Must do's for theme park addicts

[Simon06]

it will be my brothers and I first trip to Orlando, what are the must do's for theme park addicts, we will be visiting busch gardens, all disney parks, seaworld and universal, both disney water parks and wet and wild. Is there any rides that can be left out until another visit? What about the dinner and show attractions? In this country we ride any theme park ride at least once. We mostly go to theme parks as soon as they open not leaving until they close.

 

[carolfoy]

depends on how big you like your thrills! I can only comment on WDW and would say
MK
Space mountain
Splash mountain (mild but fun)
Big thunder (again mild but fun)

Epcot
Soarin (again! mild but fun)
Mission: space
test track

MGM
Tower of terror
Rock n roller coaster

AK
Expedition Everest


All shows and parades are worth seeing at least once, you may need to line up an hour in advance for a good spot but if you use that time to rest and get a drink/snack it won't seem so bad.
a lot of the kiddie rides like winnie the pooh are great fun but they do get the longest queues so hit them either really early or late in the day.
There are so many fun themed rides as well like pirates of the caribbean, haunted mansion that are just sooo detailed and are really 'cult' things you wouldn't want to miss out on.
Make an effort to see the 3 3-d shows - MK Philharmagic, brilliant!, Epcot - honey I shrunk the audience and AK - Its tough to be a bug as these are fun, informative and very clever.
When are you going? and where are you staying?

 

[Simon06]

Carol,

thanks for the reply, going april 10th 2007, staying offsite on I-Drive, When we went to DLRP we did all rides and shows there, on a day trip, that was before the studios opened. Yep like all the shows, 3D/4D ones as well as the others, sounds like everything is a must see at least once, its going to be a tiring time

 

[carolfoy]

oh it'll definately be that Simon, don't underestimate the size of the parks, and the time it'll take to just really get inside to the centre of each park. If I'm honest I'd say you were taking on too much, I'd definately just split my stay between disney and universal this time. theres far more than you think there and the heat is a definate 'slowing down' factor. if you're doing both disney water parks theres no need for wet n wild as well, at least not this time!
I'm doing universal for the first time this year, we've spent so far 6 weeks in florida and only ever got round WDW and seaworld, there really is a HUGE amount to cover.

 

[sarahc]

I f you like thrill rides head to Islands of Adventure - it's got some great ones! Try Hulk, Duelling Dragons (Fire was my fave), Spiderman; and the water rides are good too.

 

[UKDEB]

How long are you visiting for? 2 weeks? If so, you might want to consider leaving Busch Gardens for a future trip. Unless you absolutely love water parks, I would say that Wet 'n' Wild could be missed, but as you're staying on I-Drive, you can probably squeeze it in somewhere.

Magic Kingdom
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Haunted Mansion
Mickey's Philharmagic
Space Mountain
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Carousel of Progress
Wishes
SpectroMagic. We seldom bother with parades - I don't like all the jostling for position and hanging around for ages beforehand - but we've seen them all at least once and Disney does them well. Share a Dream Come True, the afternoon parade at MK, is my least favourite of those currently on offer. SpectroMagic is hugely popular and, other than the very busiest times, is only shown a couple of nights a week (unlike Wishes which is performed every night). My favourite place to watch the MK parades is Frontierland. We arrive at least an hour beforehand and grab the rocking chairs on the verandah of the Liberty Tree Tavern. We then just chill out and people-watch until parade time.

Epcot
Spaceship Earth (but don't do it as you enter the park - you need to experience the more popular rides first before they get too busy)
Soarin'
Test Track
Ellen's Energy Adventure. This is a really long ride/show (around 45 minutes), so bear that in mind when fitting it into your schedule.
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Maelstrom
El Rio Del Tiempo
Mission: Space (I've never done it, but it is a headliner)
Living with the Seas (the pavilion has had some new attractions added recently and is undergoing further refurbishment, so will probably be worth a visit by the time you go)
IllumiNations. Don't join the crowds on World Showcase Plaza. There are plenty of better spots around the lagoon. Just make sure you haven't got trees obscuring your view.

Over the years, Epcot has become our favourite park, and many of the things we choose to do now would probably not appeal to a first-timer.

