Walt Disney World and Disneyland(s) Discussion

[Apone]

my bro and his wife just got back this week from WDW and saw the Mermaids as well and got into the new Fantasy Land as a "Dress rehearsal" Road Ariel's grotto ride..I can try and get the pics from him.

 

[dharper]

Went to Disneyland/DCA last week. Here are some pics of DCA and Cars Land decorated for Christmas.

 

[dharper]

 

[dharper]

 

[dharper]

 

[dharper]

 

[2ndname]

Question for Disney lovers who are also parents. At what age do you think it's best for a first time parent to bring their kid to Disneyland? Would like it to be a trip where everyone can have fun versus feeling like its work trying to get the family to move from one ride to another.

 

[Buttmunch]

Question for Disney lovers who are also parents. At what age do you think it's best for a first time parent to bring their kid to Disneyland? Would like it to be a trip where everyone can have fun versus feeling like its work trying to get the family to move from one ride to another.

I don't think that every goes away

 

[2ndname]

I don't think that every goes away

Lol...

 

[cokebabies]

I don't think that every goes away

Hell, I can can almost never turn that state of mind off. My wife and me in the parks are on some Terminator levels. Walking briskly, no time wasted, if it's 30 seconds past when we can get another Fastpass, we're behind schedule.

Occasionally, on a longer trip, I can unwind a little bit. But when I read in a WDW book where they recommend "Just take a seat on Main Street and people watch!", I'm just like... what the hell?

 

[budafett]

I have high hopes for their developing fast pass system where you'll be able to make ride reservations in advance as well. It'll be useful for the busier seasons which we do our best to avoid!

 

[Murderofcrows71]

Well one thing we do to beat the crowds and wait times is plan our trips during the middle of the week one of the last three weeks of Sept. Most kids have just gone back to school, parents have just spend wads of cash getting all the stuff the kids need for school. The parks are almost deserted. The cast members are a little more " human " instead of cookie cutter employees. I strike up conversation and they are more than willing to tell you their opinion on the jobs and behind the scene stuff. Rides are no wait for the most part, we usually hit 2 complete parks a day and are done way before fireworks start.

 

[cokebabies]

I have high hopes for their developing fast pass system where you'll be able to make ride reservations in advance as well. It'll be useful for the busier seasons which we do our best to avoid!

I really don't like the idea of that system. I will also miss using the system to the fullest, and taking advantage of people who didn't.

 

[Coheteboy]

Thanks for the Cars Land pics, Dharper! I'm dying to go back there!

 

[Kamandi]

I have high hopes for their developing fast pass system where you'll be able to make ride reservations in advance as well. It'll be useful for the busier seasons which we do our best to avoid!

Late May and early June are off season and the crowds are more manageable.

We had our best luck with Fast Pass at Hollywood Studios, made it easier getting on Star Tours for multiple rides. EDIT - In case you didn't already know, Magic Kingdom doesn't use the Fast Pass system. My best advice for MK if you stay at one of the park resorts is go to Magic Hours. stuff that you would wait 45 minutes for have no lines. It's like the county fair at night. You can get on anything as much as you want. You must see the park at night from the top of The Materhorn. Have your camera ready.

Also - tell Disney you or your wife are having a birthday. They'll give you a pin. WEAR IT! Park staff go out of their way for birthday guests (and newlyweds who wear wedding themed Mickey Ears if you want to go with those). My twin girls had a b-day at WDW in June and the park staff and character actors were awesome to them. Especially Tinkerbell in the electric street parade who singled them out from the top of her float and Repunzel at her character signing.

 

[demarcus94]

Seems like the last 6 or 7 years the parks have gotten much busier.. The crowds seem almost unbearable now. Not sure whats happend to cause this spike in whats pretty much been a down economy

 

[cokebabies]

We had our best luck with Fast Pass at Hollywood Studios, made it easier getting on Star Tours for multiple rides. EDIT - In case you didn't already know, Magic Kingdom doesn't use the Fast Pass system. My best advice for MK if you stay at one of the park resorts is go to Magic Hours. stuff that you would wait 45 minutes for have no lines. It's like the county fair at night. You can get on anything as much as you want. You must see the park at night from the top of The Materhorn. Have your camera ready.

Did they pull Fastpass out completely? I know they started testing the RFID version in May, but MK was fully equipped with Fastpass when I was there in June.

 

[Kamandi]

In Orlando? We were there the first week on June. If they have Magic Pass in WDW Magic Kingdom now it was installed after we were there.

 

[cokebabies]

In Orlando? We were there the first week on June. If they have Magic Pass in WDW Magic Kingdom now it was installed after we were there.

I think I was there second week of June. The Magic one was gone by then, I think it was just a short test. But they definitely had the FP system going in MK when I was there.

 

[Kamandi]

I'm starting to feel senile. I had to go wiki what WDW MK rides had fastpass. There's more than I remember.

The Barnstormer Featuring the Great Goofini
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Jungle Cruise
Peter Pan's Flight
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh