Tips and Secrets to the 4 Parks!

[Disney8704]

Just wondering but when it comes to MK, Epcot, MGM and AK what the best way to get through the parks? Like what ride to ride 1st, what area to go to first, etc. When is the best time to eat lunch and dinner? Best viewing location for parades, Wishes and Illuminations. Share your tips and secrets about anything and everything about these 4 parks

I'll start. The BEST viewing location I have found so far for Illuminations is between USA and Italy where you will see some steps going down and you will see a fountain. Stand all the way over to left and up as far as you can go against the fence. You will have an excellent view of everything.

 

[Samsma]

Get your Soarin' FP ASAP!

 

[caegan]

Definitely use a touring plan -- any will do. We used a plan from the unofficial guide, and just added and subtracted a few things. We were able to get on all the rides we wanted including many of our favorites 5-6 times. And this was the first week of August!!

Fastpass everything!! As soon as you are able to get another fastpass get one!

Get to the parks first thing, especially during the busy seasons.

 

[Samantha/NC]

We went July 23-30 and thanks to great planning we rode everything we wanted:

go EARLY!!! WE were at the parks at rope drops, this allows you to ride things when it is not crowded
if you are going to MK-go right to Fantasyland-we did this on 2 mornings and had it to ourselves!!
definitely use those fastpasses--we rode EVERYTHING we wanted with no more than a 10 minute wait
ride during parades or fireworks (only after you have seen the show once) we walked right onto POTC and Space Mtn.

Read this board!!!! We got the most tips here

 

[IHeartTink04]

Fastpass Fastpass Fastpass Fastpass. Take advantage of those suckers!!!!!!

 

[Samsma]

Eat a Mickey Ice Cream Bar! I used to think these things were like Dilly Bars from DQ. Boy was I wrong!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

My very best tip no matter what park is to RELAX!!! Savor every moment. Take plenty of pictures -- and not just "set up" ones with characters. Get one in your car of the driver's face as you enter the World. Get one at night with everyone pooped

Other tips:

Shop or go on rides during parades/fireworks (if you've already seen them).

Eat a big, healthy breakfast. Get that fuel going in your body early. Eat small snacks throughout the day and finish with a healthy dinner.

Midday break back at the hotel. We do this onsite or off.

Hot water on the feet, whether a hot tub in your timeshare, hot tub at the resort or just hot water on the feet via shower.

Plenty of water. Skip the sodas, diet or otherwise.

As for touring patterns in each park:

MK -- head to the left after Main Street. Tour the park in a clockwise pattern. If Fantasyland is too packed by the time you get to it, plan to hit those rides during parades/fireworks.

AK -- head straight for Africa early in the morning for the Safari. The animals are out early as opposed to the heat of the day.

Epcot -- Find a quiet spot in each country to "veg" for a few. Enjoy some food or beverage in each country in this spot and rest your feet (Epcot is huge!). Watch other happy families go by, kiss your kids, snuggle with your spouse/partner, make your own magic spot for each country. Make sure to re-visit those spots on future trips and take pictures over the years.

MGM -- sorry; no advice. I rarely go to this park and always get lost here!

 

[Kimi313]

I'm going to give you the best tip for each park:

Magic Kingdom - be there for the opening and go straight to Fantasyland then get your first fastpass for Space Mtn. To me this is the worst line to wait in.

Epcot - Get your fastpass for Soarin first because when I head there first thing to get fastpass everyone else is going straight there to ride. It already had a 40 minute wait when we got there.

Animal Kingdom - I agree do Safari first thing in the morning but if it starts raining go ride it again. Of course this is only true during the summer but we have done this twice and you get to see many more animals including the wart hog. The only time I have seen the wart hog has been the two times I rode it during the day while it was raining.

MGM - If you are going during the summer go see the first show of Beauty and the Beast. It won't be as crowded and it is alot cooler. To me this is the hottest theater.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

We like to eat a light breakfast, an early lunch 11:00 or earlier , snack around the pool at 2:00 and dinner at 6:00 or 7:00.

Popular Attractions to hit first or get fastpasses early (these attractions can run out of fastpasses, some will run out around lunchtime during busier times):

Epcot: Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track, Turtletalk (no fastpass)

MGM:Tower of Terror,Rock n Rollercoater.

MK: Space Mountian, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan, Dumbo (no fastpass) ride first thing if your child HAS to ride Dumbo,

AK: Everest and Safari

Best viewing location for fireworks in MK is midway down Mainstreet, center of the street.