Total Newb-Sorry!

[LVB]

Hi all! Normally, I would very much take my time to lurk and figure out these questions on my own. I apologize in advance if i ask questions that have been asked a million times. I'm on another board and we hate that. However, things have really come down to the line and I just don't have time to do research. In the next 3 weeks, I'm moving to a new city, getting married and headed off on our honeymoon. We did the "Give a Day, Get a Day" program, so we decided to tack on 2 days before our cruise. We will be doing the Magic Kingdom for 1 day. I KNOW 1 day isn't enough, but it's what we have and it's free.

I would love to take the time to read through all the threads and get a ton of information. As I said though, I just can't. Can someone lead me to a comprehensive thread? I just started looking on Google Earth at everything and it's so overwhelming. Can someone walk me through the process? We are staying at Sheraton Safari and they have a shuttle.

Also, I saw somewhere that this guy would design a 'plan' for you for the day. It was $20 and he emailed it to you. Is this something you've heard of? Ripoff?

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I am not sure what kind of information that you are looking for? Check out our site www.wdwinfo.com and you can learn quite a bit about Magic Kingdom and all it offers in a pretty short time.

Tour Guide Mike offers the kind of service you are talking about and is a sponsor of our Theme Parks Board and is very legit. At the top of the Theme Parks board is a banner ad that will get you a discount on his service if you click through it to join.

You can also check out your local library for a copy of the Unofficial Guide to WDW and in the back of it are Touring Plans for each park. Even if the book is an older edition most of the information is still very relevant and helpful. They have a website that you can pay to join www.touring plans.com and I think you can get their up to date recommendations for touring if you pay. Not 100% sure though.

 

[LVB]

That's a great jumping off point, thanks!

I guess the things I wanted...descriptions of..what happens when you get there. I saw pictures of a monorail, a ferry....ticketing office...all of those things seemed very spaced out. I'd like a step by step I guess to get me in the door of Magic Kingdom. Just so I know what to expect.

 

[LVB]

Ok, I went to that board. Where is it that I need to join to get the discount?

ETA: Duh, I see it. I was looking for an actual thread. Reading fail.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Will you have your own car to get there or are you taking a resort shuttle?

 

[LVB]

We can do either. Does it cost to park? We do have a free shuttle, but I'm not positive how often it runs. I don't want to get stuck at the park when we're ready to go home.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Ok, I went to that board. Where is it that I need to join to get the discount?

All the way at the very top of the page is a banner ad with is logo. Click on it to go to his page and then when you sign up it should give you a discount. I haven't actually done it so you may need to ask on that board if you need more help. Many of them have used his site.

 

[LegoMom3]

Since you are taking a hotel's shuttle bus to the MK, you will be dropped off at what is called the Transportation and Ticket Center. I don't know how the GAD works, but if you need to turn in a voucher or something, you will have to go to one of those ticket windows. If you already have your actual park ticket in-hand, then you can just go to either the monorail or the ferry. Both loading areas are right there, just past the ticket booths. I like the ferry boat myself, but the monorail is fun too (make sure you head to the trains heading to the Magic Kingdom, as the Epcot trains run from here as well). Everything is very well-marked, so you'll see what you need and know where to go.

Once you get off the ferry or monorail, you then go through the bag-check area (unless you have nothing with you!), and then on to the admission turnstyles. Here your tix will be scanned and you're on your way into the MK!! Just follow the crowds....you can't get lost!

Have a GREAT trip and congrats on the wedding!

.

 

[lovetoscrap]

It does cost to park, but I am not sure how much. I think around $16 per day. It is a bit, but the convenience of coming and going when you want is nice if you can afford.

If you drive then you will park at what is called the Ticket and Transportation Center. There are trams in the parking lot which will take you to where you need to be for the next step. The TTC is separated from MK by a large lake so you have to either take the monorail or a boat to get to the entrance. Your choice. Same thing on the way back. They drop you off at the front.

I think you have to exchange your Give a Day paperwork for an actual ticket, right? If so there are ticket offices in the area the Tram drops you off where you can take care of that.

Then when you get off the boat or monorail, you follow the crowd through the turnstiles of MK, keep following the crowd under the Train Station and you will be on Main Street. From there it is up to your Touring Plan/what you want to ride first as to which way to go.


I think the ONE piece of advice I would recommend is to get there early. Be there before the park opens. You can do more in the park in the first hour or two than you may be able to do the rest of the day. I may have missed it, but when are you going?

