I'm new here, questions

[mooooooo]

I am a new member and I just love reading all about Disney. We are going at the end of July and my family is so excited. I was wondering if some of you could tell which which rides and attractions are a must to see and which ones are a waste of time to stand in line for. I want to see the most possible since we are only there a few days and I would like to skip the ones that arn't so hot. Thanks so much!

 

[LoveMickey]

That depends on the type of attractions you like.

If you are a thrill ride adventurer, then make sure you use the Fast Pass rides.

Don't miss the nighttime parades and fireworks shows, MK, EPCOT and MGM.

Enjoy.

 

[swilphil]

Welcome to the Disboards!!

A lot of it depends on what your personal interests are and the ages of your group. My husband and I both get sick from spinning rides, so the Tea Cups and Mission: Space are out. We have very small children, so we do a lot of those rides. We all like shows, too. Fantasmic , Muppetvision and Beauty & the Beast at MGM are must sees.

For me, Rock N' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror at MGM are my must do's. At MK, I like Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. At Epcot, we enjoy Journey into the Imagination and just walking through World Showcase.

I've only been to AK for a few hours, and if you don't have much time in the parks you might want to skip it all together.

I would highly recommend getting some Disney Travel books. The Unofficial Guide to WDW is my favorite. I was able to get the newest copy at the public library, as well as some Fodors and Frommers. That way you can familiarize yourself with all there is. You don't have to do everything in one trip.

If you want to go on as many rides as possible, get to the parks when they open. We also go in July, and it's so humid there we take an afternoon break and head back to the parks in the evening. I thought I knew humidity living in the Midwest, but WDW is much more tropical.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Welcome! Make sure you check out the information on wdwinfo.com, allearsnet.com, and mousesaver.com.
Together with everything on these boards you will be able to put together a wonderful trip!
You are smart to not go to WDW without a plan.

 

[anditoo72]

Welcome to the Dis! Let me say first that you are going to get all kinds of answers to this question since everyone has their own favorites. Personally-

Magic Kingdom Cant Miss: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Whinnie The Pooh, Haunted Mansion

Nice If I get to: Pirates of Carribbean, Tiki Room, Space Mountain, The Transit Authority, Golden Carousel, Small World, Peter Pan, WDW Railroad, Parades and fireworks, Characters!!!!!!

Don't Care If I see or not: Hall of Presidents, Aladdin, Dumbo, Snow White, Speedway anything in Toontown Fair, Astro Orbiter, any of the live performances- I do like them, just not going to go out of my way to see them, Tea Party.

Never seen cant judge: Ariel's Grotto (I know its been there forever-going this year for my little girl), Mikey's Philharmagic (heard it is really good, going to try to fit in), Time Keeper?????, Bell's Story Hour.

Magic Kingdom's cant miss snack: Mickey Bar

MGM can't miss: Rock N' Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror

Like to see: all of these rides I do like a lot and don't miss, but I do believe they need updates: Great Movie Ride, Muppets, Playhouse Diseny Show, Backlot Tour, Indiana Jones, Buzz and Woody by Al's Toy Barn, and The Muppets usually roaming around near the same area, Parade only its at 5:30 so we hop from another day, because We usually do MGM in half a day!!

Don't Care either way: Honey I shrunk the Audience Playground (the kids could out of my sight to easy), Make Up Show, Sounds Dangerous, Star Tours, any live performances,

MGM's Can't miss snack: Frozen Lemonade-Yummy!!!

Epcot Can't Miss: Test Track- Hate the line, but love the ride!!!

Like to See: Spaceship Earth, Universe of Energy, Coke Cool Station, The living Seas, Imagination Pavillion (only if not to busy)

Don't Care: The lands (I think I am just burnt- because I used to love the lands, we are skipping them this year and may be I will feel differently next time we go- they do have a lot to offer, if you havn't seen them I highly suggest you go- Mexico and Norway have cute rides and some of the live performances like France-living statutes, chinese acrobats ect... are great) anything else in Epcot including Illuminations- Don't get the hype never have!!!! Use to love old figment not impressed anymore and would someone please update Honey I shrunk the Audience- if you have never seen it go-it's cute, but I have seen it to many times to make it worth my while!!!!!

