Going to WDW; Need some Help..

[blackcauldron85]

Kali River Rapids has a drop- it's a medium-sized drop. The thing about that ride is that you either leave drenched, semi-drenched, or not very wet- it's a gamble, but be prepared to be SOAKED!!!

Expedition Everest is AMAZING! If you don't want to go on the ride, my advice is to at least go in the cue area (the line)- the theming is excellent!

My husband doesn't go on the kinds of rides that you won't (he doesn't like drops. spins, etc.), and he won't go on Star Tours. It can jerk you around.

[PeterPanfan]

Ok. *crosses off list*


Amy whats your favorite ride in each park? I like hearing people's faves, lol. Then I try to make a point to go on them.

[blackcauldron85]

Ok. *crosses off list*


Amy whats your favorite ride in each park? I like hearing people's faves, lol. Then I try to make a point to go on them.

What a hard question! I know you didn't ask about restaurants, but my favorite non-character-meal restaurant in all of WDW is the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios. My runners-up are:
Magic Kingdom: Columbia Harbour House
Animal Kingdom: Flame-Tree Barbecue
Hollywood Studios: ABC Commissary

Oh, and my favorite parade is Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom.

As for character meals, they're all great, but Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Hotel is magnificent! As is the Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom (just make sure to make reservations for character meals and other sit-down restaurants as far ahead as you can!).

My #1 at Magic Kingdom is Mickey's Philharmagic. Magic Kingdom runners-up: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Dumbo, Barnstormer, Space Mountain, Carousel of Progress.

My #1 at Epcot: Journey Into Imagination with Figment. Epcot runners-up: Test Track, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Soarin', Maelstrom.

My #1 at Disney's Hollywood Studios: (ride) Star Tours, (show) Fantasmic!, (other) The Magic of Disney Animation & One Man's Dream (tie). Hollywood Studios runners-up: The Great Movie Ride, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, MuppetVision 3D.

My #1 at Animal Kingdom is Expedition Everest. Animal Kingdom runners-up: Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids, Primeval Whirl (I don't think you'd like this ride, though...), Dinosaur, and for shows: Pocahontas & Her Forest Friends, Festival of the Lion King, It's Tough to Be a Bug.

I really love everything in the 4 parks, though!

Oh, and if you go to Ghiradelli's at Downtown Disney, more often than not you can get free chocolate samples! Yum!

[PeterPanfan]

Cool! I'm REALLY excited to go on Star Tours because I've never been on it and I really want a Jedi Mickey plush!

[Prudence]

I would, Prudence, but can you go to a park the day you are leaving?

Not really. Shame you're not going on Expedition Everest. That was my favorite part of the animal kingdom. I rode it first, and rode it three other times! (I stayed longer than a day.)

[PeterPanfan]

Well, about a month has passed, and I'm going to Florida in three in a half days! I CANNOT wait!

A week from today I'll be in Disney World! I haven't been since..2006, I think.

I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to be bumping this, but I'm just so excited!

Is there anything I can do to prepare? Does anyone have any tips?

[blackcauldron85]

Is there anything I can do to prepare? Does anyone have any tips?

First off, have fun!!! Bring sunscreen (or buy some when you get to Florida)- it's getting sunny!!! Just make sure to pack a variety of clothes- it's definitely t-shirt weather, and bring both long pants and shorts, since it can still be a little "chilly" in the morning or at night (but it's not too bad anymore). Bugs aren't awful right now, so you might not need bug spray. Bring or buy an umbrella or a raincoat, I guess. And, depending on how cold you get, bring a lightweight jacket or sweatshirts, since inside buidlings (shows and restaurants), it can get chilly due to the air conditioning.

Have you made meal reservations at some restaurants? Because for many sit-down restaurants (if not all), the way to go is by making reservations, since otherwise, you may be waiting a while.

Definitely utilize FastPass- it will be your friend!

If I think of anything else, I'll write it!!!

[Nala]

blackcauldron85

How's the weather like in September since I'll be going to WDW in September?

To PeterPanFan, take lots of pictures if you can. A person that volunteers for where I work went to Disneyland for 5 days and he ended up taking 1,200 pictures. How long are you staying in Florida?

[PeterPanfan]

Thanks!

I'm staying in Florida for nine days.

[Nala]

Thanks!

