How important are the rides to you?

[C.Ann]

And if they're not that important to you, what do you enjoy instead?

Surely I can't be the only one who doesn't feel the rides are a "do or die" situation that can make or break a vacation.. I have a few that I enjoy, but would not feel like my vacation was ruined if I missed them for one reason or another..

I like to "people watch" - and I like to "wander" a bit and really, really look at things.. I enjoy watching little kids when they see the characters for the first time - wow - are they ever precious moments!!

I also enjoy looking at the various buildings, the flowers and shrubbery, and of course I enjoy the parades - providing I don't get trampled on - LOL...

Tell me what you enjoy - other than the rides and shows - so I can check some of these things out when I make my first solo trip next Saturday..

 

[bubba's mom]

Well, right now, it's all about the rides. DS is just 6 (this past Jan.) and it's all about that!! He is a thrill-ride junkie in the making.... He cannot wait to ride ToT and RnR this year....frankly neither can we! DH & I haven't been to WDW in years...I mean since MGM was first built. For whatever reason, we just never went.... ......until now. Guess that's what a kid does to you..... So, for now it's all about the rides and rediscovering (for DH and I)..... Someday I will live in Florida (near family) and I will buy that annual pass and make good use of it!! THEN, I would love to "lull" around WDW...eat at every place, see it all, people watch....and maybe C.Ann, I will join you on that bench!

 

[C.Ann]

Someday I will live in Florida (near family) and I will buy that annual pass and make good use of it!! THEN, I would love to "lull" around WDW...eat at every place, see it all, people watch....and maybe C.Ann, I will join you on that bench!

-----------------------------
Well come next January, I hope to be living in Florida 3 months out of the year, so if you're available, give me a holler!!!

 

[Alice Sr.]

Sorry, I don't really have any suggestions but I completely agree with you. I love to just wander around, eat, drink and take in the surroundings. The ideal day for me is to get up early take a stroll before the majority of people are up (I mostly just run into CM's working), get to the park when they 1st open, leave after about 3 hours, hit the pool for about 3-4 hours, get ready for a nice dinner, then usually catch the last couple of hours at whatever park sounds interesting. I would have to say I appreciate the atmosphere more than the rides, but rides are definitely a bonus.

Alice

 

[faeflora]

My mom and I went to WDW for a weekend in March and never went to any of the parks. This was a real first. We went to see a Braves vs. Mets Spring Training game, then to Downtown Disney, and the next day we went to the Poly for breakfast and GF for tea.
It was wonderful. We watched the kids having fun at the charachter breakfast at the Poly and took a leisurely stroll at Downtown disney.
We are heading back to Disney this summer with my husband in tow and we have all agreed that the rides are not that important.

We are going to catch the new attractions at the parks, but I think this vacation is going to be a more relax and enjoy time.

We love to relax in Epcot especially near the fountain in Morocco, it is nestled next to their prayer room. It is so beautiful with the water and the light coming through the top of the minoret. Beautiful meditation area.
We also love getting sushi at the Japan area Matsu No Ma lounge and just watchhing people walk by. I have never seen this place crowded. Really lovely.

In the Magic Kingdom we tend to focus on the classic rides. There are also some areas to sit and relax near the bridge that crosses into Adventureland.

 

[John Dobbertin]

C.Ann: You either spend a lot of time at the computer (your sign-in shows 9,400 posts), or you have "done" WDW a lot. For those of us who have done almost every ride dozens of times, what's the Big Deal. Many posting on this site are true Disney veterans. For those first-timers, or those with young children, the approach to WDW is completely different. There is a list of "must-dos" & the "rides" are either at the top or close to the top of those lists.

 

[C.Ann]

My mom and I went to WDW for a weekend in March and never went to any of the parks. This was a real first. We went to see a Braves vs. Mets Spring Training game, then to Downtown Disney, and the next day we went to the Poly for breakfast and GF for tea.
It was wonderful. We watched the kids having fun at the charachter breakfast at the Poly and took a leisurely stroll at Downtown disney.
We are heading back to Disney this summer with my husband in tow and we have all agreed that the rides are not that important.

We are going to catch the new attractions at the parks, but I think this vacation is going to be a more relax and enjoy time.

We love to relax in Epcot especially near the fountain in Morocco, it is nestled next to their prayer room. It is so beautiful with the water and the light coming through the top of the minoret. Beautiful meditation area.
We also love getting sushi at the Japan area Matsu No Ma lounge and just watchhing people walk by. I have never seen this place crowded. Really lovely.

In the Magic Kingdom we tend to focus on the classic rides. There are also some areas to sit and relax near the bridge that crosses into Adventureland.

--------------------------------

Thanks for those ideas! I don't recall the fountain in Morocco, so I'll be sure to jot it down in the little notebook I'm going to take!