Can't judge never been: Mission Space

Can't Miss Snack: Ice Cream Social

Animal Kingdom Can't Miss: Dinosaur, Kali River rapids, Safari, Tough to Be a Bug/ Tree of Life, The tree people

Don't Care: Festival of Lion King was good- but I don't know If I would go again, Anything else in AK

Can't jugde: Jungle Treck we missed this last time I don't know why.

Don't have a favorite snack.

Hope this helps

 

[sters]

Whatever your ages, I'd recommend seeing the 3-D movie PhilharMagic in Fantasayland at the Magic Kindgom. It really puts you in the Disney mood! ANd, it's probably the best 3-D show on property. I say "probably" because some of the others we avoid because our kids are young and get scared (e.g., Tough to Be a Bug... a disasterous experiment for us)

As for MK attractions: Pirates of the Carribeans, Splash Mountain (my fav), and Haunted Mansion are not to be missed! Toms Sawyers Island is a family favorite, too, but can be skipped if time does not permit. It's just a great place to run around and burn off steam as well as relax a bit.

Epcot.. I love it all! Especially the entertainment and food in the countires. Test Track is great (use Fast Pass) and my kids LOVED Imagination (we had to do it several times). The boat ride in the Land is very interesting and educational if time permits. I loved the atmosphere in the restaurant there, especially with the characters. However, if time is of an essence, you could skip the whol pavillion and not feel like you've missed much. Ditto for the Living Seas (excellent restaurant!) but if you have a good aquarium near your home, you could skip this pavillion too.

MGM: I'd so the Indiana Stunt SPectacular. It's a great show and will not be around for too many more years. And, also, I like the Great Movie Ride. My kids like playing in the playground there (Honey I Shrunk the Kids themed), but it's hard to keep track of them. The Backlot Tour isn't what it used to be and was a huge disappoinment to me, considering how much time it chewed up. Beauty and the Beast stage show was very good. I love the ToT, but my kids are little, so haven't been on it in years and I hear good reports about the Rockin Roller coaster too. Fantasmic! is a MUST! My 7yr old continues to RAVE about this show (I personally prefer Wishes at the MK, but not so my son)

AK: Lion King show was fantastic. We also like Tarzan Rocks!, which we never miss. The Safari ride and the water rapid rides are family favorites. We usually skip this park if time is short, so can only comment on some of the basics. A very disappointing park in the rain, in my opinion, since there seems to be so few places to run for cover.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

mooooooo,
I would get a guide book, if you can, and read through it with your family...read the descriptions and start a "priority" list. Since this is your first time, it will be hard to tell completely from the books which rides/events/shows/etc. you will truly enjoy and which you will find a little disappointing. Regardless, it's good that you are willing to not try to do it all on your first time out! And remember that most anything WDW does is top-notch and amazing if you can check your cares at the gate and be willing to be like a kid (full of fascination and wonder)! Hopefully then, if you are like the rest of us, you will leave wanting more!, more!, more! and you can decide whether those things that you got the chance to experience first hand are "must dos" for your family from this trip forward.
I'm sooo excited for you! You can only have one first trip to WDW and if it is anything like mine was, you'll be hooked! Have fun and remember to stop to smell the roses!

 

[mooooooo]

You all are so wonderful for all the great information. I have to say I have not got so many responses from a board in my life. I love it here. I will use all this info for my trip. I did buy a passporter book and Bramsomething or other. They are good. Thanks a again to all of you!

 

[mmccoy]

Hey, mooooooo.

Dang, I hope got the number of o's right.

Anyway, I echo what other posters have written about doing your research. There's so much to do and see, you'll miss a lot if you don't do some front-end work.

My first suggestion is, don't try to do everything. Trust me, I've lived the type-A, go 'til you drop, commando-style trip. If you're part of a young family, you're better off getting an early start, relaxing in the afternoon, and heading back in the evening. You'll be back in the future, so if you miss something on this trip, you can see it the next time.

