[advice] Looks like I'm going to Disney World, suggestions?

Yeah, I did enjoy MGM Studios. The Aerosmith Coaster kicked major arseage...

Epcot and Magic Kingdom were rather forgettable, though.

...and trust me, there is no such thing as a non crowded day at Disney World...

 

trust me, you're wrong.

 

Try early december. That's when my wife and I went on our Disney honeymoon.

 

i go in october. it's fine. i suppose it depends on how you define crowded.

 

Very wrong, we went in late October early November back in 98 and it was perfect. Not to crowded and nice weather. We spent 4 days at the park and the 3 day cruise, well worth it.

 

Disney World is comprised of The Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, EPCOT and some kind of Wilderness/Zoo place.

Universal is a separate place. It depends on what you are looking for. Universal has the better thrill rides overall, imo.

 

OK, I guess I should rephrase my statement...there's no such as a non crowded day in the Summer...

 

MAGIC KINGDOM=Overrated

Go to Animal kingdom, epcot, and MGM Studios before that.

Yeah, wake up EARLY, esp. during the summer when it can get hot as hell.

 

Yea, Disney has Magic Kingdom (the one with the famous castle), Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and MGM Studios with a side attraction of Downtown Disney which is freaking great

Universal has Universal Studios and Island of Adventure.

btw, I wrote a review about my trip last month in the Monster's Inc thread and will just paste it here:

I went last month, May 17-21 with my gf. We stayed at the Sleep Inn over by Universal.

We had a blast, managed to go to Magic Kingdom, Island of Adventure, CityWalk, and Downtown Disney. Good times. We were a bit dissapointed cause we thought the places would be like 50% kids rides/50% adult rides, but was mostly kids attraction in which I understand. My gf realized we HAD it made with Astroworld since there were so much more adult rides.

I'd go back, wanted to go to Universal Studios and MGM Grand since I haven't been there since '91.

Btw, when I went, the crowds weren't all that bad especially for May. The most I waited for a ride was the Hulk Ride at IofA and that was 45 mins and that was on a Friday. We went back on a Sunday (we had a 5 day pass ) and the Hulk ride was like a 5 min wait. So I guess it just depends.

The best thing about the parks, all the rides have an estimate time on how long it will take to get through the ride. At Island of Adventure, there is like a display that shows the wait for ALL the rides right when you walked in, which I thought was cool. Funny side story, my gf saw that the "Storm Ride" was only a 5 min wait, went there, and it was basically the cup ride ala teacup ride at Magic Kingdom.

Also, if you are plainning to go check out the internet deals, they are pretty badass. Like for Island of Adventure, we bought a one day pass and got 4 additional days for free. Plus they have great deals for hotels and park tickets. Particually pay attention to the popups. I noticed ALOT of them AFTER i came back from Orlando

one more thing, I would highly suggest a restaraunt called Rengetsu Of Tokyo. Its a japanese restaraunt off of International Blvd. My gf and I loved it and was worth every penny.

 

We stayed at the Disney Yacht Club last year and it was a short walk to Epcot...awesome.

 

Behad had the best suggestiong there is.

Get that book. We bought it when we went a few years ago, and it will absolutely get you to the rides at the best times for avoiding the crowds.

I also like the suggestions of doing Epcott first since it is the least adrenaline-involved of the parks. If you have already been pumped up by the other parks you may find Epcott more boring. But if you go first it is fun, and there is plenty to do, and eat. However if that doesn't fit into your schedule then it isn't that big of a deal.

A lot depends on how much you want to spend and if you have children. If you have children and can stay at a Disney hotel that is great. Then you can go very early, and when the crowds come in the middle of the day, go back to the hotel for a swim, and a nap. Then go back in the evening when the crowds die down.

When my wife and I went, there were no children so we saved some $$ by staying at a Best Western a few miles from the park.

Getting there early is the best advice the book can give and I can recommend. It will be possible to ride 4 rides at the opening of the park in the time it will take to ride just 1 ride in the middle of the day.

If you haven't been before then I will advise you to notice the details that create the atmosphere in most of the rides. That is where the real thrills come from, because it isn't geared toward super fast roller coasters and all that(Though are some good ones there.)

I loved Twighlight Zone's Tower of Terror, The Aerosmith Roller Coaster, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribbean, Test Track, Peter Pan's Wild Flight, Splash Mountain, Honey I shrunk the Audience(though there are better shows of this nature at other places.)

Sadly I didn't do Animal Kingdom, and would very much like to. I can't tell you anything about that.

The one ride that I just can't stomach is 'It's A Small World'. I hate the song, and it plays over and over, and it is just too over the top with Kumbaya cheesiness for me. If you are with children you may end up having to ride it anyway.

I also have heard that the newest Mission Control ride at Epcot is really great, but it was a few months away from opening when I was there.

We went to Disney at the end of October and Beginning of November. The crowds were very minimal, and on one weekday Disney MGM was almost empty. We rode rides over and over again.

Take several days, and mostly just try and enjoy the atmospher and details that went to creating all the rides and even the standing areas in the lines to the rides. That is what makes it so great IMHO.

 

I kinda felt bad about asking for it back. You kept telling me how much you liked it.

The other laptop is in storage. I've been waiting on my leg to fully heal before I went to grab that and my other stuff.

I'll let you hold on to the other laptop until I can give you the replacement.

 

Tower of Terror rocks Space Mountain sucks

 

Went in 2000, again in 2003. My girls were 3 and 5 the last time, and we had a blast. There were some rides on which they couldn't get, because of their heights.

My advice:
Buy Advance Tickets Online
Try to buy the tickets as earliest as possible of the parks where you want to go. You will save about 10 to 15 dollars on each person, and with a Park Hopper Pass (I believe it's all parks for one low price), you can go in and out to any park you want. Use these discounts in combinations and you'll save a bunch of dough.
Be the first in line
Get into the parks as earliest as possible. This ensures that you have less time to wait, as everyone will be there in the middle of the day, wanting to leave late. If you like, you can leave and come back for the fireworks. Just make sure you can get back in somehow... I forget if it was with the ticket, or with a stamp.
Go to A Park One Day / Rest Another
If you plan to go to ALL the parks, use one day to go, another to rest. This is because you will drain all energy from walking around the park and stopping, and riding, and sitting, etc. My kiddos liked going back to rides they enjoyed the first time, and wanted to ride them again and again. Go to the Magic Kingdom the first day, then rest or go to Universal or Sea World, then go to a DIsney park the next day. Find International Drive and see other sights on rest days or go to Downtown Orlando.
Pack Water
Whether it's a hot summer day or the winter, water will keep your body working. This is good especially in the summer, but everyone will need this to avoid stopping at every vendor or restaurant to drink something
Use the Speed Pass
There will be rides with a sort of quick-return pass, with a time when you know you will return. This helps you avoid long lines if you enjoy a ride so much that you want to ride it again and again. It saves time and stops kids from losing patience in line.
Freebie:
Walk up to a police officer or a local and ask: "Hi, I am from Houston, do you know if they sell '95 NBA Champions tee-shirts here?"

 

TWO WORDS

FAST PASS

 

The whole concept of this just seems completely wrong to me. I don't think I fully understand it, though.


So, if you pay extra, you get to cut people? I'd be pissed if I had people constantly cutting in front of me because they payed more than I did to get in.

 

Brilliant!

 

You don't pay extra. Everyone can get a fast pass until they run out of times in which people can come back and get in the fast pass lines. However, you may only hold one fast pass until a certain amount of time has passed.