games, driving games, sports games and skill games are just waiting for you. And they’re all included in the price of admission. If the bad guy kills you off in the first thirty seconds of a game, just push the replay button and start all over again. No digging in your pocket for quarters. But try to be mindful of others waiting to play your machine.
Disney Quest is designed for the entire family. Even though I have not highlighted the “little kids” games, there are a number of activities for young children. But I’d be the first to admit, this venue is best suited for tweens to those in their mid-twenties. What I might suggest is to drop this age bracket off at Disney Quest, then mom and dad can go shopping and enjoy one of the fine restaurants at Downtown Disney.
To get a better idea of what Disney Quest is all about, check out my five and a half minute video.
Enjoy.
Hey, Jack – hope you are well.
Interesting to see the blog. Brought back memories working on the project.
You will be interested to see some of the projects our clients work on – building on the foundation DQ initiated.
Jack,
I have never been to the Disney Quest in Florida, but I do remember attending the Chicago one quite a few times while it was still open for its brief time! I remember there was a section where I made my own toy digitally and then you had the option to buy a real version of it, which I did! I still have it! It was themed to a Toy Story theme with Sid or something!
The roller coaster was by far my favorite. I remember attempting Aladdin, The pinball, and The Jungle Cruise with my family and getting hopelessly frustrated with every game. They were very difficult to play and get things to function properly! Then again, I was pretty young but still old enough to play normal video games properly. I remember it being quite busy and lines were always very long. I did not get to try many of the attractions though because You had to purchase a card with credits and it was expensive to keep adding on credits. Maybe this was the downfall of the Chicago location!
Great blog!
Excellent review on Disney Quest. I was a huge fan of this place when it first opened. The interactive R/C Jeep game on the bottom level was my favorite until they took it out. I grew up with Atari and Pac Man so this place was Arcade Heaven to me. I would go back more often if they gave it an update. Unfortunately, video games really show their age just like the attractions at DQ.
We went to DQ last year and were very disappointed. I am a big video games fan and love heading out to Dave and Busters when I can. So DQ sounded pretty cool – but didn’t end up being so. I found it dark and a little dingy (unusual for Disney) and the rides were a little out of date. My wife and I did enjoy the Pirates ride, and I only crashed once, but we then decided to head onto to the raft ride. BAAAAADDD choice – I actually lost my lunch from the rough ride. (I did manage to make it to a bathroom)I do suffer from motion sickness which is why I always have anti-nausea meds on me, but this was the only ride at WDW to bother me. Not even the Teacups got me! The next hour was spent wandering aimlessly around seeing if there was anything else we wanted to try, but most rides were out of commission or promised more of the upchuck experience with their poor ride mechanics. DQ is very much off our future trip itineraries – I’d rather ride the Teacups 7 times in a row.
I actually went to the Chicago location during the short time it was open. I was very young at the time, but based on my somewhat-vague memories it was exactly the same as the WDW location. I recall eating at the Cheesecake Factory Express, and riding Astroblasters and the Magic Carpet Ride. The admission model was different at the time: you paid a fixed admission rate, and then you got a card with a certain amount of money on it. At each attraction/game, you inserted the card and a certain amount of money was deducted. This is why I only recall two rides; my parents weren’t inclined to pay to reload the card. Really, I was too young for it, but I remember having a lot of fun. I do remember there being a line that wrapped around the building, so I’d imagine it was shortly after it opened.
Hi Jack – great blog! I last visited DQ in 2007, and was shocked by the number of people ‘hogging’ various machines. For example, I absolutely adore pinball machines, but couldn’t get on any of them due to people virtually setting up camp at a particular machine, and not letting anyone else anywhere near them! So unfair. I was also surprised by the lack of general arcade game machines, it looked like a lot of the pac-man type games had been taken out. Overall, a very disappointing visit, and one I won’t be quick to repeat – and I am an avid video game player, so it must have been bad for me to say that!
Hi Jack,
I always have fun reading your blogs and this is no exception. I wonder if you or other readers had the experience that we have had at Disney Quest? We have noticed many of the more popular games shut down for maintenance. Many things out of order. It has been a bit of a disappointment to us. Just wondering?
I’ve only been there twice but I had a good time. I think regardless of age, you’d have more fun if you aren’t by yourself. One of my trips was for a meet so I didn’t know anyone. I spent awhile talking to people & eating, then went off to play games for an hour or two. On a later trip I dragged my aunt with and we had a lot of fun competing against each other.