Second, relax. Its Disney, and its easy to get caught up in the frenzy of "getting as many autographs as possible", or "getting the best seat for every show", that sort of thing. If you take a "don't worry, be happy" approach the trip will be much more fun.

Third, don't make kids ride things they don't want to ride. Let them get over their fears on their own. My DS15 wouldn't ride a ferris wheel until he was 10 or 11. Now, we can't get him off of RNR and TOT.

As for specifics:

1) Use e-ride night at MK, if available. Regardless, ride HM.
2) Get a passport/mask for the kids at Epcot. Vist the Kidcot station at each country.
3) MGM - RNR and TOT, of course. But, get character pictures there. A veritable plethora of characters appear on the hour around the Sorcerer's hat.
4) AK - Take it for what it is - a place to see lots of animals in a natural setting. My DS5 loved the trails, especially first thing in the morning.

Other suggestions:

1) Use FP where possible
2) Do at least one character meal
3) If you like putt-putt, play. The courses are cool.

And, most importantly, let yourself experience the magic.

 

[kidd_freeper]

There are a lot of "must do's". Depends on the crowd you are with and your tastes. My biggest "must do" is Fantasmic! at MGM.

The only"don't do" that comes to mind is MGM's 'Sounds Dangerous'. The air conditioning in the theater is the highlight.

 

[meddam]

My must-do's are:

MK:
-Haunted Mansion - I LOVE it!
-Haven't been to Pooh b/c the line is always too long, but we're doing it next time
-Space mountain
-Pirates of the carribean
-Swiss family robinson tree house if you have kids
-Character lunch in the crystal palace if you like the Pooh charaters


Epcot
-Spaceship earth
-Test track
-The one with the dinosaurs - can't remember it's name
-Honey I shrunk the audience
-The land (although many find it boring - but I'm a scientist so I like it)
-The malestrom (in Norway)
-The countries - I love them - I love just walking around them!

MGM
I haven't been here in a while, so I can't remember all of the stuff & I didn't go on much when I was there for just 1/2 a day
-Tower of Terror

AK
same deal as MGM
-It's Tough to be a bug
-The safari


Don't worry about seeing everything. I'd rather enjoy my time and see just a few things than run around to get to everything. Not to mention my significant other isn't the fastest guy around & it would be painful for me to get him moving faster. You'll have a fabulous time no matter what. I love Disney & half of the fun is thinking about all of the fun we'll have once we're there!

 

[WillAndFinn'sMom]

Here's my must-do list:

Magic Kingdom:

Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Space Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Carousel of Progress
Peter Pan

Animal Kingdom:
Kali River Rapids (be forewarned, you can get soaked)
Kilimanjaro Safari (hope I spelled that right)
Primeval Whirl
It's Tough to be a Bug
The animal trails (can't remember the names, but we really love the one by Kali River Rapids - if you go right after you exit the ride)
Dinosaur Dig/Play Area

Disney/MGM Studios (My least favorite park):
Who Wants to be a Millionaire
Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground
Fantasmic!
Backlot Tour

Epcot:
World Showcase - in particular, the Mexico ride and shops, Norway ride, Japan's shops, China, UK

 

[bobcat]

Hi mooooooo! We're a pretty friendly bunch around here. Knowing a few more details about the ages of your family members and how long you have to see WDW helps us to help you plan.

 

[mooooooo]

Hi, Thanks for the great welcome,

My kids are 20, 18, and 16, all boys. They love all the dangerous stuff and so do I. I love all the girly stuff too. My hubby likes the art type stuff and can't ride any of the real rides.

Thanks for all the info.

 

[RickNWendy]

Welcome.

Since you are going in July, your favorite attractions will be the sunscreen Streams and the Journey into Air Conditioning.

 

[Gary M]

The best suggestions I have are to get to the parks at opening time and use FP's.

Have a great time.

 

[RickNWendy]

Welcome.

Since you are going in July, your favorite attractions will be the sunscreen Streams and the Journey into Air Conditioning.

 

[mooooooo]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE GREAT REPLIES. I HAVE COPIED THEM ALL AND I AM MAKING PLANS. YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL!