The Comprehensive Guide to Walt Disney World Rides and Attractions

18 comments

1 Alejandra Clarke { 05.22.11 at 1:09 am }

I have been to the Disneyland in California, and I was able to get a special pass for my son who has Autism/Anxiety from Guest Services upon arrival. Would I be able to have that same pass for your parks in Orlando, and what paperwork do I need to provide or is their a database in which the information can be pulled up from?
Thanks

2 Dave { 05.22.11 at 6:43 pm }

Hi Alejandra!

See http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/vacationing-your-way-your-special-needs/239962-disney-autism.html and also consider getting PassPorter’s Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line: Easy Access Vacations for Travelers with Extra Challenges

3 Daniela { 07.04.11 at 4:39 pm }

I’m from Brazil and this site is beeing perfect for planning my first family visit to Disney World. Congratulations! Thanks for all informations.

4 Dave { 07.04.11 at 4:43 pm }

Thanks Daniela!!

5 Mardi in NC { 01.23.12 at 10:29 pm }

Dave – your site is AWESOME! My parents are using timeshare points to stay in Kissimmee for free for 3 nights, for them, my just-turning-8 year old daughter (this is a surprise b’day first DisneyWorld trip for her!), and myself. We want to visit the parks for 2 days, 2/20 & 2/21. My parents are approaching 70, my mother might need a cane (tho she won’t admit it), and my father will definitely need a wheelchair or scooter (tho, he too, doesn’t want to do that & has no choice due to recent hip replacement surgery).
2 questions I have are:
1) Should we try for the Magic Kingdom for 1 day, and the Animal Kingdom for the 2nd day – or should we just try to stay in the Magic Kingdom for 2 days?
2) I’ve heard from friends, and a few comments on the web, that if one in your party is wheelchair-bound, that you get moved to the front of the line with no waiting. Is this correct, or does this apply only to certain times or certain rides – OR do we have to purchase something special to get to the front without having to wait with them in wheelchair or scooter?
Thank you! I’ve only been once in 1983, so I think I am more excited than my daugther will be. We’re trying to make this super special, since her father ust passed away (young) May 2010, and I promised my parents I wouldn’t stress them in the planning of this – especially since they are using their points and footing the bill for the park tickets for all of us.
Thank you!!

6 Dave { 01.24.12 at 8:00 am }

Hi Mardi and thanks!

Your dates–around President’s Day–are among the busiest of the year. You will want to arrive well before the parks open….if you can, bring a scooter/wheelchair with you, as the line to rent them can be long, and there’s a fair amount of walking before you get to the rental site.

Given the crowds, I’d advise just MK, as it’s a two day park even at un-crowded times. If you do AK as well, do it the 21st.

Havoing a wheelchair does not get you moved to the front of the line, except on a few rides where the wheelchair loading area is different than the regular one…

7 Keli { 02.08.12 at 10:08 am }

Hello,
We live in Tally and are going to Orlando just for a quick trip we do plan on going back for longer anyway We will drive down Weds Feb 22nd and will have Thurs 23rd and Fri 24th to stay at the parks. We really want to go to MK and AK but I am not sure hwo the crowds are going to be those days seeing how Presidents week is the week before BUT there is also Mardi Gras and the Daytona 500 happening around this time….Are we crazy going at this time??? I WAS REALLY hoping it being mid week and the week AFTER a holiday it would not be as bad or crowded as usual…..*sigh* any advice???

8 Dave { 02.08.12 at 10:54 am }

Hi Keli!

Sadly the entire week of President’s Day is VERY crowded, tho the end of the week is a little better than earlier.

