I feel so lost....

[Chelle's Belles]

Consider getting the Unofficial Guide and their companion touring plans -- they will help you plan out your days step by step. They have specific recommendations for people traveling without kids. You'll have an amazing time!

 

[havoc315]

Found this wonderful forum looking for info to help plan our trip in late Feb 2016. I've been reading lots of great info but it seems the more I read the more I realize how little I know. Sure could use some experienced help in recommending must see, must things to do, must places to eat.

My husband and I are currently booked the 22nd thru the 25th at POR for our first trip to DW. We're not exactly spring chickens so kiddy attractions and meet and greets will not be on our list of must do's. Arriving about mid day on the 22nd. We understand there will be extra magic hours for Epcot on the 23rd and MK on the 24th. Currently we're planning on visiting AK on our arrival day so we'll only have a half day there. Epcot on day 2 and MK on day 3. No park hopper.... plan to stay at one park per day.

Questions:
Is AK worth visiting for half a day?
Keeping in mind we are only spending one day here what are must see/do for Epcot?
Only one day in MK, what are must see/do's?
Attractions most valued to use FP+?

Dining recommendations?

Ugggghhhh... I should of booked through a travel agent. LOL

Yes, Animal Kingdom is well worth a half day. Get a FP for the Safari and the Lion King show.
Must see/do in Epcot: Soarin is a must FP, and a great attraction for all ages. You may or may not enjoy Test Track which is more of a thrill ride. You don't want to do the kiddy stuff, how do you feel about the Thrill ride stuff?
Epcot -- Must do Soarin, Spaceship Earth is a must if you've never done it. Exploring the International Showcase.
MK -- Must see/dos: Wishes fireworks show at the end of the night. If you've never seen it, IMO, it's also kinda a must to see the park opening one time. As to attractions, depends on whether you want the thrill rides. If you don't care for the thrill rides, then the classic attractions are the musts: Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan. Peter Pan is a priority to FP. The big attraction of the moment is the Mine coaster, which absolutely requires a FP. But it might not be a must do, for you.

Dining.......... I can make tons of recommendations, but it really depends on how/what you like to eat. Prefer cheap or willing to spend? Are you a foodie, or happier with just a plain steak or hamburger? A sit down meal or quick service?

Some really quick dining recommendations:
Around the Magic Kingdom -- within the park, the sitdown restaurants aren't great. But one great experience is to have dinner at the California Grill. This is a bit of a "must do" actually. The food is excellent, and you step outside to the balcony on the roof of the Contemporary Hotel, and watch the fireworks from there. If you like seafood, you can have a similar experience at Narcoose's, at the Grand Floridian, but then you are watching the fireworks from ground level. It's also a way to watch the fireworks without being shoved in the middle of a huge crowd.

Epcot has the most diverse ethnic dining options, thanks to the World Showcase. That said, the menus mostly become generic versions of the various international cuisines. I do like Chefs De France. Many steak lovers really enjoy Le Cellier, but I found it completely overrated. But if there is a type of ethnic cuisine that appeals to you, you can likely find it in the World Showcase.

Overall, my favorite restaurants in Disney World are a few of the signature restaurants: The best for me, was Artist's Point. Flying Fish is the runner up. Third place would be a tie between Brown Derby and California Grill. Narcoose's a bit behind. And I didn't care for Les Cellier at all. (and there are a couple other signatures I've never tried). Best non-signature restaurants to me were Chefs De France (Epcot), Via Napoli (Epcot) and Kona Cafe (in the Poly).
The absolute worst, avoid at all costs -- Chef Mickey, the mexican restaurant in Epcot, Cinderella's Royal Table for the food (ok for the experience).

 

[txcorey]

I would recommend that you buy a copy of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. They have reviews of each ride and each restaurant so that you can get a good idea of rides and shows you like and restaurants that you would enjoy most. It also has touring plans that help you maximize your day. I know much of this information can be found online but I like having it all in one place. I buy a new updated copy every time we go.

 

[Sytrace]

My husband and I are currently booked the 22nd thru the 25th at POR for our first trip to DW. We're not exactly spring chickens so kiddy attractions and meet and greets will not be on our list of must do's. Arriving about mid day on the 22nd. We understand there will be extra magic hours for Epcot on the 23rd and MK on the 24th. Currently we're planning on visiting AK on our arrival day so we'll only have a half day there. Epcot on day 2 and MK on day 3. No park hopper.... plan to stay at one park per day.

Questions:
Is AK worth visiting for half a day? Yes. Animal Kingdom has some wonderful attractions and the weather will be quite nice then. Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari, Dinosaur are in my top 3 for grown ups. Also, check out the Festival of the Lion King show. I am thinking that you may want to avoid Kali River as it will be cooler in temperature and you will get wet. Unless you wear a poncho and have dry hoodies or jackets to change into. I would dine at the Rainforest Cafe for lunch or dinner on the way out of the park.

