First 3 Rides?

[mello]

Okay, what are the first 3 things we should hit in each park? Here's some of what I've figured out from reading here:

MK:
Dumbo (?!?!)
? don't know
? don't know

Epcot:
Soarin
Test Track
? don't know

MGM:
?
?
?

AK:
Kilamanjaro Safari (early while animals are active?)

Am I on the righ track so far? What would you add?

Oh, I should mention that we have 2 adults, a 12yo, a 9yo and a 2yo. So we've got quite an age spread! We can do switching, but also don't want 2yo to be bored to death waiting in lines continuously.

 

[Laurajean1014]

We don't do it this way. If everyone went to KS at AK - you wouldn't be one of the first one's to ride it?

Dumbo? Hmmm.....we usually miss this ride.

See where everyone is going and do the opposite. You will have more fun that way.

 

[disneyholic family]

Dumbo with a 12 year old and 9 year old?
my kids haven't ridden dumbo since they were about 4 or 5...

you shouldn't waste good first thing in the morning time for Dumbo..
that's just a going around in circle ride that you can find in any amusement park....

why not let your kids read up on the MK and let them suggest where to start...

and your two year old won't be bored waiting in lines.....after all, you're all together and there's lots and lots of stuff going on around...

 

[mill4023]

We don't do it this way. If everyone went to KS at AK - you wouldn't be one of the first one's to ride it?

Dumbo? Hmmm.....we usually miss this ride.

See where everyone is going and do the opposite. You will have more fun that way.

Well, that depends. If you are at the park at rope drop, even with everyone going to Dumbo, you will only wait a few minutes. But the line will build and stay long for the whole rest of the day.

With the ages of your kids, I'd probably skip Dumbo. Sure the 2 year old would like it, but probably won't care too much if you skip it. With a 7 and 9 year old, I'd probably start with Tomorrowland or Frontierland first.

MGM:
Tower of Terror
Rock N' Roller Coaster
Disney's Playhouse Live

 

[bryon]

I would only recommend Dumbo if you have kids that will enjoy it. And if you do have kids that enjoy Dumbo, then they may not enjoy sorin or test track at Epcot. (Depends on your kids)

My opinion with and without children who would like Dumbo. (works best if you go there first thing in the morning when they drop the ropes, if you are not there when ropes drop, this may not be best plan.)

With Dumbo children at MK:
-Grab fast past for Pooh or Buzz.
-Dumbo (only because the lines are long during the day)
-Pooh or Buzz (depending on who you got fast pass for)
-Should be time to use fast pass.

Without Dumbo Children.
-Grab a fast pass for either Space Moutain or Splash Moutain.
-Go on other ride you didn't grab Fast Pass for.
-If its time to use Fass Pass, use it, if not go to Buzz or BTMR if line isn't to long.
-Use Fast Pass.
(works best if someone in your group dosn't want to ride. Then they can go get Fast Pass while you are in line for your first attraction)


Epcot if you want to ride Mission Space.
-Grab fast pass for Test Track
-Go to Mission Space.
-Use Fast Pass.
-Immediatly afterwards grab Fast Pass for Sorin.

Epcot if you don't want to ride Mission Space.
-Grab fast pass for Sorin
-Go on Test Trace
-Enjoy the LAND
-Should be time for Sorin Fast Pass.

MGM if you like the "thrill" rides:
-Get Fast Pass for Tower Of Terror.
-Ride Roller Coaster
-Use Fast Pass
-Check time for favorite show you wanna see.

MGM if your skipping the "big two"
-Start Tours ??
-Muppets
-Check times for your favorite show.


AK.
-Safari right at the beginning.
-Tough To be a bug
-Look at time for Lion King show, or see if DInosaur has opened yet.

 

[mello]

We can't forget about the Baby Princess!!!

Dumbo with a 12 year old and 9 year old?
my kids haven't ridden dumbo since they were about 4 or 5...

you shouldn't waste good first thing in the morning time for Dumbo..
that's just a going around in circle ride that you can find in any amusement park....

why not let your kids read up on the MK and let them suggest where to start...

and your two year old won't be bored waiting in lines.....after all, you're all together and there's lots and lots of stuff going on around...

 

[mello]

Very helpful!

 

[oogieboogie]

Our family (2 adults, 2 boys - 7 & 4) does this:

MK:
1. Buzz Lightyear
2. I take 4yr old to Indy Speedway while DH takes 7yr old to Astro Orbiter
3. Winnie the Pooh

Epcot:
1. Soarin'
2. Living with the Land
3. Soarin'

MGM:
1. Playhouse Disney
2. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
3. Voyage of the Little Mermaid

AK:
No real set plan. We just do what we feel like doing.

