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MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
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Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
... at each of the four parks? I've heard Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios and the safari at Animal Kingdom, because the lines at both are ridiculous soon after opening. What about Magic Kingdom and Epcot? Where should we go first to avoid the lines? TIA.
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Posted 2/23/13 11:06 AM  |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
If you have a girl, I would head straight to the new Belle attraction. It's great and the line gets long.
It's fun for boys too, because they can play a part, too. But I think the wow factor is there for girls more than boys
Message edited 2/23/2013 11:10:50 AM.
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| Posted 2/23/13 11:10 AM |
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springchick
make a wish
Member since 5/08 3566 total posts
Name:
justask
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Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
I think the first thing is to get fast pass to all the rides you want to do early in the morning that way you dont have to do lines
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| Posted 2/23/13 11:10 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
Posted by springchick
I think the first thing is to get fast pass to all the rides you want to do early in the morning that way you dont have to do lines
You can't just get multiple fast passes all at the same time. You have to wait until the time printed on your ticket to get another one. Sometimes an hour, sometimes a couple, just depends.
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| Posted 2/23/13 11:12 AM |
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MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
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Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
Thanks for the suggestions - I only have DS so I don't think he'd be too interested in Belle or any of the princesses, although I do want to have lunch at the Beast's castle. Is there a list on the Disney website somewhere about which rides have the fast pass?
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| Posted 2/23/13 11:29 AM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
I just got back last night and I am going to post my own detailed review soon but in the meantime some thoughts:
You should check out either a good guidebook, like the unofficial guide, or wdwinfo.com for info on what has fastpasses.
Which ride you will do first really depends on so many factors, including the time you arrive at the park, the levels of crowds, your son's interests, etc. How old is your son?
We were at MK on a very crowded day and we actually started at it's a small world because it doesn't have fastpass. We were there first thing in the morning and walked right on. We then either walked on to other rides - since we got there very early - or got FPs as we needed them. The worst wait was 20 minutes for a popular non FP ride (the speedway) and that was only once - everything else was 10 minutes or less because we planned well.
If you can tell us your DS's age and interests, what time of year you are going, and if you are willing to get there early, I'd be happy to give you more specific advice.
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| Posted 2/23/13 12:06 PM |
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MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
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Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
My DS is almost 8 - we were at Disney three years ago but he was sick the entire time so he didn't really get to enjoy it. He is kind of in between the kiddie rides and the adult rides right now - likes roller coasters but is not ready for the Rockin Roller Coaster, likes log flumes as long as they're not too high/steep. He liked It's a Small World last time, the ride at the Mexico pavillion (but the one at Norway scared him a bit). We also went on Pirates of the Caribbean (will probably like that better this time). He liked the 3-D movies except the one at AK I think (where it was actually 4-D and the seats shook, etc). I think he may like some that he didn't like previously. He loved the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, but did not like the Star Wars ride (although this time he might). We plan to get to most parks early although maybe not always at rope drop since we're staying on property and some are quite early. We'll be there one week so we have some time to see what we really want. He's definitely a boy's boy - very energetic, rough and tumble, etc. Does any of that help?
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| Posted 2/23/13 12:13 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
Do want to do jedi training camp? If so that should be 1st then FP (if that is still the system they are making changes) TSM. If you don't want to do JTC then you want to go straight to TSM (we usually FP this then ride standby), then I would hit tower of terror and or RNR if you are interested and star tours. If you hit JTC that takes a chunk of time.
At MK you should go straight to the belle storytime waits are right out 40+ in the hot sun. Then it really depends from there I would FP peter pan, but again it depends on your interests.
EPCOT test track and soarin should be first. Some people FP one the hit the other.
AK depends on your interests safari is our 1st stop but if you want to try EE you should make that a priority.
The new FP+ may or may not effect how you tour in the future.
Keep in mind that most parks got rid of rope drop shows. HS for example now lets people in 15-30 mins before posted opening.
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| Posted 2/23/13 12:28 PM |
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MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
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Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
Good to know. DS didn't do test track last time but this time I think he'd like it. We missed Soarin last time, so maybe we'll hit that first at Epcot. We are definitely doing the safari first at AK (did it right after our character breakfast last time and we loved it). I did EE last time - waited forever. I don't think he'd want to do JTK. He may like Tower of Terror (he likes the small outdoor version at Adventureland) but I don't think we'll know until he sees the ride (wouldn't go on last time). RNR might be too much for him. Definitely will head to TSM first (again, waited a long time last time). Thanks for all the tips!
