Disney World Vacation Notes on Rides

Here is my write up with tips and ride descriptions for Walt Disney World Florida!
*The items in red are the things I think everyone will really enjoy and we don't want to miss
*The items in purple are the meals I have reserved with characters

Magic Kingdom

Open 9-10 on Wednesday and 9-11 Sunday

·         Get there at least a half hour early – some parts of park open early

·         Stop into guest relations or Town Hall to tell you are first time visitor.

·         Get times for characters in park (Tinker Bell)

·         Go straight back to Fantasy Land on first day and do Dumbo first then Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh-have have to get FP for them also get them for Buzz Light year and Space Mt.

·         Day Two go to Adventure land area and go to Splash Mt and Big Thunder Railroad 1^st then Pirates of Caribbean

·         Can use siblings tickets to get FP so can go on multiple times if they aren’t riding

·         Can use FP any time after the time listed on the FP

·         FP may open ½ hour after park opens so ride first

·         Tinkerbelle’s flight – descends from castle before fireworks

·         Parades: 3pm- emerges from gate just left of Splash Mt/ evening emerges from gate to the right of City Hall on Main – both follow same path.  Get a spot at the beginning of parade 30 min before it starts

·        

Fantasy Land

·         Dumbo Ride – has a stationary elephant for photo op

·         Peter Pan’s Flight (FP) 3 min

·         Mickey’s Philharmagic (FP) – 3D

·         Cinderella’s Carrousel – look for sword in stone to pull out

·         Mad Tea party – 3 min

·         Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (FP) 3 ½ min

·         Ariel’s Grotto – meet the character (moved)

·         Fairytale Garden – Belle reads a story – Rapunzel may be there

·         It’s a Small World

·         Pooh’s Play spot

·         Snow White’s scary adventure – 3 min – scary

Tomorrow Land

·         Buzz Lightyear’s Spin (FP) 4 ½ min – can shoot and get scores

·         Space Mountain (FP) 44 inches

·         Monster’s Inc. Comedy Show (funny)

·         Speedway – 5 min laps

·         Walt Disney Carousel of Progress – show

·         Astro Orbiter – 2 min rocket ride

·         Tomorrow land Transit – 10 min ride – good ride for naps

·         Stiches Great Adventure (FP) 20 min show

Adventure Land

·         Pirates of the Caribbean – 10 min cruise (may get wet)-wait inside and is fastest loading ride

·         Magic Carpets – ride for four – can make it turn and go up and down to avoid camel spit

·         Tiki Room – 9 min show-if stay a little after, can hear Iago hurl insults very funny

·         Jungle Cruise – (FP) 10 min

·         Swiss Family Tree house – explore and walk thru

Frontier Land

·         Splash Mountain – (FP) 40 inches wet log ride (sit left and back for less water) play area near

·         Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – (FP) 40 inches – bumpier in back – just fast not too scary

·         Arcade

·         Country Bear Jamboree – 17 min show

·         Tom Sawyer Island – raft to Island to explore

Liberty Square

·         Haunted Mansion – 8 min not too scary

·         Hall of Presidents – 25 min show

·         Liberty Belle Riverboat -17 min ride- not a lot of seats may have to stand 2^nd tier is best view

Characters guaranteed to see while dining:

Crystal Palace: Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger

Cinderella’s Royal Table: Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine, Belle

Tusker House: Donald, Daisy, Mickey, Goofy

Chef Mickeys:  Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald

Crystal Palace: Wednesday      Reservation   (prepare kids for parade with characters-buffet)

Cinderella’s Royal Table              Reservation#   {both reservations sit down}

Epcot

Open 9 – 9 on Thursday

·         Get Fast Pass to Soarin’ first thing!

