If this was your first trip, and you had 1 day

[jojoandhb]

If this was your first trip, and you only had 1 day to spend at Disney, what would you do? There would be three kids involved, 3, 4, and 6. Thanks.

 

[TikiGoddess2006]

Schedule an early breakfast at the Crystal Palace (8:05am, before the park opens). Get there as early as possible, have a great breakfast with Pooh and friends, and then hit Fantasyland. Spend the rest of the morning doing rides etc. then go out of the park around lunchtime and ride the monorail to one of the resorts. Have lunch at a resort restaurant (I like GF Cafe) -- it will be a nice quiet break from the parks and the cost is not that much more. Go back to the MK -- catch the parade, do more rides. Do a counter service dinner at Columbia Harbor House, finish the night with the fireworks.

That's what I would do!
TikiG

 

[KeepSwimming]

I agree. I would start the day off with a character breakfast at the MK, enjoy the park and the shows, and end the day with either fireworks/parade or an evening excursion to Downtown Disney for dinner/shopping.

 

[EthansMom]

Magic Kingdom has the most bang for the buck for young kids. With only one day, I would borrow one of the Disney planning guides from the library and figure out which rides the kids would really love and which ones we could skip. Also, I'd figure out a way for older child(ren) to go on rides that the younger child(ren) aren't big enough for (with us, DH and DS go on the hairy rides while DD and I do something else).

I would be at the park for opening and dine in the park to get the most of my time.

 

[ampc3]

Well, The first time we went with our 2 oldest (4&6 at the time)in feb '05. We only had one day at the MK, spent 2nights .

We planned to pretty much do it "commondo" style, We got there right when it opened rented the double stroller, and yes they used it!
Headed to Fantasy land did dumbo first was about a 15min wait, pooh was a walk on, grab some fass passes (can't remember for what)got Ariel out of the way. pretty much did most of Fantasy land.

We had the last breakfast sitting for Crystal Place, which I would recommend b/c we had ALOT of character interaction, and they refilled the food right before we sat down (not sure they did again tho)
When we came out it was time for the cinderalle celebration show, got seats up front (ran and got some more fast passes while DH waited with the kids)
I pretty much knew up front what was a *must do* We stayed ALL DAY no breaks-the kids where great! They passed out in the stroller after the fireworks!
I personally would not try and leave the park and come back since you only have one day, We totally did commondo style and we by know means saw it all! Enjoy it, You will have a blast!!
Good Luck

 

[djs113]

I would extend the vacation by 5 days

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

magic kingdom magic kingdom magic kingdom!!!!

show the kids the planning video, let each pick 1 special thing they want to do. HAVE FUN!!!

 

[MinMouse]

Definitely go to the Magic Kingdom. Be there when the park opens and have a plan for what rides you will go to first. The lines will be the shortest then so I would choose not to spend this time eating breakfast with the characters. If character dining is important, eat with Pooh & friends for lunch or dinner at CP. If not, just plan on counter service. Check out the afternoon parade and don't miss Wishes! I would choose not to take a hotel break mid-day if the kids seemed to be fairing well. Have a magical day!

 

[DisneyMama27]

Altho this is not how we like to do it, I agree with MinMouse. With one day, the kids will not want to leave the park. ALMOST all the rides at MK are for everyone - ToonTown and FantasyLand are still favorites with our kids, and I would recommend the parade and fireworks. Do simple meals - character and sit-down meals can take 2 hours easily (even at slow times) - and enjoy some yummy snacks throughout the day (like while you are waiting for the parade - great time for a Mickey bar or Dole whip!)

If the kids want to meet characters, ToonTown Fair is a good place to do that. The lines can get long, but then they get their fix and are ready to move on. PLus, they get to see several characters at once in there.

Rides I'd recommend: Goofy's Barnstormer (very tame roller coaster, but FUN), Peter Pan, SMall World, Pooh, Mickey's Philharmagic (not a ride, but fun for everyone), Jungle Cruise, Magic Carpet (same thing as Dumbo, but usually a shorter wait), Teapots, Buzz Lightyear, (skip the Stitch attraction if ANY are afraid of the dark - my DD LOVES Stitch but hates this - and she's 8) and of course any others they want to ride!

FYI: my kids LOVED eating at Pinnochio's Village Haus. It's just regular counter-service stuff, but we managed a table by the window overlooking Small WOrld and they thought that was great. PLUS, the chocolate shakes there were yummy!

Have fun and enjoy!!

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

We just went with a 4 and 2 year old a coupls of weeks ago for our first time. We would definitely to Magic Kingdom if we only had one day. We'd do Barnstormer, the train, Buzz Lightyear and Micky Philharmagic. Everything else would just be extra as those were our VERY favorites. O, and the show they put on in front of the castle. The kids loved it and my four year old thought it was so real she hid behind her daddy when the witch came out.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I'd get to the MK at opening, and run to fantasy land, ride everything I could. Then around 10:30 I'd swing by the FP line for Buzz on my way to the latest possible breakfast at Chef Mickey's (because we would have been up so early that would have been lunch).

Then I'd go back to MK for the rest of the day.