Disney World help.........?

Question

We are leaving next Sunday for a week long trip to Disney. We plan on going to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and MGM.........please tell me if there is anything I definantly wanna see, ride, eat, etc.....My kids are ages 10, 8, 7, and 4. Thanks for the help!!!! Also, are coolers allowed into the park? Can you reenter once you leave with a parkhopper pass, or does that count as another day?

Answer 1

How fun! I'm headed that way on the 24th myself. I actually offer a service where I charge a flat rate of about $45. I used to work at Walt Disney World. I customize the trip for the family who is going, by age, their likes and dislikes. If you'd like this service for your trip, please contact me, I'd be more than happy to make it the best vacation you've ever had!

But here are a few freebies :)

Things you must see and do:

Animal Kingdom:
Kilimanjaro Safari (take your camera on this one!)
Expedition Everest (Roller Coaster--newest ride there)
Dinosaur (scary for little ones, but everyone else will love it)
Festival of the Lion King show (best in all 4 parks!)

EPCOT:
Spaceship Earth (the educational riede inside the big golf ball lol)
The boat ride in Norway
Visit ALL of the countries and eat at one of them for dinner. I love Alfredo's in Italy... best Pasta I've ever had in my life
Living Seas (like going to a really cool aquarium)
Illumintions: Reflections of Earth night show (in my opinion, absolute best night show in all 4 parks! Stop by Norway's bakery or France's, get a treat and watch the show from Norway--best spot to see it)

Magic Kingdom:
This will depend on if you've been to Disneyland before. If not:
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion
Jungle Cruise
Thunder Mountain

Disney MGM Studios (the park I used to work in!):
Tower of Terror
Rock'n' Roller Coaster
Animation Gallery Tour (my old area! I watched them animate Lilo & Stitch back in 2001--great for everyone!)
Indiana Jones Stunt Show

At all 4 parks, watch out for hidden mickeys--they're in everything, even in the rides!

Best places to eat:
believe it or not, outside the park. EPCOT has fabulous food, but its the hotels that have the best! Looking to try something different: Go to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and eat at Bomas, the all you can eat buffet. 1900 Park Fair at the Grand Floridian Resort has a wonderful Dine with the Characters buffet (all kids must experience), and for a fun family meal, dine at the Prime Time 50s Cafe at Disney MGM studios where waiters and waitresses really make you feel like, well, family. Literally. Hint: Take hats off when eating and don't put your elbows on the table! :)

With a park hopper pass, you can re-enter any of the 4 parks as long as it is within that same day. Coolers, I believe, are only allowed in the water parks. If you want, stuff a sandwich in the bottom of your bag--they'll never see it.

Let me know if I can personalize this vacation for you and your family! :)
[e-mail]

Answer 2

Try and see and do everything if possible (Magic Kingdom will take more then one day so don't rush on that park), I would suggest the mid day parades, they are a great way for the family to take a breather and relax for a moment during the day, and the kids love seeing there favorite characters up close and personal (they don't do autographs at this point). Same with the night shows, great way to cool off and settle down after a wonderful day at the park(s). If your little one(s) get scared easily try to avoid the 3D shows: It's Tough To Be A Bug (Animal Kingdom), Muppet's 3D (MGM), Mickey's Phillhar Magic (Magic Kingdom), and Honey I Shrunk the Audience (EPCOT). Fantasmic also tends to scare them which is MGM's night show. It has alot of loud noises and scary evil villains (and a big dragon that blows fire) that sometimes scare kids.
Bring sunblock, ponchos, camera (try and buy some disposable one's for the kids so they can have their own memories to enjoy), and money (it helps to give the kids spending limits, either per day or for the whole trip, it will save you money) into the park with you. Bring an extra pair of COMFORTABLE shoe's and clothes (in case they get wet), and an extra bag for take home souvenirs, with you on the trip. Remember to stay hydrated, it is very hot, and many guests pass out from the heat, very preventable as long as you keep hydrated (can't stress it enough). Don't rush, take your time and enjoy everything, and to just have fun, you are at the most magical place on earth.
Yes, coolers are allowed into the park (and yes they do check them like any other bag), and yes you can reenter any park with the park hopper pass, and no it doesn’t count as another day.

