Instead of this, that - Disney Parks Edition

[Sevey13]

There's always something new to try. There are always things we don't like. There are always things we love. Instead of a negativity thread, this is a way for us to share what we might like to do instead of a more popular experience, OR a chance to share a little-known something to do that might enhance something we already love.

For example:

Instead of watching the fireworks from the Polynesian, watch them from Fantasyland behind the castle. If you've seen Wishes multiple times, you might be looking for a new perspective. Instead of leaving the park and going to the resort, check out the view from next to the carousel. You get a 360-degree show, plus you can hop right on to SDMT.

Instead of watching "The American Adventure," spend time in One Man's Dream. My thoughts on TAA are documented elsewhere, but long story short it hardly represents any part of the "American Adventure" beyond the dominant white perspective and is filled with half-truths and myth presented as fact. It's one of the few attractions that I really, really don't like. My replacement is One Man's Dream. A take on history that is more accurate, if still sugarcoated. It's largely overlooked. It's got a movie theater if you want that sit-down-in-the-air-conditioning thing that the TAA theater has. Sure it's missing the animatronics, but there are plenty of interesting artifacts.

What are your 'instead of this, that' tips?

 

[rpb718]

You mean like: Instead of going to WDW, go to Universal?

Sorry - I had to go there before someone else did.

But I know what you're after. Last time we went to EPCOT during F&W we watched IllumiNations from various places all around World Showcase just to keep it fresh. Normally we have always watched on the far-side of WS - from the bridge to Germany, but never from the Canada to Mexico side.

 

[Sevey13]

I see what you did there ;-).

That's a good one, though. Reflecting on Reflections on Earth, I have always watched it close to the back of WS, never the front.

 

[glassslippergirl]

Not a bad idea for a thread!

I've never liked all the oil company propaganda on Ellen's Energy Adventure. Instead of going there, I'd get in touch with my Mother Earth side on the Pagani and Discovery Island trails in AK. Discovering so many animals is a much better use of my time than learning about 15-year-old energy innovations that were poised to save us from an impending energy crisis but never really panned out.

Instead of complaining about the mid-day heat, get a soda at Pinocchio Village Haus and wave to people heading out on Small World.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Instead of heading to the most popular areas in a park first thing in the morning, head to the places others don't go. We had a wonderful morning at HS heading back toward Muppet Vision first thing. The entire area was empty. Got some great photos, spent a lot of time doing different poses with Lightning McQueen and Mater (no one else was there), watched MuppetVision, were first in line for Phineas and Ferb, and just had some general alone-time in the park. At AK we spent a beautiful, quiet, peaceful morning on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Everyone else was at Everest and KS.

 

[MikeTaylor]

Instead of waiting on FoF to start on a rainy day, head to PotC, the standby line is usually short around 3PM.

 

[TIME4DIZ]

Instead of hitting all your "must do" restaurants, commit to only eating at places you've never been.

We did this a couple of years ago and found it made Disney refreshingly new!

 

[tstidm1]

Instead of Rope Dropping a park and being tired at 5 PM, Take a sleep in day and have a relaxing morning at your resort or Disney Springs. Will be giving that a try this time along with afternoon breaks.

 

[Sevey13]

Instead of Rope Dropping a park and being tired at 5 PM, Take a sleep in day and have a relaxing morning at your resort or Disney Springs. Will be giving that a try this time along with afternoon breaks.

We're trying this this time, too. We're doing MK until 1 AM EMH on Wednesday, but sleeping in and being lazy the next before hitting HS in the late morning.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Instead of hitting all your "must do" restaurants, commit to only eating at places you've never been.

We did this a couple of years ago and found it made Disney refreshingly new!

I have considered this. Just so hard to go to Disney and NOT eat at Sanaa and BOG. They are just so unique and so Disney. We do a good job of eating at new places every trip, but the idea of not eating anywhere we have ever eaten is a lofty goal.

