Going to Disney World JULY 2009!

[kbehm29]

I just booked a trip for me and my youngest son, who will be 5 at the time! Yay! It will only be 2 days at Disney, but it will satisfy me until our next big family trip summer of 2010.

Now I'm off to figure out what's new or changed since we were last there in May of 2007.

[skybluemilk]

Have fun!!

[kbehm29]

I can't wait. It's going to be so much fun, and I'll get to spend some quality one on one time with my youngest son, who often gets overlooked because his older siblings are so needy.

Toy Story Mania is the first thing that pops into my head that's changed since 2007.

[Kram Nebuer]

Now I'm off to figure out what's new or changed since we were last there in May of 2007.

I know Spaceship Earth's ending got a makeover recently, but I don't know if it was after your trip in 2007.

Also, there's the American Idol attraction at Hollywood Studios that should be fully opened by the time of your trip.

[Loomis]

Ooh, would love to get back to the US for a Disney holiday, and I thought it would have been late this year, but it will more than likely be early 2010.

Hope you have an excellent trip!!! I really enjoyed my time in WDW last year, although there was so much to see and do it tended to be a bit overwhelming!

[kbehm29]

Just confirmed all of my reservations for the trip, which has now been bumped up to JULY 21st!

I am ecstatic! Only 46 more days!

Of course, this is just a baby trip - I'll only have two days to spend in the parks, but it will be my fix until our next big family trip a year from now!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[blackcauldron85]

Yay! FYI, Spaceship Earth is closed (I think until the fall), and at least the last time I was there, the TTA was closed, too.

[PrincePhillipFan]

Yay! FYI, Spaceship Earth is closed (I think until the fall), and at least the last time I was there, the TTA was closed, too.

I presume you mean Space Mountain, Ames?

Space Mountain is down until November, and TTA is closed for rehab too until August.

I hope you have a great trip, kbehm29! Say hi to the Mansion for me.

[goofystitch]

If you are interested in seeing live performances, there are three new entertainment offerings at Magic Kingdom. There is Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!, a high energy street party in front of the castle with lots of characters. In Tomorrowland, you can attend Stitch's SuperSonic Celebration, a show on the newly built stage. And the afternoon parade has been rethemed and is now called Celebrate a Dream Come True. If you have seen the last incarnation, Disney Dreams Come True, it's mostly the same, with a few floats having been redressed, a few character changes, costumes are different, and an all now soundtrack. In addition, the new version of the parade makes show stops during which there is audience interaction. If your son like Tinker Bell or the other Disney Fairies, you can meet them in Toontown now as well.

Not much has changed at Epcot and Animal Kingdom, but as people have pointed out, there is lots to see at Disney's Hollywood Studios. For starters, the name of the park is different and two big attractions have been added: Toy Story Midway Mania, for which I suggest getting to the park when it opens and going straight there. You will want to ride it several times, but Fast Passes are gone in a hurry. Right away, the Fast Pass line is longer than the line for the ride, so I recommend getting in line for the ride, which by that point will be about 25 minutes (crazy, I know) and when you get off, get in line for Fast Passes to ride it again later. The other new attraction, The American Idol Experience, has 8 shows a day and unless you are planning to go to the finale show at the end of the day, you won't have a problem getting in. The theater is large and it is a rare occasion to have a regular show more than 3/4 full.

I hope you have a great time and I hope the crowds are reasonable while you are there.

[blackcauldron85]

Yay! FYI, Spaceship Earth is closed (I think until the fall), and at least the last time I was there, the TTA was closed, too.

I presume you mean Space Mountain, Ames?

I presume you're right. What was I thinking?!?

I find it funny how you didn't mention the new parade at Hollywood Studios, Alex (unless you did and I messed up again!), because it is pretty poor and not something to go out of your way to see, IMO.

[kbehm29]

Thanks so much for all the well wishes and advice everyone!

My next question is which parks to go to. We can only spend 2 days at Disney, and keep in mind it will be me with a 5-year-old.

Magic Kingdom is definitely going to be one of the days. I am not spending extra money on park-hopper tickets. Should I do the second day at Magic Kingdom? Otherwise I was thinking about Hollywood Studios, simply for Toy Story Mania.

Advice anyone?

[Kram Nebuer]

Thanks so much for all the well wishes and advice everyone!

My next question is which parks to go to. We can only spend 2 days at Disney, and keep in mind it will be me with a 5-year-old.