Definitely agree with others about the Cheesecake Factory food. It was great and the desserts were divine! The funny thing was that as much as things tend to be overpriced at WDW, a slice of plain cheesecake there cost $2 less than at the Cheesecake Factory closest to me!
Thank you Jack — Like you, this wouldn’t be the first thing I’d do at Walt Disney World — but the other member of my party, a soon-to-be 10-year-old boy, certainly is in that “target demographic.”
We haven’t been to Disney Quest on our previous visits, but I showed him your blog entry and believe me, we will be there on our next visit (assuming it is still in business next year).
Thanks again!
Love that you decided to cover DQ! When i was younger my best friends father took us there 4-5 times one summer. I remember a few changes, and some have been particularly disappointing:
– The food, when done by Cheesecake Factory, was fantastic. They did made-to-order pastas, burgers, etc. They also had the full display of cheesecakes on hand, which was a real delight. Since Disney took over at least one of the eateries was removed and the food quality/selection went down the tubes.
-The Wonderland Cafe area used to have little internet stations at the booths. You had to pay to use them. The real draw was that they were connected to a high speed network, when most home computers were still on dial-up.
-The remote controlled jeep game, that a few people have mentioned, was fun but eternally buggy. Some jeeps didnt work, and that blocked certain paths. Also, sometimes a jeep would turn over, and then it was also out of commission for the day.
-This wasn’t always a “one price fits all” location. Previously, you paid for entry and were given a rechargeable card. You paid for credits, which could then be used on the attractions and the video games. It could become a rather pricey day pretty quickly.
-Mixed in with the regular arcade games were some skill games. You would win tickets from these and could claim cheap, carnival style, prizes from a location near Animation Academy.
-The roller coaster ride didn’t always feature Bill Nye. Also, when i went a few years ago it seems to be tamer.
-Not sure if Sids Create-a-Toy is still around or not. There were computer screens where you could design a toy from an assortment of parts(doll parts, dinosaur parts, etc) and have it built for real for a price.
Im sure there’s more, but my ears are smoking from jogging my memory so much at one time.
Thanks for all the excellent articles!!!
PS – I would strongly doubt this location will become an ESPN Zone. ESPN has recently made a decision to exit the sports eatery business.
Jack! I can’t believe you didn’t go on Pirates of the Caribbean! That ride is worth the price of admission for families! You can take young children on there too… think Toy Story Mania standing up! As a matter of fact, since we had purchased the “Water Parks and more” option this last trip (which is just a few $ more than a 1 day admission) we went a few times in the afternoon to cool down. My son is now 6 years old and he would not have left if we didn’t force him too. He did love the Pirates ride the best probably. He played the “Jeep” video game with his Dad and did an entire 18 holes of mini-golf on the sports floor (think Wii mini golf). Really, for him to do an entire 18 holes, you know he loved the game. Please add a follow-up to this blog about Pirates. I am so glad we found it this trip, since Toy Story Mania was in re-furbishment.
Jack, I love all your blogs. I have never been to DisneyQuest but I may getting a Premium AP this year and would like to check it out. My question is since some of the games seem to have teams of 4-6 players, do they have a system of putting single people like myself with another group or do i have to find a group to go with
Jack’s Answer:
Being a single is not a problem. There will always be odd-sized groups that need an additional person to fill out the team. You might have to wait a rotation, but the cast member will make sure you get to ride.
Great to see some “Press” for DQ. I love DQ but I must admit I haven’t been able to make it over there that last few years I have visited WDW. I hear the little remote control Jeep game that was under the floor is gone and that was my all time favorite there:( I would still visit though even if that game is defunct. My second favorite would be “Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters”. I took my Aunt on it when I visited with her one year and I have never heard her laugh so hard. She was laughing so much she couldn’t keep control of the vehicle 🙂 It was a Blast (no pun intended 🙂
I am sorry to hear that the original plan of DQ being opened across the country didn’t work out. Dave and Busters opened in my home town a few years ago and they are always busy. It would have been interesting to see if DQ would have made it here first and what type of business they could have done.
As for the rumors of DQ closing I hope that does not happen. Particularly to open an ESPN. I agree with the post above. Seems like there is plenty of sport related stuff to do already and for those who are not all interested in sports it can be a little much at times.
I would suggest that if Disney wanted to bring more business to or refurb DQ the release of Tron Legacy would probably make for a great spring board to do so. Just a thought 🙂 Thanks again Jack for another great blog!
