First rides

[LadyDarling]

I'm starting to think about what rides to do first when we arrive. So - bare with me!

What do you do first in the Magic Kingdom first thing in the morning? Where would you head 1st thing for an arrival in the evening?

What do you do first in EPCOT first thing in the morning? Where would you head 1st thing for an arrival in the evening?

What do you do first in MGM first thing in the morning? Where would you head 1st thing for an arrival in the evening?

What do you do first in The Animal Kingdom first thing in the morning?

:wave:

 

[BrerVeritas]

I always go to Pirates first. Its been a tradition since I was a kid. It also helps because most people go around the park counterclockwise, so you tend to avoid the heaviest crowds if you take the park in the opposite direction.

EPCOT is always Spaceship Earth first...it helps me to get into the atmosphere if the old EPCOT that I loved as a child...even if most of the rides are gone.

The newer parks I don't really have any traditional firsts...maybe eventually.

 

[barnum42]

Magic Kingdom AM - Space Mountain. PM, check the queue for Splash Mountain.

Epcot - Mission Space AM or PM

MGM - Tower or R&N AM or PM

Animal Kingdom - Safari AM, I know you did not mention PM, but in the last hour the park is open I like to put the gorillas to bed then head over to the tigers.

 

[MY_NAME_STITCH]

Magic Kingdom AM - Pirates PM - Haunted Mansion

Epcot AM - Spaceship Earth PM - Mission Space

MGM AM and PM Tower of Terror

Animal Kingdom - Safari

Hope you have a magical visit whatever you chose to do first!!

 

[PamelaNiebergal]

I always go to Pirates first. Its been a tradition since I was a kid. It also helps because most people go around the park counterclockwise, so you tend to avoid the heaviest crowds if you take the park in the opposite direction.

EPCOT is always Spaceship Earth first...it helps me to get into the atmosphere if the old EPCOT that I loved as a child...even if most of the rides are gone.

The newer parks I don't really have any traditional firsts...maybe eventually.

My family do the exact same thing- always Pirates first in Magic Kingdom regardless of morning or evening arrival and always Spaceship Earth first in EPCOT. It just wouldn't be a Disney vacation without these little traditions.

 

[polynesiangirl]

We also usually see Pirates first at MK- it's interesting to me that most people go counterclockwise because we have ALWAYS gone to Adventureland first and it would just seem so weird to go in the opposite direction!

At Epcot we usually head over and get an FP for TestTrack first and then go on whatever is convienent in the meantime.

At MGM, it's usually The Great Movie Ride or grabbing FPs for other rides, but we mix it up a little - MK's really the only one we have a set ritual for, really.

 

[boopuff]

At any park, depending upon the season, it's always a great idea to get a fast pass for the big attractions.

MK - Space Mountain
EPCOT - Test Track and Mission Space
MGM - Rock-n-roller coaster, Tower of Terror
AK - Safari
If it's not peak season, start any park in the opposite direction. MK - adventure land, EPCOT - World showcase.

Have fun.

 

[philsfan2185]

MK

AM - Splash Mountain- I rode this 3 times in a row without waiting in line
PM - Hanuted Mansion- This line always moves quick, especially when 2 stretching rooms are being used

Epcot

AM - Test Track- I don'r know why, but this is more popular than M:S
PM - Spaceship Earth- Usually little or no lines

Disney MGM Studios

AM - ToT then Rockin' Rollercoaster
PM - Rockin' Rollercoaster then ToT(sorry had to be different )

AK

AM - Kilimanjaro Safaris or Kali River Rapids so you can dry off for the rest of the day
PM - Dinosaur

 

[crazycalf]

Not a ride, but a new tradition is to get a haircut at the barbershop on my first day there.

 

[Tim G]

EPCOT:

First thing when you get in, get a fastpass for Test Track... (fast passes run out very quickly for this ride)
And in the meanwhile get into the stand-by line for Mission:Space





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[DigitalDisney]

If it's the first time going to the park on a trip, then I always go to whatever is new, regardless of if it's an A ticket or an E ticket.

MK
- I get the BTMR / Splash fastpass combo (get a FP for one, ride the other, and come back to use the FP)

EP
- The first thing I do is get a FP for Test Track. Then, I'd probably head to Mission Space

MGM
- I do the FP combo with RNRC and TOT

AK
- Kilimanjaro

 

[Yenfid]

I'm going to sound lame, but I pick wimpy rides first thing

MK-AM
Tomorrowland-Buzz-Fastpass Stitch since it is new

MK-PM
Big Thunder Mt. Better in the Dark

In the MK I like to go counter clockwise. Start in Tomorrowland. Most people start in Adventureland.

Epcot-AM
Spaceship Earth

Epcot-PM
Dinner in Marocco and then stay in the back of the park for Illumanations

In Epcot I like to go to SSE first then get a fastpass to TT and walk on Space. The stuff on Communacor West is more popular than Communicor East. When World Showcase opens at 11 go there. Not to crowded when it opens.

