Going with Relatives On Their 1st Trip...Help Me Narrow Down The Must-See List!

[KevinM]

Heading down to World on November 26th for 7 nights. This will be our 3rd trip in 12 months (Me, DW, and DD5) - I love my Annual Pass. My sister and her husband have been dying to go ever since we showed them pictures of our December trip back in '03.

I have a 2 bedroom villa at The Vistana Resort, so I invited them along. I really want them to enjoy themselves, but I am having trouble deciding what to plan. I do not want to do the parks commando style, but I want to fit in as much as possible. I''m having trouble narrowing the list down.

All they really are expecting is "a bunch of cool rides". Please give me your opinions on:

- Your favorite Disney Resort Restaraunt / Dinner Show
- Your favorite place to eat in Epcot (not counter service)
- Must-see shows and attractions at all 4 parks
- Things we can skip
- Any good offsite activities/places to eat

Even though we have been there alot in the past couple of years, I subscribed to Tour Guide Mike for additional tips.

Any info is appreciated.

P.S. My sister and her husband are in thier early thirties, no kids, very "young at heart".

 

[michellejed]

Keep in mind Disney Quest, we love going and in November you might need an indoors day.

We dont go every year so any of the Epcot sit downs are great for us, always something new.

We are going Oct/Nov and want to go on Soaring the most, you should just take them on your fav ones

Have a wonderful time

 

[disnut8]

Wow - that's a big request. But I've been there and done that with first timers. Here goes (keeping in mind you are four adults and one child but the child has been there many times) -

Resort restaurant - Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Not only do you get a fantastic meal, you get an excuse to show off the Lodge. We could NOT get my daughter-in-law out of that place. And we've taken just about our entire family to Boma - from picky people to vegetarians to carnavores - not a one has been disappointed.

Dinner show - Hoop Dee Doo - my frugal father who is the grumpiest person I know, always requests this one. He begged me just three months before one trip to see if I could get anything decent. I did and then surprised him by having them announce it was his 70th birthday.

Place to eat at Epcot - Le Cellier or Rose and Crown. Biergarten is good with the show and the huge beers. And dancing. Depends on if you want "fun" or a good meal.

Must see at all 4 parks. Animal Kingdom - hands down, Flights of Wonder. So moving and educational and you don't even know it. Magic Kingdom, err, haven't been there for a while but Splash Mountain since it's so long. Haven't seen Mickey's Philharmagic yet but I want to. Epcot - Mission:Space for me but it's not for everyone. You'll know your guests and if they can handle it. Of course, Off Kilter is a priority but that's just me. MGM - Twilight Zone for the total mind game they play on you.

Things you can skip. Humm.....Swiss Family Treehouse? That's kind of hard because every time we go, we end up doing something we never thought we'd ever do again. And then enjoying it.

Offsite places to eat - New York Pizza World on Highway 192. It's next to the IHOP around mile marker 6. Shell's seafood also on Highway 192 but it's towards Kissimmee around mile marker 15. Old Town Kissimmee is a place to blow a couple of hours but stay away from eating at Damon's unless you want good food and lousy service.

Have fun planning and hope this helps.

 

[karma3939]

I don't know much about the restaurants, although my boyfriend LOVES the Biergarten in Epcot. I have grandparents in Florida so we usually just go for the day.

But as far as the rides go, here is my top ten list of must-see "cool rides."

Animal Kingdom

Dinosaur *** -I love this ride. I am 23 and screamed my head off like a 5 year old so it may be a little scary for young kids but it is one of Disney's best if you ask me in terms of theming and effects.

It's Tough to be a Bug- I am not usually the "watch a show" type at theme parks, but I loved this one. I really did. It's a nice break and it's very entertaining. I am really afraid of spiders so I had to close my eyes at one part but it was all in good fun. Great, great 3-D show.

MGM

Tower of Terror- It's just a classic and considered to be Disney's best by some. The drops really do feel like floating, not like your stomach is coming into your throat.

Rockin Rollercoaster***- Another one of my absolute favorites. The take off is unconventional and I don't want to ruin it for you if you don't already know why but it's really, really fun and unlike any roller coaster you have ever been on before. Worth the wait!

