Disney World - need "must do's" help

Watch your children close, The largest collection of child molesters in Florida reside near the park.

 

I'm going to Disney next week with my wife.

Universal has some nice rides now.... I'd try to plan one day away from Disney and check-out Universal- The Mummy, Simpson Ride, Spiderman, and Terminator,

Also, while you are there at Universal, check out their night life. Disney is closing the Adventures Club and many of the bars and dance clubs at Down Town Disney ( I think the closings start at the end of Sept) They are changing to more shopping and restaurants, less adult entertainment. So if you want night life. I'd recommend Universal again.. they have a nice strip of restaurants and shops- its called City Walk http://www.universalorlando.com/citywalk.html

We have fun eating at all the different themed restaurants at Disney's deluxe resorts, so I don't spend much time going off-site for meals... but make sure you get your reservations in advance if you plan on eating at Disney.

Also, I like the water parks at Disney. Last year was 1st time we tried them (we were there in October) and it was really great!

One more tip.... the Halloween Party (MNSSHP) was really fun. The fireworks and parade are really first class Here's a few photos from last year

Make sure you check-out the schedule, since they close the park early for the party and you need a ticket to re-enter and enjoy the special activities.
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How old are your kids? If they are young, definitely hit a character breakfast. Mine are young, and girls so we generally take them to the Princess breakfast at Epcot. Chef Mickey's is pretty neat too. I like staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, it's beautiful, quiet, lots to do right there and you can see safari animals from your balcony. It's a nice treat. If your children are older take them to see the Cirque du Soleil, it's amazing. The Disney waterparks are pretty nice too.

Outside the general Disney area is Universal, better for older kids, the coasters there are great. I would avoid the whole International Drive area, it's a tourist nightmare.

If you haven't been to a Seasons 52 there is one off Sand Lake Road and I-4, a neat concept (healthy) you should try out.

Post this in the FL section and you'll likely get more of a response.

 

Mission to Mars,,,


Note:

don't eat before, ,
and take the REAL flight simulator.
(not the wussie one.)


Have fun,
Edwardo

 

Make sure you book a day to just veg out by the resort pool. Doing theme park stuff every day will exhaust you.

Plan your activities the night before.

Change your schedule so that you eat lunch around 11:30 - 11:45, then get dinner around 5:00 or so. Early I know, but you'll avoid lineups like crazy.

At whichever theme park you start your day, walk directly to the far end and work back toward the entrance. Early in the day, the crowds haven't reached the far end of the park yet, so if you start there, you'll have the joint to yourself.

Been a while since I've been, but there's a terrific barbecue place almost dead centre of Animal Kingdom. Great place for lunch.

Keep any unused Parkhopper passes. They're still good if you visit again.

Finally, go to the attractions with Fast Lane (I think it's called that), this allows you to book a time to go in. Once again, lineup avoidance.

Enjoy.

Neil

 

If you have small kids definitely go to the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom right when the gates open, or late in the day to avoid wasting all your time standing in line. I also like the Disney water park "Blizzard Beach". It is nice and not too expensive. You could also take a day trip to the Kennedy Space Center and see lots of alligators along the road to the launch area. I would rate Disney MGM as second best, then Epcot, then Animal Kingdom, all way behind the Magic Kingdom. Don't bother staying at a cheap on property place like the Rock and Roll hotel. You are better off at a Hampton Inn near the park. If you are planning on going to Universal, you can jump to the front of the line all day if you stay at their hotel for the night. Depending on the age of your kids, you may enjoy your vacation the most by taking a break from the park around mid afternoon for some relaxation, then go back to the park at twilight.

BT

 

Pack a thick wallet.

 

I remember that during the light parade every evening, lines were very short for the more popular rides. That was a few years ago, so it may not apply any more.

 

As others said depends on the age of the kids. If all the "monorail" hotels are booked did you try the Wilderness Lodge? It's still a "magic Kingdom" property but you get there via water taxi. It's almost much newer than the other 3. The Contemporary and Polyn. are getting real long in the tooth. The wilderness is very nice - modeled after the pacific northwest.

If the kids are mostly into the magic kingdom attractions than you really need to stay at one of those hotels. It's a bit of a hassle to be staying at one of the other park hotels if you want to spend most of your time at magic kingdom. If you want to stay at Epcot I've stayed at the Yacht club and it is really nice. great pool area.

I've been a member here for a few years and can't believe my first post is on Disney LOL!

 

Don't get Disney Dollars!!

Dave Chappelle:

"Can we interest you in Disney dollars sir?
"Can I buy weed and hookers with Disney dollars?"

 

I like the steak house in Canada at EPCOT. The restaraunt at Living Seas is cool as well. If you have a SCUBA certification you can dive in the tank at Living Seas. The roller coaster at MGM is a blast go early and ride as a single and you can ride it several times in an hour. The car stunt show and Indiana Jones are must sees too. Eat at the Brown Derby for dinner and you will get passes for Fantasm a multimedia show at MGM.

 

Mission: Space
Space Mountain
Test Track

 

I have always liked Epcot the best. Test Track is just great, and going through all the countries is pretty cool.

