What do you like to do at DL?

[tinkerbelt]

What kind of stuff do you/your family enjoy doing at DL? Do you like the shows? Do you skip the shows and go on rides? Do you like the big rides like Space Mtn, or do you like tame stuff? What is your must-do at DL? Has this changed over the years?

 

[tinkerbelt]

I'll start by answering my own topic.

We go pretty frequently, about once a week or so, so I suppose we are different than most DLR visitors. We usually don't arrive until afternoon, between 1 and 3, and then we almost always stay until closing. It is usually just me and my DD (3) who go, but sometimes we meet up with friends or family while we are there.

As a kid, I hated the shows and parades, but now we always do them. Most of the times we will watch the parade and then the fireworks and then the late Fantasmic (when it's running!). DD really loves them, and I have a new found appreciation for them now that I have a little one. Sometimes we will go to the park just for the purpose of seeing a particular show. We love the Aladdin show at DCA, and will often plan our day around that, or around the fireworks.

Because we visit so frequently, it is not a big deal if we don't make it on a certain ride while we are there, because we can always come back and catch it. Some of the times that we go, we will just walk around and people watch, or just go to the Princess Fantasy Faire, and not go on any rides at all.

I am a big fan of the bigger rides, but my DD is too small, so we almost never go on them. Although every single day, she asks me if she is tall enough to go on Space Mountain yet. We always have to go on Pirates, and DD loves Autopia, but we don't go on it often b/c the line is usually pretty long, even with Fastpass. We also like to hop on the monorail and walk around the DLH or Downtown Disney, especially at night when it is all lit up, and all of the musicians are out. DD loves to go look at the pools at all of the hotels too, and she loves the little mini movie theater in the DLH next to Goofy's.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

we've been only once so far, and it was last fall. We really wanted to see the Aladdin musical, but it was on hiatus while they re-cast.

We also missed the Aladdin storytelling, or whatever that is, in Adventureland. I think it was running only on the weekend, and we didn't realize that.

We loved so many rides! DS6's favorite was Splash Mountain, DS2's favorite was Winnie the Pooh. We also loved BTMRR, Buzz Lightyear, Indiana jones, Peter Pan, King Arthur's carousel, Dumbo, Autopia, Pirates! And Soarin' and Grizzly River Run, and King Triton's carousel in CA.

We didn't spend a lot of time in CA, but I wish we'd done the Redwood Creek Challenge. I think the kids would have loved to run around, since we spent one afternoon at Tom Sawyer Island.

We loved Turtle Talk with Crush! Would have loved to also talk with Stitch at Innoventions, but we went too late in the day.

The boys (OK, and I) loved meeting all the characters. What fun!!! They were so in character, and the kids really believed, you know? Even though DS6 was afraid of them until I told him they were just people in costume, he still believed when he was right there with one! I have great photos of my boys with the princesses, and DS6 has the sweetest, dopiest grin in them because he so adored the attention from these beautiful girls.

I'm sure there's more I haven't mentioned, but I was surprised that in 7+ days, there was still so much we had yet to see. Some things for the agenda on our next trip!

 

[JohnZ46]

Usually I'm all about the rides, but this time I'm trying to do things I've never done or haven't done for a long time.

Today I rode Peter Pan's flight for the first time. I rode Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin for the first time in about 4 years. Watched "Golden Dreams" in DCA (very good) for the first time.

Tomorrow I'm going to experience the Tiki Room for the first time and the Jungle Cruise for the first time in over 5 years.

 

[JKanownik]

We ususally hit Peter Pan 1st, skip the rest of Fantasyland and go on to the thrill rides. We were there last Sunday and decided to go on all the Fantasyland rides. I forgot how great they all are. We had so much fun and won't be so tempted to skip them in the future.

 

[mystic_path]

For me I really love the rides, some of them being the Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, POTC, Space Mountain, Peter Pan, and Soarin over Cali.