If you can go another time, I would–you can have a good morning those days if you arrive well before the parks open, hit the most popular rides first, and use FASTPASSES, but things will be rough by 11a…

MK is currently opening at 8a that week, AK 9a your days, but that may change. For calendars, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/07/05/how-to-use-the-online-park-calendars-at-walt-disney-world/

If you do go, I’d suggest AK the 23rd and MK the 24th…

9 Aru { 02.16.12 at 9:13 am }

Hi Dave,

We’re arriving tonight to Orlando from Caifornia with a family of 4 with 2 kids ages 8 and 2. We’ve plan to visit WDW from 17 Feb to 21 Feb. Could you pl. suggest which theme park to begin with given this is a president week.

Thanks for help, Aru

10 Dave { 02.16.12 at 9:56 am }

Hi Aru–if you can get the family up in time to be at the turnstiles of the park 30-45 mins before it opens, I’d go with Magic Kingdom. While it will be busy, it will be less busy than it will be your other days.

Note that while currently scheduled to open at 9a est, it likely will open in fact 15-30 minutes before then. If you are coming by car, allow 20 minutes beyond the car time to park and take the monorail/ferry to the park.

If because of travel/time zones/cranky kids you can’t get up that early, then Hollywood Studios is the best choice for a later arrival park…but the earlier the better!

11 Melinda { 04.03.12 at 12:15 pm }

This will be our 1st trip with our girls 6yrs,3yrs,and 5mons. Are babies aloud to do anything? Like the shows or 3d shows? What days are the fireworks? We will be in Florida April 26th- May 1st what days to you suggest would be less busy?

12 Dave { 04.03.12 at 1:42 pm }

Hi Melinda, lap babies can come along on many rides, and on some others you can do a “baby swap”–the parents stay in line, at ride boarding, one boards and the other holds the baby, and when the first parent gets off they swap the baby and the second parent rides without another wait.

Fireworks are every night.

Your week overall is a low crowd week, but the weekend will be busier than the weekdays.

13 Jen { 04.26.12 at 11:00 am }

We are planning a trip December 23-29, 2012. We want to spend 1 day at each of the 4 Disney parks and then spend 1 day at LegoLand and1 day at Kennedy Space Center. Any suggestions on which days would be better to visit each of these parks? I know that it is one of the worst weeks to go but that is the only time we can arrange it. Thanks!!

14 Dave { 04.26.12 at 11:51 am }

Hi Jen, coupla things.

First, the Disney part will go much better if you can stay at a Disney resort hotel–you both get certain privileges and avoid certain risks if you do so. See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/11/30/park-closings-at-walt-disney-world/ this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/12/19/holiday-crowds-at-walt-disney-world/ and also this http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/12/extra-magic-hours-at-walt-disney-world/

Second, the December schedules won’t be out for another 20-30 days, and I need them to advise you. Come back in 3 to 4 weeks and re-ask, and also let me know then if you will be staying at a WDW hotel or not…

15 Michele { 05.14.12 at 6:08 am }

Hi Dave We are coming from Australia so this really could be a once only trip. We are there 1-3 Jan 2013 (3 days). We have a 5 & 7 year old girls and we were thinking of going to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios is there a particular order you would suggest to visit the parks in and will there some parades we shouldn’t miss. We are also thinking of staying at the Grand Floridian is this a good location for the parks we want to visit & considering the age of the girls. Thanks for your help. Michele

16 Dave { 05.14.12 at 12:05 pm }

Hi Michelle!

Given the ages of your kids, and the incredible crowding you’ll face, I would advise focusing solely on the Magic Kingdom. See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/

For where to stay, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-stay/next-best-resort-choices/

17 Michele { 05.16.12 at 8:05 am }

Dave
Thanks for the recommendations. I know you say only do MK but since we are travelling so far I think we have to have a look around as well- now I see that some of the rides look like they will be closed do they stop the shows and parades as well? Thanks for a very informative website it is fantastic.

18 Dave { 05.16.12 at 9:52 am }

Michle, the ride closures, I’d guess, won’t start til around Jan 4 or 5 given the massive crowds earlier in the week…

Leave a Comment | Ask a Question | Note a Problem