I look at an E-ticket as the shining example of Disney quality. It has great storytelling, a large sense of scale, is immersive. The rafts count, not because of the rafts themselves, but because they unlock TSI, a fully-immersive faux wilderness filled with explorable caverns, interactive elements, and tons of character.
It might actually be perfect for that mix - enough thrill for kids that young, but not overly intense. I'd put it a little above mine train b/c of the height and a couple of the turns, but definatley below the intensity level of big thunder.
Better than Big Thunder, Space Mountain, and Matterhorn? I'd agree that it's better than Goofy's Sky School and Barnstormer/Go-Coaster.
Quality of presentation. Slinky is the thematic equivalent of Dumbo. Its cute and fun and has the Disney charm to it, but it doesn't feel "real" or immersive. I'm not sucked into the story or world in the same way I am when exploring caverns, shooting at enemies via lookouts, seeing a "real" fort, balancing on giant rocks that move, and experiencing a "real" wilderness. The only really immersive thing about Slinky is Wheezy, which is cool but very minor to the attraction experience. Enchanted Tales with Belle is far closer to an E-ticket than Slinky for me.
My 8 yr old grandson favorite ride is Slinky Dog--he usually gets us to take him at least 2 times every trip to WDW.
Mine Train’s wait times after a decade continue to defy explanation. It’s a fun ride but I’m not waiting 90 min for it. Last trip we snuck on during the fireworks and were rewarded with a deer who looked like he had just had a stroke.
For Peter Pan, it's 100% a capacity issue. It's, what, 700-800 per hour? I think Seven Dwarves and Big Thunder, on the other hand, both sit in the 1300-1500 range, but Seven Dwarves inexplicably almost always has a significantly longer line.
I don’t know if it’s even possible, but I’d be in favor of a refresh of Pan with Shanghai’s ride vehicles. Might help with capacity.
Would you consider Big Thunder to be a thrilling coaster equal to Six Flags and Cedar Point coasters? Or even Rip Ride Rockit? I think you're thinking of Kiddie Coasters.
Its the way it sells itself to guests. It looks like Big Thunder in scope and the swinging gondolas seem like they would be an added thrill. But then you ride it and find its really bland. It has a decent start and the ending is cute, making it appear to be a fuller attraction than it is. It is a coaster that grandma can take the little kids on and it feels like a real ride to them.
I honestly think it's probably also placement. It's basically the only outwardly kinetic ride in Fantasyland aside from the carousel and teacups (discounting Storybook), so the untrained guest sees it straight away and lines up for it as soon as they spill through the castle.