 

[LVB]

Thanks, Lego. that's the exact info I needed. We have a voucher, so we'll need to get real tickets.

 

[LVB]

Thanks, I would have probably gotten there just a little before it opened. How early would you suggest?

We will be there on May 20. We are driving from Kentucky, all the way through, spending the night, getting up on the 20th and going to the park. After park, back to first hotel. Then then next morning, (21st), we're driving to Port Canaveral for a 7 day Carnival cruise.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Thanks, I would have probably gotten there just a little before it opened. How early would you suggest?

We will be there on May 20. We are driving from Kentucky, all the way through, spending the night, getting up on the 20th and going to the park. After park, back to first hotel. Then then next morning, (21st), we're driving to Port Canaveral for a 7 day Carnival cruise.

Oh bummer. The 20th is a bad day for MK. It is Extra Magic Hours for resort guests so the park will open one hour early for Disney Resort guests only, and will be a bit busier than usual the entire day. But you at least want to be going through the turnstiles as soon as they open so I would go ahead and plan at least about 40 minutes or so to get parked, get the tram, get your ticket exchanged, get over to MK, go through bag check and get lined up. Then add on your travel time from your hotel. Early is better than late.

 

[LVB]

Well darn. Oh well, it's the only day that works. It's dictated by our cruise!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Looks like parking is $14. Nothing you can do if it is your only day. Having a touring plan will help you quite a bit. Just looking through all the possibilities at wdwinfo.com will help you decide what to skip if you don't have enough time. But will have from 9am to 9pm to enjoy as much as you can.

Do you like roller coasters?

Do you want to just eat "grab and go" while you are there or would you like to try at least one sit down meal? Possibly even one with Cinderella or with Pooh and friends? The fast food (called Counter or Quick Service) are the cheapest and fastest options, then there are several sit down options for a relaxed meal, and then there are 2 Character Dining options-- Pooh and friends is a buffet, and Cinderella has meals in her castle-- the most expensive option in MK.

 

[LVB]

Looks like parking is $14. Nothing you can do if it is your only day. Having a touring plan will help you quite a bit. Just looking through all the possibilities at wdwinfo.com will help you decide what to skip if you don't have enough time. But will have from 9am to 9pm to enjoy as much as you can.

Do you like roller coasters?

Do you want to just eat "grab and go" while you are there or would you like to try at least one sit down meal? Possibly even one with Cinderella or with Pooh and friends? The fast food (called Counter or Quick Service) are the cheapest and fastest options, then there are several sit down options for a relaxed meal, and then there are 2 Character Dining options-- Pooh and friends is a buffet, and Cinderella has meals in her castle-- the most expensive option in MK.

We'll be sure and get that touring plan then.

We LOVE roller coasters.

What would a price be for a regular sit down? I imagine we'll probably do grab and go, but a sit down might be a possibility for dinner.

 

[lovetoscrap]

You can see all the Magic Kingdom menus here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm#mk


The reason I ask is because if you want to do a sit down down meal you will need to have an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) and you would need to try to make that right about, now! They start booking 6 months in advance so some are very hard to get this close, and it is nearly impossible to just walk up to a restaurant and get in. Tony's Town Square may be the easiest to get an ADR.

Since you are at the Magic Kingdom you could also look at the sit down meal choices at the area resorts that are easy to get to-- the Contemporary is the easiest, the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, and also the Wilderness Lodge is accessible by boat I believe. But some of these are quite popular also and may already be booked.

The good news is that they Counter Service options are quite good so you really can't go wrong with them.

 

[lovetoscrap]

The main Thrill Ride (roller coaster) options at MK are Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain (like a log flume ride). Those are also the ones with the longest lines so you will want to do those as early as possible.

And you need to know about FastPass, which you will want to use for these. Let me find a link to the DISers page that explains it really well. ETA: here is the link: http://www.oinc.net/disney/fastpass.php

 

[LVB]

Is there a place I would be able to get price points?

Never mind, didn't look all the way down!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Try this one too http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm#mk I think theirs are a little more current.

 

[PrincessBetsy]

Hello and welcome to the DIS!! Liberty Tree Tavern is an excellent option for a nice lunch. You might also want to check out the Plaza, which has very good sandwiches and awesome ice cream sundaes! Good luck with the planning!