 

[C.Ann]

C.Ann: You either spend a lot of time at the computer (your sign-in shows 9,400 posts), or you have "done" WDW a lot. For those of us who have done almost every ride dozens of times, what's the Big Deal. Many posting on this site are true Disney veterans. For those first-timers, or those with young children, the approach to WDW is completely different. There is a list of "must-dos" & the "rides" are either at the top or close to the top of those lists.

--------------------------------------------

Okay - you've got me totally confused now.. Did you think I was somehow criticizing people who are interested in just (or mostly) rides? If so, you couldn't be further off base.. My kids are adults now - and I tend to get motion sickness rather easily - so I was just wondering if there are others who go to the parks for reasons other than the rides..

Why so hostile? And what on earth does my time on the computer or number of posts have to do with anything?

 

[Feralpeg]

The past three times I've been to the parks, I haven't ridden any rides. We go more for the atmosphere, shopping and restaurants.

 

[C.Ann]

The past three times I've been to the parks, I haven't ridden any rides. We go more for the atmosphere, shopping and restaurants.

-------------------------

That's one of the things I enjoy the most - the atmosphere.. Like stepping into a different world..

Somehow I have the feeling that by going alone, I'm going to "see" much, much more on this trip than I ever have before..

 

[kandeebunny]

of rides, we go for the food as its one of the safest places to eat with food allergies, we pay attention to the little details, shop, pin trade, chat with CM's, the only must do ride for us is the TTA (wedway) and we like to take in the live shows/parades/fireworks

 

[Trinity721]

C.Ann: You either spend a lot of time at the computer (your sign-in shows 9,400 posts), or you have "done" WDW a lot. For those of us who have done almost every ride dozens of times, what's the Big Deal. Many posting on this site are true Disney veterans. For those first-timers, or those with young children, the approach to WDW is completely different. There is a list of "must-dos" & the "rides" are either at the top or close to the top of those lists.

John I don't think C. Ann meant anything if you read her original post carefully. I think the point of the thread was just to see if people enjoyed other things besides the rides, Disney vets or not.

Anyways.... we just went to MK for a day this month (planning a longer trip in April). But we didn't do very many rides at all. Since our time was limited, we did a few rides and the rest of the time just enjoyed being there, walking. With a young child, we try to go at her pace and not wear her out or subject her to unbearably long waits in the lines. DH and I haven't done everything there is to do, but we don't really mind. And we don't see it as a waste of our trip at all. We just enjoy being there, people watching, taking our time and soaking up the magic as we walk. Just seeing DD's face as she looks around is worth the whole trip, whatever we do.

In April, it'll be DD's first time to the rest of the parks and we'll do MK again. I think the only must-do on our list is to see some characters, watch some shows, and maybe a few rides, but other than that I am not setting anything in stone. With a toddler, we just let her mood decide what we do and when we do it.

 

[C.Ann]

With a toddler, we just let her mood decide what we do and when we do it.

----------------------

Smart Mom! We took my granddaughter just before she turned 3.. Did WDW, Universal & Sea World, and everything was done at her pace.. It made the trip so much more enjoyable because she never got cranky or tired.. Just watching her reactions to the characters was a dream come true - anything beyond that was an added bonus!!

Hope you have a great trip!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

If they weren't there, we wouldn't go.

 

[floridagirrl2]

I enjoy rides, but I agree that I don't have a lot of "have to" rides.

My favorite things to do at WDW other than rides are virtually all at Epcot, since DH and I spend 3/4 of our WDW time there:

Grab a glass of champagne in France and trot over to England to catch a set of The British Invasion (Beatles tribute band).

Head over to Canada to see Off Kilter (hot guys in kilts, playing everything from 80s New Wave to It's a Small World, complete with a screaming bagpipe!).

Get our photo taken wherever we can (great fun to check the Photopass website later and see all the photos!)

Sit and watch the choreographed fountain show near the entrance to Epcot.

Ride the boat from Epcot to the Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin area and to MGM.

Check out the model train set-up in Germany.

Walk through the tin toy museum in Japan (just diescovered this a couple of visits ago!). Although I'm generally not a big shopper, I do enjoy browsing the Japan shops as well.

Eat! I wouldn't hesitate to eat solo at the San Angel Inn--there's so much to watch there--the riders coming through the Rio, the different Mexican bands playing, the shoppers browsing the marketplace.

Send an email with our photo to ourselves (I forget which exhibit lets you do this--but it's on the right side as you enter Epcot).

Sit on a bench outside the Yacht/Beachclub area and look out at the water. Nice at night!

Ride the monorail around (especially pretty at twilight, when all the lights are first coming on).

Browse the jewelry in Norway--they have some very pretty and relatively inexpensive enameled silver butterfly pendants, among other things.

Although I'm not much of a "bar" kind of person (generally too smoky for me), the outdoor bar at POP was really hopping with what appeared to be solo travellers when DH and I were there in February--might be a fun place to meet people and wind down with a drink after the parks (I think I saw in another thread that you are staying at POP?).

Have a wonderful time! DH loves WDW as much as I do, so I'm not sure I'll ever do a solo trip, but it does sound like fun!

