Action?  What action?  My friends, tomorrow, the 2018 (yes, I know it is still 2017) All in WDW Readers’ Favorite Attractions “Series” kicks off!

We’re getting a head start on the New Year, folks!  Leading off?  Sticking with tradition, Disney’s Animal Kingdom steps up to the plate to test your opinions first.

Yes, indeed, led by former champions – Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris – and joined by upstarts – Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey – the competition will begin!

Will Pandora knock off our perennial favorites?  You’ll decide that when you elect the 2018 All in WDW Readers’ Favorite Animal Kingdom Attraction!  Join us tomorrow and VOTE!

Until then, let’s clean up some earlier business, eh?  Did you listen to our “kick off” podcast?  No?  Then, by all means, catch it at …

Episode 417 – Animal Kingdom Favorite Attractions Poll!

Fun times, if I do have to say so myself.  Hey!  John Peters and I got Doug Davis to rant about the same topic three separate times in the same show!  And, you know, “ranting means ratings”.

Anyway, Doug has himself convinced that Expedition Everest is the absolute worst coaster in The World.  Hmm.  Well, John and I disagree, that’s for sure.  Do you?  The votes spoke loud and clear!

Which of these three options is the best roller coaster?  Find the article at … An Epic Roller Coaster Showdown!

• Expedition Everest – 62%
• Big Thunder – 28%
• Seven Dwarfs – 10%

Yes.  I did omit Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.  Frankly, I felt it came up in our conversation as a side-comment.  Would its inclusion have changed the results?  Nope.

A few days ago, I floated an unsubstantiated rumor or speculation … will Space Mountain get demolished within five years of the TRON coaster opening?

After all, why do we need two indoor sci-fi roller coasters directly adjacent to each other?  Find the full article at … UNSUBSTANTIATED Rumor Reaction: Space Mountain!

What was your verdict?  First, over 80% of you “screamed” that this rumor best be false!  Not a big surprise, at all, I’d say.  What did some of you have to say, though?

“Iconic” seemed to be the word of the day.  However, I was interested to hear this … “Space Mountain is at every park but Shanghai.  It’s a Disney Parks institution … not to be said that those can’t close.

What I would not be surprised at is if Space Mountain closed after the 50th, maybe in 2023, and a complete refurb was done to bring it more in line with the other Space Mountains.”

And, “I don’t think that it will be eliminated as it’s pretty iconic.  That being said, TRON being opened would definitely allow for a long-term refurbishment and/or rebranding without worries regarding attendance.

But, as far as a total destruction?  No.  There’s no chance Disney would do this without having something impossibly amazing to take its place.  Even then, they’d have to deal with a ton of fans that were furious about it.”

Finally, “Personally, I’m not a fan of Space Mountain, so I’d be thrilled at a rebranding.  But, I’d put even that at less than 25% … particularly since there’s been such a massive outcry over a relatively minor change to Pirates.

Disney isn’t stupid.  They realize that Universal is gaining marketshare and that every little bit of bad press or attendee outrage is worth avoiding in the near future.”

What do you think, everyone?  Do those comments sum it all up?  I’d say that they do.  Myself, I can see a massive rebuild on Space’s horizon.  I do not see a full destruction.