Don't misses and don't bothers

[RobInBigKC]

Don't Bother:[/B]
MGM: Sounds Dangerous

I am SOOOOOOOO GLAAAAAAAD someone finally mentioned this. Last month, we walked right into this attraction with no wait whatsoever, got to ride and see everything we wanted to see in MGM and still thought this "attraction" (and that word is used loosely in this case) was a total waste of time. Even if you're a huge Drew Carey fan, do yourself a favor and skip this show.

As Cannot_Wait4_Disney said, many things that we've seen 4, 5, 6, 7 times are now not as much fun to us as they used to be but I would not discourage a first timer from seeing them -- most things at Disney are worth doing once, that being said, my recommendations for first-timers are listed below...

Must Do's:
MK: Haunted Mansion
EP: Soarin'
MGM: Muppets 3-D (my four DS's don't really know the Muppets either but they enjoy this show) for a show, Rock n' Roller Coaster for a ride
AK: Expedition Everest

Should Skip:
MK: Stitch's Great Escape
EP: most of the World Showcase -- I love it but most kids find it boring. In World Showcase, see Mexico, Norway, take a boat from Showcase Plaza across the World Showcase Lagoon, see the American Adventure, and take the boat back across the World Showcase Lagoon to Showcase Plaza.
MGM: Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey (see my opening comment in this thread)
AK: Beauty and the Beast

-- Rob

 

[goofy's friends]

I think our first trip was commando style, so we got to see most everything we wanted to see and a couple we could have done without--
Don't miss :
MK-Mickey's Philharmagic (all other 3Ds pale in comparison)
AK- Festival of the Lion King (best show in WDW)
Epcot-World Showcase(love the cultural experience), Soarin'
MGM-RnR (best roller coaster in WDW)

Don't Bother:
MK-Hall of Pres. (boring to most kids--at least mine)
AK-Rafiki's (takes way too much time and can go to petting zoos anywhere)
Epcot- Films in the World Showcase (too much--get your culture by wandering the nooks and crannies and going to the resteraunts)
MGM-our least favorite park for kids as most is dated before their time, so I wouldn't bother with Playhouse (your kids are probably too old) and Backlot tour is boring, and Great Movie Ride and Indiana Jones are prob. a lot of unknown movies for them although your boys may enjoy the action.
Have fun and do what interests your family because everyone is different

 

[solstice621]

I won't repeat what's already been posted, as I agree with most of the "must-do's" and "skips", but I noticed that nobody mentioned "It's a Small World". It's a classic, and even though it's probably the most mild ride there is, a trip to WDW wouldn't be the same without doing it (at least for us).

Have fun!

 

[denanbob]

Thanks to EVERYONE for the great responses/insight. This gives me a great "start" to plan our itinerary. We will be there from 5/6-5/13 but we'd like a day for DQ and TL (maybe the same day). The 6th we won't get checked in until 4:30 - 5:00 so we have 6 FULL days at the parks since we leave early on the 13th. I've alloted 1/2 day for AK, 1 day for MK (broken up into two 1/2 days) and 1.5 days for EP (1 full, one 1/2) and MGM (three 1/2 days which I think my kids will enjoy most). I think my daughter will like MK, but I think she'll prefer the rides at the other parks (she's a definite daredevil). I may give one of the 1/2 days at MGM back to MK but we'll wait and see what everyone prefers! Thanks again! This board is
G-R-E-A-T

 

[PlutosFriend]

How exciting! I LOVE WDW and love to hear about people going especially for the first time. This may be tough for me, the don't bother part, but here it goes:
(By the way, fireworks at each park are unspoken don't miss...I can't believe the number of people I talk to who went to WDW and didn't see ANY fireworks...Illuminations and WISHES are must see's...and Fantasmic)
MK: Don't miss Haunted Mansion
Don't bother Snow White's Scary Adventure

LOL I agree with your "don't" here! Thanks for reminding me not to go on that this year

 

[AStamm]

The only attraction I will NEVER visit again is Sounds Dangerous at MGM. What a waste of time!