Answer 3

Withy a parkhopper you can go wherever whenever and yes coolers are allowed although they do check all bags before entering the gate. Epedition Everest at animal kingdom is the newest ride and is really awesome although your 4yr old may not be big enough. Also at Animal Kingdom there are dancers in the Africa part that are really cool to watch, and the safari ride is great, there is a water ride in the asia part that is really fun as weel. In Epcot the world showcase is really cool but your kids might get a little bored with it and the have shows (singers) in the American part of the world showcase. The living seas is really cool for all your kids, because it has the interactive Crush/Nemo thing and then yoiu can go through the aquarium and it is a lot of fun, my kids love it. And then you should really try to see Epcots night show. It is at the world showcase on the water, its a water/laser/light/fire show, It is really great. At Magic Kingdom there is soo much to do you are not going to be able to do it all (we go all the time and still havent) In toontown you can explore mickey and minnies house and there is a donald duck water park you can take a train all the way around the park you can go through cinderellas castle and you have to do Its a Small World. Stitches Great escape is great and the buzz light year ride is my kids favorite. and there is a parade ususally around 4o'clock, and then the fireworks is amazing and that is usually at around 11 or 12, whenever the park closes. And if you are staying at any of the disney hotels you get the magic hours(every night one of the parks stays open later than the rest and it is open to disney hotel guests only, but there are much less people there so you can do things easier.) Dont forget to use the fast pass, you get a ticket and can come back in about an hour for a ride and not have to wait in a big line. Hope you have a ton of Disney Fun!

Answer 4

I go yearly but only to Disneyworld; You can reenter the park anytime as long as you have your ticket. They may have done away with the handstamp since the tickets need a finger scan.

There is no real way to determine a "must see" for the parks since each person has their own interest. For example, if you say I must see Splash Mountain, I may not enjoy rides which gets me wet or falls down like a log ride. So here is my 2 cents:

If this is your first time going to WDW, my suggestion, check out http://allearsnet.com/ and Go to Magic Kingdom first.

its the most popular park of the 4 so get there when the park first opens. If you are staying on property check which parks are opened later and opens earlier. Hotel guests get early entrance to a random park one day and can stay late for one random park on another day. If you are staying off property, its cheaper but you don't get as many perks as property guests.

For the extended stay nights: As a hotel guest you need to show your key and get a wrist band, and the theme parks rotate.

The Magic Kingdom is geared for the kids and you should take advantage of the "fast pass". You can go to the popular rides and slide your ticket for the "fast pass". The information is inside the park map or ask any cast member what it is. 90% of the rides have a fast pass, and its Disney's way of holding your space in line while you are off doing another ride.

The next park I would go to is Epcot. Its more for older kids and adults but the place is amazing!! You need at least 2 days to do it. They have great restaurants there and reservations for the more populars ones is a must!!

You can go online to http://allearsnet.com/ and theres a selection of menu's you can view. My personal favorites are (for large parties) Ohana, at the Polynesian hotel, is an all you can eat place and great for kids! Whispering Canyon BBQ, at the Wilderness hotel, also all you can eat. Or Cinderella's Castle, where every girl is a princess. You eat inside the castle at Magic Kingdom and there's a princess to greet you inside!

Of the other 2 I would choose Animal Kingdom next because of the new ride Mt. Everest. You can't miss the attraction, and get there early and go see the Animals while its still cool. The park closes the earliest here.

Then MGM is a small enough to do in 1 day, and don't miss the Tower of Terror and Fantasmic! Show at night.

I truly feel WDW is a resort you can say "you're on vacation"... and this is coming from an Ex Disneyland Cast Member (in California!)

Answer 5

You can enter and leave as many times as you want during the day with a park hopper pass. It doesn't count as another day.

You should definitely ride Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Thunder Mountain at the MK, but your 4 year old won't be able to go on them. Maybe you and your spouse can take turns?

The Aerosmith Roller coaster at MGM is AWESOME, but you won't be able to take small children on it either.

At the Animal Kingdom, you should go on Expedition Everest and the Kali River Rapids. Those rides are pretty cool, too. The Animal Kingdom also has this jeep that takes you on a ride through a recreated African safari, right among all the wild animals roaming free. It's definitely a must-do!

Answer 6

Parkhopper Pass, you can come and go all day. My girls are 10, 8 and 5. They love Buzz Lightyear, Philharmagic, Jasmine and Aladdin's Flying Carpet and the little race cars in MK, the Safari ride and Pocahontas, Tarzan and Lion King shows in AK, Indiana Jones, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground, at MGM, and not too much at Epcot. Have a great time! I get all mine their own disposable camera for the trip, they like that. We bring in snacks and water in a backpack. They search it and have no problem with our bringing stuff in, but I don't know about a cooler.

