GroveDiesel said:
A couple quick questions that may have already been addressed somewhere in the previous 319 pages:
Background - Been about 23 years since I’ve been there. Going with my 11 year old daughter, wife, parents and MIL. Going for 5ish days with Park Hopper passes the first week of November. Staying on-site at Pop Century. Doing the mid-tier Dining Plan.
1) Is Memory Maker worth it for a first timer? Trying to weigh between not having to worry about cameras and just doing stuff (that applies x100 for my wife who would easily take several thousand photos with her phone) versus being able to grab photos whenever I want and being able to grab the exact shots I want
2) When do they close lines/rides at park close? I’m using TouringPlans to create plans for each day and it currently has me getting in line for Flight of Passage at AK at 7:45pm and waiting in line for 118 minutes(!) when the park closes at 8pm. Would we be able to get in line at that point still and get in the ride eventually? Is that type of wait even close to being worth it for that attraction?
3) Has anyone else used TouringPlans’s service to build plans and found it to be mostly accurate/useful? If it’s actually pretty accurate, seems like the best tool out there for actually getting to do a bunch of stuff at Disney. Definitely makes it more of a “planned” trip than a flexible carefree play-it-as-you-go trip, but I don’t think I can stomach paying thousands and thousands of dollars just to do 4 or 5 things a day.
4) What’s your top 5 rides/attractions/parades at WDW?
5) What’s your top 3 places to eat at Disney?
6) One thing people should know but don’t that will make a huge difference in the trip?
1. Memory maker: IMO yes. Not only do you get the in park photos, but also any on-ride photos automatically get aded to your account. You'll be surprised how many photos you actually get. Be sure to ask each photopass CM about
magic shots there are different ones all over the parks.
2. I think
@AcerFCanswered this one well enough. I'm a big fan of ride'it when you can philosophy. If you can do it now, do it now. You might wait till the end of the day just to find it down. for my money, rope drop attractions like that is still the best way.
3. I'm a big touring plans fan, but WDW has been manipulating wait times (allegedly) and it seems to be messing with TP's numbers. Still worth the $15 or whatever it is now to have as a planning reference. You will do more then 4 things with or without them. Just need a basic working understanding of the parks, when good vs bad times to do things are and leverage your fastpasses. the 4/5 ride people are the same ones who say "I"m not paying for no stinkin' fastpasses!" (Psst they are free). Having a basic plan is key, but also understanding that if you are going to be in MK on one day, don't plan a meal across property at Animal Kingdom lodge that night. Don't make FPs back to back that will have you crossing the park. Stuff like that.
4. Such a loaded question lol, but i'll bite, but on my terms....
MK: Haunted Mansion, Splash mountain, Pirates, 7 dwarves Mine Train and Laugh Floor. Both the 3pm parade and Happily ever after fireworks are really good, you should make time for both.
Epcot: tough call b/c lots of construction there. Space Ship Earth, Soarin, Test Track and Frozen (not much else left). The night show is nice, but the old one was miles better. Nice thing thogh is that the size of the lagoon is soo big that there is usually a good spot 15 mins before showtime, and if you are in the world showcase side (esp by germany or italy), you can grab a nice drink to watch the show and end the night
Studios: Rise of resistance is #1 here, yet to bee seen how they will handle fastpasses/boarding once we get past the summer. If the kid likes thrill, Tower or Terror and Aerosmith coaster are both great, star tours is on my list too even though it is not in the SW area. THere wil lbe a new ride open by the time you get there—Mickey & Minnie raileway, that looks amazing, so keep an eye out for that. The Studios went from a "Oh No!" to a "Hell yea!" almost overnight. As for shows, Fantasmic is a great show and I watch that over the fireworks mainly bc its a full show with seating (rest), its longer, and the best areas to watch the FWs is very cramped and fills quick
AK: Everest, Flight of Passage, Safari, Tough to be a bug, Dinosaur. I have no love for the night show here, Rivers of Light, but the tree of life displays are cute and short.
5. I feel that you cant do Disney w/o doing character meals, they just go hand in hand. 1900 park fare (Grand Flo) is my favorite for food. Chef mickey will get you the big characters (MM, MM Goofy, Donald & Pluto). Tusker house (AK) is another good one, as is Cape May (Beach Club, breakfast). As my kids get older, we like to do ones with the "face characters" meaning they do not wear a mask. IMO if you are a bit fun, you get some great interactions with the characters b/c they can talk to you. For your daughter, if she still digs princesses (hell, if you dig princesses) go to Akershus in Norway/Epcot, they are all there (breakfast is best).
As for non-character: Ohana (polly resort) was mentioned. I love, love Cape May Dinner at the Beach club, its a seafood/crab leg bake buffet with some of the best crab legs I ever had. Studios has some unique theme restaurants like
Sci Fi dine in. The
pizzaria in italy/Epcot is great. Disney springs has the best food options, but I doubt you'll make it there this trip.
6. Check your expectations and be prepared to go with the flow. Too many people try and beat WDW and they all lose. Plus it seems you are going with older folks who may slow you down. Maybe consider having times where you can go with the family and the older ones meet you a bit later, esp on a day where you want to rope drop something. WDW is a big place and you have a nice hotel, but it is a bit further away from the parks then others in the higher category. So be prepared for extra travel time. Use uber or taxies here and there if you are trying to save time. All taxis can be called from the bell desk and they are never more then 2 mins away. With a party your size, get the van, that will save a bunch of time.
2 big things....
1. Epcot will have their food and wine festival still running. This is a great event!! Lots of international food and wine/beer booths set up around the park where you can snack and drink. The food costs a few bucks ($3-6 a plate), so be prepared to spend some $$ but it is so worth it, I think there are some that take the dining plan credits. You can even turn Quick Serv meal credits into 3 (or so) snack credits, so eating around F&W can replace a QS meal.
2. It will be party season at Magic Kingdom. The Christmas party will be starting then. 1st one starts Nov 8. (last Halloween party is Nov 1). IDK if this aligns with your trip but 2 things to know. 1. They are a blast but are a special ticket and do cost extra. They also tend to get crowded, esp the 1st one b/c thats when al lthe bloggers and locals come out. However, they are unique with special parades, fireworks and meet and greets. 2. They close MK down at 6pm on party nights. So if you are NOT planning on going to the party, Do not plan on a full day at MK b/c you will get kicked out. MK is a great morning park those days b/c no one is generally there simply b/c it closes early. You have hoppers, so you can get a lot done there in the AM and then hop to another park at night.