Magic Kingdom is definitely going to be one of the days. I am not spending extra money on park-hopper tickets. Should I do the second day at Magic Kingdom? Otherwise I was thinking about Hollywood Studios, simply for Toy Story Mania.

Advice anyone?

Since you are not getting hopper tickets, I think Hollywood Studios is the best choice. For one thing, Animal Kingdom closes early (I think 6 or 7ish) so you won't be able to make the most of your time there in Disney. For a 5-year-old, I don't think Epcot would be worth a whole day. Additionally, I support your decision to go to Hollywood Studios because Toy Story Mania is definitely worth it! It's a really really awesome and unique kind of ride, probably more like a rotating video game than anything. It's quite a different experience compared to the more traditional ride and attraction experiences at the Disney theme parks and I'm sure your son AND you will certainly get a kick out of it.

Also, Hollywood Studios has a lot of meeting character opportunities, shows where you can sit and relax, and the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area to let your child let loose some energy while you take a break, haha.

I'm so excited for you, I hope you have lots of fun and get your "fix" until your big family trip!

[David S.]

If you have seen the last incarnation, Disney Dreams Come True, it's mostly the same, with a few floats having been redressed, a few character changes, costumes are different, and an all now soundtrack

Not to seem argumentative at all, but "A few character changes" is actually the removal of ALL of the approximately 28 walking characters who walked between the floats, which I found EXTREMELY disappointing. These characters have all been replaced by dancers wearing identical costumes in a variety of colors between each float.

EDIT At this point, I had written a lot of stuff about the new version of the parade vs. the old, but then realized there was already a thread about that, so I moved it there: http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... ht=#445853

I find it funny how you didn't mention the new parade at Hollywood Studios, Alex (unless you did and I messed up again!), because it is pretty poor and not something to go out of your way to see, IMO.

I agree - well, I'm not gonna "bash" on Block Party Bash , but I did much prefer Stars And Motor Cars. I do recognize that a lot of people enjoy the participatory "show stops" of Block Party and I do think it's neat to see so many Pixar characters in the parks that you normally wouldn't see - but I think Stars and Motor Cars really captured what the park was about better and was a better fit.

Block Party just represents the Toy Story, Bugs Life, and Monsters Inc. properties; wheras Motor Cars had Toy Story, Mary Poppins, Muppets, Star Wars, Monsters Inc, Aladdin, Mulan, Disney Villains, Little Mermaid, Lilo and Stitch, Power Rangers, Playhouse Disney, Snow White, and of course the "Fab 5".

So the Motor Cars captured more of the variety of what was at the park, including Pixar, Disney, as well as things like Muppets and Star Wars which are a big part of the park's attraction lineup. Plus, I really LOVED the catchy theme song, and thought the idea of all the stars appearing in a motorcade of cars was a great throwback to Old Hollywood which fit the theme of Hollywood Blvd PERFECTLY!

[blackcauldron85]

My problem with the new Hollywood Studios parade is the music (random pop songs) and the army men from Toy Story seemed very out of character. It just wasn't magical- it seemed like it was just thrown together. The only plus side is Corbin's song at the end. <3 I mean, the characters are a plus. Maybe the many dancers and fewer characters irks me, like some have been mentioning about the new MK parade, which I haven't seen, I don't think.

[David S.]

My problem with the new Hollywood Studios parade is the music (random pop songs) and the army men from Toy Story seemed very out of character. It just wasn't magical- it seemed like it was just thrown together.

I agree. With the random pop songs (instead of classic Disney or Pixar songs or something new written just for the parade) AND the army men constantly shouting on top of the soundtrack to "pump up" the crowd, if you just close your eyes and listen to the soundtrack, it sounds more like an overzealous DJ constantly shouting over the music at a dance club than a Disney theme park parade! Very noisy!

[goofystitch]

Have any of you been to California Adventure and seen the new Pixar Play Parade that replace Block Party Bash? It's fantastic. It's my favorite Disney parade currently running in the American parks. It mostly relies on party music as well, but it's well planned, instead of DJ style, and some of the songs have been reworded, such as "Bug's Just Wanna Have Fun" instead of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." That parade also covers every Pixar film from Toy Story to Ratatouille. Mike Wizowski is the emcee, but it's fun, versus annoying like the green army men.

[blackcauldron85]

Yeah, I saw that when I went in September. I thought that it was fun...it wasn't as random as the Block Party Bash is.

[wdwnut4life]

I'll be there july 16th & 18th!