 

[minniedisney1]

Not sure about the other parks, thats a tough one. At AK though, we always go the the safari first and get a FP then over to Dinoland USA to ride the Primeval Whirl & Dinosaur. Then on to the Kali River Rapids. There is usually no one in these areas first thing. Everyone goes to the safari. Which means No Lines!!!! We are usually able to get all these in and sometimes even It's tough to be a Bug before the FP expires! Have fun!!

 

[disneyholic family]

We can't forget about the Baby Princess!!!

obviously......so you're planning on spoiling this princess that much eh?..
good way to make the 9 and 12 year olds hate her....

 

[KimWDW]

obviously......so you're planning on spoiling this princess that much eh?..
good way to make the 9 and 12 year olds hate her....

How does taking a 2 year old on Dumbo equate into spoiling her?

I hope you're joking with your post because if you're serious you are way out of line judging this poster and saying her other kids are going to hate the 2 year old. Out of line!

 

[Skylarr29]

HA ha I think it was a joke...but I could be wrong... someones a little on the defensive side.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Okay, what are the first 3 things we should hit in each park? Here's some of what I've figured out from reading here:

MK:
Dumbo
Splash Mountain
Train Ride to Space Mountain

Epcot:
Soarin
Test Track
Journey into Imagination

MGM:
The Great Big Movie Ride
Rock n Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror

AK:
Kilamanjaro Safari
Dinosaur
It's Tough to be a Bug (inside the Tree of Life)

Am I on the righ track so far? What would you add?

Oh, I should mention that we have 2 adults, a 12yo, a 9yo and a 2yo. So we've got quite an age spread! We can do switching, but also don't want 2yo to be bored to death waiting in lines continuously.

The rides above would be at the top of my list
Don't forget to use the FastPass systems...

the FPs are for rides that are known to have long lines. You need only aproach the machines, slide in each park pass and get a free pass-to go to the front of the line of that particular ride-Note***it's for a specific time frame***come back to that ride during or after that time frame and you will be able to go right to the front of said line. legal speak over---

The FPs are limited to how many you can get in a day, check your park map when you get there to see which rides offer FP.

Most rides also offer "baby swap"...the parents have to ride separate from each other but can do it simultaniously instead of waiting in line twice.

 

[susykt4]

If your 2-yr-old isn't tall enough for Soarin' you may want to split your family up and take her to Living Seas or wherever rather than baby swap. Baby swap at Soarin' took us FOREVER (well over an hour w/FP.) We went up and down the escalators in the Land building about 12,000 times and stopped at the Kidcot station as long as he would stay. I about died of boredom and DS2 had to wait twice as long as I did!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

As others have said, what to do first depends in large part on what you and your family really want to ride, but I've listed our "kick-off plan" for family.

If your DD2 is reasonably patient, your older kids can really benefit from doing child swap. Get the child swap pass and you can ride with the older kids and then the older kids can ride a second time with your spouse!

MK
Get FP Peter Pan
Ride Dumbo
Go to Mickey's Philharmagic
Ride Peter Pan

Epcot
Get FP for Test Track
Ride Mission Space
Ride Soarin'
Ride TT

AK
Safari
Kali River Rapids
It's Tough to be a Bug

MGM
Get Tower of Terror FP
Ride Rockin' Rollercoaster
Ride Tower of Terror
Great Movie Ride

 

[java]

I suggest a split up..One parent and 2 year old go to Dumbo while everyone else rides Space Mountain. Then all meet up for Buzz lightyear then hit Pooh and Peter Pan. Space mountain lines get long fast. And then you really will be waiting around with the 2 year old. The other big line rides are Splash Mountain and Big thunder mountain railroad(and the Haunted Mansion lines have been long lately) Splash Mountain has a cute little play area for the 2 year old. It is in the shade and perfect for waiting while everyone else rides SM and Big Thunder.(don't forget baby swap- your older kids will get to ride their favorites twice with baby swap)
MGM is a tough one- if the 9 and 12 like RNR and TT hit those 2 first thing. Other than that with 2 year old you could do the Bear in the Blue house show. The little mermaid show is good.
I also have a big age difference in my children. I would not try to just keep the youngest happy for the reasons that others have mentioned. You will be surprised at how much she will enjoy not just the kiddie rides. Oh and at Epcot be sure to catch Turtle Talk in the living Seas.
Have fun!

 

[grandma jan]

There will be six of us 3 adults and 3 kids ages 4, 8, 11 and we will all ride Dumbo. I would do it just because you can. It is good to be young again and just look forward to the look on the 2 yo's face.. I bet it can't get better than that. Whatever you do have fun!!!!!

 

[sugermouse]

I wouldn't over plan. Just hit them depending on the wait time and fastpass availablity, and you wont know that until your there