It's your first time.......

[GoofieRuthie]

Which park/ride to you ride first?


This will be my whole family's first time ever at WDW. I've been going over all the rides and have our itenirary, etc.. Then I started thinking....What ride do I want to ride to make it the most memorable??? It will be my DH, DD10, DD8,DD2 and I. I think I want to ride something that we can all ride together for our very first ride ever. Any suggestions? Also, I'd love to hear everyone's first ride story. Thanks a bunch! (We will be going to MK as our first park of course. I just couldn't bare being there and not seeing Walt and Mickey, the Castle, and walking down Main Street on the first day.)

 

[WDWorBUST]

Just my $0.02 - I would do Splash Mountain. You can buy the souvenir photo too so you'll always have it. And make sure you stop on Main Street and have your family photo taken by the photographer there. Those are the only pictures my husband and I get of us together during our vacation. They are like $13 but are priceless souvenirs. We make sure to get them at every park.

 

[stinkerbelle]

first off - going to MK first is the way to do it!

I know alot of people will say Dumbo...but personaly, I like to do Pirates of the Carribbean first. Don't know why...but for some reason, it ALWAYS seems to be our first stop.

 

[worm761]

DS(was 5 at the time) and i went in 2201. our first ride together was Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.
it is a fun ride and the whole family can go on together. you will probably have to split into two different cars though.

 

[grinningghost]

My first thought was Splash Mountain, but since you have a 2 year old, you couldn't all ride together. But that might make the Winnie the Pooh ride a good choice. It's family-friendly and what 2 year old doesn't like Pooh? I know you guys will LOVE WDW! It will absolutely knock your socks off if it's your first time! Welcome to the club!

 

[WDWorBUST]

I completely missed your 2 year old - sorry. You could go on It's a Small World.....it drives me crazy but I think it is perfect for a family's first ride together at WDW. I've already warned my husband that he will indeed have to go on it again when we have children But definitely still get a family picture if you are budgeting for souvenirs at all.

 

[Gary M]

Since you are a family of five, with a two year old, I would ride Peter Pan as the first ride.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Definitely do Small World as your first ride. It's really a nice ride, especially for younger children. Since none of you have ever been on it, it's sure to please everyone.
Have a wonderful time with Mickey!!!

 

[RoqueC]

To save some time, and walking distance, I'd say go straight to Pirates of the Carribbean. The ride is anything but violent or fast-paced, and for small children, I don't think it's that scary. It just depends on the type of child. It's just a great Disney ride that everybody knows about.

 

[jdads2]

The first time we went my kids were 10, 7 and 4. My 10 year old is the only one to truly have a memerable ride from the 1st day(space mountain). The most I can remember from my 1st trip at age 14 was standing in line for space mountain(1.5 hrs)...I actually enjoyed the wait, so much to see.

That being said, our first ride was Dumbo. The best part of the day for us was watching the kids try to absorb "The Magic of WDW" all at once. The looks and expressions were (and still are) priceless.

Here is my #1 piece of advise...relax and take your time. I have seen too many parents drag their kids from ride to ride and not enjoy the sights and sounds.

Have fun!

 

[*Fantasia*]

I have 4 and 6. I would hit Fantasyland first. Any rides there. Then I would hit tomorrow land for Buzz Space Ranger. After that...watever goes.

 

[tbear]

ALIEN ENCOUNTER!!!!!!!!!!

OK..Ok ...just joking..LOL(although I really love AE...but..

I have to agree with everyones first impressions...all the previously mentioned rides are excellent...but heres one of those missed rides, and it will give you and the family a great bearing on the park...take the TRAIN!!!!!!!

Go all the way round to (OMG...what is it now, toontown??)Anyway...go on over, find THE MOUSE...you are at the back of the park basically.....when you walk away from the area....right turn will take you towards Fantasyland, left turn towards Tomorrowland.

Whatever you end up doing...it will be PERFECT!!!!
There really isnt any one ride thats better than the other, IMHO.\

Its Disney, and its ALL GOOD!

Enjoy your vacation with your family...they are about to have the most magical time of their lives....soak it all in(the first time is..more than amazing!!!)

 

[mommystieg]

Our first ride ever at WDW was Universe of Energy. We were really amazed but it was so LOUD that our 2 y/o dd was traumatized the entire trip. Any time we rode anything indoors we had to cover her ears and reassure that is wasn't loud. I think this visit our first ride may be the monorail-maybe we can start a family tradition

 

[CamColt]

My first instict was Dumbo, but how about the carousel so you can all be together instead of split up into cars(or elephants).

 

[pintrader]

At ages 10, 8 and 2 I would say do one of the absolute "forever" icons first. so I would choose from Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean or It's a Small World. All Five of you can "be" together in the ride vehicle in POC and IASW attractions.

I have to say I like the train thought as well. But to me that is the same as transportation (i.e. monorail or ferry) to et to the park.

 

[princess kerri]

I'm going to leave it to other posters to give you help on what might be the best choice for your family but whatever you choose I hope you enjoy it! I'd also agree with the idea of having an official WDW photographer take a photo of you all

My first ever ride at Disney was 7 years ago when I was 9. Now in my memory of that time...the layout of the park was completely different than when I was there last summer! hehe
So I'm guessing that we walked through the castle into Fantasyland (would that be possible?). My parent's and I came across the carousel and saw this couple in front of us walk through a gate that was open and when people were leaving the ride they somehow got on. So we followed them thinking "this is great!! Why was everyone complaining about queue's?"...of course after we started going around and noticed the looooonng queue on the other side we realised we must have somehow followed this couple through an exit or something
At the time we felt guilty but looking back now its quite a fun memory to have. I enjoyed the carousel itself as I had never been on such a traditional, beautiful one but now I have a story to go with that memory
My only problem now is that I still cant work out how we got on so easily without a CM seeing us

Oh well...have a great trip! Take time to enjoy everything and slow down...it's fun to do all the top rides. But it's also great to sit down and notice all the effort that has been put into every tiny detail of the park, or to just people watch!

 

[LSU Tigerfan]

Not to argue against some of the other fine suggestions, but I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Peter Pan yet. IMHO, that seems like an ideal choice for your crew.

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I had considered the train thing myself, but then thought how could I just skip the whole experience of walking down Main Street toward the castle??? I haven't seen many people mention using the train at all. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know about it until last week when I bought Birnbaums guide. I think it sounds like a great way to "see the world" and get out of walking so much.

Everyone had such great ideas I still don't know which ride to choose now! lol I think the Pooh ride would be great. I'm just worried how my DD2 will react. She loves Pooh, but I know there is a section that some say is a little intense with the heffalumps and woozles. She doesn't usually scare easy, but I'd hate to start the trip with her traumatized. Thanks again for the wonderful suggestions. I love hearing everyones stories too.

 

[pintrader]

I have sat and watched people of all ages come off that ride and I am complelled to tell you that I have NEVER and I mean NEVER seen a child of any age come off crying.

A lot of people let their kids get in the front. You may want to consider getting in the front of a few rides. This will allow you to turn around so you can capture first expressions with your camera. It's awfully difficult to get a pic with them in front of you.

 

[MOQ3424]

I would do Pirates of the Caribbean or if your two year old doesnt get scared Haunted Mansion but probably he wont like it