 

[SDSorority]

Instead of dragging your tired self up main street at the end of the day, hop on the train and ride back up to the front. OR, instead of walking all the way to the back of MK at the beginning of the day, ride the train back. Save some steps, and crowds.

Instead of wasting time during the lunch hour standing in line at a counter service restaurant, then wandering to find a table, pack a lunch in a cooler and find a shady bench or out of the way place to sit and eat. I like the bench to the right after the exit of the POTC gift shop at MK, Morocco pavilion room to the left of the entrance where there's the water fountain at EP, hut to the right inside the entrance of Asia at AK, and the benches to the left of 50's prime time entrance at HS.

 

[zaccaglin]

Instead of leaving MK right after the fireworks only to find the monorail with a 40 min wait....go ride the people mover once or twice, then the monorail, barley any wait, and they don't pack the platform as full!

 

[Sevey13]

Instead of leaving MK right after the fireworks only to find the monorail with a 40 min wait....go ride the people mover once or twice, then the monorail, barley any wait, and they don't pack the platform as full!

And if you're good on timing, you'll get a kiss goodnight!

 

[Dreamport]

Instead of spending all day in one park, rope drop one park, take a midday break, then finished out in another. The experience had us feeling like our vacation lasted longer than a week.

Instead of waiting in line for several different characters, pick a character meal with 3/4 'hosts' if you're with little ones or just on a character hunt. You'll likely spend the same amount of time out of the day, and a little more out of pocket, but at least you'll be in the AC, off your feet, and fed!

Instead of pulling your hair out making a reservation on the lake or staking out a spot 2 hours in advance, take a walk around one side of the World Showcase as Illuminations is going on. You may not be able to see the lower portions but it's kind of neat to experience it from different angles, not to mention if you do time it right you can already be on the bridge to Future World heading out of the park ahead of the throng. We did this by coincidence and I think we'll do it again!

 

[disneyseniors]

Love this thread!

We have started doing something we have never been interested in before. We used to hurry by the Flights of Wonder at AK, as I really don't care for birds. But one day we just thought we'd give it a try, and we LOVED it. It was interesting and entertaining.

So from now on, we make an effort to try something we have avoided in each park. What a wonderful way to keep it fresh, and see and learn new things.

 

[Sevey13]

Instead of spending all day in one park, rope drop one park, take a midday break, then finished out in another. The experience had us feeling like our vacation lasted longer than a week.

I am going to give this one a shot this upcoming trip. MK in the morning for a tour, then we're heading to AK for the afternoon. We'll wrap up with some food from Epcot before hitting HS for the Symphony in the Stars.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Instead of spending all day in one park, rope drop one park, take a midday break, then finished out in another. The experience had us feeling like our vacation lasted longer than a week.

This is what we do almost every WDW day!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Instead of leaving MK right after the fireworks only to find the monorail with a 40 min wait....go ride the people mover once or twice, then the monorail, barley any wait, and they don't pack the platform as full!

ITA -- We've done this kind of thing A LOT!

 

[zaccaglin]

ITA -- We've done this kind of thing A LOT!

Wish more people would. #tiredofgettingyelledat

 

[tarak]

Love this thread!

We have started doing something we have never been interested in before. We used to hurry by the Flights of Wonder at AK, as I really don't care for birds. But one day we just thought we'd give it a try, and we LOVED it. It was interesting and entertaining.

So from now on, we make an effort to try something we have avoided in each park. What a wonderful way to keep it fresh, and see and learn new things.

I love Flights of Wonder. The last time we saw the show, one of the birds didn't cooperate at all. It was really funny. I'm going down with my mom and 4-year-old in a week. My mom doesn't like coasters and my little one is too short for most of them. So this trip will be more about exploring places like Tom Sawyer's Island, which we haven't done in ages. My mom and youngest never complain about the tree house, either.

If you stay at or visit the AKL and have kids, do some of the bead activities, or take a tour of the resort. I think they still offer tours of Sanaa and the cultural artifacts. I want to do that someday.