MGM Studios
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror
The Great Movie Ride
Who Want to be a Millionaire - Play It!
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Star Tours
Backlot Tour (including Catastrophe Canyon)
Lights, Motors, Action!
Muppet Vision 4D
Fantasmic
Disney Stars and their Cars. We saw this for the first time last May - we'd never bothered before and it's surprisingly good. Get a spot right by Star Tours where the parade starts. Get there in good time and make sure you stand directly behind one of the brass lines (inlaid into the paving) and no-one will be permitted to stand in front of you (the CMs will move along anyone who tries).

We also like Adventures of the Little Mermaid and the Beauty and the Beast show, but I guess they're really aimed at children. Having said that, I know more than one guy who finds they have certain attractions!

Animal Kingdom
Expedition Everest
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Dinosaur
It's Tough to be a Bug
Festival of the Lion King
Kali River Rapids
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade. This is Disney's best parade, IMHO. It starts and ends next to the entrance for Kilimanjaro Safaris, so we always grab a spot on the low walled area in front of the rest rooms opposite Pizzafari (you can then watch it twice if you want to). As always, you need to arrive in good time to get this spot.

AK is another park which grows on you and you start appreciating other aspects the more you visit. If you like animals, the lesser attractions are well worth a look - Maharajah Jungle Trek, Pagani Forest Exploration Trail and the Oasis. It took many visits before we discovered the trails around the Tree of Life - a quiet and relaxing break with hardly anyone else around.

Universal Studios
Revenge of The Mummy
Shrek 4D
Terminator 2 3D
Men in Black
ET Adventure
Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast
Earthquake
Jaws
Back to the Future

Fear Factor Live is a new show, which we've never seen, but I guess it would appeal to you and your brother.

Islands of Adventure
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Incredible Hulk Coaster
Dr Doom's Fearfall (you wouldn't get me on this if my life depended on it, but it is a headliner)
Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges
Dudley Doo-Right's Ripsaw Falls (I really don't like this, but again, it is a major attraction)
Jurassic Park River Adventure (another which I've never plucked up the courage to try)
Duelling Dragons
The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad
Poseidon's Fury

CityWalk is also a destination in itself and, as you have to pass through it to visit either park, you may as well take a look around. I recommend lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Sea World
I haven't done any of the thrill rides here, but they're all headliners. The Shamu Show is the number one must-see, but lots of other attractions, shows and exhibits are good, too. It's a really nice park, especially since they've added the new Waterfront area. The news shows are also supposed to be fantastic - I must get around to seeing them! Don't miss the Anheuser Busch Hospitality Center - free beer!

As you're going to have a lot to fit in
* make sure you avoid the Extra Magic Hours days for onsite guests at the Disney Parks (they're always significantly busier);
* aim to arrive at the parking lot at least half an hour before park opening - you can pack in a lot of attractions in the first couple of hours before the parks start to get really busy;
* make full use of FASTPASS at the Disney parks.

 

[Simon06]

Thanks for all the helpful tips, I really want to do busch gardens, so will miss out one or two water parks. I bet most first timers try and cram everything they can into a 2 week trip.

 

[scojos]

Thanks for all the helpful tips, I really want to do busch gardens, so will miss out one or two water parks. I bet most first timers try and cram everything they can into a 2 week trip

no sorry they dont...
we are going for the 2nd time this year last we focused on mk ak mgmand usf. we stayed only a short distance from seaworld and the kids wanted to go but we stoojk to what we had resarched. really lookjng forward to epcot this year as well as crt and wcc, you find out something new all the time. read the trippies and see what others have done
just relax and enjoy
tracy

 

[Simon06]

scojos,

I understand what you are saying, what would happen if you didnt do another trip you would miss out on alot of things

 

[tink too]

I agree with UKDEB about the must do's, but as no-one has really discussed Busch Gardens, here goes!

There are loads of thrill rides there but some of the "smaller" coasters seem to be either slow in loading or have a very low capacity on the ride vehicles, so I suggest you do the ones you really don't want to miss first, then fill in any extra time you have left with the others!

As our DD is still little, we like to visit the animal exhibits, too and there are good kid sized rides for little ones to keep them occupied.

Another tip - if you are taking their buses from I-Drive to BG, be sure NOT to miss the return as they do leave on time and a taxi from Tampa Bay would cost at least a couple hundred dollars!

We can't wait to go back and try Sheikra - they were just building it the last time we were there.

Sea World has a lot of shows and exhibits, so it's a nice park to go to on a day you want to chill a bit! Of course, there is Kraken and Journey to Atlantis to throw in some thrills for the day too!

I'm sure you'll have fun - even though you will feel like you need another holiday just to get over this one!

