1st Trip

[Jamfra]

Hubby and I, on a whim have decided on Friday to take a trip to Disney...surprise...we leave in 10 days!!!
I have our hotel booked...All Star Movies and a Character breakfast at Chef Mickey's.

This is our first trip to Disney and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. Where do I start??? Traveling with 2 children...ages...12 & 9.
We are there for 4 days...Saturday - Tuesday.
I know we will not be able to see everything but I dont want to miss the best of the best.
I have been told that it would be best to start at Magic Kingdom and tend to agree since it is the biggest and has the longest park hours that day....BUT...where do I go from there?

Now I know why it takes people months to plan this but if I had months to plan I would probably talk myself out of the trip.

Any advice would be wonderful.

Thanks

 

[Melann]

Welcome, and might I say how envious of you I am! I would love to be thinking of going to Disney in 10 days instead of taking midterms and writing papers!

Well...you have a lot to start thinking about. You will enjoy Chef Mickey's...my boyfriend and I (early 20s) did this and we had a blast! I'm not sure of what type of pass you have, but here is a list of some of the best attractions (in my opinion) at WDW...and, I am sure others will add!

MK
-Don't miss Wishes! It's great, and if SpectroMagic is showing, i would try and catch that
-The Mountains (Space, Splash, Big Thunder) are good
-Mickey's Philharmagic
-It's a Small World (my most fav classic ride)
-Share a Dream Come True Parade

Animal Kingdom
-UNBELIEVABLE...this park is amazing!
-Kilimanjor Sarfaris
-Kali River Rapids
-It's Tough to be a bug
-Dinosaur

MGM
-Tower of Terror
-Rock and Roller Coaster

Epcot
-Mission Space
-Test Track
-Illuminations (fireworks at night)

Try to use Fastpass...fastpass is a way to avoid lines at WDW...you stick your resort key in the fastpass machine, and will get back a small ticket with a hour window you can return back. You will need a ticket for everyone in your party...when it is your time to come back, you can get through the Fastpass line with little to no wait! I think you also have to wait a hour before you get another one!

These are just a small sampling...with four days, you will be limited, but I am sure you will enjoy every minute of your vacation

You may want to check out allearsnet.com for more tips! Good luck, have fun!

 

[AZKathy]

[color=FF0000]Welcome to the DIS!!!!!!![/color]

Wow! Your first trip to WDW and only have 10 days to get ready! I am impressed! You are a quick learner!<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/3/3_3_6.gif' border=0></a>

You have chosen a good breakfast. When is that day? Is it the day you do MK? It is right by MK and would be easier to just hop on the monorail and do MK after breakfast. I assume that is how you planned that.

You may want to do plan Donald's Breakfastasaurus the morning at AK. It is also a good character meal. You could make the PS before the park opens, and then you will be right in the park after breakfast. We usually try to get it as early as we can and then head over to do Dinosaur right after breakfast. You sometimes can get AK done in a half day, but it depends on how many shows you want to see there. Include Festival of the Lion King, for sure. I also love Tarzan Rocks! You could head over to one of the resorts for dinner after AK since it closes early. Good ones are Bomas, O'Hana's and Whispering Canyon. You then could check out some of the other resorts on the WDW property.

Try to see Wishes, Fantasmic, and Illuminations at the end of your days at MK, Studios, and Epcot. They are incredible.

Take advantage of fast pass when lines are long. Get to the parks early and you should be able to see a lot. Find out from your kids what rides they really want to do and work that in. Those age kids will really like Innoventions at Epcot. If you could work in an evening like when you arrive or before you go in the day for your kids to experience Disney Quest? It is a lot for the short time you are going, but just an idea.

Have fun with you short planning. Heck, I am usually packed at 10 days prior, not just making reservations! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_216.gif' border=0></a>

 

[poohtown]

we recently returned from our 1st trip too. We got pretty run down by my rushing to see everything (i'm a speed walker and keep forgetting about my kids little legs and my hubbys tired ones - lol). Anyways I found when i finally slowed down and just took it easy, I enjoyed myself alot more. Granted you'll rush a little but try to let everyone relax and take it in.

Our faves -

AK - liked the Rapids but wished it was longer. Loved the Bugs Life show but it scared my 8 year old. Talking trashcan. Camp Mickey and Minnie to meet characters. The live tree walking around.

Epcot - spent the longest day there. So much to see in the worlds. 8yr. old loved stopping to add a little color to her mask at each world. Test track, living seas, imaginum statue, meeting Belle!!!!, the food!!!!, all the different street entertainers - esp. the chinese acrobats, illuminations, Honey I shrunk the audience

MGM -Rock n Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Muppets, more Character greetings, FANTASMIC - the best show in our opinion

MK - it's a small world so cute, teacups, the mountains, minnie and mickeys houses - cool, tomorrowland, buzz lightyear space rangers spin, more characters, parade, Queen of Hearts - my fave.

 

[meeko_33785]

Here's just a few of my sugestions of what you may want to see in the parks.

MK: Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, Space Mounatain, Buzz Lightyear, Mad Tea Party, SpectroMagic


EPCOT: Mission: SPACE, Test Track, American Adventure, Maelstrom, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Street entertainment at World Showcase, Illuminations

MGM: Tower of Terror, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, MuppetVision, Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Stars and Motor Cars Parade, Fantasmic

AK: Kilimanjaro Safaris, DINOSAUR, Festival of the Lion King, Tarzan Rocks, Maharajah Jungle Treck, Pangani Forest, Primevial Whirl, Jammin Jungle Parade

Also, definatly spend some time meeting the characters. It can be a lot of fun. You should be able to find some info about locations and such in the website in my signiture if you are looking for specific favorites.