Absolute must dos?

[firstfamilytrip]

We will be leaving for our first WDW trip in 18 days. What are things we have to do? Our kids are boys 6 and 8. They're not interested in princesses at all. To them Disney means movies and the Disney Channel. My 8 yr. old is expecting to see Zach and Cody walking around! Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[daisyduck123]

My DS9 (turned 9 this week) loves the Buzz Lightyear ride in MK!!
Be sure to do that. We have some friends who returned recently & they never got to try that ride!!

We spent 9 days in WDW last May & went to AK just once.
It was during our last day that DS mentioned that AK was his favorite park.
I asked, "Why did you wait until our last day to tell me that? We would've gone there more."

He also loves character meals...esp. Chef Mickey's!!

 

[DisneyMama27]

My DS9 loves the roller coasters and the parks, but his favorite is DisneyQuest. I would definitely add that to your plans if your boys like videogames at all! And the Lego store is a must-do for him as well. We plan on lots of time in the pools and water parks as well.

His faves at the parks? Everest, Kali Rapids, and Primeval Whirl at AK;
The 3 mountains at MK, Buzz Lightyear, Pirates and Haunted Mansion. Star Wars, Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller at MGM (also the animation tour). Test Track and Mission Space at Epcot. And weirdly, he loves the imagination ride at EPCOT - it's cute but corny, and the wait is always short. I think he rode it 5 times in Jan!

DaisyDuck, when are you going to be at SSR for Christmas? We'll be there too - Dec. 22-28! Can't wait! Maybe we'll see you!

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[Perditamarie]

You are going to have a fantastic trip! Here are some little things that our family enjoys and really enhances a great trip:

1. Ride photos are fun -- you can get souvenir photos at Splash Mountain (MK), Test Track (Epcot), Buzz Lightyear (MK), Tower of Terror (MGM)....I know there is more

2. Are your boys collectors? They may enjoy collecting autographs, pressed pennies or pins (can also trade pins w/castmembers)

3. Get a family photo in front of the castle at Magic Kingdom. Use photopass for this as well as ride photos and pics w/characters.

4. Do a soda taste test at Club Cool in Epcot...sodas from around the world and very refreshing as you are passing by.

5. Look for DeVine at AK...a castmember in disguise as a vine, hanging around between Africa and Asia.

6. Do some target practice at the shooting range in Frontierland.

7. Look for hidden mickeys where ever you are...never know when you will find one.

8. Also fun, lots of swimming, water parks and Legos at DTD

 

[Samantha'sDad]

Another favorite is watching the animals with cool night vision goggles at the Animal Kingdom Lodge at aroung 8pm-10 or so.

PLEASE tell me more about the night vision goggles. Are they available at the lodge for rental, or do you bring them yourself?
Thanks

My DS9 is a boys boy too in stark contrast to his girlie girl sister. I've been going so long that I have both kids likes & dislikes memorized.

He only loves Chef Mickeys as far as the character meals are concerned.

For rides he likes all the coasters, of course.

Here is the stuff he actually looks for at WDW:
EPCOT: Test Track & Soarin, Maelstrom and the Acrobats show in China
MGM: Rockin Roller Coaster, Great Movie ride, Indiana Jones, Star Tours, Lights Motors Action Stunt Show and Fantasmic at night
Animal Kingdom: Bugs Life, Expedition Everest, Safari, Kali Rapids,Dinosaur
Magic Kingdom: everything in Adventureland, Frontierland:Big Thunder Mountain & SPlash Mountain, Haunted Mansion,Fantasylandhilharmagic, Peter Pan, Toontown, will tolerate Barnstormer coaster for his 8yr old sister,Tomorrowland: Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, SPace Mountain, Indy Speedway, Tomorrowland Transit Authority is a nice place to rest and see the park all lit up at night. Fireworks at night

Not really a ride but DS especially loves a ride up front on a monorail. Just ask the CM if you can get to the front and even if it takes a few passes to get onto a free train the kids will LOVE it.

DS really likes to fish at the Port Orleans Riverside's Fishing hole.

Another favorite is watching the animals with cool night vision goggles at the Animal Kingdom Lodge at aroung 8pm-10 or so.

Have a Magical time

 

[tiki23]

It's so fun to go to Disney when kids are the age of yours! Our trip when the kids were those ages was to Disneyland and we found that any ride or show that had something to do with favorite movie characters was a big hit.

Space Mountain was a huge mistake, so unless your guys are thrillseekers, I'd leave that Mountain until last. Ours all loved Star Tours, but while the oldest and youngest loved HISTA, it sent our middle son into histerics.

Surprisingly, one of the things that our kids really liked at that age was the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (now replaced with Tarzan's at DL). They went up and down 3 different times. I think it gave them some time to decompress from the sensory overload!

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[adhelove]

the classics! @mk theres haunted mansion, big thunder, splash mtn, spacemtn, that kind of stuff, you can always go 2 the info desk @ your hotel or @ the park u can also buy GOING2 WDW W/KIDS most bookstores have it its published by barnabum it has listings of must sees 4 all age groups @ every park! it is an awesome investment.