Diamond Parking?

[Justin Doggett]

When you park at the MK, you first go to the TTC. Most people take the tram. If you arrive fist thing, way before opening, you won't get a tram because you'll be parked close to the TTC. If you go throu with the AAA pass, you'll also be walking to the TTC. If you can tram it, do that the first time.

When you arrive at the TTC, there are two ways to get from there to the MK. You can take the ferry, which goes ONLY to the MK. You can also take a monorail. If you opt for the monorail, be sure that you do NOT get on the one marked EPCOT. There are two different lines for two different monorails. The one for Epcot runs to Epcot and back. The other one will take you to the MK. I learned this the hard way the first time I got on the monorail.

It really is much easier than it sounds. And MK is the only park that takes this long and is this big a hassle to enter.

The busses, boats, monorails and ferries at Disney are all free.

If you're in a WDW hotel, you'll get to the MK much quicker and easier by bus. Everywhere else, it is quicker and easier to drive.

Ok thank you now i know what to do when i get to MK . Maybe next time i will stay onsite and use one of the buses but i think the monorail will be fun.

 

[Justin Doggett]

Well the express monorail also goes to those resorts, it just dosen't stop to let people on and off.

So the express just passes them up and doesn't stop right?

 

[Justin Doggett]

We did not buy a package, just tickets and asked for one and got it. They said they get a limited number of them. There is usually no tram service in the diamond parking. Best to use it at EP, AK, and DS. MK is a pretty far walk. The others have it right up front. AK is very limited in spaces available. DS is right up behind the disabled parking. EP is just behind the motorcycle parking.

Ok well then im going to call right now and see what they say i hope i can get it .

 

[Justin Doggett]

Ok i just hung up with AAA and they have a Diamond Parking pass waiting for me to pick up. So i can park a little closer now if theres room

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Thanks for the tips im currently writing everything down that your telling me so i have some sort of a idea on what to do were to go etc.

Now for Epcot, first go to Soarin. It's to the left after you go past the large ball--Spaceship Earth, up the hill and through the breezeway and straight ahead, if the line is 30 minutes or less, do standby, if you like it--we love it--then get a fastpass when you come out of the ride. We then eat breakfast at the Seasons which is in the building with Soarin and then ride The Land, which is right beside the Season and Soarin and by that time, if you got a fastpass for Soarin, you will be able to ride again. If not, then you will probably have time to run over to Journey of Imagination and Captain EO. Journey almost never has a long line, and the longest wait in Captain EO is usually 10 minutes or less. After you've done those, and are interested in sealife, then you could walk over to the Seas with Nemo. There is an aquarium in there and a kiddie ride and an interactive show with Crush from the movie Nemo. They only take a short time and are worth doing at least one time. All of these attractions are in one area.
At this point, you will have finished this side of Future World. Go back the way you came in and go do Spaceship Earth, if it's not crowded. It's usually not crowded late in the evening or early morning. Then walk around to the left side and go to Mission Space. I recommend you do Green side first to see if you have a problem with enclosed places. Orange side actually spins at great Gforce, so if you tent to get sick or have headaches or such, I do not recommend this side, at least until late evening, just in case. After Mission Space, if you want down time, I would do Ellen's Energy Adventure. It takes about 45 minutes with the preshow. You start out in a room with a video playing and then you move into another room with very large vehicles. They hold tons of people. Eventually, the vehicles move and you go through an animatronic area full of huge dinosaurs. It really is neat and worth the 45 minutes.
After you finish here, since Test Track is down, then you can head out to the Showcase. The Showcase is a marvel. There are even a couple of little rides within some of the countries. One is really not much at all. It's in the Mexico Pavillion, but the other one Malestrom is in Norway and is worth doing. We don't stay for the movie however. Too much other stuff to do. They usually have a band sometime during the day in the little courtyard in the UK Pavillion. It's behind the shops.
Illuminations is a really good fireworks show that starts at 9:00. It's worth the time.
Don't want to overload you, so I'll do Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios tomorrow.

 

[Justin Doggett]

