What are must do's at WDW?

[disney_newbie]

We are going for our first trip 2nd week in May. What should we put on our list of must do's/see? Character meals, which ones?


Thank you!

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I would say, depending of the age of your children, do the fireworks at MK and EPCOT and see Fantasmic at MGM.

For character meals I (DM 54) liked CP breakfast in the MK but my son (DS 16) liked Beach Club Resort breakfast. We both loved the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue.

 

[disney_newbie]

kids are 6, 6, and 1 1/2. thanks!

 

[themudd4]

Give us some more info about who all is going.
Are you staying on property?
Are you using the DDP?
Favorite characters?

We have lots of favorites...here are a few of the dinning fav's:
MK=breakfast at Crystal Palace with Pooh and the gang
AK=breakfast at Donald's Resturantasuras
MGM=Dinner at 50's Prime Time
EP=love to sample snacks from around the world. Usually eat dinner at Chip and Dales Garden Grill.
Beach Club=Cape May Cafe
Wilderness Lodge=Whispering Canyon

For character greets...
Power Rangers are a must for us each trip...other than that we seldom stop anymore unless there is a new one we have not yet met of seen.

Attractions and Rides...
We love thrill rides and family rides. Lion King has a great show. Can't wait to see the new Nemo show. Beauty and the Beast is pretty good too, just harder to please my DH, DD, and DS with those shows. They all like Indiana Jones and the Stunt shows, anything with alot of action and noise!

Fireworks and Parades...
If you can take in all 3 firework show do it, but if I had to pick one I think my family would pick going to MGM for it. Parades are great but we can skip them some since my DH doesn't care for them. I love spectromagic.

Hope this helps some with your planning.
If I may make a sugestion, go to www.waltdisneyworld.go.com and register if you haven't already. Click on my Disney Vacation and make yourself some customized maps. They will be sent to you and may help you with your planning. Not to mention that they are really neat!

Have fun planning!

 

[desamnik]

but I wouldn't leave MK w/out seeing Mickey's Philharmagic, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Big Thunder Mtn, Splash MTN-if the kids don't mind getting wet, you should try and fit in Wishes and Spectomagic.

MGM: Playhouse Disney, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast show, the afternoon parade, and evening Fantasmic show.

AK: Nemo show, Fest. of the LionKing, Dino land, the Safari, Pangani trail.

EPCOT: FW: Soarin, Test Track, New nemo ride, Turtle Talk w/ Crush, The Living Seas.

Can I suggest buying a book? My favorite is the Passporter. They also have a website. You can take the book w/ you, I brought mine to the kids after school activities for a few months and checked off what I wanted to do, restaurants to make ADR's at etc...

Have fun planning!

 

[themudd4]

Can I suggest buying a book? My favorite is the Passporter. They also have a website. You can take the book w/ you, I brought mine to the kids after school activities for a few months and checked off what I wanted to do, restaurants to make ADR's at etc...

I second the guide book. I too love the Passporter, but I think for a first timer the Unofficial guide may come in with more tips. If you can swing it, get them both. Although with a guide book remember you are dealing with someone elses advice. Don't skip something just because someone else didn't like it. try it for yourself. Our kids LOVE Sci Fi Dine in theater and some of the guide books say it is one to stay away from.

 

[zdad]

We are going for our first trip 2nd week in May. What should we put on our list of must do's/see? Character meals, which ones?


Thank you!

You must....
--- Walk too much.
--- Eat too much.
--- Wake up too early.
--- Stay too late.
--- Spend too much money.
--- Get badly sun burned.
--- Worry about rain.

Guess what I'm trying to say is the one thing you DON'T want to do is become a park commando. It is so easy, especially for a first timer, to overprogram. Plan your days generally. Make sure you have solid blocks of down time for each day to relax & rejuvinate. If you are staing on property, plan for a stroll of the grounds. Disney ambience & service is everywhere, not just in the parks.

As for real must dos.......
--- Fireworks at MK
--- Fireworks at Epcot
--- Nighttime parade at MK
--- A dinner in one of the better disney resturants.
--- Soarin' at Epcot

 

[Destination Disney]

Must do's...

Fantasmic at MGM, you can combo this with a meal.
Chef Mickey's for a meal
Soarin' at Epcot
See the Nemo Live show at AK.
See "It's tough to be a bug" at AK
See wishes and spectromagic at MK
Eat at the Crystal Palace (pooh character dining)
Visit the Bibbidy- bobbidy-boutique at DTD and let the kids have a make over...being that they are girls!
Splash Mountain at Mk

 

[mattoxtr]

A great character dinner is Chef Mickey at the Contemporary Resort. We went last March as a family gathering and the little ones loved it. They sing and dance at various times during dinner. The characters come around to the tables and visit and you can take pics with them. There was a wide selection of characters there also.

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

most important thing is to resign yourself to the fact that you cannot do everything in one trip (unless it is a super long trip). Then do a little research about the attractions and see what looks like fun to you (Everyones tastes are different). Then take a deep breath settle down relax and enjoy the experience without letting it stress you out and your whole group will have a great time, no matter what you do. Take time to relax and really look at stuff and set aside time to do pool time (weather permiting). If you run everyone ragged and the kids get cranky it will take away from the overall experience.

Besides it isn't going anyplace and planning and going back are half the fun

Have fun and welcome to the beginning of a glorious addiction

 

[jillyjoey]

I'm going to duplicate what others have said. Based on the ages of your children:

MK: Crystal Palace: Pooh & friends character meal
MGM: H& V Playhouse Disney BREAKFAST meal (we did breakfast it was good -- but I've read bad reviews about lunch -- I'd check that out more if you're interested in lunch)

MGM: Fantasmic

EPCOT: NEMO
EPCOT: Do the Family Fun thing (somebody help me here with the name) in the World Showcase -- not the passport but the Family Fun free thing
AK: Go straight to Kilimanjaro Safari-- the kids will love this
AK: Boneyard (my kids acted like they had never seen a playground)
MGM: Beauty & the Beast (it's true get there at least 20 minutes early- it fills up fast)
MK: don't miss ToonTown Fair

 

[byoung]

Cape May was great.

 

[jekclk]

Walts One Man's Dream show at MGM
Cristy

 

[Day Dreamer]

I'm not sure if you have daughters or not but having dinner at Akersus in Epcot is a great way to meet all the princesses. Great food, atmosphere and character interaction in one place.