 

Since you are going in Oct. you will be there during the Wine & Food Festival in Epcots World Showcase. We belong to the Disney Vacation Club at the Boardwalk resort, and from the Boardwalk you can walk directly into Epcot, which is great for the festival. We go most evenings and start at one end with the kids and sample food from the little stands of all the various countries. There is a band everynight at the concert pavillion in front of the American Experience. Lots of good wine and beer. Just a great time had by the whole family. Make sure you stay for the fireworks and light show on the water.

Get a schedule for the parks and this will help you plan out where to go on what days. A different park will open 1 hour early or stay open late each or most days.

As someone else posted, if you have a little girl the princess breakfast at Epcot is great, but so is dinner in Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom. Stay for the fireworks in the Magic Kingdom also. Tinkerbell will fly on a cable from the top of the castle, the fireworks are great, and the kids will love it. Again, if you have kids make sure you watch the parades when they go through the parks, especially at night when all of the floats are lit up.

At MGM stay for the show Fantasmic. It is a must see, but in Oct. bring a light jacket as it can get cold at night on the little manmade lake. If it looks like there are too many people already waiting in line do not worry, the pavillion is huge and there isn't a bad seat in the house. So don't waste your time getting in line early.

If you plan to go to any of the special breakfast or dinners you will need to call Disney and book them now. They will be sold out by the time you go.

We will be there for Halloween this year and they open the Magic Kingdom late for trick or treating, but you have to buy tickets well in advance. Check with Disney since they do the trick or treating on many nights through out Oct. and a couple just after Halloween in Nov. If you go to this, do not waste time in too many candy lines as it's not worth it. We go because you can get on a lot of rides while everybody else stands in line for candy. After about a hour or two most people figure this out and start riding the rides. This is when we our kids get some candy. Make sure you all dress up.

If you buy anything at any of the Disney properties you will not have to carry it with you. Give the person at the register your resort information and your purchases will be waiting for you the next day at a special desk in the hotels gift shop. This is a free service. The only day you cannot use this service is the last, since you will not be there to get your packages the next morning.

If you haven't been there before pay attention to the details. Someone posted to bring lots of money, and they are right, it can be expensive but I find that it is worth every cent. No amout of money could buy me the memories I've made with my parents as a kid going to Disney, and I've had the chance to do the same with mine. It's the one place my 16 yr. old son still acts like a kid, and my 6 yr. old daughter lives out her princess fantasies. As for the details I mentioned, look around while walking through the parks, there is never anything out of place. Everything is cleaned, groomed, and painted perfectly. The fantasy stays intact the entire time you are there. The customer service in legendary, so much so that Disney has a training program where other large companies send their employees to learn customer service. I've spent lots of money on other trips and had a terrible time and delt with rude staff. I've been to Disney over 20 times and have loved every minute of it.

Enjoy your trip.

John

 

I worked there for a year. I don't have the time now, but will definitely give you some insight with a later post.

 

Have dinner in Cinderella's castle;

When going over the big plung on Splash Mountain, lift your rear end off the seat about an inch and hold yourself in position by pressing against the plastic seatback. After you hit the bottom use your hand to swipe all the water off the seat and onto the floor. Then you can sit down. Learned this technique after riding that thing 50 times in a row with my daughter;

Use the Fast Pass system;

If you see the talking trash can, look around the crowd and try to ID the person who is controlling the thing;

While it might be tempting to get up close to Cinderella's castle for the fireworks, remember that is the BACK of the line when the show is over and it's a really long line;

Don't forget you can get across the lake on boats (not just the monorail);

Recognize that crowds and long lines come with the territory so don't stress out. Remember, this is for your kids and the idea is to have fun.

 

Lot's of great info has been posted already but as far as outside of the park I'd avoid Wet 'n Wild. Went there last weekend and the place was infested with Fire Ants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ant

 

Your welcome. Have a great time. If you want anymore info just PM me.

John

 

Here is a good website with inside tips:

http://allears.net/index.html

and also, I used this yearly book:

http://www.amazon.com/Birnbaums-Walt-Disney-World-2008/dp/1423103920

Best thing to do is plan your trips to the parks so you are not zig zagging and criss crossing the parks, which will waste time..

If you are traveling with small kids, and have the park hopper option, I found, for example, hit the Magic Kingdom in the morning, do a few sections, then around 1pm head back to the hotel and let the kids jump in the pool. Have an early dinner, and head back to a different park, say Epcot, from 5 - close.
See which nights each park is open late, and choose that park for the second half of your day.

Animal kingdom, if you want to see the animals on the safari, get there RIGHT AT OPENING and head straight to the safari. If you wait till the afternoon, the lines are long, and most animals are sleeping in the shade and you will barely catch a glimpse of them. FYI this was the only day my family and I set our alarm clocks to be at a specific park at a certain time. Every other day we just winged it.

MGM - Fantasmic show, get there early. I think gates opened at 7 for the 9 pm show, and we got there at 7:30 and there was already filling up fast. Well worth the wait though.... One of my favorite shows there.

Oh, and meals, we started each day with a hearty breakfast, had a snack around 1, and an early dinner, say 5pm. Also, I know others may not agree, but the Hoop Dee Do Review dinner/comedy show at Fort Wilderness still cracks me up to this day, and the food was pretty good.