I'm staying in Florida for nine days.

Say hello to Mickey and the gang from me. Tell them I'm coming in September. Post pictures if you take any. I'm getting excited of going to WDW and it's still 6 months away.

[PeterPanfan]

I will take pictures and definitly post them.

Well, I'll link to them as not to take up any bandwith.

[blackcauldron85]

blackcauldron85

How's the weather like in September since I'll be going to WDW in September?

"Hot like in the summer, low '90s, it doesn't change much" my husband told me to type, and it rains every day, but not as much as in June or July...

[Nala]

blackcauldron85

How's the weather like in September since I'll be going to WDW in September?

"Hot like in the summer, low '90s, it doesn't change much" my husband told me to type, and it rains every day, but not as much as in June or July...

Thanks. I'm from the Pacific Northwest (Surrey, BC) and it rarely rains in June and July or August. Sometimes we got weeks and weeks before we get any rain. Thanks for the info. So what do you suggest we should pack for our Florida trip?

[PeterPanfan]

I'm not Amy, but I defintily suggest to pack sunscreen, baseball caps or visors, sunglasses(don't wear them when you go on rides though, or they may fall off), bottled water( so you don't get dehydrated), and make sure you wear sneakers to the park. Not sandals or flip-flops, as they could fall off while on rides.

With that in mind, you'll be set!

[Nala]

I'm not Amy, but I defintily suggest to pack sunscreen, baseball caps or visors, sunglasses(don't wear them when you go on rides though, or they may fall off), bottled water( so you don't get dehydrated), and make sure you wear sneakers to the park. Not sandals or flip-flops, as they could fall off while on rides.

With that in mind, you'll be set!

Thanks, I just bought this thing that hopefully will keep bottled water cold. It's kind of like a cooler for water bottles. It will fit a 500ml bottle of water for sure. I know I'll need more though. I'll buy that when I get to Florida as I don't want to take that much water in my luggage as I need to pack other things as well. What airline are you flying with. I'm flying with American Airlines. From BC, it's going to take us more than 7 hours and a 3-hour time zone. We have to be at the airport 3 hours prior to departure time.

[PeterPanfan]

I'm flying with Delta.

I flew with AA on my last trip to FL and it was smooth, so I'm sure you'll be safe.

[Nala]

I'm leaving in four and a half months and I'm getting excited. What rides would you suggest are a "not miss" and do I need a FastPass in September? Is the food expensive and what about drinks (soft drinks, water or coffee)?

[PrincePhillipFan]

Congrats on going! I'm going to be heading down there myself too in two weeks and can't wait.

Anyway, here are my recommendations for rides that are my personal favorites and I never miss when I go to Disney:

Magic Kingdom
Pirates Of The Caribbean
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Country Bear Jamboree
The Haunted Mansion
It's A Small World
Snow White's Scary Adventures
Peter Pan's Flight
Carousel Of Progress
Space Mountain

Epcot
Spaceship Earth
Ellen's Energy Adventure - Universe Of Energy
Test Track
The Seas With Finding Nemo (for the Nemo dark ride and looking at the aquarium tanks)
Soarin'
Journey Into Your Imagination (I still miss the original Dreamfinder version, but I can't but loving Figment)
Maelstrom in Norway
The Gran Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros in Mexico
The American Adventure
Strolling around the Germany, Canada, and United Kingdom pavilions

Disney Hollywood Studios
The Great Movie Ride
The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror
Rock n Roller Coaster with Aerosmith
Muppet Vision 3D
Star Tours
Voyage Of The Little Mermaid
Fantasmic! (find a seat for this show at least an hour in advance since the theater packs up quick)

Animal Kingdom
It's Tough To Be A Bug
Dinosaur
Expedition Everest
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Kilimanjaro Safaris (be sure to get there early since the line really packs up soon)
Festival Of The Lion King

If you're looking for fastpasses, I would recommend getting them for Splash Mountain, Peter Pan's Flight, Space Mountain, Test Track, Soarin', Tower Of Terror (the line though is usually only like 20-30 minutes if you go on first thing in the morning), Rock N Roller Coaster, Star Tours, Dinosaur, and Expedition Everest.