I enjoy meeting the characters, and going to Toon Town and climbing around Donalds boat or wandering through Mickey, Minnie and Goofys house.

I love going to the Animation theature in DCA and sitting there watching all the theature screens while they show clips of different disney movies. Or wandering through the animation studio to over dub your voice to different character scenes, or taking tests to find out which disney character your most like.

The parades in both park are fab and a not miss, and the fireworks are just breath taking.

Getting frozen bananas and sitting down in NOS while people watching is so much fun, and is a great way to rest the sore feet.

OH!!! And how can I forget the 3D shows (Honey I shrunk the audience, Muppets 3D, and A Bugs Life). Those show are one of my highlights of the trip.

 

[claribella]

People watch with a Dole Whip. Or just sit at Goofy's Playground and rest while my son tires himself out.

 

[Hound 109]

We ususally hit Peter Pan 1st, skip the rest of Fantasyland and go on to the thrill rides. We were there last Sunday and decided to go on all the Fantasyland rides. I forgot how great they all are. We had so much fun and won't be so tempted to skip them in the future.

Yep. If they can be ridden when lines are relatively short they won't be skipped if i have anything to say about it. I love the details on the old Fantasyland rides. Also, memories always come back to me when i ride them.

(but that witch on snow white sure is mean!)

 

[tarazandra]

Well, we also go once a week and we something different each time. For instance, this past Sunday we opted to have a big breakfast at home so we didn't get to the park until 11ish. As we walked in, we could hear the band coming down Main Street so we raced up there to watch them then followed them back to the Train Station where my oldest dd was chosen as the guest conductor. We then went and watched the Mickey Mouse cartoons for awhile. Next was a ride on the fire truck, then back again on the omni-bus. We then rode the train from Main Street to Toontown, rode "it's a small world" and then rode the train from Toontown back to Main Street. At this point we sat and had lunch, then watched the Straw Hatters band on Main Street then played musical chairs with Alice, Mad Hatter, Peter Pan and others. We then watched the parade and then sat down for ice cream while the crowds abated before heading out and going home.

However, on many other Sundays you will find us there at rope drop where we grab fastpass for Space and then knock out all of Fantasyland. Then we'll grab a fastpass for Thunder, ride Space, Buzz, and Pirates then Thunder then sit down to lunch. After lunch we'll do whatever, maybe even go to DCA, and we usually leave by 3:00pm at the latest.

 

[cryssi]

hmm, we usually do pirates and haunted for sure. we also spend a lot of time in the Main Street shops, and we usually to to innoventions. If the lines are short, we might do the Fantasyland dark rides, too. We don't go as often as we used to, though. Last time was in January for MIL's birthday...

I really like to go in the Fall for pumpkin fudge , and at christmastime for all the christmas stuff...

 

[Judy from Boise]

We are total ride commandos. Every ride every day . We also make time for fireworks and parades, very little time for shopping or meals. WE do stop and smell the roses....we just aren't much for people watching or entertainment type stuff.

 

[mystic_path]

We are total ride commandos. Every ride every day . We also make time for fireworks and parades, very little time for shopping or meals. WE do stop and smell the roses....we just aren't much for people watching or entertainment type stuff.

I read too fast and I thought you said "We totally ride commando" I was like WHAT! Then I had a good laugh and went back to reread. Now I understand and I totally agree with you. The rides are one of the best parts of DL.

 

[quiltymom]

Rides, rides & more rides. When we're done with those, we go on more! We're there from rope drop until park closing - then a 90 minute ride back to my parents house!

Every once in a while we'll stop to see a character, but not very often. Meals aren't important at DL - we bring little snacks in for the kids to munch on all day long and get something from a CS place to carry around with us as we move from ride to ride. Oh, and get a mint julep & fritters, too. It wouldn't be a day at DL without those!

Since we always go for only one day we don't see the shows & parades, . Therefore, we try to cram as many rides in as we can. Besides, that's what the kids want to do. They can't wait to get on the next ride. And being wonderful parents, we oblige!