MK

Space Mountain- it's pretty much a legend at this point so you cannot miss it. Definitely tame enough for pretty much anyone, but the effects are still pretty cool.

Splash Mountain***- This ride has the best of both worlds.. it's part character/boat ride and part thrill ride. That's why I love it so much because only Disney could put that together so well.

Haunted Mansion- Obviously another legend that people who never have been to Disney will want to say they saw.

Pirates of the Caribbean- Same as the HM.

Thunder Mountain RR- I used to LOVE this ride as a kid, but now it's just okay. Still one of your only options for fast rides in the MK.

EPCOT

Mission: Space- Okay, I would never go on this again but that being said, I still think it was the most incredible ride I have ever been on. Truly an experience that goes above and beyond any theme park ride in the world. But if anyone in your party is claustrophobic.... STAY AWAY. I thought I was going to throw up I was so anxious in that ride. But if those type of things don't bother you, run to this ride. I wish I could.


I haven't been since 2003 and even then I didn't go on Test Track (I was too sick from Mission:Space!) so that's all I can say about Epcot, except that I am definitely looking forward to Test Track and Soarin' this November.

 

[Eeyore2003]

1. Favorite Resort Restaurant, I would say it's a tie between Artist Point and Grand Floridian Cafe. Favorite show is Hoop de Doo

2. Favorite at EPCOT is Le Cellier, tie as our favorite restaurants with the two mentioned in #1!!!

3. Must see's---
MK-Buzz, Space Mountain, Mickey's Philharmagic, Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Railroad and Pirates, Spectro, Wishes.
EPCOT-Test Track, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Space Ship Earth, Maelstrom, Soarin', Living with the Land, Illuminations.
MGM-TOT, RNR, Great Movie Ride, Indiana Jones, Lights, Motors, Action, WWTAM, Fantasmic.
AK-Lion King, Safari, Kali River

Also need to do your daughters favorites!!!

There's really allot you can skip for first timers. When we took my brother for the first time last July, I mainly hit the headliners and favorites that I think they would enjoy. One thing I realized and they also said, is that I shouldn't worry about them "missing" something, because THEY don't know what they're missing!!! As long as you are having a great time, that's the most important thing. I think good planning so that you DO make the most of your time, but DO make that time relaxed, take time to "smell the roses", and don't worry if you're having fun doing something and miss another thing.

I've never stayed off site except for about 20 years ago, so I have no idea about "off site" stuff. Sorry.

 

[blueangel]

Favorite Resort Restaurant - Concourse Steakhouse at the Contemporary. So cool to see the monorail stuffed with people going by, right next door to the excitement of Chef Mickey's, and the Mickey Stickey's in the morning are to die for (like Cinnamon Rolls in a Mickey head shape stuffed in a flower pot. trust me on this).

San Angel Inn at EPCOT - the atmosphere is fantastic and the food consistently good enough

Hoop-Dee-Doo for the dinner show. Strawberry shortcake!

Must Sees:
MK - Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion
EPCOT - Maelstrom, Mission: Space - ILLUMINATIONS
MGM - Great Movie Ride, Lights, Motors, Action
AK - Kilamanjaro Safaris, It's Tough to be a Bug

Can Skip:
MK - Stitch's Great Escape (smells disgusting), not as creative as Alien Encounter
EPCOT - Ellen's Energy Adventure (I'm really not a fan of the new pre-show with Ellen and Bill Nye, and therefore the whole thing just takes too long for the dinosaur payoff. Ride Dinosaur! at AK instead)
MGM - Backlot Tour (has been cut way down since the LMA stadium was built)
AK - Kali River Rapids (makes the rest of the day way too uncomfortable when you get completely soaked)

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'd suggest CRT, any meal if you can get it.

As for rides

MK - All the Mountains and Mickey's Phillarmagic, Share A Dream Come True Parade, Wishes, and Spectro Magic
Epcot - Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Illuminations
MGM - Backlot Tour, Great Movie Ride, Tower of Terror, and Fantasmic
AK - Safari, It's Tough To Be a Bug, and Festival of the Lion King