Secret Tips

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad says................................................... Let's see if we can get a thread going about inside/ special tips that not many know about. Not for a whole trip, but just some little thing. I will start. The Tip....... If you are going to watch the midday parade at MK, and are sure it will start at the Frontierland side of the park, here is what you do. Watch it at the very start of the parade on the Adventureland side. When it is done, turn around and calmly walk to the Jungle Cruise, no wait. Then get on Pirates, no wait. There is the new Aladdin ride, so maybe go there first, can't say for sure because it wasn't there the last two times we did this. I would guess very short line, because the parade blocks 80% of the people at MK from Adventureland when it starts at the Frontierland/Adventureland side of the park. To really make it work, get fastpass to Splash Mountain 30 minutes before the parade. By the time you do Jungle/Pirates/Aladdin it should be time for fastpass on Splash!!

 

[tink2dw]

Do the Hollywood & Vine Fantazmic Dinner Package[it is almost the same price as the morning Character Breakfast with in a few Dollars] The Food is 4 star and kids have there own buffet of kid favorites! And the Desserts are WOW!! And you get the special entrance and reserved seating!!

If you want in room theming Don't stay at a All Stars,go for a Moderate,or off site.

Do stay at HIFS the Kidsuites[the Disney theming is fab],include nintendo 64[games rent for $5.00 per 24 hours] CD players, bunkbeds,Masterbedroom with a Door,college size refridgerator,micowave,3 tv's[dd played nintendo 64,dh watched Star Trek,gdd went to sleep to the Country Western Music Station it was great!!]and a w/programable safe. 2 pools. Family Kareoke and Family Bingo. FREE breakfast and kids 12 and under eat FREE.

Do go to AK, it is more than a Zoo.

 

[Kate-n-sam]

Our experiences/tips....

E-night wristbands
Do NOT wait in line at townhall for these. The line was horrendous. See if there are alternate pick-up locations. We went to Splash Down photos at SpM and there was no line at all.

Characters Meals
These are great! No waiting in line to get autographs for the more "common" characters

and

Fast Pass, Fast Pass, Fast Pass....I can never believe all the people waiting in a standby line upwards of an hour when there are fastpasses available. (AK Safari comes to mind)

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says.............................................. Time to post another tip. If you are touring with young children this the best two hours ever at MK. Go to early entry. Get there before the park opens. When everyone else heads to Space Mountain, go directly to Fantasyland. Go straight to Dumbo, slow loader and extremely long lines later in the day. There will be no wait or a one ride wait of two minutes. Then hit every ride that is open in Fantasyland, all small lines! When you are done with this check the time. If it is 8:30 or earlier hit the cars in tomorrowland, and/or Space Mountain if you are really lucky. The main point is to be back at Toontown BEFORE it opens. Wait for the opening, and ride barnstormer, then do Mickey's and Minnies's house, and lastly Donald's boat. You have done more by 10:00 am than many have done in a whole day! If you really want to go for it, leave MK and jump on the monorail to EPCOT. Get a fastpass for test track and wait for the opening of world showcase. When it opens go to Mexico and Norway and ride thier rides. Then go to test track, because it should be your time to ride!!!! I have read many books on WDW, and have never seen any of them come up with this four hour plan. I challenge everyone out there to post something that beats it, cause it can't be beat, it won't be beat, wait... that sounds like bragging, what I really want is someone to post their secret tips so I can use it!! I have a few other tips, but nothing for AK or MGM, anyone out there willing to share?!?!

 

[curlyjbs]

go to magic kingdom on SUNDAY!
use fastpass
LET the kids have icecream or popcorn at 9am
don't rush
chef mickey's charactor dinner is a MUST DO! great autograph opportunities
see fantasmic
see illuminations


curly

 

[Geubux]

On a not too crowded night, sit in the back 1/4th of Fantasmic. As soon as the paddlewheel boat comes around the bend, get up and leave. Head straight to the buses as fast as your little legs can go. Carry small kids. Get on the Epcot bus. Ride the golf ball, get something to eat and watch the fireworks. Don't be in a hurry to leave. Watch the fountains dance to the music. When the crowds have left, amble over to the monorail and take a leisurely ride back to TTC. Enjoy the fiber optics in the sidewalks by the fountains before you leave.

