Need your best advice, strategy, secret anyting.....

yasuern

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A dear friend of mine is going two WDW for 2 weeks for the 1st time w/ her DH and to lovely children (I think ages 10 and 13) Arriving on Dec 18th and coming home on jan 2nd.


I need your best kept secret, best strategy, Not to missed attraction, best viewing area to see the various FW in WDW, great palces to eat sit down and fast food, anything at all that to you makes a WDW vacation special or easier. I have been to WDW a bunch of times but I am far from a seasoned VET - and I can tell her what works for me but i am just one opinion - I want her to have the wealth of knowledge from the collective that are these boards!


So PLEASE POST!!!!!!!!



THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE!!!

Sue
 
Go early in the morning... do as much as you can and then leave for a few hours to go and have a late sit down lunch or back to the room to take a nap. Go back to the parks in the evening to experience the rest.
Good eats: Just about anywhere... Favorites for each park:
MK: Pretzels in tomorrowland & Cinderella's castle
Epcot: Biergarten (Germany)
MGM: mama melrose (great food), Prime Time and Sci Fi theater are great for the kids...
AK: ??? We don't really eat there - can't help you here

Then just do everything and see everything !!!

:wave2: princess:
 
This will be an extremely busy times so tell them to use fastpass to their advantage. They should ALWAYS have a FP in hand!! Get a park map in advance or a book or something to decide what attractions & rides are "must see or do". Then try to map it out so there is limited backtracking.

I bet they would enjoy MVMCP.

Park by park tips:

MK - Head to the Mountains 1st (either Space Mtn, or Splash & Big Thunder). Get a FP b4 going on any ride! Then hit the other must sees & fill in btwn FP's with other choices. Don't miss Dole Whips in Adventureland. Peco's Bills in Frontierland has a great fixin's bar for burgers! Eat early or late to avoid mid day rush. Alot then depends on the gender of the kids. The Cindy Surprise Celebration show is great, but boys may be bored (can't help here since my 2 are little) and they may be bored with a lot in Fantasyland & forget Toontown unless they HAVE to see characters. If poss I would split MK to 2 days (or more since they will be there for 2 weeks) & then decide what makes most sense for them (like Fantasyland & Tomorrowland one day, and then Adventureland, Frontierland & Liberty Square a diff day). Spectro, best place is behind the castle, unless you want to wait for hours to get a great spot on Main St). Wishes, Tomorrowland area (near Plaza Pavilion & up to the castle) is good, or btwn Casey's & Plaza Ice Cream. Both spots give good sightings of Tink! Harmony Barber Shop does some cool things for kids, they can slick hair & give it a color or make a mickey head design for boys, add pixie dust for girls, etc.

EPCOT - FW. Get a FP for TT & then go right to MS. Once again get a map to decide what are must see's & again plan for the best flow with no backtracking. They will love Ice Station Cool, don't miss it. Not sure about other teenager type stuff but I'm sure if they check a book they can figure out what they will like. Spend 1 day at FW. I have heard Coral Reef is good for food. You can spend 2 days at WS but not sure if that age group will like it. Don't miss the boat rides in Mex & Norway. I think they would like all the shows (mariachis, acrobats, living statues, singers, bands, etc) so check the times schedule & try to fit them in. All the places are fun to eat, but they may want to try something you can't find at home like Morocco or Biergarten. Need to get a beavertail in Canada!! They will like Illuminations. Again, stake out a spot early, the bridge btwn Canada & France is good.

AK - Never been, but I bet that age would like FotLK & Tarzan Rocks, as well at the Dinoland stuff. Can't miss the Safari or Kali.

MGM - If they are in to thrill rides, get FP's for RnR & ToT. Don't worry about having to backtrack as MGM is small. They would like just about everything so definately plan a full day. Fantasmic will be great, they may want to do a dinner package to avoid waiting 90-120 min in advance in your seat. Prime Time Cafe is very fun (not part of dinner package, but just for a meal, maybe lunch)! Definately see Osbourne lights!

Outside the parks - may be too cold for water parks but if they get a hot day, may want to consider it since they will be there for 2 weeks. FW has nightly hayrides, campfire sing a long & movies. They sometimes show PG movies so the older kids might like it. I think you need to be a guest of a WDW resort though. They may enjoy sitting up front with the monorail pilot, just ask the CM at the monorail stops. Never been to DTD but I hear Disney Quest is fun for those ages.

Other dining notes - HDDR is very fun, they may enjoy that. Chef Mickey's is fun if they want to see characters. If they haven't booked CRT (if the kids are girls) it is too late now but ya never know! WCC at WL is very fun & WL is just a cool place to see.

I'm sure I have more ideas, but this is all I could think of! Hope this helps!
 
ok we have two secrets.....both in Epcot.



Come closer and I will tell you very very quietly....

(checking over sholder)

come closer........


first, have a late breakfast at a boardwalk resort (we like spoodles) then walk over to the WS entrance at 11 when that part opens. Do the WS first, while the crowds are up front. Then have a late lunch and move to the front as people are making their way back to the WS. You will beat most crowds this way.

Now for the second......

its top secret. not to be shared with just anyone......

come closer.......

be sure youre alone.......

There is a super secret excellent dinning spot for Illuminations. Next door to Rose and Crown there is an open terrace. The tables aren't dressed. But it sits behind a wall and you have to go through the Rose and Crown arbor to get to it, so it looks like its part of the resturaunt. Most passers by dont even realize its open seating. Get there by 6:55 and the place should be deserted. Snag a table and a rest. Then send someone off to whichever counter service you want for dinner and enjoy the show.

Now, remember, don't tell anyone.
 

My boys are 11 & 14 and they love DQ! They could spend an entire day in there, so they may want to check it out. With older kids have a meeting place like the cheesecake factory, because they will run you ragged trying to keep up with them in there.
 
WOW - you guys are terrific!! I have learned some stuff!!! lets keep it going please!

Sue:D
 
All the 3D shows you have to see-they are incredible with sensory effects and animatronics, too.

Epcot- Honey I Shrunk the Audience
Animal Kingdom-It's Tough to be a Bug
MK-Mickey's Philharmagic
MGM- Muppet Vision 3D

All the night-time shows
Epcot-Illuminations
MK-Wishes and Spectromagic
MGM-Fantasmic

IMHO Festival of the Lion King at the Animal Kingdom is the best show. If you sit in the first few rows you will get interaction and the kids might be chosen to help.

Other secrets: Always start in the back and work your way forward. A lot of people stop at the first cool attraction they see, so this helps you avoid lines. Eat lunch at 11:00 or 2:00 and dinner at 4:00 or 7:00. This avoids big food lines and waits. If you decide not to watch a parade, take that time to go on kids favorites like Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, etc.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at MGM you have to see.
Our other favorites at MGM:
Star Tours
Tower of Terror
Sounds Dangerous
Voyage of the Little Mermaid (great place to cool off)
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Great Movie Ride

Animal Kingdom:
Kilimanjaro Safaris

Cranium Command and Journey into your Imagination with Figment at Epcot are fun. We always watch the fountain show across from Test Track at Epcot
Epcot other favorites:
Ellen’s Energy Adventure
The Living Seas
Body Wars
Touring the World Showcase

Must ride at MK: Pirates of the Carribean, Carousel of Progress, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, and Winnie the Pooh

Really everything is great! Make sure you allow time for shopping and souvenirs! Have a magical trip!

Christamae
 














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