Questions from a first-timer!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
Questions from a first-timer!
5
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 12:27pm

We are going in less than 2 weeks and will have 6 full days at the parks (one day maybe at Seaworld) A few questions from a panicking first time Disney planner

1. You can only get "baby swap" passes on rides where there is a height restriction, right? So even though I would not take my 9 month old on, say, Space Ranger Spin, we couldn't get a baby swap for that because there's no height restriction. Is that the way it works?

2. How "babyish" is FantasyLand? Is Pooh and Peter Pan fun for everyone or is my 6 year old son going to think they are lame? Should we skip?

3. DH and I are ride wimps, but DS (6) is looking forward to some thrill rides. Thunder Mountain seems to be one that will be exciting for him, but not too crazy for us. Is that correct?

4. How scary/wild is Space Mountain?

5. How long in general are the waits for popular attractions on an average weekday in May (not an EMH day)? I mean are we talking 20 minutes or 2 hours for things like Splash mountain, Space Mountain, etc. We will make use of fast passes, of course, but will have to wait for some, I imagine....

6. How do you handle getting fast passes for the next ride... does someone go ahead while others do other rides, etc? What's the best way to plan this?

Here is what I have so far for MK, which will the first full day and maybe the second. Is this do-able in a day or is that totally out of reach? We will probably spend two days at MK, but I just have no idea how long it takes to get through the park.

Arrive at 8:30am for 9am opening?

Main St. – Photo in front of Castle

TomorrowLand –

DH and DS ride Buzz Lightyear, I go get FP for Space Mountain

Ride Transit Authority (10 min.), Astro Orbitor (if line is not long, otherwise skip), Indy Speedway while waiting for Space Mountain

Ride Space Mountain

FantasyLand –

Mickey’s Philharmagic (12 minutes) Get FP is line is too long to wait

Pooh? Peter Pan? Or ToonTown while waiting for Philharmagic

Toontown? – Should we skip altogether if not interested in autographs?

Autographs

Barnstormer – kids rollercoaster?

Liberty Square -

Haunted Mansion

FrontierLand –

Splash Mountain – Get FP while DH and DS ride Big Thunder Mt?

Big Thunder Mountain

Adventureland –

Pirates of the Caribbean –

Jungle Cruise –

Any other rides/shows that are "must see" for a 6 year old boy?

Thanks!

P.S. These are only my initial questions about MK... I'm sure there will be more about the other parks, too *EEK!*

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-2005
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 1:21pm

Wow! You do have a lot of questions - but that's great!!

First, your 9 month old will be able to go on a lot of the rides with you, so you don't really need to baby swap for those. Buzz lightyear is a lot of fun for babies because of all of the bright colors, and it's a smooth ride - it doesn't spin like the teacups.

I wouldn't rule out any rides as being too babyish...WDW really is magical and if it's your first time you should try to go on all of them...however...IMO can skip rides in MK include Snow White, Pooh, and I may get negative feedback for saying this, but the Jungle Cruise (you'll see REAL animals in AK!) However, if your 9 month old can recognize pooh characters don't skip that one...tell your DS the baby wants to go on it - he'll probably enjoy it too. And I noticed It's a Small World isn't on your list...it might actually be against WDW rules to go to MK and not ride IASW (LOL) Really though, don't skip that. There is so much to see everyone will enjoy it!

I would say that Space Mountain is the scariest of the 3 MK mountains, but my DD went on at 5 and loved it, so it depends on your DS and his level of comfort. Splash mountain is a lot of fun - there is just the steep hill at the end, but other than that it's a very calm ride.

Definitely don't skip toon town - esp. if your son is 6 - it's not all about autographs. The Goofy barnstormer is a kids roller coaster - but it's fun for everyone - it goes right through Goofy's barn! Plus Donald's boat, and Mickey & Minnies house are fun to walk through and there are GREAT photo ops there.

Definitely arrive early and head to Dumbo if you plan on riding it. Even if you think DS won't be interested you'll be surprised - kids see it and want to ride it and the line gets LONG quickly, so play it safe and get it out of the way early. The Indy speedway line gets long quickly too, and it's a slow loading line, so don't wait too long in the day to do that one either. For Buzz Lightyear we usually get a fast pass, wait in the regular line and ride it, then come out and use the fast pass to go on again - My girls love that ride!! I think you can get on Transit authority any time of the day with little or no wait, so don't use valuable morning time for that.

As far as going ahead for fast passes...one of us usually runs ahead of the group, but not while the others go on a ride. We try not to split up too much because it's not always as easy to meet up as you might think. Plus the rides are fun to go on altogether.

Some other things that you should consider that aren't on your list are the Magic Carpets of Aladdin and the new comedy show featuring the monsters, inc. characters...sorry but the name escapes me right now!

As far as the lines - they will be longest midday. I don't know where you are staying but if you're on-site I would definitely consider going back to the resort for a few hours mid-day. And really try to get there at park opening, it's sometimes tough to get everyone up and out that early in the morning - but you will get as much done in that first hour as you will in the next three if you get there early.

Have fun planning!!
Mara

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 1:30pm

Hi-I can only answer a couple of your ?'s:


2. How "babyish" is FantasyLand? Is Pooh and Peter Pan fun for everyone or is my 6 year old son going to think they are lame? Should we skip?


Really depends on the child, IMO.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 2:00pm

"are you going to see the fireworks &/or parades? Wishes is incredible!"

Oh! That just reminded me that what I thought of doing was going to MK in the morning on Tuesday, staying til mid-day when we will be tired, etc. and going back to the hotel for naps (hopefully ds will fall asleep for awhile) and pool, then sending DH and DS back to MK for Spectromagic and Wishes. There's no way I'll make it there with the baby at that time. Her bedtime is 6:30pm and she's a slave to her schedule. She'll be off-kilter enough without me dragging her around Disney at night. I'll be bummed to miss it, though.

Thank you guys for the tips (and keep 'em coming, lol)

Let me ask this:

Would it make sense, given that we may leave at mid-day, to start in the morning in TomorrowLand for Space Ranger Spin and Space Mountain, then go across the park to Frontierland for Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Railroad, since those rides are probably THE most important for ds at MK? Then fill in with whatever else we have time for on that day, and when DH and DS are there at night, etc. I assume the earlier in the day we hit the popular rides, the better? Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Carribean, and Philharmagic are probably the next most important.

Which gets busiest first, Frontierland or Tomorrowland?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 3:57pm

Which gets busiest first, Frontierland or Tomorrowland?

I've read on a bunch of websites and tour books that people generally go to the right when they enter a location. This is also true if there are two lines, one going to the left, and one going to the right. The general rule of thumb is to go left to avoid the major crowds.

Hope this helps!
Marcy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-2005
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 9:09pm

Marcy - that is so funny that you mentioned "go left". I read this in a guide on our very first trip to WDW when my DH was just my boyfriend. He thought I was out of my mind and kept teasing me "go left...go left"!!!

I can't even tell you how many times we noticed a line to the right, but went through the opening on the left which turned out to be a line half as long....one time we walked right onto IASW through the "line" on the left because everyone just got into the line on the right. We literally walked past 200 people...fair and square! Plenty of people went under the ropes and got into that line too.

It's often true at Counter service restaurants too...remember Go LEFT - that is great advice!!

Mara