Rob
Disney Quest has always been a favorite of my son. Being a video gamer when he was younger, (and even now at 22 years of age), Disney Quest was heaven to him. On one of our trips to Disney my son was 15 years old and we felt comfortable leaving him alone for a few hours to play games. My husband and I then enjoyed a quiet stroll through the shops of Downtown Disney and just taking our time. AFter a quick 4 hours, we all met up for lunch. I would high recommend Disney Quest. We’ve actually gone as a family and tried some of the virtual reality adventures. Pretty cool!! Thanks again for a great blog.
Hello Jack
Another great blog, but I have to say i am not a Disney Quest lover. I always come out of there feeling like I’ve been through a full spin cycle on an industrial sized washing machine. The whole experience drains me.
When the kids ‘need’ to go to Disney Quest I send my husband in there with them and I disappear off to MK for a Dole Whip and a spot of people watching….
The first time we did DisneyQuest, we weren’t overly impressed. However, we’ve been a few times since and now set some proper time by on our trips to ensure we can get a few hours in at this location. Our favourite attractions are Cyberspace Mountain (although Sum of all Thrills in Epcot is far superior now) and the Pirates of the Caribbean interactive game where you shoot cannonballs at rival pirate ships.
To help answer Tim’s question – Disney Quest in Chicago was almost a carbon copy of DQ in Disney World. The only game I remember being different was the one with the little jeeps in the floor that you drove around to find treasure (closed now – and that was my favorite,) in Chicago it was a race car game.
The Chicago location was always either packed to the gills or a ghost town – and I always ended up being there when it was packed. We went to get our Disney fix while between vacations but it didn’t seem very well run and ended up not being as much fun as the one at WDW.
To me, Disney Quest was really a great idea in the beginning and I enjoyed going there. The last time we went there a few of the rides were down which makes a big difference in the crowds there so the lines were really long. We ended up not spending much time there. It’s honestly off of our list of things to do.
Jack’s Comment:
I had heard that part of the reason Disney closed this location was because of the fluctuation in crowds. When it was slow, they were losing money but when it was busy, they couldn’t adequately handle the crowds. Staffing was a nightmare.
Wow… Doesn’t look all that bad. Not as lame as I’ve gotten the impression it’s become. All these pictures look just like the images you see in Disney publications from the 90’s. Maybe I should try to see this before it closes for good.
hey Jack
great blog on disney quest. I have heard a lot of great stories about disney quest but have never had the time to venture inside. it seems like a great place to hang out and play some awesome video games and try out some virtual reality games. can’t wait for your next blog and as always, keep up the great work.
Did the Chicago location have a similar set of attractions/games? It’s hard to come by any pictures or information about DisneyQuest Chicago.
Jack’s Answer:
I really don’t know. But I have to assume they did because the idea was to create games and then duplicate them from venue to venue in order to keep the costs down.
Jack,
You forgot to mention the Pirates of the Caribbean virtual ride/game. I think that one is probably the best virtual reality games they have there. The graphics are starting to get a bit outdated…but the physics of the game are very good. Each game consists of 5 players on their own ship. One player is the Captain and steers the ship. The other players shoot cannons (6 of them stationed on both sides of the boat. So, once you start goin, you’ve got 4 people running from one side of the boat to the other trying to fire the cannons. It’s a blast!
Eric
Cool blog! But I could not find an answer to this question: If you purchase a Disneyquest one-day pass, can you leave Disneyquest and re-enter it within the same day without having to re-pay admission?
Jack’s Answer:
Good news! All of the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Quest allow you to reenter on the same day when purchasing a regular, one-day admission.
Over the years we’ve been to DisneyQuest many times, enjoying the games — I think we can now safely say we’ve played every one of them. Our last visit was just a few weeks ago and it was as crowded as ever.
I am dismayed that you report it might become an ESPN-centered venue. My family is not sports-oriented in the least and WDW already has an ESPN spot that we never go to. DisneyQuest could use updating, I’ll grant you that, but if it gets changed to sports…well, that’ll be one less place for us to spend our money — and one less attraction to pull us to that end of Downtown Disney. Right now, it’s the ONLY reason we hike to that end and you know we stop in the shops along the way (why is it, no matter how many times we visit, I can always find a fun magnet to get in the Magnetron — even when I have no intention of buying anything?).
Our favorite family activities inside DQ are the Pirate Adventure and CyberMountain. And of course, I need to play Space Invaders a few times every time we go… 🙂