Your 1 must do?

[jsrj21]

Wow.....great question. Conjures up tons of great memories of my son growing up [just turned 20]. He's a Disney nut...as am I! We have several traditions....from what we do upon arrival, which park [EPCOT], and what we eat...silly but true - Katsura Grill. Then on the first night, we always watch Wishes - to me, this is the beginning of our vacation.

OK, to answer the question, I would have to say Wishes is our must do.

 

[fireman1]

It may sound silly, but it's not even in the world. It's the drive down and you cross the state line ( florida , YAAY ) and you stop at the Florida welcome center and see all the Disney stuff. It really hits then.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

My one absolute must do is Impressions de France.

 

[butterfly71076]

For us, it's morning EMH at AK. DS and I love getting to AK early and riding EE for that first hour. Last trip we went 8 times in a row, it was SO fun!

 

[Yahweh]

Magical Express from the airport to our resort (I could care less about taking it back to the airport ) There is something about that moment in time when you take your very first step onto the Magical Express bus. Everything you've been looking forward is still ahead of you. Even from the time you first step on to the bus to the time you sit down, something nearly imperceivable happens; a bitter-sweet moment where there is an awareness that a part of your vacation, however small, is already over ... if that makes sense.

But once I past the moment of melodrama, as is our tradition my oldest daughter and I count the Disney signs coming from the airport to the resort. The familiarity of this ritual is a bond that we share together, and remains meaningful.

 

[kyyadifan]

The first year we went we rode the Haunted Mansion first thing. No reason really. The next time we went...the Haunted Mansion was the first ride we rode. For no reason in particular it's sorta become our traditional first ride at Disney. It may not be the most thrilling ride to some but the "tradition" that we've made with it makes it thrilling to me!!

 

[Land Shark]

Enjoying a pint watching the British Revolution Show in the EPCOT UK Pavilion

 

[leebee]

Festival of the Lion King. I cannot imagine going to WDW and skipping this. It moves me to tears most of the time.

OK, now that I've answered the OP's question, here's the list of must-do, absolutely can't miss, wouldn't be a trip to WDW without them, attractions/experiences:

MK: BTMRR, HM, Peter Pan, People Mover, Wishes. DD would add Splash and Space Mountains, but I don't ride them.

Epcot: Illuminations, but only with DD. I love Epcot, but there's nothing here that I would miss if we didn't do it. SE used to be my FAVORITE, right up there with Lion King, but that was before they dumbed it down and put in the foolish interactive screen to write your own story. Ruined the whole thing for me.

DHS: Beauty and the Beast, Great Movie Ride. DD would add Tot, RnRC.

AK: Festival of the Lion King, Safari. I SO wish they hadn't closed Tarzan Rocks.

Back in the "old days," when we traveled to WDW with my sister and her kids and we all stayed offsite together, it was a family tradition to acknowledge when we were on Disney property. We'd be driving towards a park and someone would spy the Disney World banner that stretches over the roadway, and they'd start: "We're in Florida... boring, boring old Florida." Others would join in- "Poor us, stuck in boring, BORING Florida," and as we passed under the sign, we'd all yell... "But now, we're in DISNEY WORLD!!" The first time DH or my ex-BIL (because the husbands don't always go on every trip) or other family members were in the car, we garnered odd looks, for sure. DD22 and I still do it (yes, we get odd looks on DME, but we have to be sitting up front to see the sign approaching) and i know my sister and her kids still do it. It's just our little family thing, I guess!

 

[bellasmomRN]

Beginning the trip with a parade. I don't know but seeing the parade through my kids eyes is just the most magical thing ever. As soon as we sit down to see the parade, all the stress of getting there (transportation taking forever, short almost missed layovers, cranky kids.) it just all melts away.

 

[Parker Clan]

Our one must do is Magic Kingdom as our first Park on our first day.. And we saunter down Main Street! There's something magical about the first glimpse of the castle and walking down Main Street... Great start to the trip

 

[PanamaMike]

I have two;
Splash Mountain & Illuminations.

 

[DWillowBay]

I want to say it's Splash Mountain because I can't imagine not getting to see it when I'm there....but it's probably one of the nostalgia rides like Small World, Carousel of Progress (because I was there at the World's Fair in 1964 to see them open... or Peter Pan. All that is in WDW. In DL, it's for sure...Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!!!

 

[Sona99]

Monorail ride around the magic kingdom.

Many years ago, when it was still allowed, we rode point on the monorail late at night after a long tiring day. It was amazing. Every time I get on the monorail I just feel so happy.

Wish it was still allowed.


FYI, hubby had been a cast member before we got married. He knew little things like that.

 

[luvdisney00]

Mine is taking a family photo on Main street. My favorite moment of the trip is the first glimpse of the castle! My oldest DD (20) says for her it's Fantasmic.

 

[fbarker]

It may sound silly, but it's not even in the world. It's the drive down and you cross the state line ( florida , YAAY ) and you stop at the Florida welcome center and see all the Disney stuff. It really hits then.

Oh my yes for me its getting off of 75 and getting on the turnpike. The heart rate goes up as we are transformed from real life into Disney. We love it

 

[DisneyCAL]

At:
MK- Thats really difficult but as far as rides...Tea cups....and for food...dole whip.
AK- Kali River Rapids
Epcot- Test Track and any food from Norway or France... but after our last trip the sake flight might be a thing.
DHS- we don't do it

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Ours may be unusual because we have gone so often, and during every month, without living in the area. For us, the most important things are spontaneity, crowds and weather.

We can miss any ride, or every ride, and still have a great time. But we need the trips to be relaxed, we need the weather to be warm/hot, and we need the crowds to be low/moderate.

Our trip earlier this month had moderate crowds and FP+ allowed for a very relaxed touring strategy, but the weather required long pants and a jacket/sweatshirt every day. Mornings were down right cold. We just got 30" of snow at home - we go to Florida to get away from that. It was not a great trip because of the weather. We are going back in April and hope for better weather, though it will be a bit more crowded.

 

[CaoilinnsMom]

Reading everyones responses was so nostalgic for me, there are so many moments during a Disney vacation that are wonderful. Watching the fireworks over the castle with my daughter is my number one favorite right now.

 

[Hadjii]

I know this is a tough questions but what is your 1 must do for each of your Disney vacation's and why?

Easy Peasy......FANTASMIC

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Splash Mountain because the ride photo is always our favorite family souvenir of the trip