Keeping in mind we are only spending one day here what are must see/do for Epcot? : Test Track, the World Showcase (wonderful shows in China, France, Canada, American Adventure and the ride in Mexico is really cute and good for a nice break. Also, check out the Land and Mission Space . Soarin will be closed for refurbishment in February so at least you can get a FP for something else.


Only one day in MK, what are must see/do's? Big Thunder, Snow White Mine Train, Space Mountain. I hesitate to suggest Splash Mountain, again because the weather will be chilly and you might get wet on that one. Pirates of the Caribbean is always fun. And maybe the speedway and/or Wedway people mover. Don't forget the Jungle Cruise (so funny)

Attractions most valued to use FP+? Mine Train, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain. Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur. Test Track, Illuminations and Mission Space for EPCOT.

Dining recommendations?[/QUOTE]
We enjoyed, The Rose and Crown, Nine Dragons, Via Napoli and La Cellier.
Resort Dining we like the Yachtsman, Whispering Canyon, Narcoosee's, The Hoop De Doo revue was hilarious!
Disney Springs Dining and entertainment : Splitsville ... the food is good, well portioned and the atmosphere is fun.
House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck Express, and Earl of Sandwich is pretty good too. T Rex and Rainforest are there as well, but if you dine at Rainforest at AK then you can bypass it at Disney Springs.

You will have some wonderful weather and waiting in lines will not be that bad! So even if you cannot get fast passes, the waits will be okay.

 

[ThistleMae]

Sue....lot's of good suggestions in here. It can be daunting to try and take it all in. RELAX! Just get a park map when you arrive and pick out what you really want to experience. You can't do it all....don't try....just go back again another time. That way....your vacation isn't frantic...trying to squeeze in too much. Do a relaxing dinner every night. I plan my reservations around what Park I will be in around dinner time....that way I'm not rushing to get to food. Also...if you are eating at a resort...choose the closest park to your restaurant that night with the easiest transportation to get there. It's all good. You can't have a bad vacation....just enjoy!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Honestly, it's more complicated than it needs to be. Disney just doesn't want to spend the money to provide more facilities for guests, so vacationers need to create strategies to avoid being line all day.

 

[EricInPA]

The Enchanted Tiki Room is a MK must-do for me, and you don't need a Fast Pass!

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

We are a couple in our 50's & here are some of our favorite things :

AK: I love this park!
We enjoy the safari, flights of wonder, lion King & nemo. I like its a bug & the Everest ride too.
We always eat at Yak & Yeti for lunch. It is really good!

HS : we really only go here because we love the Toy Story ride. If we didn't have hoppers we would always skip this park. We ride TT , toy story & watch beauty & the beast then hop to Epcot for lunch.

At Epcot I FP Soaring & do Test Track at rope drop. I enjoy most rides here but we skip Space.
We have lots of favorite restaurants here. San Angel Inn, Teppo Edo, Coral Reef & LeCellier.
I also really like the little ride in Mexico.

MK:
I enjoy lots here. Fansty land has lots of my favorite rides & they are kid rides: Peter Pan & it's a small world.
Splash mtn, country Bear's,& Buzz are some we like.
LTT is usually our place at lunch & for supper we usually eat at Ohana.

 

[mickeymom629]

I don't want to duplicate all the great responses you've already gotten, but I do want to add:

Soarin' at Epcot will not be open when you go.

I think you will love Animal Kingdom for all the reasons mentioned. There are 2 trails that I love - Pangani Forest Exploration Trail (gorillas and other wild life) and Maharajah Jungle Trek (tigers and other wild life) - and I think you will, too! If you go on Dinosaur! - take ear plugs and don't go if you have a bad back (I take an Advil shortly before going on), but it is fun!

 

[NH-to-FL]

Is AK worth visiting for half a day?
Keeping in mind we are only spending one day here what are must see/do for Epcot?
Only one day in MK, what are must see/do's?
Attractions most valued to use FP+?

Hello Simply Sue,

A senior couple here so I hope I can help. First, as others have mentioned, set reasonable expectations. WDW is a large place with so many things to see and do. Acknowledge that you won't be able to see it all. As you have read, just getting around the 43 square miles takes time. Collect all the feedback, filter it through your interests, and make a realistic plan. We are blessed with having annual passes and the opportunity to spend many days a year in the Orlando area. With that in mind here are my thoughts:

AK is definitely worth the visit! The Safari, Lion King, and It's Tough to Be a Bug are our must do on every visit favorites. We are not into roller coasters. If you are then Everest should be on your list. After selecting your must do's then consider adding time to wander through at least one of walking trails in either Africa or Asia. Both provide the opportunity to see many animals. We saw many gorillas on our visit earlier in October. Since you would be arriving mid day I would definitely recommend FP+ for your top must do's.