As for food, it sometimes depend on where you want to eat. Many of the counter service places like Pecos Bill's Cafe and Pinocchio's Village Haus in Magic Kingdom are reasonably priced. However, if you want to eat at a table service restaurant, be prepared to spend at least somewhere between 15 to 30 dollars a person depending on the price. From my experience, my favorite table service places I've eaten at are Tony's Town Square Restaurant in Magic Kingdom, the Biergarten at Germany and the Coral Reef at The Seas in Epcot, and the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios. To me those places have great atmosphere, good food, and reasonable restaurant prices for the entrees you're getting.

Hope this info helps you out.

[blackcauldron85]

*edit*- PPF, you beat me to it! I took so long to write this!

I'm leaving in four and a half months and I'm getting excited. What rides would you suggest are a "not miss" and do I need a FastPass in September. Is the food expensive and what about drinks (soft drinks, water or coffee)?

First off, you should call Disney and ask about the Free Dining plan. They may or may not be doing it when you come, but you might as well ask- you can call 407-WDW-DINE.

The food is more expensive then the dollar menu at McDonald's, but if you get normal counter service meals, it's not too expensive, especially for theme park food. I guess an average, non-kids' meal price would be $10 including a drink- sometimes you'll pay less and sometimes you'll pay more. Sit-down restaurants (where you have a server) are more expensive than non-sit-down restaurants. Certain (like Victoria & Albert's) are rediculously expensive, but the majority of them should have items in the $7-$15 range, plus drink, dessert, appetizer, tip, etc.

There are plenty of carts all around the parks that have ice cream, drinks, and snacks ranging from chips to pretzels to popcorn to churros to spiced nuts to pastries...

For sit-down restaurants, make reservations. Look on www.disneyworld.com and look at the various restaurants. When and if you call 407-WDW-DINE, the cast member can assist you with choosing restaurants, and you should make priority seating reservations. Those are extremely important. I believe you can make reservatons 180 days in advance at maximum. You don't need reservations for counter-service restaurants, but for sit-down restaurants, you should have them. They're not normal reservations- if you have a 4pm reservation, you could be seated prior to 4 or after 4- it just pretty much means that you're guaranteed a table with little wait.

www.mousesavers.com, www.mickeynews.com, and www.laughingplace.com may have some resources that will help you learn about the parks and they have special tips and things, as well as notices on rides that will be refurbished (i.e., closed) during your trip.

As far as FastPass advice, you really don't need to use FastPasses for Honey, I Shunk the Audience at Epcot, Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Hollywood Studios, and Mickey's Philharmagic at Magic Kingdom.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant has less of a wait first thing in the morning and maybe at the end of the night- it pretty much always has at least a 30 minute wait. The other similar rides (Aladdin's Flying Carpets, Triceratop Spin, & Astro Oribter) have similar lines.

I recommend the parades, but if you don't care about the parades, those are prime times to go on popular attractions.

If you haven't purchased your tickets yet, and if you're a AAA Auto Club member, you may want to call them or go to your local AAA office and ask about discounts, both buying your tickets and with anything else- even if you have purchased your tickets, if you're a AAA member, you may want to call and ask if you get any hotel or other discounts at WDW.

As far as rides not to miss, I'd say go on everything you can, but if someone had limited time, here's what I'd suggest to miss:

Magic Kingdom: Tom Sawyer Island, Frontierland Shootin' Arcade, Storytime with Belle, Cinderella's Golden Carousel, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Pooh's Playful Spot (unless you have really little kids), Mad Tea Party, Toontown, Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, Astro Orbiter, Stitch's Great Escape, Liberty Square Riverboat, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

Epcot: Innoventions, Circle of Life, Germany Pavilion, Italy Pavilion, Japan Pavilion, Morocco Pavilion (but you can meet Aladdin & friends here), United Kingdom Pavilion (but you can meet a few characters here).

Hollywood Studios: Lights, Motor, Action Stunt Show; Honey I Shunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure, Sounds Dangerous, The American Film Institute Showcase, ATAS Hall of Fame Plaza.

Animal Kingdom: Rafiki's Planet Watch (it's cool, just time-consuming), The Boneyard, Fossil Fun Games, TriceraTop Spin, Cretaceous Trail.

[PeterPanfan]

I can reccomend attractions and rides to you, but I first need to know what types of rides do you prefer? As in scary thrill rides or mellow ones?