Answer 7

That is the wonderful thing about park hopper passes! you can leave and come back whenever! I always get hopper passes and I may start in the morning at the Magic Kingdom and go to EPCOT for the afternoon and then come back to magic Kingdom in the evening. No, it does not count as another day. On regular tickets it would, but not on the hopper pass. I don't believe coolers are allowed in the parks, although I've never tried. But, I've had a water bottle in my purse before and when my purse got searched they didn't say anything about it. Basically, you have picked the perfect time to go and perfect length to stay. perfect time in that all of your kids are the most perfect age to enjoy disney and perfect length in stay because you need at least a week. I have so many reccomendations for you! This might take a while. Um, my favorite new ride is at Animal Kingdom and its called Expedition Everest. I rode it before it technically opened and I loved it so much i rode it 3 times in a row. Its sort of like Big Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom, but Everest is a bit more extreme. I love every single ride at the Magic Kingdom but just a few that I would say you HAVE to do are the 3 mountains (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain), Pirates of the caribbean, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventure, The Haunted Mansion, The Many adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and soooo much more! Those are just to get you started. A 3-D show that is the best is Philhar Magic at the magic Kingdom. Its so involved! The 2 shows that you have to see at the magic kingdom are at night. Wishes is a fireworks spectacular that is absolutely beautiful and the Spectro Magic Parade which is a parade full of beautiful lights!
At Animal Kingdom my fave rides are Expedition Everest, Kilamanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids, Its a Bugs Life, Dinosaur, just to name a few! There is so much to do at Animal Kingdom, including a wonderful broadway style production of the lion king titled "The Festival of the Lion King".
At EPCOT I enjoy Soarin' and Test Track the most. But Mexico's and Norway's rides are nice.
At MGM studios my favorite ride would have to be the Rock 'N' Roller Coaster because its an indoor roller coaster in the dark and they're blaring Aerosmith in your ear! so awesome! But there is also Star Tours, The Great Movie Ride, Tower of terror, and the MGM backlot tour. They have world class shows such as The Voyage of the little mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. But, to me the best thing out of all the parks is here at MGM at night. Its a show called Fantasmic! and get there at least an hour early because it fills up! Everyone knows how great of a show it is and trust me its better than great. It took my breath away.
As far as eating I would say Rainforest Cafe is absolutely fantastic and there is one in downtown disney or outside of animal kingdom. In Magic Kingdom my favorite restaurant is Tony's Town Square because its like something straight out of "Lady and the Tramp". My favorite restaurant at EPCOT is called the San Angel Inn and it islocated in Mexico. I love it because its inside the ride so you get to watch the little boats go by and everything. My favorite restaurant at Animal Kingdom is the Tusker House because their rotessiere chicken is awesome. MGM has my most favorite places to eat. I love the Sci-fi Dine In theatre because your table is a car and its like you're in a drive-in movie because they show continuous sci-fi clips. I also love 50s primetime cafe because you feel like you've stepped back in time, but its not like a diner, this place is much better.
Downtown Disney is nice to shop and eat at.
By the way, everything I listed doesn't even cover it all! there's so much else to see and do!
I hope you enjoy everything and Have a Magical trip!

Answer 8

I see many people have written in so I will just pick a fw places you HAVE to take your kids to eat:

Whispering Canyon Cafe at The Wilderness Lodge
The 50's Prime Time Cafe in MGM Studios


Other than that, there is too much too say! Check out the following websites for the BEST help"

www.mouseplanet.com
www.mouseinfo.com
www.allearsnet.com

Answer 9

Lots of great advice in previous answers. Just remember to relax and enjoy yourselves. So many times I've been to the parks and the kids are cranky, mom & dad are fighting....just have fun. Don't try to see & do everything. Buy a good guidebook such as Birmaum's guide to Walt Disney World, or PassPorter to WDW. Browse through, have everyone pick one MUST see. Make sure you get to those, and enjoy everything you come across in between. If you go to Magic Kingdom EARLY, as soon as you get there, get on the train. Stay on it until you get to TOONTOWN. You might be there before that section opens. Wait by the rope in front of Mickey's house. When the characters come out, Goofy might pick one of your kids to go on his Barnstormer Roller coaster with him. (In 2004 that is what we did, and he picked my niece!!- got some great pics!!) And if you kids don't get picked, just work your way back through the park. You can hit some rides before too much of crowd gathers. (most people start at the front of the park)
Have a GREAT time!!!!

Answer 10

We just returned from WDW. My kids are 4 & 10. They really liked Philharmagic in Magic Kingdom. Also the Jedi Training Camp in MGM if it's still going on.

I recommend allearsnet.com for any info you might need. It tells you all the info you can't get on disneyworld.com, like restaurant menus and other things you wouldn't think of. It helped us alot.