Epcot: First, let's all be sad that Soarin' will be closed the first half of 2016. Soaring' is our favorite attraction in WDW. In Epcot, after Soarin', is Spaceship Earth. Then a wander through the aquarium in the Seas. We do the ride in the Seas if the line is very short. Again, not being a 'fast ride' person we skip Test Track. I am a bit claustrophobic so we also skip Mission Space. (Though I greatly enjoy Star Tours at DHS.) Again, your interests might add either or both to your list. For us Energy with Ellen is a once every now and again. It is long and a bit outdated. Read the descriptions, assess your time, and decide it it makes your list. After you finish Future World pick your favorite direction, clockwise or counter clockwise, and start your tour of the World Showcase. Our only must do is the American Experience. An outstanding show. After that you can decide if you want to see the movies in the other countries. China is our next favorite. Otherwise just wander through the countries and enjoy the details. The final must see in Epcot is Illuminations. Can make for a long day but worth it.

Magic Kingdom: I confess we have a unique set of interests in MK. Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Philharmagic, Pirates, riding the train, Carousel of Progress, the People Mover, and last but not least, the Hall of the Presidents. We are looking forward to trying the 7DMT. It was down on the day of our last visit. For a first time visit, there is are so many big and little little things to see. More than you will be able to see in one day.

As to dining recommendations, we are not big on fancy eating. Since we now stay off site at a villa we have a well stocked kitchen for our big meals. When we do need to eat it in the parks it is quick service. At AK it is the Flame Tree. At Epcot it is Sunshine Seasons for for the breakfast platter or sometimes lunch. Sometimes we get the fish and chips at the QS in England. We don't really have a favorite at MK or DHS. I am sure you will get lot's of recommendations.

I wish you a magical trip!

 

[RustManFan]

Soarin' will be closed during your visit so don't plan on that Epcot experience.

Our last trip my sister and I spent 2 full days at AK and never rode any ride except the Safari. We totally love to take our time looking at the Tree of Life carvings and being really slow (and observant) on the trails. The park is all about the animals for us!

Also love the Lion King and Flights of Wonder shows. Must do attractions for us!

We generally skip DHS since, again, we aren't thrill riders and rather spend additional time at Epcot.

 

[delilah]

We really love AK. We usually stay about a week, and I go at least twice, once with a DSLR to take pictures on the safari, and a different day without a camera to enjoy the thrill rides. I usually go on the safari at least twice, try to arrange to take pictures from each side. That said, with the new FastPass+, and the fact you can only get 3, DHS is only a half day, at most for us, and maybe even a skip if can't get the fast passes we want. I have gone on trips many times and skipped it. The problem is that there are only a few attractions that are worth a fast pass, and really you can only choose 1, and the lines on the others are at least an hour long. So, we don't go. Only so many times you need to see Muppet Vision.

 

[MadHookUp]

I agree with several other people, and I would buy the Unofficial Disney World Guide. I bought my copy from Amazon. Possibly get the ebook version so you have it on your phone. They also have a website with a number of great tools that you can subscribe for at a discount if you bought the book.

If I were in your shoes, I would skip Animal Kingdom and do a 2nd day of Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom closes at 10pm rather than Animal Kingdom's 5pm. There is also a possibility of Disney extending those 10pm hours even later as you get closer to your trip. The benefit of doing this would ensure you have plenty of time to see and do everything in the Magic Kingdom, and also give you the ability to do your favorite attractions a couple extra times at the end of your full Magic Kingdom night.

 

[NH-to-FL]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that I second others suggestion to find a copy of the Unofficial Guide. I get a new one at least every other year.

I also encourage you to visit the easyWDW web site. You will find a lot of good information there including day by day recommendations for the best park to visit. We find the easyWDW recommendations quite helpful. They also offer a book focused on first visits which you might find interesting. It was written together with the **************.net web site which you might also enjoy.

Happy planning!

 

[Simply Sue]

OMG, thank you, thank you, thank you. This is a wealth of good suggestions. I appreciate everyone's comments and totally understand they are subjective. We'll sort through everything over the weekend and try and put a plan together.

One theme I picked up on in most everyone's response is, knowing you can't see it all, to just relax and enjoy. With that in mind we have decided to change our itinerary and add a few more days to our DW end of our trip and shorten the family visits. (I love my family but 2 extra days at DW instead of reminiscing about uncle Billy's knee surgery is a no brainer )

 

[BlueberryPi]

Consider getting the Unofficial Guide and their companion touring plans -- they will help you plan out your days step by step. They have specific recommendations for people traveling without kids. You'll have an amazing time!

I came here to say this, but wanted to add that you can possibly pick up a previous years version at the library for free. I did that a few years ago with Disneyland and it was super helpful. Now that I'm planning for WDW, I bought a copy this time.