Now for Epcot, first go to Soarin. It's to the left after you go past the large ball--Spaceship Earth, up the hill and through the breezeway and straight ahead, if the line is 30 minutes or less, do standby, if you like it--we love it--then get a fastpass when you come out of the ride. We then eat breakfast at the Seasons which is in the building with Soarin and then ride The Land, which is right beside the Season and Soarin and by that time, if you got a fastpass for Soarin, you will be able to ride again. If not, then you will probably have time to run over to Journey of Imagination and Captain EO. Journey almost never has a long line, and the longest wait in Captain EO is usually 10 minutes or less. After you've done those, and are interested in sealife, then you could walk over to the Seas with Nemo. There is an aquarium in there and a kiddie ride and an interactive show with Crush from the movie Nemo. They only take a short time and are worth doing at least one time. All of these attractions are in one area.
At this point, you will have finished this side of Future World. Go back the way you came in and go do Spaceship Earth, if it's not crowded. It's usually not crowded late in the evening or early morning. Then walk around to the left side and go to Mission Space. I recommend you do Green side first to see if you have a problem with enclosed places. Orange side actually spins at great Gforce, so if you tent to get sick or have headaches or such, I do not recommend this side, at least until late evening, just in case. After Mission Space, if you want down time, I would do Ellen's Energy Adventure. It takes about 45 minutes with the preshow. You start out in a room with a video playing and then you move into another room with very large vehicles. They hold tons of people. Eventually, the vehicles move and you go through an animatronic area full of huge dinosaurs. It really is neat and worth the 45 minutes.
After you finish here, since Test Track is down, then you can head out to the Showcase. The Showcase is a marvel. There are even a couple of little rides within some of the countries. One is really not much at all. It's in the Mexico Pavillion, but the other one Malestrom is in Norway and is worth doing. We don't stay for the movie however. Too much other stuff to do. They usually have a band sometime during the day in the little courtyard in the UK Pavillion. It's behind the shops.
Illuminations is a really good fireworks show that starts at 9:00. It's worth the time.
Don't want to overload you, so I'll do Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios tomorrow.

This write out is awesome its really going to help out with what i need to do and were i should go. I am going to get a map online or if they have them at the front of the park i will get one there. Is ellen's adventure a ride? Also what is mission space a roller coaster ,3D ride?

 

[luv]

So the express just passes them up and doesn't stop right?

Other than the Epcot route, there are two other monorail routes.

The express makes stops at the TTC and the MK. It passes throught the CR on the way to the MK, but doesn't actually stop to let people on and off. On the way out of the MK, you pass by, but don't stop at, the GF and Poly.

The resort monorail stops at the Contemporary, TTC, Poly, GF and back to the MK.

The monorail is fun, but has been known to get stuck for a while. If you have something pressing, like you need an aspirin, are very thirsty or need to wee, do that before boarding. And please stand clear of the doors.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

This write out is awesome its really going to help out with what i need to do and were i should go. I am going to get a map online or if they have them at the front of the park i will get one there. Is ellen's adventure a ride? Also what is mission space a roller coaster ,3D ride?

Ellen's Energy is a slow ride through. It has real size animatronic dinosaurs on both sides of your car. It's pretty dark in there. It's the story of where our energy sources came from with the dinosaurs thrown in for interest.
I think you'll really enjoy it. Mission Space is a centrifuge type ride. You are enclosed in a small capsule with three other people. It simulates going into space. You feel the G's at take off. You are on a space mission. It is really cool. Green is less intense than Orange. The orange one actually spins and give you the feeling of 5G's.
I think you can find it on youtube. I've found almost every ride on there.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Ellen's Energy is a slow ride through. It has real size animatronic dinosaurs on both sides of your car. It's pretty dark in there. It's the story of where our energy sources came from with the dinosaurs thrown in for interest.
I think you'll really enjoy it. Mission Space is a centrifuge type ride. You are enclosed in a small capsule with three other people. It simulates going into space. You feel the G's at take off. You are on a space mission. It is really cool. Green is less intense than Orange. The orange one actually spins and give you the feeling of 5G's.
I think you can find it on youtube. I've found almost every ride on there.

They do have maps at all entrances and in most gift shops. You can print them on the Disney World website.

 

[Justin Doggett]

Ellen's Energy is a slow ride through. It has real size animatronic dinosaurs on both sides of your car. It's pretty dark in there. It's the story of where our energy sources came from with the dinosaurs thrown in for interest.
I think you'll really enjoy it. Mission Space is a centrifuge type ride. You are enclosed in a small capsule with three other people. It simulates going into space. You feel the G's at take off. You are on a space mission. It is really cool. Green is less intense than Orange. The orange one actually spins and give you the feeling of 5G's.
I think you can find it on youtube. I've found almost every ride on there.

Sounds really fun . Im not sure about the orange side of space mountain becaus your spinning but you cant actually see your spinning . It doesnt sound right that im spinning but in the video im going straight up.

 

[The MaD Hatter]

Sounds really fun . Im not sure about the orange side of space mountain becaus your spinning but you cant actually see your spinning . It doesnt sound right that im spinning but in the video im going straight up.

If it hasn't been recommended to you already, I'd suggest going to your local bookstore or Amazon and getting the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. That should answer almost all of your questions, in addition to getting help from fellow posters here.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Sounds really fun . Im not sure about the orange side of space mountain becaus your spinning but you cant actually see your spinning . It doesnt sound right that im spinning but in the video im going straight up.

