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View Full Version : Leaving Saturday Morning! Last Minute Suggestions?



jheigl
05-14-2007, 08:51 PM
I am leaving Saturday morning and by the time most people wake up, I will be walking around MCO. I'm going until that next Saturday (leaving early Sunday AM), so any suggestions on what I can't miss at WDW? I don't like rollercoasters or anything that spins (like the tea cups), but I would like to get some final suggestions and such before I leave!! Thanks!!!

kittylovesthemouse
05-15-2007, 05:23 AM
The following is an excerpt from a really long email I sent a friend who made her first trip to WDW last week...very last minute, and virtually no preparation. They had two days in the park, travelling with kids ages 3-8. I got a very nice thank you note from her, so apparently my words of WDW wisdom were fairly sound. Not sure if they'll be of any use to you, but here goes:

Ok, then...regarding the rides
(attractions, as they are formally known) at MK:

Everyone has a bit of advice for how to navigate the
parks, which order to visit attractions, etc. The
only bit of advice I find consistently useful is "go left" when
everyone else goes right. The rest is purely
speculative.

Magic Kingdom. First thing, after you pass under the
railroad arches and get your map and schedule, Magic
check the attraction board--usually left side of Main
Street--for the attraction “down” list.

Although there are some "thrill" rides at Disney, it's
not like Cedar Point. The rides are generally tame
enough for most everyone, with a few exceptions.
Instead of big drops and such, Disney relies on
cleverness and great props. There is nothing at MK your son (8)
couldn't do and walk away from unscathed...even Space
Mountain. It's a great ride...fairly intense, but a
lot of fun. Save it for last, if he's in the mood.

MAIN STREET USA
1. Walt Disney World Railroad--has stops at Main
Street, Frontierland, Toontown (21 min)... save this
for afternoon when you're tired and need to just ride
around semi-quietly
2. Main Street transportation—trolleys, wagons, etc.
is skippable, for sure
3. The only place to have your name embroidered on
mouse ears is here, at the hat shop next to the sweet
shop
4. Cinderella’s Castle: There are shows here
throughout the day, gift shops, banquet hall, but no
real attraction. But note the imported Italian glass
mosaics! It's pretty and a great photo-op, anyway.

TOMORROWLAND
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin FP (5 min)
Carousel of Progress (20 min)
Astro Orbiter (save for late p.m.) (2 min)
Space Mountain FP (3 min)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority (10 min)
Indy Speedway (5 min)
Stitch ride
NEW Monsters Inc comedy show

RECOMMENDATIONS: Buzz is big fun for everyone,
Carousel of Progress might be good for naptime, Astro
Orbiter is very slow loading and probably not worth
more than a 10 minute wait, Space Mountain is intense
but fun, the Transit Authority is a nice little ride
and goes right through Space Mountain and Buzz
Lightyear, I hate the Indy Cars but my son loves
them--the kids will ALL need someone to help them with
the gas peddle, Stitch is horrible and loud and scary,
and the Monsters comedy show is cute.

TOONTOWN FAIR (for little kids)
Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm Barnstormer is a little kid
roller coaster, and there are a few walk
throughs...Minnie's house, Donald's boat. There's a
train station here, and a place to see characters.

FANTASYLAND (busiest from noon-5 p.m., typically)
Dumbo (2 min)
Mad Hatter's Tea Party (2 min)
it's a small world (11 min)
Peter Pan FP (3 min)
Snow White’s Scary Adventure (3 min)
World of Pooh FP (3 min)
Cinderella’s Golden Carousel (2 min)
Mickey’s Philharmagic, FP 3D

RECOMMENDATIONS: It's all great, all very Disney.
Philharmagic is great! I don't do the tea cups
(upchuck-making). There's also a Pooh-themed playspot
for the very little ones.

LIBERTY SQUARE
Hall of Presidents (30 min)
Liberty Square Riverboat (15ish min)
Haunted Mansion FP (8 min)

RECOMMENDATIONS: First note that there are not
bathrooms in this area. Presidents has some great
animatronics. The riverboat is another peaceful
naptime offering. Haunted Mansion is a classic, but
it can be a little scary for little ones, so it
depends on your kids...I like it best at night, but if
your kids are at all concerned, go during the day.

FRONTIERLAND
Country Bears (17 min)
Splash Mountain FP (11 min)
Big Thunder Mtn. Railroad FP (4 min)
Tom Sawyer’s Island (until dusk)

RECOMMENDATIONS: Bears is another classic; it's "ok".
Splash Mountain is GREAT! Don't be put off by the
big drop at the end...it's not that bad, although you
will probably get wet (if wet underpants aren't your
thing, bring along a few dollar store rain ponchos...I
do!). Big Thunder is another GREAT ride; the boys
love it...most kids do, and it's very popular, so ride
early or get a FP! Tom Sawyer is a fun place to
visit; you take a raft across the river to get there.

ADVENTURELAND
Enchanted Tiki Room (12 min)
Pirates of the Caribbean (10 min)
Jungle Cruise FP (10 min)
Swiss Family Tree House
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (3 min)

RECOMMENDATIONS: This is my favorite place at MK.
The Tiki room is ok, but not a priority. Jungle
Cruise is a favorite! I love the tree house, but the
kids couldn't care less about it. The real draw here
is Pirates! It's a little spooky at first, but it's
such Disney fun! There's a small drop at first
(you're in a boat), but other than that, just a lot of
really great stuff to see.

There is food everywhere. Our favorite noshes are
Mickey Mouse ice cream bars and Dole Whip (pineapple
and vanilla softserve, only at Adventureland).

jheigl
05-15-2007, 07:28 AM
Thanks alot! It did help!

anniedg
05-15-2007, 07:34 AM
Have Fun!!!
:d

kittylovesthemouse
05-15-2007, 09:58 AM
This is part two of the recycled advice...hope you have a wonderful, magical vacation!

