Review: Is Stitch's Great Escape! For You?

Stitch's Great Escape! is an attraction in Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland that puts us, the guests, in the position of a new recruit guard with the Galactic Federation Prisoner Teleport Center. We, along with a room full of other recruits, will learn the "science" behind the new teleportation technology before being asked to assist with a mysterious Level 3 prisoner transfer. The prisoner, of course is Experiment 626, or Stitch. We then enter a rounded theatre, with the teleportation tube in the center. Harnesses, are lowered over each of our shoulders and, shortly thereafter, the lights in the room go out, as Stitch begins to wreak havoc in the chamber, eventually escaping. During his escape, he jumps on guests' harnesses, and we can feel them bounce up and down with his weight. Speakers on either side of the harness provide sounds of Stitch right up close to us, as well as teasing other guests. Stitch even spits at us, and we are sprayed by water from the seat in front of us.

Personally, I think that this is an extremely cute attraction. However, I haven't experienced Stitch's Great Escape! in years. Why? Well, for a long time, the 40" height requirement meant that only my son was tall enough to head into the attraction with me. And, after going on it once, he has opted to avoid it on future visits. The dark and the surprises are a little too much for him, even at 9 years-old (though he hasn't actually been on since he was 6 or so - so, you never know - I'll bring him back in on our next trip and update this post with his thoughts). I really didn't think much of his reaction but, recently, two of my Disney Families (families whose vacations I have helped to plan) have come back from Disney World, letting me know that they were not huge fans of the attraction either! Here's what one family had to say:

"I would absolutely not recommend the Stitch Ride. It was really weird and gross! I am so happy we did not waste a FastPass on it, but that was the only thing that did not seem to fit in with "Disney" at all. Both my kids [ages 4 and 5] were crying and I had to force myself out of my seat to rescue my daughter from hers when she got burped on and was about to throw up."

The other family that I spoke with about Stitch's Great Escape! reported an almost identical experience. Their children were 8- and 4-years-old. So, again, while I love the attraction, it may be something that you want to, at least, consider the type of rides and experiences that your kiddos enjoy before jumping into. It's definitely not all 'ohana and ukeleles.

Tweet