 

[Simon06]

Tink Too,

thanks for the info on the bus, dont want to pay that amount for a taxi, rides to do first would be, kumba, montu, sheikra, gwazi, then the smaller rides. Seaworld should be a good place to relax after all the thrills, lol

 

[tink too]

No problem Simon!

One other thing - bring a change of clothes to BG! We often wear swimwear (DH wears swim shorts & tee and I wear a swimsuit below shorts & tee) then do the "water" rides, then change before doing the rest!

Believe me, you will get soaked - especially on the Tidal Wave!

 

[disneyholic family]

you'll drive yourself crazy if you try to do everything in 2 weeks, but if you really want to, you need to plan everything in advance - every move from morning to night, like a military operation.


I won't add my 2 cents regarding WDW or Universal. However I didn't notice any responses regarding waterparks.
Personally I much prefer Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach to Wet and Wild, but others may disagree. TL and BB are much more 'beautiful' than W&W.

If you can only pick one waterpark, I'd go with TL, to try out their water 'coaster' tube slide, Crush and Gusher. C&G pretty much ruined us for any other water slides.

If you're going to be in Orlando for Easter/spring break, then keep in mind that it will be VERY crowded. Which means you have to get to any of the waterparks before opening unless you enjoy standing in very long lines.

 

[scojos]

scojos,

I understand what you are saying, what would happen if you didnt do another trip you would miss out on alot of things

yes you are right and ds6 has aso and asthma so our situation is very different but we made the decision before going to do what we were going and to do that well you have a different situation just enjoy whatever you do just take time to relax, get some sleep and smell the roses hope you have a great time

tracy

 

[motheroftink]

Having just got back, we fitted in all the Disney Parks, both Universal Parks, Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Discovery Cove and Typhoon Lagoon, with several evening visits to Downtown Disney (in a 2 week holiday). This included taking 2 days to do Epcot (one for Future World and one for World Showcase), and 2 days for MK as this is our favourite park. (Saying that though, it was our second trip and we did miss out a few things that we were not too bothered to do again, but we also included a lot of things that we had missed the first time)!!!
I would agree that you only need to do one Disney Waterpark, although I haven't done Wet n' Wild. You could maybe squeeze both Disney waterparks in, though if you can't then Typhoon Lagoon is the best one.
We only went to Busch Gardens for the first time on this trip, and the suggestion to do the big rides first is a good idea, as we ran out of time to do Montu much to my husbands and sons annoyance.(That Gwazi is much faster than you think!). Hubby was a bit disappointed with Sheikra though everyone is different.
Having spoke to several Brits waiting for the flight home, most people reckoned that the best thrill ride in Orlando is the Kraken in Seaworld so make sure you do this one.
Seaworld is a more relaxing park to do, and a waterpark day is a quite restful day too, and beleive me you will need a couple of restfull days. By the end of our holiday I was really struggling to get hubby and the kids out of bed in the mornings.

 

[disneyholic family]

by the way, if you're very tall, you might want to avoid Dueling Dragons at Islands of Adventure. I've never read about this problem in any guidebook, but both my husband and son came off very ill from DD due to the fact that it's built for shorter people. My husband is 6'7", my son about an inch shorter.

The headrest was too low for them, so there was no support.
Both of them can ride any ride with no ill effects (including mission space), but DD left my husband sick for the rest of the day, my son was ill for several hours. We concluded that it was due to the headrest problem.

So if you're very tall, you might want to skip DD or leave it until the end of the day.

 

[Rosie]

Hi Simon

Like your family me and mine are well and truly theme park addicts! We did all the parks plus Discovery Cove Water Parks and Kennedy Space Centre when we visited last year.

IMHO Magic Kingdom is not as picturesque as Disneyland Park at DLRP and the rides that are at both Parks are far superior at DLRP. I would skip Stitch's Great Escape if there is even a hint of a queue.

It will be tiring and you will probably need a chill out day or two. We missed things like the shops because we feel that we can shop anywhere! Epcot is a whole lot of shops in the World Showcase. I really wasn't interested.

I recommend Disneyquest at least once - you can design and ride your own coaster in a simulator. Top tip - get the Brit's guide and really plan it all. If you're like us you won't want to waste park time wandering aroung looking at menus and lining up.

Have fun planning!

 

[Simon06]

Rosie,

yep got the brits guide book, I dont look at menus either so long as you get plenty of food and its tasty, then straight back on the rides