 

[fitzperry]

The other thing that might make the World Showcase more fun for your older kids is an Epcot Passport. They sell them in most every WS store. They have a page for each country and a stamp I think. Much like the character autograph books they have room for a cast member from that country to sign the passport. The kids could ask a native CM in each country to sign "hello" or "have fun" or whatever in their native language.

My niece will be seven when we go next and I'm going to get one for her this time.

I agree with the others that the WS is very fun and has something for everyone. Make sure you get a time schedule and try to make a couple of the side shows like the Chinese acrobats or the balancing act in France.

Have fun!!

Thanks for the tips! Our last trip was in Oct. when our dd's were 6 and 2.5. We went to Epcot on our first day, so we didn't get there until about 3 p.m. Then we went back one morning to ride Soarin' a couple of times and didn't do much else. I've always loved WS, and I'm glad to have some ideas to make it more interesting for the girls on our next trip, which unfortunately won't be until 2007 unless I can convince dh that a Thanksgiving trip is in order.

 

[jenndisney]

It is your first trip, so try to catch anything that is of interest to atleast one person in your group. Have an open mind. Go and experience the Disney Magic in all the rides. (yes it is there in them all)

I am going to list a few of our do not misses for each park, (I do not want to list our dislikes because I do not want to force my opinion---after your trip, we can compair notes)

MK--TTA, Carrousel of Progress, The mountains, POC and Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, and then just about everything else.

MGM--We love Muppets 3D and Star Tours. DD loves RR and TOT. For a great place to cool off we like The Great Movie Ride.

AK--(we usually only spend 1/2 day here) Dinosaur and Safari Ride.

EPCOT--(our favorite park) Spaceshipearth, Test Track, Soarin are our Favorites in that part. World Showcase--Do not miss looking down all the "streets" of each country. There is so much to see. The live shows in the countries are great so get a schedule and try to see them if you can. Do not miss the candy maker in Japan. She is the best! Young and old love her. Our last trip, we did some of the wine tasting. Must do for any wine lovers.

Have a great trip! Report back what your favorites were.

 

[martinp13]

As a first timer, I would advise you to try most everything you can once. Don't miss a thing unless you are pressed for time.
Some of the things people said stank really don't stink the first time. After about 4 or 5 they do yes. But not the first.

My thoughts exactly. Something obvious like Dumbo/Aladdin/AK-version, where it's exactly the same ride: do one and skip the others. But who's to say if your family will enjoy things like another family? We're all different. Maybe you'll love Stitch (ok, maybe not). I haven't seen it either, but I'm going to make time in June.

I would advise to do all you can this trip, and note what you liked and what you didn't. Then you have a better idea for the next trip of what YOUR family enjoys.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Do it all, do not miss a thing, even being there over 30 visits, we try not to skip anything. Its all Disney classics, unless a certain type of ride makes you sick, never skip nothing. We always go like it will be our last visit, you never know, so go, and do it all.

 

[vsimeone]

I mostly wanted to say hello to the fellow Ohioans on this post!

I'm not sure about our must sees. We try to do everything possible but if we have to miss something, here's what we leave out:

MK: Riverboat, Tom Sawyer's Island (although we love it for a great place to relax, the lines for the rafts can get LONG!), Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree

MGM: I don't care for Star Tours but the rest of my family loves it, the Sounds Dangerously thing with Drew Carey (not sure of it's real name!), and we have never done the Playhouse Disney stuff because my kids have been too old. Although it's fun, if you're pressed for time, I'd skip Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Play It.

Epcot: The Living with the Land boat ride - fun but... , I personally skip some of the movies in World Showcase. The 360 ones give me a headache

AK: We have not done this park the way we should. I am going to correct that on this trip coming up! We have never done Festival of the Lion King or Rafiki's Conservation Station. Obviously, we have skipped a lot here but we have two trips this year to make it right!

Have a great time on your trip! I'm sure it will be the first of many!!!