The spinning is what causes the pressure. I read on one site that it was the same G's that astronauts feel in some of their training. Don't know if that's true, but I did read it.
I would have recommended you get Passporter or Unofficial Guide to Disney at Barnes& Noble, but I didn't think you really had time to study those. They are good for questions. It might be a good idea to pick one up for reference.

 

[Justin Doggett]

The spinning is what causes the pressure. I read on one site that it was the same G's that astronauts feel in some of their training. Don't know if that's true, but I did read it.
I would have recommended you get Passporter or Unofficial Guide to Disney at Barnes& Noble, but I didn't think you really had time to study those. They are good for questions. It might be a good idea to pick one up for reference.

I might pick one up so on the way down so there me and my gf have somthing to read for 15 hrs to each other. Im leaving tommorro and arriving on friday so im super excited about this trip. So far im very informed about alot more then i was when i first joined this site.

 

[The MaD Hatter]

I might pick one up so on the way down so there me and my gf have somthing to read for 15 hrs to each other. Im leaving tommorro and arriving on friday so im super excited about this trip. So far im very informed about alot more then i was when i first joined this site.

Have a great trip. I'll be there this weekend too, but haven't decided which parks on which days though. I might try braving Epcot on Saturday night and MK on Sunday.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Sounds really fun . Im not sure about the orange side of space mountain becaus your spinning but you cant actually see your spinning . It doesnt sound right that im spinning but in the video im going straight up.

I started this response and hit something and it disappeared, so if it shows up twice, ignore it.
I'll go ahead and give my advice for Hollywood Studios-HS and Animal Kingdom-AK. HS is a very unique park. It seems small and is very easy to navigate and get to different areas quickly. So if you need to get back for a fastpass-fp, you'll have time. The ride with the longest wait is Toy Story Mania. I've seen times up to 90 minutes many times. Therefore, when you enter, go straight up the main street to where you see the large Wizard Hat. Go to the right and down the ramp or stairs. Go left. Go straight down the street and you will quickly see the Toy Story. Grab a fastpass and get in the standby if it says 30 minutes or less. When we were there during early hours on Saturday,(don't go on Saturday without early hours) it said 30 minutes and it was 12 minutes from door to ride. If the line is long, simply wait for your fastpass return time. This ride does run out of fastpasses early during busy times. After TS, I would go back the way you came, back down the main street and turn left by the time board. Go straight down the street toward the Tower of Terror. I would do Rockin Rollercoaster first. Those lines get really long. If it is already long, wait until your next fp time, and get a fp. Same for ToT. If the line is long, wait and get a fp. Rockin Rollercoater has three loops, but you are going so fast, you can't tell. It is super fast, but smooth. The music is way too loud for me. I take earplugs for that one.
After you've done these rides, I would head to Star Tours. That's another simulator ride, but this one holds around fifteen people and is more open. It has many different senarios, so you may get a different one each time, or you may end up with the same one. We then do The Muppets 3d show. Sit close to the front and toward the center if it's not crowded. We went early enough we could pick our own seat. We''ve also saved it for last in after hours and been allowed to pick our own seat. There really is a huge difference the further to the sides that you have to sit. In Philarmagic in MK, it is sooo different on the sides than toward the middle. We've done it several times in a row just to get a good seat. The rest of the rides are a matter of what time the shows are being performed that day. Make sure and get the daily schedule along with the park map when you arrive. I forgot The Great Movie Ride. It does have long lines, but we've never waited over 20 minutes in there either. If possible ask for the Bandit scene when you get to the door. That is the first big car. They will know what you're asking for. If it's really crowded, we volunteer to wait through another cycle if we can go to the first car. The other scene is fine too, but if you can only do it once, try for the Bandit. Indiana Jones, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Backlot Tour are rather easy to get into.
Fantasmic is good. We did as they suggested the first time and got there early and waited and hour. After that, we wait and go at the last minute so we can be on the top back rows. It was just as easy to see and getting out was way faster. Just don't wait so long that it fills up.
I'm going to post this and then do AK, as I keep losing my info.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Animal Kingdom We usually head straight to the Safari. It's way in the back in Africa. If you are there when it opens, then you'll be able to get on quickly. If it's crowded, get a fp. We then head to Kalli River Rapids. On Friday, there was something I had never seen at Kalli, a 0 wait time. We were the only ones in our raft. Two girls came in not long after we did, and they were the only ones in their raft. You will get wet, and I mean wet on this ride. Even if you luck up and get on a side that doesn't get soaked, the seat you have to sit on will be full of water, so you'll still be wet. I've seen people have to go in the bathroom take off their shorts and wring them out and hang in front of the hand dryer. We wear rain suits we picked up at Big Lots. We look silly, but we stay dry and comfortable the rest of the day. A poncho only helps keep your bottom dry as the water goes right into the hood and sides with ease. That's better than nothing however. We've used the little .89 ones at Wal Mart if we're riding late and going back to the resort to change before dinner.
I would then go get a fp to Everest if it's crowded. If not, then do standby. This one is not smooth like Rockin Rollercoaster. You will jerk when you stop and go backward. It's not as bad as side one of Space Mountain though.
Now it's just a matter of choice. We either head over and do Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur or over and watch The Lion King show and It's Tough to be a Bug (a must do). Make sure and go back and do the Trail that is to the right of the Safari. The bats in there are amazing. They are not nocturnal. They hang out in the sun. They are huge.
There's also Gorilla's. There's another walk through over in Asia that has tigers, and other wild animals and a really neat aviary that you walk through with all kinds of unique birds all around you.
If you need to grab a meal, we like Restaurantasarus. They are one of the few places that give refills on drinks and has a little fixins bar. Fairly reasonable in price.

