Best First Ride?

[ENJDisneyFan]

PP is always our first ride, but since that's not an option I would either go with Haunted Mansion or POTC, my second and third favorite of the classics

 

[rteetz]

I’d go with Big Thunder but that’s because it’s my favorite MK ride. You can’t really go wrong with any coaster or dark ride at MK.

 

[puffkin]

For a first timers first ride ever, I'd go with a classic Disney ride first. Small World, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, or Peter Pan (I know in this case it isn't an option). I'd try to hit a few of those and take time to just "smell the roses" for a first visit. I'd Fast Pass Space Mountain, Splash and one of the above. You should be able to get most of that done in a half day and really get the true essence of "Disney". I wouldn't jump right in with the big rides, depending on their appreciation of nostalgia, they may not "get" the classic Disney rides. Not a popular opinion, but unless you can get a FP, I wouldn't bother with SDMT on a first half day visit.

I would have a very different answer for a first ride of the trip if it wasn't a newbie.

Both my first ride ever and my husbands was Small World.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Once the kids got a bit older we have always gone straight to Splash. This past trip our FP+ wasn't ready yet so we heading to Pirates on the way. It was a nice first ride.

 

[kay1864]

My 0.02:

Splash Mountain: this is actually a pretty boring first ride. Thrilling at the end, yes, but not a great first ride throughout
Big Thunder: Excellent choice. But the queue isn't so great.
Pirates: Pretty good, but not that thrilling as a first ride.
Haunted Mansion: Almost has too much stimuli for a first ride. Best appreciated the 2nd, 3rd, etc times
Space Mountain: Best choice IMHO. Loads fast at rope drop (everyone is off to 7DMT), and has a great queue. Thrilling throughout, and interesting queue.

But first...why only half a day? Are you arriving late in the day?

 

[a742246]

My choice for a not to miss MK experience for first timers:

Night time fireworks show.
Afternoon parade.
Time on Main Street, USA.

Fast passes for a January trip:
Thunder mountain,
Mine Train,
Pirates.

Splash Mountain (but you will get wet).

Rides in late January where a fast pass may not be needed (for weekdays).
Jungle Cruise at night.
Space Mountain.
Haunted Mansion.
It's a small world.


Much needed rest attactions:
Train ride around WDW (takes about 17 minutes round trip)
People mover (8-10 minutes)
It's a small world (10 minutes)

 

[Truxi]

Thanks everyone! Lots of great suggestions. I'll put them to BFF and see what he says (I swear, I'm going to MAKE him actually offer some opinions beyond "Tusker House sounds nice" for this trip)

Splash Mountain I'd worry about because I don't want to spend the day with wet socks, especially if it's cold. I think Pirates really might be the way to go. And maybe our first day we don't have to be too concerned with rushing for the rope drop, so something where the queue doesn't get too long at first will be a good first ride that'll let us meander over there giving him a chance to Take It All In.

But first...why only half a day? Are you arriving late in the day?

Nah, we're getting there first thing, but we're going to HWS later in the day for 50's Prime Time. We'll have a full day at MK mid-week and we'll spend the morning/early afternoon of our last day there as well (Crystal Palace breakfast ADR ftw!), so I think we'll manage to get it all in and then some. I just really want to make the first time super special because my poor buddy made it all the way to 35 without ever going to Disney despite being the Biggest Kid who loves so much of this stuff. (Like, our first day, we're Disneybounding as Darkwing and Negaduck because why not.

 

[saraheliz]

We start in Fantasyland. The ride will vary but always Fantasyland.

 

[Ds4angels]

I'd head over to Pirates, Jungle Cruise and then hit Swiss Family Ronbinson Tree House, because the view is awesome, over to BTMRR and the FP Splash for right before you leave to head over to HS (maybe drop by the room real quick to change if needed?)

 

[Wish Upon A Starbucks]

How about meeting Mickey Mouse first?

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

If MK is our first park, the first ride is Haunted Mansion because on our first trip, we hadn't planned the first evening and that's the ride we wandered to lol and now it's become a tradition. If EP is our first park, the first ride is Figment. We've never gone to HS or AK as our first evening park. This upcoming trip in February, we are going to HS and Star Tours is going to be the first. We try to do fun, but not terribly long wait rides (even if we have a FP). This way if our flight/travel is delayed, we can easily do those rides later. We don't want to schedule a FP for Mine Train, Flight of Passage, or Slinky Dog and then miss that FP window due to late arrival... the thinking being that a delay stinks enough. A delay plus missing our FP for flight of passage is a complete bummer.

 

[kay1864]

I think Pirates really might be the way to go. And maybe our first day we don't have to be too concerned with rushing for the rope drop, so something where the queue doesn't get too long at first will be a good first ride that'll let us meander over there giving him a chance to Take It All In

Pirates is a pretty good first choice--immersive theming and great special effects. But if you want more thrills to start your day (plus great theming), I'd go with Space Mountain.

Can't go wrong with either one, so it's more what you and your friend like.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I would choose Pirates, Haunted Mansion or Space Mountain.

I agree with you, OP. I would not do Splash Mountain first - if your 60 day is coming up it could be chilly outside - plus I wouldn’t want first timers to get soaked before experiencing all the other rides.

 

[Wish Upon A Starbucks]

I would choose Pirates, Haunted Mansion or Space Mountain.

I agree with you, OP. I would not do Splash Mountain first - if your 60 day is coming up it could be chilly outside - plus I wouldn’t want first timers to get soaked before experiencing all the other rides.

I agree with this but we’ve also gotten fairly wet on pirates a few times. Not soaked but wet enough.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

On Pirates I either had water splash on my shoes/socks...........or my seat was already wet and I had to sit down on it.
Oh, and the cannon ball splash has sprayed me a few times too!