 

[DisTwix]

OK ... Tips....

For DisneyDames:
For those potty stops - try and hit the potties that are also Baby Stations. Since they are always tended, they are usually really clean and nice.


*Convince CM's to take your picture.
*Get silhouttes of your children (Main St., MK). If you have more than one child, and go to Disney more than once (imagine that!) - have more silhouettes done. It is really great for the kids to compare their profiles, and to see how they are different and alike. And - it's amazing to watch them being cut!
*Really great souveniers are sometimes the least expensive - a keychain that's used every day, earrings that ya wear or even a really great photo.
*For the Super-Budgeter's - plan on treating yourself to one really great sit-down - preferably a character meal. (Chef Mickeys and Crystal Palace are my fav's)
*Actually swim in the resort pool - some of them are amazing
*Watch the MK nightly fireworks from the top of the Contemporary (California Grill)
*Stop and watch the street performers - some of the skits have been the funniest things I've ever seen.

That's all I can think of now!

Oh -- Stop and ENJOY the people you are there with (even if they've left underwear and shoes all over your room), AND smile and laugh all you can

 

[tink2dw]

Forget the planned schedule
Slow down to do those magical things KIDS want to do,these will be the things they remember,the ones you stopped to let them show you.

Things we missed that Dd still wants to do,

see the "duck walk" at Peobody Hotel at 4:00pm
Stop in World Showcase to see Living Statues,and other street performances
Go to a Water Park
Get AK Character autograghs
Swim with the Dolphins
Go to Alanatic Dance Club on kids night
Go to FOA Schwarz,Orlando
miniture golf

 

[GEM]

Originally posted by Geubux
On a not too crowded night, sit in the back 1/4th of Fantasmic. As soon as the paddlewheel boat comes around the bend, get up and leave

Please, DON'T do this!! I am begging you! We were so excited about seeing Fantasmic on our last trip and then as soon as that boat showed up, everybody around us started getting up and leaving! It really ruined the end of the show for us. We were very angry and we thought it was extremely rude. We couldn't see anything for the last five minutes of the show except people standing up and moving around. It was really rotten. It is also dangerous because the light levels are very low. We saw several people fall. PLEASE have some consideration for those around you who want to see the ENTIRE show. If you feel like you must leave early, STAND in the back of the theater behind the last row of seats. It's just not fair to ruin the end of the show for everyone sitting around you, just so you can be first in line at the bus stop.

 

[Geubux]

I said to sit in the back fourth. If you sit further up, stay seated. Let's not ruin gem's show. And Gem, if you sat back in my section, shame on you for not sitting further up. By the way, I always sit on the aisle so i'm up and out and NOT in YOUR way.

 

[adamak]

Buy Disney gift at home when they're half off. You can usually find them in Odd Jobs or KMart or alike. Much cheaper. Then take them with you to WDW and let the kids open them at nite, in the hotel. Little stuff like keychain and stuff animals over the trip will keep them from begging at the store.

 

[GEM]

Actually, Geubux, I'm sure there are people in the back 1/4 of the theater who want to see the whole show too. Even in the back 1/4 there are people sitting behind you - unless you sit on the very back row. And they have a right to see it all - without rude people standing up and ruining it for them. It doesn't matter if you sit on the end or not. Your getting up and leaving is very distracting to everyone else. And it encourages others to get up and leave as well. Please have some consideration for the other people in the theater. If you can't wait until it is over, stand in the back or just don't go. Don't mess up the end for others. I just think that we have enough wonderful tips to share with each other without encouraging people to do something that takes away from the magic for others. I know you didn't mean to be rude at all, but I promise you, it DOES bother people.

 

[Debi]

My favorite is to make sure you eat your big meal at lunchtime. Most, if not all, restaurants in WDW have the same menu for lunch as they do for dinner, only their lunch menu is much cheaper. Try to eat a late lunch (3:30-4:00), so that it will keep you full for the rest of the day, and you are still paying lunch prices.

Keep these great tips coming!