·         2^nd mission space, test track, Seas with Nemo

·         Shows in World Showcase of interest: Chinese acrobats, balancing act in France, off kilter-Celtic music

Future World

·         The Seas with Nemo and Friends

·         Spaceship Earth – stay outside

The Land

·         Soarin (FP) fly over with IMAX screen

·         Circle of Life – 20 min film

·         Club Cool – taste test Coke Products free

·         Living with the Land (FP) – 13 ½ min boat ride (recommended by Lisa P)

Imagination (pyramid – fountains inside)

·         Honey I shrunk the Audience (FP) – 3D (crowded early)- Mice crawl up leg – can take of glasses and put up feet so don’t feel it

·         Journey with Figment – tour of labs

·         What if Labs – kid friendly play

Test Track (FP) – 40 inches – go through road test (ride) – all about speed/no flips or plunges

Mission Space (FP) – 44 inches – stimulates space (could cause dizziness)-go on less intense side?

Universe of Energy – 45 min- funny movie with Ellen and then train ride

Innovations – arcade of the future – can play games

World Showcase: opens at 11 – are Characters in different areas

??Bambi's Magnificent Butterfly Garden   Pixie Hollow Garden Flower Power Concert Series

Coral Reef Restaurant Reservation # for– sit down

Animal Kingdom

Open 9 – 7 on Friday

·         Get Safari FP first thing then Expedition Everest

·         Save Rafiki for afternoon

Discovery Island

·         Tree of Life

·         It’s Tough to be a Bug (FP) 8 min – can be scary – feel and smell bugs

Africa

·         Safari (FP) ride in jeep and see live animals

·         Pangani forest Exploration – trail to see hippos and gorillas

·         Rafiki’s Planet Watch – petting zoo

Asia

·         Kali River Rapids (FP) 38 inches – will get wet!

·         Maharajah Jungle Trek – walking tour of tigers and more animals

·         Flights of Wonder – 20 minute outdoor show of birds

·         Expedition Everest (FP) 44 inches – go early!!

DinoLand USA

·         The Boneyard – dig for bones-lots of kids and easy to lose sight

·         Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama

o   Whirl ride – 48 inches

o   Spin ride – like Dumbo ride

·         Dinosaur (FP) 40 inches very intense and scary!!

·         Finding Nemo Musical – 30 minute show-sit center 2/3 back

Camp Minnie-Mickey

·         Festival of Lion King – 30 minute show

·         Greeting Trails – look at times

Tusker House Reservation -buffet

Hollywood Studios

Open 9 – 8:30 on Monday

·         Run straight back to Toy Story Mania for FP and wait in line (if want to ride 2x)

·         Fantasmic at 8:30 – sit 15 rows from front so don’t get wet- get there an hour early

·         Get FP for Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror first thing

·         Very short parade so go to start of parade

·         Sci-Fi Dine In – sit in ship to eat

·         Characters-Playhouse Disney in animation courtyard, newest stars are inside animation studio, cars have a garage rt of entrance of Lights Motor Action

·         Tower of Terror (FP) 40 inches – scary story line and drop 13 stories

·         Rock n Roller Coaster (FP) 48 inches – fastest coaster is inside so not a lot of dips and drops

·         Beauty and the Beast Live (FP) 30 min show

·         Magic of Disney Animation – show about Disney and Animation

·         Voyage of Little Mermaid – (FP) 17 minutes- lightning show may be scary – sit toward back so don’t see puppeteers

·         Playhouse Disney – sit on floor – for preschoolers

·         Toy Story Mania (FP) wear 3D glasses and shoot

·         Studio Backlot Tour – 30 min – right side to stay dry

·         Lights Motor Action! Extreme Stunt Show (FP)

·         American Film Institute Showcase – costumes props and set pieces

·         The Great Movie Ride – takes through old movies-startle factor (Casablanca, alien, wizard of oz tram is taken hostage)

·         Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey – 17 min may not be suited for under 7

·         The American Idol Experience – 25 min show with real contestants

·         Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

·         Star Tours (FP) 40 inches  Star Wars – not scary – do reenactments outside ride- 3D parts-feel in ship

·         Muppet Vision 3D – 29 min show- sit center back

·         Honey I shrunk the kids – oversize playground

Mama Melrose’s  Reservation #  – sit down (Fantasmic Package)