FROM: Disney Tale of the Tape Published Every Other Saturday

Magic Carpets of Aladdin vs TriceraTop Spin

We've seen nimble Aladdin float like a butterfly in the ring before, but can even his stings stop the pure power, the lumbering charge of his opponent today, TriceraTop, a grizzled, ornery, cold-blooded fighter from the very dawn of boxing time.

- by Dan Sisneros, June 18, 2011

It's Flying Carpets vs Dinosaurs in this high flying 5 round battle!

Let's look at the Tale of the Tape:

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is the undisputed champion of this division, but these two contenders square off in a title eliminator!

ROUND 1: The Queue Area

There is nothing interactive about either waiting areas. Magic Carpets of Aladdin (MCA) features no high-tech gimmickry, though its queue is nicely themed with Arabian architecture.

The TriceraTop Spin's (TS) queue area feels more like a cattle pen, not much to see while waiting your turn.

Neither ride is heavy on the queuing points, but the edge in round 1 goes to the Magic Carpets of Aladdin 10-9.

ROUND 2: Location

Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama in Dinoland USA at the Animal Kingdom has struggled mightly for respect. Often termed a 'cheap imitation of a carnival midway', it's colorful, but Disney fans tend to have a dim view of its charms - though this judge has yet to find a carnival midway as enjoyable as Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama. Primeval Whirl is within extinction distance from TriceraTop Spin, and DINOSAUR isn't that far off, but you can't see it from aboard the Spin. What you can see are the tops of trees as you spin past.

MCA is located on prime Disney real estate, smack-dab in the middle of Adventureland, and just steps away from classic attractions like the Jungle Cruise and the Enchanted Tiki Room. Pirates of the Caribbean is across the plaza. The adrenalin rush of these attractions alone would send your endorphins soarin'. Aboard the carpets, you're able to see the Arabian Marketplace from above crowd level.

A left hand body shot sends TS to the canvas. The spiky slugger, though stunned, rises at the seven count, forced to cover up and survive the round. The bell rings and MCA bags a big 10-8 on my scorecard.

ROUND 3: Ride Vehicles

MCA's flying carpet vehicles feel more open and provide more of a thrill, since it seems there's not much of a wall between you and the edge of the vehicle. They are beautiful contraptions painted with rich, bright colors. Tassels hang off the back of each carpet.

TS's three horned dinosaurs seem a bit more secure, but you as if you're sitting inside the vehicle rather than in the open air. The vehicles do have a cute factor, with outstretched legs and little tails welded aloft in the air.

While the detail of the MCA vehicles is more intricate, that can't overcome the TS cute factor: kids want to run up and pet those little dinosaurs.

A solid round 3 for TS, earning its first 10 point round of the match and scoring 10-9.

ROUND 4: The Ride

You would think that both rides are so similar in design that there wouldn't be a winner in round 4. But each ride does have a slightly different - and definitely subjective - 'feel'.

Both rides have joystick controls in the front and back compartments. The front riders control how high the vehicles soar, and the rear riders control the pitch (or how much the vehicle tilts forward or backward). Both rides last for about 90 seconds. What makes them different is the ride vehicle itself: with MCA, you feel as if you're suspended in mid-air; with TS, you feel as if you're in a compartment suspended in mid-air. The carpets provide the more thrilling ride.

The theming of TS is a bit strange. Is it supposed to be a giant toy spinning top? A dinosaur circus act? I guess it can be whatever you want it to be. And since it's aimed at the younger children, their imaginations are the limit! That means FUN! The Country Bear Jamboree style soundtrack makes the ride an upbeat experience.

MCA has more recognizable theming, since it's inspired by and based on the animated movie starring its namesake, and there is also the spitting camel who'll try to hit you with a stream of water as fly by The soundtrack is appropriate, too.

Round 4 was close, too close. Both contenders landed solid punches and showed great footwork and defense. There's no way around it: I've got to make this a 10-10 even round.

ROUND 5: Intangibles

When it comes to attraction intangibles, my first criterion is how my grand-daughter reacts to the ride. Though only 15 months old, she was able to ride both the carpets and the dinosaurs during our last to Disney World, and she enjoyed both.

Location is a big edge for MCA, and the ride vehicle is an edge for TS. The one thing that I remember from riding them both was the smiles on the kids (and adults) as they rode past - and it seemed to me that there were more smiles on the faces of people aboard TriceraTop Spin. I don't know why; maybe because the wait times were shorter? maybe because the music was upbeat? maybe because dinosaurs are cute? Ride vehicles with eyes are always cuter than those without.

Whatever the reason, TS finished with a flurry and pulled out round 5 with a score of 10-9.

JUDGES' FINAL SCORECARD

As the final bell sounds, the two contestants congratulate each other and are lifted into the air on the shoulders of their corner-men. Hands raised, beating their chests, they both feel they pulled out the win.

We now go to the DisneyDispatch Arena ring announcer - the classy Bob McLain.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, let's give these two a round of applause for a great battle! The judges scoring is as follows...

• "Judge Werline Dervish scores the bout: 48-48 - a draw!
• "But she's over-ruled by Judges Anita Notheride, who scores the bout 48-46, Carpets!
• "And Dan Sisneros scores the bout 48-47, making the winner by majority decision:

"THE MAGIC CARPETS OF ALADDIN!"

The knockdown scored by MCA in round 2 made the difference. Rumors are already swirling around ringside about a possible title shot in the future against current champion Dumbo.

And as we cut to black, the camera picks up Astro Orbiter in the front row...

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