Animal Kingdom is part zoo, part
travelogue-come-to-life. The pace is much different
than that of MK. My first recommendation is to get
here early! The morning opening ceremony is one of my
favorite things at Disney! After the ceremony (Mickey
and friends run the show), go directly to Kilmanjaro
Safaris...the animals are more active first thing in
the morning. There is a lot of walking to be done
here!

Typcially, though, this is how it works...

From the entrance turnstyles, you'll walk along until
you encounter "the Oasis"—it's the first thing you hit
coming in, full of scenery (waterfalls, etc.), flora
and fauna; from here, cross bridge to Discovery
Island. In a hurry in the morning, go left around the
Oasis...revisit it on the way back out of the park.

AFRICA
--Kilimanjaro Safari (20 min)
--Pangani Trail: gorillas, among other things
--Wildlife Express Train (5 min) goes to...
--Rafiki’s Planet Watch/Conservation Station (petting
zoo, and in the morning watch the vets do "vet
stuff"...from checkups to surgery!)

Recommendations: Do it all! Word the wise,
Conservation Station only has one bathroom which is
not big enough, and no food except the errant
concession cart. Plan accordingly.

ASIA
--Kali River Rapids (very wet) (7 min) FP
--Maharanjah Jungle Trek: really big bats and tigers
--Expedition Everest FP
--Flights of Wonder (30 min)

Recommendations: Do the Jungle Trek. Kali is great,
but bring a dollar store rain poncho because it can be
a real soaker. Flights of Wonder is a very good bird
show...don't miss it. Expedition Everest is a super
ride, and probably the most intense Disney offers. We
all love it, but it does have some freaky
elements...like hurtling backwards in the dark up a
hill, ugh!

DINOLAND USA (Midway)
--Dinosaur (Countdown to Extinction) (4 min) FP
--Bone Dig play structure
--Triceratops Spin
--Primeval Whirl (3 min) FP

Recommendations: Dinosaur is dark, intense and scary.
It's fun for some, terrifying for others.
Triceratops spin is a carnival ride. Primeval Whirl
is much worse than it looks...beware.

DISCOVERY ISLAND (bridges to all other areas of the
park originate from this island)
--Tree of Life featuring “It’s Tough to be a Bug” 3D
(20 min) FP
--Discovery Trail: Tamarins, storks, tortoises,
otters, capybaras, green-winged macaws

Recommendations: Do the bug movie. Very cute.

CAMP MINNIE-MICKEY
--“Festival of the Lion King” (30 min) (check for
times) (come 45+ min early—very popular)
--Pocahontas and Forest Friends (12 min) (some live
animals)
--New “Finding Nemo” musical show

Recommendations: I think this is the best place to
see Mickey, and Chip & Dale are usually here. I've
not seen the Pocahontas show, but I can highly
recommend Festival of the Lion King! We didn't catch
Nemo...it's brand new, but we hear it's wonderful!

The Jammin’ Jungle Parade (usually starts at 4 p.m.
daily, lasts about 15 min) is my favorite Disney
parade. It's fun, the music is great, and the giant
Javanese puppets are really neat!

We ate at the Flame Tree Barbecue in Asia (counter
service ribs, chicken, salad--not bad stuff, rib meal
about $9) but my big treat here is Rain Forest Cafe.
It's always cold in there, though! Brrr...

bradk
05-15-2007, 10:46 AM
just glancing at that... you know, i've never seen C&D at camp minnie-mickey personally, but either way, my #1 spot for mickey, minnie, goofy, chip & dale and pluto is the character connection in Epcot. and better yet, right now, Mickey & Minnie are appearing together.

kittylovesthemouse
05-15-2007, 10:54 AM
Ooooh! Last time we saw them appearing together was after midnight in 06 during EMH at MK...even at that hour, the line was horrendously long, so I didn't get my picture. :( How are the lines at Character Connection? Is that the set up where you have to show your Disney Visa, or am I thinking of something else?

bradk
05-15-2007, 11:22 AM
that's something else, that's the meet & greet in innoventions west. character connection is open to everyone but because it's indoors (and air conditioned), most people don't notice it and there's rarely anything longer than a short line.

they're only doubled up right now because it's in a temporary space while the old space gets upgraded. initially mickey & minnie weren't even grouped together, but they have been since late feb/march and still are as recently as this week (i've gotten a couple of photos from people this past week).

when the new spot opens, either in june or september depending on who you ask, they'll be back to being in individual lines.

ourtrip
05-15-2007, 05:08 PM
Suggestions...

MGM - make time for Fantasmic that evening, ride Tower of Terror and Rock-n-Roller coaster over and over. Catch the Motor Stunt Show, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and Indiana Jones Stunt Show. Dine at the 50s Prime Time and "get in trouble". Watch the parade at 3:00

Animal Kingdom - ride the safari early in the day to catch good views of the animals, ride Expedition Everest and Dinosaur. Watch Finding Nemo and Tough to be a Bug before you leave. Ride Kali River Rapids when you get hot.
Grab a frozen lemonade and walk the animal paths and see some incredible sights. Watch the parade and catch a view of the mountain at night.

Magic Kingdom - ride Space Mountain, big Thuder Railroad, Pirates, Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain when you get hot. Watch Mickey's Phil-Har-Magic. Catch the kiddie rides - Peter Pan, Snow White and Winnie the Pooh. Catch the day time parade, the one at night, and the Wishes fireworks. dine in Cinderella's Castle or the Liberty tree Tavern. Walk down Main Street at night when its lit and enjoy the view of the castle.