 

[GEM]

Here is a fun autograph tip -

If you would like to get your favorite character's autograph, but you aren't really interested in an autograph book, or you just want something extra special - buy a WDW T-shirt, sweatshirt, or baseball cap with that character on it and ask the character to autograph it! If you use a "Sharpie", it will be permanet and you can wash it and everything. The characters have always been happy to do this for us. However, they will NOT autograph something you are wearing. Just put the shirt or cap in a big plastic baggie and stick it in your backpack. Last year, I got an adorable T-shirt with the Fab 5 on it and I had them all sign the back. Every time I wear it, people love it! I've washed it a hundred times and it still looks fine! My sister got a cute Pooh and Piglet ball cap and had them autograph that. It's lots more fun than an autograph book that just goes in a drawer or something when your vacation is over.

 

[Geubux]

Gem
When I've seen all that I care to see and my hind end has endured as much as it endure, I'll stand up and leave.....Even if it ticks you off. Besides, no one can make you mad, you choose to let them. If I tick you off, I'll be on my way to Epcot to see the fireworks there if you want to pitch a fit.

 

[GEM]

That's a really nice attitude. I hope you don't have kids with you that are going to learn from your example of rudeness. I guess being considerate of others just isn't your thing . . . Glad to see you are keeping the "It's all about me" attitude alive and well. Just foreget about the other thousands of people who want to see the show. I'm not going to post back on this thread because I think it will stray too far from it's original intention, but if you want to know what people think of RUDE people like you, pop on over to the Theme Parks Board. There is a nice thread about it on page one right now.

You might as well post a tip telling everybody to park at the Polynesian Resort and take the monorail to the MK instead of paying to park at the TTC. Who cares if all the guests who paid to stay at the Poly have a place to park?

Or, you might as well teach your kids that it is ok to push their way in front of other children who are in line to meet Mickey, because, after all, your family is in a hurry.

You want a nice tip for this "tip" thread? Here you go -

If you want to really enjoy a magical vacation to Disney World, try packing your manners and concern for other people along with your swimsuit and fannypack.

 

[Silver]

Well said GEM, couldn't agree more. The last thing we need right now is that me, me, me attitude. What a shame that people feel they have a right to behave however they want and with no regard for those people around them and what a shame that what could have been a potentially useful and interesting thread has now been spoiled.

 

[kristikae]

Just because you are on vacation is no excuse to stop being considerate of others!

 

[loribell]

Just to go along with GEM's autograph tip. Do a Chef Mickey's Character meal, take a sharpie pemanent marker with you and buy one of the chef's hats at the souvinier stand outside of the restaurant. It makes a really cool souvinier.

 

[GEM]

Since I feel a little bad about having to get a little "tough" in my other posts on this thread, I feel like I ought to contribute a few other helpful tips to help keep this thread on track. Here are some of my favorites.

-Take time to SLOW DOWN and enjoy all the little details that make Disney brilliant: the sparkling lights in the pavement at Epcot's Future World, the claw marks and scratches on the floor inside the Country Bear Jamboree, the benches and lamp posts at the Animal Kingdom, the Streetmosphere characters at MGM, the names on the windows of the second story shops on Main Street, the sounds coming from the Dance Studio and Piano Lessons windows on Main Street, the smell of honey on the Pooh ride, the talking trash cans and water fountains, the cuckoo clock in Germany at Epcot, the "Singing In the Rain" umbrella at MGM, the musical tiki statues in Adventureland, the WONDERFUL fountains found all over the world, the unique palm trees in Tomorrowland, the lights and shapes seen in the windows of the Haunted Mansion, the incredible themeing and attention to detail at the resorts, and so much more! If you are always in a rush from point A to point B, you will miss so much of the reall magic! It lies in the details and small things.

-Ask to ride up front in the cab of the monorail with the driver. What a great view! You will have a better chance if you ask at a really slow time of day. If you get to do this, ask for a monorail co-pilot's license!

-Spend an evening on the Boardwalk. There is so much fun stuff for kids and adults! Kids will enjoy face painting, games, and the great strolling entertainers. Adults will love the romantic atmosphere, the entertainment, and the shopping. Plan to have dinner here! If you want a GREAT dinner, eat at the Flying Fish! If you need somthing a little less expensive, try Spoodles. For something cheap, but lots of fun, get a pizza from the Boardwalk Pizza Window and eat at one of the little tables by the water. The Boardwalk can be reached by walking path or boat from both Epcot and MGM.

Anyway, that's all I've got right now. I'll try to come up with a few others!