Linda McPhersonNo matter how many times you’ve been to Disney World, the 47-square-mile expanse chock full of thrill rides and character greetings can seem daunting. There’s so much to do, from the classics like Small World and Space Mountain to the new E-ticket rides of Mission: Space, Test Track and more. But apart from those attractions, there’s a whole other world of street shows, stage shows, stunts shows and fireworks that should not be missed, but aren’t as well publicized.
Planning a trip to Disney isn’t just about hitting the rides that are going to make you wish you hadn’t eaten for a week beforehand. It’s about exploring everything the company has worked so hard to make magical, and that’s a lot. Like Beth Ramos, a cast member at Disney for the past four years, said, “You never have to give up what it is that made you laugh,” and if a trip to Disney is done right, it can take you back to the days when you were dying to hold Snow White’s hand and terrified to take your autograph book back from Jafar.
Here is part one of a park-by-park breakdown of must-sees and hidden gems, restaurants and shows that should not be missed, along with tips and tricks to get the most out of the Disney vacation.
Fast Passes and Times Guides:
The most important thing you will ever learn at a Disney Park (besides the fact that a dream is a wish your heart makes) is how to use a Fast Pass. Included in all park admissions, Fast Passes hold your place in line while you go and do other things. To receive a Fast Pass, you stick your park ticket in the booths outside the ride of your choice. Your ticket will spit back out, along with a piece of paper telling you when to come back to the line. Return between the hours suggested, and you get in the special Fast Pass line, reducing the wait time to a minimum.
It’s important to plan which rides you want to Fast Pass when, because only one Pass can be taken out at a time. Here is where those Times Guides come in handy. Each park provides a pamphlet telling where and when different shows will take place, from different street performances in EPCOT to bigger shows, like the Indiana Jones Stunt Show in Hollywood Studios. So, check out the Chinese acrobats while the rest of those suckers wait in line to go on Soarin’. Then, just shoot up to the front of the line.
Magic Kingdom:
Established in 1971, Magic Kingdom was the first park built at Walt Disney World resorts in Florida. Its centerpiece is Cinderella’s castle, which has an interior lined with mosaic walls telling the story of Cinderella.
There are seven different themed sections of Magic Kingdom that house rides belonging in that era – Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Main Street USA and Mickey’s Toontown Fair.
Tomorrowland, designed to be a futuristic space port, is home to many great rides, including the classic Space Mountain, a roller coaster that takes you through the dark depths of deep space. A newer ride, with a fast-moving line, is Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, based on the “Toy Story” movies. The ride puts you in a video game, where you shoot at the evil emperor Zurg to rack up points. You steer and shoot by yourself, competing against the other person in your car.
Fantasyland is full of rides based on Disney’s famous movies and TV shows, including “Snow White,” “Peter Pan” and “Winnie the Pooh.” One incredible 3D show, Mickey’s Philharmagic, is easily overlooked, but well worth any wait time there may be. Donald Duck, intent on conducting Mickey’s orchestra, steals Mickey’s sorcerer’s hat and takes the audience on a wild ride of sights, sounds and smells through some of the greatest Disney movie songs. Highlights include being a guest with Belle and soaring through an “endless diamond sky” with Aladdin.
Frontierland houses the classic Splash Mountain, which is currently running dry for renovations, but is opening again in February. Big Thunder Mountain may look like a kiddie roller coaster, but it offers up a surprisingly good time. The wait for Thunder Mountain can get pretty long, sometimes up to an hour, so this is definitely a ride to Fast Pass.
In Adventureland is the newly revamped Pirates of the Caribbean, which was inspiration for the blockbuster trilogy. Disney recently updated the swashbuckling ride with characters from the movies. Guests now follow Captain Jack Sparrow in his search for treasure. Unlike some other Disney rides that have been adapted to incorporate popular films, the Pirates ride didn’t lose its original integrity, and is still entertaining for all ages. Stick around Adventureland for a while, and you might see the “Pirates” street show, starring an uncanny look-alike to Captain Jack Sparrow himself.
For those Disney goers who love tradition, the Small World ride is a must-see. Good luck getting the song out of your head, though. The Haunted Mansion, in Liberty Square, complete with updates from its feature film, is still relatively entertaining, but not worth a 50-minute wait-time. Go to it when you can walk right on.
Magic Kingdom at night is beautiful. If you stay until the park closes, you’ll be treated to Spectromagic, a lighted parade with all the classic Disney characters. Soon after that, at 8 p.m., is Wishes Nighttime Spectacular, a colorful fireworks display set to music in which Tinkerbell soars from the highest peak of Cinderella’s castle.
Exploring Magic Kingdom is certainly the best way to get into the Disney spirit. With princesses and Winnie the Pooh and Mickey and Pluto traipsing around, it’s the best place to start.
Stephanie McPherson can be reached at [email protected].