 

[C.Ann]

I enjoy rides, but I agree that I don't have a lot of "have to" rides.

My favorite things to do at WDW other than rides are virtually all at Epcot, since DH and I spend 3/4 of our WDW time there:

Grab a glass of champagne in France and trot over to England to catch a set of The British Invasion (Beatles tribute band).

Head over to Canada to see Off Kilter (hot guys in kilts, playing everything from 80s New Wave to It's a Small World, complete with a screaming bagpipe!).

Get our photo taken wherever we can (great fun to check the Photopass website later and see all the photos!)

Sit and watch the choreographed fountain show near the entrance to Epcot.

Ride the boat from Epcot to the Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin area and to MGM.

Check out the model train set-up in Germany.

Walk through the tin toy museum in Japan (just diescovered this a couple of visits ago!). Although I'm generally not a big shopper, I do enjoy browsing the Japan shops as well.

Eat! I wouldn't hesitate to eat solo at the San Angel Inn--there's so much to watch there--the riders coming through the Rio, the different Mexican bands playing, the shoppers browsing the marketplace.

Send an email with our photo to ourselves (I forget which exhibit lets you do this--but it's on the right side as you enter Epcot).

Sit on a bench outside the Yacht/Beachclub area and look out at the water. Nice at night!

Ride the monorail around (especially pretty at twilight, when all the lights are first coming on).

Browse the jewelry in Norway--they have some very pretty and relatively inexpensive enameled silver butterfly pendants, among other things.

Although I'm not much of a "bar" kind of person (generally too smoky for me), the outdoor bar at POP was really hopping with what appeared to be solo travellers when DH and I were there in February--might be a fun place to meet people and wind down with a drink after the parks (I think I saw in another thread that you are staying at POP?).

Have a wonderful time! DH loves WDW as much as I do, so I'm not sure I'll ever do a solo trip, but it does sound like fun!

--------------------------

Wow! All of those things you mentioned in Epcot (my 2nd most favorite park) I've never seen! Now I'm wondering - was I ever really there? LOL.. Goes to show what happens when you travel with other people who have different ideas of what to see and do...

Thanks a bunch.. Looks like my "little" notebook may have to be a "big" notebook..

Oh - one question though.. Do they still have those people in Epcot - near where the mime was - that are totally in white and look like statues? I thought that was the neatest thing!!

 

[smjj]

The last time we went to WDW we did not even to to the parks except to MK out in front to check out our family brick. With the kids all grown up now, we just go to do things we want to do but missed out with the kids. We had a blast. This next trip we will visit the parks but there is so much to do outside the parks at WDW and we are still exploring these....smjj

 

[subhuman31]

I honestly believe I can go to the parks and not ride any rides. The atmosphere alone is very peaceful and relaxing just being able to roam around. The only exception would be Spaceship Earth. It's my favorite ride and I need to at least ride that. Hopefully the rumored rehab on SE doesn't happen until after my trip in Oct.

 

[plutospup]

Enjoy your resort! DW & DD sleep late, and I'm an early riser. Each morning I relax in the "uncrowded" hot tub, or pool. When we stayed at CBR I walked through the different villages. When I was at ASMo I checked out the different themes & icons. ...and don't forget "People Watching"! When we stayed at CR I made a point of going to the Grand Concourse each morning to check out the families going to "Chef Mickey's". Honestly, it was hilarious to watch these families walking up to Chef Mickey's at 7 a.m. who were torn between going back to bed, or laughing with Goofy! The stunned confusion of the face of 4 yr olds (and 30 yr old parents!)who were barely awake, and were face to face with Goofy was a sight to behold!

 

[texas munchkin]

This will be our 8th trip to Disney. For a few years when DD was younger we went every year. Now she is 16 and it is our first trip back in 4 years. We didn't get "tired" of Disney, she just had other things going on - church camp, youth wilderness treks,etc.
Yes, we like the rides. Sometimes it's hard to tell who the "kid" is on our family.. lol. But for us it has always been a time for the two of us to get away and spend some fun time together. I'm a single mom, it's always just been the two of us. This trip was always our big deal of the year. We have fun, laugh, act more like buddies than mom/daughter. Oh, I plan myself crazy each trip, but mostly because I like it. We have taken 2 trips with other families, but each time we found we have a better time just the two of us. We try not to let anything intrude on our vacation. We stand in the lines and heat and just enjoy each other's company. Only used fast pass once - when I realized I was never going to get in to see the Little Mermaid show if I didn't... hahaha. AND if it's starts to rain, we just starting "Singing in the Rain" (literally) and skip down the sidewalk.

Funny thing, we have always had this relaxed kinda view of it and we have always seen and done everything we wanted to. Not once did we run out of time.

Now that I have rambled on... ... I guess what I am saying is the important thing is building memories, not making checks on a list.

C.Ann, I don't know you at all, but have read some other posts on the board. I know you have been through some rough times lately. I really hope you have a wonderful trip. It may be a different experience for you, but it will be an experience all the same.