Places to get good less expensive foods are Pecos Bills, Cosmic Rays, Caseys Corner, and Tortuga (if open) in MK. In Hollywood Studios we like Backlot Express and Pizza Planet. In Epcot, Sunshine Seasons or Electric Umbrella.
I hope you guys have a wonderful time. Just remember if it rains, put on a poncho and go. Unless it's lightning, they stay open and most rides are inside. I like the .89 ponchos at Wal Mart much better than the ones at the dollar store. They are sealed down the sides which helps keep the water out better.

 

[luv]

If I were you, I'd get The Color Companion to the Unofficial Guide. It has good descriptions of rides and lots of pictures. You obviously don't want to do much research, but want basic info.

IMO, that is the book for you.

 

[Justin Doggett]

Animal Kingdom We usually head straight to the Safari. It's way in the back in Africa. If you are there when it opens, then you'll be able to get on quickly. If it's crowded, get a fp. We then head to Kalli River Rapids. On Friday, there was something I had never seen at Kalli, a 0 wait time. We were the only ones in our raft. Two girls came in not long after we did, and they were the only ones in their raft. You will get wet, and I mean wet on this ride. Even if you luck up and get on a side that doesn't get soaked, the seat you have to sit on will be full of water, so you'll still be wet. I've seen people have to go in the bathroom take off their shorts and wring them out and hang in front of the hand dryer. We wear rain suits we picked up at Big Lots. We look silly, but we stay dry and comfortable the rest of the day. A poncho only helps keep your bottom dry as the water goes right into the hood and sides with ease. That's better than nothing however. We've used the little .89 ones at Wal Mart if we're riding late and going back to the resort to change before dinner.
I would then go get a fp to Everest if it's crowded. If not, then do standby. This one is not smooth like Rockin Rollercoaster. You will jerk when you stop and go backward. It's not as bad as side one of Space Mountain though.
Now it's just a matter of choice. We either head over and do Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur or over and watch The Lion King show and It's Tough to be a Bug (a must do). Make sure and go back and do the Trail that is to the right of the Safari. The bats in there are amazing. They are not nocturnal. They hang out in the sun. They are huge.
There's also Gorilla's. There's another walk through over in Asia that has tigers, and other wild animals and a really neat aviary that you walk through with all kinds of unique birds all around you.
If you need to grab a meal, we like Restaurantasarus. They are one of the few places that give refills on drinks and has a little fixins bar. Fairly reasonable in price.

Places to get good less expensive foods are Pecos Bills, Cosmic Rays, Caseys Corner, and Tortuga (if open) in MK. In Hollywood Studios we like Backlot Express and Pizza Planet. In Epcot, Sunshine Seasons or Electric Umbrella.
I hope you guys have a wonderful time. Just remember if it rains, put on a poncho and go. Unless it's lightning, they stay open and most rides are inside. I like the .89 ponchos at Wal Mart much better than the ones at the dollar store. They are sealed down the sides which helps keep the water out better.

This write up is awesome im going to get a park map and draw a line ride to ride and this will make things alot easier. I hope i can get my gf on expedition everest and TOT but i dought it they both have dark scenes and she dont like going backwards. I have everything written down and i appreciate all of the help youve done for my trip. I will post a TR when i return or day by day as im there so youll be able to see how helpful you were.

 

[Justin Doggett]

If I were you, I'd get The Color Companion to the Unofficial Guide. It has good descriptions of rides and lots of pictures. You obviously don't want to do much research, but want basic info.

IMO, that is the book for you.

I dont want to do much research because i dont want my trip to be ruined by knowing everything about the park i sort of like spontaneous trip were i just play it by ear.

 

[luv]

I dont want to do much research because i dont want my trip to be ruined by knowing everything about the park i sort of like spontaneous trip were i just play it by ear.

Ergo, that book.