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| Posted 2/23/13 12:44 PM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
Posted by MommaG
Good to know. DS didn't do test track last time but this time I think he'd like it. We missed Soarin last time, so maybe we'll hit that first at Epcot. We are definitely doing the safari first at AK (did it right after our character breakfast last time and we loved it). I did EE last time - waited forever. I don't think he'd want to do JTK. He may like Tower of Terror (he likes the small outdoor version at Adventureland) but I don't think we'll know until he sees the ride (wouldn't go on last time). RNR might be too much for him. Definitely will head to TSM first (again, waited a long time last time). Thanks for all the tips!
I would do TSM first but ONLY if you get there at rope drop. Disney's unofficial guide described it as the "biggest bottleneck in all of WDW" because it's slow loading and very popular (for reasons that befuddle me but for more on that you can read the review I'll post soon.) If you get there even 1/2 hour after opening the waits will already be approaching one hour - or more - if it's a busy time of year. If this is the case, get a FP then head to Tower of Terror and see if he's into it. It's a free fall ride, but staggered - meaning not a straight drop, which makes it more tolerable. It does get dark though. I did that and RNR with my 11 year old SD while my DH was with our 2 year old son and it was a lot of fun.
Magic Kingdom - I would get an early start and head straight to Fantasyland. It's a small world and Peter Pan's flight are across from each other and I'd start with one of those. PPF has FP but personally I would just do standby very early in the morning so you can get that part of the park over with. Then hit other fantasyland rides as they interest you. I can't comment on the new fantasyland because it didn't really interest us due to the kid's ages but it was sheer bottleneck 15 minutes after park opening (although that was a morning EMH day which we were there for so lots of Disney guests were already there for a while.)
If you have to FP any Fantasyland rides, do so, then head to the Tomorrowland Speedway (not far away) then go back to use your FPs, then be done with Fantasyland. Your son will love the Speedway and there is no FP. It was our longest wait at 20 minutes.
I would knock off Tomorrowland - which your DS should love. FP SM if you have to. Grab lunch, use your SM FPs, then get FPs for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Splash Mountain (I can't remember if the latter has FP because it was closed when we went.)
EPCOT - the headliners are Mission Space, Test Track, and Soarin. The first two are next to each other and Soarin is on the other side of the park. With Soarin I would use the same logic as TSM - get there early and make a run for it or just use FP.
AK - I will let others chime in on this one because we didn't do it this time and last time DS was only 19 months old. I originally wanted to do it, but it was between that and HS and once I found out he could meet Mike and Sully from Monsters at HS that ended any notion of AK. Sure enough we spent most of our "extra day" going back and forth between them and Lightning and Mater. 
HTH and please don't hesitate to post with any ? you have!
ETA - I don't know much about FP+ and how that will affect any of this.
Message edited 2/23/2013 2:16:15 PM.
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| Posted 2/23/13 2:08 PM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
We had three days and we did Hollywood studios first (loved it) animal kingdom and last day at thr Magic Kingdom. Loved it,,,
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| Posted 2/23/13 3:28 PM |
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MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
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Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
Thanks again. It seems I was wrong about DS - says he wants to do JTC - it does involve light sabers, after all.
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| Posted 2/23/13 5:01 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
Posted by MommaG
Thanks again. It seems I was wrong about DS - says he wants to do JTC - it does involve light sabers, after all.
There is a cute video on youtube to see wwhat it is. It is for ages 4-12 and they are strict. My 3 yr old turns 4 3 days after we get home and I was told they won't maake exceptions.
You want to be at HS between 830 and 845 on a 9 am opening (same with EMH that is when they do sign up that day). Take one parent and the child (who must be present). Go to ABC sound stage to sign up. The rest of your party can take your passes and get FPs for all of you at TSM. You do not need your passes to sign up for JTC.
They take 15 kids or so per time. If there is availabilty friends have said you can work with them on a time if you have an adr etc. You will get a ticket and have to return around 30 before your time. About 10 mins before they will walk your child over.
It seems really cute.
Message edited 2/27/2013 7:35:03 PM.
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| Posted 2/23/13 7:00 PM |
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MommaG
Yay Spring!
Member since 5/05 5133 total posts
Name:
Gloria
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Where is the first place you should go at Disney...
Thanks for the info. I think he'll enjoy JTC and if we can get him in early that would be great so we have the rest of the day to wander around the studios. All this planning is a lot of work!
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| Posted 2/27/13 2:14 PM |
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