MGM-AM
Great Movie Ride

MGM-PM
Tower of Terror

In MGM I like to walk down Hollywood Blvd to the hat and then the movie ride. Then get a fastpass to Little Mermaid and then work over to Sunset and then the rest of the park. Since ToT and RnR are next to each other there is always a crowd. Do a dinner package to see Fantasmic! so you do not have to wait 2 hours to get a seat. Brown Derby or Mama Melrosa.

AK-AM
Dinosaur

In Animal Kingdom, I said Dinosaur, but Lion King show is a good place to start and since that is kiddie land it isn't over run with little ones and you can get pitures with the characters there.

 

[LadyDarling]

thanks everyone! Just to clarify, our last trip was in 2003 and I'm a disney NUT, so I try to stay up to speed. It's just nice to know what everyone else is doing. I consider revamping my strategy every year, but it usually ends up starting off with:

AK -
(First morning tradition) Breakfast at Donald's Restruantosaursus earliest seating (gets you in the park as practially and early entry guest by the time you're done!) and then Dinosaur, and then the Safari or FP it and go on Kali. Since we go during the off season, there really isn't a "pm". It usually closes at 5 and we're done by around 3 or 4.

MK - It used to be Alien Encounter. When that closed, I was completely lost as what to do first! LOL I love hearing about what all you do! I'm thinking about Stitch first, if not early in the day, but maybe one of the Mountains? If we come in the PM, we don't have a traditional strategy.

EP- If we come in the PM, it's Mealstrom and/or SSE, depending on lines. If it's the first time we've been to the park that trip, it'll be Maelstrom. If it's not, it could be anything! If we go in the AM, we usually get FP for TT and head to the Land for breakfast at their bakery and a lesiurely ride on Living with the Land. Does anyone know if the bakery is still open now with the Soarin' addition? It used to be so peaceful there, but I imagine that will change! Then we usually head to the Wonders of Life...

I left out MGM! For MGM, we usually, no matter what time of day it is, get a FP for RnR and ride TT (usually before breakfast). Then it's little mermaid and our show schedule.

We never miss Fantasmic or Illuminations (I'm still hoping for another MGM desert party this year!).

Keep the suggestions/ideas/traditions coming!

 

[Laura]

Magic Kingdom I also go straight to Adventureland...usually grab a fastpass for Jungle Cruise then do Tiki Birds. Then Frontierland, then Haunted Mansion, then Tomorrowland, then Fantasyland (after all the kids have gone back to the hotel!). This seems to work well each time!

Animal Kingdom, only been 2 or 3 times, but we usually go Counter Clockwise around the hub and do Dinoland last.

MGM, the streets are so unorganized we just wander aimlessly. Almost always start with TOT, RNR, and Great Movie Ride, then the rest is just random.

Epcot I always do Imagination Pavillion, Land, Living Seas, Spaceship Earth, Ellen, Mission Space, Test Track, then World Showcase starting in Mexico.

 

[pat in the hat]

Order of attractions

Hi, all!
Long time reader . . . first (ok, second) time "post-er."
I love reading everyone's tips, ideas, and stories about Disney!

Not really specifics, but we always start out as early as we can get into the parks and do whatever is new since our last visit. From that point, we try to get all the thrill rides in before lunch! Then, we relax and walk land-to-land riding our favs!

 

[KaliSplash]

Start with whatever's new. OR:
At Magic Kingdom, head to Space Mountain in the Morning, followed by Buzz. Haven't seen Stitch yet, so I guess that will be a priority after Space.
At Epcot, get a FP for Test Track, then head to Mission:Space. This will change for this summer's visit. Get a FP for Test Track, and head to Soarin.
At MGM, head to Rocking Roller Coaster, then to Tower of Terror. Follow that with Voyage of Little Mermaid, then Star Tours and Great Movie Ride. This will change depending on LMA schedule.
At Animal Kingdom, start with Dinosaur, then Kali River Rapids. Then Kilamanjaro Safari or FP it.

For PM arrivals, we look more to traditional hits: Pirates, Tiki Birds, Jungle Cruise, Country Bears, Hall of Presidents, Carosel of Progress, Timekeeper, Tommorowland Transit Authority. Save Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain for final hours.

At Epcot, often head to World Showcase for PM arrival, probably starting with Mexico, then Norway.

At MGM, head to whatever we haven't seen, be that Great Movie Ride, or Indy, or Backlot Tour.

Never been to Animal Kingdom late.

 

[hal1736]

MK:splash mountain or space mountain for both AM and PM
AKinosaur and now i guess Everst too AM & PM
EPCOT: Am Test Track; PM SPaceship Earth
MGM: ToT or RnRc ride 1 get fastpass for other! Am &PM

 

[kennygman]

This is a revived thread from over a year ago.

 

[NemoRocks78]

MK - Buzz FP then TTA
Epcot - SSE
MGM - Tower/RNRC
DAK - Dinosaur

 

[nyy102]

MK: Space Mountain
Epcot: Mission Space
AK: Expedition Everest
MGM: ToT