We visited the Magic Kingdom today to enjoy the nice weather and also play the latest addition to the parks; Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.
The game itself is not really new, it is a Disney spin on the role playing card games of your childhood but to see how Disney implemented this is always worth the effort.
You pick up your cards at the Fire House on Main St. U.S.A. There you will get basic instruction on how to play the game, a set of 5 character cards, a key card (to begin playing at each location) and a map of the lands used in the game. Using your cards to defeat the villains who are trying to take over the Magic Kingdom.
What you do not receive, however, is the finesse to the game. With all of the cards and varying strengths of the characters, what is the best way to approach playing the game? I am sure there are more than a few sites now dedicated to this game, but you would expect the castmembers to provide a bit more insight into playing this interactive scavenger hunt in the park.
Regardless, we ventured off to Adventureland with our map in hand and began our quest. Overall, it is very similar to the Kim Possible Adventure at Epcot; you follow some clues and wander around the park to defeat the bad guys. I am not sure why Disney did not use a digital interface with this game but resorted to cards since it gives it a very retro feel to playing. Implementing a game that used smart phones, iphones, ipods, etc. would have allowed a lot more interaction by the guest using an interface most people are extremely comfortable using today.
My two children had a little bit of fun with this but were not enthralled. The little one found it too difficult for her to defeat the bad guys while my older child thought it was ok but found more enjoyment in poking fun at the game.
My take on the game differs, however, since I am a dad and enjoy anything that I can do with my kids I had some fun with the game. On the other hand I was fairly appalled at the use of language in the game we followed today. During the battle at crescent (inside the construction area of the Sunshine Pavilion) Iago screams schmuck during a verbal interchange with Jafar. I was stunned at the language and honestly stuck around for someone else to play that version to make sure I was not hearing/seeing (the dialogue is subtitled) things. As you can tell from the photo below, I was not.
ADULT WORD ALERT
I grew up in and around New York and was accustomed to hearing Yiddish from friends, family and beyond. I am not a prude and am capable of making a Teamster blush with my command of the naughty words. However, hearing Iago call someone a schmuck is completely and utterly inappropriate for use in this Disney game. In case you are not aware, and obviously the Imagineer(s) who approved this script has no idea that schmuck is a pejorative that refers directly to a man’s penis; the equivalent of calling someone a dick, only worse considering the context. I would not expect to hear this type of language in a kids game in the Magic Kingdom and am not sure what other types of slang might have made it past the Disney word police. I hope they take the time to correct this script and make the language kid-safe with their revisions.
Wrapping it up
Other than the issues with language, the game is a fun diversion in the park. I can see it being a good way to spend some time while waiting for your FASTPASS ride time or in between the other attractions in the park.