What are Your New and Unusual "First Time" Disney Experiences?

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

After many trips to Disney, we have ridden every attraction (with the exception of Mission Space by choice), seen every show, and met just about every character. We are now looking for "new" experiences because we love to do new things on every trip. We always try new restaurants and typically stay in a new resort. But what about experiences?

Recently, for the first time, we:

Entered through the back gate at Epcot (Wow! How will I ever enter through the front gate again?)
Had a pre-park ADR at Epcot and got to walk through an empty park (gorgeous during F&G)
Walked to Epcot
Walked to HS
Took a boat to Epcot and HS
Rode Magic Carpets of Aladdin while watching Wishes
Rode BTMRR while watching Wishes
Saw all three fireworks shows in one night (Illuminations and Star Wars from YC beach, MK from BI balcony)
Visited F&G
Been directly at the fence for Illuminations (we could actually see it this time)

What have you recently done or what will you do for the first time on your next trip?

 

[Parker Clan]

We did some resort hopping for the first time last year.. We especially loved GF (so much that we're staying there for the first time this summer) and watching the animals at the AK Lodge! It was a fun way to kill time and also chill after the go go go in the parks all day

 

[verleniahall]

Last year was our first F&W - It was fun

 

[Avalon_toon]

Go spend some time wandering around the WL campground at Halloween and Christmas time - so many fun and amazing creative holiday displays, I've never seen so many inflatables in one place before!

 

[Ginny2128]

Try the Wild Africa Trek in the Animal Kingdom. It was a little pricey, but definitely worth it!

 

[Ginny2128]

You could also try one of the firework cruises at Epcot or the Magic Kingdom!

 

[rastahomie]

As you can see from my sig, I haven't been there in over ten years, so I'll have all kinds of new things to experience!

But specifically, next trip Mrs. Homie and I are getting a couple's massage at Seasons(?), the Grand Floridian spa. Previously I'd had no interest in it, but we went on a Carnival cruise a few years back and splurged for one, and we LOVED it!

If I ever win the lottery, I'll do a fireworks cruise, have lunch with an Imagineer, eat at Victoria & Albert's, do a private VIP tour, etc.

 

[HappyGal]

I spent time on Main Street in the morning while my girls had fun on thrill rides. I was able to ride the omni bus, see the trolley show, the Disney Philharmonic and meet some of the citizens of Main Street. At Hollywood Studios my tweens and I went to the Frozen sing along and really enjoyed it.

 

[Dreamport]

On the last trip we rented an ECV scooter for the first time (Mom needs one now), did the early morning ADR walking an empty park at Magic Kingdom, Disneybounded for a day, spent the morning in one park and evening at another instead of going all day to one park every day, road the boat from HS to Epcot's back gate, found the "fabled" Characterpalooza, and saw Disney through the eyes of two toddlers while I'm the adult for once (gotta love little cousins). The trip before that I got myself engaged to a chipmunk

Try catching Wishes from behind the castle (near New Fantasyland) if you haven't before. We did that the trip before last and felt like we were in the middle of them rather than watching due to the ones they set off from the castle. Or see if you can ride all modes of transportation in one trip without going out of your way just to say you used one.

 

[suse66]

We did the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot and the Marceline to Magic tour at MK. Both were excellent!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

The trip before that I got myself engaged to a chipmunk

I'm intrigued. I have never done that before. At Disney or anywhere else.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We did the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot and the Marceline to Magic tour at MK. Both were excellent!

Definitely things I want to do. Since I always travel with my kids (9 and 3) the tours and special, paid experiences will have to wait a little longer. I keep talking about a solo trip, but so far I have not worked up the courage to leave the kids at home. I did take a trip with just my nine year old in February, but I felt so guilty about leaving my little one at home that I realized a solo trip would be near impossible.

 

[tinkerbella16]

Recently, for the first time, we:

Entered through the back gate at Epcot (Wow! How will I ever enter through the front gate again?)
Had a pre-park ADR at Epcot and got to walk through an empty park (gorgeous during F&G)
Walked to Epcot
Walked to HS
Took a boat to Epcot and HS

We'll be doing this in September! Staying at Beach Club for the first time. We have used Int'l Gateway before to get to Beach Club and BW, but actually being able to walk to to/from Epcot whenever I feel like it, because we are staying next door, is going to be awesome! I have never stayed at a deluxe resort yet, so that is a first and new experience for me this year.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We'll be doing this in September! Staying at Beach Club for the first time. We have used Int'l Gateway before to get to Beach Club and BW, but actually being able to walk to to/from Epcot whenever I feel like it, because we are staying next door, is going to be awesome! I have never stayed at a deluxe resort yet, so that is a first and new experience for me this year.

You will love it. But beware. It could lead to some very expensive future vacations.

I consider myself to be moderate gal (although I include AKL standard rooms in that category, also, given their value and comparative cost to the moderates), but after our last trip I am already considering changing our summer plans to go with Yacht Club again. That back Epcot gate, Stormalong Bay, and the beach and lake are just so attractive.

The only thing we did not like about YC and BI was the difficulty in getting QS food. These Epcot resorts just don't offer the same convenience or variety of QS food as the moderates and values. Small inconvenience, really.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I spent time on Main Street in the morning while my girls had fun on thrill rides. I was able to ride the omni bus, see the trolley show, the Disney Philharmonic and meet some of the citizens of Main Street. At Hollywood Studios my tweens and I went to the Frozen sing along and really enjoyed it.

I have never done the Main Street vehicles. That might be a good activity to go with for our next trip.

 

[Dreamport]

I'm intrigued. I have never done that before. At Disney or anywhere else.

It was my actual birthday and we stopped to meet Chip and Dale near the entrance to Land Pavilion in Epcot. They noticed my Rescue Rangers t-shirt, I declared Chip was my favorite R.R., one antic led to another and before I knew it Chip was walking me down the path toward Soarin' for (I assume) a pre-wedding honeymoon for two. (The cast member didn't let us get too far.) The experience made my day and had the kids in line laughing. Try buttering up one of your favorite characters and see where it leads you (although watch out if they already have a guy/gal. I hear Daisy can have a temper to match Donald's if she gets mad enough).

 

[Dreamport]

I have never done the Main Street vehicles. That might be a good activity to go with for our next trip.

Definitely use them at least once! The old cars are just as much fun as the double decker bus or horse-drawn carriage.

 

[IronBoss]

We did a few things last year that we had never gotten to do before.

Watched the Electric Water Parade from the Wilderness Lodge beach.

Watched an outdoor movie in a hammock at Wilderness Lodge.

Watched Illuminations at Epcot from out on the little dock right by the water.

Walked from Hollywood Studios to the Boardwalk to check it out. Had lunch & an ice cream on the Boardwalk.

 

[DisneyHardin]

This November will be out 7th trip in 7 years and my DH has finally convinced me to slow down a little bit. We are going to actually take a whole resort day to enjoy the pool. We are also going to checkout the Boardwalk for the first time after a dinner at Cape May instead of just eating and heading right back to Epcot.

 

[OhThePain]

We are trying a few new restaurants: Cape May dinner (done breakfast before), The Boathouse, F! dining package (have seen F! before and have eaten at HBD, but never had a package), Sanaa lunch (have had dinner), The Wave and are planning lunch at SC.

We are also doing Behind the Seeds and the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage (done other tours before, never a fireworks cruise before).

My wife has never seen IJSS, so we are doing that. We have never done JC at night and plan on doing that as well (it's usually one of the first rides we ride since we hit AL first on MK days).